Politics
2027: Beware Of Wike, Bauchi governor spits fire, warns President Tinubu
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and the Minister of the Federal Capital, Territory, Nyesom Wike, were on Thursday locked in a war of words over allegations of terrorism financing levelled against the Bauchi governor.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Mohammed alleged a political witch-hunt by President Bola Tinubu, adding that Wike was behind the terrorism financing charges filed against Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, in which his (Mohammed’s) name featured.
The EFCC had on Wednesday arraigned Adamu and three others for alleged terrorism financing to the tune of $9.7 million, with Governor Mohammed’s name appearing in the charges.
Speaking on Thursday, Mohammed linked the charges to an earlier threat by Wike to “put fire” in Bauchi State, alleging he was using federal agencies and political structures to undermine his administration.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed flagged off Phase II of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project on Monday…Photo Credit: Government House
Mohammed described the terrorism financing allegation as unreasonable, saying Wike was behind the case.
He said, “There are people behind it, and I know, and I’m going to mention them today. Somebody said he’s going to put fire in my state, FCT Minister Wike. A rising politician, a leader of the opposition, to be accused of terrorism, it’s very painful. One of my nephews was mentioned in the corruption charge and there was nothing like that, nothing.
“ I have written to the Attorney General of the Federation. I’ve copied all the agencies, and I’m going to escalate it to the international community, asking for protection because this is victimisation, protection of my fundamental human rights.”
Mohammed also accused people around President Tinubu of working against him. “Some want me to join the All Progressives Congress, some don’t want, like Wike. Wike is a big drag on the administration, and the President should know. I have nothing against him.”
Mohammed, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Governors’ Forum, accused Wike of working to kill the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“He (Wike) is an undertaker in our party. He is not there as a genuine member of the PDP, and I fought him. I was even at the secretariat when he went there to take over. You cannot be in two places at the same time. It’s against the rule of nature,” he said.
The governor went further to allege that there was a deliberate plot to tarnish his name and integrity, including attempts to link him and his relatives to banditry and corruption.
He said, “And I’m a governor, serving governor, and my state is the most secure in the North-East, if not in northern Nigeria. And we did this through just not like that, through knowledge, through tact, through wisdom, and nothing of that sort had been associated with me.
Mohammed also warned that political intolerance and impunity could have serious consequences for the country.
He said, “He is with them. So, please, let us be honest, even while we are looking at this thing from the superficial point of view, because all these issues have consequences. We are the leaders today. But we should not think that we are arrogant and that we can do things with a lot of impunity, and nobody questions it.”
In a swift response, Wike dismissed Mohammed’s claims as an attempt to shift blame for his own political failures.
Speaking during a “thank you” visit to Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday, the former Rivers governor said he had nothing to do with Bauchi’s internal political troubles.
“I watched what the Bauchi governor is saying, that all the problems he’s having, that I’m the one because I said I would put fire in his state. So if I have such power, why are you fighting? If I have such power to put fire, why are you fighting?” Wike said.
Wike insisted that the Bauchi governor’s travails had nothing to do with him, arguing that Bala was battling the consequences of his own actions within the PDP in Bauchi.
“Go and face your problem. You came to my state, I said, ‘Be careful, leave my state alone.’ You want to impose a party leader in my state. Today, he doesn’t have a party to bring his successor,” he stated.
Reacting to Bala’s claim that he was responsible for the alleged EFCC pressure on some of his associates, Wike distanced himself from the anti-graft agency, insisting that law enforcement actions should not be politicised.
“Now EFCC is chasing them, he said it’s me. What’s my business? If your state is clean, go there and enjoy yourself,” the minister added.
Wike maintained that his disagreements with Bala were strictly within the confines of party leadership and not about personal finances or governance choices.
“So this is just to tell Nigerians, tell them to leave me alone; go and face your problems. I’m only fighting with you as party leadership. I’m not interested in what you spend,” he said.
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.
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