Politics
2027: Former Northern National Assembly Members split over Tinubu’s re-election
Former federal lawmakers from northern Nigeria are divided over President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, following an endorsement by the Northern Caucus Forum of the 9th National Assembly.
The caucus, in a communiqué at the end of a dialogue session, convened by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, threw its weight behind Tinubu’s re-election bid, describing him as a national leader with a demonstrated commitment to equitable development across all regions of Nigeria.
The dialogue session was part of the ongoing nationwide consultations by the forum aimed at promoting the second-term bid of President Tinubu, whose first tenure comes to an end on May 29, 2027.
During the meeting, Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, urged the forum to queue behind Tinubu’s administration and second-term ambition, stressing that the former Lagos State governor remained the best choice to steer the country on the path of peace and prosperity.
“We believe in equity, fairness, and political stability. It is in the best interest of the North and of Nigeria as a whole that the South completes its turn in the power rotation. We, therefore, endorse the continuation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership beyond 2027,” the communiqué stated.
In his contribution, the Chairman of the National Forum of Former Legislators, Nnanna Igbokwe, commended the Northern Caucus for what he described as a bold and patriotic stand.
“This resolution by the Northern Caucus is a significant statement of statesmanship. It shows leadership that transcends personal or regional interest. I am confident that more zones will follow this example in the spirit of unity and continuity,” Igbokwe said.
However, the endorsement has been rejected by another group of former northern ex-legislators, who described the meeting and its outcome as politically motivated and unrepresentative of the region’s true sentiment.
In a statement titled “We Can’t All Be Commodified,” the opposing ex-lawmakers, under the aegis of Concerned Former Members of the House of Representatives, Northern Nigeria, said the meeting was a staged political show with no mandate to speak for all northern ex-lawmakers.
The statement was jointly signed by Zakari Mohammed, Aminu Shagari, Tom Zakari, and Mohammed Musa Soba.
Confirming the statement on Saturday, Mohammed said the Chanchangi group was deceived into endorsing Tinubu for a second term.
“We categorically state that this group does not speak for all former northern legislators, and the positions outlined in their communiqué are neither representative nor reflective of the current sentiments across northern Nigeria. At best, this forum is a political front posing as a neutral body, and should have boldly declared themselves supporters of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
“While they indulge in coordinated praise and political posturing, the true state of northern Nigeria is one of pain, poverty, and peril. Under the current administration, poverty has intensified, leaving millions of northern families in worsening economic hardship,” the statement read.
They further rejected any leadership claims by Chanchangi, labelling his actions self-serving and lacking legitimacy.
“We wish to clearly disassociate ourselves from Hon. Rufai Chanchangi and his co-travellers who signed the communiqué in question. They are not our spokesmen, and do not have the moral or constitutional mandate to speak on behalf of all former northern legislators. If the charade they staged in Kaduna—under the guise of a foundation associated with the revered late Sardauna of Sokoto—is their basis for legitimacy, then let it be known that such fraudulent appropriation of legacy and symbolism will never stand.
“This communique is nothing but a classic hatchet job, a desperate effort by a few to sanitise the failings of the present administration for personal favours, while the broader northern population bleeds silently.
“Let it be known: we will not be co-opted into political theatre while our people suffer. We refuse to endorse a failing system that continues to deepen the wounds of the North and the nation as a whole.
“The North deserves honesty, development, and bold leadership—not choreographed communiques masking hunger and insecurity,” the statement added.
The split in the ranks of the northern ex-lawmakers comes days after northern leaders gathered in Kaduna on Tuesday to assess the performance of President Tinubu’s administration two years after assuming office.
The meeting, held at the Arewa House, had the theme: “Assessing electoral promises: fostering government-citizens engagement for national unity.”
The meeting, which drew participants from across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, laid bare deep divisions within the region over claims of marginalisation and the performance of the Federal Government.
While some stakeholders lauded Tinubu’s developmental strides and appointments in the North, others voiced strong concerns over what they described as growing neglect, insecurity, and economic exclusion under his watch.
