Senator Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State, declared at a campaign rally in Igueben Local Government Area that his administration will begin commissioning a slew of completed projects, aiming to highlight the shortcomings of his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki.

Thanking APC supporters and new defectors, the governor emphasized renewed confidence in state governance:

“I want to thank all members of APC in Igueben Local Government Area. I want to thank the people who decided to say Edo is working again.”

Okpebholo promised an ambitious project commissioning plan:

“Very soon, we will replicate what Nyesom Wike is doing in the Federal Capital Territory by commissioning projects for a whole month. We are planning that in Edo State. We will soon commence the commissioning of completed projects across the three senatorial districts of the State.”

He didn’t hold back in criticizing the former administration:

“The past government said they were going to do a seaport; they never did a half‑kilometer. But today, we are doing it. We are constructing roads across Edo.”

Setting a bold benchmark, the governor affirmed: “We are going to do what they could not do for eight years in one year. Our work will speak for us.”

Highlighting the growing momentum within APC, Okpebholo interpreted recent defections as a sign of shifting political tides:

“They decided that the only way they can pay us back is to come and join us. Today, the narrative is changing.”

He added: “That means my promise of 2.5 million votes to the President comes 2027 is possible.”

Among the high-profile defectors received were Hon. Eugene Inegbobho (member representing Igueben in the Edo State House of Assembly), Hon. Felix Omi Imoisili (a two‑time council chairman and former PDP state secretary), and Hon. Sylvanus Igbogbo.

They were welcomed by Gen. Cecil Isekhaigbe (rtd), APC leader in Edo Central, and Jarret Tenebe, the party’s state chairman.

Political economist and public affairs analyst, Professor Pat Utomi, has come down hard on the National Assembly for approving a controversial borrowing plan exceeding $29 billion.

The economist warned that such unchecked debt accumulation could jeopardize Nigeria’s future and called for a constitutional overhaul mandating a balanced budget except when projected returns outweigh amortisation costs.

Speaking in Lagos, Utomi pointed to rampant corruption and poor governance as core drivers of Nigeria’s economic decay.

He pushed for “new thinking” in public service, urging the adoption of blockchain technology and the recruitment of individuals with proven integrity.

The borrowing decision has ignited a storm of reactions across the political landscape.

Defending the administration, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, responded to the backlash over the $22.5 billion loan approved by the National Assembly, stressing that the Ministry of Finance had already provided detailed information two months prior.

“Effective opposition requires engagement based on verifiable facts and precise analysis, rather than relying on lies, misleading narratives or unsubstantiated claims,” Onanuga wrote on X.

He described much of the criticism as baseless, arguing that constructive discourse should be rooted in analytical scrutiny, not misinformation.

However, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi sharply disagreed with the government’s portrayal of the economic situation.

In a statement, he accused the Tinubu administration of manipulating data to obscure the nation’s worsening financial state.

“Tinubu’s administration is attempting to put a positive spin on the deteriorating economic and household conditions in Nigeria,” Obi said, alleging the government is misrepresenting statistics on inflation, unemployment, and GDP rebasing.

He pointed to a 2022 campaign remark by President Tinubu, where he reportedly dismissed data analysis with the phrase:

“Na statistics we go chop? All I want is to put food on the table of Nigerians.”

Obi lamented that despite such promises, Nigeria now ranks among the world’s hungriest countries, with millions facing daily struggles to meet basic needs.

He underscored the qualities he believes are vital for leadership:

“Governance is not rocket science; it’s not a gamble. Like I have always reiterated, it requires sincerity of purpose, character, competence, capacity and compassion.”

Ibukun Fadipe, a prominent chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, has declared that Governor Ademola Adeleke does not need the backing of the Federal Government to secure re-election in 2026.

According to Fadipe, Adeleke’s impressive performance in office has earned him strong grassroots support across the state.

Speaking during a radio programme monitored by The Guardian, Fadipe, who also serves as Chairman of the State Universal Education Board, made startling claims about President Bola Tinubu’s recent approach to Governor Adeleke.

“President Bola Tinubu begged before the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, endorsed his 2027 re-election bid,” Fadipe revealed.

He added that Adeleke’s decision to support the President was made reluctantly after Tinubu emphasized several development demands for Osun, including refunds for federal road projects handled by the state government and fresh federal interventions.

“The governor accepted to support the President after he stressed the need for Tinubu to refund to Osun State the amount his administration had spent on constructing federal roads in the state, build other deplorable federal roads in the state and embark on other projects that will improve the status of Osun State,” Fadipe explained.

Fadipe also clarified that Adeleke did not require the Federal Government’s assistance to secure victory in the 2026 polls.

“He doesn’t need any support from the Federal Government before winning the 2026 governorship election in the state because he has performed exceedingly,” he said.

He noted that Adeleke’s support for Tinubu faced internal opposition within the PDP, but the governor eventually agreed after persistent efforts by the President’s emissaries.

“The pleadings and entreaties by some emissaries the President sent to the governor overwhelmed Adeleke into accepting Tinubu’s offer,” Fadipe stated.

According to Fadipe, an independent fact-finding mission sent by Tinubu to Osun confirmed the PDP’s dominance in the state, which influenced the decision to seek Adeleke’s political alignment.

