The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Bauchi State, Adamu Usman Ahmed, has vowed to thwart the plan of Governor Bala Mohammed to hand over power to his choice of successor.

Ahmed said he believes the opposition has a good chance of winning as no governor in the state has been able to install a successor.

This was stated by the governorship candidate in Abuja while speaking to journalists.

Bauchi voters have a long tradition of independent-minded voting and are unlikely to back any effort to impose a new governor, he said.

“People of Bauchi are always wise.

“If you look at the history of the state, no governor has ever been able to put in a successor. That is why I think the opposition has a good chance to win,” he said.

“The political environment ahead of this election is different from other elections because there are many parties participating,” Ahmed said.

“The game of politics has changed. The situation is not like in the past when elections were mainly contested by two parties but this time there are about seven or eight parties contesting. “We’ve got the advantage of having so many candidates in the race,” he said.

The PDP candidate also promised to address unemployment if elected governor.

According to him, the top priority of his administration would be to create jobs.

“Our focus is on job creation. We will work to create opportunities for our young people and improve the livelihoods of people in the state,” he said.

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Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed confidence that the voting pattern that gave former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, victory in Delta State during the 2023 election, would not be repeated in 2027.

Oborevwori spoke during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, said Obi’s performance in the state is due to the support of the Christian community and non-indigenous residents especially members of the Igbo community.

The governor said his administration had deepened its relationship with the Igbo community in the state and was optimistic they would support the All Progressives Congress, APC, in future elections.

He told the Igbo community that they did not vote against him in the governorship election, and that they have continued to work with his administration for the good of the state.

“The religious leaders who supported my political move to APC prayed for the success of the decision and will continue to support the party in future elections, Oborevwori also said.

He said the issues that led to the victory of Obi in Delta during the 2023 Presidential election have been tackled adding that he does not expect a repeat of the same in 2027.

The governor said he still has confidence that the APC will be widely accepted in the state in the next general election.

He said: “First and foremost, the Igbo community in Delta State that did that in 2023 they never did it during my election, and we are in the same page.

“Vote party this time, I’ve told them. They will not vote candidates they will vote party because of the love they have for me.
I am sure of that they will vote APC.

“There are two factors that happen the other time, the Christian community and the Igbo, the non-indigenous, but I’ve been able to manage them. The Igbo and I are working together for the benefit of the state.

“I also think that that sort of thing would not happen again.
That is because we notified the religious leaders before I moved into the APC to pray for us. So you can’t pray and curse.” They have prayed.

“So when the time comes for election, I will still go back to them, say, “fathers of faith, when I moved the other time, you prayed for us. Pray again that we will be victorious so we may succeed.” That’s all there is to it.

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Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia has called for unity in the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging aggrieved members of the party to embrace reconciliation and work together for the progress of the state.

“There are differences within the party but unity is important for collective success,” the governor said during an interview on Arise News.

“I think every service has to go back to the people. It is the people who get you on board. “We can’t be here without the people,” he said.

He added that leaders must be accountable to citizens and carry everybody along in governance.

“It is very critical that as they are very vital in putting us in those positions, they are the government in a way and we must be listening to them. “We have to work for them and with them,” he said.

Alia admitted there are divisions within the APC in Benue State but said efforts have been made to reconcile stakeholders.

“I know it is one APC in the state but we cannot deny the fact that there are some differences. That is a fact,” he added.

He said a number of reconciliation meetings have been called involving major stakeholders to ease tensions in the party.

“As the state leader of the party, I led the way in calling and inviting all major stakeholders to be part of our reconciliatory meetings. They came, we talked,” he said.

The message during the meetings was clear, he said, urging both aggrieved and satisfied members to prioritise unity.

“Those who are wounded must let go and those who are aggrieved must show restraint so that we can move forward and support this movement,” he said.

Alia also said that unity is needed to boost the party’s prospects in the upcoming elections and governance goals in the state.

Recall that the APC governorship primary election conducted on Thursday has announced the winner as Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia.

The announcement came after the conclusion of voting and collation of results from various centres across the state, with party officials confirming his victory after the exercise.

The post ‘Those Wounded Must Let Go’ – Gov Alia Speaks After Winning APC Return Ticket appeared first on TheNigerian.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Katsina State has endorsed Governor Dikko Radda as its consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The affirmation exercise was held on Thursday under the supervision of officials from the party’s national headquarters.

Dr Yakubu Maccido, Chairman of the Electoral Committee for the Governorship Consensus Exercise, said 160 delegates unanimously affirmed Radda as the party’s candidate.

