Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Popular land developer, Chief Taoridi Faronbi, otherwise known as Baba Alado is dead.

Baba Alado died on Saturday, September 26.

He has been laid to rest according to Muslim rites.

The funeral rites had in attendance Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, popularly called GOS; Chairman, Mushin Local Government, Tunbosun Aruwe; Chairman of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Dr. Oluseyi Jakande, others.

Until his death, Baba Alado, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, is also the head (Olori Ebi) of Alagbeji Royal family in Papa Ajao, Mushin, Lagos.

He was a major force in Lagos politics, social circles and the transport sector. He was widely respected as a leader within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)

He was the Akinrogun of Isolo Kingdom and the Babaloja of Aswani Market.

Baba Alado is not just popular but influential. Many musicians including K1 de Ultimate, Osupa, Pasuma and many others sing his praise.

Known by his supporters as a grassroots mobilizer and power broker, Chief Faronbi’s influence stretched across Mushin and beyond for decades.

A statement by the Executive Chairman, Mushin Local Government, Hon. Tunbosun Haruna Aruwe, eulogised Baba Alado’s contributions to the political and community life of Mushin people.

He said: ‘It is with a deeply saddened heart and a profound sense of loss that I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Late Chief Alhaji Taoridi Faronbi (Alado), my father figure, my mentor, my leader and our respected political stalwart, who passed away today, 26th September, 2026.

‘His death is not only a great loss to his immediate family, but also a painful loss to me personally. Late Chief Alhaji Taoridi Faronbi was more than a political associate; he was a father figure, a trusted elder and a man whose guidance, wisdom, fatherly counsel and presence meant so much to me.

‘His passing has left a great void that words cannot adequately express. I will forever cherish the memories of his fatherly love, advice, encouragement and the invaluable moments we shared. His contributions to the political and community life of our people will also remain part of the legacy he leaves behind.

‘At this difficult moment, my thoughts and prayers are with the entire Faronbi family. I pray that Almighty Allah grants the family the strength, courage and Sabr to bear this irreparable loss.

‘May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus, illuminate and expand his grave, and make it a place of peace and comfort.

‘May Allah comfort his children, grandchildren, relatives, friends, associates and all of us who mourn his passing. May He grant us the strength to preserve and honour the good legacy he has left behind.

‘Alhaji Taoridi Faronbi (Alado), you will be deeply missed, but your memories, fatherly counsel and legacy will forever remain in our hearts. May Almighty Allah grant him eternal rest and grant the entire Faronbi family strength and comfort at this difficult time.’

General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM), Pastor William Kumuyi, has said he is in the Republic of Benin to deliver what he described as a divine message of power capable of bringing solutions to the problems confronting the people.

Kumuyi spoke ahead of the commencement of the five-day Global Crusade with Kumuyi (GCK), which begins today at Sékou, in the Allada commune of the Republic of Benin.

The crusade, which runs from September 25 to 29, is themed ‘Divine Visitation from the God of All Possibilities.’

Speaking at a press conference in Cotonou on Wednesday, Kumuyi said: ‘Dear brothers and sisters, I am with you and for you. This crusade is for the entire Beninese nation.’he told the people, assuring them that the programme was for the entire nation.

Kumuyi said he believed God had prepared him for the assignment and that the crusade would witness a fresh manifestation of divine power.

‘The fire of God will be rekindled. God has prepared wonderful things. The power of God will move. Heaven is more than ready for you. God has prepared me and I am ready,’ he said.

He particularly invited people facing difficult circumstances, including the sick and those seeking solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

According to him, he was bringing a message from God that would address the needs of participants physically, spiritually and otherwise.

‘God has given me a message of power from heaven to solve the problems of all the participants who will come to this revival,’ Kumuyi said.

He added: ‘There will be a bulldozer power that will break all the mountains.’

The cleric said the expected impact would not be restricted to those physically present at Sékou, stressing that those participating through the live broadcast would also be part of the programme.

Kumuyi’s return to Benin Republic comes about 12 years after his previous crusade in the country.

He acknowledged the passage of time, saying he had become more mature in the intervening years.

‘In twelve years, I have matured more,’ he said, expressing confidence that the current crusade would produce greater impact.

The GCK will hold every evening at the National Deeper Life Bible Church Camp in Sékou, Allada, with the programme scheduled to begin at 5pm.

The crusade is expected to draw participants from Benin Republic and neighbouring countries, while the proceedings will also be transmitted globally through the GCK and DCLM digital platforms.

