Politics
Former APC leader, Tinubu wash dirty linens publicly
A former frontline member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Rauf Aregbesola and his former erstwhile boss, President Bola Tinubu are currently locked in what observers have described as mother of all battles.
Aregbesola, the current National secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), fired the first slvo when he described President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda as a “scam”.
Aregbesola spoke on Tuesday at the party’s national convention in Abuja, where he said the promises made by the Tinubu government had yet to materialise nearly three years into its tenure.
The former Osun state governor accused the Tinubu administration of deepening Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
“Four years ago, this government promised Nigerians renewed hope. Now, three years into its tenure, it is still promising renewed hope. When exactly will this hope come into fruition? The answer is simple: it is a scam,” Aregbesola said.
“If allowed, this regime will continue to chant renewed hope till eternity. We have a duty to stop these scammers from retaining power.”
He cited worsening poverty and education indicators as evidence of governance failure.
Aregbesola claimed that the number of out-of-school children has risen from 18.3 million to 20 million, while about 130 million Nigerians are now classified as multidimensionally poor.
He also criticised the federal government’s handling of insecurity, particularly its response to attacks by bandits and terrorists across the country.
“This has been the worst time in terms of security in the nation, with banditry and terrorism spreading across the country,” he said.
” But, also worried is the lack of empathy by the president after the 2025 Yelwata massacre in Benue state. The president, on a condolence trip, did not visit the affected community; rather, he held court at the government house in Benue state.”
The former governor further argued that Nigeria risks being governed by what he termed “the least qualified”, warning against what he described as a drift towards kakistocracy.
“We cannot allow kakistocracy in Nigeria,” he said, adding that the administration should be held accountable to its own commitments, particularly on power supply.
“The government once said it should not be voted for if it fails to provide electricity. An honest president would step down rather than seek re-election under such circumstances,” he added.
On party matters, Aregbesola defended the leadership of David Mark as chairman of the ADC, insisting that due process was followed and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been duly notified.
“Nobody has the locus standi to challenge the leadership of David Mark. Our last NEC meeting was observed by INEC officials, and the report was formally submitted and acknowledged by the commission,” he said.
Aregbesola also accused INEC of partisanship and alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is unsettled by the growing strength of the ADC.
“The ADC is now the largest opposition platform with major political actors. It is clear that the APC is jittery,” he added.
”We call on the international community to take note of INEC’s biased actions.”
Tinubu, through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday fired back at Aregbesola.
Responding in a post on X, Onanuga described Aregbesola’s comments as misleading and accused him of failing to reflect on his record in public office.
“My attention has been drawn to Rauf Aregbesola’s attack on the Tinubu administration at today’s illegal elective convention of the ADC — a party of desperados and power mongers who, to date, have not articulated any credible plan for Nigeria,” he said.
“At the event, Aregbesola reportedly called on his former boss, mentor, and benefactor to resign, parroting the opposition’s warped narratives about the economy and orchestrated reports of terrorist attacks in some parts of the country.”
Onanuga alleged that Aregbesola’s tenure as governor of Osun state was marked by hardship and salary challenges.
“His eight years as governor of Osun State were characterised by unmitigated hardship for the people,” he said.
“Under his half-baked socialist policies, civil servants went unpaid for months, and those who were paid received only a fraction of their salaries.
“It is to Aregbesola’s infamy that Osun became known as a state receiving negative federal allocation and paying just 20 to 30 per cent of normal salaries.
“It was worse for pensioners in Aregbesola’s Osun State. Many pensioners who relied on their meagre monthly payments died because they were not paid at all.”
He added that Aregbesola’s tenure as minister of interior witnessed multiple jailbreaks and security lapses.
“As Minister of Interior under President Muhammadu Buhari, his tenure witnessed the highest number of jailbreaks in Nigeria’s history — including the infamous Kuje Prison escape in Abuja,” he said.
“During his four years, obtaining a Nigerian passport became a nightmarish process, and there were 15 major attacks on correctional facilities in Jos, Abolongo, Imo, Kabba, and Okitipupa, resulting in over 4,000 inmates escaping to join criminal elements.”
Onanuga said the Renewed Hope agenda is yielding results and dismissed Aregbesola’s claims.
“No, Rauf, the Renewed Hope Agenda is not a scam. The real scammers are the politicians gathered inside the SPV called ADC,” he added.
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Princewill Dike, has declared that Ikwerre Local Government Area will be a difficult political terrain for former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) Vice-Presidential Candidate, Chibuike Amaechi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dike, a lawyer and human rights activist, said Amaechi should not expect an easy political battle in Ikwerre or other parts of Rivers State, arguing that the state’s political dynamics had changed significantly.
He made the assertion on Saturday in a commentary posted on his Facebook page, Princewill Dike Platform.
