Renowned entertainer, business mogul, politician, and youth leader Obinna Simon, popularly known as MC Tagwaye, has officially left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Tagwaye announced his defection on Friday morning in Abuja, stating that his decision followed months of intense consultation and introspection.

A former member of the APC presidential campaign team in the last general election, Tagwaye explained that his move was driven by a strong conviction that the party had strayed from its founding ideals and was no longer prioritizing the welfare and progress of Nigerians.

According to him, the APC’s failure to reward loyal members, its gerontocratic leadership structure, and policies that have deepened economic hardship were key factors in his departure.

“Furthermore, the APC’s internal democracy has been egregiously compromised, with a few power brokers dictating the party’s direction and disregarding the voices and aspirations of the majority,” he stated.

In contrast, Tagwaye praised the SDP as a party of hope, highlighting its commitment to youth inclusion, internal democracy, transparency, and accountability.

“The party’s vision for a new Nigeria, where the welfare and progress of all citizens are paramount, resonates deeply with me,” he said.

He further revealed that he had formally submitted his resignation to his APC ward chairman, officially severing ties with the ruling party.

“I am excited to join the SDP and contribute to the party’s mission to build a better Nigeria for all. I urge all Nigerians who share my vision to join me on this journey. Together, we can create a brighter future for ourselves, our children, and our great nation,” he added.

INEC National Chairman, 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the updated voters’ register for Rivers State ahead of the upcoming Local Government Council elections.

The commission also published the list of registered political parties in Nigeria in preparation for the polls.

In a letter dated March 13, 2025, and signed by INEC Administrative Secretary, Odor Napoleon Emezuiruke, the commission formally notified the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) of the development.

The letter, addressed to the RSIEC Chairman, confirmed that a soft copy of the updated voters’ register had been provided in response to RSIEC’s request.

Following this, RSIEC issued a press statement acknowledging the receipt of the updated register. The statement, signed by Tamunotonye Tobins, Commissioner in charge of Media & Civic Education, assured stakeholders and the public of the commission’s commitment to free, fair, and credible elections.

The elections are scheduled for Saturday, August 9, 2025.

INEC also released an updated list of registered political parties, which includes All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Action Peoples Party (APP),  Labour Party (LP) and 15 other registered parties.

The Labour Party (LP) has announced an extension of its ongoing membership registration and validation exercise until May.

This was disclosed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja.

According to Ifoh, the decision followed a meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), where it was also resolved that ward, local government, and state congresses would take place between June and July.

The registration and validation exercise, initially scheduled to conclude on January 31, had been extended to accommodate more party members.

Earlier plans had also set ward congresses for February and March.

The Labour Party had previously introduced an online membership registration platform to expand its base to over 20 million members ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Addressing concerns about the party’s upcoming governorship primaries in Anambra State, the National Chairman, Julius Abure, reassured members of a transparent and credible process.

He emphasized the party’s commitment to internal democracy and free, fair, and competitive primaries.

“We will ensure that our primaries and congresses remain free, fair, and credible,” Abure stated.

“For us in the Labour Party, doing things differently is the only way to achieve better results. We reject godfatherism and believe that internal democracy allows the best candidates to emerge.”

He dismissed claims that the party was aligning with another political group, insisting that the LP had grown into one of the largest political parties in Nigeria.

Abure also stressed that Nigeria’s development depends on a leadership recruitment process that prioritizes competence and integrity.

“Our country has not had the best leadership, which is why governance remains a challenge. By ensuring a democratic selection process, we can produce capable leaders to drive national progress,” he added.

Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is set to reveal his next political affiliation on Monday.

This development follows his recent visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he met with President Bola Tinubu last Monday.

While the Presidency did not officially disclose details of the meeting, sources confirmed that Jandor was at the Villa between 2 pm and 4 pm, and the visit may be linked to his impending decision on joining a new party after resigning from the PDP.

On March 4, 2025, Jandor announced his departure from the PDP, citing internal sabotage, anti-party activities, and a lack of discipline within the party as reasons for his exit.

During a recent media briefing in Lagos, he alleged that some party leaders saw his candidacy as a threat and actively worked against him.

He claimed that his campaign faced attacks and that party officials openly undermined him.

Specifically, he accused Lagos PDP Chairman Philip Aivoji of spreading false information that he had withdrawn from the election.

He also pointed fingers at former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Olabode George, for publicly endorsing the gubernatorial candidate of another party and advising voters against supporting the PDP.

A close associate of Jandor, Seun Soyinka, said he has been consulting with key political figures across different platforms.

These include former military leaders; Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and members of the newly formed political coalition.

Soyinka added that Jandor and his team are scheduled to hold strategic meetings on Friday evening and Saturday morning.

