As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former political adviser to the Vice President and spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has issued a stern warning: if the elections lack transparency, the country may face grave consequences.

In a statement shared via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Baba-Ahmed expressed growing concern over public skepticism surrounding the upcoming elections.

He urged both political leaders and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take these concerns seriously.

“Voices are being raised regarding integrity of the 2027 elections. Our leaders and INEC should listen. Anything short of the most transparent elections will produce neither winners nor losers. Rigging will risk plunging this country into its worst crises. No one wants that,” he wrote.

Baba-Ahmed’s comments arrive at a time when the National Assembly is debating a proposal to streamline the electoral process.

The House of Representatives is considering an amendment to the Electoral Act that would allow the presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and State Assembly elections to be conducted on the same day.

Meanwhile, the political space has also been abuzz following a recent meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The encounter has sparked speculation across party lines.

Responding to the stir, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, played down any controversy surrounding the meeting.

“Politicians talk; it’s not a sin talking across lines,” he said during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday.

He emphasized that political engagement between leaders, even across party lines, is a normal and strategic part of democracy.

“So, the presidency or friends of the president talking to Kwankwaso or the other way round should not be seen as anything strange or looked at with disdain or suspicion. After all, it’s politics and people align, re-align and shape their political positions.”

According to Abdulaziz, both Tinubu and Kwankwaso share a history that spans over three decades, dating back to their days as senators and state governors.

He said that long-standing relationship should contextualize their recent interaction and dispel any public anxiety.

The Anambra State Government has refuted recent reports claiming that Governor Chukwuma Soludo renamed Abakaliki Street to Club Street, clarifying that the change was made during the tenure of former Governor Willie Obiano.

Social media platforms had been buzzing with allegations that the current administration altered the name of the popular street in Awka, prompting public debate and criticism.

But in a statement issued Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, labelled the allegations as “completely false”.

“Attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to the false and misleading claims made by one M.O. Idam Esq. against Governor Chukwuma Soludo, published by some online news platforms,” the statement began.

Mefor explained that the renaming in question took place before Soludo assumed office, firmly attributing it to the Obiano administration.

“Idam had alleged that Governor Soludo renamed Abakaliki Street to Club Street, which is completely false,” he said.

“The truth is that the renaming of Abakaliki Street to Club Street and the assigning of an adjacent street to Abakaliki Street occurred under the administration of former Governor Willie Obiano.”

The commissioner criticised the misinformation, urging those responsible to verify facts before publishing.

“It is expected that a lawyer ought to have done research and fact-checking before going public with such wild, malicious, and false claims,” Mefor added.

He also called on Idam to retract his statement, framing it as the honourable thing to do.

“Considering that no one is perfect, and we exist in an imperfect world, we advise Idam Esq. to recant his statement as honourable people should when they go wrong.”

Mefor used the opportunity to reaffirm Governor Soludo’s commitment to governance without debt accumulation and highlighted growing support for the governor’s reelection bid.

“We reassure Ndị Anambra that Governor Soludo will continue to exercise the powers they bestowed on him through their popular mandate responsibly, which is yielding very heavy dividends of democracy without borrowing, leading to the clamour across the length and breadth of Anambra State for his reelection on November 8.”

In a pointed remark, Mefor questioned the credibility of Idam and urged him to focus on issues within his jurisdiction.

“We equally urge Idam Esq. to pay more attention to his state, if indeed he exists and is not a phantom, rather than spreading misinformation about Anambra State.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised alarm over what he believes are early signs that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is preparing to rig the 2027 general elections.

Atiku pointed specifically to the recent appointment of a former official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who once led the commission’s Information Technology (IT) department, as a red flag.

He said the development indicates a disturbing pattern.

The APC, just last week, named Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, as its new National Chairman.

Reacting to the appointment, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) voiced his concerns over what he described as a calculated move.

“This isn’t just any ordinary REC; this is someone who held a strategic position, such as heading the Information Technology (IT) Department of INEC,” Atiku said.

“This move clearly indicates that the ruling party is not interested in winning elections through due process or on the strength of their performance during their first mandate. Instead, they are laying the groundwork to rig the upcoming election.”

Atiku stressed the importance of cohesion among opposition forces, warning that infighting or disunity would only serve the interests of those determined to maintain power by questionable means.

Bolaji Abdullahi, the interim National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has dismissed recent speculations about Peter Obi’s possible return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), affirming that the former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate remains firmly committed to the emerging opposition coalition.

Speaking on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme aired on Monday, Abdullahi emphasized that Obi is fully aware of the political implications of rejoining the PDP.

“Peter is in the coalition regardless of what anybody is saying,” Abdullahi stated.

He explained that the rise of the ADC has caused noticeable shifts within the PDP, but also warned that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) still exerts significant control over the party.

“Everyone knows that the jugular of PDP is still in the hands of the ruling party. Peter Obi, more than anyone else, knows that he cannot take the risk of going to the PDP,” he said.

On the matter of the ADC’s 2027 presidential ticket, Abdullahi clarified that the party is currently not discussing who will emerge as its flagbearer. According to him, the focus remains on building party structures and upholding democratic values.

“Our party is one month old. We are not having any conversation about who will be the flagbearer at the moment. We are focused on developing the party, building structures, and establishing systems that demonstrate our commitment to democracy,” he said.

He assured that when the time comes, the ADC’s presidential candidate would be selected through a fair and open process.

“We are preoccupied with developing our party. We are building the structure and putting in place the necessary system that would show Nigerians that we are indeed a democratic party,” Abdullahi emphasized.

“The question of who becomes the flagbearer of the party is a question we are going to answer down the line, and we are going to do so in a very democratic and transparent way.”