Politics
Resignation: APC bigwigs at ‘war’ over 8 vacant Ministerial Positions
Intense lobbying has commenced in states and Abuja as top shots of the All Progressives Congress (APC) jostle to replace eight ministers who left the federal cabinet last week to pursue their 2023 ambitions.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, asked members of his cabinet who have picked forms of the party for various elective positions to resign.
Sequel to the directive, a valedictory session was organised on Friday for the ministers including, Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation), Godswill Akpabio (Niger Delta Affairs), Ogbonnaya Onu( Science, Technology and Innovation), Timipre Sylva (Petroleum Resources, State), Emeka Nwajiuba (Education, State), Uche Ogah (Mines and Steel Development), Pauline Tallen (Women Affairs) and Chief Tayo Alasoadura (Niger Delta Affairs, State).
Reports from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Imo, Abia, Plateau and Ondo states, revealed that high power networking has since commenced by those jostling to replace the former federal cabinet members.
It was gathered that many chieftains of the ruling party in the affected states have been waiting for the exit of the ministers since the introduction of section 84(12) in the Electoral Act, which barred ministers from participating in the party’s convention, congress, and primaries while still serving in office.
In some states, the development rekindled the hopes of aggrieved members of the party to benefit from the government. The president had only sacked two ministers Sabo Nanono (Agriculture) and Saleh Mamman (Power).
The swift moves by the chieftains were a result of the pledge of the president that he will not waste time in replacing the former cabinet members.
In Imo, Nwajiuba’s resignation ignites old rivalry
In Imo State, the resignation of Minister of State, Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, has ignited the old rivalry between the two powerful factions of the party in the state. Nwajiuba was the first presidential aspirant to purchase the party’s nomination and expression of forms.
The fight for Nwajiuba’s successor is being fought from three angles. The camp of the state Governor, Hope Uzodinma, that of Senator Rochas Okorocha and the minister’s camp. The feud between Okorocha and Uzodinma had polarised the party in the state.
Okorocha is said to be using his new rapprochement with the president to recommend one of his aides to replace Nwajiuba.
It was gathered that Nwajiuba is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that he produces his successor.
The former minister is said to be extending his lenses to Senator Frank Ibezim, who was his assistant before he won the rerun for the Imo North senatorial zone in 2021.
President Buhari had singled-handedly chosen Nwajiuba as a minister because of his long-standing relationship with him.
Some top politicians of APC extraction in the state loyal to Uzodinma have begun eyeing the post, expecting to get the governor’s endorsement.
It’s hoped that Uzodinma, as leader of the party in the state, may recommend a replacement to President Buhari, to make up for his sidelining during Nwajiuba’s appointment.
However, Special Assistant to Uzodinma on Local Media, Modestus Nwamkpa, said that it’s entirely the president’s prerogative to fill the vacant position.
He said, “Though Governor Uzodinma may have input, just like other interested parties, the bulk stops ultimately on the table of the president.
“Don’t forget the president appointed Nwajiuba in the first place and so he also has the prerogative, maybe in consultation with the party hierarchy, to fill the vacant position.”
He said that the party has absolute confidence in the president to make the right choice.
Tallen: Pendulum swings among 3 persons
Following the resignation of Pauline Tallen, who hails from Plateau State, as Minister of Women Affairs, the names of three persons have been mentioned as a possible replacement.
They are; Architect Pam Dung, a former Coordinating Chairman of the National Prototype Housing Scheme at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, former state Minister of Information and Communication, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande and Bashir Musan Sati, the former state Secretary of the APC.
However, political observers say the possibility of any of the said politicians being appointed as the minister is dependent on the approval of Governor Simon Lalong, who may possibly get the nod of the president.
Men likely to replace Alasoadura
Sources within APC in Ondo State told Daily Trust that Mr Olusola Iji may be considered as a replacement for the ministerial seat. Iji was said to be one of those penciled down at the time Alasoadura was picked for the position.
Iji is currently heading the campaign for Governor Akeredolu’s wife, Betty who is going for Senate in her Imo State.
Others who may also be considered include Bunmi Ademosu, Ademola Adegoroye and Boye Oyewumi.
Bunmi Ademosu and Ademola Adegoroye are from Ondo Central where Alasoadura hails from.
No clear position on who replaces Amaechi
There is no clear position on who will replace the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, our reporter learned from Port Harcourt.
Some of the chieftains of APC in Rivers State who spoke with our reporter under the condition of anonymity said that the picture is not very clear over who will replace him.
