Politics

ADC celebrates double

Published

4 months ago

May 28, 2026

It’s double celebration for the African Democratic Congress as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has congratulated ex Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola on his 69th birthday, describing him as a steadfast progressive and committed democrat.

The party is also celebrating Atiku’s emergence as the presidential candidate.

In a goodwill message shared on X, Atiku praised Aregbesola’s years of service to Nigeria and his dedication to strengthening democratic values across the country.

“At this critical moment in our nation’s history, your experience, courage, and sense of duty remain invaluable,” Atiku stated, while wishing the former minister continued good health, wisdom, and strength.

Aregbesola currently serves as the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Meanwhile, Atiku has emerged as the presidential candidate of the ADC for the 2027 general election following his victory in the party’s primary election.

The former vice president clinched the party’s ticket after defeating former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in the contest.

Confirmation of the result was made public on Wednesday night through a statement released on the ADC’s official X account.

“Atiku defeats Amaechi, Hayatudeen to secure ADC Presidential Ticket.

“Final result: Atiku 1,855,787, Amaechi 509,397, Hayatudeen 180,903. Total votes cast in the election: 2,546,457. Total party membership for the election: 3,113,599. Congratulations to Waziri Atiku,” the statement added.

The final figures showed Atiku maintaining a dominant lead throughout the contest, polling more than 1.8 million votes.

Amaechi finished in second place with 509,397 votes, while Hayatu-Deen garnered 180,903 votes.

Atiku’s victory margin stood at 1,346,390 votes ahead of Amaechi and 1,674,884 votes ahead of Hayatu-Deen, cementing his emergence as the ADC’s standard-bearer for the next presidential election.

ADC’ll deliver action — Atiku

Speaking after his victory at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja late Wednesday night, Atiku pledged to lead what he described as a national recovery effort and appealed to aggrieved members of the coalition and defeated aspirants to unite behind the party ahead of next year’s general election.

“We demonstrated that while democracy is being strangled and squashed by the ruling party and its oppressive and anti-democratic government, democracy is alive and well in the African Democratic Congress,” Atiku said.

He accused the APC-led government of fuelling crises within opposition parties through the involvement of security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and elements within the judiciary.

“As I speak, virtually all opposition political parties in the country have leadership crisis engineered by the APC government, the INEC and elements in the judiciary,” he said.

The ADC flagbearer also condemned the continued detention of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing it as part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures.

“All because he is a leading opposition figure. This kind of cruelty must stop,” he declared.

He further alleged that anti-corruption agencies were being used to pressure opposition politicians into joining the ruling party.

“Under this government, once a person joins the APC, the harassment ceases and the charges against them magically disappear,” he said.

Atiku also warned against what he described as continued interference in the affairs of the ADC by the Presidency, INEC and the judiciary.

“Enough is enough,” Atiku said, warning that any further attempt to undermine the coalition will be “fiercely’ resisted.

Despite the tension surrounding the primary contest, he moved to calm divisions within the coalition, insisting that the party could not afford internal cracks ahead of the election.

“This is not the time to celebrate. No one was defeated because we are one party and we all need to recognise the fierce urgency of the moment,” he said.

He specifically appealed to Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen to work with him in what he described as a struggle to save Nigeria’s democracy.

“In particular, I invite Chief Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen to join me in this fight to save our democracy and our country,” he added.

On insecurity, Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of failing to respond decisively to the wave of killings and attacks across the country, including the deaths of military personnel.

“Every region of this country is gripped by insecurity, the worst kind in our history,” he said.

He promised that an ADC government would strengthen the armed forces, police and intelligence agencies through mass recruitment, improved welfare, better training and modern equipment.

Turning to the economy, the former Vice President said official claims of economic growth did not reflect the reality facing millions of Nigerians as soaring prices continue to squeeze households across the country.

“The poverty gripping our people is at a level that we have never seen in our history,” he said.

He criticised the government’s handling of fuel subsidy removal and rising debt, alleging that borrowed funds were being diverted through contracts awarded without due process.

“The future of our younger generation is being mortgaged with no accountability,” Atiku declared.

On education, the ADC candidate said more than 20 million school-age children were currently out of school under the APC administration, promising free and compulsory education at primary and secondary levels if elected.

“This cannot be tolerated in the modern world where education is the surest path to decent employment, wealth creation, national development and enlightened citizenry,” he said.

He also accused the Federal Government of neglecting the healthcare sector, claiming the Ministry of Health received only N30 million for capital expenditure in the previous fiscal year.

