Vows to Resist in New Coalition Effort

In a strongly worded statement, the media office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of systematically weakening opposition parties in Nigeria, aiming to establish a de facto one-party state amid ongoing economic hardships.

The press release, issued on Tuesday, describes the past three years under Tinubu as one of the harshest periods in recent Nigerian history, marked by “punishing economic policies and shrinking democratic space.”

It claims the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is pursuing a “calculated effort to eliminate political alternatives,” leaving the ruling party dominant “by default, not by merit.

“According to the statement signed by Paul Ibe of the Atiku Media Office, opposition leaders have responded by rallying around the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a “nucleus of a credible national alternative.” The ADC is portrayed as being on a “national rescue mission,” with Atiku and other figures central to the initiative.

The release directly addresses recent external pressures on the ADC, alleging that “agents aligned with the Presidency” are attempting to destabilize the party by interfering in its internal affairs, particularly regarding the selection of a presidential candidate.

It rejects any calls for Atiku to “step aside,” labeling such demands as “a gift to authoritarian ambition and a betrayal of the Nigerian people.

“Emphasizing the ADC’s commitment to an “open, transparent, and competitive process” for choosing its flagbearer, the statement warns that “APC proxies and external meddlers have no standing to intimidate, blackmail, or sabotage this democratic resolve.”

It notes the party is currently focused on building grassroots structures at ward, local government, and state levels, urging “disruptors and infiltrators” to cease interference.

The ADC remains “open and welcoming to all genuine opposition figures,” the release states, highlighting inclusiveness as the “soul of democracy.”

It asserts that when the nomination process begins, “all qualified aspirants will present themselves freely,” and no one is stepping down. In a pointed remark, it suggests that if anyone should step aside, it is President Tinubu, whose leadership is described as a “national liability.

“The statement references the recent public declaration of ADC membership by former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in Enugu, which it says prompted “open boasts” from a serving minister and presidential aides about plans to undermine the party.

“Their fear is evident,” it adds.Concluding with a defiant tone, the release declares the ADC’s determination to “end the misfortune imposed by the Tinubu-led APC,” insisting that no amount of “intimidation, intrigue, or sabotage” will derail its mission. “Nigeria will not surrender its democracy without a fight,” it states.

This development comes amid growing political tensions in Nigeria, as opposition groups seek to consolidate ahead of future elections. Neither the Presidency nor the APC has immediately responded to the allegations.

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has firmly declared that he and his political allies will not back Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s bid for a second term in 2027, warning that such support would amount to “political suicide” for his camp.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Okrika Local Government Area on Saturday, Wike described Fubara’s emergence in 2023 as a “leadership mistake” that must not be repeated. “We have made a decision as far as Tinubu is concerned.

The other one [Fubara] — no way. Because if we make another mistake, then we will go and bury ourselves politically. I will not allow myself to be buried,” he stated emphatically.

The minister, who played a pivotal role in Fubara’s 2023 gubernatorial victory, accused the governor of poor leadership, citing his alleged inability to maintain cordial relations with local government chairmen, state assembly members, and National Assembly representatives.

“Someone who cannot relate with the local government chairmen, state assembly members and national assembly members — what kind of leadership do you want to provide?” Wike questioned.

Wike’s remarks come amid renewed hostilities following Fubara’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2025, a move seen as bolstering his second-term ambitions. The minister further alleged that Fubara breached a peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu, which facilitated the lifting of emergency rule in the state and the governor’s reinstatement.

While pledging unwavering support for President Tinubu’s re-election, Wike dismissed suggestions that Fubara’s alignment with the APC would automatically secure his re-election. “Supporting Tinubu won’t save Fubara,” he said during earlier engagements in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and other local government areas.

The escalating feud has fractured ethnic and political alignments in the oil-rich state. The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has endorsed Fubara for a second term, praising his people-centered policies, while the Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress withdrew support from the governor, pledging loyalty to Wike.

APC national leaders have expressed backing for Fubara as a sitting governor, with the party’s National Secretary stating that no APC governor would be frustrated. However, Wike’s influence within the party’s Rivers structures remains significant, setting the stage for a fierce intra-party battle ahead of 2027.

Political observers note that the rift, rooted in control over party structures and resources, continues to dominate Rivers politics, with both sides mobilizing grassroots support.

As consultations and alignments intensify, the outcome could reshape power dynamics in the Niger Delta region.

The anticipated defection of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been postponed, with the new date set for Monday, January 12, 2026.

The move, originally scheduled for January 5—coinciding with the governor’s 63rd birthday—was delayed following a meeting between Governor Yusuf and Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja on Friday.

Reports suggest that Yusuf personally requested additional time to conduct further consultations with key stakeholders, including state legislators, National Assembly members from Kano, and other political figures who have yet to fully commit to the transition.

“The governor wants to ensure broader alignment before formalizing the defection,” one anonymous source present at the Abuja meeting told reporters.

The postponement comes amid intensifying political realignments in Kano, Nigeria’s most populous state, ahead of the 2027 general elections. Yusuf’s potential switch to the APC is seen as a major boost for the ruling party, potentially consolidating its dominance in the North and neutralizing internal rivalries, including ambitions from figures like Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.

However, the plan has deepened rifts within the NNPP and the influential Kwankwasiyya movement led by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Yusuf’s longtime political mentor. Kwankwaso has publicly rejected the defection rumors, urging supporters to pray against it and warning that it would betray the party’s mandate.

NNPP national leadership has dissolved its Kano executive committee in response to the crisis, while some party officials have labeled the move a “betrayal.” Despite this, reports indicate strong backing for Yusuf from most state assembly members, local government chairmen, and grassroots structures.

Political analysts describe the development as reflective of broader calculations, with the APC reportedly coordinating at the highest levels to welcome Yusuf. If completed, the defection would leave the NNPP without its only sitting governor, significantly weakening its national standing.

As consultations continue, Kano remains a focal point of Nigeria’s fluid political landscape.