Kumuyi also disclosed that the Benin programme would extend beyond the evening crusade.

An Impact Academy for youths is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, at the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou. It will focus on helping young people discover the key to success.

The All Believers’ Conference will hold on September 28 and 29, also in Cotonou, with ministers and Christian leaders expected to participate.

For Kumuyi, the Benin assignment is therefore both an evangelistic and transformational mission.

‘Let us all be there and see God in action,’ he urged the people of Benin.

The GCK convener has in recent years taken the crusade to several countries and Nigerian states, with the outreach combining evangelism with programmes targeted at youths, ministers and professionals.

As the Benin edition opens today, Kumuyi’s central message remains that of divine intervention, salvation, healing, deliverance and transformation – with the preacher urging participants to come expecting what he described as ‘the God of all possibilities’ to act in their lives.

The Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) has announced its eighth National Transport Conference, with a call for stronger integration of Nigeria’s road, rail, maritime, aviation, inland waterways and pipeline transport systems.

The National President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIOTA, Prince Segun Ochuko Obayendo, disclosed this on Friday at a press briefing held at the Nigerian Railway Corporation headquarters, Lagos.

Obayendo said the conference, themed ‘Integrated Multimodal Transport System for Sustainable Development in Nigeria,’ would bring together policymakers, transport professionals, investors, academics, development partners and operators across the various transport sectors.

He said Nigeria could not achieve sustainable development through isolated transport systems, stressing that roads, railways, seaports, airports and inland waterways needed to operate as a connected national network to reduce logistics costs, improve safety, boost trade competitiveness, create jobs and support economic growth.

He said the conference would focus on national multimodal transport integration, urban mobility, logistics and supply chain competitiveness, Intelligent Transport Systems and digital innovation, green transportation and climate resilience, public-private partnerships, infrastructure financing, professional capacity development and transport governance.

Obayendo also announced the unveiling of the CIOTA Gazette as a major highlight of the conference, describing it as an instrument to strengthen the institute’s regulatory standing, codify professional standards and provide legal backing for the practice of transport administration in Nigeria.

‘For decades, transport administration in Nigeria has operated without the cohesive professional framework it deserves. The Gazette changes that,’ he said, adding that it would establish clearer standards for practitioners, strengthen accountability and provide an institutional framework for reforms in the transport sector.

The CIOTA president invited government officials, transport regulators and operators, local government administrators, logistics companies, manufacturers, universities, research institutions, young professionals, development partners, investors and other stakeholders to participate in the conference, which he said was expected to produce recommendations for policy reforms and stronger professional practice.

The Chairman of the National Planning Committee, Dr Taiwo Olufemi Salaam, said transportation was central to Nigeria’s economic and social development, noting that the country could not achieve sustainable development without an efficient system that allowed people and goods to move safely, affordably, reliably and efficiently.

Salaam said Nigeria’s transport system had developed largely around individual modes, stressing the need for effective connections among road, rail, water, air and non-motorised transport. He said each mode should perform the function for which it was most suitable rather than compete with the others.

According to him, rail could support the movement of passengers and freight over longer distances, waterways could facilitate the movement of people and goods, road transport could provide first- and last-mile connectivity, while air transport remained critical for long-distance and time-sensitive travel.

Salaam said better integration could reduce congestion, improve logistics and mobility, enhance road safety, lower environmental impacts and increase productivity, particularly as Nigeria’s cities and economy grow.

He added that the conference would examine the roles of technology, infrastructure, regulation, institutional coordination, investment and professional transport administration in achieving a sustainable multimodal transport system.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, citing his belief in the President’s vision and reforms, while dismissing speculation of a political ‘rainbow coalition’ involving former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike in Ebonyi State.

Umahi spoke while inspecting Phase Two of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway at Ado, Benue State, where he reviewed progress on the project and directed contractors to accelerate construction.

On his support for Tinubu, Umahi said continuity matters for major infrastructure projects that take years to complete, warning that a change of administration could stall ongoing work.

‘What gave rise to this is because I believe in President Bola Tinubu. I believe that he’s the one called by God. I believe in his vision. I believe in his reforms. I believe he’s the best person that I have worked with and for, and I’m very proud of working for him and working with him.

‘If, God forbid, another person says he’s President, all these projects will be stalled. And I don’t think Ebonyi wants their projects to be stalled,’ he said.

