The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has called on Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to return to the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mohammed made the appeal on Friday when he hosted Obi at the Bauchi Government House.

The meeting, attended by members of the ‘Obidient’ movement, was followed by an interactive session with journalists.

Emphasising the need for unity among opposition parties, the governor said “We have to harmonise our interests in the interest of the people of Nigeria. The opposition must come together. This ADC, PDP and even the remaining political parties should come together.”

He further explained that his call wasn’t about hostility toward the ruling administration, but about the need for a stronger and more focused opposition.

“And we don’t even hate the present administration. We wish they would do better, but as I discussed with you, there’s no budget. There is no plan. Everything is about politics from day one.”

Mohammed stressed that unity and sacrifice are required to meet the expectations of Nigerians:

“We have to be cautious, not to disparage our people. We have to unite the opposition, our ego and our interests. So that we can present a common front to compete and to make sure that we go to the promised land.”

He described the mood in the country as tense, adding “There is a lot of hunger and anger. And we don’t want to cause so many disparaging movements.”

In a direct appeal, the governor urged Obi to rejoin the PDP “So please come back. That’s where you belong. Don’t go anywhere that is in disarray.”

In response, Peter Obi said his visit to Bauchi was primarily to engage with young people, particularly students in health colleges and Almajiri schools.

“I was in Bauchi to interact with youths in colleges of health and the Almajiris.”

He expressed optimism following the interactions, saying “Based on the interactions I’ve had with future leaders, I am satisfied with their potential.”

Obi also commended Bala Mohammed for his achievements in the education sector.

“I appreciate Bala for the wonderful work he is doing in education.”

Addressing questions about Nigeria’s political direction, Obi stated:

“Our politics must change. It has to be politics of development, politics of competence, politics of capacity and compassion, where we care for other people.”

He described his meeting with Governor Mohammed as a courtesy visit to discuss national issues:

“I visited Bala on a courtesy call to talk about the problems of the country. How can we solve it together?”

Obi also reiterated the importance of political alliances ahead of the 2027 elections; “Alliance is not for power grabbing, but to bring about changes and development.”

As part of his visit, Obi donated a total of N15 million to two educational institutions in Bauchi; N10 million to Malikiyya College of Nursing Sciences and N5 million to Intisharu Islamic and Quranic Memorisation School.

Speaking during the donation at Malikiyya College of Nursing Sciences, he emphasised the role of nurses in healthcare delivery:

“You are very important to this Nigeria, and if there is anything we can do to support what you are doing, we need to do it. The nurse is more important than the doctor. The nurse knows the patient, the nurse owns the patient, the nurse is everything.”

The immediate past Deputy Governor of Abia State, Chief Ude Oko-Chukwu, has formally resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

In a letter addressed to the PDP Chairman of Ndi-Elu Ward on Thursday, Chief Oko-Chukwu cited personal reasons for his decision to quit the party.

The letter, obtained by DAILY GAZETTE reads in part:

“I write to formally inform you of my resignation as a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), effective immediately.

“You may wish to know that I am resigning due to personal reasons. While it was a difficult decision to make, it is the best course of action for me at this time.”

“I am most grateful for the opportunities the party availed me to serve at various levels, and I deeply appreciate the experience and knowledge gained during my membership.”

Chief Oko-Chukwu served as Deputy Governor of Abia State from 2015 to 2023 under the PDP-led administration.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to allow eligible inmates in Nigeria’s correctional facilities to participate in future elections, in line with a court ruling affirming their right to vote.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made the disclosure on Friday during a courtesy visit by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Yakubu referenced a 2019 judgement by the Court of Appeal in Benin, which upheld the constitutional rights of inmates to register and vote.

The case had been brought forward by five inmates on behalf of thousands of others, challenging their exclusion from the electoral process.

“The right of inmates to vote has been affirmed by a competent court of law. As a responsible institution, INEC is committed to ensuring that this decision is respected, provided it is done in accordance with the law,” Yakubu said.

He added that the Commission has been engaging with the Nigeria Correctional Service to develop practical frameworks that would allow for inmate participation in elections.

These include access to registration facilities, determining eligible categories of inmates, and addressing the concerns of political parties.

The INEC chairman also emphasized the need for legislative backing from the National Assembly to solidify the legal and operational groundwork for inmate voting.

Responding, Comptroller General Nwakuche urged the Commission to uphold the rights of inmates, especially those awaiting trial, to participate in the country’s democratic process.

According to him, there are currently over 81,000 inmates across Nigeria, with roughly 66% of them yet to be convicted.

“Most of our inmates are awaiting trial and should not be denied their civic rights, especially the right to vote. The recent court ruling has provided a strong basis for this,” Nwakuche said.

While the 2019 ruling stopped short of directing INEC to set up registration centres within correctional facilities, it opened the door for collaboration between the electoral body and prison authorities to explore lawful means for inmate enfranchisement.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will take place in 811 centres spread across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This was disclosed in a statement by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, following the commission’s regular meeting held in Abuja.

