Author: Gabby

Anthony Sani, a former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has indicated that the northern region will not support Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in the 2027 elections. Speaking exclusively to Daily Post, Sani explained that the North remains committed to the zoning arrangement and prefers to wait until 2031 to produce the president.

According to Sani, the South aims to complete its eight-year tenure in line with the zoning principle, which discourages southerners from backing Atiku. He warned that if northerners vote for Atiku, they risk being accused of undermining the zoning system. The North, he stressed, respects zoning and hopes to secure the presidency in 2031, making it unlikely to support a candidate from the same region in 2027.

“The South wants to finish its eight-year term under the zoning spirit, so southerners will not vote for former Vice President Atiku,” Sani said. “And because the North honors zoning and anticipates producing the president in 2031, northerners will not vote for Atiku, lest they be seen as disrupting the zoning arrangement.”

On Democracy Day, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) did not hold back in its critique of President Bola Tinubu, insisting that he must come to terms with his administration’s shortcomings instead of continuing to offer hollow pledges. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, released a statement on Friday that pulled no punches.

The ADC expressed deep dissatisfaction with the President’s address, which they argued sounded more like a campaign pitch than a report from a leader who has spent over three years at the helm. According to the party, Nigerians were treated to a speech that failed to reflect the reality of a government entering its fourth year.

“President Tinubu needs to own up to his failures,” the statement read. “His Democracy Day address resembled that of someone seeking a fresh mandate, not someone who has been in power. He asked citizens to once again believe that prosperity is imminent, that economic reforms are about to pay off, that employment opportunities are on the horizon, and that safety is steadily improving.”

The ADC urged Nigerians to ask a straightforward question: given that Tinubu has been president for three years and the All Progressives Congress (APC) has governed for eleven, why are we still being fed with promises? The party noted that when the APC took office in 2015, it vowed to address insecurity, revitalize the economy, generate jobs, reduce poverty, fortify institutions, and enhance the well-being of Nigerians. Yet, after eleven years, these same issues continue to dominate government speeches.

“The fact that the President is still making the same vows that brought the APC to power is an admission that those pledges remain unkept,” the ADC added.

The party also took aim at the National Assembly for choosing to proceed on recess on Democracy Day, calling the move tone-deaf and dismissive of the significance of the occasion.

On Friday, Kola Ologbondiyan, a prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made a startling assertion: democracy in Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu is even more constricted than it was during military rule. This statement was made via a post on the social media platform X.

Ologbondiyan, who previously served as the spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), argued that Nigeria has turned into a setting of sheer absurdity during the 11-year reign of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He claimed that the celebration of Democracy Day in 2026 perfectly illustrates this decline.

In his post, Ologbondiyan directed criticism at President Tinubu, noting that while Tinubu preaches democratic values, the actual democratic space has shrunk to a degree not seen even under military administrations. He pointed to the APC’s own internal processes, where the emergence of party candidates remains unresolved weeks after primaries.

He further alleged that other political parties are uncertain about their electoral status, with elections just months away. According to Ologbondiyan, the only certainty in the political landscape is that Tinubu will contest the 2027 presidential election, while candidates from other parties are deliberately bogged down by internal conflicts.

Describing this as a contradiction, Ologbondiyan said it is impossible to champion democracy while simultaneously closing the democratic space. He concluded by wishing a Happy Democracy Day to Nigerians who, though silent now, are determined to remove the APC from power come 2027.

On Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the Social Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, issued a stern reminder that the nation must honor the legacy of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. The June 12, 1993 election, which Abiola won, represented a golden moment for Nigeria to showcase democratic leadership in Africa and globally, especially when apartheid was still entrenched in South Africa and many African countries were governed by military regimes.

Adebayo condemned the annulment of that election by the military government as a direct assault on the constitution and the will of the Nigerian people. He emphasized that no authority can truly nullify the sovereign decision of the populace. June 12, he argued, serves as a powerful testament that power ultimately resides with the people.

The SDP chieftain warned that as the next general election approaches, every citizen must actively work to strengthen democracy. He urged that the sacrifices of past heroes, including Abiola, should not be squandered. In his words, the struggle for true democracy requires the participation of all Nigerians to ensure that the dreams of those who fought for democratic rule are realized.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his own Democracy Day address, called on Nigerians to maintain faith in the country despite ongoing challenges. Tinubu’s message echoed a theme of resilience, urging citizens to look beyond present difficulties and work collectively for a better future.

In a recent statement on his X account, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), shared details of his engagement with the party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson, and the vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso. The discussions were prompted by internal party issues that have been making headlines.