A chieftain of APC in the state said that everything about the resignation of the minister remains very ambiguous to them.
Addressing Kaduna State APC delegates on Sunday, Amaechi said he was yet to resign saying however that he would resign on Monday (today).
The state Publicity Secretary of APC, Senibo Chris Finebone said that he is not aware if people are lobbying for Amaechi’s replacement.
Sylva yet to resign as petroleum minister – Aide
However, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva is yet to resign his position.
His Media Assistant, Julius Bokoru, told Daily Trust that his boss has not resigned from his position.
Sylva was among the serving ministers that purchased N100 million APC presidential form to succeed President Buhari during the 2023 election.
Though it was not clear if the Sylva, a former Governor of Bayelsa State has withdrawn from the presidential race just like the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige did.
When it was probed further about Sylva’s presidential ambition, Bokoru simply said ‘Well, I cannot speak further on that for now.’
Also, the Bayelsa State Chairman of APC, Barr Dennis Otiotio, told Daily Trust that he was not aware if Sylva has resigned from his position.
Already, some party chieftains loyal to the former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, are plotting for his return to Federal Executive Council (FEC) if Sylva resigned.
Lokpobiri, who is the leader of one of the APC factions in Bayelsa State operating from a different office in Yenagoa, with its leadership different from the one loyal to Sylva, is said to have been projected to take the slot of Bayelsa State if Sylva resigns because of his ability to use the position to empower the party faithful in the state and unite the party ahead of the general election.
A chieftain of the party who spoke with Daily Trust on condition of anonymity said with Lokpobiri at the Federal Executive Council, Bayelsa APC will be more united compared to what is going on at the moment where factions have threatened the popularity of the party in the state.
Buhari will decide on ministers who made u-turn – Shehu
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, has said only President Muhammadu Buhari will take a decision on the fate of ministers who attended the send forth ceremony but later withdrew participation in the coming primaries of the ruling party.
He said this in response to an enquiry from Daily Trust yesterday.
A text message sent to him read: “On Friday, the President bade farewell to ministers who had shown interest to run for elective positions in 2023. But a few hours later, some of the ministers who attended the ceremony made a U-turn and withdrew their participation in the party primaries.
“Some lawyers had said that it was illegal for them to return without being re-nominated by the president. Will the president re-nominate them for Senate screening and approval?”
In a terse response, the presidential spokesman said: “That is for the president to decide.”
Daily Trust
A former spokesperson of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and investigate the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his reported pledge of N10 million to each of Rivers State’s 319 councillors for delivering their respective wards to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
Sara-Igbe described the alleged pledge as a threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, insisting that Wike’s position as a serving minister should not shield him from investigation.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, reportedly made the promise during a media chat last week, urging the councillors to ensure that President Tinubu wins their respective wards in the 2027 elections in exchange for N10 million each.
With 319 councillors representing the state’s 319 wards across 23 local government areas, the proposed financial commitment would amount to N3.19 billion if fully implemented.
Speaking in an interview with The Southern Examiner, Sara-Igbe questioned why the FCT Minister had not been invited for questioning by security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the reported statement.
He argued that the alleged pledge raised serious concerns about compliance with electoral laws, particularly provisions relating to financial inducements and electoral malpractice.
“We are not in a banana republic where anything goes, no laws. Our security personnel must prove to Nigerians and the entire world that our laws are not implemented haphazardly, depending on who is involved,” he said.
The Kalabari elder also criticised INEC for what he described as its silence over the matter, insisting that electoral regulations must apply equally to all Nigerians, regardless of their political influence or official positions.
Sara-Igbe, who acknowledged that Wike was once his close associate, said Nigeria’s democracy could only develop when citizens rejected injustice, unfairness and inequality.
He warned that political statements capable of encouraging financial inducements could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
“Utterances such as the one Wike spewed out from his mouth could truncate our hard-won democracy and expose our nation to public ridicule. This is why the matter should not be swept under the carpet. Wike must be made to pay for such an unguarded statement,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sara-Igbe denied allegations that he was involved in instigating the renewed political disagreement between Wike and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
He also dismissed claims that his position was motivated by ethnic considerations, maintaining that his disagreement with Wike was based on political principles and what he described as the need to protect Rivers State’s interests.
He accused Wike and his supporters of attempting to undermine Fubara’s administration, arguing that the governor should be allowed to exercise his constitutional mandate without undue political interference.
