The Labour Party (LP) has accused its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of bypassing party structures and showing a lack of financial transparency during the 2023 general elections.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arambri, alleged that Obi operated independently, making key campaign decisions and managing funds without involving the party’s leadership.

“Peter Obi did not give the Labour Party or any of its candidates a single kobo after his nomination,” Arambri said.

“He told us ‘we don’t spend shishi,’ yet claimed to have spent ₦800 million on litigation. I challenge him to prove it.”

He added that while Obi had spent ₦32 million on nomination processes upon joining the party, there was no subsequent financial contribution to the party’s broader campaign activities or support for its candidates.

Arambri went further, alleging that Obi and two unnamed associates opened multiple bank accounts to manage campaign funds without informing the party.

“We know the banks and the account numbers. They went ahead and opened four different accounts before informing the party. How do you run a political campaign like that?” he questioned.

He also revealed that the party was only contacted for a letter of introduction after the accounts had already been set up, suggesting deliberate efforts to exclude the official LP structure from financial matters.

Commenting on the internal party crisis between the Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa factions, Arambri accused Obi of siding with individuals who he claimed had “rigged out the party from within.”

On election day logistics, Arambri blamed Obi’s team for failing to deploy agents to most polling units, leaving the party without the data needed to support its post-election legal claims.

“He went to court without results from most polling units because agents were not paid,” he said, adding that only 54,000 agents were deployed out of the required 199,000.

Reacting to reports that Obi had made donations worth over ₦600 million to churches and other institutions, Arambri expressed skepticism.

“Obi’s people say he donated over ₦600 million in one year. Where is the evidence? The party never received such funds. This is the man who wants to govern Nigeria? There’s no transparency. No accountability,” he said.

Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has said that the North’s lingering issues of poverty, insecurity, and decaying infrastructure are not the fault of President Bola Tinubu but rather the result of decades of failed leadership by past Northern leaders.

Speaking at his residence in Kaduna on Tuesday while receiving members of the Tijjaniyya Grassroots Mobilisation and Empowerment Initiative of Nigeria (TIGMEIN), Sani criticized Northern elites for squandering opportunities and mismanaging the region’s resources.

“We had Buhari in power for eight years, yet the North remained impoverished,” he said, referencing the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also lamented the collapse of major industries that once contributed to Northern Nigeria’s economy.

“Industries like KTL, UNTL, Nortex, Arewa Textiles, and others were abandoned. Our leaders chased personal gains, not the people’s progress,” Sani added.

The former lawmaker strongly opposed attempts to shift blame for the North’s problems onto President Tinubu, who has only been in office for two years.

“The North’s problems didn’t begin two years ago. Former leaders had the chance to fix education, healthcare, and security, but they failed. Today, they want to deceive you that Tinubu is your problem. Ask yourself, did bad hospitals, failed roads, and insecurity start in the last 24 months?” he challenged.

Sani pointed to several long-abandoned projects including the Kaduna–Abuja Road, Minna–Abuja Road, Lokoja–Abuja Expressway, Ajaokuta Steel Company, and the Mambilla Power Project, as evidence of neglect and betrayal by those who once held power in the region.

Warning against recycling such leadership, he said: “No matter how bad things may seem now, know this, your brothers from the North failed you. If they return to power, nothing will change.”

He concluded by praising TIGMEIN’s grassroots development initiatives, particularly its focus on youth and women empowerment.

Sani described the group’s efforts to equip vulnerable populations with vocational skills as a “meaningful approach to tackling poverty and fostering peace.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has unveiled a revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, with nomination and expression of interest forms priced at a total of ₦50 million.

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, the schedule kicks off with a formal notice to the Ekiti State chapter on Friday, July 26, 2025.

Sales of forms will begin on Monday, August 26, 2025, and close on Friday, August 30, 2025, the party announced.

Submission of completed forms and accompanying documents is due on or before Thursday, September 11, 2025.

“Screening of aspirants is scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, while the publication of the screening results will be done the following day, Wednesday, September 24.”

“Aspirants who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the screening may submit appeals on Thursday, September 25, 2025,” the timetable read.

