Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday called for a national conversation on restructuring Nigeria’s system of government, arguing that the concentration of enormous powers in the presidency is undermining democracy and good governance.

Jonathan also criticised the country’s growing culture of post-election litigation, warning that the courts’ increasing role in determining political outcomes is weakening public confidence in the democratic process.

He spoke at the 2026 Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Bauchi.

The former president said Nigeria should consider a parliamentary model similar to those practised in countries such as Switzerland and the United Kingdom, where executive powers are shared rather than concentrated in one office.

‘Probably we need to go back to the pre-independence and early independence days of having a parliamentary system where powers are shared,’ Jonathan said.

According to him, the current presidential system gives one individual excessive authority over national resources, security and governance.

‘In Nigeria today, one person has almost all the powers. We need to have more conversations on the structure of leadership in our governance and what model will best suit our unique circumstances,’ he said.

Jonathan said a parliamentary arrangement would create checks and balances by dividing authority between a prime minister, who manages government and national resources, and a president or ceremonial head of state with limited constitutional responsibilities.

He pointed to Switzerland as an example of a country where major national decisions are made collectively rather than by a single individual.

He argued that such a system could strengthen institutions, empower parliament and reduce the risks associated with excessive presidential authority.

The former president also expressed concern over Nigeria’s culture of election litigation, describing it as unusual compared with other African democracies, where elections are largely settled at the ballot box rather than through prolonged court battles.

‘The Nigerian situation is extremely different from most other African countries,’ he said.

‘The kind of election litigations we experience here is uncommon. I can describe the Nigerian situation as a very anomalous one.’

Jonathan recalled a conversation with a former Deputy President of South Africa during his tenure as vice president, saying she was surprised that Nigerian politicians routinely challenged election results in court after losing.

‘She asked me, ‘Jonathan, why would somebody go to court after losing an election?’ In South Africa, people do not normally go to court after losing an election. In Nigeria, election litigation has become so common that it is often factored into the election process,’ he said.

He maintained that the judiciary must remain independent, impartial and faithful to the law, but noted that public confidence in many political judgments had declined.

The former president said that while criminal offences committed during elections should be prosecuted, some electoral disputes had become unnecessarily politicised and over-litigated.

‘In some highly controversial cases, it is better for the election to go back to the people,’ he said.

Jonathan also criticised what he described as increasing judicial interference in the internal affairs of political parties, particularly in disputes arising from party primaries.

‘Courts now determine who becomes a party’s candidate and, in some cases, which political party should be recognised. That is creating serious uncertainty in Nigeria’s political environment,’ he said.

He stressed that democracy functions as an ecosystem in which political parties, electoral bodies, security agencies, the judiciary, civil society, the media, election observers and voters all have important roles to play.

Jonathan, however, maintained that Nigeria’s democracy would be stronger if electoral disputes were significantly reduced and greater confidence was restored in both elections and judicial decisions, while the country undertook a serious review of its governance structure and the distribution of executive powers.

Umohinyang: Security is fundamental to the responsibility of any government because the protection of lives and property is one of the primary responsibilities of the state. So, when you assess any government, security is one of the key areas you must look at. But we also need to understand the complexity involved in tackling insecurity. The weaponry required to deal with insecurity cannot simply be picked off a shelf. Orders have to be placed, production has to take place and delivery has to follow. In many cases, personnel also have to be trained to use the equipment.

There are also international dimensions to defence procurement. You may have the resources to buy weapons, but diplomatic relationships and other considerations can determine whether those weapons are made available to you. Nigeria has experienced this before. During the Jonathan administration, there were difficulties in procuring some of the weapons needed to confront Boko Haram because of our relationship with the United States. The Buhari administration subsequently worked to rebuild that relationship, and we saw greater cooperation. I think the Tinubu administration has also demonstrated maturity in managing Nigeria’s relationship with the United States, particularly around recent concerns over insecurity and allegations of religious persecution.

Q: You believe the President handled that diplomatic situation well?