According to him, Amaechi was fully aware of the political realities in Ikwerre and Rivers State and should therefore not anticipate an easy victory in the 2027 elections.
“Amaechi is fully aware of the political realities in Ikwerre and Rivers State, and should not expect an easy victory in the state during the next general elections,” Dike said.
The APC chieftain argued that Amaechi’s past political influence and access to federal structures did not translate into electoral victory in Rivers, questioning what would be different in 2027.
He said the emergence of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had significantly altered the political calculations in the state, particularly regarding federal influence and grassroots political structures.
“Whether Amaechi, who could not secure victory despite enjoying considerable federal backing in the past, will now be able to defeat the political structure associated with Wike remains doubtful,” he said.
Dike described Ikwerre as a particularly challenging battleground for Amaechi, stressing that the political realities on the ground should not be underestimated by anyone preparing for the 2027 elections.
He also predicted the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 and expressed confidence in the electoral prospects of the Rivers political coalition linked to the FCT Minister.
“Amaechi, who couldn’t win with his federal might, battalion of soldiers and INEC in his beck and call, is it now that the political wonder boy of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, is in charge of the federal might and everything incidental thereto, that he (Amaechi) will win? Abeg, tell me something else jari?” Dike asked.
Quoting from the Scriptures, the APC leader added: “What seest thou? I see P-BAT re-elected, OK Chinda and all the Rivers coalition candidates elected.”
Dike, who is also a philanthropist, maintained that the political tide was already taking shape in Rivers State, saying the strength of emerging alliances and grassroots structures would play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the 2027 elections.
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alubarika, has projected that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead the 2027 presidential election in four of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi are expected to dominate the North-East and South-East respectively.
Alubarika made the projection in a post on his verified X handle, formerly Twitter, where he assessed the likely performance of the major contenders based on what he described as his political experience, grassroots engagement and understanding of Nigeria’s electoral dynamics.
According to his projection, Tinubu would secure 50 per cent of the vote in the North Central, compared with 25 per cent for Atiku, 20 per cent for Obi and five per cent for other candidates.
The North Central zone comprises Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory.
In the North-East, however, Alubarika predicted an advantage for Atiku, giving the former vice president 50 per cent, against 40 per cent for Tinubu. Obi and other candidates were each projected to secure five per cent.
The North-East comprises Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states.
In the North-West, Alubarika again placed Tinubu ahead with 50 per cent, followed by Atiku with 30 per cent, Obi with 15 per cent and other candidates with five per cent.
For the South-East, the APC chieftain predicted a strong showing for Obi, projecting him to win 50 per cent of the vote. Tinubu was placed at 35 per cent, Atiku at 10 per cent and other candidates at five per cent.
Obi, who is the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is expected to draw significant support from the region.
Alubarika also projected a 50 per cent share for Tinubu in the South-South, compared with 25 per cent for Obi, 20 per cent for Atiku and five per cent for other candidates.
The South-West recorded Tinubu’s highest projected performance, with Alubarika putting the incumbent president at 69 per cent. Obi was projected at 15 per cent, Atiku at 10 per cent and other candidates at six per cent.
Explaining his assessment, Alubarika said he believed the projection was about 75 per cent accurate, while acknowledging that political dynamics could change considerably before the election.
“Politics is never an exact science, and a lot can change before 2027,” he said.
He urged Nigerians and political observers to keep his prediction and compare it with the actual results after the election.
“When the votes are counted and the dust settles, come back and give me my flowers,” he wrote.
The projection is not based on an opinion poll or official electoral data but represents Alubarika’s personal assessment of the likely voting pattern ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
With the election still ahead, political alliances, party structures, candidate nominations, regional dynamics, economic conditions and other emerging issues could alter the current political calculations.
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
Former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that he can no longer identify with the party.
Sylva announced his decision in a letter dated August 31, 2026, in which he expressed concerns over the direction of the party and the conduct of its leadership.
The former governor accused the APC leadership of promoting the notion that “all is fair in politics,” arguing that the principle had contributed to practices he said were inconsistent with the values he expected from the party.
He also criticised the performance of the Federal Government, expressing dissatisfaction with what he described as shortcomings under the APC-led administration.
Describing the APC as a “floundering ship,” Sylva said his continued association with the party was no longer tenable.
The former petroleum minister also copied the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the letter, alleging that the anti-graft agency was increasingly being used as an instrument of the APC.
Sylva’s resignation comes amid heightened political activity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with defections and realignments increasingly shaping the country’s political landscape.
His departure could have political implications in Bayelsa and the wider South-South region, where he remains a prominent figure in the APC and Nigerian politics.
The development is expected to trigger further reactions within the party as political actors continue to reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
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