Former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu and ex-spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has stated that the North will, within the next six months, decide on which presidential candidate to support ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a recent interview conducted in Hausa, Baba-Ahmed emphasized that no politician could win the presidency without northern backing.

He appeared alongside Dr. Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, as both men discussed the current state of Nigeria and warned against manipulative politics targeting the North.

“In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way. One thing is clear: nobody can become president of Nigeria without northern support,” Baba-Ahmed said.

He called for a government that truly understands and is capable of addressing the region’s challenges, recalling the pain experienced during previous administrations.

“We want a government that understands our problems and can address them. After Buhari’s eight years, we became wiser. Now, we are in another government, and we are still crying. Is crying all we know how to do?” he asked.

Referencing the Boko Haram insurgency, Baba-Ahmed noted that it devastated all segments of the North—regardless of religion or ethnicity—and should have prompted unity among Northerners.

“Before Buhari became president, Boko Haram was bombing mosques, churches, Abuja, and Lagos. That was a time Northerners had to unite. Today, no politician can just show up and expect Northerners to fall in line. Who are you?” he questioned.

He also issued a warning over continued political marginalization of the North, cautioning that it may lead to serious consequences.

“If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It won’t be good for Nigeria. The North is watching, elders, masses, and interest groups will soon say ‘enough is enough.’ The injustice and sidelining must stop.”

Baba-Ahmed concluded by urging Northerners to move past religious or ethnic sentiment when choosing their leaders, emphasizing the need for competence and integrity.

“We are tired of being deceived into voting based on religion or ethnicity. That era is over. We just want a right leader, we just want someone who will solve our problems,” he said.

Former Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi, has urged Senator David Umahi, Minister of Works, to tread carefully amid growing public acclaim, warning that not all praises are genuine.

Elechi made the remarks on Saturday during a civic reception held in Umahi’s honour at Okposi Okwu, Ohaozara Local Government Area.

“You deserve the praise being showered on you, but many are traps,” Elechi cautioned. “They are either trying to gain favours from you or attempting to mislead you.”

Reflecting on Umahi’s political trajectory, Elechi recalled how the minister’s leadership as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State paved the way for his emergence as deputy governor in 2011.

“The way he managed party affairs reminded me of my time as NPN Secretary in the Second Republic,” Elechi noted.

“I asked him to prepare to run with me in the 2011 elections, and Ebonyi people overwhelmingly supported us. I remain the only Nigerian truly qualified to call him my son.”

He emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and guarding against distractions, even when they come in the form of commendation.

“From party chairman to minister, everything he has done makes us proud. I am proud because he is my political product, and I pray for God’s continued guidance over his life,” Elechi said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) notes that the relationship between Elechi and Umahi had once soured during the lead-up to the 2015 general elections.

Umahi’s ambition to succeed Elechi as governor sparked tensions, as the then-governor did not endorse the bid.

The political disagreement eventually led to Elechi’s defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyanwu, has expressed confidence in the party’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections both in Imo State and across Nigeria.

Speaking at the weekend in Owerri, Imo State, during a meeting with members of the State Executive Committee—including local government chairmen, ward leaders, women leaders, and key stakeholders—Anyanwu noted that the PDP is on track to reclaim power in the state.

He emphasized the importance of unity among party members, stressing that collective effort is necessary to achieve electoral victory.

“Imo people are tired, frustrated and deceived by the present administration to the extent that Imo citizens have lost confidence in the government. The only better alternative for them must be the PDP,” he said.

“My joy is that our party is well-positioned, astute and popular to win the 2027 election in Imo,” he added, noting that the party is now united following a Supreme Court judgment that resolved internal disputes.

Anyanwu commended the current leadership of the PDP in Imo State for their efforts in mobilizing support, promoting peace, and creating a strong foundation for the party’s success.

“The current leadership of the party in the state is doing well in the areas of galvanising the people, making peace and creating good platforms for the party’s victory. Our ward, LGA Chairmen, women, leaders and stakeholders are doing exceptionally well to create a good image for our party,” he said.

“What I am seeing today has convinced me that PDP is formidable and we are prepared to take over the state in 2027,” he declared.

The PDP scribe also expressed optimism about the party’s prospects, highlighting a resurgence of public interest and support.

He assured members that the PDP is poised for growth and will continue to attract new supporters.

On the issue of his political ambition, Anyanwu made it clear that he is not inclined to seek the governorship seat in the next election.

“It is not in my best interest to run for governorship in 2027,” he said, adding that every qualified and popular member of the PDP is free to vie for the governorship or any other position of their choice.

As Nigeria’s political terrain begins to shift ahead of the 2027 general elections, indications have emerged that at least three governors from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are on the verge of defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to support President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

This political realignment, fueled by internal discontent within the PDP and mounting pressure from northern political blocs, suggests a broader plan to bolster Tinubu’s support base in the face of growing uncertainty, particularly from his northern stronghold.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State openly declared support for Tinubu at a public event last Friday, stating that politics in his state has transcended party affiliations, describing the current arrangement as a “unity party.”

Eno’s stance is reportedly a precursor to a broader deployment of the PDP’s political structure in Akwa Ibom to back APC candidates in 2027, including the re-election of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Peter Mbah (Enugu), and the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) are also contemplating whether to publicly align with Tinubu’s re-election bid, either from within the PDP or through outright defection.

Governor Eno’s motivations are reportedly tied to securing political survival—both his own and that of his predecessor Udom Emmanuel, who remains under EFCC scrutiny.

Akpabio, acting as a key broker, has pledged to support Eno’s re-election in exchange for his endorsement of Tinubu.

