Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has said he would serve only one term of four years if elected president, insisting he would serve only one term in office “even with a gun to my head.”

Obi made the statement in a clip from an interview scheduled to air on News Central TV on Thursday.

“I want to be a one-term president because of stability. I would not stay a day, with a gun to my head, longer than four years,” he said in the circulating video.

The former Anambra State governor also criticised the current administration’s economic policies, including borrowing and rising cost of living, saying Nigeria had entered one of its most difficult economic periods.Obi contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party, where he came third behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Since the election, Obi has remained a key opposition figure, frequently criticising the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday, broke his silence over widespread speculations that he had defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

The speculation came amidst the disqualification of his loyalists by the screening committee of the APC for the House of Assembly aspirants.

The governor, speaking during an inspection tour of the newly constructed general hospital and the fully remodelled Neuropsychiatric Hospital, both in Rumuigbo, Obiakpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Wednesday, said contrary to the erroneous reports in a section of the media in the last couple of days, he remained a member of the ruling party and would continue to work for the overall interest of the party.

“I know that there has been a lot of drama in the media, one story or another.

“I am a member of the All Progressives Congress, and nothing has changed. People should stop using whatever situation they pick up from social media or their own interpretation of any situation to present me wrongly.

“I’ve not gone anywhere; I’m still a member of the APC, and I remain a member. Whatever happens, what is important is supporting the overall interest of the party.”

While he was conducted round the facilities by the Director of Medical Services in the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, the governor expressed delight at the completion of the two projects, which, according to him, were conceived to address critical needs in the health sector in the state.

“This very project, if you could remember, when we came in, we had an issue that required our sudden visit, and it had to do with mental health.

“So when we came here for the inspection of the rehabilitation centre that the board was trying to put together, we found out that we had more issues than even the mental health issue.

“We didn’t have a general hospital to serve the people within this area. The closest medical centre that they had here was the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, which is very far from here.

“We felt that with the space we have in this compound, it would be proper for us to also have a general hospital situated in this particular facility to take care of the neighbouring communities up to Rumuola, Rumuolumeni and all the surrounding areas.

“Today, to the glory of God, we can see that the project is already completed. It is not 95 per cent complete, it is a hundred per cent completion,” he added.

Meanwhile, Aspirants seeking a ticket of the All Progressives Congress for the Rivers State House of Assembly who submitted appeals after their screening last weekend are waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the appeal.

Meanwhile, the APC assembly screening appeal committee, headed by Dr Abdul Mahmud, concluded its two-day sitting on Wednesday evening.

Mahmud, who had promised that the committee would attend to all petitions until 5pm on Wednesday, commended the aspirants for their peaceful conduct.

The number of petitions received by the committee could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

As of Tuesday, when the panel chairman briefed the media, he said 19 petitions had been received, adding that it would sit until 5pm on Friday to receive more from other aspirants.

When our correspondent visited the APC Secretariat along Aba Road at about 6pm on Wednesday, the place was still slightly busy, but it was gathered that the committee had concluded its sitting and left.

The state APC spokesman, Chibike Ikenga, who was seen driving out of the secretariat, confirmed that the panel had concluded its report, adding that it would disclose its findings in due course.

When contacted, one of the aspirants who submitted an appeal, Gogo Isaiah, said he appeared before the panel with the necessary documents requested.

“So I am waiting for the panel to make its report public,” he stated.

On Tuesday, Mahmud had warned aspirants to stop sending him congratulatory messages.

He condemned the conduct of one of the disqualified aspirants, Mr Tonye Tom-George, whom the APC screening committee accused of attempting to bribe members during the screening.

Recall that Tom-George, while reacting to the allegations by the screening committee chairman, Muraina Ajibola, called for proof.

Mahmud, however, expressed shock that the same aspirant sent him a message to congratulate him on his appointment to the state APC House of Assembly appeal panel.

Answering questions from newsmen in Port Harcourt, Mahmud, who noted that aside from Tom-George, he received similar messages from other aspirants, said such messages were not necessary as he was in the state for serious business.

Mahmud said such salutations and pleasantries had the possibility of leaving an impression on the mind of a panelist.

Mahmud stated, “I need to say this, and it has become a malaise in our country.

“You know judges are sitting over matters, litigants will go behind the judges, seek their telephone number and begin to send text messages, good morning, sir. I hope you slept well.

“Even where, in the face of it is not an attempt to influence the judge, but you’re putting yourself in the face of the judge.

“And I think we should discourage Nigerians from doing that. I have received communications from appellants who are to appear before me, congratulating me on my appointment.

“I have received a WhatsApp message from him. That is Mr Tom-George, telling me good morning, congratulations on my appointment. Those things are not necessary.

“I think we should discourage ourselves from some of these things.”