Sara-Igbe further disclosed that his political position informed his decision to support the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and the party’s Rivers State governorship candidate, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, ahead of the 2027 elections.
He described Lulu-Briggs as a candidate with the capacity to pursue economic development in the state, highlighting proposals to decongest Port Harcourt, develop other urban centres such as Ahoada, Omoku and Bori, and harness Rivers State’s tourism potential.
He also criticised the Rainbow Coalition over what he described as the introduction of ethnic considerations into the search for an APC governorship candidate in Rivers State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed November 28, 2026, for a nationwide mock accreditation and voting exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The exercise is aimed at testing upgrades to the commission’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic results transmission ahead of the polls.
The development comes as INEC disclosed that it had commenced the distribution of non-sensitive election materials to some states in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), announced the planned mock exercise on Thursday during a dialogue at Chatham House in London.
The event, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative, was themed, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”
According to a statement issued in Abuja and signed by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, Amupitan said the exercise would simulate the presidential election and enable the commission to assess the efficiency of its accreditation and electronic results transmission systems.
“On the 28th of this month, we will conduct a mock accreditation and voting exercise across all states of the federation to simulate the presidential election and verify that we have gotten both accreditation and electronic result transmission right,” the INEC chairman said.
Amupitan also disclosed that the commission had introduced additional technical safeguards to prevent inaccurate polling unit results and figures indicating over-voting from being uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal.
He said the measures were part of efforts to strengthen the credibility, transparency and reliability of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Deputy National Organising Secretary of All Progressives Congress, Chief Emeka Okafor Esq, has called on Voters of Igbo Extraction living in Ondo State to come out in their numbers and vote massively for APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 16th of January 2026.
Chief Emeka Okafor made the call in Akure during the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Rally which took place in Akure, Ondo state.
The Deputy National Organising Secretary stated that South East and Ndi Igbo have benefitted massively from the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and All Progressives Congress. He opined that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu meant well for the Country and the President’s reform is yielding the necessary results.
Barr Emeka Okafor stated that Ndi Igbo has always been part of National Party. “Being with the Party at Centre has always been beneficial to Ndi Igbo and 2027 will not be an exception. He urged Igbo Voters in Ondo to support APC and Mr President’s re-election bid.
The chieftain also urged stakeholders to support all APC candidates for the National and State Assemblies in the forthcoming elections, saying party members must work hard to deliver the desired results.
Barr Okafor made the appeal as He joined the Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, other APC leaders and stakeholders at the party’s campaign rallies in Akure, the Capital of Ondo state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned political actors against the use of the controversial slogan, “Rig and Die”, ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that such inflammatory rhetoric could trigger electoral violence and endanger innocent lives.
The Commission also warned that electoral officials, including ad hoc staff, who compromise the integrity of elections would face prosecution in accordance with the law.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, gave the warnings during a media engagement forum for journalists and media executives from the South-East, South-South and South-West geopolitical zones held in Enugu.
Haruna expressed concern over the increasing use of inflammatory political statements and threats, noting that such utterances could put the lives of presiding officers, electoral ad hoc personnel, party agents and election observers at risk.
He urged political parties and their supporters to embrace peaceful participation, stressing that grievances arising from election outcomes should be addressed through established legal channels, including INEC, security agencies and the courts, rather than through violence.
The National Commissioner also called for stronger collaboration between INEC and the media to promote credible, peaceful and transparent elections in 2027.
He described the media as an indispensable partner in the electoral process, noting that public confidence in elections depended largely on accurate, balanced and professional reporting.
Haruna warned journalists against publishing unverified results, manipulated videos, misleading projections and sensational political narratives capable of misleading the public and undermining confidence in the electoral process.
He specifically cautioned against premature result announcements, insisting that only INEC, through its duly appointed returning officers, had the authority to declare election results.
“Results are declared only by the Commission through its duly appointed returning officers. Projections and unofficial figures must be clearly labelled as such,” he said.
He further advised media organisations to verify allegations against the Commission through appropriate channels before publication and exercise caution when reporting electoral incidents.
Haruna also advocated inclusive election coverage, urging journalists to give adequate attention to women, youths and persons with disabilities, particularly the challenges affecting their participation in the electoral process.
He encouraged media organisations to intensify voter education on Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), accreditation procedures, electronic transmission of results and peaceful participation.
