Politics
Atiku: “I bear no grudges against PDP Members’ Defectors to APC “
Let me be unequivocal: freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy — they are fundamental rights
Atiku Abubakar, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election wrote today on his official Facebook page :
“I have been overwhelmed with inquiries from concerned Nigerians, all eager to understand my position on the latest political shifts, particularly the defection of some PDP members to the ruling party.
Let me be unequivocal: freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy — they are fundamental rights.
Alongside these stand the pillars of a just and functional democratic society: the people, the rule of law, credible elections, and accountability. Undermine any of these, and democracy itself begins to crumble.
As someone who holds fast to these values, I bear no grudges against anyone for exercising their right to political alignment.
Defections, alliances, and realignments are part and parcel of democratic politics.
We’ve seen them before, and we’ll see them again.Some have resorted to insults because I visited former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Let’s not rewrite history: Buhari is not only a former leader but a significant statesman in the Nigerian political landscape.
During the 2013 opposition merger, the leaders of the time consulted widely — including visits to Obasanjo and Babangida.
So why is it now sacrilegious for me and other leaders to visit Buhari in Kaduna? If you truly believe in freedom of association, then you must respect the rights of all political actors to engage, regardless of party lines.
Defections, alliances, and realignments are part and parcel of democratic politics.
When PDP leaders are busy sipping tea and brokering power deals with President Tinubu, it’s called strategic alliance.
But the moment I greet Peter Obi, el-Rufai, or visit Buhari, it becomes a national emergency. Hypocrisy and the politics of selective outrage have never been this fashionable!
Let us be clear: the coming political battle is not APC versus PDP or LP versus APC. It is Nigerians versus an administration that has plunged the nation into untold suffering.
The economy is in freefall. Inflation is choking the masses. Jobs are vanishing.
Youth restiveness is surging to terrifying levels. Nigerians are not just tired — they are angry, and rightfully so.
This moment is about collective survival. The real enemy is not one another — it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure.
We must reject every attempt to distract us with ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments. These are tools of manipulation, designed to divide and conquer, used by those with nothing else to offer.
The Tinubu administration has no achievements to stand on and no credible record to defend. Its only strategy is chaos and division because that’s the last refuge of the incompetent.
And make no mistake— an incompetent captain does not only wreck his ship; he endangers the lives of everyone on board. -AA”
Politics
APC Holds National Convention on Saturday
The convention is not only a forum for leadership elections but also a moment for reflection, consolidation, and planning for the party’s future trajectory.
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed that 8,453 delegates will attend its 2026 and 8th National Convention, scheduled to hold from Friday, March 27 to Saturday, March 28 in Abuja.
The convention, described by party officials as a major decision-making and policy engagement platform, will bring together representatives from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to elect new executives, review party policies, and chart the APC’s strategic direction.
In a statement on Thursday , the party’s Media and Publicity Committee , Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasised that the convention theme, “Unity in Progress: Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda,” reflects the party’s commitment to cohesion and continuity.
” The convention is not only a forum for leadership elections but also a moment for reflection, consolidation, and planning for the party’s future trajectory,” he said.
Politics
What Ex-INEC Commissioner Igini says about 2026 Electoral Act
He identified three critical institutions as central to achieving credible elections: INEC, the judiciary, and security agencies, noting that their roles must be strengthened and properly aligned.
A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mike Igini, on Thursday described the proposed 2026 Electoral Act as the worst in Nigeria’s history.
Igini said it was urgent to address what he termed the “tragedy” associated with the Act before the 2027 general elections, warning that it appears Nigerians may not be allowed to determine who governs them if the current issues persist.
Igini made the remarks in Abuja during the second annual lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies.
In his his lecture, themed ‘Credible Elections and National Security in Nigeria’, Igini stressed that Nigeria’s progress and overall quality of life would significantly improve if the country succeeds in fixing its electoral process and system.
He identified three critical institutions as central to achieving credible elections: INEC, the judiciary, and security agencies, noting that their roles must be strengthened and properly aligned.
Politics
2027: Labour Party says Presidential flag bearer must be a southerner
The South-South of Nigeria comprises of Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers States and is geographically located within the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
The Labour Party (LP) has zoned its presidential ticket to the southern region of the country.
Although the issue of zoning is not in Nigeria’s constitution, it is adopted by some political parties in the spirit of equity and fairness.
The South-South of Nigeria comprises of Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers States and is geographically located within the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
LP’s National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Nenadi Usman, disclosed this during a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Tuesday.
“We have one certain decision that we have taken, and that is that we will certainly not field any aspirant from Northern Nigeria. We have zoned the position to southern Nigeria,” Usman said , emphasising , “So if any northerner comes now to want to contest elections, we certainly will not accept that.”
She insisted that the party would adhere to internal democratic processes, declining to name any potential candidate.“As for who, I can’t tell you now because then it won’t be democratic anymore.
Whoever the people like and vote for during the primaries… could be the candidate,” the former minister of finance said.“To God be the glory, the case was thrown out because it lacked merit,” she noted, adding that the judge “stood on truth”.
She also spotlighted the party’s prospects for the 2027 general elections, hinting at a review of the date for LP’s upcoming congresses due to a surge in membership.
“If we go ahead to stick to that date, to my mind, we are going to disenfranchise quite a number of people,” Usman said.
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