Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports suggesting he intends to step aside for a younger politician ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Atiku, who has already declared interest in contesting the presidency again, clarified his position following media interpretations of his recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, Atiku said his words had been misrepresented.

He explained that a review of both the original Hausa interview and its English translation showed that he never indicated any intention to withdraw from the race.

“What His Excellency said was very clear, that young Nigerians and other aspirants are free to join the contest,” the statement read.

“He also stated that if a young candidate emerged through a transparent and competitive primary, he would have no hesitation in supporting such a person.”

Atiku, who contested the 2023 elections under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before leaving the party, is now among the opposition leaders working under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a common platform to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Others in the coalition include former governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and Peter Obi of Anambra.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has thrown his weight behind Moses Paul, popularly called “Dr. MO,” the African Democratic Congress (ADC) flagbearer for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship election scheduled for February 2026.

Speaking at a special Independence Day programme held at Merit House, Abuja, Obi assured residents that he would personally join Paul on the campaign trail.

He described the ADC candidate as a consistent and trustworthy leader.

“I have moved with Dr. MO to different places, and I know he will not disappoint. If he ever changes, I’ll be shocked,” Obi said, stressing that Paul embodies the values of integrity and service.

Paul, who also serves as the National Secretary of the Obidient Movement of Nigeria, received a resounding endorsement from the group.

Yunusa Tanko, its National Coordinator, formally declared the movement’s support for him during the event themed “We Don Tire.”

In his address, Paul criticised AMAC’s current leadership, accusing it of failing to deliver basic services.

He cited collapsed waste management systems, abandoned schools, non-functional health centres, rising insecurity, excessive taxation of businesses and lack of infrastructure as evidence of governance failure.

“The bitter truth is that AMAC has failed its people,” Paul said.

“But our campaign is not about lamentation. It is about renewal, dignity, prosperity and service. Leadership must be redefined at the grassroots, and that is what we are determined to achieve.”

He promised to revitalise AMAC markets into centres of economic prosperity, vowing to show that accountable leadership is not a fantasy but a reality that can begin at the local level.

Those who are determined to make a real difference don’t follow the crowd. They choose new paths. They challenge the status quo. They reject mediocrity and pursue excellence, not for applause, but because their vision demands it.

Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah belongs to this rare breed. From day one, his governance has reflected clarity of purpose, urgency of mission, and a boldness of vision not often seen in Nigerian political leadership.

He is not in office just to be the governor, answer the title and warm the seat. He is where he is to reset the story of Enugu State.

Unlike many before him who inherited ailing public institutions and quietly moved on, Mbah made the brave decision to pause, turn and face the rot head on.

He saw decaying government establishments not as liabilities, but as untapped assets. And why this has been one of the most impressive things he has done is because, instead of abandoning these to history, he chose recovery over replacement.

From reviving industries long forgotten, to restoring the state’s once proud infrastructure, Mbah’s mission is clear and boldly pursued in the rescue, recovery and restoration of the people’s assets.

Under his leadership, rusting facilities are coming back to life, and moribund assets are being reactivated to contribute once again to the economy. Before long, the full import and impact would clearly show and be felt.

Governor Peter Mbah understood that Enugu once held the pride of place as the capital of the old Eastern Region, as a city that led in culture, commerce, and governance in its hey days.

He also knows that for too long, it was allowed to fade into nostalgia; a ceremonial regional capital that grossly offers less than what its name is capable of. Mbah is changing that now. And he is doing so decidedly and decisively.

He is restoring Enugu’s visibility on the national and global stage. Infrastructure renewal across urban centres is not just about beautification, it is strategic.

It is about making Enugu the destination it once was, and more. The hosting of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference is a case in point that revealed quite a lot. It wasn’t just an event.

It was a statement. For the first time in recent history, thousands of Igbo lawyers, joined their colleagues from other parts of the country to return home to a city that proudly welcomed them, with an International Conference Centre that reflects global standards.

The results speak for themselves in renewed investor interest, increased tourism, and a revitalised civic pride of grateful citizens who are seeing things happen in their state as it should.

Indeed, what sets Peter Mbah apart is not just what he does, but how he does it. His administration is marked by a business like efficiency. It is frugal, focused, and forward looking. Public spending is streamlined. Government engagements are purposeful, not performative.

Yhe wasteful traditions of bureaucracy have given way to lean, effective management strategies. And in all, you can see how he is redefining leadership as service instead of the usual political showmanship common with Nigeria.