The Thursday meeting was believed to be another strategy by the Presidency to neutralise the perceived resentment of many northerners against Tinubu and wither the strength of opposition in the region.
A section of the northern leaders, including former Kano and Jigawa State governors, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Sule Lamido, respectively, believed that the North had received less attention from Tinubu’s administration.
Kwankwaso, a few days ago at a stakeholders’ dialogue on the 2025 constitutional amendment in Kano, accused Tinubu’s administration of favouring the South at the expense of the North — an allegation the Presidency swiftly countered.
The newly formed African Democratic Congress-led coalition of opposition leaders is populated with northern political bigwigs, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Ahead of the 2027 National Assembly elections, a mass protest voting movement may be building up in Anambra South Senatorial District, following reported moves by members of major political parties to support the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Chief Ebuka Onunkwo.
The development is said to be linked to grievances among some members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and remnants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the treatment allegedly meted out to Onunkwo during previous political contests.
Onunkwo, who had previously contested the Anambra South senatorial seat under APGA, later emerged as the NDC candidate for the 2027 election.
Although the ADC is currently embroiled in legal disputes over the authentic candidates and the conduct of its primary elections, some members of the APC and APGA are also reportedly dissatisfied with developments within their respective parties.
It was gathered that a section of APGA members, in particular, are backing Onunkwo as a form of protest over the conduct of the party’s senatorial primary, while some members of other parties are also believed to be considering voting for him irrespective of their party affiliations.
Confirming the growing support for Onunkwo, the Chief Executive Officer of NOWAS Oil and Gas Limited and a major stakeholder in Anambra South politics, Chief Ignesus Ikechukwudere Nnubia, said the NDC candidate currently enjoys widespread acceptability across party lines.
Nnubia said the growing support for Onunkwo had made his party affiliation less significant, arguing that voters would ultimately vote according to their conscience and assessment of the candidates.
He said, “At the moment, the number of APGA members with him and supporting him makes one wonder what is left of that party. Even the remnants of the PDP have pitched their tents with him, while members of the ruling APC at the national level are also behind him.
“So, the party that he belongs to is not a factor at all. You know that it is a game of numbers, and people are going to vote according to their conscience and not necessarily because of the political party they belong to.
“People are not bound to vote for their party, and some of them are ready and willing to vote for him.
“We are not talking about the party because he will surely get votes from the NDC, APGA, APC and even other political parties that are already closing ranks to support him as their candidate.”
Nnubia further described Onunkwo as the candidate currently standing tall among the contenders for the Anambra South senatorial seat, expressing confidence that his emergence would usher in what he described as a “new dawn” for the district.
He said political parties should not be the major consideration for voters, stressing that what matters most is the ability of elected representatives to improve the lives of their constituents.
According to him, political parties exist because of the people, and therefore the influence of party structures and incumbency has its limits during elections.
Nnubia said those factors would ultimately be tested by the electorate in the 2027 election, which he described as a contest in which voters’ choices would determine the outcome.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Ebonyi State election, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has pledged to attract more than ₦2 trillion in private-sector investment to the state within six months of assuming office if elected.
Odii made the pledge while addressing supporters in Lagos ahead of the formal commencement of his campaign.
He said his investment strategy would cover key sectors of the Ebonyi economy, including mining, hospitality, real estate and manufacturing.
According to the PDP candidate, he has identified more than 2,000 prospective investors, each capable of investing about ₦1 billion in the state.
“I have over 2,000 people who can invest ₦1 billion each. When you multiply it, you will get over ₦2 trillion. This has been structured in such a way that all aspects of the economy will be involved,” Odii said.
He said the proposed investment drive was designed not only to inject capital into the state but also to create jobs, expand the productive base of the economy and provide opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs.
Odii said Ebonyi’s natural resources and strategic location placed it in a strong position to attract large-scale investments if its economic potential was properly harnessed.
He promised that his administration would prioritise private-sector participation, industrialisation and job creation while creating an enabling environment for both local and foreign investors.