Responding to questions about his relationship with Wike and claims that they were forming a ‘rainbow coalition’ in Ebonyi, Umahi said any candidates backed by the former governor would not be part of his political structure.

‘If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship,’ he said.

Umahi reaffirmed his alignment with the All Progressives Congress (APC), while criticising the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he left after what he described as its failure to adequately serve the interests of the Southeast.

‘We supported PDP. We voted for presidents in PDP. And when it was our time for them to honour us, they did not honour us. They maltreated us,’ he said.

He, however, said political opponents were free to campaign in Ebonyi provided they avoided hate speech.

‘Anybody that wants to campaign, come and campaign. But don’t dish out hate speech and you want to take those speeches, and you want that we should lay a red carpet for you. We will not do that,’ he said.

The Minister also rejected claims that he had concentrated Federal Government projects in the Southeast, saying the infrastructure programme was a national initiative under Tinubu.

‘I saw on social media where they say I cornered all projects to the Southeast. That is very wonderful. But we have the publication of all projects ongoing by President Bola Tinubu, so they dare counsel without knowledge.

‘I’m not on my own. The President is my boss. So where will he be when I corner all projects to the Southeast?’ he asked.

According to Umahi, the Southeast was receiving infrastructure attention as part of the national distribution of projects, although it might not rank first, second or third under the administration.

‘But definitely they will not be the last,’ he said.

He said the administration’s performance should be assessed through projects already under execution rather than promises.

‘We tell our story. It’s not a question of saying, ‘I will do this, I’ll do this.’ What about the one that the person is doing? Let us compare the past with the present,’ he said.

On the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway, Umahi directed contractors handling the 173-kilometre Phase Two, valued at ?683 billion, not to demolish or touch any building along the current alignment pending the Federal Government’s review and any necessary realignment.

‘My directive is that no building should be touched. Even if it’s within the alignment, I have to come and realign it. So you just have to continue your work and go around those buildings until we come to look at it,’ he said.

He also directed contractors to strengthen sharp curves where necessary and open at least three sections of the first element of Phase Two at the same time to speed up construction.

Umahi said the contractor had opened the first element of the first eight kilometres, while engineers were working to resolve the challenge around the Ado Bridge.

‘I do not believe in engineering that anything is impossible,’ he said, directing the contractor to open another section from the Ado River while engineers worked on the bridge solution.

The Minister also highlighted additional works under Section One, including dualisation at Onueke and Chainage 0 around Ndibe Beach, which he said were outside the initial scope.

He said the project was being executed under an EPC Plus Finance arrangement without provision for variations, requiring careful management of quantities and resources.

Umahi said four legacy infrastructure projects under the Tinubu administration were being financed through 30 per cent naira funding by the Federal Government and 70 per cent foreign financing.

He also rejected suggestions that the administration had abandoned existing roads for new projects, saying several legacy projects involved expanding and reconstructing existing road corridors.

If only Nigeria knew how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rescued Nigerians from the oil subsidy regime, every Nigerian would stand and thank him every morning.

The oil subsidy was not a policy. It was a monumental fraud. A national organised crime.

I write not as a politician, but as an insider. I served this country as a staff member of NNPC for 20 solid years. I was an accountant responsible for recording petroleum product sales from my desk at Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Ibadan Depot. For 20 years, I saw the books. I saw the lies.

I also write as a former member of the House of Representatives. I served on the Downstream Petroleum Committee, the Finance Committee, the Subsidy Probe Committee of 2012, and, above all, the Petroleum Industry Bill Committee of the 7th Assembly.

These exposures and responsibilities gave me the opportunity to arrive at one painful truth: this country’s oil and gas industry operated in a deeply corrupt environment, shrouded in secrecy that injured the nation deeply.

The subsidy regime lied about everything. They lied about production costs. They lied about imports. They lied about landing costs and their poor cost template. They also lied about storage and consumption figures. Nigeria was consuming 30 million litres on paper, but on the ground, half of it was going across our borders to Benin, Niger, Togo, Cameroon and Ghana. We were subsidising the consumption of petroleum products for mostly our neighbouring countries while Nigerians suffered scarcity.

We were borrowing to import what we had. We were paying debts for products we did not consume. The huge debt incurred during the subsidy regime almost collapsed our economy. Banks were making trillions from subsidy claims. One man would bring one ship and claim for three. Depot owners collected subsidies for products that never left their tanks.

That is why I say the best thing that ever happened to this oil and gas industry is the bold step taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, 2023, when he said, ‘Subsidy is gone’.

