News
2027 Presidency: Tinubu Accused of Disregarding Federal Character, Religious Balance, Fairness
Shettima’s confirmation for the 2027 presidential election has reopened debate over the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, with political parties and stakeholders divided over whether religion or competence should shape leadership choices.
The APC’s decision ended months of speculation that Tinubu could replace Shettima with a Northern Christian, while reviving arguments that dominated the build-up to the 2023 election.
Although critics had argued that the same-faith ticket undermined Nigeria’s religious balance, Tinubu and Shettima won the presidency, and the ruling party has now opted to retain the combination for a second term.
While some opposition parties, including the All Progressives Grand Alliance and the Young Progressives Party, have downplayed concerns over the same-faith ticket, others have warned that religious balance remains an important factor in Nigeria’s politics.
The renewed debate followed the APC’s confirmation on Friday that Tinubu would contest the 2027 election with Shettima, a move that effectively ended months of speculation that the President could pick a Northern Christian as his running mate.
Ahead of the announcement, several names had been linked to the position, including the Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa (retd.); the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev Hassan Kukah; and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
The APC’s decision has revived arguments that dominated the 2023 election after Tinubu, a Muslim from the South-West, selected Shettima, also a Muslim from the North-East, as his running mate.
Critics had argued that the ticket broke with Nigeria’s tradition of balancing presidential tickets along religious lines to reflect the country’s diversity. However, Tinubu and Shettima went on to win the election, defeating candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; the Labour Party, Peter Obi; and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Reacting to the development, APGA said the focus of elections should be on leadership capacity rather than religion.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ejimofor Opara, said Nigeria must move beyond identity politics and judge leaders by their performance.
“Competence should remain the defining issue in 2027, not whether candidates are Muslims or Christians,” he said.
The Young Progressives Party also argued that character, competence and integrity should outweigh religious or ethnic considerations in leadership selection.
Its spokesman, Wale Egbeola-Martins, said Nigeria’s major challenge had been poor leadership rather than the religious identities of those in power.
“The real challenge confronting our nation since the return to democratic rule has not been the ethnic or religious identity of those in power, but the persistent deficit of purposeful and accountable leadership,” he said.
The party said it would continue to support politics based on merit, service and national interest rather than religious or ethnic considerations.
APC defends retention
Meanwhile, the APC has defended its decision to retain Shettima, insisting that the choice was based on national interest and a careful assessment of political realities.
The party’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the Muslim-Muslim ticket had not produced the religious tensions predicted by critics ahead of the 2023 election.
“The decision was reached after a careful assessment of the situation. The party is conscious of religious sensitivities but is also mindful of the broader interests of Nigerians,” he said.
Ibrahim dismissed fears that the ticket could fuel religious division, arguing that the administration had promoted interfaith harmony since assuming office.
The National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party, Yabagi Yusuf, and a leader of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Mark Adebayo, also argued that issues such as security, the economy and governance performance would dominate the 2027 campaign rather than religious identity.
Yusuf said the APC’s decision was largely influenced by electoral considerations, particularly the need to secure support across key voting blocs.
He argued that while religious considerations remain part of political discussions, parties ultimately consider the electoral strength and acceptability of their candidates when making strategic decisions.
Yusuf said the APC’s decision was driven by electoral calculations rather than religious considerations.
According to him, political parties are primarily concerned with assembling tickets capable of attracting the broadest electoral support.
“It’s politics. They must have done their calculations and concluded that this is their best chance of winning. In the end, elections are about where the votes are,” he said.
The immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Mark Adebayo, also argued that the Muslim-Muslim ticket is unlikely to generate the level of controversy it did in 2023.
He said issues such as security, the economy and governance would dominate the 2027 campaign.
The Ijaw Youths Council also dismissed religious identity as the basis for evaluating political leaders.
The President of IYC Worldwide, Jonathan Lokpobiri, said Nigerians should focus on competence and good governance rather than the faith of candidates.
“What we need is a competent, focused and compassionate leader who can take difficult decisions and improve the lives of Nigerians. Religion should not be the yardstick for leadership,” he said.
Groups oppose ticket
However, the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders criticised the APC’s decision, describing the retention of the Muslim-Muslim ticket as insensitive to Nigeria’s religious diversity.
Its President-General, Goodluck Ibem, said overlooking the opportunity to nominate a Northern Christian could deepen feelings of exclusion among many Nigerians.
“In a nation as religiously and culturally diverse as ours, leadership must not only be fair but must also be seen to be fair,” he said, urging the APC to embrace greater inclusiveness.