Umohinyang: Absolutely. You saw the maturity with which Mr President handled that issue. Rather than allowing it to degenerate into unnecessary confrontation, the administration engaged diplomatically. The result is that we are seeing greater cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in addressing security challenges. That is important because terrorism and transnational crime are not problems Nigeria can solve in isolation. We need the support of international partners, but we also need to strengthen our own capacity. Until we begin to see our country as our property, until we move away from the narrative that Nigeria belongs to the elites and collectively agree that this is our country and we must stay here and salvage it, we are not going to make meaningful progress.

Q: Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has urged Nigerians to provide intelligence to security agencies. Do you agree with him?

Umohinyang: Yes, but there is an important issue we must address. You must close the gap of distrust. You must restore trust between citizens and security agencies. How do you expect someone to give information to the security agencies when that person is afraid that his identity may eventually be exposed? There have been situations where people who provided information were allegedly exposed, and some of them paid dearly for it. If you want citizens to provide intelligence, you must assure them that their identities will be protected and that their information will be handled professionally.

Q: How can government encourage more people to provide intelligence?

Umohinyang: We must begin to look at intelligence gathering differently. Intelligence gathering has value and, in some countries, people are financially rewarded for providing useful information. I believe we should also explore that model. Intelligence gathering is monetary; it has to be monetised. We must begin to do that so that people can be encouraged and incentivised to share information. But beyond incentives, there must be confidence in the system. The resources to tackle insecurity are primarily in the hands of government, not citizens. Citizens have a role to play by providing information, but government has the institutions, personnel, equipment and resources required to act on that information.

Q: You have spoken about prevention. What exactly should government be doing differently?

Umohinyang: We must begin to nip insecurity in the bud at the preventive point, not the reactive point. You react when people have been taken. You prevent before it happens. That is why intelligence is so important. If you have information that an attack is being planned, the security agencies should be able to act before the criminals get to their targets. We cannot continue to wait until people are abducted before we begin to mobilise.

Q: The abduction of schoolchildren has again generated national concern. What is your assessment of the situation?

Umohinyang: It is extremely disturbing. These are children whose only offence is that they went to school. We have seen this before with Chibok and Dapchi, and it is unfortunate that we are still confronting situations where criminals can enter communities and take children from schools. But we must also recognise the difficulty involved in rescuing them. These children can be used as human shields. So, the security agencies have to strike a delicate balance between rescuing the children safely and neutralising the criminals responsible. We cannot afford a situation where, in the process of trying to rescue the children, their lives are put in even greater danger.

Q: Do you think the government is doing enough?

Umohinyang: Government is not sleeping. The government has acknowledged the situation and has shown concern. This is not a government that is denying that there is a problem. The President is concerned about what has happened and steps are being taken to rescue the children. Of course, government must be held accountable for the safety of citizens. But when government takes steps to address a problem, we should also acknowledge those efforts. So, while we ask questions about how the abductions happened in the first place, we should also commend efforts to rescue the children and return them safely to their parents.

Q: There are suggestions that insecurity may worsen as the 2027 elections approach. Do you see a political dimension to the current situation?

Umohinyang: I think we need to be careful about reducing every national problem to 2027 politics. Security is a national issue. It affects everybody, regardless of political party or affiliation. Of course, opposition politicians will challenge the government. That is the nature of democracy. But the opposition should also present alternatives. You don’t expect Atiku Abubakar to go on television and say President Tinubu is doing very well when he wants to contest against him. He wants the office. But the responsibility of the opposition is not merely to criticise. If the government in power is not doing well, yours is to bring out your policies. Tell Nigerians what you will do differently. That is how democracy should work.

Q: So, what should Nigerians expect from opposition parties ahead of 2027?

Umohinyang: They should present their manifestos and policies to Nigerians. Take fuel subsidy removal, for example. If you believe the government handled it wrongly, tell Nigerians what you would have done differently. What is your alternative? You are selling your policy. You are selling your manifesto to Nigerians. These are the same Nigerians who have the power to bring you to office and remove the incumbent. Opposition parties should therefore focus on offering credible alternatives rather than simply throwing punches at the government.