Only a courageous leader with a full understanding of the cartel can do that. Others before him knew the truth but lacked the courage.

If any counter-voices are now calling for the return of subsidy, it can only mean one thing: the cartels are fighting back. It will not augur well for us as a nation if we listen to them. Those championing the return of subsidy either lack the knowledge or exposure to how this country was subsidising other countries, or they are direct beneficiaries of the fraud.

Let me be clear: Nigerians were never the beneficiaries of subsidy. The cartels were. Nigerians were only benefiting from cheap smuggled products, scarcity, long queues, and national debt.

Of course, the need to overhaul the administration of the post-subsidy regime cannot be overemphasised. The government must ensure that the savings from the subsidy are well managed, that refineries work, that CNG and other palliatives reach the real poor, and that the downstream is well regulated.

But to return to subsidy? Never. That will be returning to Egypt after God has already taken us through the Red Sea.

President Tinubu has taken the hard road, the right road. History will vindicate him.

Hon. Rotimi Makinde, former PPMC Staff (20 years, Ibadan Depot) and former Member, House of Representatives, writes from the Source.

The aspirations of many candidates in next year’s elections are now hanging in the balance as the implications of Thursday’s verdict of the Supreme Court, validating Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, begin to unravel.

The apex court, in the ruling, restored the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on party membership registers and nomination which the Court of Appeal had taken away on the ground that those sections of the act were inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

In specific terms, any one who participated in more than one party primary risks disqualification, while those whose names are not in a party’s register as at May 2026 are deemed not to be members of the party also risk qualification.

Sources across the political parties told The Nation, yesterday, that their lawyers were studying the Supreme Court ruling and its implications, if any, for their candidates.

Some political observers expressed concern over the fate of the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) senatorial candidate for Kwara Central Saliu Mustapha, the party’s senatorial candidate for Kwara North, Kolo Jiya, and other candidates sponsored by the Bukola Saraki G15 alliance in the state, as well as candidates sponsored in Rivers State by the Nyesom Wike-led Rainbow Alliance.

Also feared to be in jeopardy are the aspirations of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, PDP senatorial candidate in Ogun Central, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo, NDC senatorial candidate in Delta Central, Ovie Omo-Agege, Labour Party governorship candidate in Adamawa, Elisha Abbo, NDC governorship candidate in the state, Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani, APM governorship candidate in the state, Abdulrahman Haske, Social Democratic Party governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Mohammed Adamu.

Former Communication Minister, Isa Ali Pantami, whose nomination as PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State was annulled by a court, on Thursday, is set for a fresh primary as ordered by the court.

The exercise is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29.

Pantami defected from the APC to the PDP after losing in the APC primary.

Obi

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election, switched camps to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in December last year only to move to the NDC five months later.

He officially joined his new party on May 3, 2026, along with his running mate, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Obi picked the NDC presidential nomination and expression-of-interest forms on May 17 and was screened two days later by the party’s leadership.

On May 20, the NDC screening committee cleared Obi, expressly stating that he had satisfied the requirements of the party’s Constitution, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.

He was thus adopted as the party’s presidential candidate on May 29.

Responding yesterday to a question yesterday, an NDC source said: ‘if by ‘was Peter Obi’s name on the NDC register’ you mean whether he had formally become an NDC member before emerging as the party’s presidential candidate, the record says yes. He had received an NDC membership card 26 days before May 29.’

Mustapha, Jiya, other candidates of Saraki-G15 group

Senator Mustapha, Jiya and several other candidates sponsored by the alliance were, until recently, members of the APC in Kwara State.

They fell out with the APC governor of the state, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, following the party primaries.

Mustapha, having lost out in the governorship race, expected the governor to allow him a return ticket to the senate.

But he was denied the APC senatorial ticket also missed him, he left for the PDP with other aggrieved party members.

Gov Makinde

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde declared his presidential ambition on what he called APM/PDP platform on May 14.

And a major highlight of his declaration was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the APM and his faction of the PDP.

PDP chieftains, however, say there is no record of his resignation from the party.

Omo-Agege

Former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege was, until May 22, a member of the APC.

He initially wanted to contest the gubernatorial ticket with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori who had defected from the PDP.

But having hit a wall in that adventure, he sought the senatorial ticket for Delta Central. That bid too failed, leading to his resignation from the APC and subsequent crossing to the NDC, which gave him a waiver to contend for the same seat on its platform.

