A photograph of Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, shaking hands with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has continued to stir reactions on social media after it was shared online by Atiku himself.

The image, which shows Obi slightly bent while greeting Atiku, has been interpreted by some Nigerians as a gesture of submission or deference.

Critics argue that the posture is unbecoming of a politician aspiring for the nation’s highest office, with some describing it as evidence of low self-confidence or political weakness.

Several commentators have also suggested that the image raises questions about Obi’s ability to assert himself politically, particularly within the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC), where both politicians are members.

However, activist and public commentator Maduabuchi Idam dismissed these interpretations as superficial, urging Nigerians to focus on competence and leadership qualities rather than body language.

In a statement made available to journalists, Idam acknowledged that a casual observer might draw negative conclusions from the photograph but warned against overinterpreting symbolism from a single moment.

According to him, Obi has consistently projected himself as a calm, disciplined, and principled leader, emphasizing that gentleness should not be mistaken for weakness.

“This picture has been trending since it appeared online today after being shared by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar himself. The attention it has received is unsurprising. It shows Mr. Peter Obi greeting Atiku Abubakar almost on his bent knees, a gesture often associated with sycophancy or favour-seeking.

“Peter Obi has always presented himself as gentle yet firm, calm yet resolute. His demeanor has never suggested aggression, and that should not be used to undermine his capacity for leadership,” Idam said.

He added that Nigeria’s political challenges are not the result of a lack of assertive personalities but rather the repeated imposition of unsuitable leaders on the nation.

Idam urged Nigerians to encourage authenticity among political actors instead of rewarding pretence, stressing that leadership should be judged by competence, capacity and integrity rather than optics.

“Nigeria’s problem is not the absence of haughty characters but the habit of forcing square pegs into round holes,” he stated.

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East have formally adopted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the party’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, declaring their support for his re-election bid and distancing themselves from former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The resolution was reached at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held in Enugu on Saturday, which brought together APC governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly, party executives, and other key leaders from the five South-East states.

Speaking at the meeting, former Secretary to the government of the federation, Senator Ayim Pius Ayim said their decision was informed by what they described as President Tinubu’s inclusive leadership style, commitment to national unity, and increasing federal presence in the South-East since assuming office.

He cited ongoing and completed infrastructure projects in the region, including road rehabilitation, railway expansion, and renewed attention to security challenges, as evidence of Tinubu’s resolve to integrate the South-East more fully into the national development agenda.

The stakeholders criticised Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, accusing him of failing to sustain political engagement with the region after the 2023 elections and of lacking a clear strategy for building broad national alliances.

According to them, the South-East can no longer afford political isolation or protest politics but must align with the centre to advance its economic and political interests.

A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting reaffirmed the region’s commitment to the APC and pledged total support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, urging party members to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the polls.

The stakeholders also called on South-East politicians across party lines to prioritise regional development over personal ambition and to work collectively toward securing greater federal opportunities for the zone.

The General Manager of the Enugu State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), Monday Diamond Ani, has clarified that borehole drilling projects are distinct from the Enugu State Government’s capital water supply schemes being implemented under Governor Peter Mbah.

Ani was reacting to what he described as false and misleading claims circulating on social media by a few individuals, which he said were deliberately aimed at confusing the public and discrediting the achievements of the Mbah administration.

Speaking on the ongoing water interventions across the state, Ani explained that the Enugu State Government, under Governor Mbah, has made significant investments in large-scale capital water projects designed to restore and expand reticulated water supply across Enugu metropolis and other major urban centres.

He noted that although water supply has not yet reached every household, many communities are now enjoying improved and more reliable access to potable water, adding that the long-standing challenge of water scarcity in Enugu city is gradually being resolved.

Ani further explained that borehole provision falls under community-based water interventions executed through Community and Social Development programmes, which are specifically designed to serve rural and underserved communities with basic water infrastructure.

He emphasised that the two initiatives are complementary but fundamentally different in scope and execution, noting that while the state government is driving capital-intensive urban water projects, the CSDA focuses on smaller, community-driven borehole schemes.

According to him, Governor Mbah deserves commendation for his administration’s commitment to investing in both large-scale water infrastructure and community-level water projects, despite the significant financial and technical demands involved in the sector.

The Presidency has rejected claims circulating in parts of the media and across social media that a photograph showing President Bola Tinubu and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris was generated using artificial intelligence, describing the allegation as false and misleading.

