The Senate on Thursday took a significant step toward bolstering Nigeria’s local automobile sector as the Local Automobile Industry Patronage Bill, 2025 passed its second reading.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Patrick Ndubueze (APC–Imo), aims to prioritize indigenous manufacturers and companies in the procurement of goods and services by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government.

Leading the debate on the bill’s general principles, Ndubueze said the legislation would “make it mandatory for Ministries, Departments and Agencies to give priorities to local manufacturers and indigenous companies in the procurement of goods and services.”

He added that the bill would also “prohibit the exclusion of locally produced goods in the procurement process and for related matters.”

Ndubueze argued that sustained economic growth depends on deliberate policies that support local production.

“It is also important that goods and services are produced locally as its ripple effect is a reduction in imports and a rise in exports (Balance of trade),” he said.

He lamented Nigeria’s long-standing preference for foreign goods, which, in his view, often lack any real advantage in quality.

“This failure has and is being felt in no less a sector than our economy. Today, we see the see-sawing of the Naira and with every plunge, inflation bites harder.

“Nigeria must at this stage of our history enforce a sustainable policy on made-in-Nigeria automobiles.

“This is because imported cars continue to account for billions of dollars in forex outflow.

“One of the biggest expenses of both the public and civil service is the procurement of foreign automobiles,” Ndubueze noted.

He further asserted that reviving the local currency must begin with policies that reinforce domestic production.

“The first of which must be the institutionalisation of buying made-in-Nigeria vehicles,” he said.

Supporting the bill, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno, stressed the economic benefits of supporting local industries.

“The use and patronage of made-in-Nigerian goods would promote local industries with all the attendant effect of creating more employment and growing our Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” Monguno said.

He also referenced a recent Federal Executive Council resolution.

“Mr President, if I can refresh your memory, about a week ago, the Federal Executive Council passed a resolution to the effect that Nigerians should patronise made-in-Nigerian goods.

“That all ministries, departments and agencies of government were equally directed to patronise made-in-Nigeria goods in order to promote local industries.”

Monguno explained that the proposed bill would give legal backing to that resolution.

“So that the resolution is done through an Executive fiat,” he added.

Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau also voiced his support, stating that the bill would play a vital role in revitalising Nigeria’s economy.

“Patronising made-in-Nigeria vehicles would help boost the economy,” he said.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has claimed that prominent figures from Nigeria’s major political parties including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP), are now uniting in a coalition to oust President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

Atiku made this known in Abuja during a courtesy visit by stakeholders from the Kogi-East Senatorial District, led by ex-Kogi State Deputy Governor Simon Achuba.

According to him, the initiative brings together political actors across party divides who are dissatisfied with the current administration’s performance.

“I want you to understand that it is up to us,” Atiku told the visiting group.

“You are leaders of your various communities. We have a coalition. All the major political parties are involved. In this coalition, the APC, PDP, Labour Party, all of us are involved. That is the way to go in confronting such an incompetent and inefficient government.”

This statement builds on an earlier announcement by Atiku on March 20, where he formally declared plans for an opposition coalition.

Standing alongside Dr. Yunusa Tanko (spokesperson for LP’s Peter Obi in 2023) and former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently defected from the APC to the SDP, Atiku painted the coalition as a national response to worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and perceived exclusionary governance under Tinubu.

Beyond El-Rufai, former Minister Solomon Dalung has also quit the APC, though he has not officially joined the coalition.

Still, his public disapproval of the Tinubu government aligns with the coalition’s sentiments.

Despite these developments, Atiku’s own party, the PDP, is grappling with internal disarray. High-profile defections, such as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, who have both joined the APC, have weakened the opposition.

Additionally, three PDP senators from Kebbi, along with other lawmakers from NNPP and PDP, recently switched allegiance to the ruling party.

The PDP leadership has formally disavowed any involvement in Atiku’s coalition.

Party spokesman Debo Ologunagba reiterated that the PDP remains independent.

“As a party, we have a process, and we have already explained our position in a public statement,” Ologunagba said.

“If that position changes, we will update the public accordingly.”

The PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), after its 587th meeting, had earlier stated categorically that the party was not engaged in any merger or alliance.

“The National Working Committee, after its 587th meeting, restates for the umpteenth time that the PDP is not engaged in any merger, fusion or amalgamation talks with any other political party or interest,” Ologunagba stated.

Similarly, the PDP Governors’ Forum, during its April 14 meeting in Ibadan, rejected any coalition moves. While welcoming individuals and parties seeking to join the PDP, the governors stressed that the party would not enter into formal merger talks.