Ex-IGP Adamu

Former Police Inspector General, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, threw practically everything into the APC governorship race in Nasarawa State, only to lose to Senator Aliyu Wadada in the primary.

On May 25, Adamu resigned from the APC citing ‘recent developments within the party especially the conduct of the governorship primary election processes in Nasarawa State, have made it difficult for me to continue with my political activities under the platform of the party.’

On September 5, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) named him its governorship candidate following a substitution primary held in Lafia, the state capital.

The original candidate Musa Angba had withdrawn from the contest.

Pantami

Isah Pantami left the APC after failing to clinch the party’s governorship ticket in Gombe State.

He found home in PDP and got the ticket he wanted there.

However, last Tuesday, a Federal High Court sitting in Gombe nullified the governorship primary that produced Pantami and ordered a rerun within one month.

The state chapter of the party announced yesterday that it has Pantami, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry for a fresh governorship primary election scheduled for Tuesday.

Iyabo Obasanjo

Iyabo, daughter of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, lost out in the race for the APC governorship ticket in Ogun State.

On May 31, 2026, a few days after Senator Solomon Adeola emerged as the APC governorship candidate, Iyabo resigned her membership of the party.

By June 17, she returned to the PDP and immediately became its candidate for Ogun Central.

Elisha Abbo

Elisha Abbo, a former senator representing Adamawa North, was one of the several political heavyweights who dumped the ADC in Adamawa State following the bad blood generated by the party’s governorship primary.

By the end of May, he emerged as LP’s consensus flagbearer having been cleared by the national leadership of LP.

Aisha Binani

Like Abbo, Binani felt betrayed by the ADC in the conduct of its governorship primary.

She resigned from the party and pitched her tent with the NDC on May 1, 2026.

Binani was presented her party membership card on the day by Seriake Dickson, the party’s national leader, who welcomed her and announced her as the head of the NDC in Adamawa, pending internal democratic processes.

She subsequently emerged as the NDC governorship candidate.

Abdulrahman Haske

Abdulrahman Haske contested the APC governorship primary in Adamawa State but lost.

He was named APM’s governorship candidate only two weeks ago.

Rivers APC dismisses fears over Chinda’s candidature

The Rivers State chapter of the APC, yesterday, dismissed fears that the Supreme Court ruling could jeopardise the candidature of its governorship candidate, O.K. Chinda.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, said there was no cause for alarm, insisting that Chinda’s candidature remained intact.

The judgment sparked speculation in Rivers State, on Friday, with some claiming that Chinda’s emergence as the APC candidate could be affected because of questions surrounding the timing of his membership of the party.

The concerns followed Chinda’s public emergence as an APC member in May and his subsequent participation in the party’s governorship primary, which he won.

His resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his former party, was read by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during plenary.

However, indications emerged that Chinda’s formal resignation letter from the PDP was dated April 23, 2026.

The development has also drawn attention to the timeline for submission of party membership registers.

INEC had initially fixed April 21, 2026 as the deadline for political parties to submit their registers but later extended the deadline to May 10.

The commission said the extension remained consistent with the Electoral Act 2026, which requires political parties to submit their membership registers at least 21 days before their primaries.

Reacting to the controversy, Ikenga said the Supreme Court judgment did not invalidate Chinda’s candidacy but, rather, reinforced it.

He said: ‘The Supreme Court judgement affected our governorship candidate positively. Those claiming that his name was not in the register, where they the people, who submitted the register?’

Ikenga insisted that the party had no doubts about Chinda’s status as its candidate, urging APC supporters to remain focused on the election.

‘Our governorship candidate remains OK Chinda. He will run and he will win,’ he said.

He added: ‘People should continue to have faith; mobilise and reach out to voters and continue the process of inclusiveness bringing everybody together so that we can defeat our opponents squarely, creditably in a free, fair and credible election.’

From a lawyer/human rights activist’s perspective: Implications of the ruling

Reviewing the Supreme Court ruling yesterday, human rights activist, lawyer and former presidential adviser, Okoi Obono-Obla, described it as ‘arguably the most important pre-election judgment for 2027.’

His words: ‘On Thursday, September 24, 2026, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Adamu Jauro allowed the appeal filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission in SC/CR/495/2026 and set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division delivered on July 16, 2026.

‘The origin was Suit No. FHC/ABJ/509/2026 filed by Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) challenging the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.