To ease access and assist citizens in locating their nearest registration centres, INEC will launch a CVR Live Locator tool, which will go live on August 17, 2025, a day before the exercise begins.

According to Olumekun, the CVR process will begin in two phases.

Online pre-registration is scheduled to commence on August 18, while in-person registration will follow a week later on August 25.

“Thereafter, the two processes will continue simultaneously for a year until August 30,” he said.

Olumekun further explained that the registration exercise will be held from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, excluding national public holidays, in the 811 designated centres which include INEC offices in all 774 Local Government Areas, 36 States and the FCT.

“The locator will go live a day before the commencement of the CVR on Aug.17, 2025 and can be accessed at the following address https://cvr.inecnigeria.org/locator,” he noted.

To help the public, Olumekun revealed that the commission had uploaded a 38-page document listing the physical addresses of all 811 in-person registration centres.

Additionally, dedicated telephone numbers have been assigned for each state to function as help desks for any citizen requiring clarification.

“Similarly, dedicated telephone numbers have been given for each state of the federation to serve as a help desk for citizens who require further clarification,” he added.

Regarding the registration process, Olumekun confirmed that the procedures remain consistent with those used during the last CVR exercise in 2022.

“The procedure for both the online and in-person registrations remains the same as was the case in 2022. Detailed information on the process, including video clips, will once again be released by the commission next week,” he said.

In addition to voter registration, Olumekun gave an update on requests for new political party registrations.

He noted that since the July 23 update, INEC had received eight additional letters of intent from associations wishing to become registered political parties, raising the total number of requests so far to 151.

“Having created the portal for party registration, the commission has commenced the shortlisting of the associations that meet the requirements to proceed to the application stage.”

“Details will be released immediately after the 16 bye-elections in 12 states scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 16,” he stated.

He also mentioned that information on these new requests such as proposed names, acronyms, logos, addresses and interim leaderships, had already been made available on INEC’s official platforms.

Olumekun concluded by assuring Nigerians of the commission’s continued commitment to transparency and timely public engagement.

“The commission would continue to keep citizens informed on all its activities,” he said.

Former national chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Peter Ameh, has criticised the Federal Government for what he described as reckless and extravagant spending, while highlighting Peter Obi as a rare example of a disciplined, people-focused leader.

Speaking during a recent interview on Channels Television, Ameh condemned the current administration’s approach to fiscal policy, particularly its allocation of public funds to luxuries amid widespread poverty.

“We cannot be buying a private jet for ₦150 billion while 80 percent of our population lives in poverty,” Ameh declared.

“You can’t be purchasing candlelight for ministers or spending billions on kitchen utensils while citizens are hungry. This is not governance, it is self-indulgence.”

Ameh praised Obi, the former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate, for consistently advocating prudent spending and prioritising investment in people.

“In Peter, we have someone who understands the value of money, who cuts down on excesses and believes in investing in people,” he said.

“That’s the kind of leadership Nigerians are yearning for.”

He pointed to the performance of the 2024 budget as a reflection of poor governance priorities, noting that recurrent expenditure exceeded 100 percent, while capital investment lagged behind at under 30 percent.

“Our money is being used to service power, not to empower the people,” Ameh added.

“Governance should not be about buying more for yourself, but building more for the people.”

According to him, Obi’s approach marks a clear departure from the entitlement-driven politics that has defined past and present leadership in Nigeria.

“Peter doesn’t promise frivolous things. He speaks about investment in local manufacturing, supporting farmers, and building a self-sustaining economy. That’s the conversation we need.”

He also expressed concern over federal policies that, in his view, undermine domestic industries to please foreign interests.

“Rice prices have dropped, but they’re killing local farmers by allowing imports to flood the market. How does that build an economy? Peter won’t allow that,” he said.

Ameh stressed that meaningful change will only occur when governance is centred on national development, particularly in sectors like agriculture and manufacturing.

“We have the best arable land in the world, yet we import everything,” he said.

“We must invest in our own capacity, agriculture, small businesses and local industries.”

He also addressed Peter Obi’s popularity among Nigerians, asserting that it comes from substance, not spin.

“The people trust him because he walks his talk. He’s not riding on propaganda. He has lived what he preaches,” he stated.

Economic analysts, including Maryam Audu, have echoed similar sentiments, noting that Nigeria’s fiscal structure overwhelmingly supports elite privileges at the expense of broader social welfare.

“The country spends massively on government luxury while neglecting healthcare, education and infrastructure,” Audu said.

“Unless there is a fundamental shift, we will keep going in circles.”

Ameh called for legal reforms to curb excessive government spending and introduce stronger mechanisms for accountability in public procurement.

“You can’t have a system where someone can buy candles with taxpayers’ money and get away with it. That’s abuse,” he said.

He concluded with a reminder that leadership must be rooted in service, not self-interest.

“What we want is a leader who sees governance as a duty, not a feast. Don’t just clap because someone speaks well. Ask: will they save money or spend it on themselves?” he said.