Q: Let us move to the political parties. How would you assess the state of Nigeria’s democracy at 27 years of the Fourth Republic?

Umohinyang: We have not made enough progress in terms of our political ideology and culture. Too much of our politics is about how much you can run down your opponent and grab power. It is no longer sufficiently about the people. We need to develop a political culture where people understand that political power is a means of serving the people, not an end in itself.

Q: Do you see the 2026 Electoral Act as capable of addressing some of these problems?

Umohinyang: Yes. I commend the National Assembly for some of the provisions, particularly those dealing with party primaries. The issue of party primaries has been one of the major problems in our electoral system. With indirect primaries, you can have a situation where a few people control delegates and determine who emerges as the candidate. That has produced a lot of disputes and litigation. The movement towards direct primaries and consensus arrangements can help, but the provisions must be implemented sincerely.

Q: What sanctions would you recommend where party primaries are manipulated?

Umohinyang: There must be consequences. Where there is clear evidence of abuse, the primary should be cancelled. If abuse is observed in a particular ward, the entire process in that ward should be cancelled. That will serve as a deterrent. Political parties must also establish proper checks and balances before primaries are conducted. We should not wait until a crisis has emerged before trying to resolve it.

Q: You have spoken about political culture. What, in your view, is the biggest weakness of the political class?

Umohinyang: People want to get into leadership positions without any modicum of decency. As far as I am concerned, morality has taken a flight. We need people who understand that leadership is about service. One of the things that worries me is the ease with which some politicians change their positions. Someone can spend an entire election season attacking a particular person, telling Nigerians why that person should not be supported, and shortly afterwards become one of that person’s strongest supporters. That raises questions about what really motivates people in politics. Is it the country or the stomach?

Q: Are you suggesting that politicians should never change political allegiance?

Umohinyang: No. People can change their minds. Politics is dynamic. But there must be principles behind those changes. What worries me is when people take completely contradictory positions without explaining why they have changed. You cannot tell Nigerians yesterday that somebody is unfit to lead and today tell them that the same person is the best thing that has happened to Nigeria, without explaining what changed. That is why citizens become confused about whom to trust.

Q: You have also criticised some lawyers and public commentators for changing their political positions. Why is that particularly important to you?

Umohinyang: Because people listen to them. When you are a lawyer, commentator or public intellectual and you speak on political and electoral issues, people assume that you are speaking from conviction and knowledge. People come to you because they want to understand what is happening. They want to know who they should support, what the law says and what a particular political development means. So, when your position changes dramatically, you owe the public an explanation. You don’t really know who to rely on when people who once presented themselves as strong advocates suddenly take completely different positions. That is why credibility matters.

Q: What, ultimately, is your message to Nigerians as the country moves towards 2027?

Umohinyang: Nigerians must take ownership of their country. We must strengthen our institutions, improve our security architecture, encourage intelligence sharing and demand accountability from everybody in leadership. But citizens also have responsibilities. We cannot continue to behave as if Nigeria belongs only to politicians. It belongs to all of us. Until we begin to see our country as our property and collectively agree that this is our country and we must stay here and salvage it, we are not going to make meaningful progress. The political class must serve the people, opposition parties must provide credible alternatives, and citizens must be prepared to participate actively in the democratic process. That is how we build the Nigeria we want.

Actress and filmmaker Toyin Abraham has expressed excitement after her film, Oversabi Aunty, was celebrated by a large audience in Germany.

The actress shared a video of a massive crowd gathered to watch the film on an open-air screen, describing the moment as one she would never forget.

On Instagram, Abraham celebrated the film’s international reception and thanked Germany for the warm welcome.

She wrote, ‘From Nigeria to Germany. Watching OverSabi Aunty celebrated on a massive open-air screen with this incredible crowd is a moment I’ll never forget.’

