Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi on Thursday submitted their nomination forms at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Atiku, in a post on his X handle on Thursday, said his presidential bid represents a broader movement aimed at restoring national prosperity and rebuilding Nigeria.

Amaechi, on his part, pledged to turn the country around within four years if elected, arguing that competence, experience and performance—not ethnicity or political sentiment—should determine the 2027 contest.

Their declarations come as the ADC continues to attract high-profile politicians ahead of the next general elections, amid intensifying political realignments across the country.

Speaking after submitting his form at the ADC national headquarters in Abuja, Atiku wrote, “The march to restore prosperity and better days to our beloved nation took a firm and decisive step forward today at the national secretariat of our great party, the African Democratic Congress.”

The former vice president said the movement transcended politics and was focused on national renewal and hope.
“This is more than a political journey; it is a national movement rooted in hope, renewal, and the collective resolve to save Nigeria from despair,” he stated.

He also called on Nigerians across ethnic, religious and regional divides to support the movement.

“I call on all Nigerians, regardless of region, faith, or background, to join us in this noble cause. Together, we will restore the promise of our nation and bring good times back again,” he added.

On his part, Amaechi pledged to transform Nigeria within four years if elected in the 2027 general election.

Amaechi made the promise shortly after submitting his nomination forms, where he also took a swipe at the administration of President Bola Tinubu, blaming it for the country’s worsening economic hardship.

The former Rivers State governor said the 2027 election should be based on competence, experience and performance rather than ethnic or regional sentiments.

“What Nigerians should do is assess all of us who are running for office based on our records.

“Nearly everybody who is running for the office of the president has served Nigeria in one way or another. Let this be a referendum. If you have performed, whoever has outperformed the other, vote for the person,” he said.

Amaechi argued that his years in public office had prepared him for the task of leading the country, citing his tenure as governor and later as Minister of Transportation under the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The next thing is, who is capable of delivering the votes? Who is capable of beating the incumbent? Who has the experience? I believe I am the most experienced.

“I am young, I am the most experienced, and I believe I have the capacity.

“Go back to Rivers State and see what I have done. Go back to the Ministry of Transportation and see what I have done, and assess it and see whether I can turn the country around. And I will, in four years, turn the country around,” he declared.

Amaechi, who served as governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, was a key figure in the formation of the All Progressives Congress and later served as Director-General of President Buhari’s 2015 campaign.

As Minister of Transportation between 2015 and 2023, he oversaw major railway projects, including the Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan rail lines, although critics questioned the rising debt associated with some of the infrastructure projects.

Speaking on the state of the nation, the former minister criticised what he described as the growing hardship under the Tinubu administration, saying Nigerians were bearing the brunt of economic policies that had worsened living conditions.

“Nigerians should vote for merit, not vote for those who say, ‘I’m from this place’ or ‘it is our turn.’

“It is the ‘Emilokan’ mentality that brought us here. It is our turn that brought us here. Now Nigerians are suffering,” he said.

By Okey Maduforo Awka

Movement For Actualization Of A Sovereign State Of Biafra (MASSOB) has declared May 30th Biafran Day celebration stating that the Sit-At-Home Order is voluntary for all Biafrans .

This year’s celebration is to mark the 59th year anniversary of Biafra declaration by General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu on 30th May, 1967

According to the Spokesman of MASSOB Comrade Edeson Samuel nobody is going to be forced to observe the Sit At Home Order adding that it is optional to all Biafrans.

“MASSOB in the spirit of true Biafrans and brotherhood among Biafra agitators and Biafrans in general have declared 2026 commemoration of Biafra Anniversary ceremony with sit at home exercise in Biafra land for sober reflection”

“MASSOB declares that all markets, public, private motor parks, schools, banks, and other public business premises shall remain closed from 6 am to 4 pm on 30th May, 2026”

“It is a mark of appreciation and acknowledgement of the numerous sacrifices and prices our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters rendered for Biafra during the three years war of genocide against Biafra by the British backed Nigeria”.

The body further recognizes the contributions of the leader of Indigenous People Of Biafra IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu towards the Biafran emancipation demanding for his unconditional release.

“MASSOB is also using the Biafra declaration anniversary to show solidarity to our brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is wrongly imprisoned for the sake of Biafra”

“We demand his immediate release and call for justice for all Biafrans who have been unjustly detained or persecuted”

Edeson further reiterated that the celebration is annual activity that has never been a threat to security law and order noting that it has already been non violent.

“The call for stay at home has been our annual and recalling measures and steps for effective civil disobedience ceremonial exercise”

“MASSOB reminds the people of Biafra that this exercise has always been the life wire of the Biafran struggle which boomed the potency and acceptability of the non violence Biafra self determination struggle.

“The request for closure of Markets, public/private motor parks, schools and other public business premises is a one day mandatory exercise that Biafrans shall stand, it is a mark of respect and love for our fatherland.

“Biafrans shall not be compelled, pressurized or forced to observe the stay at home exercise.

“MASSOB and other pro Biafra agitators will not molest, compel or intimidate anybody to observe the stay at home exercise as all our members shall stay indoors in observance of the great day of Biafra.”

“There shall be no physical demonstration, street march, procession or any other public functions in Biafra land on May 30th 2026”

The body stated that it is aware that there would be heavy presence of security operatives urging Biafrans to conduct themselves well and peaceful in order not to engage themselves is a senseless face off with the personnel .

