Author: Gabby

A recent post from Nigeria’s independent grid monitoring account on X has ignited a heated online conversation, garnering over 110 million views. The message, simply stating ‘Word for the week: GO GET YOUR PVC,’ was interpreted by many as a nudge toward civic engagement ahead of the 2027 elections.

Reactions poured in, reflecting deep divisions. User Marvelous commented, ‘Even National Grid is tired of the administration,’ implying widespread discontent. Chinedum Mbah urged active participation: ‘Get your PVC. Know your ward. Vote. Defend your votes with anything and everything in you.’

However, skepticism was also prevalent. Felix Ndubusi argued that voter registration alone may not sway outcomes: ‘Nothing concerns Tinubu and PVC. Have you ever seen him asking his supporters to go get their PVCs? You need much more than votes to defeat him.’ Another user, Bimo, questioned the value of voting altogether: ‘To do what? The only thing Nigerians should do is nobody should come out to vote yes, collect the money they share, but don’t vote for anybody, and see that they’ll still put Tinubu in.’

It is important to note that the National Grid X handle is a private account, not affiliated with government entities like the National Independent System Operator or the Transmission Company of Nigeria. The debate unfolds against a backdrop of persistent electricity woes. Despite a population exceeding 250 million, Nigeria’s power generation hovers between 3,000 and 4,500 megawatts.

President Tinubu, who secured the APC presidential primary for re-election last month, had promised to address power supply issues during his 2023 campaign, but shortages remain three years into his tenure. Meanwhile, opposition candidate Peter Obi of the NDC recently pledged to boost electricity capacity by 10,000 megawatts within four years if elected in 2027.

Yusuf Dantalle, the National Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has called on Nigerians to vote according to their conscience and resist what he termed “peanuts or that menace called vote buying.” He emphasized that vote buying poses a severe threat to Nigeria’s democracy and urged citizens not to trade their future for short-term financial gains.

Speaking on Monday during a live interview on Frontline, a current affairs program on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese Ijebu, Dantalle stated, “Choose your preferred candidate. Refuse peanuts or the evil of vote buying. If they give you money and you feel compelled to accept, take it, but still vote correctly.”

Dantalle expressed sympathy for President Bola Tinubu, acknowledging that Tinubu’s reform agenda is well-intentioned but hindered by systemic inefficiencies and weak institutions. “I feel for the president. He is trying his best to fix Nigeria,” Dantalle said, adding, “However, Nigerians are suffering greatly today.” He argued that the anticipated benefits of Tinubu’s policies have not improved living standards and that economic hardship is directly fueling rising insecurity across the country.

When asked if the APM would reverse key reforms like subsidy removal and exchange rate unification if it came to power, Dantalle rejected a simplistic policy reversal. “The APM, through my presidential candidate, has proposed resetting Nigeria,” he explained. He clarified that resetting Nigeria involves more than economic tweaks; it requires a thorough reassessment of national values, institutions, and governance culture. “We must examine the entire value system. What we see as insecurity is a result of neglect and exclusion. If Nigerians feel they own Nigeria, no one would want to destroy what belongs to them,” Dantalle concluded.

Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has declared his intention to modify his plans and seek input from allies on how to ensure Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), never gets near the presidency. This statement came shortly after Lawal announced his resignation from the ADC.

In a statement released on Monday, Lawal accused the ADC of rigging its presidential primary in favor of Atiku, prompting his departure from the party. He expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu’s political machinery would outmaneuver what he described as Atiku’s “band of wicked vote riggers and result manipulators.”

Lawal stated, “I will be tweaking my plans for the future and consulting with like-minded colleagues on how to stop this incompetent octogenarian from coming close to the presidential office.” He added that he would temporarily retire to his farm in the village, from where he would watch the political drama unfold. “I will be watching Kachalla Atiku and his band of wicked vote riggers and result manipulators mercilessly out-rigged and beaten to pulp by Tinubu’s ruthless and superior rigging machine.”

He concluded by predicting that the North would ultimately reject Atiku, saying, “It will be bye-bye to this octogenarian presidential wannabe. It will be bye-bye to the North for preferring a religious hegemonist over a competent world-renowned economist and corporate guru.”