In a move aimed at promoting inclusivity, the APC announced several financial concessions.

The nomination form will cost ₦40 million, while the expression of interest form is priced at ₦10 million, bringing the total fee to ₦50 million for standard aspirants.

“Female aspirants and persons with disabilities are exempted from paying for the nomination form and are only required to purchase the expression of interest form. Youths aged 25 to 40 will receive a 50 percent discount on the nomination form,” the party stated.

The APC further outlined the rest of its pre-election timeline. Updating of the membership register for eligible voters in the primaries will take place from Monday, July 29 to Friday, August 9, 2025.

The ward congress to elect delegates is set for Saturday, September 27, with appeals to be heard on Monday, September 29.

The governorship primary election will hold on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, and the appeal process will conclude on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

The party noted that all forms will be available at the Directorate of Organisation, APC National Headquarters in Abuja. The delegate form will cost ₦5,000.

Additionally, the APC reminded its members that only financially active members, those who have maintained valid membership for at least three months before the timetable’s release, will be eligible to participate in the process.

The party encouraged interested members to contact its Directorate of Organisation or use the contact number provided in the official notice for further guidance.

The Southwest Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA) has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will secure even more states in Northern Nigeria during the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, National Chairman of SWAGA, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, dismissed claims that the North has turned its back on the president’s re-election bid.

The event also marked the official launch of SWAGA 0.2, the second phase of the group’s mobilisation efforts ahead of the next polls.

Recent reports and political commentaries have suggested growing dissatisfaction in the North, with some alleging that the region has been sidelined by Tinubu’s administration despite playing a key role in his 2023 victory.

However, Adeyeye pushed back strongly on that narrative.

“Right now, I even see greater consensus for Asiwaju in the North. Who are the people saying that they will not vote for Asiwaju in the North? They are people who have no electoral value whatsoever. We don’t even know them. Some of them come on TVs and brag and brag, and say all sorts of things,” he said.

According to him, contrary to the perceived division, all APC governors in the North remain solidly behind President Tinubu, with even some opposition governors showing support.

“But what I see in the north right now is that I see all governors in the North particularly of the APC supporting Asiwaju fervently and being loyal to him. I even see governors of other parties in the North still supporting Asiwaju as well,” he said.

He described those spreading anti-Tinubu sentiments as “rabble-rousers” who lack real political influence in the region.

“Don’t let anybody fool you to say this time around the North has made up their mind, they will not vote for Asiwaju. It’s a lie.”

“This time around the North will even vote more, in a bigger way for Asiwaju’s second term ambition. I can assure you of that. Quote me and come back in 2027 after the election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will win more northern states this time around than before.”

Adeyeye also took issue with assumptions that the North votes as one bloc.

“There’s diversity of interest in the North, the North doesn’t have one interest. Just as it is in the South also; we do not have just one interest. Between the Southwest, South South and Southeast, there is diversity of interest,” he explained.

Highlighting the achievements of the Tinubu administration in its first two years, the former Minister of Works cited major reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, floating of the naira, the establishment of 11 new universities, and tax and capital market reforms.

“Tinubu floated the Naira and stopped the reckless printing of currency and corrupt borrowing through the unpopular ‘ways and means’ to defend it against the U.S Dollars, thus ensuring stability in its value with increased inflow of Foreign Direct Investment aided by confidence in Nigeria’s economy,” he said.

He added that Tinubu’s achievements demonstrate a level of leadership preparedness that is unmatched in Nigeria’s democratic history.

“We hereby make bold to say that since 1999 till date, no Nigerian president has come into office with the kind of preparation, vision and passion that President Tinubu has displayed. We are of the firm conviction that if a government in Nigeria has been able to achieve so much within just 2 years in office… then Nigerians are in for a better and brighter future.”

Also speaking at the event, SWAGA National Secretary and former lawmaker Bosun Oladele described the group as one of the most vibrant and principle-driven political movements in Nigeria’s democratic history.

“SWAGA carried out its campaign across the country in 2023 based on principles with no record of attacks and injuries,” he noted.