Former media aide to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, has raised concerns over alleged behind-the-scenes moves to bring back ex-President Goodluck Jonathan as a presidential candidate in the 2027 elections.

He described the effort as a political stunt aimed at exploiting Nigeria’s power rotation sentiment to win support in the North.

Ahmad made his views known via a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, claiming that certain unnamed political actors are lobbying Jonathan to return to the presidential race under the premise that he would serve only one term.

“From all indications, there are ongoing subtle moves by certain political elements trying to convince former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest again in 2027,” Ahmad wrote.

“They calculate that his candidacy will be easy to market in the North under the guise that he would only serve a single term.”

He criticized the alleged plot as being based on convenience rather than national interest or leadership merit.

“The troubling part is that this push is not rooted in what he would offer the North or the country at large, but merely in political convenience and power rotation. The North deserves more than being used as a political ladder,” he added.

Jonathan, who governed Nigeria from 2010 to 2015, was defeated in his re-election bid by Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

Under Nigeria’s constitutional guidelines, he remains eligible to contest for only one more term.

As preparations intensify for the August 30, 2025 local government elections in Rivers State, a significant number of chairmanship and councillorship candidates across both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have emerged from the political camp of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Over the weekend, major political parties conducted primaries across the state following the release of election guidelines by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

While some aspirants clinched their tickets through conventional primaries, others reportedly emerged through consensus arrangements.

Many of the selected candidates are known allies of the former Rivers governor and served in key political positions during his tenure.

Notably, Charles Wobodo emerged as the APC chairmanship candidate for Ikwerre Local Government Area, securing 64 out of 65 delegate votes during an electronic primary.

Announcing the result, the Returning Officer Daniel Michael declared Wobodo the party’s candidate, after which Wobodo expressed gratitude to party stakeholders and pledged accountable leadership.

“You have shown that hard work pays. I assure you my win is for Ikwerre Local Government,” he stated during his acceptance speech.

Other prominent names who secured tickets include:

Dr. Chidi Lloyd (Emuoha LGA – PDP)

Dr. Thomas Bariere (Khana LGA – PDP)

Hon. Confidence Dekor (Gokana LGA – PDP)

Mbakpone Okpe (Tai LGA)

Akuro Tobins (Okrika LGA)

Allwell Ihunda (Port Harcourt City LGA)

Onengiyeofori George (Asari-Toru LGA)

Additional candidates include:

Shedrack Chukwu (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA)

Uchechukwu Obasi (Omuma LGA)

Michael Williams (Degema LGA)

Okechukwu Akara (Oyigbo LGA)

Abinye Blessing Pepple (Bonny LGA)

Vincent Nemioboka (Ogu/Bolo LGA)

Hon. Chima Njoku (Etche LGA)

These names are all reportedly aligned with Wike’s political structure.

However, not everyone within the APC is on board.

The faction led by Chief Emeka Beke has openly disavowed the emergence of some candidates, alleging that they were not produced through authorized party procedures.

APC spokesperson Darrington Nwauju emphasized that “Our party has a constitution and clear processes for conducting primaries. We do not recognize endorsements or flag handovers to individuals who are not known members or whose names are missing from the party register.”

As of now, candidates for about eight local government areas are yet to be announced, keeping the political temperature high in the oil-rich state.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Anambra State, John Nwosu, has strongly criticized incumbent Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo over what he described as insulting and demeaning statements made during a recent campaign rally.

While addressing supporters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area, Soludo reportedly mocked his political rivals, stating that “street urchins cannot govern a state that has produced prominent individuals.”

He also took a jab at candidates pledging to serve a single term in respect of the state’s zoning arrangement, suggesting that such people “need psychiatric evaluation.”

Reacting to the governor’s comments, Nwosu accused Soludo of lacking decorum and using disparaging language to cover up for what he called the failures of his administration. He fired back, saying:

“Passing six is not passing sense.”

In a scathing statement, Nwosu said “It is deeply troubling that Governor Soludo has descended into name-calling and reckless stereotyping of his opponents. His remarks suggest a deep-seated fear that he may not secure a second term due to his underwhelming performance.”

Nwosu further emphasized his commitment to zoning and political equity, noting that unlike Soludo, he has sworn a public affidavit to serve only one term if elected, in honor of the Anambra South zoning arrangement.

He described this as a reflection of integrity and regional fairness.

“Rather than ridicule those offering the people of Anambra a credible alternative, the governor should be explaining why his promises have fallen flat,” Nwosu said.

“I stand out as the only candidate to publicly declare in legal terms that I will do just one term. That is a mark of leadership, not weakness.”

He ended his remarks by taking another swipe at Soludo’s governance style: “Anambra deserves digital governance, not Soludo’s archaic module.”