Journalists Urged to Uphold Professional Ethics
In a separate presentation on ethical and professional standards in election reporting, resource person, Mr Osaretin Imahheyierobo, urged journalists to familiarise themselves with the Electoral Act 2026, INEC’s election coverage guidelines and the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.
He expressed concern that some journalists covering elections were not sufficiently conversant with the legal and regulatory frameworks governing electoral reporting.
Imahheyierobo urged media organisations to establish dedicated election desks, develop editorial guidelines and strengthen fact-checking mechanisms ahead of the 2027 polls.
He also stressed the need for journalists to understand INEC’s technological innovations, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), to ensure accurate reporting of accreditation, voting and result-management processes.
He warned media practitioners against compromising professional ethics for financial inducements, commonly referred to as brown envelopes. He maintained that political candidates should be subjected to objective scrutiny rather than having their claims and manifestoes amplified without proper examination.
The resource person also called for equitable media coverage of all political parties and candidates, noting that voters relied on credible information to make informed electoral decisions.
Earlier, the Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, disclosed that INEC had received approximately 35,000 Permanent Voter Cards for distribution across the state’s 260 wards.
He appealed to journalists to support public enlightenment campaigns to ensure that eligible voters collected their PVCs ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chukwu described the media as a strategic partner in voter education, public opinion formation and institutional accountability, warning that misinformation could erode public confidence in the electoral process.
While acknowledging the media’s independence and watchdog responsibilities, the REC urged journalists to uphold accuracy, objectivity, fairness and professionalism in their coverage of electoral activities.
He assured stakeholders that the Commission remained committed to conducting credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections in 2027, adding that it was open to constructive criticism and recommendations from media practitioners.
NUJ Raises Concerns Over Election Logistics
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, Comrade Obinna Ogbuka, commended INEC for organising the engagement but regretted that the initiative had not commenced early enough to accommodate more journalists before the election cycle gathered momentum.
Ogbuka also raised concerns over the apparent lack of adequate budgetary provisions for journalists’ logistics during election assignments, stressing that media practitioners required sufficient support to perform their duties effectively.
He further called on INEC to take deliberate steps to rebuild public confidence in the Commission ahead of the 2027 elections.
Participants at the engagement commended INEC’s preparations but urged the Commission to address weaknesses observed in previous elections, particularly the technical challenges that affected the electronic transmission of results during the 2023 presidential election.
They also called on INEC to recognise journalists as critical stakeholders in the electoral process and involve them more meaningfully in its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his promise to reward councillors with ₦10 million each for delivering their respective wards ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the offer is a reward for political commitment and not an attempt to buy votes.
Wike made the clarification on Tuesday during an inspection tour of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, dismissing criticisms of the proposed incentives.
He argued that rewarding political mobilisers for their hard work and electoral performance should not be confused with inducing voters to influence election outcomes.
The minister had reportedly pledged ₦10 million to each councillor who successfully mobilises support and delivers their ward, a promise that sparked concerns over the possibility of vote-buying ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Responding to the criticism, Wike said he never instructed the councillors to share money among voters in exchange for their votes. Rather, he challenged them to demonstrate commitment and deliver the expected electoral results.
“I didn’t tell them, ‘Take this money and go and buy votes.’ I said, ‘Go and work. Show commitment. Demonstrate that you really mean what you are talking about. When you win, come and we are going to reward you,’” he said.
To justify the offer, Wike compared the proposed political incentive to rewards given to athletes who win international competitions, arguing that such promises motivate people to achieve outstanding results.
He cited instances where athletes are promised houses and other benefits for returning from competitions with trophies, questioning why similar incentives in politics should automatically be considered bribery.
The FCT minister also faulted sections of the media for what he described as their failure to distinguish between legitimate performance-based rewards and vote-buying.
He argued that political parties and candidates routinely spend money on campaign advertisements without attracting similar criticism.
Wike challenged journalists to examine the distinction between financial inducements intended to influence voters and rewards promised to political organisers for meeting mobilisation targets.
Meanwhile, the minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, including Interchange Section 2 (ISEX 2), the Southern Parkway and the S1 Road, which incorporates a fire station.
He said the projects were expected to be completed by December 15, ahead of the January 16, 2027 general elections.
Wike further argued that the infrastructure achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration would provide a strong basis for its re-election campaign.
He maintained that his support for Tinubu was driven by the administration’s development agenda rather than party affiliation, insisting that Nigerians who genuinely desire progress should support policies and programmes aimed at national development.
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