“President Tinubu sent an independent team to Osun to find out which political party is popular before discovering that the PDP is the party to beat and so needed Adeleke’s backing,” he disclosed.

Fadipe further alleged that former governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, has not adequately represented Osun at the federal level, prompting Adeleke to consider a political deal with Tinubu for the state’s benefit.

“The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, had failed to represent the state very well at the federal level,” Fadipe alleged.

He stressed that Adeleke’s cooperation with Tinubu should not be mistaken for an intention to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Adeleke’s intention was not to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state,” Fadipe clarified, “he considered Tinubu’s endorsement in the interest of the development of Osun.”

Meanwhile, ahead of the APC’s governorship primaries scheduled for November 2025, the party’s elders caucus convened a closed-door meeting with aspirants on Monday.

The meeting, held at the Ilobu residence of caucus chairman Sola Akinwumi, focused on party unity and preparations for the primaries.

Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, has suggested that Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, may soon return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest for the 2027 presidential ticket.

Obi, who recently aligned with other key opposition figures to form a political coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has publicly shown interest in running for president again.

The coalition’s primary goal is to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general elections.

Despite Obi’s recent affiliation with the ADC-led coalition, there is growing speculation that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is also eyeing the PDP’s presidential ticket.

Speaking during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Sheriff disclosed that reliable intelligence indicates Obi’s return to the PDP is imminent.

“Atiku has been the vice president of Nigeria. So for him, (it is) president or nothing. Peter Obi ran under the Labour Party. His ambition is to become President,” Sheriff stated.

“Information available to me is that any moment from now, Obi would go back to the PDP and run as a presidential candidate under the PDP.”

He further argued that the potential PDP contest would likely narrow down to Obi, Atiku, and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. Sheriff questioned the influence of Obi’s rivals within the party.

“So that leaves Vice President Atiku and (Rotimi) Amaechi. So tell me, which states do they control?” he asked.

As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former political adviser to the Vice President and spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has issued a stern warning: if the elections lack transparency, the country may face grave consequences.

In a statement shared via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Baba-Ahmed expressed growing concern over public skepticism surrounding the upcoming elections.

He urged both political leaders and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take these concerns seriously.

“Voices are being raised regarding integrity of the 2027 elections. Our leaders and INEC should listen. Anything short of the most transparent elections will produce neither winners nor losers. Rigging will risk plunging this country into its worst crises. No one wants that,” he wrote.

Baba-Ahmed’s comments arrive at a time when the National Assembly is debating a proposal to streamline the electoral process.

The House of Representatives is considering an amendment to the Electoral Act that would allow the presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and State Assembly elections to be conducted on the same day.

Meanwhile, the political space has also been abuzz following a recent meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The encounter has sparked speculation across party lines.

Responding to the stir, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, played down any controversy surrounding the meeting.

“Politicians talk; it’s not a sin talking across lines,” he said during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday.

He emphasized that political engagement between leaders, even across party lines, is a normal and strategic part of democracy.

“So, the presidency or friends of the president talking to Kwankwaso or the other way round should not be seen as anything strange or looked at with disdain or suspicion. After all, it’s politics and people align, re-align and shape their political positions.”

According to Abdulaziz, both Tinubu and Kwankwaso share a history that spans over three decades, dating back to their days as senators and state governors.

He said that long-standing relationship should contextualize their recent interaction and dispel any public anxiety.

The Anambra State Government has refuted recent reports claiming that Governor Chukwuma Soludo renamed Abakaliki Street to Club Street, clarifying that the change was made during the tenure of former Governor Willie Obiano.

Social media platforms had been buzzing with allegations that the current administration altered the name of the popular street in Awka, prompting public debate and criticism.

But in a statement issued Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, labelled the allegations as “completely false”.

“Attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to the false and misleading claims made by one M.O. Idam Esq. against Governor Chukwuma Soludo, published by some online news platforms,” the statement began.

Mefor explained that the renaming in question took place before Soludo assumed office, firmly attributing it to the Obiano administration.

“Idam had alleged that Governor Soludo renamed Abakaliki Street to Club Street, which is completely false,” he said.

“The truth is that the renaming of Abakaliki Street to Club Street and the assigning of an adjacent street to Abakaliki Street occurred under the administration of former Governor Willie Obiano.”

The commissioner criticised the misinformation, urging those responsible to verify facts before publishing.

“It is expected that a lawyer ought to have done research and fact-checking before going public with such wild, malicious, and false claims,” Mefor added.

He also called on Idam to retract his statement, framing it as the honourable thing to do.

“Considering that no one is perfect, and we exist in an imperfect world, we advise Idam Esq. to recant his statement as honourable people should when they go wrong.”

Mefor used the opportunity to reaffirm Governor Soludo’s commitment to governance without debt accumulation and highlighted growing support for the governor’s reelection bid.

“We reassure Ndị Anambra that Governor Soludo will continue to exercise the powers they bestowed on him through their popular mandate responsibly, which is yielding very heavy dividends of democracy without borrowing, leading to the clamour across the length and breadth of Anambra State for his reelection on November 8.”

In a pointed remark, Mefor questioned the credibility of Idam and urged him to focus on issues within his jurisdiction.

“We equally urge Idam Esq. to pay more attention to his state, if indeed he exists and is not a phantom, rather than spreading misinformation about Anambra State.”