Retired Major General Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma has decried the continued marginalisation of the Igbo people in Nigeria, stating that despite their unwavering loyalty to the idea of a united country, they remain politically and economically excluded.

Speaking at a virtual town hall meeting organised by Ikengaonline on Thursday, Gen. Ijioma argued that over 50 years after the civil war ended, the Southeast has yet to be fully reintegrated or accepted.

“Our people at the end of the war wholeheartedly wanted to be reintegrated into Nigeria and have done everything possible to convince Nigerians that we are Nigerians,” he said.

“But I want to observe that despite these efforts, it seems that there is an agreement by Nigerians that the war hasn’t ended.”

Gen. Ijioma, who served in the Nigerian Army for more than three decades and attained the rank of Major General, said his experiences in the military made it clear that the Igbo are still viewed as outsiders.

“Nigeria is still at war against Ndigbo,” he said. “My experience in service convinced me that the rest of Nigeria have not accepted that the war ended in 1970.”

He compared the national dynamic to a scenario where “six dwarfs ganged up against their giant sibling,” describing Nigeria as a country where smaller ethnic groups collectively suppress a larger one.

The retired general also highlighted the persistent denial of the presidency to the Igbo, pointing out that while other ethnic groups have occupied the highest political office, the Southeast has been systematically excluded.

“If President Tinubu runs his second course in 2027, that will be eight years. Then add it to eight years of former President Obasanjo, making it 16 years for the Yoruba nation,” he said.

“Add it to the six years of Jonathan, and eight years of Buhari, that is 30 years of political exclusion. By 2031, the presidency goes back to the North. That would be 38 years of continued exclusion of Igbo from the Nigerian presidency.”

Despite this marginalisation, Gen. Ijioma stressed the contributions of the Igbo to national development and unity.

“We fought because we had a just cause. I don’t know why Nigeria is so afraid of Ndigbo. It’s because of the fact that Ndigbo are true Nigerians.”

“I don’t just claim Ndigbo are the true Nigerians, but in theory and in practice we are the true Nigerians. The development Nigeria has made is as a result of the effort of Ndigbo. I will dare you and I will challenge you to show me an Hausa man in Igbo land developing it as we do outside Igbo land.”

“In Igbo land, you won’t see any Hausa man’s house, or any Yoruba man’s house, but look at Lagos and other parts of the country, we have landed property in them. Twenty five per cent of houses in Lagos belong to Ndigbo. The same thing in other cities. This is because we believe in One Nigeria.”

He questioned the logic behind excluding a people so committed to the country’s unity:

“Why is it that the people that are so committed to Nigeria are the people that are so excluded from Nigeria?”

Gen. Ijioma also criticised Southeast political leaders, particularly the governors, for their failure to present a unified front and protect the region’s interests. He blamed internal divisions for the region’s diminished political clout.

“When we were in PDP, were we not much stronger and was our voice not louder? Were we not respected?” he asked. “Now that you have APC crawling in and taking two states, you have Labour, you have PDP struggling in Enugu, and APGA in Anambra. Is there any doubt to anybody why our status has gone miserable? It’s because of division.”

Reflecting on the political timeline, he described 2015 to 2025 as the most challenging decade for the Igbo since independence.

“This is an era when Ndigbo people were excluded from the leadership of certain parties, excluded from the leadership of the legislative arm of government, and excluded from governance in Nigeria.”

Still, Gen. Ijioma expressed optimism, calling for introspection and unity among the Igbo to reclaim their place in national politics.

“But there is hope,” he said. “The hope is that Ndigbo will do a self-searching, self-re-evaluation to be able to do the whole of the united front.”

He warned against blind loyalty to leaders lacking credibility, noting that the erosion of values within the region was partly to blame for its current predicament.

“You see people following people who ordinarily do not have the integrity to be called leaders,” he said. “Is it not high time they held their political representatives to account?”

Concluding, the retired general affirmed that the Igbo still possess the numbers and capacity to claim the presidency, if they organise strategically and build alliances.

“With about 65 million people that make up the 200 million in Nigeria, the Igbo, with marginal support from other regions, can put one of their own kind in the presidency come 2027.”

Former National Treasurer of the Labour Party, Oluchi Oparah, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for disqualifying candidates submitted by the Julius Abure-led faction from participating in the forthcoming August 16 bye-elections.

She described the electoral body’s action as one that “restored sanity and respect for the rule of law.”

In its final list of nominated candidates for the elections, INEC excluded all names submitted by Abure’s group, citing the April 4, 2025 Supreme Court ruling.

The commission said the judgment affirmed that Abure ceased to be the party’s National Chairman as of June 8, 2023, and that INEC did not monitor the primaries conducted under his leadership, rendering them invalid under the Electoral Act.

Oparah, known for her role in exposing alleged financial mismanagement during Abure’s tenure, hailed the development as a significant step forward for accountability and internal party democracy.