Another major shift in Mbah’s approach is his refusal to adopt the politics of tokenism. His vision for the people, especially the underserved masses, is not based on charity, but on dignity. But even at that, the scale is so unusual that it looks surreal to some.

The Smart Schools and the modern hospitals initiative is a game changer for the ordinary people. These are not white elephant projects for ribbon cutting ceremonies as we consistently see in our public affairs under politicians.

They are cutting edge facilities built to global standards, offering quality education and healthcare to children and families, many who would otherwise be left behind in their remote areas where Mbah had intentionally gone to _disrupt_ their backwardness, and make their lives more meaningful and productive.

And how is he also doing this differently? Instead of building many poorly equipped schools or clinics to merely pad statistics, Mbah at 260 each, is building relatively fewer, smarter, but far more effective ones that will outlive his tenure and reshape lives forever.

That is not only doing things differently, that is doing them right.

Meanwhile, what many don’t see but insiders and analysts appreciate, is Mbah’s gradual digitization of public service delivery.

Under his leadership, Enugu State is leveraging technology to simplify governance, improve accountability, and close the gaps that enable corruption to thrive.

This silent revolution in e-governance may not always make headlines, but it is laying the foundation for a transparent and responsive civil service.

This is being felt in the IGR management system as well as the urban and regional planning administration of the state through the now functional Enugu State Geographic Information System, ENGIS.

Governor Mbah is not governing with the politics of today, but by the needs of tomorrow diligently brought forward to the service of the people at this moment.

His policies are forward thinking, from climate conscious urban planning, to investment in agro-allied industrial zones, to youth empowerment through innovation hubs and skill acquisition centres.

So, rather than chasing short term popularity, he is investing in long term sustainability. That is what makes his leadership different, and positively so. In Peter Mbah, Enugu has a leader who is not in search of applause, but in pursuit of transformation.

He is rewriting the leadership playbook in real time, and doing so with uncommon courage, competence, and clarity. He is doing things differently, not for difference’s sake, but because Enugu deserves better. And because the future he has brought forward, demands it.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied claims circulating on social media that it rejected the resignation of Edison Ehie from the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Ehie, who represented Ahoada East Constituency II before resigning to become Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the peak of the state’s political crisis, formally stepped down from his legislative seat.

In recent days, however, posts on Facebook alleged that INEC declined to accept his resignation, citing comments attributed to the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Gabriel Yomere, during a meeting with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

The reports further suggested that the Commission had refused to conduct a bye-election to replace Ehie.

In a statement issued by Geraldine Ekelemu, Acting Head of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC’s Rivers office, the Commission dismissed the claims as misleading.

It explained that only INEC’s national headquarters has the authority to initiate any election and such a process must follow a formal communication from the appropriate legislative authority.

“Once a resignation letter has been signed and transmitted by the authorized legislative body, in this case, the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Commission will begin the necessary steps to conduct a bye-election in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act,” the statement read.

INEC stressed that the REC’s remarks during the IPAC meeting had been misconstrued and did not represent an official policy position.

The crisis in the Rivers Assembly has complicated matters.

A faction of the Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo had earlier declared Ehie’s seat vacant following his resignation.

However, the Supreme Court subsequently ruled that the Oko-Jumbo-led Assembly was illegal.

This ruling effectively means Ehie remains a member of the Assembly unless he tenders a fresh resignation letter to the faction recognized by law under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule. Only then can INEC act on a formal notification to conduct a bye-election in Ahoada East Constituency II.

Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has weighed in on ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent remarks about stepping aside for a younger candidate in the 2027 presidential race.

Atiku, in a BBC Hausa interview, had said he would withdraw from the contest and support any younger aspirant who manages to defeat him in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primaries.

The former PDP presidential flag bearer added that he would not only accept such a result but also mentor the winner.

“If I run for office and a young man defeats me, I will accept that. The party we joined now prioritises youth and women,” Atiku said, though he did not confirm if he would definitely run in 2027.

Reacting in a post on his official X account on Thursday, Sani argued that beating Atiku in an internal party contest would be nearly impossible.

“The Waziri reportedly said he would step aside if a younger candidate wins the primaries. The keyword here is primaries,” Sani wrote.

“It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to defeat the Waziri in primaries. Party delegates are a special breed of people.”

Atiku had earlier explained that his priority for now is building the ADC into a strong political force ahead of 2027.