Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has come under fire from political stakeholders following his recent visit to President Bola Tinubu.

Critics interpret the trip as a sign of fear over a potential loss in the upcoming Anambra governorship election.

After the meeting, Soludo told reporters that he and Tinubu have maintained a close friendship for 22 years and that he is supporting the President’s re-election bid in 2027 as part of a cooperative progressive effort.

However, Nicolas Ukachukwu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election, dismissed the visit as futile. He accused Soludo of anticipating defeat and seeking external support.

Ukachukwu pointed out that Tinubu, as APC leader, has empowered him to secure victory for the party in Anambra.

He likened Soludo’s actions to those of “a drowning person,” warning that no amount of photo ops with the President will prevent his defeat on election day.

In a statement released in Awka through Okechukwu Modebe, Ukachukwu described the visit as a clear indication of desperation and anxiety from the governor, who he says is scrambling for help after missing opportunities to improve the lives of Anambra residents.

He expressed confidence that APC will celebrate victory soon, especially with the upcoming Senatorial by-election in Anambra South on August 16, where Azuka Okwuosa is the party’s candidate.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu shared details of his meeting with Soludo on his official X account, saying their discussions centered on deepening democracy, enhancing security, and promoting economic reforms.

Describing Soludo as “a friend of over two decades,” Tinubu highlighted their shared vision for progressive governance.

“We discussed the bold reforms underway, the need to stay focused, and the importance of tackling insecurity through decisive action and inclusive opportunities for our teeming youth,” he said.

The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working with any state that prioritizes human, social, and economic development, stating, “Nigeria’s progress is strongest when we work together.”

Tinubu also pledged to continue fostering sustainable growth, saying, “We will continue to take a bet on our dear country, Nigeria, to ensure sustainable and shared prosperity for the future.”

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed that the structural rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State will cost more than ₦3 trillion.

Speaking after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Umahi explained that underwater and structural assessments revealed significant damage to the bridge’s piles and piers caused by illegal sand mining, erosion, and corrosion.

“The rehabilitation is estimated at ₦3.8 trillion, while a complete rebuild would cost about ₦3.6 trillion,” the minister said.

“We have approval for at least seven specialist contractors to carry out detailed investigations, designs and bids for both rehabilitation and new construction under an EPC+F [Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing] arrangement.”

Umahi added that similar findings were reported from earlier studies on the Carter Bridge in Lagos, which was deemed beyond repair.

Contractor Julius Berger recommended a full replacement, with costs estimated at ₦359 billion.

Following FEC’s approval, the government will invite public-private partnership bids for the projects and is exploring funding options with international lenders such as Deutsche Bank.

The Third Mainland Bridge, Nigeria’s longest bridge, was inaugurated in 1990 and serves as a vital transport artery for Lagos’ estimated 20 million residents.

Although periodic maintenance has been carried out over the years, recent inspections showed more severe damage than previously known.

“The underwater problems are compounded by decades of neglect and human activities that have undermined the bridge’s substructure,” Umahi explained.

He emphasised the urgency of the project, saying, “We cannot delay. If we decide on rehabilitation, it will require huge resources and specialised engineering. If we opt for a new build, it is slightly less costly but still a massive undertaking.”

In addition to the Lagos bridges, Umahi said the FEC approved interventions for several other damaged bridges across Nigeria, including the Jalingo Bridge in Taraba State, the Ido Bridge damaged by fire, Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State, Mokwa Bridge in Niger State, a bridge on the Abuja–Kogi route, bridges on the Lagos–Ibadan corridor hit by vehicles, the Jebba Bridge in Kwara State, and the Itokin–Ikorodu Bridge in Lagos.

“These emergency works will be documented and forwarded to the President for approval through the Ministry of Finance,” he added.

Umahi also announced that the FEC had allocated ₦493 billion for two major infrastructure projects: upgrading the Kano–Katsina Road and constructing a new Carter Bridge.