The Labour Party in Ogun State has successfully resolved its internal divisions. On Monday, the previously feuding camps joined forces to announce a single candidate for the upcoming 2027 gubernatorial election. Party leaders acknowledged that their earlier disagreements were counterproductive, stating that unity was essential to challenge what they termed ‘political looters’ in the state.

During a press conference held in Abeokuta, the state capital, Apagun Olaolu Samuel, who chairs the Nenadi faction, explained that despite sharing common goals, a fractured party could not succeed. He emphasized that the reconciliation aimed to select compassionate and capable individuals for office, rather than career politicians looking for a comeback.

Samuel declared, ‘We have all consented to operate as a single, unified party, because we understand that only together can we achieve our objectives. We recognize that our aspirations to rescue Nigeria, and specifically Ogun State, from political predators are identical. For us to succeed in 2027, we realize that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Therefore, we are presenting a consensus candidate for all elective positions. Chief among these is the governorship seat, and today we introduce Hon. Mojisola Oluwaseun Ajayi as our nominee for the 2027 race.’

Samuel further described Ajayi as a person of integrity, strong character, and genuine compassion, not a recycled politician. In a similar vein, Oluwabukunola Soyoye, head of the Abure faction, stressed the importance of familial unity. ‘Fighting among ourselves in Ogun is like siblings beating each other—it leads nowhere. We have chosen to come together as a large Labour family, erasing all factions, to collaborate for the 2027 polls,’ she said. She also confirmed that the party would fill all 39 other elective positions through consensus.

Accepting the nomination, Mojisola Ajayi expressed gratitude to party members and vowed to cooperate closely with them to secure victory in 2027.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Dr. Najeem Folasayo Salaam, has formally presented his policy blueprint for the 2026 elections, pledging to overhaul the state’s governance structure and drive economic revival.

Speaking at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Osogbo on Monday, Salaam outlined a vision centered on worker welfare, agricultural revolution, youth employment, improved healthcare, and quality education. He emphasized that his administration would restore public trust through transparent and inclusive leadership.

Describing the state as being at a pivotal moment, Salaam urged residents to join him in what he called a journey of transformation. “We are here not just to launch a document, but to mark the beginning of a new era for Osun,” he stated. “This is a call to rise together and create a future of opportunity and prosperity.”

The former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly acknowledged the state’s abundant agricultural resources and cultural heritage but lamented that many citizens still grapple with unemployment, poor infrastructure, insecurity, and limited economic prospects. He argued that the core issue is not a lack of potential but the absence of purposeful leadership and strategic planning.

Salaam stressed that workers and pensioners would be treated with dignity, farmers empowered to make agriculture a key economic driver, and youths equipped with skills and job opportunities. He also highlighted electricity as a critical enabler of growth, promising to pursue alternative energy solutions and public-private partnerships to ensure reliable power supply. “No economy can thrive without power. We will invest strategically to stimulate industries, attract investors, and create jobs,” he said.

The manifesto, according to Salaam, is the result of extensive consultations with citizens across the state. He described it as a binding contract with the people, grounded in integrity and compassion. “This is more than promises; it is a covenant founded on a clear vision of shared prosperity,” he concluded.

Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has voiced a strong preference for President Bola Tinubu over Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress. Lawal believes that Tinubu has the potential to be a superior leader for Nigeria compared to Atiku.

In a statement released to the press, Lawal cautioned against the dangers of an Atiku presidency, emphasizing that Tinubu would prove more effective if given another term in 2023. He described his refusal to back Atiku as a matter of personal conviction, asserting that he cannot support what he perceives as the harmful influence represented by the ADC candidate and his camp.

“It is my firm belief that Tinubu will, relatively speaking, end up being a better president for Nigeria than Atiku could ever aspire to be,” Lawal declared.

The former SGF took aim at northern political leaders who, despite widespread poverty and insecurity in the region, continue to rally behind Atiku. He questioned the logic of backing a northern aspirant when the objective should be to find a leader capable of reversing the region’s economic decline and security crises.

“I would have assumed that when northerners insist on a northern president, they would be looking for someone who can halt the downward spiral into poverty and insecurity, not an ineptocrat like Atiku,” Lawal remarked.