The actress also attributed the achievement to God, writing, ‘God did it! Thank you, Germany, for the love. The journey continues…’

Abraham’s post has since attracted reactions from fans and colleagues, who joined her in celebrating the milestone.

Nigeria has once again taken centre stage on the global cultural map as the Mountain Top Chorale of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) emerged among the outstanding champions at the 2026 World Choir Games in Helsingborg, Sweden.

The Nigerian choir delivered a remarkable performance at the prestigious competition, winning two gold medals and emerging world champions in the Spiritual category, in a feat that has further highlighted Nigeria’s rich choral tradition and musical excellence on the international stage.

Competing against more than 160 choir groups from 40 countries, the Mountain Top Chorale clinched gold in the C11 Category – Sacred Music with Accompaniment, before adding another gold medal in the C14 Category – Spiritual, where it emerged overall champion.

The achievement was particularly significant as the Mountain Top Chorale was the only choir representing Africa at the 2026 World Choir Games, widely regarded as the Olympics of choral music.

The emotional high point came immediately after the choir was announced as champion in the Spiritual category.

The Nigerian green-white-green flag was raised, while the national anthem was played before an international audience, as members of the Mountain Top Chorale celebrated their historic victory.

The choristers subsequently took to the podium, singing and dancing to the MFM anthem: ‘Olorun MFM, Olorun Alagbara,’ in celebration of Nigeria’s triumph.

The latest victory also represents the reward for a decade of consistent participation and preparation. The Mountain Top Chorale first featured at the World Choir Games 10 years ago and has continued to strengthen its reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading choral ensembles.

At the 2024 World Choir Games in Auckland, New Zealand, which attracted more than 11,000 singers from over 30 countries, the Nigerian choir also secured two gold medals in the Champions Competition – Category C19 (Contemporary Music – Mixed Voices) and Category C22 (Spiritual).

The back-to-back successes have established the Mountain Top Chorale as a formidable force in international choral music and a worthy ambassador of Nigeria’s musical heritage.

The 2026 victory is even more remarkable because the 53-member Nigerian contingent was privately sponsored by the General Overseer of MFM Worldwide, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, rather than by the Nigerian government.

Olukoya, a renowned chorister and strong advocate of church music, has over the years invested heavily in developing musical talents and supporting music departments, individuals and institutions across the country.

His commitment to choral development has played a significant role in building the Mountain Top Chorale into an internationally competitive ensemble.

Beyond the medals, the MFM Mountain Top Chorale’s latest accomplishment offers a powerful reminder of the capacity of Nigerian talent to excel on the global stage when given the right investment, training and platform.

For Nigeria, the gold medals represent more than a musical victory. They are a celebration of faith, discipline, culture and national pride, with the country’s flag once again flying proudly on the world stage.

Former Senator Magnus Abe has declared his support for President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s Rivers State governorship candidate for next year’s general election, Kingsley Chinda.

Abe spoke at a leadership and stakeholders’ meeting of Ogoni indigenes in Bori at the weekend, where he warned against ‘pull-him-down syndrome’ in the area.

According to him, it was within the right of every Nigerian to associate with and support whoever they choose, but no one has the right to undermine others over differing political loyalties.

‘Everybody is free to contest and support whoever they want to support, but I, as a person, I know who I am supporting. I am supporting Tinubu, I am supporting Chinda, I am also supporting the APC, my party. That is my right. Other people are free to do the same, but we are not free to run other people down,’ he said.

Abe, who is also chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), urged Ogoni leaders to embrace unity, strategy and peaceful political engagement for the area’s development. He commended organisers of the meeting for bringing Ogoni people together without waiting for political or government backing, describing infighting among leaders as ‘a strategy for failure.’ He stressed that no society can achieve progress ‘without planning, commitment … and sacrifice.’

Citing his own background, Abe said his father was a pastor who earned N94 a month, and that quality education could transform lives. He urged Ogoni youths and communities to stop fighting over oil and gas activities, warning that such divisions would only stall development.