‘Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court Abuja had on May 5, 2026 dismissed ZLP’s suit for lacking merit. On appeal in CA/ABJ/CV/750/2026, the Court of Appeal partly allowed ZLP’s appeal and struck down the provisions, holding they conflicted with Sections 221 and 222 of the 1999 Constitution governing political parties.

‘INEC, represented by Dr Alex Izinyon, SAN, appealed to the Supreme Court. On September 24, the apex court reversed the Court of Appeal, restored the Federal High Court judgment, held that the provisions are not inconsistent with the Constitution, and awarded N2 million costs against ZLP.

What the restored provisions say

‘The judgment restores the full statutory regime for membership registers and nomination:

‘Section 77(5): Only persons whose names appear in the membership register submitted to INEC not later than 21 days before the date fixed for a primary, congress or convention are eligible to participate in the exercise.

‘Section 77(6): Prohibits a political party from using a membership register other than the one submitted to INEC for its primaries, congresses and conventions.

‘Section 77(7): A political party that fails to submit its membership register within the prescribed period is not eligible to field a candidate for the election.

‘Section 84(2): The procedure for nominating candidates for elective offices shall be by direct primaries or consensus. This excludes indirect primaries.

Immediate Legal Implications

1. Finality and Constitutional Settlement

‘The Supreme Court has settled the long-running debate on the relationship between party autonomy under Sections 221/222 of the Constitution and the National Assembly’s power to regulate elections under Section 228. The Court held that regulating membership registers and nomination methods is permissible electoral regulation, not an unconstitutional encroachment on internal party affairs. The Court of Appeal’s view that ordinary legislation cannot introduce disqualifying conditions has been rejected.

2. The Death of Indirect Primaries for 2027

‘Section 84(2) as restored makes direct primaries and consensus the only lawful modes. Any party constitution or guideline providing for indirect delegate primaries is now void to that extent. The litigation had generated considerable debate because it went to the relationship between constitutional autonomy of parties and the National Assembly’s power to prescribe rules.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Oyo State governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has challenged the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to demonstrate its nationwide political structure and strength before presenting Governor Seyi Makinde as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Alli, through his Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO), also criticised the APM’s call for President Bola Tinubu to step aside for Makinde.

In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, the organisation said a presidential bid required nationwide organisation and electoral structures across the country.

It asked the APM to disclose the extent of its structures across the federation and demonstrate its capacity to contest effectively across the states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The statement also questioned Makinde’s record on local government administration in Oyo State, alleging that his administration had weakened the 33 local governments in the state.

‘APM’s Makinde is averse to the third tier of government in Nigeria, and this is evident in his seven-year anti-local government administration in Oyo State,’ the statement said.

The SSACO said the APM should demonstrate its seriousness by having candidates across various elective positions in at least one-third of the country.

It also challenged Makinde to demonstrate political strength in Oyo State before seeking to lead a nationwide presidential campaign.

‘A man seeking to conquer Nigeria must first demonstrate compelling political strength on his own turf. Charity, as the saying goes, begins at home,’ the statement said.

The organisation said the 2027 presidential election would ultimately be determined by voters, while highlighting what it described as benefits of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including the student loan scheme, establishment of federal universities, and road construction and reconstruction projects.

He will not be on the ballot for next year’s election. But, to observers, he is among the political actors to watch. When he sneezes, either in Abuja or Port Harcourt, some people catch cold.

Chief Nyesom Wike, lawyer, former governor of oil-rich Rivers State, and highly diligent, influential, and wealthy Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, is not a liability to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his current employer.

The minister has done the administration proud by his scorecard as the Abuja landlord. He has shown how the infrastructure battle can be fought and won, and he enjoys a high rating as a public officer.

But it appears the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) comprising 31 All Progressives Congress (APC) state chief executives and heads of sub-national units does not see him as an asset to the ruling party and the administration it has midwifed. The minister is an exceptional politician with a unique modus operandi. He seems to enjoy staying on the firing line, attracting enmity at will and making friends as well, simultaneously loved and hated. Indisputably, he is bold, brave, and forthright. He is also focused, predictable, vocal, fork-tongued, and garrulous. He is at his best in launching battles, but in doing so, he is always relying on the law, the right strategies and requisite tactics for survival.

Wike may not come across as an intellectual giant. But in matters of political reasoning, comprehension, judgement, and logic, he is adept. More importantly, his strength lies in the cult followership he relies upon for political relevance. If structure is a factor in politics, Wike is not found wanting.