Lawal revealed plans to hold consultations with political allies in the coming weeks to devise strategies that would prevent Atiku from clinching the presidency in 2027. “I intend to adjust my future plans and engage with like-minded colleagues to stop this incompetent octogenarian from even getting close to the presidential office,” he concluded.

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has described former Governor Chibuike Amaechi as his brother, but revealed that Amaechi did not seek his counsel before defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Wike, who previously served as Chief of Staff under Amaechi during his tenure as Rivers State governor, expressed that he would have advised Amaechi against joining the ADC.

Amaechi, a former Minister of Transport, was among prominent Nigerians who joined the ADC and vied for the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 elections. However, he lost the primary to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who emerged as the ADC flagbearer. Amaechi initially rejected the primary results, citing widespread irregularities and malpractice, but has remained silent after Atiku visited him at his Abuja residence.

Speaking during a media chat on Monday, Wike said, “Amaechi is my brother. I served under his administration. If he had called me before joining the ADC, I would have told him, ‘don’t go there.’ The party was Atiku’s setup, one hundred percent. When I saw David Mark as the national chairman, I laughed. You can’t set a trap for me. My brother made a mistake; he was in too much of a hurry, carried away by people praising the government.”

Wike, who is often seen as a political adversary of Amaechi, insisted that Amaechi could have avoided the embarrassment of contesting against Atiku if he had consulted him. He claimed that the ADC primaries were biased and lacked transparency, with David Mark ensuring Atiku’s victory. “It was very clear. No transparency or due process. When you’ve worked with people, you know who’s who and who would do what,” Wike added.

Despite their political differences, Wike asserted that he holds no ill will toward Amaechi and would have helped him navigate the political landscape. The FCT Minister’s remarks highlight the deep rift between the two former allies, who are considered one of the most bitter political rivalries in the current dispensation.

The campaign team of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has mounted a strong rebuttal against Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, demanding concrete evidence to back his claims of rigging during the party’s primaries.

In a fiery response, Atiku’s camp dismissed Lawal’s accusations as baseless and malicious, accusing him of trying to tarnish the party’s image after failing to influence the primary process. Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, issued a statement on Tuesday calling Lawal’s allegations unfounded.

Lawal had earlier announced his resignation from the ADC on Monday, alleging that Atiku masterminded manipulations in the party’s ward-level primaries across the country. However, Shaibu countered that Lawal has not provided any documentation, witnesses, or verifiable evidence to substantiate his sensational claims.

“The ADC presidential primaries were conducted transparently across thousands of wards, and the outcome was clear and decisive,” Shaibu asserted. “Lawal has offered Nigerians no documents, no facts, no witnesses—nothing but empty rhetoric. We challenge him to produce any shred of proof.”

The statement further criticized Lawal for insulting the integrity of ADC members nationwide and attempting to discredit a democratic process he could not control. Atiku’s camp reaffirmed that the primary reflected the will of party faithful and rejected any suggestion of irregularity.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has publicly declared its backing for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s bid for the presidency. The state chapter emphasized its acceptance of the decisions made by the party’s national leadership regarding the candidacy.

Chairman Hon. Yusuf Ado Kibiya delivered this stance during a press conference at the party’s secretariat in Kano on Monday, where he also discussed internal party affairs and recent political shifts.

Kibiya stated that the state chapter had thoroughly reviewed the National Executive Committee’s resolution endorsing Jonathan and will continue to operate in accordance with the party’s constitution and regulations.

“We have considered the national executive’s position on the presidential candidacy of former President Goodluck Jonathan,” Kibiya remarked. He further noted that the party acknowledges and respects the procedural integrity that led to that decision, affirming full support for the national leadership’s authority to guide the party’s future direction.

The chairman reiterated that the Kano PDP remains committed to collaborating with other stakeholders to fortify the party ahead of upcoming elections. “Our regional chapter is steadfast in aligning with the party’s overarching goals and will participate in constructive discussions to further the PDP’s mission across Kano and Nigeria,” he added.

Kibiya urged all members to maintain unity, discipline, and focus on the party’s objectives. He assured supporters that despite recent defections and political realignments, the PDP in Kano remains cohesive and dedicated to providing robust democratic leadership.

He emphasized that the party continues to uphold democratic principles, accountability, and public service, and will remain a key player in Nigeria’s political landscape.