The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has urged Nigerians to reject the coalition forming under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing its members as “naysayers and unpatriotic.”

Speaking on Saturday at the 35th Combined Convocation and 50th Anniversary of the University of Port Harcourt, where he was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Science in Political Science, Wike claimed the coalition’s sole aim was to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027, despite lacking any credible record of service from past positions they’ve held.

He said, “The only intention of the coalition is to wrest power from incumbent President, Bola Tinubu, come 2027, even when they have no proven record of achievement in the various elective positions they have occupied in the past.”

Wike commended Tinubu’s early decisions in office, describing them as painful but necessary steps toward national transformation. He noted that some progress is already evident.

“Through his Renewed Hope Agenda, he has with the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund among other remarkable initiatives started the dramatic transformation of tertiary education landscape in such a way that soon, no willing child will be denied access to quality education because of economic hardship.”

He added, “Our country is undoubtedly on the path of positive ascendency and very soon, the impact will be visible even to the blind and obvious even to the cynically minded.”

Condemning the coalition, Wike accused its members of promoting falsehoods and division as part of a political agenda to undermine the Tinubu-led government.

He said, “We must resist the purveyors of lies, hate and division who seek to destroy our country. These men and women who converge under the banner of so-called coalition and propelling a division of grandeur and perpetual fight for relevance and political power.”

“If you interrogate their profiles, you will find that they have been in office for almost all their lives. Yet, they have nothing concrete to show of their achievements in building an enduring nation.”

He continued, “In only two years of this administration, they are congregating to destroy rather than build and rather than reconstruct our hitherto battered country for which most of them have been active dramatis personae in the willful destruction of our politics and economy which they painfully orchestrated in their respective tenure in office.”

“We know these naysayers and you are enjoined to reject them and their unpatriotic drum beats of division and failed propaganda.”

Speaking further about his ties with the University of Port Harcourt, Wike reflected on his long-standing relationship with the institution and why he continues to support it.

“It is in the light of the foregoing that I have always strongly believed that every alumnus should give back to the university as a mark of pure gratitude.”

“This also explains why I freely give to this institution whenever I have had the opportunity to so do.”

He recalled that there was no Faculty of Law at the university until his intervention during his time as Minister of State for Education.

“To this extent, you would recall that even though this university was established in 1975 as a conventional university, there was no Law faculty in this university.”

“So, when I became a Minister of State (for) Education, I saw it as an opportunity that we must have a Faculty of Law. I’m glad that the Vice-Chancellor said it here today that today, we have a Faculty of Law. I did not only end at that; I said there must be a befitting Faculty of Law building, and I insisted, and today, we have that Faculty of Law.”

As political discussions continue to swirl around zoning and power rotation ahead of the 2027 general elections, Umar Sani, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed his preference for former President Goodluck Jonathan over Peter Obi as the party’s presidential candidate.

Sani, who once served as media aide to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, made the statement during an appearance on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme on Saturday.

Addressing growing speculation that the PDP might be considering bringing back Jonathan or forming an alliance with Peter Obi, Sani argued that the North would find Jonathan a more suitable choice.

He explained that Jonathan’s return would allow the South to complete a constitutionally limited four-year term, which he believes aligns better with regional expectations than Obi’s voluntary pledge.

“I will prefer that President Jonathan takes the ticket, not because I do not like Obi, but because that will ensure that the South will have completed their four years,” he said.

According to Sani, Jonathan is limited by law to just one term, making his tenure predictable and finite.

On the other hand, Obi who ran under the Labour Party in 2023 and has declared his interest in the 2027 race has only promised to stay in office for one term, a pledge Sani views as uncertain.

“Between somebody making a promise and somebody who is compelled by the law that he must leave, which one will you take? This one is compelled by the law, he does not need to make any promise.”

“He has to go after four years. This one is making a promise. A promise can be kept and may not be kept either way. But on this one, you are sure that it must be kept. So for the North, I think Goodluck Jonathan is the best choice,” Sani added.

He acknowledged that Peter Obi enjoys widespread credibility and personal integrity, but stressed that when it comes to balancing national interests, especially with regard to the North’s political future, Jonathan represents the safer path.

Sani’s remarks align with a broader political narrative: that any Southern candidate in 2027 should be expected to serve only a four-year term in order to complete the region’s eight-year cycle, matching the tenure of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner.

Peter Obi, in his 2027 declaration, had stated his readiness to serve a single term if elected.

However, Sani believes that relying solely on verbal commitments leaves the North vulnerable and may delay its return to power.

Former Governor of Osun State and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has publicly declared that he will not be contesting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket ahead of the 2026 election.