The 152-kilometre Kano–Katsina Road, initially awarded in two contracts, has undergone significant cost revisions due to current economic realities.

Section One’s cost rose from ₦14 billion in 2013 to ₦68 billion, while Section Two’s price moved from ₦29 billion in 2019 to ₦66.115 billion.

He noted, “₦6 billion and ₦34 billion had been allocated in the 2024 and 2025 budgets, respectively, for Section One, while Section Two will receive ₦80 billion over the same period.”

The minister underscored the importance of bridge and road infrastructure to economic growth and national connectivity.

“We are pursuing partnerships that will bring in private capital while ensuring that the government retains oversight and quality control,” Umahi said, stressing the use of the EPC+F model and PPP arrangements to ease the funding burden on the federal budget.

The Third Mainland and Carter bridges are key components of Lagos’ main road network, carrying hundreds of thousands of vehicles daily.

Umahi revealed that detailed studies and procurement processes for the Lagos bridge projects would begin immediately, with timelines dependent on financing agreements.

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has announced the approval of a large-scale youth recruitment initiative into the State Civil Service, aimed at reducing unemployment and accelerating development across the state.

The governor made this announcement while addressing a crowd at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area, ahead of the Edo Central Senatorial By-election scheduled for August 16, 2025.

Governor Okpebholo underscored his commitment to grassroots development and expressed a deep personal connection to the region.

“If I do not develop my home, no one else will develop it,” he said.

In addition to the job creation effort, the governor revealed ongoing projects in Edo Central, including the construction of a modern market in Irrua, the dualization of the Ekpoma–Ubiaja road, and the extension of a 33kV power line to improve electricity supply in the area.

He also referenced his short but impactful stint in the Senate, during which he helped facilitate the reconstruction of the Benin–Auchi–Okene road, a major project supported by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Governor Okpebholo called on the people of Edo to rally behind President Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, describing him as:

“A leader who loves Edo State.”

As part of immediate education infrastructure upgrades, he directed the Commissioner for Education to begin the renovation of Eguare-Ugbegun Primary School in Ward 10.

Reflecting on past electoral victories, the governor thanked the people of Irrua for their unwavering support and resistance to electoral manipulation:

“My coming here is just to thank you and tell you that I am ready to serve and work for our people. You resisted rigging, and we won very well.”

During the rally, Okpebholo disclosed that he had instructed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barr. Musa Ikhilor, to initiate the civil service recruitment process.

“We are going to massively employ our young people. Creating employment for our youths is the best thing we can do for them,” he affirmed.

The rally was attended by several high-ranking APC members, including the SSG, Umar Musa Ikhilor, Esq., Edo Central Senatorial Leader General Cecil Isekhaigbe (rtd.), APC State Deputy Chairman Sylvester Aigboboh, and the APC senatorial candidate, Hon. Joseph Ikpea.

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for spending excessive time abroad, while Nigeria continues to face serious challenges.

Obi’s comments came after reports that Tinubu departed for a 12-day overseas trip, starting with Dubai, then attending the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Japan from August 20 to 22, and subsequently traveling to Brazil for trade talks.

The presidency has not yet announced when the President will return.

In a statement posted on X, titled “Again, Our President Moves as the Nation Bleeds,” Obi revealed that Tinubu has spent over 200 days out of his 806 days in office away from Nigeria.

“Mr. President is not a tourist. He is the Chief Executive of a troubled nation and his duty is here, not in endless foreign conferences that add little or no value to our people,” Obi said.

The former governor of Anambra State questioned the necessity of the current trip, pointing out that it comes just weeks after Tinubu’s previous visit to Brazil.

Obi also criticised the President’s prolonged stays abroad, including a week-long trip to St. Lucia ahead of the BRICS Summit, describing it as excessive.

“Actual BRICS leaders arrived just a day or two before the summit. Why was our President gone so long?” Obi asked.

He argued that the ongoing trip “could have been wrapped up in five days.”

