Former ANPP members have cautioned President Bola Tinubu that they may leave the APC unless the vice‑presidential slot remains with their group.

At an Abuja press conference on Monday, officials representing the ANPP‐former members, who call themselves the Association of Former ANPP Members, voiced concerns of marginalisation by the CPC and ACN factions within the APC.

Prof. Vitalis Ajumbe, the group’s National Coordinator, reading from a communiqué, asserted:

“The ticket you are serving will be disappointed if you choose another person outside the ANPP block in APC as your Vice President. The Vice Presidential seat remains sacrosanct for the ANPP bloc as the second largest contributor to the formation of APC.”

He added that under the previous administration, “The ANPP bloc in APC suffered serious political marginalisation under late General Muhammadu Buhari for the eight years of his reign.”

Ajumbe further added “Late Muhammadu Buhari’s abandonment of ANPP where his political career started and where he twice secured presidential tickets was quite inhumane. He treated us like a club of political pariahs.”

Speaking on current trends, he contrasted Buhari’s tenure with Tinubu’s, saying:
“When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected, we thought he would change the trend, but to our dismay, the situation is getting even worse under his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.” He disclosed plans to consult with state and zonal members soon, warning:

“We may be tempted to seek greener political pastures elsewhere should the APC‑led government of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu reject us.”

Responding to the group’s threats, Deputy National Organising Secretary Nze Duru criticized their approach, cautioning that “democracy does not thrive on threats and intimidation.” He argued:

“I don’t think that party politics is a matter that is done on the basis of condition, which is you either give it to me or I walk away. It should also not be seen in the light of ‘my way or the highway.”

He reiterated that the vice‑presidential office was not automatically assigned and insisted:
“We must always remind ourselves that we are in a democracy. The office of the VP is not always on one ballot. It is the responsibility of the president to appoint or decide who he will like to be so vice president.”

Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, former Governor of Gombe State and current representative of Gombe North Senatorial District, has reiterated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remains a highly respected political leader in northern Nigeria, even after his move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Speaking during a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Expanded Stakeholders’ Meeting, Dankwambo stressed Atiku’s enduring relevance and influence in the region.

“It’s time to rebuild our party, today it’s not about contesting for elections. But we have leaders we recognise like in the north; Atiku Abubakar is our leader, we love and like him and by virtue of his position as a former vice president he is our leader whether he is in PDP or ADC,” he said.

Dankwambo urged party members in Gombe and beyond to concentrate on rebuilding the PDP as it prepares for the 2027 general elections, rather than focusing on personal political ambitions at this time.

“We are not talking about contests now. All we are after is to rebuild our party and position it for victory. All those wishing to contest should wait. Let’s build the party first,” he stated.

The senator emphasized the PDP’s commitment to internal democracy, asserting that it remains the only party in the country to have successfully conducted congresses at every level, from ward to zonal and is actively planning for its national convention.

“PDP remains the only party that has held its Congress from the ward level, to the local government to the state and zonal level and is currently working to hold the national convention,” he said.

Also speaking at the meeting, Ali Isa JC, who represents Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, revealed that the PDP has resolved its internal disputes and confirmed that its upcoming national convention will take place in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He further disclosed that the party’s legal team has been tasked with pursuing defectors who secured electoral victories under the PDP platform but later switched allegiance to other parties.

The PDP, he said, has engaged “senior lawyers to challenge defectors who won elections on the PDP platform but later decamped,” with the goal of reclaiming “those stolen mandates.”

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, received a significant boost on Monday as former Governor Ayodele Fayose publicly endorsed his potential bid for a second term.

Fayose, a senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the surprising declaration during an All Progressives Congress (APC) gathering held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado Ekiti.

Despite representing the opposition party, Fayose praised Oyebanji’s leadership and said his achievements justify support beyond party lines.

“I want to publicly endorse Governor Abayomi Oyebanji and his deputy for a second term,” Fayose said.

He further explained that partisan politics should not take precedence over effective governance, emphasizing the need to recognize performance irrespective of affiliations.

“Political differences should not override the need for good governance,” he added.

The endorsement was made in the presence of top APC figures, including former governors of Ekiti, current members of the National Assembly, and party leaders.

Fayose called on residents of the state to back Oyebanji’s administration in the next election, though he made it clear that this move doesn’t equate to a defection.

“I remain in my party, but when we see good governance, we must say it,” Fayose clarified.

Governor Oyebanji has not yet officially announced his intention to seek re-election.

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has officially moved the date for the 2025 local government elections to Saturday, August 30, following a disruption caused by the recent state of emergency.

The elections, which were originally scheduled for August 9, had to be postponed. According to the commission, the “state of emergency” declared in the state affected earlier preparations, prompting a necessary change in the electoral calendar.

RSIEC Chairman Michael Odey made the announcement on Monday during a stakeholder meeting held at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.

“The election will now be held on Saturday, August 30, 2025,” Odey said.

“It became imperative to adjust the electoral calendar.”

As part of the revised timetable, RSIEC has instructed political parties to conduct their primaries between July 31 and August 3. Submissions of candidates’ names must be made on August 3 and 4, 2025.

“Electioneering would begin on Tuesday, August 12, 2025,” the commission stated.

Additionally, the commission has fixed Saturday, August 16 for the recruitment of ad-hoc staff to support the election process.

“It added that “the list of candidates would be displayed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.”