Similarly, the South-South Youths Initiative rejected Shettima’s renomination.
Its National President, Imeabe Oscar, argued that the APC’s decision was politically motivated and alleged that the party retained the Vice President largely for electoral advantage in Northern Nigeria.
‘Christians feel excluded’
The National President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Pogu Bitrus, criticised the APC’s decision, describing the retention of the Muslim-Muslim ticket as a slight on Christian Nigerians.
“To retain a Muslim-Muslim ticket after 2023 sends the wrong signal in a country as religiously diverse as Nigeria,” he said, urging the APC to reconsider its decision in the interest of national unity.
The Chairman of the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, however, said fears expressed over the Muslim-Muslim ticket before the 2023 election had not materialised.
“The fears widely expressed in 2022 did not happen. The President and the Vice President have worked together, and that relationship appears to have remained stable,” he said.
Adeniran added that Shettima’s loyalty and working relationship with Tinubu may have influenced the President’s decision to retain him.
APC backs Shettima
Stakeholders of the APC in Abia State also defended the President’s decision.
The state chairman of the party, Chijioke Chukwu, said there was no justification for replacing Shettima, describing the President and Vice President as a team that had worked harmoniously since assuming office.
“It’s unreasonable to drop him (Shettima). Tinubu is a Muslim from the south and has been supporting Christians. Going for his second tenure, it is proper for the President to pick from the North. They have collaborated well without any problems between the Vice President and the President. There is no reason for a new VP. To us, this is a wonderful decision,” he said.
Similarly, Ohanaeze chieftain Justice Rowland Ajuzieogu said Tinubu was constitutionally entitled to choose his running mate, adding that Shettima had remained loyal throughout the administration.
“Tinubu looks at loyalty. Shetima is loyal.”
Industrialist and politician Sam Ohuabunwa also backed the decision, saying the Tinubu-Shettima ticket had already secured victory in 2023 and there was no compelling reason to alter it.
“Since Tinubu made the choice, heaven did not fall. He can do it again, and I believe that is the right thing to do.”
Afenifere faults decision
A faction of Afenifere led by Oba Olaitan Oladapo, however, faulted the renomination of Shettima.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, said retaining another Muslim-Muslim ticket failed to reflect fairness, religious balance and inclusiveness in a multi-faith country.
Speaking on Tinubu’s choice of Shettima, Faloye said “President Tinubu has continued to show disregard for federal character and religious balance and fairness.
“Most important is that we can expect more of the same if he chooses to coronate himself in 2027. May God save Nigeria sociopolitically and economically from this regime.”
By Chinedu Sabastine
ENUGU — Tension is mounting in Umuchigbo Iji Nike Autonomous Community in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State as hundreds of indigenes have rejected the alleged appointment of a traditional ruler, insisting that only a transparent election can produce their Igwe.
The residents, who gathered at the community square on weekend, declared that the autonomous community has no recognised traditional ruler and appealed to Governor Peter Mbah to direct the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs to conduct an election in line with the community’s constitution.
The protest followed reports that Jude Agu had been presented as the community’s traditional ruler, a move the indigenes described as unconstitutional and capable of causing unrest.
The protesters also cited a subsisting interlocutory injunction of the Enugu State High Court restraining Jude Agu from parading himself as Igwe or Igwe-elect of the community pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The order, delivered on July 25, 2025, by Justice A.A. Onovo in a suit No E/491/2023 filed by Chief Maurice Nonyelum Ekete against Jude Agu and Hon. Kenneth Mbah, directed all parties to maintain the status quo until the case is determined.
The indigenes argued that recognising any monarch without an election amounted to disregarding both the community’s constitution and a valid court order.
Addressing journalists, community elder Chief Gabriel Okoh accused former Town Union Chairman, Hon. Kenneth Mbah, of frustrating an earlier election process.
“Umuchigbo people are against imposition. All we want is election. If Jude Agu wants to be Igwe, he should come to the village square and contest like every other aspirant,” he said.
Youth leader Anthony Ikechukwu Anike warned that imposing a monarch without the consent of the people could trigger avoidable tension.
“The matter is still in court, yet we are hearing that someone has received a staff of office. We will pursue every legal means to protect our rights. The government should come and conduct a transparent election,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of other aspirants, retired Permanent Secretary Chief Maurice Nonyelum Ekete said the community’s constitution clearly prescribes election as the only legitimate process for selecting an Igwe.
