Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his decision to join the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, made the announcement on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, citing deepening internal divisions within the PDP as the primary reason for his defection.

According to him, the persistent leadership crisis and factional struggles within the party have significantly weakened its structure and reduced its capacity to function as an effective opposition.

He noted that the internal disagreements had gradually narrowed what was once regarded as the PDP’s broad political platform, leaving many members dissatisfied and uncertain about the party’s direction.

Dickson also criticised what he described as the party’s silence on major national issues, arguing that the ongoing leadership disputes have undermined its ability to provide strong and credible opposition.

“PDP has lost its voice on national issues,” he said, attributing the development to prolonged internal wrangling among party leaders.
The senator, however, expressed confidence in the prospects of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, which was recently registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He described the new political platform as one that could help rebuild a vibrant and credible opposition capable of addressing the country’s political and governance challenges.

Dickson therefore urged Nigerians who desire a new political direction to support the party by registering as members and actively participating in its activities.

He stressed that broad national participation would be essential in shaping the party’s future and building a stronger democratic system in the country.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has announced that it will not present its own presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, stating that it plans to adopt President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its preferred candidate.

The National Chairman of the party, Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa, made this known during a press briefing in Lagos while responding to questions on the party’s decision to support a candidate from another political platform.

According to him, the decision is based on the confidence the party has in Tinubu and what it described as the shared values between APGA and the President’s political agenda.

“We hope that during the national convention of the APC, if he secures the nomination of his party through direct primaries, I can bet you that the national convention of APGA will adopt him as our presidential candidate,” he said.

Ezeokenwa explained that adopting a presidential candidate from another political party is not a new development for APGA.

He recalled that the party supported former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan during the 2011 and 2015 presidential elections, noting that the arrangement was lawful and within the party’s constitutional rights.

He added that the decision to back Tinubu is influenced by the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which the party believes aligns with its own political philosophy.

“We decided to return to this policy for a reason. Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda resonates with us. He has shown us good faith. We share similar ideology. If he gets the nomination of his party, we’ll adopt him,” Ezeokenwa said.

The APGA chairman also spoke on recent amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly the provision introducing direct primaries for political parties.

Under the amended law, political parties are required to submit their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before conducting primaries, congresses or conventions.

The law further stipulates that only party members whose names appear in the official register will be eligible to vote or contest during party primaries.

However, Ezeokenwa criticised aspects of the provision, arguing that political parties should have the autonomy to determine their membership without external interference.

“The constitution says you must belong to a political party but you don’t determine for me who my members should be. It’s none of your business.

“There is a conscious attempt to emasculate smaller parties from fielding credible candidates. But I believe one of the positive sides of the new law is that it will entrench belief in political party ideology. Today people just see political parties as special purpose vehicles. We accept the direct primaries wholeheartedly. We urge INEC to ensure credible elections.”

He also disclosed that APGA has begun a digital membership registration and revalidation exercise in compliance with the new electoral guidelines.

According to him, the registration process commenced on March 1 and is expected to run for one month.

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Aisha Yesufu, has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, describing Nigeria as a “glitch” where governance has virtually collapsed.

Yesufu made the remarks on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, where she expressed concern over the country’s worsening economic conditions and security challenges.

“Right now, Nigeria as a whole is a glitch. There is nothing working, whether economically or in terms of security; we don’t have any of that,” Yesufu said during the programme.

She lamented the continued insecurity across parts of the country, saying many Nigerians are being abducted and killed while terrorists openly display their activities.

“I just explained to you: people are being taken away, people are being killed, and terrorists are coming out to show us their faces. Nigeria is a glitch on its own; it’s on a standstill. There’s no governance and nothing is going on,” she added.

Speaking on the party’s ongoing digital membership drive, Yesufu, who serves as the chairman of the ADC Online Registration Sub-Committee, dismissed claims that the party’s registration portal had experienced technical problems.

According to her, the platform has been functioning properly and is only being updated from time to time to improve the registration process.

“There is no website that you don’t continue improving on. It never had any problem. Even this glitch you are talking about, there was no glitch.

“Was there ever a time that you went to register and you didn’t register? Was there ever a time that you went to register and the page was down, or the website was down, or the app was down? There was nothing,” she said.

She noted that a large number of Nigerians have already registered through the platform since the party began its online membership exercise, although she declined to reveal the exact figures.

Yesufu also said the level of public interest and participation has been encouraging for the party.

When asked whether the ADC could compete effectively against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, Yesufu expressed confidence that the opposition party has the backing of the Nigerian people.

While acknowledging that the APC currently controls more than 30 state governments, she argued that the real strength of the ADC lies with the wider population.