“MASSOB knows that there will be heavy presence of armed Nigeria Army, Mobile police, DSS operatives and Civil Defence in major cities of Biafra land during our annual Biafra Day Anniversary Celebration”

“They are all signs of jittery, fear and cowardice of Nigeria state over Biafra”

“No amount of security intimidation, mesmerization, killings, detention, oppression, incarceration etc will ever stop the will power of an indigenous people for self determination. the use of force can never stop the inflow of the spirit of Biafra” he said.

By Okey Maduforo Awka

The Igbo Community Association FCT and the Ohaneze Ndigbo have commenced massive mobilization of over 1.2 million Igbo residents living within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

The mobilization is targeted at ensuring that eligible Igbo citizens utilize the registration window opened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), running from May 11 to July 10.

The association strongly warned against voter apathy, urging the 1.2 million Igbo residents in Abuja to arm themselves with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) as a critical tool for political representation and socio-economic survival.

“Today, the most powerful weapon in the hands of the Igbo person is the PVC and the absolute ability to vote on election day. Our PVC is the new ‘Ogbunigwe’—the ultimate defensive tool for our future”

According to the duo of it’s President General Engr Ikenna- Elis Ezenekwe and the Secretary General Mazi Chinwoke Onah ;

“We will no longer be fooled by reckless calls to boycott elections or abstain from registration; doing so is simply shooting ourselves in the foot.”

The leadership emphasized that Ndigbo represents a massive, foundational voting bloc across Nigeria.

The group noted that any upcoming national demographic census tracking tribal distribution will firmly validate that the 1.2 million Igbo residents and the broader Igbo populace constitute the largest voting bloc in Nigeria.

To ensure the success of this mobilization grid, the association is making a direct appeal to major political stakeholders and leaders of Igbo extraction resident in Abuja.

Specifically, the group called on Hon. Ben Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, to lead the cause of getting the Igbo political leaders in Abuja to join this very important exercise.

Continuing the Association noted that;

“To eliminate barriers to registration, the Igbo Community Association FCT is establishing localized assistance centers and a dedicated citizen helpline”

“The 1.2 million Igbo residents who require support with online pre-registrations, biometric capture locations, profile corrections, or PVC transfers are urged to reach out immediately”

The Igbo Community Association FCT is the apex socio-cultural body representing the interests, welfare, and cultural heritage of over 1.2 million Igbo residents living within Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. The association works in tandem with national bodies like Ohanaeze Ndigbo to promote unity, civic responsibility, and progressive representation for Ndigbo on the national stage.

President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has revealed that the company rejected attempts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to increase its 7.25 per cent stake in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Dangote disclosed this during an interview with Nicolai Tangen, stating that the decision was taken because the refinery plans to go public and allow more Nigerians to own shares in the facility.
According to him, the national oil company had sought to acquire additional equity in the multi-billion-dollar refinery, but the proposal was turned down.
“We are the ones that said no; we want to now spread it and have everybody be part of it,” Dangote said.
The refinery, located in Lekki, Lagos, is valued at about $20bn. In 2021, NNPC acquired a 7.25 per cent stake in the plant for $1bn, with an option to increase its ownership to 20 per cent by June 2024. However, the company later decided against purchasing the remaining shares.
Dangote had earlier clarified in 2024 that the NNPC’s actual ownership in the refinery was 7.2 per cent and not the widely reported 20 per cent, explaining that the oil company failed to pay the balance required under the agreement.
“The agreement was actually 20 per cent, which we had with NNPC, and they did not pay the balance of the money up until last year,” he had said.
Dangote also identified government policy inconsistency as one of the biggest risks facing businesses in Nigeria, alongside the possibility of civil unrest.
“The other biggest risk is government inconsistencies in policies,” he stated.
Findings further showed that petrol supply from the refinery rose significantly in the first quarter of 2026, reaching about 3.18 billion litres, while fuel imports dropped sharply to 965.52 million litres within the same period.
The average domestic ex-depot petrol price from the refinery between January and March 2026 stood at about ₦1,000 per litre, indicating that the refinery supplied over ₦3.2tn worth of petrol into the Nigerian market during the review period.
The refinery has also reportedly benefited from rising global tensions involving the United States and Iran, with disruptions in the oil market boosting exports of refined petroleum products.
Speaking on the company’s investment strategy, Dangote said future investors in the group’s businesses, including cement, petrochemicals, fertiliser and refining, would receive dividends in dollars because most of the company’s revenue now comes from exports.
“What we are announcing is that when you invest in any of our businesses going forward, we guarantee to pay you a dividend in dollars because we are very well into exports. Eighty per cent of our revenue will be in dollars,” he said.
Dangote also recounted how he sold his luxury properties in the United States and the United Kingdom to focus fully on industrial development in Nigeria.
“When I decided to go into the industry, I sold all my properties in the US and the UK. I wanted to really sit in Nigeria and concentrate,” he said.
He explained that his business philosophy is driven by identifying products Nigerians heavily import and producing them locally through backward integration.
According to him, the refinery project received financial backing from several institutions, including Afreximbank, Africa Finance Corporation, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, United Bank for Africa, Standard Bank and Standard Chartered.
Meanwhile, former NNPC spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, had previously explained that the company reduced its intended refinery stake to channel funds into compressed natural gas projects.