Author: Gabby

The recently concluded primaries of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Anambra and other states have placed significant political pressure on the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi. According to sources, the primary elections held last Friday saw a wave of grassroots-backed aspirants oust several established political figures in key constituencies and senatorial districts.

This development has left the national leadership of the NDC in a difficult position as they consider how to handle the outcomes. Among those who secured party tickets are Ifeanyi Iwuchukwu for Onitsha North/South Federal Constituency, Eric Ayamene for Idemili North/South, Ofumelu Vincent Ekene for Oyi/Ayamelum, Udekaigbo Chibuzo for Ihiala, Chief Ebuka Onunkwo for Anambra South Senatorial District, and Pastor Nonso Nwabueze Oli for Anambra Central. In Anambra North, Senator Tony Nwoye reportedly ran unopposed.

The biggest shock came from the defeat of incumbent Senator Victor Umeh in the contest for the Anambra Central senatorial ticket, sparking intense debate within the party. Political insiders reveal that the emergence of these new candidates has unsettled parts of the party establishment, with displaced stakeholders now looking to Obi and the national leadership as the ratification process nears.

This situation has thrust Obi into what many party faithful describe as a defining moment for his leadership and the credibility of the party’s internal democracy. Across Anambra and beyond, attention is focused on whether the final ratification will reflect the primary outcomes or whether influential interests will alter the grassroots verdict. Critics argue that any attempt to overturn or dilute the results could damage the image that distinguishes Obi from his peers.

“The emergence of the new candidates has turned the Anambra primaries into a broader test of the NDC’s commitment to internal democracy,” said Peter Anaenugwu, a party leader in Awka. “The issue goes beyond who won or lost. What is at stake now is the credibility of the process itself and the leadership’s response.”

As the NDC prepares to conclude its ratification process, political tension continues to build. For many observers, the coming days will not only determine the fate of the victorious aspirants but also shape public perception of Obi’s dedication to democratic ideals. Days ago, National Secretary of the Party, Barr Ikenna Morgan, stated that only the national leadership has the power to make a final pronouncement on candidates.

Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Vice Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the upcoming 2027 elections, convened with the party’s Nasarawa State candidates on Tuesday for a high-level meeting at his residence in Maitama, Abuja. Sources indicate the discussions focused on strengthening party structures, promoting unity among stakeholders, and refining strategies to advance the party’s vision and objectives ahead of the polls. This gathering underscores the NDC’s dedication to building a robust, cohesive, and people-centered platform capable of driving meaningful change for Nigerians. According to DAILY POST, Kwankwaso was confirmed as the party’s VP candidate on Saturday, following the NDC’s selection of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as its presidential flagbearer. Obi and Kwankwaso had earlier moved from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the NDC, citing internal conflicts and legal disputes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has acknowledged that private voter data of Nollywood actor Emeka Ike, a House of Representatives aspirant for the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), was accessed with legitimate staff credentials and leaked without permission.

In a statement on Tuesday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, confirmed the incident. The controversy began after voter registration details for Ike appeared online soon after he declared his candidacy for an FCT House of Representatives seat. The information was shared by Lere Olayinka, media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and was alleged to have come from INEC’s restricted administrative portal.

INEC stated that its initial inquiry found no external breach, hacking, or unauthorized access to its ICT systems. Instead, the data was retrieved using valid user credentials belonging to staff involved in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. “The information in question was accessed through valid user credentials assigned to personnel participating in the ongoing CVR exercise but released without authority,” the statement read.

Registration officers in the CVR exercise have restricted access to specific system components to register new voters, handle transfers, and update records. An audit trail from the investigation identified the user account that accessed the information, and relevant staff have been questioned. All units connected to the incident are cooperating with the inquiry.

INEC is reviewing the technical, administrative, and operational circumstances to assign responsibility and determine if internal access-control protocols were violated. Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has launched an independent investigation into the matter.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has expressed deep sorrow over the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area. Speaking during a peaceful protest by the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and National Association of Nigerian Students at his Ibadan office, Makinde emphasized that this is not a moment to assign blame to himself or President Bola Tinubu. He called for national unity in tackling insecurity.

Makinde described the incident as a national distress, not an opportunity for political point-scoring. He shared a personal connection, revealing that his father was a primary school teacher in the area decades ago. ‘If something like this had happened to him, maybe I wouldn’t even have been born,’ he said, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

The governor stressed that fighting insecurity requires a collective effort. ‘This is not the time for us to say it is the President that should have handled this, or it is the Governor, or the local government. This is a time to pull together as one,’ he stated, urging Nigerians to stand united.

His remarks come amid rising tensions and political finger-pointing following the kidnappings. Makinde’s appeal for solidarity aims to steer the conversation away from divisive politics and toward a unified response to the security challenge.

Chidi Odinkalu, the former head of the National Human Rights Commission, has strongly criticized the recent defection of House of Representatives Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda from the PDP to the APC. In a scathing post on X, Odinkalu labeled the move as ‘organized crime,’ asserting that no judicial ruling could ever legitimize the circumstances surrounding Chinda’s party switch.

