SDP logo, 

Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has declared that President Bola Tinubu will be removed from office in the 2027 elections.

Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Friday, Adebayo expressed confidence that his party, the SDP, would produce Nigeria’s next president.

“Tinubu is going to be removed from power, that one is sure, and there would be an SDP president,” he asserted.

Adebayo also reaffirmed his intention to contest the presidency in 2027, stating that he is confident he will secure the SDP ticket regardless of the political figures joining the party.

“Let us understand something. I don’t worry about that; everybody who is coming in knows I will run in 2027. Any coward who will feel threatened by people coming to his party cannot be president,” he stated.

His remarks come in the wake of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP on Monday.

Since joining the party, El-Rufai has been making political moves to attract more politicians to the SDP.

Addressing El-Rufai’s defection, Adebayo described him as a “patriotic Nigerian, hardworking, and very effective in an area where we don’t have effective people in government.”

“The reason why I welcome El-Rufai to my party is that I see him as a patriotic Nigerian, hardworking, very effective in an area where we don’t have effective people in government, that’s all,” Adebayo added.

Abubakar, 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the composition of committees for its 2025 Anambra State governorship delegate congress, appointing former Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, as the Chairman of the Delegates Congress Committee.

This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, from the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

According to the statement, the Delegates Congress Committee will oversee the election of delegates who will participate in selecting the party’s governorship candidate for the 2025 Anambra election.

The committee consists of key party stakeholders, with Mohammed Abubakar as Chairman, alongside Egogbamu Okoro, Ba’ande Imam, Augustine Agada, Babangida Abdullahi, Umar Hassan Augie, and Dr. Chibuzor Nduaguda.

Additionally, the party set up a Delegates Congress Appeal Committee, chaired by Albert Abiodun Adeogun, to handle any complaints arising from the congress.

Other members of the appeal committee include Ibrahim Shehu, Yakubu Bello, Abdulkadir Jajeri, and Luka Haruna.

To facilitate the process, the APC also appointed officials to manage the Secretariat for both committees.

These include Sani Galadima, Owo Onyedikachi, Ahmed Gaidam, Aso Amata Othuke, and Adamu Doma.

Furthermore, the party assigned zonal (senatorial district) coordinators to supervise the delegate congress across Anambra’s three senatorial zones.

Anambra North: Ukkasha Hamza, Jamilu Bawa, and Prince Dick Darlington.

Anambra Central: Ogenyi Okpokwu Emmanuel, Nobert A. Sochukwudinma, and Mohammed Musa.

Anambra South: Abdul-Mutallib Kasim, Cham Paliya Sharon, and Dr. Habib Shehu.

Speaking on the appointments, Argungu emphasized the APC’s dedication to a transparent and credible process, noting that the selected officials are experienced and committed party members.

“The APC remains committed to upholding internal democracy and ensuring that our party produces the best candidate for the upcoming Anambra gubernatorial election. The Delegates Congress Committee, under the leadership of His Excellency, Mohammed A. Abubakar, is expected to conduct a seamless exercise in line with the party’s guidelines,” he stated.

He also urged all stakeholders in Anambra to cooperate with the committees and assured party members that the process would be conducted fairly and transparently.

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.