Founding National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu, has announced a major shake-up within the party, revealing that its leadership has voluntarily resigned to pave the way for new figures to take charge.

Speaking at a high-profile event on Wednesday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, Nwosu said the move was part of efforts to reposition the ADC as a credible political platform for a new opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the transition is designed to allow former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola to assume critical leadership roles within the party and the broader coalition.

“We all decided to resign so that Mark, Aregbesola and others can lead us to the Villa,” Nwosu stated, underscoring the strategic nature of the decision.

He further confirmed that the party leadership unanimously endorsed both men for top roles in the evolving political formation.

“We also approved Mark as National Chairman and Aregbesola as the National Secretary of the party. When you look at the two of them and their commitment to this country, you’ll see that this is a new beginning. They will reposition the party and Nigeria,” Nwosu added.

A rift between Nigeria’s two legislative chambers has escalated, as the House of Representatives has voted to halt consideration of all bills originating from the Senate.

The move, announced on Wednesday, July 2, stems from growing frustration over what the House views as a lack of legislative reciprocity from the upper chamber.

The motion to suspend Senate bills was prompted by Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, who called attention to the disparity in how each chamber treats the other’s legislative output.

According to Chinda, while the House often expedites Senate-originated bills, the Senate has failed to act on more than 140 bills passed by the House.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, echoed these concerns, citing his own experience with stalled legislation.

“This is not acceptable. Unless we receive considerable assurance from the Senate, we will no longer consider their bills,” Abbas said.

He revealed that no fewer than 146 bills passed by the House, including over 10 personally sponsored by him, are currently awaiting Senate concurrence, with some delays stretching beyond six months.

The tipping point came during deliberations on a Senate bill to amend the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital Management Act, which sought to establish a Federal Orthopaedic Hospital in Obokun, Osun State.

House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, had moved for the bill’s second reading, but was met with strong resistance from several members.

Rep. Dagomie Abiante (PDP, Rivers) expressed frustration over his own legislative proposals being ignored by the Senate.

“Meanwhile, we continue to entertain and approve their bills,” he lamented.

Hon. Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno) backed the decision, urging the House Committee on Rules and Business to meet with their Senate counterparts and uncover the reasons behind the backlog.

He argued that shelving Senate bills would send a clear message: the House expects mutual respect and timely collaboration.

Despite Speaker Abbas initially urging his colleagues to allow the Senate bill to move forward, the chamber held its ground.

Lawmakers voted to step down the bill and impose a blanket suspension on all pending Senate-originated legislation until further notice.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a stern warning to its members who are reportedly showing interest in joining a newly emerging political coalition.

The party says it is closely monitoring the situation and will not hesitate to act when necessary.

Speaking to journalists after a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) held at the PDP headquarters on Wednesday, the party’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, emphasized loyalty and unity within the PDP.

“Our leaders have already come together to give us this leadership. This is what you can see in this NWC,” Damagum said.

“And I keep reiterating this is the only party in the country that has lasted this long. We have mastered the act of conflict resolution. We know our problems and we solve it within ourselves.”

He noted that the party has remained a political home to many, urging members not to be swayed by alliances outside the PDP.

“To those that are contemplating, they should know that there is no place and there’s nowhere that will be as accommodating as our party. But if they feel otherwise, I will wish them good luck. But I know they will run coming back,” he stated.

Damagum also delivered a caution to those who may be undermining the party’s image in public or flirting with other political parties.

“I want to re-emphasize that if you are a member of the People’s Democratic Party, we are drawing a line for those that go to demarket the party. We will watch them and take appropriate actions at the right time,” he warned.

“If you believe in this party, you should be an ambassador that protects the fortunes that this party has given to the citizens of this country when it was there.”

Addressing internal concerns, the acting chairman assured party faithful that the PDP was stable and ready for the months ahead.

He confirmed that a scheduled National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will hold as planned.

“We remain united despite all the challenges. We have sat down to discuss all thorny issues and trash it out today,” he said.

“We’ve agreed that we have already, as proposed by the last NEC, that the NEC meeting scheduled for 23rd, 24th and 25th will still hold. To our members, I want to bring good tidings, that your party is intact.”

In addition to internal matters, Damagum turned his attention to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it of political interference and attempting to lure PDP members.