The clarification follows controversy surrounding an image from a private meeting between the two leaders in Paris on January 4, 2026.

The photograph sparked online debate after an enhanced version surfaced bearing a visible Grok watermark, leading some social media users to question its authenticity and suggest it was AI-generated.

Despite earlier explanations, skepticism persisted online, with calls for greater transparency in the handling of official images.

The photograph was initially shared on President Tinubu’s verified X account and later reposted by a presidential aide, amplifying public scrutiny.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Presidency insisted that the image is genuine and was taken during an actual engagement between the Nigerian and Rwandan leaders in the French capital.

According to the statement, Presidents Tinubu and Kagame met privately and shared lunch as part of ongoing high-level diplomatic consultations.

The Presidency explained that the photograph was captured with a mobile phone, accounting for its initial low quality.

It said the image was later enhanced using a digital image-improvement tool to improve clarity, stressing that such enhancement does not amount to fabricating or generating an AI image.

“The picture is real and not AI-generated, as has been wrongly suggested,” the statement said, adding that post-capture image enhancement does not invalidate the authenticity of the meeting or the moment captured.

The two leaders later joined French President Emmanuel Macron for dinner the same evening, underscoring continued continental and international diplomatic engagements.

The Presidency expressed concern over what it described as hasty conclusions and inaccurate reporting, urging journalists and media organisations to verify facts and seek clarification before publishing claims capable of misleading the public.

Describing the controversy as unfortunate, officials questioned why some commentators drew sweeping conclusions without making basic inquiries, noting that responsible journalism demands diligence, verification, and fairness.

The statement was signed by Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, who reaffirmed the Presidency’s commitment to transparency and accurate public communication.

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the impeachment proceedings initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, describing the move as “destabilising and unnecessary.”

In a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the APC acknowledged the constitutional independence of the legislature but said it would not support an impeachment process against an APC-led government.

“Our position today is that we solemnly reject the resort to impeachment against our Governor and his deputy,” the statement read.

The party also cautioned Assembly members, particularly APC lawmakers, against yielding to external pressures that could plunge the state into political turmoil.

Addressing claims that the impeachment is linked to budgetary issues, the APC noted that during the period of emergency rule, a ₦1.485 trillion budget was transmitted to the National Assembly in May 2025 and approved by both chambers by July 2025.

The budget is expected to run until August 2026.

The party added that the governor may lawfully decide not to present a supplementary budget, reminding the Assembly that the constitution allows a six-month spending window into a new fiscal year.

“Let it be known that our party will do everything possible to ensure that the APC-led government of Rivers State is not destabilised through internal disagreements,” the statement added.

The impeachment proceedings, which commenced on Thursday, followed the reading of a notice of allegations by Majority Leader Major Jack during plenary presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule.

The notice cited seven allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds from the Assembly Service Commission, and alleged disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on legislative autonomy.

Twenty-six lawmakers signed the notice. A separate notice of gross misconduct was also presented against Deputy Governor Odu.

This marks the second impeachment attempt against Fubara and Odu in less than a year.

In March 2025, a political fallout with former Governor Nyesom Wike led President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, deputy governor, and the Assembly for six months.

Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) was appointed as administrator during the suspension period. Fubara later resumed office following a reconciliation process.

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has also condemned the impeachment move, calling for the removal of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, whom it accused of fomenting unrest in the state.

IYC President Alaye Theophilus, speaking during a briefing in Port Harcourt, declared full support for the re-election of Governor Fubara and President Bola Tinubu in 2027, praising the president for his leadership.

Despite the renewed impeachment attempt, the Rivers State executive has yet to comment on the proceedings.

Former Labour Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, has called for a new generation of leaders to take the reins of Nigerian politics.

In an interview with Channels Television, Baba-Ahmed highlighted the long-standing political career of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, noting that Atiku has been contesting elections since Baba-Ahmed’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days.

“When I was serving in the NYSC, Baba Atiku was already an aspirant. We contested primaries together in 2018, and again in 2023, when I ran as a vice-presidential candidate elsewhere. And now, in 2027, he is set to contest again,” Baba-Ahmed said.

He stressed the urgent need for younger leaders, saying: “A whole new generation of Nigerians is ready to lead, but they are often discouraged by a political system that is expensive, complicated, and dominated by godfathers and broken promises.”

Baba-Ahmed added that many capable Nigerians are willing to tackle the country’s problems, but structural barriers continue to limit opportunities for reform-minded leaders.