At a recent public lecture at the University of Uyo, Akpabio’s representative praised Eno as the first opposition governor to back Tinubu’s re-election bid, signaling a growing bond between state and federal powers in the South-South.

Governor Oborevwori is said to be awaiting final agreements from APC negotiators before committing. Meanwhile, Fubara’s intended defection was reportedly disrupted by the political turmoil in Rivers State and Tinubu’s dissatisfaction with how he managed the crisis, particularly amid his feud with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

For Governor Fubara, political survival and protecting his governorship remain top priorities.

He has distanced himself from PDP governors’ legal efforts to challenge a possible state of emergency, suggesting a quiet attempt to reconcile with APC stakeholders and potentially cross over.

Significantly, all three governors—Eno, Oborevwori, and Fubara—were absent from the last PDP Governors’ Forum meeting in Ibadan.

Their absence is widely seen as symbolic of their gradual disengagement from the opposition party.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu is reportedly maintaining close ties with the Presidency and is still considering the political calculus—whether to support Tinubu openly from within the PDP or defect entirely.

As a loyal PDP member, Mbah’s decision could influence the direction of the party in the Southeast and beyond.

The emerging alliance between Tinubu and select PDP governors has rattled the PDP’s leadership.

There are fears that such defections could cripple the party’s chances in the 2027 elections. High-level meetings are being proposed within the PDP to stem the tide and retain strategic members.

However, observers note that the final decisions are not sealed. Some governors are still weighing regional sentiments and political risks.

A potential coalition and emergence of a viable Southern candidate from within the opposition could shift their loyalties again, especially in regions where APC remains unpopular.

In a parallel move to solidify his northern base, President Tinubu is reportedly scheduled to meet this weekend in London with a prominent opposition leader from Kano and a key northern monarch.

Another strategic meeting involving a former president is also in the works, as part of Tinubu’s broader agenda to regain favor in northern Nigeria—where analysts say his standing has weakened since 2023.

The unfolding political maneuvering, spearheaded by Senate President Akpabio and backed by the Presidency, signals a new phase of realignment that could redraw Nigeria’s political map ahead of the 2027 contest.

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has issued a passionate Easter message to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to rescue Nigerians from the depths of suffering, insecurity, and economic hardship.

Drawing a stark comparison to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Bishop Kukah said Nigerians have been “dangling and bleeding on this cross of pain and mindless suffering for too long.”

In his words: “We all admit that you neither erected this cross nor did you effect our collective crucifixion.”

“Notwithstanding, Nigerians have been dangling and bleeding on this cross of pain and mindless suffering for too long. A culture of cynicism and self-doubt over our capacity to secure peace for ourselves pervades our land.”

The revered cleric acknowledged that hope remains essential, especially for Christians. “Indeed, a majority of our citizens feel that there is no hope in sight. However, for us as Christians, Hope is the anchor on which we hang all our hopes (Heb. 6:19). Now is the time to re-enkindle and renew that hope.”

Kukah painted a grim picture of the nation’s security landscape, warning of the threat posed by armed criminals.

“The road to our collective discouragement in Nigeria has been laid by marauders, murderers, savages and ravenous predators who threaten to overrun our nation. Mr. President, immediately rid our dear country of these forces of darkness and bring us down from this cross of cynicism.”

Food insecurity also featured in his Easter address, as he called for urgent reforms and an end to palliative approaches.

“Mr. President, hunger, sickness and desolation stalk the land. We still believe removing the subsidies was the right decision. We note that the country now has a huge volume of resources in its domestic reserves.”

He continued: “For over ten years now, farming has become one of the most hazardous pre-occupations in our country. I restate the obvious by warning that mere palliative distribution diminishes the dignity of citizens.”

“We have remained between the rock of self-doubt and the hard place of hopelessness. Make food security a fundamental human right to all citizens. Mr. President, please bring us down from this painful cross of hunger.”

On the issue of insecurity, Kukah reiterated the role political actors may have played in nurturing violence for political gain.

“Some years back, some of our public officers confessed that they brought our current killers into our country as a strategy for upstaging the government of the day and to gain power. Strange as it may sound, today we have watched as the cancer of insecurity and violence have metastasized. Now, this cancer threatens the very foundation of our common humanity.”

Describing how banditry and kidnappings have become deeply rooted in daily life, he warned: “The bandits have not only become embedded in every sphere of our lives, they threaten to destroy all that holds our communities together.”

“This self-destructive cancer has invaded our communities and kidnapping is a now a dog whistle for undermining the very structure and foundation of our country. We now hang on the cross at the mercy of these forces of darkness. Mr. President, please, bring us down from this cross of insecurity.”

Bishop Kukah further appealed for collective resolve, highlighting that most Nigerians desire peace and unity. “We are the light of the world, a city set on a hill,” he said.

“We are confident that a majority of the citizens of our country want to live in peace with one another. However, allowing this insecurity to persists will undermine all forms of goodwill that this or any government in Nigeria espouses.”

The Bishop also expressed worry that national frustration is reaching critical levels.

“We have all the ingredients to create a toxic mix of violence that can spin out of control. Right now, frustration has penetrated every spectrum of our society especially as the government and its security agencies seem to have largely become spectators in the dance of death that has overtaken our country.”

He raised a probing question about the root of the security crisis: “We are in a dilemma now and the question is simple: is the persistence of the insecurity a statement of the lack of capacity of our men and women in uniform, or is it evidence that those at the top are reaping the fruits of funding their own war machine? In other words, are Nigerians lambs being sacrificed to an unknown god? Mr. President, step up, get to the finishing line and bring us down from this cross of shame.”

Bishop Kukah concluded his message by wishing President Tinubu a happy Easter and urging all Nigerians to renew their dedication to nation-building.