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2027: Coalition’s bid to unseat Tinubu faces setback as PDP suffers mass exodus
With two years to the next presidential election, mixed reactions have trailed the gale of defections by high-profile politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, into the All Progressives Congress, APC.
This comes as it was hinted that the coalition spearheaded by former PDP’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar may not succeed against the President Bola Tinubu-led APC due to moves by some Fulani interests to escalate the Fulani war that has birthed itself in Nigeria.
Recently, Atiku, his counterpart from the Labour Party Peter Obi, Babachir Lawal, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, announced the formation of the coalition under the Social Democratic Party.
Since the announcement, no political bigwig has joined the party in their push to wrest power from Tinubu in 2027.
This is as the PDP and Atiku’s camp lost two major stakeholders from the South-South, Ifeanyi Okowa and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State.
Okowa, who was Atiku’s presidential running mate in the 2023 election, had dumped the PDP for the APC alongside Oborevwori at a stakeholders’ meeting in Asaba, Delta State.
It was observed that Oborevwori’s defection now puts the APC in the lead in the Nigerian Delta region, Delta, Edo, and Cross River states are APC, while the governors of Akwa Ibom and Rivers states have backed President Tinubu, leaving only Bayelsa State with the PDP.
In the Southwest, the APC may likely retain votes from the region because Tinubu hails from the area.
For the North, there have been agitations over the region’s political leaning ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with former presidential aide Hakeem Baba-Ahmed saying the North will decide its political direction in the next six months because the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari made the region wiser.
Baba-Ahmed said, “In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way.”
While Baba-Ahmed, a former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), El-Rufai has been trying to galvanize the North to tilt their votes towards the opposition coalition with his visit to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, and former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso amid talks with other prominent politicians from the rregion.
Former Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi, who represented Delta North Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate from 2015 to 2023, has died following a prolonged illness.
The news of his passing was confirmed on Friday through a statement from Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon. Details surrounding the exact circumstances of his death remain limited at this time.
Governor Oborevwori described the loss as a profound blow to Delta State, the Anioma nation, and Nigeria. In his condolence message, he referred to the late senator as a “dear friend” and a dedicated public servant.
“On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I mourn the passing of my dear friend, Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi,” Oborevwori stated. “He was a proud son of Delta State and a courageous defender of the Anioma cause, whose contributions to nation-building will remain indelible.
“The governor highlighted Nwaoboshi’s impactful tenure in the National Assembly, particularly as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, where he advocated strongly for regional development.
Oborevwori also noted the late senator’s political pedigree, including his service as a two-time Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State before his later affiliation with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tributes have poured in from across political lines, with the Delta State APC describing Nwaoboshi as a “fearless voice for his people” and a committed party member whose influence transcended party boundaries.
Nwaoboshi’s legacy is remembered for his courage, loyalty, and unwavering commitment to public service.
Condolences have been extended to his immediate family, the Anioma community, and all those touched by his life.
• King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall
News
Alleged N2.2bn fraud: Ngige gets bail, trials continue on January 28
The EFCC alleges that Ngige used his ministerial position between 2015 and 2023 to award contracts unfairly, divert funds, and enrich himself and associates.
Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has been granted bail by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Gwarimpa.
He faces eight counts of charges bordering on abuse of office, contract fraud, and acceptance of kickbacks from contractors linked to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.
In Thursday’s ruling, Justice Maryam Hassan adopted the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC.
The court ordered Ngige to produce a surety who must be a serving Federal Government director.
The surety is required to deposit travel documents with the court registrar, as Ngige claims his passport was lost.
The surety must also present landed property with a valid certificate of occupancy within the Federal Capital Territory.
The EFCC alleges that Ngige used his ministerial position between 2015 and 2023 to award contracts unfairly, divert funds, and enrich himself and associates.
The trial is scheduled to commence on January 28, 2026.
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