His associates speak about his kindness. His foes are more vociferous about his capacity for hostility. Thus, this Ikwerre gentleman appears to be a fusion of contrasting personalities.

Wike has assisted numerous politicians in distress. Beneficiaries of his gestures during difficult times owe him loyalty, and failure to reciprocate often draws his ire. He often reminds of past favours and sacrifices or gloats over kindness done to friends-turned foes when the chips are down. This he does to express his bitterness towards betrayers, or typically because the other persons failed to show appreciation or reciprocation. The secret is consequently let out. The Yoruba describe such a disposition as ‘iregun,’ what psychologists call transactional helping or keeping score.

Wike, like most politicians, loathes betrayal; and he never hides his anger. That was what cost Governor Siminalayi Fubara his second term ticket, after losing power for six months during the emergency rule. That undiluted fidelity is the chord that binds him and his other followers who weathered the storm in Rivers.

Not all the 31 APC governors have issues with the FCT minister. Many of them actually admire him. But for the few scared ones, the fear of the stubborn politician is the beginning of wisdom. These few ones are just hiding under the PGF to make their onslaught against the minister look like a collective action.

Wike is not contesting any election in 2027. But he has candidates he is rooting for.He will use the money he earned from the APC government to sponsor PDP candidates. According to his lawyer-colleagues, he is at liberty to exercise his freedom of choice under the constitution.

The minister is campaigning for the APC National Leader, Commander-in-Chief and the main issue in contemporary Nigerian politics. His man is seeking re-election next year. The FCT minister is the apple of his eyes, a dependable ally outside his party, a principled figure, an actor with a heart of steel and stone, a caterpillar and bulldozer whenever political strength has to be flexed on the national stage, or any other state at all.

By wholeheartedly supporting President Tinubu, the FCT minister had struck a personal alliance with Aso Villa, the seat of federal power. Since one good turn deserves another, he is ordinarily entitled to what might be perceived as real or imagined presidential favours. He thus attracted concessions as Abuja minister, and these have made some members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) green with envy.

However, the minister, despite his support and avowed commitment, has always insisted that he belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Currently, the opposition party is decimated and crisis-ridden. It is a struggling platform; the pitiful half of its old self, the pompous party that dreamt of ruling for 60 years only to be left in the cold now at the national level for 11 uninterrupted years.

No doubt, the party is in turmoil, by courtesy of Wike and other feuding chieftains, led by Taminu Turaki, Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo, who are now hibernating in the Allied Peoples Party (APM).

But the PDP is not dead; it may not die. Its fragility has not heralded the prospects of extinction. The party remains polarised, almost disintegrated, but it still has some traces of breath. For 2027, Wike, its latter-day national leader, is warming up to make the point that in Rivers, and few states, including Benue, Imo, and Kwara, the party, if properly galvanised and funded well, can spring surprises during the governorship and National Assembly elections.

It, therefore, means that Wike is not an ordinary politician. The late Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State nicknamed him ‘Wicked Wike,’ a homonymous sobriquet that conveys the minister’s political antics and shrewdness. The late eminent lawyer and governor never meant that Wike was a killer. He only attested to the minister’s strong will and formidability. Wike’s friend, Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti, has also described him as a spirit. In reality, nobody is a spirit; it’s a mere hyperbole. But God is with this Ikwerre son, because while foes plotted his political downfall, he emerged stronger.

However, his support for the ruling APC has limitations. That is the bone of contention between him and the governors, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma. By showcasing his support for the APC at the presidential election, Wike also cleverly proposed a political bargaining that appears incomprehensible to the governors, who are trying to package a stiff resistance to his plan.

The minister has moved to Bayelsa, Imo, Benue, and Kwara to fund PDP candidates, making the governors to become somehow jittery. If they sleep on guard, it is possible that he would pull the rug off their feet. The governors are suspicious – and rightly so – that Wike would use the money the APC government pays him as minister to fund opposition candidates.

With his Rainbow Coalition, Wike has his hands and legs in APC and PDP. It is noteworthy that the governorship, National Assembly, and House of Assembly candidates he is sponsoring on the platform of the PDP are also campaigning for President Tinubu. This is a complex situation. It means that although they are opposition candidates, they are not much of threats to APC’s interest, given the big picture, but threats to some individuals in the ruling party. Wike is keeping them close to APC, thereby preventing them from joining forces with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).

