Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, has denied any involvement in opposition-led coalition efforts to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Speaking during a visit to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, the former governor emphasized that his priority is fostering collaboration between Tinubu and Otti.

“I’m not into coalition talks… My deal is for Tinubu and Otti to support each other,” Kalu stated, firmly distancing himself from political realignment speculations.

“Otti doesn’t have a problem with me. I don’t want to talk about a coalition; I want to talk about Otti supporting Tinubu and Tinubu supporting Otti. That is my deal.”

The senator made these remarks while addressing reporters on the heels of growing speculation surrounding opposition coalition talks aimed at presenting a unified front against the Tinubu administration in the 2027 general elections.

Kalu also spoke about his personal rapport with former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently left the All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), criticizing the Tinubu government in the process.

“El-Rufai is my personal friend and brother, so their condition is what I do not understand. What I understand is that APC is on course, and I have many triggers to pull out,” Kalu said.

It will be recalled that El-Rufai publicly exited the APC earlier this year, branding the Tinubu-led administration as the “worst and most corrupt” in Nigeria’s history.

His departure added fuel to coalition rumors among key political figures ahead of the 2027 election season.

Despite this political turbulence, Kalu appears committed to maintaining party loyalty while encouraging cooperation between federal and state leadership in Abia.

His visit to Governor Otti has also stirred intra-party controversy, with the Abia APC reportedly distancing itself from the engagement.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has declared that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) must zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the southern region of Nigeria if it wants to secure his support in the upcoming election.

Wike made this demand on Monday while presenting the communiqué from a PDP stakeholders’ meeting organized under the banner of “Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP” in Abuja.

Despite currently serving in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Wike maintained that his allegiance to the PDP remains conditional.

In May, the APC leadership had endorsed Tinubu for an automatic second-term ticket in 2027, and Wike has publicly committed to supporting the president’s re-election.

However, speaking on Monday, Wike signaled a willingness to throw his weight behind the PDP, but only if the party shifts its presidential ticket southward.

He stated, “The party must make an unequivocal pronouncement zoning its presidential candidate to the South in the 2027 elections after the unbroken years of Northern President under President Muhammadu Buhari.”

He argued that such zoning would reflect principles of equity, inclusiveness, and constitutional fairness within the PDP.

“In the spirit of fairness, inclusion, federal character principles and respect for our party constitution,” he added.

Wike also addressed internal disputes within the PDP, especially concerning the legitimacy of its leadership structure.

He emphasized that only the party’s National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, has the constitutional authority to issue official notices for meetings and conventions.

“In line with the provisions of our party constitution, only the National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, can issue notices of meeting of the National Convention, National Executive Committee, National Caucus and the National Working Committee.”

“And to this end, all notices not issued by him and actions founded on them, including correspondences to INEC, are null and void and of no effect whatsoever,” Wike declared.

He called on the PDP to abide by a Supreme Court ruling recognizing Anyanwu’s position, stating that doing so is essential to the party’s survival.

“To finally arrest the inexorable drift towards extinction in our party, the party must, without further delay, respect the judgment of the Supreme Court,” he said.

“We, therefore, unequivocally reaffirm Senator Sam Anyanwu as the duly elected and substantive National Secretary of our great party,” Wike concluded.

Former Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien, has denied claims that he has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following Governor Umo Eno’s recent move from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party.

In a personally signed statement, Chief Essien clarified that his attendance at the governor’s defection event was merely a gesture of solidarity as a native of Akwa Ibom State and not an indication of party allegiance.

“I have not defected from any party to another,” Essien stated firmly, adding that he has maintained a neutral position since retiring from active politics in 2014.

Despite his political neutrality, Essien praised Governor Umo Eno’s leadership style, describing it as both inclusive and mature.

He acknowledged the governor’s defection as a calculated response to ongoing internal crises within the PDP, saying it was intended to help the state align with the APC-led federal government for broader benefits.

“The governor has taken the right decision to secure his next election on a relatively stable platform,” Essien noted.

He went on to criticize the PDP for what he described as a “self-inflicted debacle” and the lack of internal democracy.

However, Essien also expressed concern over Governor Eno’s alleged attempts to coerce lawmakers and local government officials into following him to the APC.

He described this pressure as inconsistent with the inclusive leadership style the governor is otherwise known for.

“These elected officers have independent mandates and should be free to make their own political decisions,” he emphasized.

Essien also voiced disappointment over the lack of support from Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

He pointed out that PDP members and politically neutral figures have been excluded from federal appointments and empowerment opportunities under the APC-led administration.

“As an elder statesman, my priority remains the unity, peace, and progress of Akwa Ibom State,” Essien concluded.

He urged political leaders across the spectrum to respect differing opinions and work toward peace, stability, and development in the state.

In a high-profile ceremony in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially inaugurated the newly renovated Abuja International Conference Centre, a landmark now renamed in his honor.

The event, which took place on Tuesday, drew attendance from prominent government figures including FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

FCT Minister Wike used the occasion to defend the decision to rename the centre after President Tinubu, linking the transformation of the facility to his leadership.

