2027: Atiku, Peter Obi, Kwankwaso Resume Merger Dialogue 

The three prominent opposition leaders in Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, are reportedly currently engaged in discussions regarding a potential merger ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The trio aim to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) incumbent administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This move follows the hunger and widespread insecurity in the country, as stated by a spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday. The deputy national spokesman for the PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, made this announcement while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme. He indicated that the three opposition candidates from the previous elections—Atiku of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), – are prepared to set aside personal ambitions to create a strong coalition capable of challenging the ruling APC in 2027, with the goal of “rescuing Nigerians from hunger.” Abdullahi further remarked that had the previous leadership of the party effectively managed internal disputes and conflicts, prominent figures such as former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, Kwankwaso, and Obi would likely still be active members of the PDP, which could have led to a victory over Tinubu of the APC in the last election. He said, “We’ve lost Kwankwaso, we’ve lost Peter Obi, all of these people, imagine if they are in the party, we will have gone to win the elections. “This APC said they defeated us with one million plus (votes), just one of these names that I mentioned would have covered that gap for us and we would have been in power today and certainly Nigerians would not have been confronted with this despair and despondency in the land.” When asked if the PDP is trying to get Obi, Kwankwaso, Wike and others back into the party, Abdullahi said, “Sure, discussion is ongoing. You will see Peter Obi discussing with Atiku, you will see Peter Obi meeting with (Nasir) El-Rufai. Party management is a very difficult thing and we are doing the best in the quagmire that we have found ourselves. Rest assured, there would light at the end of the tunnel. We have learnt our lessons in a bitter way.” When inquired further about the potential outcomes of Obi and the others rejoining the PDP, Abdullahi stated, “One of them would yield to the other, thereby providing us with a clear direction. “Our concern as a party and to these people that I have mentioned is to ensure that we salvage Nigerians from this despair and despondency, between maladies of hunger and frightening insecurity in the land. You could see cluelessness and ineptitude on the part of these people managing this country.” The PDP chieftain said salvaging Nigerians out of the present hardship is more important than the individual ambitions of the trio. He said, “Atiku is saying if it is better for him to get Nigeria out of this hopelessness, he would do so. “He (Atiku) must not be in the race. Atiku is saying that it is an entitlement to him as a democrat; the constitution provides for him that he could contest at any time. “What he is trying to say is that (there) is no ceiling stopping him from contesting. That is his fundamental democratic right but he is not saying that he will force it on the throat of the party or the country. “I am telling you clearly: Peter Obi is suitably qualified; he can aspire and we will support him if he gets the ticket. Atiku is suitably qualified and if he gets the ticket, we will rally behind him and give him the desired support to salvage Nigerians out of this situation.”

Legal Challenges: Edo Deputy Governor Asserts Legitimacy

Engr. Marvellous Godwins Omobayo has reaffirmed his position as the legitimate Deputy Governor of Edo State, emphasizing that he continues to execute his duties as prescribed by the Nigerian Constitution.   This declaration was made during a solidarity visit by the leadership and members of Edo State’s three major transport unions: the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and the Edo State Drivers Welfare Scheme.   Despite ongoing legal disputes concerning the Deputy Governor’s office, Omobayo assured that these challenges have not deterred him from his commitment.   He expressed his dedication to supporting Governor Godwin Obaseki in his efforts to advance the economic development and transformation of Edo State.   Omobayo extended his gratitude to the unions for their steadfast support since he took office, and he acknowledged their loyalty to Governor Obaseki.   Earlier, Comrade Monday Orhue, Chairman of RTEAN, and Chief Odion Olaye, Chairman of NURTW, conveyed their solidarity by visiting the Deputy Governor.   They reiterated their endorsement of Omobayo as the authentic Deputy Governor, affirming their confidence in his role.   Chief Olaye expressed optimism for a successful conclusion to the Obaseki administration.  

Edo Guber Poll: INEC releases date for distributing PVC

Edo Guber Poll: INEC releases date for distributing PVC

Edo Guber: Play by the rules,CSO appeals to INEC, Others

A coalition of CSOs appeal for Credible polls in edo state

APC Debunks LP’s Accusation That Tinubu Will Witch-Hunt Peter Obi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted allegations by the Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure that President Tinubu will harass Labour Party presidential candidate in the February 25 election, Mr. Peter Obi. Abure made the allegations while reacting to the Supreme Court’s judgement that upheld Tinubu’s election. The apex court had dismissed Peter Obi’s appeal against the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) that initially affirmed the former Lagos State Governor as the rightful winner of the presidential election. The court threw out Obi’s petition over failure to prove their allegations of electoral irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. While rejecting the Court’s ruling, Abure said Tinubu is planning to use security agencies to persecute and intimidate Peter Obi. However, the APC’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, called Abure’s claim untrue. He stated that President Tinubu is not the type to target his rivals, while describing the allegation as satanic and mischievous. Meseko pointed out that Tinubu has a history of including critics in his government, promoting unity, and even invited the Labour Party to join. “Even this so-called Labour Party was invited on board. But most of their people were busy criticising him, saying he wanted to put their people in government so the party wouldn’t pursue their case in court again and all that. I am saying this confidently that there is no iota of truth in what the LP chairman is saying.”