He described Ogoniland’s oil and gas resources as a ‘God-given opportunity’ to lift the area out of poverty, saying his position as NUPRC chairman offered a unique opportunity to address the area’s challenges.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has managed multiple incidents across Lagos, including fire outbreaks in different locations and road accidents.

The incidents, which happened between

Sunday, August 10, and the early hours of Monday, August 11, 2026, recorded no casualties.

In a statement signed by the

Permanent Secretary, (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the rescue efforts were in line with the directive of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to ensure the safety of lives and property.

According to the LASEMA boss, there was a fire outbreak at 23 Shaba Ojo Street, Omolade, Igando, at about

7:37pm on Sunday, the agency’s Dolphin Team deployed, and with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the fire was curtailed and prevented from spreading to other flats in the building.

LASEMA also responded to a multiple -vehicke accident on Otedola Bridge, inward Lagos at about 8:05pm.

The accident involved a 20ft container truck, an axle-laden truck, a 45,000-litre PMS tanker, and a Toyota Camry. Preliminary investigation revealed that the axle truck collided with a broken-down container truck, after which the tanker rammed into it.

The Agency’s team, working with FRSC, NPF, LASTMA, and Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, immediately secured the scene and implemented traffic management to prevent secondary incidents.

LASEMA boss said recovery operations were carried out using the Agency’s tow truck and private tow trucks.

The roadway has since been cleared and reopened to normal vehicular movement.

Also at about 11:30pm, the Tiger Squad of LASEMA was also deployed to was d Anifowoshe, Ikeja, Lagos, as a result of a fire incident that engulfed a two-bedroom flat.

‘Firefighting operations were immediately commenced alongside the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service. The fire was confined to the affected bedroom and completely extinguished. No casualty was recorded and the team returned to base after concluding recovery operations,’ LASEMA boss said.

The agency also managed what would have been a major traffic jam on a Lagos road when a truck broke down on a road inward Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos.

This according to LASEMA happened on Monday at 2:10am, when a Renault truck loaded with clothes that broke down due to a mechanical gear fault, blocking the entire carriageway inward Idi-Oro.

The team provided traffic control pending the arrival of the Agency’s heavy-duty equipment, Super Metro, which successfully evacuated the truck to a nearby lay-by.

Recovery operations were concluded and the road was reopened. No casualty was recorded.

While commending the professionalism and speed of all emergency responders involved, the Lagos State Government urged residents to prioritize safety: avoid overloading electrical appliances, ensure proper vehicle maintenance, and report emergencies promptly through the Lagos State Emergency Toll-Free lines *767* and *112*.

‘LASEMA remains committed to its mandate of disaster risk reduction, effective response, and building a safer, more resilient Lagos, ‘ Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu concluded.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for stronger national and international cooperation to tackle emerging security threats confronting Nigeria and other parts of the world.

He said Nigeria was facing ‘multifaceted’ security challenges requiring coordinated and sustainable responses from governments, international organisations, faith leaders and other stakeholders.

The President spoke in Abuja yesterday at the international conference on security organised by Jama’atu Izalatil Bidiah wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS Nigeria) in partnership with the Muslim World League of Saudi Arabia.

The conference, which had the theme: ‘Diversity and social peace: partnership for a promising future,’ brought together Muslim and Christian leaders, scholars and representatives from Saudi Arabia and other African countries.

Represented by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Tinubu said his administration remained committed to working with other countries and international organisations to build a stable and secure Nigeria while contributing to global security.

‘Working within the Committee of Nations, [the government is] collaborating every day to ensure that security remains not only in our country but in the entire globe,’ he said.

He said the conference was significant given the evolving security situation and the need for authorities, faith leaders and other stakeholders to examine emerging threats to national and digital security.

Tinubu said the deliberations should produce practical recommendations to complement the government’s efforts to address insecurity.

He urged Nigerians to preserve national unity despite their differences.