The candidate also said existing businesses in the state would be supported to expand, while new investors would be encouraged to establish operations across various sectors.
His pledge comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with economic development, employment generation and wealth creation featuring prominently in his campaign message.
The proposed ₦2 trillion investment target within six months, if achieved, would represent a significant boost to Ebonyi’s economy and rank among the most ambitious private-sector investment mobilisation plans proposed in the state.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The planned visit of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Anambra State has sparked controversy following a protest by the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Emma Anosike, that the party was not informed about the visit.
Anosike said the APC in Anambra was never consulted or briefed about the proposed visit, adding that the party was taken aback by reports that the wife of the party’s national leader and presidential candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would be visiting the state without recourse to the state chapter.
He said, “It is indeed strange that the First Lady of our presidential candidate is visiting Anambra State without recourse to the party in the state.
“The party wishes to state categorically that we are not part of the arrangements for the reception of our First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, because the party was never put in the picture.”
Anosike also dismissed the mantra that “The Progressives Are Working Together”, being canvassed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), describing it as a smokescreen by the ruling party in Anambra to hijack President Tinubu’s re-election from the APC.
He said, “For instance, the APGA-led government in Anambra State did not interface with us on the organisation of the visit, and the party wonders if the progressives are indeed working together.”
The APC chairman, however, said the development would not compromise the First Lady’s visit, urging all APC members and supporters in the state to turn out and give Senator Oluremi Tinubu a warm welcome.
He stressed that despite the party’s reservations over the arrangements, APC members remained committed to welcoming the First Lady to Anambra State.
Former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Sagir Saleh, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Saleh, who served as deputy governor under former Governor Isa Yuguda, announced his resignation in a letter submitted to the party leadership in Katagum Local Government Area.
He cited personal reasons for his decision but did not provide further details.
His exit comes amid growing disagreements within the Bauchi APC following the party’s 2027 governorship primary. Other prominent members, including former governorship aspirant Bala Jibrin and Sunusi Kunde, an associate of Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, have also reportedly left the party.
Jibrin, a former National Auditor of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), resigned on August 31, 2026, following his opposition to the emergence of former Bauchi Governor Muhammad Abubakar as the APC’s 2027 governorship candidate.
He had criticised the primary process and questioned how the candidate emerged.
Kunde also resigned from the APC in August, submitting his resignation to the party chairman of Beti Ward in Misau Local Government Area.
The latest departures are coming as efforts continue to resolve internal disputes and disagreements among APC members in the state.
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to assassinate former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general election.
Ayodele issued the warning in a video shared on his verified X account on Sunday, urging both opposition figures to strengthen their security and remain vigilant.
The cleric did not identify those allegedly behind the purported plot but claimed that attempts were being made to eliminate Obi and Atiku.
According to him, divine intervention would prevent the alleged plan from succeeding.
“Obi and Atiku, be very conscious of your security. They are looking for any means to eliminate Obi and Atiku.
“But God will never allow it to happen. Watch out and be cautious about your security,” he said.
Ayodele also urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider travelling to the United States, alleging that there were forces in America working against his political fortunes.
The claims come as political activities and realignments intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
-
News5 days agoCommissioner Dies Suddenly at Abuja Hospital
-
News5 days agoSept. 26 Polls: ‘ENSIEC is over 90% ready’ – Chairman
-
Crime5 days agoKidnappers Dump 16-Year-Old Enugu Boy Near Onitsha Checkpoint, Police Rescue Him
-
News5 days ago
Niger Delta Chambers Unveils Plan to Transform Region Into Investment Hub
-
Uncategorized5 days agoUK Confirms Koi Herpesvirus Outbreak, Restricts Fish Movement
-
News5 days ago
Niger Delta Chamber Breaks Silence on Alleged Summit Trademark Dispute
-
News4 days agoDangote Reveals He Bought First Private Jet at 22
-
Health3 days agoUNTH Begins Contact Tracing After Suspected Diphtheria Case