Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, have both raised concerns over speculations that Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso might replace Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 general elections.

The two elder statesmen, speaking separately to The Guardian in Ibadan, reacted to growing reports that the National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) may be brought into the All Progressives Congress (APC) to run on a joint ticket with Tinubu.

Both men described such a move as potentially dangerous, warning of political and electoral consequences, especially in Nigeria’s Northeast region.

According to Shittu, bringing Kwankwaso into the APC should be for support, not replacement.

“His coming to the APC is to support our president. He should not come to replace anyone. It will be dangerous to replace Rabiu Kwankwaso with Shettima. It will affect our votes in the North East. Kwankwaso can be supported to become President in 2031, not to replace Shettima.”

Farounbi, meanwhile, expressed concern over the implications of working with someone like Kwankwaso, whom he described as politically ambitious and unlikely to take a subordinate role.

“Shettima is more controllable than Kwankwaso. Kwankwaso will not take a back seat in terms of governance, because he has presidential ambitions. Shettima is far better for Tinubu than Kwankwaso. I will say it is dangerous to replace Shettima with Kwankwaso,” the former ambassador stated.

The remarks come amid ongoing internal political alignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with Tinubu’s party exploring strategies to retain power.

However, both commentators believe that any decision to alter the current power dynamic within the presidency could carry unintended consequences.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that the Labour Party (LP) will not be participating in the upcoming Edo State National Assembly by-election, slated for next week.

The by-election will be held to fill vacancies in the Edo Central Senatorial District and the Ovia Federal Constituency, following the elevation of Senator Monday Okpebholo and Hon. Dennis Idahosa to Governor and Deputy Governor, respectively.

Speaking at a press briefing in Benin City, the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Anugbum Onuoha, revealed that nine political parties had successfully submitted candidates for the polls.

These include:

Action Alliance (AA)

African Democratic Congress (ADC)

All Progressives Congress (APC)

Allied Peoples Movement (APM)

Action Peoples Party (APP)

Action Democratic Party (ADP)

New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)

While the Labour Party had announced Paul Okojie as its candidate for the Edo Central seat, Prof. Onuoha clarified that the party failed to comply with procedural requirements.

“From our records, the Labour Party and others didn’t invite us for their primaries,” he said.

He added that INEC did not monitor any LP primary because the party failed to notify the commission of its intention to participate.

“Some others invited us, but we got there, and their doors were locked. We could not find anyone,” he noted.

Despite the controversy, the INEC commissioner assured the public of the commission’s readiness to conduct a transparent and hitch-free election.

“The Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) has been configured, while non-sensitive materials have been deployed,” he said.

Prof. Onuoha also disclosed that 101,617 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) remain uncollected in the areas where the by-election will take place, out of a total 719,504 registered voters across the seven local government areas involved.

Responding to calls from the PDP for his redeployment, Onuoha stood firm and appealed for media support in maintaining electoral integrity.

“Even if you bring your brother to INEC, he can’t compromise elections because of the way the commission is structured,” he stated.

The Court of Appeal in Lagos has reinstated an interim forfeiture order secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over 14 properties allegedly linked to former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

The appellate court ruled that constitutional immunity does not protect assets suspected to be acquired through illegal means.

Justice Yargata Nimpar, delivering the lead judgment during a virtual session, ruled that the Federal High Court erred in law when it lifted the forfeiture order by relying on Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

That section protects sitting governors from criminal or civil prosecution but, according to Justice Nimpar, does not shield property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Justices Danlami Senchi and Paul Bassi agreed with the ruling, which clears the path for the EFCC to pursue a final forfeiture hearing on the properties, which span locations in Lagos, Abuja, and even Dubai.

In February 2023, Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos initially granted an interim forfeiture order following an application by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

The agency claimed the properties, including a luxury apartment in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, were likely funded through unlawful means.

Justice Oweibo had also ordered the EFCC to publicize the forfeiture and allow any interested parties to contest the seizure.

Yahaya Bello, still serving as governor at the time, challenged the order, asserting that the assets were acquired before he assumed office.

He invoked Section 308 of the Constitution to argue that as a sitting governor, he could not be subjected to any legal action.

Bello’s lawyers further argued that the Proceeds of Crime Act, 2022, could not be retroactively applied to property acquired before its enactment.

A Kogi State High Court had already barred the EFCC from probing the state’s finances.

The Federal High Court in Lagos lacked jurisdiction since the properties were outside its territorial scope.

In April 2023, Justice Oweibo agreed with Bello and struck out the EFCC’s case, citing lack of jurisdiction and the constitutional immunity clause.

However, the EFCC appealed the decision, insisting that its mandate allowed it to trace and preserve suspected illicit assets, regardless of the owner’s current office.

The agency also claimed it had not been barred by any competent court from performing its duties.

The Court of Appeal agreed, ruling that while governors enjoy immunity from legal action, properties they allegedly acquired through criminal means do not enjoy the same protection.

The panel faulted the trial court’s decision to dismiss the case entirely, instead of allowing proceedings to determine the final forfeiture.

The judgment not only restores the EFCC’s temporary control over the 14 properties but also allows the anti-graft agency to pursue a final forfeiture verdict.

It also dismissed Bello’s objections to the process as “lacking merit.”