The President commended the Muslim World League for choosing Nigeria as the venue and assured participants of the Federal Government’s support for initiatives promoting peace and security.

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, urged religious leaders to make churches and mosques centres of peace.

To him, religion should promote human dignity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence rather than hatred and division.

Yilwatda urged clerics to use their influence to foster peaceful relations among Nigerians of different faiths and cautioned against using religious convictions to incite violence.

‘Let us preach faith without hatred, conviction without contempt, and truth without incitement,’ he said.

The APC chairman said genuine faith must compel believers to protect the lives, dignity and freedom of people of other religions.

He recalled his childhood in Yola, Adamawa State, where his father, a pastor, maintained a close friendship with a Muslim leader.

He said the relationship between the two families taught him that religious differences should not prevent peaceful coexistence.

However, Yilwatda said his family later lost its home and possessions during communal violence in Bauchi, an experience that showed him the devastating consequences of violence committed in the name of religion or ethnicity.

‘We may worship differently, but we suffer together. We dream together. We can build together, and ultimately, we can rise and fall together,’ he said.

He also cautioned political leaders against exploiting religion and ethnicity for political advantage, urging traditional rulers to promote dialogue and reduce suspicion among communities.

Yilwatda urged Nigerians to be cautious about sharing claims capable of deepening religious and ethnic divisions, particularly information that could inflame tensions.

He called for a society where children inherit schools, homes and opportunities rather than displacement camps and memories of violence.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has opened a new testing window for companies developing digital financial products, including virtual asset services, stablecoins, digital wallets and data-driven financial solutions.

The initiative is the second phase of the apex bank’s Regulatory Sandbox Programme, which allows financial technology companies to test new ideas with real customers under controlled conditions before such products are introduced more widely.

A statement from the CBN’s Acting Director Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Department Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali said applications for the new exercise will open on August 12 and close on August 31, 2026.

Unlike the first cohort, the latest programme has been divided into two separate areas to deal with different types of financial technology. One is specifically for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), while the other is for companies developing financial services that depend on the secure use of customer data.

The move is coming at a time when technology is rapidly changing the financial sector, with Nigerians increasingly using digital platforms for payments, savings, lending and other financial transactions.

Through the VASP window, companies working on virtual assets and related services will have an opportunity to test products involving digital currencies, stablecoins, payment and settlement systems, custody arrangements and digital wallets.

The second window is targeted at businesses that are not VASPs but are using technology and authorised access to financial data to develop new ways of providing credit, payments, risk management and other financial services.

The CBN said the purpose of the sandbox is not to give companies automatic approval to operate as financial institutions. Rather, it provides a supervised environment where the regulator can observe how new products work, identify possible risks and determine what regulatory requirements may be necessary.

The programme also gives technology companies an opportunity to engage directly with regulators before taking their products to the wider market.

Speaking on the initiative, the Director of the CBN’s Payments System Policy Department, Musa Jimoh, said technological changes were creating new ways for individuals and businesses to use financial services.

He said the sandbox, developed with technology partner EMTECH, would enable the regulator to work with innovators while ensuring that customers and the financial system are protected. ‘Financial innovation is continuing to transform the way individuals and businesses access and use financial services,’ Jimoh said.

He said the decision to create separate channels for virtual assets and data-based financial services was intended to ensure that regulation kept pace with changes in the financial industry.

For companies seeking admission, the CBN said it would consider several issues before allowing their products to be tested. These include how different the proposed solution is from existing products, whether it is ready for real-world testing, the possible benefits to customers and the market, the strength of the company’s management structure and its ability to identify and control risks.

Applicants will also have to present a clear plan showing how they intend to conduct their tests.

Companies admitted into the programme will operate within limits agreed with the CBN. Their activities will be monitored, with requirements covering customer protection, cybersecurity, business continuity and the submission of information to the regulator.

The apex bank, however, warned companies and investors not to interpret participation in the programme as a banking, payment or other financial services licence.