The communiqué was signed by Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed and attended by governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and others.

Interestingly, soon after the meeting, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom publicly endorsed President Tinubu’s re-election and hinted at a possible defection if the PDP failed to resolve its internal crisis.

Reacting to Atiku’s remarks, APC’s National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed them outright.

“The beauty of democracy is that it accommodates all forms of opinions, including those of dreamers,” he said.

“So as the ruling party, we will not wake them from their dreams. Let them enjoy it and continue dreaming.”

Ibrahim said Atiku’s political history does not inspire confidence, branding him a “serial loser.”

“The truth of the matter is that by the time they wake up, the situation that will confront them will be completely different from what they imagined,” he said.

“We are not perturbed. The APC is growing stronger by the day.”

Echoing the PDP’s position, the Labour Party (LP) also rejected claims of being involved in any coalition talks.

LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah Ifoh, told DAILY GAZETTE the reports were “false and misleading.”

“The Labour Party is not in any merger or coalition talks with anyone, individuals, parties, or organisations,” Ifoh said.

“We are aware that some individuals are engaged in such talks for personal and selfish reasons. They do not represent the Labour Party. We are not involved in any merger or coalition.”

At its May 2 NEC meeting, the LP adopted a resolution to focus on internal restructuring ahead of 2027, rather than forming alliances.

“The Labour Party is not, and will not be, part of any coalition towards the 2027 general election,” declared LP Chairman Julius Abure.

“Rather, we will concentrate on rebuilding, repositioning, re-strategising, reconciling, and expanding our membership base in preparation for victory in 2027.”

Abure further expressed skepticism about the credibility of coalition leaders, remarking, “People who cannot unite their own parties cannot lead a national coalition.”

Following denials from PDP and LP, Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, clarified that the coalition comprises individuals from across political parties, not the official structures of those parties.

“What His Excellency was referring to are elements within those parties, PDP, LP, APC, not the full party structures,” Ibe explained.

“Nigerians should be patient and optimistic about the coalition strategy.”

He described the coalition as people-driven and unlike traditional political arrangements.

“This coalition is going to be different. We’ve said it over and over, this is a coalition driven by the people. The people are at the centre of it,” he said.

“The big political players will come on board when the time is right.”

When asked about the delay in a formal launch, Ibe said the political climate under Tinubu resembled “a full-blown dictatorship,” where state institutions including the judiciary, were allegedly captured.

“They’ve turned these institutions into tools of state capture, tools for political kidnapping,” he said.

“What you’re seeing in terms of defections is nothing short of political ransom. Leaders are being taken hostage.”

According to Ibe, despite party denials, the coalition remains on course.

“Quote me on that. Everything is going well, beyond even our expectations. It’s going to happen. There’s no two ways about it. Nigerians have made up their minds about the direction they want to go, and this is that direction.”

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has officially announced key appointments to its National Working Committee, naming Senator Ugochukwu Uba as Deputy National Chairman (South), Professor Sadiq Umar Abubakar as Deputy National Chairman (North), and Mr. Hussani Ado Bello as National Financial Secretary.

The appointments were made public through a statement issued on Thursday by the party’s National Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba.

Describing Senator Uba, the statement highlighted his extensive background in public service and politics, noting that he hails from Anambra State and has a strong academic and administrative pedigree.

“He was a former Director-General and later Honourable Commissioner in Anambra State under the SDP administration of the late Governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife in 1992,” it read.

Uba’s national service includes membership of the Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS) during the Ibrahim Babangida regime, where he worked under the leadership of the late Professor Omo Omoruyi.

He later represented Anambra South in the Senate from 2003 to 2007, during which he chaired the Senate Committee on Marine Transport and played a pivotal role in passing the Cabotage Act.

Regarding the appointment of Professor Abubakar, the party stated, “He is an acclaimed statistician and a holder of Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy, and PhD in Political Economy and Development.”

Abubakar has a long-standing history with the SDP, having served as its pioneer National Secretary between 2010 and 2015.

He also contested as the party’s governorship candidate in Gombe State during the 2011 elections and chaired the party’s Convention Planning Committee the same year.

The appointment of Hussani Ado Bello as National Financial Secretary further completes the trio’s elevation to the top echelons of the party’s leadership.

“Accordingly the appointees have become members of the National Working Committee of our great party, the Social Democratic Party, with immediate effect, having been duly and validly appointed,” the statement concluded.