Maccido said that in line with the provision of the Electoral Act and the APC guidelines, a sole aspirant must be affirmed by a voice vote of delegates.

He later announced Radda as the APC consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Katsina State.

The committee chairman also handed over declaration of result forms for other elective positions to party leaders.

Alhaji Datti Garba, the APC Zonal National Vice Chairman, lauded party members for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the consensus.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir said Katsina is one of the states where a consensus option was adopted without a crisis.

Former Katsina Governor Aminu Masari called on party faithful and aspirants who could not achieve their aspirations to support Radda and work for the unity and victory of the party.

Also speaking, Chairman of Reconciliation Committee, Masari, urged the governor to carry all stakeholders along in the administration and affairs of the party.

He described the process in Katsina as successful and exemplary when compared to what obtained in some other states.

The former governor called on APC stakeholders across the state to start mobilisation at the grassroots ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the mobilisation was necessary to ensure the victory of President Bola Tinubu, Governor Radda and all APC candidates during the elections.

He also called on all residents of the state to come out en masse to vote for APC, describing Katsina as a stronghold of the party.

In his acceptance speech, Radda thanked Almighty Allah for sparing his life to see the event.

He thanked party leaders, stakeholders and members for giving him the opportunity to seek re-election without a contest.

Radda assured party faithfuls that he would justify the confidence reposed on him and work tirelessly for the success of APC at all levels.

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) national leadership has raked in a whooping N4.45 billion from two presidential and over 83 governorship aspirants that bought its expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the party’s primary this month for next year’s general elections.

The N200 million from the incumbent President Bola Tinubu and Stanley Osifo who bought the presidential nomination forms and over 83 governorship aspirants from 28 states was not part of the funds raked from thousands of aspirants seeking the tickets of the party for the State and National Assembly.
There are however indications that the number of aspirants and the amount haul may increase following the extension of the deadline for the sale of nomination forms.

The number of governorship aspirants had surprisingly increased despite the speculated automatic tickets given to the incumbent governors or the tenure tied governors anointing aspirants.

All but one of the 17 first-term governors are up for re-election, and there’s so much consensus within the parties that primaries for 13 of them, all on May 21, will be little more than formalities.

The governors on the affirmation waiting list are: Umo Bassey Eno (Akwa Ibom); Bassey Otu (Cross River); Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta); Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi); Peter Mbah (Enugu); Umar Namadi (Jigawa); Uba Sani (Kaduna); Abba Yusuf (Kano); Dikko Umaru Radda (Katsina); Nasir Idris (Kebbi); Umar Bago (Niger); Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto) and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).

Information gathered at the venue for the purchase, collection/submission of nomination forms, the Abuja Continental Hotels revealed that the competition is fiercest in Kwara State which has the highest number of aspirants numbering 15 jostling for the ticket.

Other states with high interest aspirants for governorship include Adamawa (eight aspirants); Oyo and Yobe (six aspirants each); Bauchi and Nasarawa (five aspirants each); Abia and Taraba (four aspirants each); Gombe and Lagos (three aspirants each) while Borno and Ogun have two aspirants each.

Sources within the party said Lagos State seemed to be settling for a unified consensus option while the incumbent governor of Benue state, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia might face stiff contest from aspirants who kicked against the consensus arrangement before the peace brokering this week.

To confirm the resolve and readiness of the aspirants for a fierce contest, Mathias Byuan, a contender in Benue had dismissed the idea of a smooth ride for the incumbent, saying: “The governor and I will test the ground. If he’s popular, let him win. If I am popular, I will win. Mr. President said people should go and test their popularity.”
He was not alone in that resolve to engage in a battle as governorship aspirants in many other states are ready to fight either the incumbent or their anointed aspirants.

In Yobe, for example, former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, in a chat with newsmen after submitted his nomination forms, made it clear that he will not step down for a predetermined candidate anointed aspirant of Governor Mai Mala-Buni.

“As he said; “I have not seen where any consensus has taken place. I haven’t been part of any consensus meeting, I haven’t agreed to support anybody. “I am passionate, credible and have the right attitude to lead Yobe.”

In the same strain, his feeling was echoed by another Yobe aspirant, Kashim Musa Tumsah, who averred: “The people want change and they asked for something different. That is why we are fighting.”
In Nasarawa, the race may take a historic turn as Dr. Fatima Abdullahi, the lone female governorship aspirant in the state, said she is ready for a “direct primary” battle.

