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Atiku Abubakar Accepts ADC Presidential Nomination, Vows to Rescue Nigeria from APC Misrule

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has formally accepted the presidential nomination of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declaring that the opposition coalition represents the last hope for rescuing Nigeria’s struggling democracy from what he described as the “oppressive and anti-democratic” policies of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja while accepting the party’s ticket for the 2027 general elections, Atiku expressed gratitude for the honour and described the nomination as both humbling and exciting.

“We demonstrated that while democracy is being strangled and squashed by the ruling party… democracy is alive and well in the African Democratic Congress,” he said.

The former Vice President painted a grim picture of the current political climate, accusing the APC government, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and elements in the judiciary of orchestrating leadership crises in virtually all opposition parties. He singled out the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who he said has been held for three months despite court orders granting him bail.

Atiku condemned what he called the weaponisation of security agencies and anti-corruption bodies against opposition figures, stating that harassment often ceases once politicians defect to the APC.

“Enough is enough,” he warned. “Any further attempt to interfere in the affairs of the party by the Presidency, INEC and judiciary will be fiercely resisted.”

Call for Unity and Reconciliation

In a strong appeal for party cohesion, Atiku urged all contestants who vied for the ticket and those who feel aggrieved to close ranks. He specifically invited former Rivers State Governor Chief Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen to join him in what he termed “the fight to save our democracy and our country.”

He emphasised that there were “no winners and no losers” in the primaries, stressing the need for unity ahead of the crucial 2027 elections.

Key Policy Priorities Outlined

Atiku outlined his administration’s planned focus areas if elected:

Security: He lamented the unprecedented level of insecurity across the country, including attacks on security personnel, and promised massive recruitment, modern equipment, improved welfare, and better coordination among security agencies.

Education: The ADC candidate criticised the fact that over 20 million children are out of school and pledged free and compulsory basic education, alongside massive investment in infrastructure, teacher welfare, and skills development.

Economy: Atiku slammed the APC’s economic management, describing rising poverty amid claims of growth. He vowed to tackle the crippling energy crisis, remove investment bottlenecks, and promote job-creating policies. He also criticised the lack of accountability in the fuel subsidy removal savings and the surge in external borrowing.

Healthcare: He expressed shock at the meagre capital allocation to the Federal Ministry of Health and promised massive investment in primary healthcare and specialist centres to reduce medical tourism.

The former Vice President said his government would be guided by clear national plans with measurable targets and timelines, in line with the party’s manifesto, promising “a new era of accountable leadership.”

Renewed Action Over Renewed Hope

Atiku drew a sharp contrast between the APC’s “meaningless renewed hope” and what he called the ADC’s commitment to “renewed action” to repair the damage of 12 years of APC rule.

He urged party members and supporters to shift from celebration to serious preparation for the election campaign, describing the task ahead as rescuing Nigeria from “a corrupt, incompetent and polarising APC government.”

The event marks a significant step in the consolidation of the ADC as a major opposition platform, following what Atiku described as careful coalition-building involving immense sacrifices and compromises.

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Governorship candidates Speak On Next Chapter For Lagos

Doherty maintained that government must become the biggest housing developer in the state and provide alternatives to private rental accommodation.

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Photo: APC candidate, Obafemi Hamzat; ADC candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, NDC candidate, Funsho Doherty, and PDP candidate, Adedeji Doherty during the 2027 Lagos State governorship debate organised by Vanguard Newspaper ,Channels Television, TVC, Punch Newspapers, and The Cable on Sunday.

Governorship candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have presented their proposals for addressing some of Lagos State’s major challenges, including housing, transportation, and healthcare, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The candidates unveiled their manifestos during the 2027 Lagos State governorship debate organised by Vanguard Newspaper ,Channels Television, TVC, Punch Newspapers, and The Cable on Sunday.

The ADC candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, promised to deliver more than 100,000 housing units if elected, saying his administration would prioritise affordable accommodation for ordinary residents rather than the wealthy.

He said the proposed houses would be allocated transparently to prevent individuals from acquiring multiple units under the scheme.

“The elites, the rich, can do it for themselves.