“Our demand is simple. Let the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs conduct an election as it has done in other communities. Whoever wins should become the Igwe. We are not against anybody; we are against imposition. We are not against anybody becoming Igwe. We are only saying that whoever wants the throne should submit to a transparent election.” Chief Ekete said.
Other aspirants, Chief Joseph Iloka and Chief Josephat Ezeoha, also backed the call for a transparent election, insisting that the people should be allowed to freely choose their traditional ruler.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain the reaction of the Enugu State Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs were unsuccessful.
Umuchigbo community rejects ‘appointed’ monarch, insists on election
By Chinedu Adonu
ENUGU — Tension is mounting in Umuchigbo Iji Nike Autonomous Community in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State as hundreds of indigenes have rejected the alleged appointment of a traditional ruler, insisting that only a transparent election can produce their Igwe.
The residents, who gathered at the community square on weekend, declared that the autonomous community has no recognised traditional ruler and appealed to Governor Peter Mbah to direct the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs to conduct an election in line with the community’s constitution.
The protest followed reports that Jude Agu had been presented as the community’s traditional ruler, a move the indigenes described as unconstitutional and capable of causing unrest.
The protesters also cited a subsisting interlocutory injunction of the Enugu State High Court restraining Jude Agu from parading himself as Igwe or Igwe-elect of the community pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The order, delivered on July 25, 2025, by Justice A.A. Onovo in a suit No E/491/2023 filed by Chief Maurice Nonyelum Ekete against Jude Agu and Hon. Kenneth Mbah, directed all parties to maintain the status quo until the case is determined.
The indigenes argued that recognising any monarch without an election amounted to disregarding both the community’s constitution and a valid court order.
Addressing journalists, community elder Chief Gabriel Okoh accused former Town Union Chairman, Hon. Kenneth Mbah, of frustrating an earlier election process.
“Umuchigbo people are against imposition. All we want is election. If Jude Agu wants to be Igwe, he should come to the village square and contest like every other aspirant,” he said.
Youth leader Anthony Ikechukwu Anike warned that imposing a monarch without the consent of the people could trigger avoidable tension.
“The matter is still in court, yet we are hearing that someone has received a staff of office. We will pursue every legal means to protect our rights. The government should come and conduct a transparent election,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of other aspirants, retired Permanent Secretary Chief Maurice Nonyelum Ekete said the community’s constitution clearly prescribes election as the only legitimate process for selecting an Igwe.
“Our demand is simple. Let the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs conduct an election as it has done in other communities. Whoever wins should become the Igwe. We are not against anybody; we are against imposition. We are not against anybody becoming Igwe. We are only saying that whoever wants the throne should submit to a transparent election.” Chief Ekete said.
Other aspirants, Chief Joseph Iloka and Chief Josephat Ezeoha, also backed the call for a transparent election, insisting that the people should be allowed to freely choose their traditional ruler.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain the reaction of the Enugu State Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs were unsuccessful.
Umuchigbo community rejects ‘appointed’ monarch, insists on election
By Chinedu Adonu
ENUGU — Tension is mounting in Umuchigbo Iji Nike Autonomous Community in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State as hundreds of indigenes have rejected the alleged appointment of a traditional ruler, insisting that only a transparent election can produce their Igwe.
The residents, who gathered at the community square on weekend, declared that the autonomous community has no recognised traditional ruler and appealed to Governor Peter Mbah to direct the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs to conduct an election in line with the community’s constitution.
The protest followed reports that Jude Agu had been presented as the community’s traditional ruler, a move the indigenes described as unconstitutional and capable of causing unrest.
The protesters also cited a subsisting interlocutory injunction of the Enugu State High Court restraining Jude Agu from parading himself as Igwe or Igwe-elect of the community pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The order, delivered on July 25, 2025, by Justice A.A. Onovo in a suit No E/491/2023 filed by Chief Maurice Nonyelum Ekete against Jude Agu and Hon. Kenneth Mbah, directed all parties to maintain the status quo until the case is determined.
The indigenes argued that recognising any monarch without an election amounted to disregarding both the community’s constitution and a valid court order.
Addressing journalists, community elder Chief Gabriel Okoh accused former Town Union Chairman, Hon. Kenneth Mbah, of frustrating an earlier election process.
“Umuchigbo people are against imposition. All we want is election. If Jude Agu wants to be Igwe, he should come to the village square and contest like every other aspirant,” he said.
Youth leader Anthony Ikechukwu Anike warned that imposing a monarch without the consent of the people could trigger avoidable tension.