“This is disheartening that since 1999 to date, no woman has ruled any state as a governor,” Mrs. Abdullahi said adding that she is comfortable with the grassroots-led direct primary format.

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Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, says that Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor, will take over for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

It was said that Obasa told Hamzat that he supported his bid for governor when the deputy governor went to his official home in Ikeja on Thursday.

Hamzat’s visit was part of his ongoing talks and meetings with leaders and stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the run-up to the 2027 elections.

Obasa praised Hamzat’s loyalty to the party and dedication to building infrastructure.

The speaker also asked for support for the deputy governor’s run for governor, saying that they would do everything they could to win the election.

He said, “I just got back from Abuja, and the talk is still the same: Dr. Obafemi Hamzat will be the next Governor of Lagos State.”

“You have shown that you are completely loyal to our great party and even better at serving Lagos.”

“We love you, we support you, and we will do everything we can to help you win the election.”

In response, Hamzat thanked everyone for the warm welcome and talked about Obasa’s experience in politics and the legislative process.

He also said again that he was committed to working together to run the government.

Hamzat said, “Lagos is a project for everyone.” My consultations aren’t about my own goals; they’re about making sure our people have continuity, new ideas, and development that includes everyone.

The post 2027: Mudashiru Obasa Hints at Next Lagos Governor, Promises Victory appeared first on TheNigerian.

Bayo Adelabu, who wants to be the governor of Oyo State for the All Progressives Congress (APC), has denied that President Bola Tinubu and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, have backed any candidate in the run-up to the 2027 governorship election.

Adelabu made the point clear on Thursday in Ibadan, where he spoke to party members and supporters right after getting back from Abuja.

The former Minister of Power said that reports that Tinubu had supported a certain candidate were false and told party members to ignore them.

He said, “President Tinubu has not backed any consensus candidate, and anyone who wants to run for governor can do so.”

Adelabu said, “Asiwaju is the President of Nigeria, in charge of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.” This shows how important the President’s job is on a national level. He is in charge of 774 local governments. He is the president of nearly 3,000 wards. So, he won’t support or be particularly interested in anyone.

Adelabu also said that Tinubu had told party members to either agree on a candidate or hold primaries.

Tinubu Told Us To Meet As A Group
“He (Tinubu) told us all to meet as a party, come to an agreement with important people on the ground, and if we can’t reach an agreement, we should go for a direct primary,” he said.

Adelabu said that reports that the Olubadan had backed a candidate were false.

“I don’t believe the report that Olubadan supports an aspirant. I think it’s just a rumor.” He said, “Olubadan is the father of all, no matter what your status or political beliefs are.”

People remembered that Adelabu recently left his job as Minister of Power to focus on his goal of becoming governor.

The candidate promised that if he is elected, he will run an administration that is open to everyone and puts the needs of all residents first.

He said, “My goal to become governor of Oyo in 2027 is not to make money for myself or help APC members, but to help the people of Oyo.”

He went on to say, “My government will be for the people, including the poor, women, young people, and people who live in the state.”

The post Oyo 2027: Adebayo Adelabu Reveals What Bola Ahmed Tinubu Told Party Members appeared first on TheNigerian.

A group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that supports the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has set the price for its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms at N51 million and the price for its governorship form at N21 million ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Umar Bature, the National Organizing Secretary for the faction, gave the details in an election schedule that was sent to reporters on Wednesday.

The group plans to give the Independent National Electoral Commission its membership list on April 21, 2026, and then officially tell the commission about its primaries the next day.

The document says that the expression of interest form for all offices costs ₦1 million, but the nomination fees depend on the position being contested.

People who want to run for State Houses of Assembly must pay ₦2 million, House of Representatives ₦3 million, Senate ₦5 million, governorship ₦20 million, and presidential hopefuls ₦50 million.

Forms will go on sale from April 27 to May 4, and completed applications must be turned in by May 9.

On May 11, people who want to run for the State Assembly, the National Assembly, or the governorship will be screened. On May 12, people who want to run for president will be screened.

On May 18, there will be a presidential primary, and on May 27, there will be a governorship primary. The primaries for the House of Representatives will be on May 21, the primaries for the Senate will be on May 23, and the primaries for the State Assembly will be from May 21 to May 24.

All appeals should be over by May 30, 2026.

Bature also said that women who want to apply for jobs will only have to pay the expression of interest fee for the jobs they want.

The PDP is still dealing with a split within the party that has divided it into two groups. One group is led by Kabiru Turaki and supported by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. The other group is led by Abdulrahman Mohammed and supported by Wike.