“This is clearly a government that doesn’t care about the health of our people,” Atiku said, promising major investments in primary healthcare and specialist medical facilities.

Drawing a direct contrast with the APC’s ‘Renewed Hope’ slogan, Atiku said: “Where the APC government offers meaningless renewed hope, we will provide renewed action to repair the damage that

they have done to our economy and society in the last twelve years of misrule.”

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Politics

2027: APC Chieftain Alubarika predicts Tinubu lead in four zones

Published

2 weeks ago

September 2, 2026

News Diggers

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.

Politics

Timipre Sylva resigns from APC, accuses party of ‘floundering’

Published

2 weeks ago

August 31, 2026

News Diggers

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.

Politics

All North Central for Asiwaju inaugurates state coordinators

Published

3 weeks ago

August 21, 2026

News Diggers

By Philippine Duru

philippineobetoduru@gmail.com

08034905774

All North Central For Asiwaju 2027, a fast growing support group for the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed to work assiduously to actualize the President’s victory in next year’s general election.

The group disclosed this during the inauguration of its state coordinators by the convener, Chief Ewie Aimienwauu.

The state coordinators inaugurated include Johnson Onoja (Benue) Isaiah Yusuf Mohammed (Kogi) Ibrahim Olayode (Kwara) Jibrin Yaheye Oka (Nassarawa) Panchin Jatau (Plateau) Istifanus Shekwonumwaza Philip (FCT) and Bala Ahmed (Niger).

Addressing the members, Chief Aimienwauu said the “All North Central For Asiwaju 2027 is an association of indigenes and non-indigenes citizens of Nigeria resident in the North Central States of (Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja), from all works of life committed to the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for a well -deserved second term at the 2027 general elections.

“We recognise the pivotal role of our Father and Leader of North Central, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume to the successful re-election of the President and a resounding victory at the 2027 polls in the North Central region.”

Continuing, he said “we cannot overlook the persistent advent of insecurity in the region. Against this complex background our father and Leader has been able to maintain peace and stability in the region scoring high as the representative and eyes and ears of Mr. President. The region has enjoyed much more strategic appointments under this administration than any one before it. The region has started enjoying relative peace and defeat of insurgency and insecurity with the recent rescue of kidnap victims as a testament. The region has enjoyed more federal government infrastructure and policy dividends not to mention the availing of the Governors and Minister of FCT more allocation for the much-needed dividend of democracy.”

The convener said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had done extremely well for the North Central region so far and “is ready to do more when we return him for a second term in 2027. It is against this backdrop of visible tangible progress in the North Central region that we have come together to support our father and Leader of North Central region, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume to ensure that he delivers President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in all the North Central States and the Federal Capital Territory.

“At the national level, the achievements and projects and policy advantages of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dots the landscape of Nigeria and has started showing up on the dinner plates of our great people. The President has the political will to transform Nigeria into the Eldorado we all have dreamed of and support for him is now. On your mandate we shall stand.”

Also speaking, the Plateau State Coordinator

Pancin Jatau Vrengle, said the inauguration was a significant and inspiring moment, marking a renewed commitment to supporting the vision and leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The inauguration has further strengthened our resolve to work assiduously, strategically and collectively for the re-election of Mr. President in 2027. We are committed to mobilising Nigerians in the North Central Zone, communicating the achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda, engaging stakeholders and promoting peaceful, issue-based political participation.

“We assure Mr. President and the leadership of our movement of our unwavering dedication, loyalty and readiness to contribute our time, resources and networks towards securing victory for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.Together, with unity, commitment and strategic mobilisation, we shall deliver a stronger mandate for Asiwaju.”

Speaking in the same vein, his Kogi State counterpart, Yusuf Isaiah, said: “We sincerely thank God Almighty and our Global/ National leaders particularly His Excellency Sen. George Akume (SGF), High Chief Ewie Aimenwauu, Hon. Marcellanous Njoku and AK Jasper. For giving us the opportunity to be part of this August assignment on ensuring that PBAT is re-elected as the President of Nigeria come 2027.

“We assure the Global/National body of our full commitment to this target.

The message is clear and it will be communicated to all the nook and cranny in Kogi State and North Central in general. By the virtue of our successful inauguration yesterday. It is our prayer that as we have kick-started this must- deliver assignment, the leaders should make available all the necessary resources to enable us to be efficient and effective on ground.”