A company admitted into the sandbox will only be permitted to conduct activities covered by its approved testing arrangement. It cannot use its participation as permission to operate outside those limits.

The CBN said lessons from the exercise would be useful in helping it understand new technologies and decide how emerging financial services should be supervised in Nigeria.

For consumers, the programme could provide an additional layer of protection as new digital financial products are tested under regulatory observation rather than being introduced into the market without prior assessment.

The CBN said it was seeking to create an environment where new financial ideas could develop while risks to customers and the economy were properly managed.

Eligible organisations interested in participating have been advised to submit their applications through the CBN Regulatory Sandbox Portal at https://sandbox.cbn.gov.ng before the August 31 deadline.

The initiative is expected to give technology companies a clearer route for developing new financial products while giving the regulator practical experience needed to keep Nigeria’s financial rules in step with developments in digital finance.

A factional national chairman of Accord, Prof Chris Imumolen, has urged the people of Osun State not to waste their votes on Governor Ademola Adeleke, saying the governor will not win the upcoming state governorship election.

In a statement in Abuja, signed by Israel Jagunmolu, a Chieftain of the party, the factional chairman said Governor Adeleke’s political future was heading towards defeat, either at the polls or through the ongoing legal battle over the leadership of the Accord Party.

Prof. Imumolen has expressed confidence that the governor will lose the Osun election, stressing that he does not believe Adeleke has what it takes to prevail at the polls.

He said that even if Adeleke succeeds at the polls, the ongoing Accord Party leadership case before the Federal High Court in Abuja will provide the legal pathway through which his political position can ultimately be defeated.

Imumolen said the case involving the Adeleke-aligned Accord faction is progressing well, expressing confidence that the court will soon deliver a favourable judgment, saying, ‘We are expecting victory in the judgment very soon’.

Prof. Imumolen maintains that Adeleke cannot escape the consequences of the Accord leadership battle simply by winning an election, adding that if Adeleke wins the election, the political consequences of the Accord leadership case could still prove decisive.

He said, ‘Adeleke will lose at the polls. And if, against all expectations, he wins, the Accord leadership case will ultimately defeat him in court.’

He expressed confidence that the judicial process will vindicate their position and establish the party’s legitimate leadership structure.

He said, ‘Adeleke’s challenge is not only the ballot box. The Accord leadership case remains a major legal battle, and Prof. Chris Imumolen is confident that victory in that case will have decisive political consequences for Adeleke.’

The chairman of the Council of Ulama of the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa’ikamatis Sunnah, JIBWIS, Jos Zone, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has distanced the Islamic organisation from his recent call for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in 2027, saying it was his personal view, not the official position of JIBWIS.

Jingir made the clarification on Tuesday while speaking with journalists in Kano, amid mounting criticism and tension over his earlier statement.

The cleric had earlier advocated that Nigerians support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for a second term on the same Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2027.

His comment drew sharp reactions across the country, with Christian leaders, civil society groups and political commentators warning that such advocacy could deepen religious divisions ahead of the elections.

Critics argued that revisiting the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which generated heated debate in 2023, was insensitive in a multi-religious nation like Nigeria.

Addressing the fallout, Jingir said his remarks reflected his personal assessment of the political situation and should not be taken as a directive from JIBWIS.

‘My call for Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima was not a position adopted by the organisation. It was my personal opinion,’ he said.

The cleric urged Nigerians to exercise their constitutional rights by carefully considering candidates and political parties before voting in 2027.

He also appealed to political and religious leaders to promote peace, tolerance, and unity, stressing the need for ‘responsible political engagement’ ahead of the polls.

Despite the clarification, Jingir’s initial statement continues to generate debate, with many Nigerians questioning the timing and motive behind the renewed push for a same-faith ticket.

Observers note that with 2027 still over a year away, early religious-based political advocacy risks reopening fault lines that shaped the 2023 election discourse.

JIBWIS, one of Nigeria’s largest Islamic organisations, has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.