Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has announced his plan to contest for a return to the Senate in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at his residence in Kaduna on Sunday during his Eid-el-Fitr message, Sani confirmed his intention to reclaim the seat he held during the 8th National Assembly.

“Any politician contesting an election depends on the political equation that determines the position to vie for. If the conditions are right and the equations are favorable, I will offer myself to contest specifically for the Kaduna Central senatorial district,” he said.

However, he noted that his immediate focus is on securing a second term for Governor Uba Sani.

“For now, our priority is to see that the incumbent governor, Uba Sani, is re-elected. We will work with all our might and strength to achieve this. We know there will be challenges and opposition, but we are well prepared for all forces,” he added.

Sani also urged Muslims to use the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations as an opportunity to pray for Nigeria’s peace and unity.

Addressing recent security concerns, he condemned the killing of hunters in Edo State and called on authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“If citizens cannot move freely across the country, then we are not truly a nation. If individuals take the law into their hands for any reason, it means there is no government or authority,” he lamented.

He further urged Nigerians to commit to national unity and democracy despite prevailing challenges, while calling on the government to uphold fundamental human rights, especially the right to life, as a key step toward stability and development.

Rt. Hon. Barr. Chijioke Edeoga, the former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, has officially rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Edeoga, who previously held key positions in the PDP, including serving as a House of Representatives member and as commissioner for local government affairs and environment—praised Governor Peter Mbah’s leadership during his return to the party at the PDP secretariat on Monday.

“I am impressed by Governor Mbah’s visionary, innovative, and transformative leadership, which has inspired me to return to the PDP,” he said.

Acknowledging that his decision might not sit well with everyone, Edeoga emphasized the importance of unity ahead of the 2027 elections.

“I know that my decision to return to the PDP may not be appreciated by some, but I believe it is time for us to unite as a family and form a formidable front,” he said.

Welcoming him back, the state PDP Chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunwike, described Edeoga’s return as a reflection of Mbah’s leadership.

“We are excited to have Edeoga back in the PDP fold, and we are confident that more former members who had left the party would soon return,” Chukwunwike stated.

DAILY GAZETTE reports that the Chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Obiora Obegu, hailed the move as beneficial to the party’s unity.

“With Edeoga’s return, the PDP will now become stronger and more united, free from distractions and rancour,” he said.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s media office has dismissed circulating rumours suggesting that her planned visit to Kogi Central for the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations has been cancelled.

In a statement released on Monday, the senator’s media team affirmed that the visit would go ahead as scheduled, despite a ban on rallies in the state.

They urged the public to disregard any misinformation regarding its cancellation.

“We are pleased to confirm that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Sallah visit to Kogi Central senatorial district will proceed as planned,” the team said.

“Despite rumours circulating online, there has been no official announcement from our office regarding the cancellation of this visit.”

The senator’s team assured that all necessary arrangements had been made to ensure a smooth and joyous celebration.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her media team, reiterated her commitment to engaging with her constituents and promoting unity within the senatorial district.

The statement further emphasized that the senator remains dedicated to fostering a spirit of unity and cooperation among the people of Kogi Central.

The Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal will on Wednesday deliver its judgment in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State.

The PDP and Ighodalo are contesting the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that Sen. Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the election.

They argue that the process was marred by irregularities.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had reserved judgment on March 3 after all parties presented their final written addresses.

The tribunal will rule on three petitions identified marked EPT/ED/GOV/01/2024, EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, and EPT/ED/GOV/03/2024.

A key aspect of the case was the presentation of 148 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, which were admitted as evidence on January 31.

These devices were brought forward by Anthony Itodo, a Senior Technical Officer in INEC’s ICT Department, following a subpoena by the petitioners.

The machines were reportedly used in 133 polling units where results are being disputed.

DAILY GAZETTE recall that NEC had declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, while Ighodalo received 247,655 votes.

However, the PDP and its candidate have asked the tribunal to nullify this result, citing alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.

On the other hand, the APC and Okpebholo dismissed the petition as baseless, arguing that the PDP and Ighodalo failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims.

