Federal lawmaker, Leke Abejide, who represents the Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopamuro Federal Constituency in Kogi State, has declared that the newly formed opposition coalition aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will not succeed.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Abejide disclosed that he is the main financier of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the party under which he currently serves in the National Assembly.

Despite his current affiliation, the lawmaker acknowledged the possibility of defecting to the APC in the future, suggesting that political decisions are often shaped by changing circumstances.

Abejide also criticized the opposition alliance reportedly spearheaded by former Senate President David Mark, predicting that the coalition’s efforts to unseat the APC would be unsuccessful.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it has received 12 additional applications from groups seeking registration as political parties, increasing the total number of applications to 122.

This update was made public in a statement released on Thursday by Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.

He disclosed that the new submissions were received as of Wednesday, July 2, 2025, following an earlier batch of 110 applications announced on June 23.

Olumekun assured the public that all applications are being handled with transparency and in line with existing laws and guidelines.

“The Commission is processing these applications transparently and in fairness to all applicants,” he said.

Providing further context, the Commission explained:
“On Monday last week (23rd June 2025), the Commission announced that it had received applications from 110 associations seeking registration as political parties. We also assured Nigerians that we will be giving regular updates on the matter. The Commission is processing these applications transparently and in fairness to all applicants.”

The Commission also confirmed that updated information about the latest applications, including names, acronyms, contact addresses, and details of interim leadership, has been uploaded to INEC’s official platforms for public access.

“Meanwhile, the Commission has since received 12 more applications for registration as political parties as of yesterday, Wednesday 2nd July 2025, bringing the total number of applications to 122.”

“The list of the new applications by names of associations, their acronyms, addresses, and interim Chairmen and Secretaries has been uploaded to our website and other platforms for public information.”

“We will respond to these applicants in line with the Electoral Act and Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022.”

Olumekun also noted a development involving one of the applying associations, which had to replace its interim Secretary following a defection to another group.

“However, the Commission notes that one association has already changed its interim Secretary as a result of defection to another association.”

“To facilitate the consideration of these applications, the Commission appeals to associations to maintain consistency in their proposed leadership and addresses so that they do not, by their own actions, cause a delay in the timely consideration of their applications.”

Beyond party registration updates, INEC also announced the release of Supplementary Regulations and Guidelines related to the review of election results.

These new rules provide clearer procedures and timelines for evaluating any result that may have been declared under duress or in violation of electoral laws.

According to Olumekun, the update is based on provisions in the Electoral Act 2022, specifically Section 65, which empowers INEC to reverse compromised declarations or returns.

“The provision to Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 empowers the Commission to review declarations and returns in elections that are not made voluntarily or are done contrary to the law, regulations, and guidelines for the election,” he said.

He further noted that ambiguities around the section had led to various interpretations, prompting INEC to clarify the process.

“Consequently, there have been many interpretations of Section 65 of the Electoral Act, making it necessary for the Commission to use its powers under the law to issue Regulations, Guidelines, or Manuals for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Act and for its administration.”

He added that the Commission has now finalized and released Supplementary No. 1 to the main Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022.

“Clear procedures and timelines have now been provided, the details of which are contained in Supplementary No. 1 to the main Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022.”

“As approved by the Commission, the supplementary regulations and guidelines have been uploaded to the Commission’s website and other platforms for public information,” he concluded.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has firmly defended his children’s right to own land in Nigeria, asserting that they are fully entitled as citizens to do so—provided legal procedures are followed.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Wike responded to recent allegations suggesting he allocated 2,082 hectares of land in the Maitama and Asokoro districts of Abuja to one of his sons.

Addressing the claim directly, the former Rivers State governor stated:
“Assuming, though not conceding, my children applied for land. Are they not citizens? Are they Ghanaians? Even if they applied, are they not entitled because I’m a minister?”

Wike emphasized that his children, being Nigerians, should not be denied their rights simply because of his political position.

He strongly denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the accusations as baseless.

He further claimed the allegations were politically motivated and traced their origins to Adamawa State.

“First, calculate land in Maitama and Asokoro and tell me where you’d get 2000 hectares of land. And I know where it is coming from. It is from Adamawa state. I am aware,” Wike said.

The minister also alleged that a particular individual was behind a deliberate smear campaign aimed at discrediting his leadership in the FCT.

The outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship primary in Lagos’ Shomolu Local Government Area has come under legal scrutiny as former lawmaker and aspirant, Rotimi Olowo, has taken the party to court over claims of vote tampering and irregularities.

Olowo, a two-term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, is asking the Lagos State High Court in Yaba to declare him the rightful winner of the May 10 primary election.

He is also seeking an order compelling the APC to present all materials used during the election.

At a hearing on Tuesday, Justice Mojisola Balogun granted Olowo’s application to serve the defendants electronically through WhatsApp, following their failure to appear in court.

The judge also instructed that photographic evidence and device printouts used for the electronic service be submitted to the court.

The list of defendants includes Ashimi Lateef—declared winner of the primary—alongside Ogalla, Lawal Pedro (chairman of the APC Peace Committee), the APC, and the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), which has already been served.

Olowo’s lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Philip Jimoh Lasisi, told journalists that the primary lacked transparency and was marred by inconsistencies.

“There were only 25 accredited voters, yet 26 votes were declared—23 for Ashimi Lateef, three for another aspirant, and zero for Olowo and 15 others. That clearly indicates manipulation,” Lasisi stated.

The case has triggered unrest in the Shomolu APC chapter, where protests erupted in May, with party members and local residents rejecting the results and accusing party officials of imposing a candidate.

Coming just ahead of the scheduled July 12 local government elections in Lagos, the suit raises broader concerns over the APC’s internal democracy and electoral preparedness.

Justice Balogun adjourned the case to July 7 for accelerated hearing.

Garba Shehu, former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has confirmed that the former Nigerian leader is currently recovering after falling ill during a medical visit to the United Kingdom.

In response to inquiries about Buhari’s health status, Shehu clarified that the former president is indeed receiving medical attention abroad.

“Following your enquiry, I wish to state as follows: It is true that the former president, Muhammadu Buhari is unwell. He has been receiving treatment in the UK,” Shehu disclosed.

He went on to explain that Buhari had initially travelled for his routine health check-up but fell ill during the visit.

“You would recall he made it known that he was going for his annual medical check-up. He became ill there, but I am happy to announce to you that he is doing well in his recovery while receiving treatment. We pray for his healthy recovery,” he added.

During his time in office, Buhari frequently visited London for medical check-ups.

These visits paused temporarily during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the most notable trips occurred in 2017, when he spent over 100 days in the UK treating an undisclosed illness.

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has voiced sharp criticism of the current administration, saying the hardship under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has grown so severe that many Nigerians are now nostalgic for the era of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking in Abuja, Amaechi stated that the country has deteriorated to the point where a simple change in government is no longer enough to fix the damage.

“Inflation is at its peak. People cannot eat. People cannot buy food. There is no money to buy food. Everything is gone,” he said.

He argued that the worsening conditions have caused Nigerians to re-evaluate Buhari’s tenure.

“Now people want Buhari to come back. What happens in Nigeria is that each new government ends up being worse than the last, and people begin to long for the previous one,” Amaechi said.

On Tuesday night, the former minister confirmed his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring his alignment with the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“I left APC last night (Tuesday). I never attended one meeting. The last time they invited me, I warned them. In fact, I was surprised I was not expelled. I wrote to them not to invite me again. You cannot be in a club where the majority of people are stealing and you do not say anything,” he stated.

Explaining his current stance against the government he once served, Amaechi stressed that the problem is not merely leadership but the entire system.

He called for a broader national movement to bring true change.

“It is not just about changing leadership but about fixing the country,” he said.

He emphasized the need for a citizen-led initiative rather than a traditional party-driven effort: “There is the need to start a movement, not just a party that brings Nigerians together to take over the government for themselves rather than for ‘us’.”

Amaechi did not mince words regarding President Tinubu’s capacity to govern.

“I have never believed that Tinubu is material to govern the country. I never have,” he declared.

He also criticized the government’s economic management, particularly the sharp decline of the naira.

“The dollar was about 460 or 500 under Buhari. Now it is 1580. That is more than a 100 percent increase,” he noted.

When asked whether the naira’s fall might be linked to a deliberate policy, Amaechi responded, “Whether it is a deliberate government policy or not, any government that does not consider the wellbeing of its people cannot call it a policy.”

Joining Amaechi in his move to the ADC is former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who also announced his departure from the APC.

Their defection, along with that of other high-profile politicians, marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, as the ADC seeks to position itself as a credible alternative to the ruling party.