The government’s role is to lift up people that cannot do it for themselves, and this comes into housing to ensure that we deliver 100,000-plus housing units and make it affordable so that it is transparently allocatable. We are not going to have a situation where one person can own ten units,” Rhodes-Vivour said..

The ADC candidate also promised legislation to protect tenants against arbitrary rent increases, proposing that landlords should give at least six months’ notice before increasing rents, with the increment guided by a stipulated percentage.

The All Progressives Congress candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, who is the incumbent deputy governor, pledged to enforce existing regulations against arbitrary rent increases and the demand for multiple years’ rent in advance.

Hamzat said his administration would ensure compliance with the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency Law, stressing that tenants should not be required to pay two or three years’ rent upfront.

“The next chapter for Lagos is to enforce. To make sure people are not asked two or three years ahead, because people don’t get paid two or three years ahead,” he said.

He also said the state had established 24 housing estates in the last eight years, promising to expand access to quality accommodation through increased mortgage facilities and the completion of ongoing housing projects across the state.

The NDC candidate, Funsho Doherty, called for greater government involvement in providing affordable housing, arguing that private developers alone could not meet the accommodation needs of low- and middle-income residents.

He also proposed the establishment of an ombudsman’s office to address what he described as exploitation of tenants to address what he described as exploitation of tenants through excessive agency, legal and other charges.

Doherty said the housing shortage was largely driven by the failure of supply to keep pace with population growth and demand, particularly in the affordable and social housing segments.

He argued that government should take the lead in addressing the gap rather than leaving housing provision largely to private investors.

He emphasised that the last major government-led housing intervention in the state was during the administration of former Governor Lateef Jakande.

The PDP candidate, Adedeji Doherty, proposed that the Lagos State Government should become a major property developer and build houses which residents could rent directly from the government.

He argued that government regulation alone could not force private landlords to reduce rents, insisting that the state should compete with them by providing more affordable accommodation.

“There is no landlord, and there is no government that can control a landlord. What we are going to do is very simple.“We are going to rent those houses ourselves, and then you can come and rent from us if you want to,” he said.

Doherty maintained that government must become the biggest housing developer in the state and provide alternatives to private rental accommodation.

“If they (government) cannot compete with the landlords, then let us forget it,” he said.

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Tinubu Woos Nigerian Youths At Rivers Rally

“It is left for you to use the weapon you have. And that weapon is the PVC. If you have not collected yours, please go ahead and collect it. Please. I beg you. I take God beg you,” Tinubu said.

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Tinubu speaking at a state reception held in his honour at the newly constructed Banquet Hall of AR1
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• Tinubu speaking at a state reception held in his honour at the newly constructed Banquet Hall of ARISE Palm Resort in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, following the APC rally at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, on Friday, November 6, 2026.

President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerian youths to actively participate in the 2027 general elections.

He spoke during the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally in Rivers on Saturday.

The President said that the outcome of the 20Ralky27 elections would have significant implications for the future of young Nigerians.

Addressing the youths at the rally, the President said they had a responsibility to shape the country’s future through active participation in the electoral process.

“To the youth of Nigeria, I’m looking at you. This election is about you. It’s not about me. Your future depends on this election,” he said.

He urged those who had registered as voters but were yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to visit the appropriate collection centres, describing the voter card as an important instrument for determining the country’s leadership.

The President appealed to young Nigerians not to disregard the opportunity to participate in the electoral process, saying their votes would give them a voice in deciding the direction of the country.

“It is left for you to use the weapon you have. And that weapon is the PVC. If you have not collected yours, please go ahead and collect it. Please. I beg you. I take God beg you,” Tinubu said.

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JUST IN: Court sacks Mark-led ADC, invalidates Atiku Abubakar’s nomination

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked the Senator David Mark-led executives of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and voided all actions taken by them on behalf of the party, including the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, the court declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal. The committee had organised the primary that produced Atiku as the party’s flag bearer.

The court upheld a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former National Deputy Chairman (North-East). Gombe challenged the process by which the Mark-led committee assumed control of the party. He argued that following the resignation of former National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was next in line to lead the ADC and sought the nullification of all actions taken under Mark’s leadership.

Defendants in the suit are the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator David Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu.

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