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections in Enugu State, Barr. Chijioke Edeoga, has officially returned to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Edeoga, who was accompanied by notable political stalwarts, was warmly received by the state leadership of the party, led by the Chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunwike, along with other key party figures.

The development has sparked widespread jubilation among PDP supporters, who view Edeoga’s return as a significant boost for the party ahead of the 2027 election’s.

DAILY GAZETTE reports that the Party loyalists and stakeholders gathered at the PDP secretariat in Enugu to welcome him and his entourage back into the fold.

Detail shortly….

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has disclosed that he jokingly warned Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, about the political implications of his policies, stating that he could lose his job if they did not align with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tinubu made the remarks at the Presidential Villa in Abuja when Wike led a delegation of prominent FCT residents on a Sallah homage to mark the end of Ramadan fasting and Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

The President recounted how Wike approached him with a request to exempt the FCT from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to enable more financial flexibility for infrastructure development.

“I remember the day Nyesom Wike came to me and said, ‘Please, take us out of this problem of Treasury Single Account (TSA) so that I can do more work and achieve more,’” Tinubu stated.

He explained that he then challenged Wike on the potential political consequences of such a move.

“And he presented it, and I threw in my own political guide: ‘Would that give me any opportunity for my party (APC) to win the election in FCT?’

“I said, ‘I know where you are coming from, your own party (PDP) or my party. If this thing goes too much in your own favour, you will lose your job.’ Then he said, ‘Okay, we settle that, Oga.’”

President Tinubu praised Wike for his contributions to transforming the FCT, particularly in infrastructure, health, and education.

“He came up with a lot of good ideas to liberate the bureaucracy, bring forward-looking, progressive thinking to the administration, and provide opportunities for many who would have been hindered by property rights,” Tinubu noted.

The President highlighted several of Wike’s achievements, including:

• Revitalizing the Vice-President’s residence, which had been abandoned for years.
• Rehabilitating health centers and improving healthcare services in the FCT.
• Upgrading school infrastructure and enhancing teacher welfare programs.

“Thank you, Wike,” Tinubu concluded, recognizing the minister’s efforts.

The President’s comments highlight the intersection of governance and political strategy, emphasizing the need for policy alignment with party objectives.

While Wike, a key member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), insists that his focus remains on FCT development, his collaboration with the APC-led administration continues to generate debate within opposition circles.

The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Comrade Julius Abure, has declared that the upcoming Anambra State governorship election in November 2024 will serve as a strategic precursor to the party’s ambition of winning the 2027 presidential election.

Abure made this assertion in Awka, the Anambra State capital, during a forum organized by the Directorate of Mobilization and Integration (DMI) for LP aspirants to engage with party delegates ahead of the party’s primary election on Saturday.

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

Represented at the event by the National Women Leader of the party, Mrs. Dudu Manuga, Abure reaffirmed LP’s readiness for both the Anambra election and the 2027 general elections.

“We want to use Anambra to test what 2027 will be. Labour Party has grown beyond a briefcase party. We are present in all states of Nigeria and Abuja, and we are preparing not just for Anambra but for 2027.”

He emphasized the need for party unity and urged all aspirants and stakeholders to come together after the primaries.

“After the primary election this Saturday, no one is permitted to be angry. We must unite and work towards victory in the main election in November. Let us not be weak or divided. Together, nothing is impossible.”

Abure also outlined the party’s grassroots mobilization strategy, stressing that LP aims to establish a strong presence in every polling unit across Anambra State.

“This forum is to connect aspirants with the people they wish to govern. What is happening today in Anambra is crucial for our victory in 2027.”

Two leading LP governorship aspirants, Dr. George Moghalu and Mr. John Nwosu, addressed party members at the event, presenting their manifestos.

Dr. George Moghalu pointed out the erosion of public trust in governance as a critical issue in Anambra.

“People no longer trust the government. Security has collapsed, and thugs are being used to enforce tax collection. If the government does the right thing, people will willingly pay taxes without coercion. Tax collection can also be done electronically.”

He pledged to restore public confidence, improve security, and bring governance closer to the people to drive development in Anambra.