“INEC has finally done the right thing. Abure’s leadership expired last year. Any action taken by him since then, including organising primaries, is null and void. This is what the Supreme Court reinforced, and INEC is simply enforcing the law,” she said in a statement.

She further urged the public and party members to disregard narratives suggesting that the Labour Party was being unfairly targeted.

“Ignore any misleading narrative that suggests the Labour Party is being sidelined,” she stated. “It is the illegal faction that is being rightfully shut out.”

However, the Abure-led faction quickly issued a strong response, condemning INEC’s decision and labeling it an unconstitutional overreach into party affairs.

Obiora Ifoh, National Publicity Secretary of the Abure faction, argued that INEC had overstepped its legal mandate by interpreting a Supreme Court judgment and determining the legitimacy of a political party’s leadership.

“INEC is not a court of law. Its job is to conduct elections, not to act as a judge over political parties’ internal matters. The Supreme Court never ruled against Abure’s authority to lead the party,” Ifoh said in a statement.

He maintained that the Labour Party remains legally recognized and retains full rights to nominate candidates for elections. He also threatened legal action against INEC.

“INEC’s action is provocative and unacceptable. It will be challenged. No election should go on without Labour Party on the ballot,” he added.

Although INEC has yet to issue an official public statement, insiders at the commission confirmed that the decision was based on the legal guidance of the Supreme Court ruling and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.

“No primaries were monitored under Mr. Abure. His tenure ended in June 2023. That’s the position of the law, and INEC cannot overlook that,” a senior INEC official said.

The Labour Party (LP), led by its National Chairman, Julius Abure, has issued a strong condemnation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for omitting its candidates from the upcoming bye-elections scheduled for August 16, 2025.

In a statement released on Saturday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the LP described INEC’s action as “unlawful, shocking, and a blatant misuse of authority.”

The party announced its intention to challenge the move through legal means.

Citing constitutional and electoral provisions, the statement emphasized the party’s legitimate right to sponsor candidates in all elections.

It read in part: “The party is also aware that the INEC has no powers to either stop it from sponsoring candidates nor cherry-pick elections where it deems fit for our party to field candidates. It is on record that no court in Nigeria, including the Supreme Court, has derecognised the present leadership of the Labour Party.”

The Labour Party also addressed the Supreme Court’s ruling from April 4, 2025, clarifying that it focused on jurisdiction rather than the core issue.

‘It is also a fact that the April 4, 2025, judgement of the Supreme Court ruled only on the lack of jurisdiction of the lower court and the Court of Appeal.

The Supreme Court did not rule on the substantive matter, as courts, including the Supreme Court, are barred from entertaining cases on the internal matters of any political party.’

“he Supreme Court, in its wisdom, ruled that parties should resolve their problems within the available mechanism as provided by their constitutions. At no point did the Supreme Court empower INEC to interfere with the internal matters of the political party. INEC, being a regulatory body, must limit itself to the provisions of the laws that instituted it.”

The party warned INEC against overreaching its mandate.

“INEC cannot stop political parties from fielding candidates in an election, provided the political parties abide by the requirements of the Electoral Acts.”

“We are by this statement asking INEC to enlist our duly nominated candidates for the August 16 bye-election without further delay, and also refrain from interfering with the internal matters of the Labour Party.”

LP further stressed that interpreting court rulings was outside INEC’s remit.

“The statement further stated that INEC cannot arrogate to itself the powers of the courts or give a different interpretation to a clear judgement of the apex court”.

It vowed to contest the exclusion if not corrected, warning of legal consequences.

” The actions of the INEC, if not redressed immediately, will be challenged. The Labour Party, as a responsible organisation, will do everything within the law to ensure that all efforts by INEC to intimidate, harass, and ridicule the Labour Party will be resisted.”

LP reiterated its commitment to the Nigerian electorate.

‘Labour Party has built a reputation in the last 23 years as a party for the masses, and we will not succumb to the renewed onslaught by some politicians using every available means to stultify our party’s progress. The Labour Party is not for sale, and any institution or commission making itself available to be used by politicians will have itself to blame.’

The party warned of the broader implications of excluding it from the elections.

‘We warn that it will be a waste of resources and precious time should INEC go ahead with the bye-election without the Labour Party on the ballot. It will indeed be catastrophic, and a colossal loss of scarce monetary resources should INEC have its way.’

Finally, the statement called for calm among supporters and urged vigilance.

‘We are also calling on Nigerians, particularly Labour Party members, to remain vigilant and to keep praying for the nation that someday, the electoral process in Nigeria will be gotten right and that some persons will be made to take responsibility for their actions and inactions while in office.”

“We are also calling on all our candidates to remain calm, as the party will do everything possible to ensure their names are uploaded for the August 16, 2025, bye-election and every other election in the future”, Abure assured.