Addressing party stakeholders at a meeting held in Osogbo over the weekend, Oyetola urged all aspirants seeking the APC ticket to engage in a peaceful and healthy competition, stressing that internal unity and mutual respect are essential to the party’s success.

“You should all avoid the campaign of calumny and be your brother’s keeper. I am no longer interested in vying for the governorship ticket with you,” Oyetola stated.

Although initially rumored to be considering another run alongside figures like Senator Ajibola Basiru, Bola Oyebamiji, Senators Iyiola Omisore, Mudashiru Husain, and Omooba Dotun Babayemi, Oyetola has now made it clear that he is stepping aside for others to contest.

He expressed confidence in the APC’s chances in the 2026 gubernatorial election, pointing to the growing influx of new members as proof of the party’s strength.

“You all can see that the APC remains the party to beat anytime and any day. As of today, we are receiving people into the party, and many are still coming,” he said.

“This development has further attested to our vibrancy, potency and formidability. This has always been my dream to build a virile, potent and formidable party that would return the progressives to government.”

The Minister was also optimistic about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s prospects in the 2027 presidential election.

“I thank God that this is manifesting, and I can assure you that God on our side, we will win the governorship election next year in Osun State and deliver our state with massive votes for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.

“We have many justifications to send the current government packing, and we will return our party to the government next year by God’s grace.”

“We have qualified, quality, competent and people of outstanding track records as aspirants contesting for the governorship election, and this is a unique selling proposition to feast on, and we will continue to complement the federal government’s efforts on all fronts.”

Commenting on the coalition of opposition parties in the state, Oyetola dismissed it as lacking credibility and built on shaky foundations.

“Whatever builds on conspiracy, connivance and vendetta will collapse, and it is crystal clear that the coalition is drifting to collapse. This has no iota of effect on us, particularly in Osun,” he said.

“We knew this since it is the same TOP that metamorphosed to Omoluabi and later ADC. We are resolute to come victorious in the future elections, and this is incontestable.”

Some of the APC governorship aspirants present at the meeting included; Senator Babajide Omoworare and Barrister Kunle Adegoke, SAN, among others.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has completed the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Anambra State, recording a total of 168,187 new registrants.

This marks the highest number of new voters registered within a two-week period since the CVR process was introduced in 2017.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mr. Sam Olumekun, made the announcement in a statement issued on Friday in Awka.

“The CVR, which was initially scheduled to end on July 17, was extended by three days to July 20, 2025, in response to appeals from stakeholders,” Olumekun explained.

“The turnout reflected the growing interest of citizens in the electoral process ahead of the Nov. 8 off-cycle governorship election in Anambra state.”

While noting that the current numbers were still preliminary and subject to data validation, Olumekun provided a breakdown of the demographic statistics.

Of the 168,187 registrants, 97,832 (58%) were female, while 70,355 (42%) were male.

He further revealed that young voters between the ages of 18 and 34 made up a significant portion of the registrants, totaling 90,763 or 53.97% of the new voters.

In terms of occupation, business owners formed the largest group, with 62,157 registrants, accounting for 36.92%, followed by students at 44,243 or 26.31%.

Additionally, 303 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) were registered, alongside 207 individuals identified as persons with albinism.

“A comprehensive demographic breakdown has been uploaded to the commission’s website and other digital platforms for public information,” Olumekun added.

The next step in the electoral process will be the display of the preliminary voter register across the 326 Wards in the state.

This phase, scheduled from July 26 to August 1, will allow members of the public to inspect the register and raise any claims or objections.

“Once this is concluded and the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) is deployed to weed out multiple or ineligible entries, the new registrants will be added to the existing register,” he said.

“The complete list will be published on a Polling Unit basis.”

He assured the people of Anambra that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would be ready ahead of the election for all those who newly registered or applied for transfers or replacements.

“With 105 days to the election, the commission is aware of the tight timelines,” Olumekun stated.

“But, we wish to reassure all new registrants in Anambra that their PVCs will be available for collection before the election.”

In a related development, INEC has concluded internal testing of a newly developed portal for political party registration, designed in-house by its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) department.

“As is the case with all our Information Technology (IT) innovations, the new portal has been demonstrated before the commission and approved for deployment,” Olumekun said.

He also disclosed that the commission is currently reviewing 144 letters of intent from political associations seeking registration, with 10 new applications received recently.

Prominent politician and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has announced that the National Political Consultative Group (North) has officially adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform for the 2027 general elections.

Lawal, who also serves as Chairman of the NPCG (North) and a key figure within the ADC, made this disclosure on Saturday during a press conference following the group’s 3rd Expanded Meeting held at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel.