“To APC, I want to send a message, that you can continue to harass, and buy our members. But the 2027 election is between Nigerians and APC. So, it is better to start now and correct your ways,” he declared.

He criticized the APC’s governance, particularly regarding economic hardship and national insecurity.

“Hunger, insecurity, arbitrary extortion of Nigerians is more than overwhelming. So, we are in a democratic setting. We should hear the yearning of people.”

“Like I said earlier, we are not conquered. We are law-abiding citizens. We deserve to be heard. For democracy to thrive people must say their minds. People should be listened to and policies should be people-oriented. It’s not for the few,” Damagum added.

Top opposition figures across Nigeria’s major political parties gathered on Wednesday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja for a major coalition meeting under the umbrella of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The coalition, aiming to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, is holding a media conference at the venue to announce its united political front.

Among the prominent attendees are 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi. Also spotted at the venue were former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong.

Other influential political figures present include Senator Dino Melaye, media personality Dele Momodu, Senator Gabriel Suswam, and Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party.

The gathering has also drawn attendees from various political backgrounds, with figures from the PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the LP present for the high-level meeting.

Additionally, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.), are participating in the event.

A key highlight of the coalition’s formation is the formal adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform for 2027.

As part of the restructuring, former Senate President David Mark, who recently resigned from the PDP, has been appointed as the interim national chairman of the ADC.

Alongside him, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has been named as the interim national secretary of the party.

The Plateau State House of Assembly has elected Hon. Nanloong Daniel as its new Speaker, following the sudden resignation of Hon. Gabriel Dewan.

The leadership transition occurred on Wednesday during an emergency plenary session held at the temporary Assembly Complex, situated at the Old Government House in Jos.

Daniel, who represents Mikang State Constituency and previously served as Majority Leader in the 9th Assembly, emerged as the unanimous choice of the 24-member legislature.

The change in leadership came in the wake of a high-level, closed-door meeting involving Governor Caleb Mutfwang, former Speaker Dewan, and other lawmakers.

The meeting was convened to resolve simmering tensions within the Assembly, which has been grappling with internal instability in recent months.

Deputy Speaker Hon. Gwotta Ajang presided over the emergency session and officially oversaw the election of the new speaker.

Dewan, the only lawmaker from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the Assembly, represented the Plateau Central zone.

His resignation is widely seen as part of broader efforts to restore order following the ouster of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers, a development that plunged the House into political disarray.

During a recent interactive session with the Abia State Global Economic Council, Governor Alex Otti reaffirmed his loyalty to the Labour Party (LP) and clarified that he has not joined any opposition coalition.

“I’m not in any coalition,”
he stated unequivocally, adding, “I haven’t attended any meetings organised by the group or been invited to any.”

Governor Otti emphasized that his focus remains firmly on delivering on his mandate to the people of Abia State.

“I am busy doing the work given to me by Abia people and not looking for where to decamp to,”
he explained.

Addressing recent speculations about internal turmoil within the LP, Otti acknowledged the party has had its challenges—but noted the resiliency of its members.

“Yes, the party had a problem, and [we] fought through the Supreme Court to retrieve the party,”
he said.

The unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the flagship platform for Nigeria’s opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections was abruptly halted on Wednesday following a last-minute cancellation by the event venue.

The event, slated to take place at the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Asokoro, Abuja, was intended to officially announce the ADC’s adoption as the main opposition platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, just hours before commencement, organisers were informed by the hotel that the reservation would no longer be honoured due to what was described as an “internal compliance matter.”

A message shared on Instagram by media mogul and politician Dele Momodu included the hotel’s notice:

“Dear Esteemed Patron… due to an internal compliance matter that has just come to our attention, we are unable to proceed with hosting your scheduled event… We are fully aware that the event is less than 24 hours away, and we deeply apologise for the timing and inconvenience this may cause.”

The abrupt cancellation has triggered sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Momodu accused the ruling APC of exerting pressure behind the scenes, suggesting the government was afraid of the growing coalition momentum.

“This is intimidation of opposition by a jittery government,”
he alleged, while insisting that such tactics would not derail the coalition’s efforts to mount a formidable challenge in 2027.

Salihu Lukman, representing People and Passion Consult Ltd, the event’s organiser, condemned the hotel’s decision and demanded that the terms of the agreement be honoured.