Highlighting Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, economic difficulties, and hunger crisis, Obi urged Tinubu to focus on addressing domestic issues rather than prioritising foreign travel.

“Nigerians understand that not all problems can be fixed overnight. But they expect their leader to be present, engaged, and fully committed. We are a country on fire. The President must act like the firefighter-in-chief, not a globe-trotting dignitary,” Obi stressed.

He recommended that instead of frequent international trips, Tinubu should visit Nigeria’s most affected states, engage directly with communities in distress, and work urgently to find solutions to their challenges.

Atiku Abubakar,

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly refuted accusations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who alleged that the Presidency is using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to target opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Reacting to Atiku’s claims, the APC’s Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, described the statements as “unfounded and misleading”, and accused the former vice president of attempting to discredit Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions.

“It is regrettable that a former Vice President who once paraded himself as an anti-corruption advocate is now attempting to tarnish the image of institutions working to sanitise Nigeria’s political and economic systems,” Oladejo said.

He emphasized that President Bola Tinubu remains fully committed to upholding the rule of law, and has not interfered with the EFCC’s constitutional responsibilities.

Oladejo also reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality: “The EFCC is not a political weapon; it is a statutory body acting strictly on credible intelligence and evidence. Those with clean hands have no reason to be afraid.”

The APC spokesperson went further to accuse Atiku of hypocrisy, noting his previous support for anti-corruption reforms during his time in office, while now seemingly undermining the very institutions he once promoted.

“Rather than peddle unfounded conspiracy theories, we advise Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to focus on clearing the many unanswered questions surrounding his own public record,” he added.

Oladejo reiterated that the APC has no need to resort to intimidation or underhanded tactics to win elections, insisting that the party’s strength lies in performance-based governance.

“The APC does not rely on illicit methods to win elections. Our success is built on purposeful governance, infrastructural development, and social investment under the Tinubu administration.”

He also urged Nigerians to remain focused on the broader national interest and support ongoing efforts to curb corruption and promote prosperity.

“The APC has no influence over the EFCC’s operations. The commission continues to carry out its constitutional mandate of investigating and prosecuting financial crimes without fear or favour, regardless of political affiliation.”

Oladejo labelled Atiku’s remarks as mere “political grandstanding”, designed to distract from the real issues confronting the nation.

The national coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, has revealed that at least seven political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC), are actively reaching out to Peter Obi in a bid to secure him as their presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Speaking during an interview on AIT’s political affairs programme, Focus, Tanko confirmed that while Obi remains a committed member of the Labour Party, he is also one of the leading voices within a growing coalition of opposition figures seeking to challenge the ruling party in 2027.

Tanko was emphatic about Obi’s popularity and influence:

“One thing you must know is that the most popular presidential candidate in Nigeria and indeed for Nigerian interest across the world is Peter Obi, there is no doubt about it,” he said.

He clarified that the Obidient Movement is politically independent, even though it backs Obi, and is not formally tied to any one party.

While he confirmed PDP and ADC as among the parties in talks with Obi, Tanko declined to name the remaining five parties, explaining that doing so could jeopardise their interests.

“This government is very good in creating problems in every political party that Peter Obi’s name has come up,” Tanko alleged.

“Anywhere the name Peter Obi rings a bell, that is where they are interested in making sure that he doesn’t win. It is ‘Operation do not allow Peter Obi have a ticket’.”

Tanko accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of deliberately stirring internal conflicts within opposition parties as a strategy to weaken any credible challenge in the upcoming elections.

Despite these alleged efforts, he expressed strong optimism about Obi’s prospects.

“This time around we have a presidential candidate that is alive, popular, requested, and needed by Nigerian youths who have not been so much into politics before but now are interested. We must give them that opportunity,” he said.

He likened Obi’s situation to that of the late MKO Abiola, whose 1993 presidential mandate was famously annulled despite widespread support, and stressed that this time, the system must not fail the people.

“We want to avoid a repeat of the 1993 scenario,” he added.