“Do they (APC) have anything? Yes, they have 30 governors, but we have over two hundred and something million Nigerians minus the 30 governors and the few other supporters that they have,” she said.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, has said the commission cannot guarantee a completely perfect election in 2027, particularly with regard to the electronic transmission of results.

Amupitan made the remarks during a Citizens’ Townhall Meeting organised by the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity at Abuja Continental Hotel.

The event brought together civil society organisations, academics, election observers and members of the public to deliberate on issues surrounding Nigeria’s electoral process.

Despite acknowledging potential challenges, the INEC chairman expressed optimism that the 2027 presidential election would be the best the country has ever conducted.

He explained that the success of an election should be measured by several key factors, especially logistics, peaceful conduct and the proper management of results.

Amupitan said, “Number one, if you want to measure whether an election is successful, you have to determine whether the election started as advertised. And we advertised the election for 8.30. So if we’re able to start the election at 8.30.

“Number two, if the election is peaceful; number three, if we’re able to manage the result very well, that is result management, and then declaration of results, then you can say you have a successful election.

“As a regulatory body, we were determined to achieve all this.

“But nonetheless, we have to admit that there was some logistics issues, some were purely human, which we are trying to address. And let me just appeal to Nigerians, because I have noticed now that what Nigerians desire is a perfect election. And I will strive as much as possible to give this country the best election.

“However, we may not be able to achieve a 100% perfect election for now. But as far as electronic transmission of results is concerned, I said it before FCT Area Council that we have the capacity to transmit the results. And that we’re going to transmit the results.”

He further explained that the concept of “real-time” transmission does not always mean results will appear instantly due to possible delays in digital systems.

“The only concern was real time. What is real time? For instance, if you go, you use your app to make a transfer from your account. Even in Abuja town, you are transferring 50,000 to Mr. B, and from your app, the amount has gone.

“But the person may not receive the alert until another 30 minutes, another hour, or even in the evening. So those are some of the things. And when you say it is real time, as soon as it is done, it must be received.”

Amupitan said INEC is working to improve logistics and result management in order to strengthen transparency and credibility in future elections.

“So result management and logistics are two basic issues that, from our own end, we are trying to see how best we are able to manage it very well, so as to enhance the transparency and credibility of the system.

“Glitch is eliminated. The glitch, by God’s grace, will not surface in Nigeria and when I even look at the provision to Section 63 of the Electoral Act, during the last FCT election, apart from that delay, we didn’t have any transmission failure, meaning that it is just a provision, a safety if it fails. And during my tenure, it will never fail. That is the determination.”
He added that even if technical issues arise, the commission is determined to ensure results are eventually transmitted.

“Even if it fails, the result must be transmitted. But the only problem is if it fails to do real-time transmission, as we had in that ward.

“That is the major problem. Now, talking, addressing about the glitch, election now, anyway, is about technology. But before you deploy any technology, it is important for you to test that technology very well.”

Reflecting on the 2023 general election, the INEC chairman said one of the lessons learned was the need for broader testing of election technology before nationwide deployment.

“So my own audit of the 2023 election was that while the device was tested within the states, for instance Osun election, Ekiti election, however, when it came to the federal election, especially the presidential election that now became interstate, it was not properly tested.
“So one of the things we are trying to do before the election is to ensure that this transmission across the state must not fail.”

He concluded by assuring Nigerians that improvements would be made ahead of the next general election.

“By the grace of God, election of 2027 will be the best election that Nigerians will have. Because Nigerians of 2023 is different from what you have in 2027. People are much more aware.”

The Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Hon. John Ogbodo, has congratulated the newly elected Enugu State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Martin Chukwunwike, describing his emergence as a reflection of unity and renewed strength within the party.

Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, Ogbodo said the peaceful and transparent conduct of the ward, local government, and state congresses across Enugu State demonstrated the growing cohesion and organisational capacity of the APC.

He also commended Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for what he termed visionary and inclusive leadership, noting that the governor’s role as leader of the party in the state was instrumental to the smooth and credible exercise.

According to Ogbodo, the successful congresses have repositioned the APC in Enugu for greater political engagement and electoral competitiveness ahead of future contests.

“The seamless conduct of the congress across the 17 local government areas and 260 wards is a clear indication that the party is united and focused. It reflects the maturity of our internal democracy and the confidence members repose in the leadership of Governor Mbah,” he said.

The council chairman further expressed confidence in the capacity of the new state executive under Chukwunwike to consolidate the gains of the congress and strengthen the party’s grassroots mobilisation efforts.

He urged party faithful across the state to rally behind the new leadership, stressing that unity and discipline remain critical to achieving the APC’s broader political objectives.

Ogbodo assured that stakeholders in Nkanu West would continue to support initiatives aimed at deepening internal democracy, expanding membership, and positioning the party for greater success in subsequent elections.