There are still a number of lawsuits in court because of the factional dispute. On Wednesday, the justices at the Supreme Court of Nigeria said that the parties would be told when the decision would be made.

The post 2027: Nyesom Wike-Backed PDP Sets Presidential Form at N51m, Governorship at N21m appeared first on TheNigerian.

Hope Uzodinma, the Governor of Imo State, has said that the governorship seat must stay zoned among the state’s three senatorial zones.

The governor said this after getting the report from the Imo Elders Council, which was set up to look over the Charter of Equity on how the governorship seat should rotate between the three zones: Orlu, Okigwe, and Owerri.

Uzodinma said that the state will not see any kind of hostile takeover. He stressed that justice, inclusion, and consensus are still important for keeping the peace in the state.

The governor spoke to the Elders Council at the Government House Banquet Hall in Owerri. He said that the lessons learned from the 2020 crisis, when he took office, showed how dangerous it is to exclude people from politics.

“Anyone who is denied justice may not want peace. Uzodinma said, “We will stop any kind of hostile takeover by getting everyone to agree.”

He called the Elders Council the “conscience of the state” and said that it was set up by law to guide government without any political bias.

The state’s top citizen said that there are plans to change the law that set up the council to give it more power, including punishing members who do bad things.

Uzodinma said again that the Charter of Equity takes into account the fair distribution of important political positions across the three senatorial zones. He urged all parties to respect zoning rules and avoid politics that divide people.

He also said again that the state is in line with the federal government and thanked President Bola Tinubu for his help.

The governor was hopeful that following fairness and justice would ensure stability and a smooth political change in the state.

“Charter of Equity is here to stay.” Believe in the Charter of Equity and listen to what makes sense. Support the president and work with the federal government. “And go home and pray and let God do the rest,” Uzodinma said.

He said he would talk to more people from all three zones to build on the agreement that will bring about political stability, which he says the state has not had in a long time.

He told the elders that their work would not end with his administration, as the body would still give advice to future governors in the state.

Earlier, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, the Chairman of the Elders Council, praised the governor for bringing the state together and said that sustainable development can only happen when all areas move forward together.

Ilomuanya said that the Imo Charter of Equity should not just be talk; it should be put into action by making sure that appointments are fair, projects are distributed fairly, and everyone in the state’s zones has the same opportunities.

He said that the charter was a promise to make Imo a welcoming place where no one feels left out and everyone can strive to be a leader without being discriminated against.

Eze Ilomuanya told the governor to follow the Charter’s principles of fairness, justice, and peace.

The post “Governorship Must Rotate among the three zones in Imo” – Hope Uzodinma Speaks on Charter of Equity appeared first on TheNigerian.

James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives from Ikeja Federal Constituency, has backed Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, as the next governor of the state. The election will be held in 2027.

On Friday, Faleke said this in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.

The federal lawmaker told members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his supporters in Ikeja Federal Constituency and all over Lagos State to get behind Hamzat as the party gets ready for its governorship primaries next month.

“Good evening, everyone. As we get ready for the Party primaries next month, I ask all of our supporters in Ikeja Federal Constituency and Lagos State to support Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as the next Governor of Lagos State from 2027 to 2035 IJN. “Amen!” Faleke said.

Reports say that the APC leadership is thinking about a consensus plan that could make Hamzat the party’s candidate for governor in Lagos State in 2027.

Sources say that this move is part of a larger discussion among party members in the South-West about the next election cycle.

Insiders from the party also said that people in the region are looking at other candidates for important jobs.

One of them is Olamilekan Adeola, also known as Yayi, who is the senator for Ogun West and the head of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He is said to be the favorite to win the Ogun State governorship race.

People in the party are also backing Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District, in the race for governor of Oyo State.

A meeting between President Bola Tinubu and APC members from Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states on March 23 in Lagos is said to have led to the reported consensus choices.

The PUNCH learned from people who were there that the meeting was mostly about party strategy and picking candidates for the next general elections.

One of the sources, who didn’t want to be named, said that the talks went on for a long time and were mostly about finding candidates who were very popular in their states.

The source said, “The choices of Hamzat, Yayi, and Alli were made after a long talk with the President, taking into account what everyone there thought and how popular the candidates were in their states.”

Some of the people who are said to have been at the meeting are Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff; Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State; Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State; and Biodun Oyebanji, the Governor of Ekiti State.

Zaccheaus Adedeji, the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, and a number of other important party members were also there.

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