Leaders of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) have disclosed that their recent meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was focused on exploring collaboration to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and opposition alternatives ahead of the 2027 elections.

The ADP National Chairman, Yabagi Sani, along with another party official who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the engagement with Atiku in Abuja on February 1 was part of broader consultations to ensure a credible multi-party system and to safeguard democratic pluralism.

“The meeting was largely about strengthening democracy and protecting democratic pluralism, ensuring that Nigeria’s multi-party system is sustained and that opposition parties have the stability needed to function effectively,” Sani said.

“The focus is on creating an environment where opposition groups feel reinforced and encouraged, especially amid concerns that the ruling APC is attempting to weaken and discourage opposition participation.”

The ADP officials noted that the discussions are not limited to Atiku alone but extend to other opposition stakeholders, youth organisations, and civic platforms such as the National Youth Alliance.

“Part of the strategy under discussion includes developing a ‘Plan B’ — ensuring that if one platform faces disqualification, litigation, or technical challenges, alternative platforms remain viable so the broader opposition movement is not derailed,” Sani added.

The party emphasised that the goal is to provide meaningful alternatives to APC, strengthen democratic competition, and offer opposition leaders viable platforms to challenge the ruling party effectively.

“We are engaging with leaders beyond Atiku to see how we can create more options for opposition leaders and like-minded individuals who are willing to come together to rescue the country from the All Progressives Congress,” another ADP official said.

“The conversation is centred on democracy, how to sustain it, how to develop the country, and how to address the issues affecting our nation. That is simply the essence of it,” he concluded.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 will not depend on the support of any sitting governor in Rivers State, insisting that the political machinery required for victory is already firmly in place.

Wike made the assertion on Saturday in Port Harcourt during the commissioning of the Rivers State Renewed Hope Ambassadors’ headquarters, a facility that includes Majority FM 89.5, a situation room, office spaces, and operational vehicles.

According to him, the structure backing Tinubu cuts across party lines and includes lawmakers at the national and state levels, local government chairmen, and influential political leaders from both the APC and PDP.

“We don’t need a governor to mobilise for Mr President. We have all it takes to stand on our own. Senators, National Assembly members, assembly members, council chairmen, and party leaders are already aligned,” Wike said.

Reflecting on the 2023 elections, the former Rivers State governor noted that his political camp acted independently and remained satisfied with the outcome, stressing that continued support for Tinubu in 2027 was non-negotiable.

He reiterated his long-standing stance on Rivers’ political direction, describing the state as firmly committed to the President’s second-term ambition and asserting that mobilisation structures had been established across all 23 local government areas.

Wike also commended the Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Rivers State, Desmond Akawor, for what he described as effective grassroots mobilisation and organisational strength.

He urged members of the group to deepen their presence at the community level and maintain the momentum ahead of the next general election, emphasising that their commitment must be demonstrated through action rather than rhetoric.

In his remarks, Akawor praised Wike’s leadership and disclosed that coordinators had been appointed in every local government area of the state.

He described the minister’s political strategy as a distinctive model, which he termed AI politics, driven by structure, coordination, and grassroots engagement.

The Nigerian Bar Association has called on the National Assembly to revisit and approve an amendment to the Electoral Act that would make the electronic transmission of election results from polling units compulsory.

The appeal followed the adoption of a report presented by NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, during the association’s National Executive Council meeting held in Maiduguri, Borno State, on February 5, 2026.

The report raised concerns over the Senate’s rejection of a proposed amendment to Clause 60(3), which sought to require presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission to transmit polling unit results in real time to the INEC Result Viewing portal after due certification of Form EC8A.

According to the NEC, the existing provision in the Electoral Act, which allows presiding officers to transfer results “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission,” leaves room for ambiguity and weakens the legal basis for transparent, real-time reporting.

The council warned that such discretion could create opportunities for manipulation, misinterpretation, and post-election disputes.