“This is unacceptable. Your management has no right to unilaterally sabotage a contract validly and legally agreed to and fully paid for,”
Lukman said.

“You must meet the terms of the contract fully by allowing the event to be held with full compliments of all the services agreed to. This is not negotiable.”

The high-profile unveiling was expected to feature major political figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, and former governors Aminu Tambuwal, Sule Lamido, Liyel Imoke, and Sam Egwu.

Other political heavyweights reportedly involved in the coalition include Peter Obi of the Labour Party, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition coalition has shifted the venue of its much-anticipated unveiling after the Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja abruptly cancelled the event less than 24 hours before it was scheduled to begin.

In a statement signed by the ADC’s Deputy National Secretary, Nkem Ukandu, the coalition confirmed that the unveiling will now hold at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, and is scheduled to commence at 2:00 pm.

Ukandu also noted that the event will be attended by members of the National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, and other influential stakeholders, all on a self-sponsored basis.

The sudden cancellation by Wells Carlton Hotel sparked criticism from opposition figures.

The hotel had claimed an “internal compliance matter” as the reason for the withdrawal. A notice shared publicly by media personality and politician Dele Momodu quoted the hotel’s message:

“We sincerely regret to inform you that due to an internal compliance matter that has just come to our attention, we are unable to proceed with hosting your scheduled event. We are fully aware that the event is less than 24 hours away, and we deeply apologise for the timing and inconvenience this may cause.”

Momodu, reacting to the situation, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating interference to frustrate the coalition’s momentum.

“The intimidation of opposition by a jittery government continues as the booking of a venue for the unveiling of the adopted party, ADC, by the coalition has been unilaterally and suddenly cancelled by the Management of the hotel due to what insiders described as fear of reprisals from APC operatives. But this will not dampen the daredevil determination of opposition forces who are poised to hotly challenge the ruling party.”

Also reacting, Salihu Lukman, speaking on behalf of People and Passion Consult Ltd, the event organiser, denounced the hotel’s action as a clear violation of a legally binding agreement.

“This is unacceptable. Your management has no right to unilaterally sabotage a contract validly and legally agreed to and fully paid for,”
he said.

“You must meet the terms of the contract fully by allowing the event to hold with full compliments of all the services agreed to. This is not negotiable.”

The unveiling is expected to bring together heavyweight political figures across party lines, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, and former governors Aminu Tambuwal, Sule Lamido, Liyel Imoke, and Sam Egwu.

Others said to be involved include Peter Obi of the Labour Party, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and ex-Minister Rotimi Amaechi.

Professor Fatima Alkali, a nominee for commissioner at the Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC), has turned down her appointment.

The disclosure was made by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, during the presentation of the committee’s report at plenary on Tuesday.

Adegbonmire informed the Senate that Alkali, who was nominated to represent the North-East region, had communicated her rejection of the offer directly to the Presidency.

“The committee requested for, and received the curriculum vitae and other supporting documents of the nominees and invited them to appear before it for a screening exercise,” Adegbonmire said.

“On Wednesday, 25th June 2025, two of the nominees appeared before the committee. The third one, Professor Fatima Alkali, turned down the appointment.”

In light of her decision, the committee recommended that she be replaced by another female nominee from the North-East, citing the need for gender fairness.

The other two nominees; Dakas C.J. Dakas, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from the North-Central, and Okolocha from the South-South — were screened and cleared by the committee.

“The nominees possess the requisite qualifications, leadership qualities and comportment to discharge the statutory duties and functions of the offices of chairman and commissioner of the commission,” Adegbonmire said.

“The committee is satisfied about their qualifications, experience, suitability, competence and integrity to assume the position of the chairman and full-time commissioner of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission.”

He also confirmed that no petitions or adverse reports were received against any of the nominees.

Following the report, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the confirmation to a voice vote, and the two nominees were unanimously confirmed by the Senate.

Professor Alkali is a seasoned academic in the field of International Humanitarian Law, currently lecturing at Nile University, Abuja.

With over 19 years of teaching experience across three Nigerian universities, she has built a strong reputation in legal academia.

The Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC) was established in July 1979 under the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act, Cap N118, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

It works closely with the Attorney General of the Federation, advising on reforms, reviewing existing laws, and securing necessary funding to carry out its mandate.