Obi revealed that the meetings, which took place on Democracy Day, were centered on reinforcing cohesion within the NDC and furthering the party’s agenda for national overhaul. He emphasized that despite the NDC being just four months old and encountering obstacles, it stands as the party of tomorrow. The fruitful exchanges during the meetings underscore this outlook.

A committed political family, Obi noted, requires its leaders and members to be ready to make sacrifices and exhibit patience and flexibility, particularly during tough times. This mutual understanding is crucial for establishing confidence, boosting solidarity, and preserving the shared ambition for national transformation.

He stressed that everyone is dedicated to this objective. The NDC continues to be the instrument that will guide Nigeria through purposeful, empathetic governance, with a strong focus on productivity and democratic principles, aiming for the New Nigeria that is achievable.

The OK Movement, a political support group for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, recently held a significant meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The gathering took place on June 12, as preparations for the 2027 presidential election intensify.

Reports indicate that Obasanjo has thrown his weight behind Obi and Kwankwaso, lending credibility to their campaign. The OK Movement shared details of the meeting on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, describing it as a powerful and strategic engagement.

The group stated that the meeting underscored a shared commitment to a stronger, more unified, and progressive Nigeria. It added that Obasanjo’s wisdom, experience, and leadership insights would further energize their efforts to build a people-centered movement focused on national advancement.

Reaffirming its mission, the OK Movement vowed to continue mobilizing, empowering, and rallying support for the new Nigerian movement, aiming for greater unity, growth, and prosperity for all citizens.

Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent figure within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has opened up about the advice he gave Peter Obi before the former presidential candidate made the move to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Speaking on Friday via a post on X, Okonkwo disclosed that he cautioned Obi that switching to the NDC might not be in his best interest.

According to Okonkwo, he explicitly told Obi that leaving the ADC to join the NDC would reduce him to what he termed a ‘mobile squatter’ within the new party. This warning, Okonkwo noted, has proven prescient following recent comments by Seriake Dickson, the national leader of the NDC.

Dickson’s remarks over the past two days, Okonkwo argued, have confirmed his earlier fears. He quoted Dickson as saying that those who think forming a political party is easy should go ahead and register their own. Okonkwo interpreted this as a subtle reminder that ‘squatters’ have no rights in someone else’s house.

The Nollywood actor-turned-politician went further to state that the primary role for Obi and his loyal supporters within the NDC is to serve the ‘Supreme Leader’ without question. This, he implied, is a far cry from the independent political influence Obi might have wielded if he had remained in the ADC.

The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) moved to quell internal strife as party leader Senator Seriake Dickson held a three-hour closed-door meeting with presidential candidate Peter Obi on Friday. Dickson announced the meeting via his X (formerly Twitter) account, stating it was aimed at resolving recent tensions that have threatened party unity.

According to Dickson, the meeting—attended by Obi and other senior party figures—allowed all sides to review recent happenings and discuss issues that had become a source of worry. He emphasized that the discussions were amicable, and all disagreements were resolved.

Dickson stressed that both he and Obi remain focused on the ultimate goal: winning elections for the party and rescuing Nigeria from the APC-led government’s alleged misgovernance. He admitted that some issues had emerged but confirmed that agreements have been reached on how to address them moving forward.

In his statement, Dickson urged all party members to cease infighting and name-calling, redirecting their energies toward the larger mission. He reiterated that he, Obi, and other stakeholders will continue to consult and engage with one another to resolve concerns, strengthen party cohesion, and stay focused on building a better Nigeria.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is confident of securing a decisive victory throughout the South-East region in the 2027 presidential election, according to Mrs. Oby Ajih, the party’s South-East Woman Leader.

Speaking during a mid-year prayer and empowerment event in Umuahia, Ajih stated that the setbacks the APC faced in the South-East during the 2015, 2019, and 2023 elections will not be repeated. She attributed this shift to President Bola Tinubu’s achievements in the region and nationwide, which have altered negative perceptions among local voters.

Ajih emphasized that the APC now expects to win more votes at every polling station in the South-East, dismissing past voting patterns as outdated. She also addressed concerns about the kidnapped Otu pupils, reassuring parents that the federal government is employing effective strategies to ensure their safe return. “The children are not dead. They will not die. They will be rescued by God’s grace,” she said.

At the same event, Abia State APC Woman Leader, Mrs. Cecilia Erondu, confirmed that the gathering was intended to pray for an end to insecurity and for President Tinubu’s health. She noted that the support items distributed to widows were designed to enhance their economic well-being.