Also, why these PDP candidates are actually rooting for President Tinubu, he cannot in turn campaign for them or maintain aloofness to the cause of the APC candidates, in the semblance of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘vote for me at the presidential election and vote for candidates of your choice during governorship and legislative elections’.

While there is a justification for the ADC and the NDC to be livid, what is required of the few APC governors is not panic but a critical and realistic understanding of the power game. This should be the baseline for engaging or negotiating with the PDP leader, who in turn should be ready for dialogue and compromise. In politics, this is possible. It is not strange. After all, the PDP leader and APC governors are somehow united by the president’s push for a second term.

But what is Wike doing now that is new? As leader of G5, did he not support the APC at the presidential election in 2023? Then, did he not also sponsor PDP candidates in Rivers and other states?

Is it not better to have a Wike supporting APC for president than to see a Wike teaming up with the ADC and NDC to oppose the APC?

Why are the governors afraid of a minister who does not enjoy incumbency power like them? Are they doing the president any good by attacking his chief supporter? If they have issues with the minister, why can’t they engage him, personally and collectively, instead of this attack which Wike’s supporters view as blackmail?

If the APC governors work hard and mobilise well in their states, would Wike’s overtures not pale into empty threat?

If the APC governors are really popular in their states; if they are effectively in charge, why should they be afraid of Wike’s onslaught?

What is the assurance that the minister is not even grandstanding?

However, Wike needs to be cautious. The political field is slippery. What has a beginning, surely, must produce an end, which nobody can predict, except the Almighty.

The Yoruba have a proverb: ‘Bi ilu bata ba n le, o fe e ya ni,’ and ‘Ti aye ba n ye’ni, k’a maa sora nitori ile nyo.’ When the bata drum sounds hardest, it’s roaring to a burst. Also, when life confers its favours on some people, it’s necessary that they should be circumspect because even the ground could betray the feet with its slipperiness.

Katsina State Governor and Chairman of the Northwest Governors’ Forum, Malam Dikko Radda, has urged investors and development partners to inject more private capital into the Northwest, saying economic opportunities are critical to defeating insecurity in the region.

Radda said the Northwest could not achieve lasting peace through military operations alone, stressing that security must be matched with jobs, investment and improved livelihoods.

The governor spoke at high-level events on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he presented Katsina State’s experience in development financing and the Northwest Peace, Security and Development Framework.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula, Radda said the challenge was no longer the availability of development financing but the difficulty of attracting private capital into public development projects.

He said Katsina had benefited from 11 World Bank projects worth about $430 million, covering education, water, agriculture, rural roads and environmental development.

The African Development Bank, he added, was financing the state’s Agro-Industrial Processing Zone with $30 million, while the Islamic Development Bank was providing $60 million for the first phase of the Integrated Agricultural Development Hubs.

Radda identified stronger public-private partnership frameworks, de-risking mechanisms, reliable counterpart funding and transparent monitoring as key measures required to unlock more private investment.

At a separate high-level event on the Northwest Peace, Security and Development Framework, the governor urged the seven states in the region to work collectively to address insecurity, poverty, displacement and economic challenges.

‘Security must be accompanied by opportunity,’ he said, stressing that military operations alone could not deliver lasting peace.

He urged investors to look beyond the security challenges and tap into opportunities in agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, skills development and enterprise.

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, commended the Northwest governors for presenting a common regional plan and pledged the UN’s support for the initiative.

Mohammed highlighted the Northwest’s strategic importance to food production and called for coordinated financing, stronger institutions, job creation and community-focused investments.

She disclosed that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was developing a proposal for a Northwest-led Stabilisation-to-Transformation Programme and Financing Platform.

Radda said the governors were ready to move from planning to implementation, urging development partners and private investors to partner with the region in building a more secure, productive and economically vibrant Northwest.

A 43-year-old man, Edebiri Temitope, has been arrested in connection with the death of 38-year-old university graduate, Oje Michael Eje, in Mowe, Ogun State.

Eje was attacked after he allegedly hugged and played with the suspect’s three-year-old child.

Spokesperson of the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, who disclosed this yesterday, stated that Temitope became angry over what he described as the deceased’s ‘rough play’ with the child.

DSP Babaseyi added that the suspect allegedly picked up a bamboo stick and repeatedly struck Eje until he collapsed.

Eje was said to have died from injuries sustained during the attack.

Temitope, who was initially said to have fled the area with his family, was later arrested and was now being held in connection with the incident.

The suspect has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

Eje, 38, was a university graduate who held a degree in Guidance and Counselling.