Politics
Pat Utomi Forms Shadow Govt • It’s an Abberation – FG
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said, “At a time when our nation is set to celebrate 26 unbroken years of presidential democracy, the idea of a so-called “shadow government” is an aberration
Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, was named head of the Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio.
Prof. Pat Utomi, has inaugurated a shadow government composed of members from various opposition parties.
A shadow government is individuals or an organization providing counsel to government officials without being publicly accountable.
Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, was named head of the Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio.
Others appointed to the policy delivery unit include Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Daniel Ikuonobe, Halima Ahmed, David Okonkwo, and Obi Ajuga.
Other members of the shadow cabinet include Dr. Adefolusade Adebayo, Dr. Peter Agadah, Dr. Sadiq Gombe, Chibuzor Nwachukwu, Salvation Alibor, Bilkisu Magoro, Dr. Victor Tubo, Charles Odibo, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Eunice Atuejide, Gbenga Ajayi, and Dr. Mani Ahmad, as well as Peter Oyewole and Dr. Omano Edigheji.
Utomi said that the “Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government,” launched virtually on Monday evening, will function as a credible opposition force, highlighting the failures of the Bola Tinubu administration while offering ideas for better governance.
Utomi, however, justified the move, arguing that policy missteps by the current Federal Government had worsened poverty, driven multinational companies out of the country, and intensified terrorism in Benue and Plateau states, alongside rising insecurity and corruption nationwide.
The political activist expressed concern over what he described as the government’s resort to propaganda and the suppression of opposing views.
“The recent spate of defections to the All Progressives Congress provides further evidence that all is not well with democracy in Nigeria,” he said.
“The imperative is that if a genuine opposition does not courageously identify the performance failures of incumbents, offer options, and influence culture in a counter direction, it will be complicit in subverting the will of the people.”
He said the shadow cabinet—made up of figures drawn from several opposition parties—was created to respond to what he called a national emergency.
“Today, I bring to this pioneer body the desperate cries of a people troubled by how their reality seems bound for serfdom.
I challenge you to awaken these people who wrongly believe that everything is fine as long as they can manage a share of what little still trickles down from crude oil sales,” Utomi said.
Utomi stated that the shadow government would hold weekly cabinet meetings to assess government policies and propose practical alternatives.
He identified immediate priorities as the stimulation of production, the formulation of a coherent economic growth strategy, decentralisation of security, and constitutional reform.
The cabinet, he said, would also focus on providing alternatives in healthcare, education, infrastructure development, law and order, and policy monitoring.
However , in a swift reaction, the Federal Government kicked against the move, describing it as an aberration in a federal system of government.
In an interview with the Punch, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said, “At a time when our nation is set to celebrate 26 unbroken years of presidential democracy, the idea of a so-called “shadow government” is an aberration.”
Politics
FG earmarks N135bn for 2027 post election disputes
The provision is contained in the 2026 Appropriation Bill in the House of Representatives Order Paper for March 31, 2026,tagged “Electoral Adjudication and Post Election Provision.”
The Federal Government has allocated N135.22 billion for legal disputes that will arise from the 2027 general election.
The provision is contained in the 2026 Appropriation Bill in the House of Representatives Order Paper for March 31, 2026,tagged “Electoral Adjudication and Post Election Provision.”
The allocation was captured under the Service-Wide Votes, a centrally managed pool of funds used by the Federal Government to finance obligations not tied to a specific ministry, department, or agency.
Service-Wide Votes are widely regarded as the government’s contingency or general-purpose fund within the budget.
It has been described as a central provision used to cover expenditures that cut across multiple agencies, including unforeseen obligations, national commitments, and liabilities that cannot be easily assigned to a single institution.
In some cases, the fund also accommodates items that require further approval or are not fully determined at the time of budget preparation.
Politics
ADC youths give INEC 72-hour ultimatum to restore David Mark -led leadership
The group warned that failure to comply would trigger peaceful civic action across the country, including plans to occupy INEC offices in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Youth Wing of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding the restoration of the party’s 2025-recognised leadership or face nationwide protests.
The group warned that failure to comply would trigger peaceful civic action across the country, including plans to occupy INEC offices in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Its demands include the immediate reinstatement of the Senator David Mark-led leadership on INEC’s official portal, a public apology from the commission, and assurances of neutrality in line with the rule of law.
Speaking on Monday at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, ADC National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufa’i, accused INEC of undermining democratic institutions.
“Nigeria is under democratic siege. What should have been a steady consolidation of 27 uninterrupted years of civil rule since 1999 is now being deliberately undermined by those entrusted to protect it,” he said.
Rufa’i said that the party’s July 29, 2025, National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which produced a new leadership, was conducted under INEC’s supervision and later recognised by the commission.
Politics
2027: Atiku Vows To Support Whoever Emerges ADC Presidential Candidate
“We will support and endorse whoever emerges as the flag bearer. How many are we, three or four? In the PDP, more than ten of us contested.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to support whoever emerges as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku gave the assurance in an interview with DW Hausa radio shared on Saturday.
Atiku said that all the aspirants would rally behind the eventual ADC flag-bearer.
“We will support and endorse whoever emerges as the flag bearer. How many are we, three or four? In the PDP, more than ten of us contested,” he said.
He also highlighted what he described as the ADC’s growing appeal among young people, noting that the party has created opportunities for youth and women to participate actively in politics.“The youths have taken over the party.
Most of those seeking elective positions, from councillor to state assembly, national assembly and House of Representatives, are young people.
We have always said our party belongs to the youth and women. Our role is to create the opportunity and hand it over to them,” he stated.
The former vice president dismissed concerns that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could weaken the party following the de-recognition of David Mark-led faction of ADC, insisting that the party continued to gain momentum nationwide.
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