“The matter is still in court, yet we are hearing that someone has received a staff of office. We will pursue every legal means to protect our rights. The government should come and conduct a transparent election,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of other aspirants, retired Permanent Secretary Chief Maurice Nonyelum Ekete said the community’s constitution clearly prescribes election as the only legitimate process for selecting an Igwe.
“Our demand is simple. Let the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs conduct an election as it has done in other communities. Whoever wins should become the Igwe. We are not against anybody; we are against imposition. We are not against anybody becoming Igwe. We are only saying that whoever wants the throne should submit to a transparent election.” Chief Ekete said.
Other aspirants, Chief Joseph Iloka and Chief Josephat Ezeoha, also backed the call for a transparent election, insisting that the people should be allowed to freely choose their traditional ruler.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain the reaction of the Enugu State Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs were unsuccessful.
News
The Great Recalibration: How President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Is Restructuring Nigeria for a Stronger Tomorrow
By RT HON
CHINEDUM ENYINNAYA ORJI
“You cannot build a house for tomorrow on the weak foundation of yesterday. We must lay new blocks, even when the rain is falling.”— Adapted from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Three years into his presidency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has embarked on what may be the most deliberate economic and governance recalibration Nigeria has seen in a generation.
He came into office on May 29, 2023 with a clear declaration: “Fuel subsidy is gone.” In that single sentence, he signaled that the era of deferring hard choices had ended.
Restructuring, at its core, is about rearranging the house so it can stand longer and serve more people. For Nigeria, that meant confronting distortions that had weakened public finances, scared investors, and made planning impossible.
The first pillar of this restructuring is fiscal discipline. By removing the costly petrol subsidy and cutting electricity subsidies, the administration stopped the bleeding of trillions of naira that once vanished into opaque payments.
The results are already visible in the numbers. The fiscal deficit narrowed from 5.4 percent of GDP in 2023 to approximately 3 percent in 2024, while federation revenue rose from ₦16.8 trillion to ₦31.9 trillion.
That new revenue is not sitting idle. It is being channeled into roads, rails, power, and social programs that touch ordinary citizens directly. More than 2,700 kilometers of roads are under construction or rehabilitation nationwide.
The second pillar is monetary credibility. The unification of exchange rates and clearing of a $4 billion FX backlog restored confidence in the naira and in Nigeria’s commitment to market-based policies.
That credibility has produced tangible dividends. The stock market surged nearly fivefold to a record 250,000 points, market capitalization grew, and international rating agency Fitch upgraded Nigeria from B- to B in April 2025.
Foreign investors, who had stayed on the sidelines, are returning. New oil and gas investments are being announced, domestic refining capacity is rising, and fuel imports are falling, easing pressure on our foreign exchange.
The third pillar is sectoral transformation. Recognizing that oil alone cannot carry Nigeria’s future, President Tinubu approved a Presidential Petroleum Reform and Value Optimisation Taskforce to design the next phase of structural reforms in that sector.
The Taskforce is not another talking shop. It is a time-bound technical body charged with delivering execution-ready blueprints to unlock capital, improve transparency, and position Nigeria as a leading global energy investment destination.
Beyond oil, the February 2026 launch of the Nigeria Industrial Policy marks a decisive shift toward manufacturing, value addition, and job creation. The goal is a $1 trillion economy in five years, driven by inclusive and decentralized growth.
This is restructuring with a human face. Through NELFUND, millions of Nigerian students now have access to loans to stay in school. The CNG program is reducing transport costs and easing the burden of subsidy removal on households.
Governance itself is being rewired. The Renewed Hope Ward Development Plan is mapping economic potential across all 8,809 wards, ensuring that planning starts from the grassroots and moves upward to the state and federal levels.
Such decentralization matters. When wards have data, they have a voice. When local governments have more resources, service delivery improves. That is how accountability becomes real, not theoretical.
On security, the administration has intensified operations against banditry, insurgency, and criminal gangs. The link is clear: no investor builds factories where there is no peace, and no farmer feeds the nation where there is no safety.
A good example is the renewed engagement with Ogoni communities. By addressing historical grievances, the government is creating the conditions to restart oil exploration in a way that benefits both the people and the treasury.
Critics are right to point out the hardship. The cost-of-living squeeze has been severe, and inflation remains a challenge. But restructuring is not magic. It is medicine, and medicine often tastes bitter before it heals.
What distinguishes this moment is political will. Previous administrations discussed these reforms for decades. President Tinubu chose to act in the first week, knowing the political cost, because the economic cost of delay was higher.