These deliberations will set the stage for a press conference on Monday, where he will formally announce his next political move.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has once again reached out to the Rivers State House of Assembly, proposing Wednesday, March 19, 2025, as the date for presenting the state’s 2025 budget.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, the governor recalled his previous attempt to present the budget on March 12, which was unsuccessful due to being denied access to the Assembly premises.

Fubara explained that despite submitting a soft copy notification in advance and attempting to deliver a hard copy through the clerk, he and his team were prevented from entering the complex.

He reiterated that his actions were in line with a Supreme Court ruling, which also mandated the Assembly to operate within constitutional boundaries.

The governor further reminded the Speaker that the House had issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the budget presentation even before he was officially served with the court’s certified true copy and enrolled orders.

Reaffirming his commitment to governance despite the ongoing political crisis, Fubara urged all arms of government to uphold their responsibilities within legal and constitutional limits.

“No matter the depth of our differences, we believe the interests of the state and our people should take priority over political conflicts,” he stated.

The letter officially informed the Speaker of his intention to present the budget on March 19 at 11:00am or at a time deemed suitable by the House.

Fubara expressed hope that the lawmakers would consider his request in good faith.

Tensions between the governor and the Assembly have continued following the Supreme Court’s directive that the 2025 budget must be presented before the House led by Amaewhule.

A dramatic episode unfolded at the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters on Wednesday when Fubara arrived for the presentation, only to find the entrance gate locked.

Security personnel at the quarters shut the gates as his convoy approached, citing the absence of official communication between the governor and the Assembly.

However, Fubara maintained that he had duly informed the lawmakers of his arrival.

Amid the political impasse, Fubara on Thursday made a fresh appeal to the lawmakers to prioritize the people’s interest and embrace peace.

Speaking at a project commissioning event in Okrika Local Government Area, he emphasized the need for stability in the state.

“It is important at this stage that we all embrace peace,” Fubara said.

Referencing the Supreme Court’s February 28 ruling, the governor urged all political actors to set aside past grievances and commit to its full implementation.

“The Supreme Court has made its judgment, we don’t have any option but to abide by it, and by the special grace of God, we have started the process.

“We are appealing to other parties: consider the interest of Rivers State. The only thing that we owe this state is peace and development.

“I am open any day, any time for total peace in our state because if I have to govern well, there is the need for peace,” the governor said.

In a strategic move to strengthen opposition forces ahead of the 2027 elections, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, engaged in a closed-door meeting with Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, on Thursday.

The discussions, held in Bauchi, have sparked speculation about Obi’s potential return to the PDP.

Insiders from the Bauchi State Government House revealed that Obi’s visit aimed to align PDP governors with ongoing appeals for him and his running mate, Senator Datti Baba Ahmed, to rejoin the PDP.

Notably, prominent figures like former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar are reportedly urging Obi’s return to consolidate efforts in addressing Nigeria’s economic and social challenges.

Emerging from the meeting, Governor Mohammed expressed his readiness to collaborate with Obi to challenge the current leadership.

He stated, “Obi is the leader of opposition in Nigeria, because of his position and pedigree. As a person, I am ready to work with Mr Peter Obi and to make sure we close ranks and bring good governance to the country.”

Mohammed emphasized the importance of unity among opposition leaders to “rescue and recover our country from these mediocre that are parading themselves as leaders.”

Obi highlighted the necessity of addressing critical issues such as poverty, education, and health to reduce criminality.

He remarked, “There is so much criminality in Nigeria… And I say, no, there’s poverty in Nigeria. You must deal with the issue of poverty.”

“What we are discussing in the political space are mundane things… We need to discuss hunger. We need to discuss poverty. We need to discuss education.”

DAILY GAZETTE reports that some PDP leaders, including Mohammed, are advocating for Atiku Abubakar to step aside from his presidential aspirations to facilitate a broader coalition.

Buba Galadima, an ally of NNPP’s Rabiu Kwankwaso, suggested that Atiku should “quietly step aside and assist the country to move forward.”

The Nigerian Senate has progressed a bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to allow early voting for essential workers, passing it through its second reading.

This legislative proposal, sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (APC-Katsina Central), aims to enfranchise citizens such as election officials, security personnel, journalists, and observers who are typically unable to vote on Election Day due to their professional duties.

Senator Yar’Adua emphasized that over one million Nigerians are currently disenfranchised during elections because their roles necessitate deployment away from their registered polling units.

He argued that excluding these individuals undermines the integrity of the electoral process and that the bill seeks to correct this by providing provisions for early voting.

He stated that the bill would enhance Nigeria’s democracy by ensuring all eligible citizens can participate in elections, regardless of their professional obligations on Election Day.

Following the debate, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters for further legislative action.

The committee is expected to report back within four weeks.