“It is important for the public to know and understand why this is called Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre,” Wike stated.

“This conference centre was built in 1991 under the military government. Since that time, nothing has happened to this International Conference Centre.”

Wike recounted how President Tinubu had expressed dismay over the poor state of the centre during a visit in mid-2023.

“Last year, July/August, you (Tinubu) came here to inaugurate the ECOWAS Parliament. It is an embarrassment for a country to still have this as an international conference (centre) then, and you said, ‘how can we have this’? That shows leadership.”

He added, “And you (Tinubu) said, ‘Next time you want to come here, you want to see a different international conference.”

“Within eight months, Mr President, this is what we have. And I agree that without your leadership, it wouldn’t have been possible.”

“You’re not the only President who has come here; so many Presidents have come here, and nobody has said this is what Nigeria needs.”

Describing the updated facility, Wike declared, “Today, this is the Bola Ahmed International Conference Centre, which can match any other international conference centre.”

Originally completed in 1991 under the military administration of Ibrahim Babangida, the conference centre had experienced years of neglect.

The recent renovation, however, has sparked widespread debate, particularly due to its price tag of N39 billion.

Wike addressed the financial concerns earlier this year, saying at a media briefing, “I am pleased with what is happening. Julius Berger has promised us that they will complete it. The total cost is N39 billion, not N39 million.”

He continued, “Furthermore, all the required materials are available. When discussing the percentage of work progress, it is essential to consider the work completed and the on-site materials.”

“I can confidently say that work is 70 to 80 per cent complete, and they have assured us they will finish and hand it over by May.”

Wike concluded by stressing the importance of having a world-class facility: “For everyone’s satisfaction, coming from a country like this, we cannot discuss having a befitting conference centre.”

“What is the essence of Nigeria, the largest nation? Are we merely large in name? We travel globally and observe standards; why should our own be different?”

While the new name and upgraded facility have drawn praise from some quarters, critics continue to question the timing and cost of the project, particularly in light of Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady of Nigeria, was recently conferred with a prestigious chieftaincy title in Enugu State during a vibrant traditional ceremony marked by music, dance, and cultural pride.

She was named Ugosimba 1 of Enugu, a title meaning “Jewel of Women Empowerment,” in recognition of her sustained efforts to improve the lives of Nigerian women and girls.

The honor reflects the First Lady’s impactful work through her Renewed Hope Initiative, a platform that has introduced numerous programs focused on women’s economic empowerment, education for the girl child, and accessible healthcare for underserved communities.

Her initiatives have reached thousands across Nigeria, fostering opportunities and instilling hope.

The traditional leaders and people of Enugu acknowledged Senator Tinubu not only as a national figure but as a compassionate leader whose advocacy has brought tangible change.

The title of Ugosimba is both an expression of gratitude and a call to continued service, celebrating leadership that is inclusive, empathetic, and visionary.

Barrister Jesutega Onokpasa, a prominent figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a well-known political analyst, has reportedly died.

A respected lawyer and an active member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council during the 2023 general elections, Onokpasa passed away on Monday.

The cause of his death has not yet been officially disclosed.

The news of his passing was shared on Tuesday by pro-APC advocate Okezie Atani through a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

He stated, “We lost Barr. Jesutega Onokpasa, may his soul rest in perfect peace.”

Onokpasa was widely recognized for his unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu.

He frequently appeared on television to offer commentary and defend the policies and actions of the APC-led federal government.

Maryam Abacha, former First Lady and widow of late military Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha, has challenged recent claims by former President Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), accusing her husband of orchestrating the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

In an interview with TVC marking the 27th anniversary of Abacha’s death on June 8, 1998, Maryam Abacha said the accusation is unjust, politically motivated, and disrespectful since her husband is no longer alive to defend himself.

“I am not here to talk about Babangida or anybody. I don’t wish to talk about anything or anybody. All I know is that that annulment was not done by my husband, and then if it was him, that means he was very powerful.”

“That means he was even more powerful than the President, and if the President is there and somebody else is calling the shots, that means Abacha was the greatest,” she stated.

IBB had claimed in his February 20, 2025 autobiography, A Journey of Service, that Abacha, who was then Chief of Defence Staff, annulled the June 12 election without his approval.

Maryam Abacha also rejected long-standing allegations that her husband looted Nigeria’s treasury during his rule from 1993 to 1998.

Instead, she claimed that the funds her husband allegedly kept for Nigeria were stolen after his death.

“Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed? Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad? And the monies that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, vanished,” she said.

“People are not talking about that. Why are you blaming somebody for something? Is that tribalism or a religious problem? Or what is the problem with Nigerians? I pray for Nigerians. I pray for all of us.

“I pray that we should have goodness in our hearts. We should stop telling lies and blaming people. Why are we so bad towards each other? It’s not fair. I think the media should try. You journalists should try to educate the people.”

She also praised the leadership of her husband, referring to his efforts at restoring peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone during his time in office.