The international community has noticed. The World Bank’s April 2026 Nigeria Development Update and the IMF’s 2025 Article IV Consultation both acknowledge significant progress in restoring macroeconomic stability.
More importantly, Nigerians are beginning to see the logic. A stable currency means businesses can plan. More revenue to states means more projects in communities. More transparency means fewer excuses.
The central test ahead is jobs. With 3.5 million Nigerians entering the labor force each year, the restructuring must now translate into employment-intensive growth. The industrial policy and infrastructure push are designed for exactly that.
This is not about one man or one party. It is about laying a foundation that no future government can afford to ignore. Institutions, rules, and incentives are being reset.
History will judge this period not by the pain of the transition, but by whether we used the pain to build something durable. The early signs suggest we are.
President Tinubu’s restructuring is far from complete, but it has already changed the trajectory. Nigeria is no longer drifting. It is recalibrating, with purpose, toward a future where our resources work for our people, and where governance finally matches our potential.
RT HON
Chinedum Enyinnaya orji
APC House of Representatives Candidate for Ikwuano Umuahia Fed. Constituency writes from Amaokwe Ugba Ibeku, Abia State.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced the demise of its Enugu State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Franklin O Agbakoba.
This is contained in a statement issued by FRSC Deputy Corps Commander in-charge of Enugu State Operations, DCC Kyrian C Okolo, on Friday in Enugu.
“FRSC Enugu State Sector Command received the sad news of the demise of CC Franklin Agbakoba on Thursday, July 30,2026.
“The late Sector Commander died at Niger Foundation Hospital, Enugu where he was receiving treatment.
“His corpse have been deposited at the Eastern Medical Center, Enugu,” he said.
Until his death,CC Franklin Agbakoba made inter-agency collaboration and partnership his legacy and promoted safer roads within Enugu State.
The family’s head, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, made the demand during an interview with Arise News on Thursday.
“I think the family needs apology. The family needs to be compensated. We need sincere apology. We need sincere reconciliation,” he said.
He described his uncle as a visionary leader who was wrongly punished for a coup he had no role in.
“He was a man of vision. He was a detribalized Nigerian. He was a good leader,” he said.
Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi noted that his uncle’s tenure as Head of State was brief and ended violently.
“He occupied the seat of head of state for only six months, and he was taken away from us.
“Not because of a sin he committed, because he wasn’t part of the January 1966 coup.”
According to him, Aguiyi-Ironsi’s death resulted from his position rather than any wrongdoing on his part.
“Only because of his position as the most senior military officer, he was told to take charge. And then that cost him his life,” he said.
He expressed hope that his appeal would reach those with the power to act on it.
“Well, I hope there are people who are in positions to make this happen that are listening to you tonight,” he said.
Aguiyi-Ironsi served as Nigeria’s Head of State from January 16 to July 29, 1966, taking charge in the aftermath of the January 15, 1966 coup that had claimed the lives of the country’s political leadership.
He survived that coup and helped crush the mutiny, but his later decision to centralise power under Decree 34, along with his failure to prosecute the plotters, fuelled resentment among northern officers.
He was killed on July 29, 1966, alongside his host, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, in a mutiny by northern soldiers that became known as the July counter-coup
The directive was contained in a memorandum dated July 13, 2026, and signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi.
Addressed to litigation staff, legal practitioners, court registrars and lawyers, the circular said the order took immediate effect and formed part of efforts to uphold professional standards within the apex court.
The memorandum read, “I am directed by the Honourable the Chief Justice of Nigeria to notify all Litigation Staff, Legal Practitioners, Court Registrars, and Lawyers that the use of the title ‘Barrister’ as a prefix to names is inappropriate and inconsistent with the standards of professionalism expected within the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”
It further directed all affected officers to immediately stop using the title in official correspondence and other official materials.
The memo stated, “Consequently, all officers concerned are hereby directed to discontinue the use of the title ‘Barrister’ before their names in all official correspondence, records, documents, identity materials, and any other official engagements with immediate effect.”
The memorandum added, “Heads of Departments and Unit Heads are requested to ensure strict compliance with this directive by all officers under their supervision. Please be guided accordingly.”
The directive comes weeks after the Council of Legal Education cautioned prospective lawyers against wearing wigs and gowns or presenting themselves as qualified legal practitioners before they are formally called to the Nigerian Bar.
The council said such conduct undermined the dignity of the legal profession and warned that violators could face disciplinary measures.
It also reminded candidates that the use of legal regalia is governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct and is reserved for duly qualified legal practitioners
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