According to Lawal, the decision reflects a broad consensus among Northern political leaders to rally behind a party that they believe will champion the region’s interests and provide a viable alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Well, the truth of the matter is that we started out as what we call a Consultative Forum for Northern politicians, but as the momentum was going on, it appears that the whole of the North has decided that they will join ADC,” Lawal explained.

“So now the distinction between what the National Political Consultative Group is and the ADC has blurred. So our people have encouraged us, have directed us, and have mandated us to organise ourselves in the manner that we deliver whatever we want through the ADC.”

Lawal said the gathering focused on identifying and addressing the deep-rooted challenges facing the Northern region, ranging from insecurity to economic neglect, and on preparing a united political front for the future.

“It’s a meeting of Northerners, specifically to discuss as a family the problems of the devil in the North and how to look for solutions to it, how to prepare for the oncoming future, to see to the fact that our interests, we elect only somebody who has the interests of the North at heart and who will address the challenges facing the North,” he said.

Criticising the current administration, he stated:
“Because as it is, we are of the opinion that this government has no interest in solving problems confronting the North, be it infrastructure, be it economy, be it security. So we have to take the ball in our hands and work towards achieving solutions to our problems.”

The decision comes in the wake of the July 1 public unveiling of the ADC as a coalition platform for several high-profile political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former APC presidential aspirant Rotimi Amaechi, and ex-Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai.

As part of its restructuring, the party appointed former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim National Chairman and Secretary, respectively.

Lawal said the bloc aims to actively spread its message and mobilize citizens, especially in Northern Nigeria, to form a strong and united voter base.

“There’s insecurity, there’s economic deprivation, there’s marginalisation, there’s everything that is designed to humble us, designed to disintegrate us, designed to underdevelop us. But, we have resolve to enlighten our people and get needed support to tackle these challenges.”

He expressed confidence in the democratic values of the ADC, noting that internal processes such as congresses and conventions would be held to elect credible candidates.

“The ADC as a political party is a party that is founded on democratic principles. And it is our party. We are going to go to conduct congresses and conventions to elect our representatives at the election.”

“And whoever emerges, be it North, South, Central, West whoever emerges at either the congresses or at the convention, ADC will support it, and the Northern Political Consultative Group will support that decision.”

Addressing concerns about electoral transparency, Lawal was optimistic that the 2027 elections would be credible.

“I don’t believe no one in ADC leadership or rank and file believes that votes do not count. Votes do count. And we are going to make sure that votes do count. This election, votes will count,” he assured.

He concluded with a message of determination and readiness to challenge the ruling party:
“I tell you, forget about this fear that votes will not count. APC is a party of Nigerians. ADC is one. Whatever techniques, whatever malicious activity they throw at us, we’ll counter it effectively. And we’ll counter and defeat them at it.”

A group of young political actors under the aegis of the Enugu Citizens Coalition (ECC) has launched a grassroots mobilization campaign aimed at reshaping the political narrative in Enugu State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE, the convener of the coalition, Chizoba Ugwuagbo, a journalist and political advocate based in Enugu, outlined the group’s vision, mission, and departure from traditional political posturing.

“We are not angry with anyone. We are not out to criticize or condemn. We are not activists demanding good governance or youth inclusion. We are not for or against anyone.”

Instead, the coalition presents itself as a collective of politically conscious individuals determined to prove their competence and readiness to lead.

“We did not come to play hide and seek or pretend to be what we are not,” Ugwuagbo emphasized.

“We are politicians, young, determined and confident that we can do a better job than many of those currently occupying elective positions.”

According to Ugwuagbo, the Enugu Citizens Coalition intends to go beyond rhetoric, taking its message to all corners of the state from markets and schools to offices and rural communities.

“We have come together to articulate a clear vision and communicate it directly to the custodians of the people’s mandate, the voters,” he said.

“With practical, workable plans, programs, and policies, we aim to win their hearts, their love, their trust, and ultimately, their votes.”

He noted that the coalition’s objective goes beyond winning elections.

“Most importantly, we will never betray their trust or confidence. Our goal is not just to win political power, but to genuinely do a better job when entrusted with it.”

Ugwuagbo announced that the Enugu Citizens Coalition has now officially launched what it calls “The Enugu Conversation”, a statewide dialogue and movement focused on accountability, performance, and people-driven leadership.

DAILY GAZETTE reports that since the emergence of ECC, political discourse across Enugu State has intensified.

Whether the group can translate its grassroots appeal into electoral success remains to be seen, but its message of competence and transparency is already gaining attention.