In adopting Osigwe’s report, the NEC urged lawmakers to urgently pass the amendment to clearly compel electronic transmission of results, stressing that firm statutory backing is necessary to safeguard electoral transparency, protect the integrity of votes, and rebuild public trust in the electoral process.

The NBA emphasised that credible elections remain fundamental to democratic stability, adding that resistance to enforceable electronic transmission measures undermines accountability.

“Technology-backed transparency is no longer optional in a modern democracy,” the NEC stated, urging Nigeria to align its electoral framework with global standards.

The association also called on the National Assembly to demonstrate legislative responsibility by supporting the amendment and reaffirmed its commitment to continued advocacy to ensure electoral laws reflect the true will of the electorate.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has clarified that the National Assembly did not reject the electronic transmission of election results but retained the existing provision in the 2022 Electoral Act.

Akpabio made the clarification on Saturday in Abuja at a book presentation on the challenges faced by lawmakers, noting that the controversy stemmed from the removal of the phrase “real-time” from the proposed amendment.

He said, “All we said during discussion was that we should remove the word ‘real-time’ because if you say real-time, then there is a network or grid failure and the network is not working. When you go to court, somebody will say it ought to have been real-time. That was all we said.”

According to him, the decision was intended to give the Independent National Electoral Commission flexibility to determine how and when election results should be transmitted, taking into account technological limitations and security concerns.

The Senate President added that the upper chamber would continue to enact laws that align with the aspirations and expectations of Nigerians.

Reacting to the development, former Senate President David Mark maintained that INEC should be allowed to decide whether or not to transmit election results electronically.

He also disclosed that the African Democratic Congress supports the electronic transmission of results.

The clarification comes amid public outrage that followed the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill 2026 through a third reading last week.

While passing the bill, lawmakers declined to approve a proposal that would have made electronic transmission of results mandatory, particularly the clause requiring presiding officers to upload polling unit results to the IREV portal in real time after due documentation.

Instead, the Senate retained the existing provision in the Electoral Act, which states that presiding officers are to transfer election results “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”

Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has declared her intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

She made this known during an interview on 103.7FM Eagle7 Sports with Segun Odegbami, monitored in Abeokuta on Saturday, where she ruled out a return to the Senate and reaffirmed her focus on the state’s top political office.

Explaining her decision, she said, “So moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate.”

“Like the American would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.

“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”

Iyabo also confirmed her return to active politics after joining the APC, noting that pressure from supporters influenced her decision.

She stated, “Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back.’”

The acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe, has sparked outrage after allegedly threatening a woman on Facebook for criticising Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The woman, identified as Blessing P. Agho, reportedly shared screenshots of private messages in which Tenebe issued threats against her life following her comments about the governor.

In the messages, Tenebe allegedly wrote, “Your death is close. You are a bastard, just show where you are if you can. APC. Death awaits you, idiot. Send me your address or come out to Wuse 2 in front of Atiku’s campaign office at 9pm tomorrow.”

Agho, reacting publicly, condemned the threat and questioned Tenebe’s conduct as a political leader. In her post, she wrote, “The APC state chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, threatened me via messenger. How did this retarded, mentally unstable person end up becoming a state chairman? No wonder there are calls to remove him from office. Okpebholo, see your state party chairman. When will you demolish his house?”

The incident has triggered widespread criticism on social media, with many Nigerians expressing concern over the tone of political engagement and calling on law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter.

The development also revived attention on earlier remarks by Tenebe, in which he publicly declared unwavering loyalty to Governor Okpebholo while addressing party supporters at the ‘Edo State City Boy employment 2025’ event.

During that appearance, he stated, “That our loyalty to our governor is of no break, no gear, no sense.”

He added, “The explanation is this: Anything the governor tells us to do, we cannot argue, because he has all the special advisers and all the special assistance.”

Using an analogy to describe the party’s posture, Tenebe said, “If you have ever seen a vehicle or truck with no gear and descending; you know how deadly such a vehicle is. That’s what we are as a party in this state. Because we have no sense.”

He further remarked, “The governor has already told us that 3.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu must be guaranteed and is already settled.”