Odinkalu’s statement comes in the wake of House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas’s announcement during Tuesday’s plenary that Chinda had officially left the PDP to join the APC. The letter detailing the defection was dated April 23, 2026, raising eyebrows about its backdating. Notably, Chinda had already been selected as the APC governorship candidate for Rivers State in the lead-up to the 2027 elections, all while still serving as the Minority Leader representing the PDP.

Odinkalu suggested that there might be attempts to use the courts to make the defection appear legitimate, but he dismissed such efforts as ‘court washing.’ He emphasized that no amount of legal maneuvering could cleanse what he sees as a fundamentally unethical act. ‘This is organized crime. Period!’ he wrote, underscoring his belief that the process was inherently flawed.

Following the announcement, Chinda resigned his position as Minority Leader. The House of Representatives is now expected to elect a new Minority Leader to fill the vacancy. Meanwhile, Chinda is facing a lawsuit alleging that his defection did not follow proper procedures.

In a significant political realignment, three members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives have officially left their former parties to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The defections were announced during a plenary session overseen by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

Representing the Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency of Katsina State, Shehu Dalhatu departed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opted for the PDP. In his formal letter, Dalhatu explained that his decision followed thorough deliberation on the APC’s internal dynamics and consultations with his constituents.

From Delta State, Etanabene Benedict, who previously held his seat under the Labour Party (LP), also made the move to the PDP. He cited ongoing internal strife within the Labour Party in his state as the primary motivation for his switch.

Additionally, Alex Egbona, the lawmaker representing the Yakurr/Abi constituency in Cross River State, left the APC for the PDP. Despite the party change, Egbona emphasized that his dedication to the House and his constituency remains steadfast.

These transitions come on the heels of a previous report by DAILY POST detailing the departure of six PDP lawmakers from Oyo State to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), signaling a period of intense political maneuvering as the 2027 elections draw closer.

The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council for the upcoming Osun State governorship election, Oluwole Oke, has made a bold prediction regarding the Accord Party’s performance. According to Oke, the Accord Party will not secure a single ward victory in the Ijesa North federal constituency, which encompasses the Obokun and Oriade local government areas, during the election scheduled for August 15, 2026.

Speaking during an interactive session with the Osun Online Publishers Association (OOPA) on Tuesday, Oke emphasized the strength of the APC in the region. He stated unequivocally that the Accord Party would not win any ward in Obokun or Oriade. He urged voters to take this prediction to the bank, asserting that the APC is focused on long-term goals rather than short-term gains.

Oke highlighted the APC’s track record in unseating incumbent governments, expressing confidence that the same would happen on August 15. He attributed the party’s anticipated success to strategic planning and deep-rooted support in the two local government areas. The campaign chief insisted that the APC is well-positioned to achieve a decisive victory at the polls.

He further claimed that the Accord Party lacks any realistic chance of winning in the mentioned areas, as voters there overwhelmingly favor the APC. Oke also noted that the Osun APC has been conducting issue-based campaigns. He argued that the current state government under Governor Ademola Adeleke has failed to deliver meaningful benefits to citizens.

Referring to the youth of Osun, Oke described them as wise, educated, and rational individuals who would vote to remove Governor Adeleke from office. He accused the Adeleke administration of creating chaos in the health and education sectors due to what he termed a limited understanding of policy. According to Oke, the governor has tried his best but is constrained by a lack of capacity in policy comprehension, financial management, and governance.

He alleged that the current administration has caused widespread panic across Osun State, breached extant laws, and neglected the education sector, misusing funds allocated for it. Oke concluded that the state government has abandoned its responsibilities, leaving citizens in distress.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a statement regarding the unauthorized access and subsequent disclosure of voter registration data belonging to Nollywood actor Emeka Ike. The controversy erupted after Lere Olayinka, an aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, posted screenshots from the INEC portal showing Ike’s personal voter details on social media.

During an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Emeka Ike expressed outrage and vowed to pursue legal action against Olayinka. The actor had recently contested the House of Representatives primaries for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency under the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) but lost.

Olayinka had shared images on his X account claiming that Ike was previously registered in Imo State and transferred his voter registration to the FCT on May 15. The screenshots reportedly included Ike’s application number, registration center, Voter Identification Number (VIN), profile picture, name, and application date. Ike described this as a grave invasion of privacy and a new low in political behavior.

In its official response, INEC affirmed that it is treating the matter with the highest priority and has launched a comprehensive investigation. The commission disclosed that its audit trail has identified the user account through which the information was accessed, and relevant personnel have been interrogated. Preliminary findings indicate no external breach or hacking; rather, authorized user credentials were improperly disclosed.

INEC clarified that during the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, Registration Officers were given limited access to the system for official purposes only, with access revoked after the exercise. The commission emphasized that the incident involves a single voter record and does not compromise the entire database of over 90 million registered voters.

Additionally, the Department of State Services (DSS) has launched an independent investigation into the matter, underscoring the seriousness of the breach. INEC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding voter data and maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.