Petitions, protests, legal threats and accusations of candidate imposition are trailing the ongoing screening of aspirants by the ruling All Progressives Congress across several states ahead of the 2027 general elections, exposing widening cracks within the party over consensus arrangements and the disqualification of aspirants.
Aggrieved aspirants in Taraba, Kano, Jigawa, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Rivers and Plateau states are mobilising petitions and posapc-screening-crisis-deepens-ahead-of-2027-primariessible legal challenges over the outcome of the party’s screening exercises.
The screening process, designed to prune the number of aspirants ahead of party primaries, has generated controversy in multiple states, with several disqualified hopefuls preparing to seek redress through appeal committees.
In some states, protests have already erupted, while party stakeholders warned that attempts to impose candidates could trigger defections, anti-party activities and deepen internal divisions ahead of the primaries.
Taraba: Backlash Over Senator Lau’s Endorsement
In Taraba State, the endorsement of Senator Shuaibu Isa Lau reportedly backed by party stakeholders after the screening exercise, sparked fierce backlash, especially in Taraba North Senatorial District.
Stakeholders and youth groups rejected the endorsement, accusing the senator of poor performance.
A stakeholder from Karim Lamido LGA, Paul Penuel, described the senator’s tenure as “a complete failure,” insisting there was no record of impactful projects or measurable achievements to justify another term.
Another constituent, Dickson Kwinde, warned that repeating what he termed a “costly political mistake” could alienate voters.
Similarly, the Coalition of Concerned Youths and Voice of the Proletariat in Karim Lamido also rejected the endorsement.
Party sources disclosed that some aggrieved aspirants had begun preparing petitions alleging procedural irregularities, manipulation by political godfathers and attempts to impose consensus candidates without proper consultation.
Kano: Consensus Deal Sparks Protest
In Kano State, over 20 aspirants seeking Senate, House of Representatives and State Assembly tickets were reportedly screened out despite earlier consensus arrangements.
Among those affected were former Head of Service, Usman Bala; former lawmaker, Sha’aban Sharada; Muhammad Zango; Danyaro Yakasai; Abbas Abbas; Shehu Driver and Abdulkarim Abdulsalam Zaura in the Kano Central Senatorial contest.
However, APC Publicity Secretary Auwal Soja confirmed that six aspirants eventually stepped down for former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau after a reconciliation meeting.
Despite the arrangement, protests persisted, with a group known as Coalition for Better Kano faulting Shekarau’s endorsement and warning against sacrificing loyalty for political expediency.
Efforts by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to reconcile aggrieved aspirants reportedly suffered setbacks after key stakeholders boycotted the peace meeting.
Jigawa: Disqualification Triggers Defection
In Jigawa State, the fallout from the screening exercise resulted in resignation and defection.
Former Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Isah Idris, resigned from the APC after he was disqualified and replaced by another aspirant.
In his resignation letter, Idris lamented what he described as the party’s departure from its founding principles before defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Another former Speaker, Idris Garba, and serving lawmaker Abubakar Sadiq were also edged out, heightening fears of deeper cracks within the state chapter.
Benue: Zoning Dispute Emerges
In Benue State, about 40 aspirants were reportedly disqualified during the screening of House of Assembly hopefuls in Makurdi.
The disqualifications generated anger among supporters who accused the party of violating zoning arrangements and excluding certain blocs from representation.
Supporters warned that failure to address the grievances could hurt the party electorally during the general elections.
Kogi: Aspirants Allege “Commando Arrangement”
In Kogi State, protests and accusations of authoritarianism followed allegations that nomination forms were selectively distributed to preferred aspirants under what critics described as a “Commando arrangement.”
A party chieftain, Chief Femi Olugbemi, accused the state leadership of abandoning democratic principles and sidelining aspirants with strong grassroots support.
The controversy has fuelled fears of mass defections and legal disputes within the state chapter.
Anambra: APC Expels 30 Members
In Anambra State, the APC expelled 30 members, including Senate and House of Representatives aspirants, for instituting legal action against the party.
The state Publicity Secretary, Valentine Iyiegbu, said the expulsions were in line with the party constitution.
According to him, the affected members could only be reconsidered if they withdrew their court cases against the party.
Kaduna: Consensus Crisis Intensifies
In Kaduna State, controversy erupted over moves to impose consensus candidates for National Assembly positions, despite peaceful House of Assembly screening exercises.
The crisis is particularly intense in Kaduna Central Senatorial District, where former lawmaker and activist Shehu Sani is reportedly being favoured as a consensus candidate.
The arrangement has been rejected by former Speaker Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani and activist Yarima Shettima, who warned against political manipulation and backroom deals.
Ebonyi: Aspirant Resigns Over Consensus Arrangement
In Ebonyi State, disqualified candidates also expressed dissatisfaction with the process.
An aspirant for Ebonyi Central Senatorial District, Chief Christian Nwali, resigned from the APC in protest after losing out in the consensus arrangement adopted by the state chapter.
Nwali, an ally of Works Minister David Umahi, announced his resignation with immediate effect.
Rivers: 65 Aspirants Disqualified
In Rivers State, no fewer than 65 aspirants were disqualified by the APC House of Assembly Screening Appeal Committee.
The committee chairman, human rights lawyer Abdul Mahmud, disclosed that only 33 aspirants were cleared ahead of the primaries.
Mahmud revealed that the panel had already received multiple petitions from aggrieved aspirants, many of whom complained that their disqualification was only discovered through social media posts rather than official communication from the party.
He advised the party to improve its communication process in future exercises.
Plateau APC Braces for Fallout
In Plateau State, the APC is reportedly preparing for possible fallout following reports that several House of Assembly aspirants were screened out ahead of the official release of results.
Party insiders fear that unresolved grievances could trigger further divisions within the state chapter ahead of the primaries.