Hope For Banky W As Tribunal Orders Rerun in Eti-Osa, Lagos Federal Constituency

The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal which convened at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos has rendered the election victory of Mr. Thaddeus Atta of the Labour Party for the Eti Osa Federal Constituency null and void. In a pivotal judgment delivered late on Monday evening, the tribunal deemed the elections inconclusive and mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize a supplementary election within a 90-day timeframe. This supplementary election is to be conducted in 33 polling units where the elections failed to proceed as planned. Responding to the ruling on Tuesday through a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Atta conveyed that there was no need for alarm. He clarified that he had not been “sacked” by the court, but rather, the Tribunal had merely called for a re-run or supplementary election in the 32 polling units where the election process had been disrupted. He reassured the constituents that he remained unwavering in his commitment to serve Eti Osa and encouraged them to remain calm, stating, “We will get through this together.” Bankole Wellington (commonly known as Banky W) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had been declared the runner-up in the original polls, and Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro (IBO) from the All Progressives Congress (APC) had both lodged petitions contesting the outcome of the February 25th election. In that initial election, INEC had declared Atta the winner with 24,075 votes, while Banky W and IBO were reported to have garnered 18,668 and 16,901 votes, respectively.

Tinubu’s election victory uncontestable, Tribunal rules

*Dismisses all petitions against him The Presidential Election Petition Court on Wednesday dismissed all the three petitions filed before the cit which challenged the February 2023 presidential election that produced Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the winner. The five-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsunami unanimously held that the petition by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP)and the Allied Peoples Party (APM) lack merit. Giving the verdict, the court held that the Petitioners failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt that the presidential election was marred by malpractice and irregularities. Consequently, the court held that the return of Ahmed Bola Tinubu as elected President by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is right and subsists.

Fuel subsidy is an organized crime, Obi insists

Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi has reiterated his position that the management of fuel subsidy in Nigeria has become an “organised crime” that permits stealing of the country’s resources.  While fielding questions on his stand on the fuel subsidy removal by the new administration, Obi posited that governance shouldn’t be supply-driven, but demand-driven. He spoke with reporters on Tuesday at the premises of the Court of Appeal, on the sidelines of the ongoing hearing of petitions challenging the February 25 presidential election at the Presidential Election Petitions Court in Abuja. He therefore stressed his determination to remove it and introduce a new open and transparent system that will carry the people along.  He said he had shown consistently since serving in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s economic management team, by using empirical data, that the PMS purportedly consumed by Ngeria was far more than what is supposed to be when compared to other countries like Pakistan. On the conditions precedent to the removal of the subsidy, Obi said he had enumerated them in his manifesto while campaigning for the office of the president.  “Throughout my campaigns, go and check my manifesto, I had maintained this about its removal. “If you have a tooth ache and you go to a dentist, there is a difference between removing your tooth by applying anaesthesia, which will ameliorate your pains than by just pulling it out. “The difference is that I believe it should be removed with conditions, and that conditions have to be applied. “If I was involved, I would have shown in empirical, statistical data how much we are going to save, where we are going to apply it and the gains for the people.  “Just like I said throughout my campaigns, that I am going to govern the people by being open, showing them empirical, verifiable facts on how the country can be better – that is what I would have done. “There are things you need to do. When Jonathan was about to remove it, that was when they came up with SURE-P as part of the conditions. “The reason Nigerians are agitating is that when people say let’s go and suffer, let’s go and sacrifice, they don’t see the effects of the sacrifice; and to do it in an organised manner where people can see in a verifiable plan. “I  did a lot of similar things when I was a governor in Anambra State stopping this to do this, and each one I showed the people in a verifiable manner where we are going to land. “Governance shouldn’t be supply-driven, it should be demand-driven; you govern with the people. Let the people know what you are doing and explain it to them in clear terms and they will believe you,” Obi concluded.

Tribunal: Obi, LP seek leave to hear motion on interrogation against INEC

Mr Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP) have prayed the court to hear motion originally filed on the 22nd May, 2023, seeking it’s leave to serve and deliver interrogatory letter on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Petitioners informed the court that on June 2nd, they filed another motion seeking the leave of the court to hear the motion of 22nd May outside the pre-hearing section. In the letter, the Petitioners poses 12 questions on while INEC has not responded on the issues of calling of subpoenas to testify in the petition against the outcome of the 2013 Presidential election. Responding, INEC, through it’s counsel, Abubakar Mahmoud SAN, Wole Olanipekun SAN, counsel to Tinubu and Lateef Fagbemi SAN counsel to APC opposed the motion of June 2, stating that it was served on then on the same date. They maintained that the motion is not yet ripe for hearing as they need to time to respond. On the motion of 22nd of June, Mahmoud submitted the electoral empire has filed their responds on the 25 June. “We are opposing the June 2 application and our objection will take care of that of 22nd May. “We will file our reply within the time allotted to rules. ” We are ready to go on with the substantive matter. We have passed the stage of interrogatory. This move is a waste of time,” they submitted. In the bench ruling, chairman of the panel, Justice Haruna Tsamani fixed 6th June for hearing on the motion.

Tribunal: Obi, LP challenge 18 states’ presidential election results

The Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi confirmed to the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that out of 36 states, they will be challenging the election results of 18 states. So far, the Petitioners have tendered certified electoral documents obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing Portal (IREV) in only six states. A breakdown of the tendered and admitted documents showed that Forms EC8A were tendered in 15 Local Government Areas of Rivers State,  23 in Benue, 18 in Cross River, 23 in Niger State,  20 in Osun, and 16 in Ekiti Local Government Areas. Reacting,  INEC, who was represented by Kemi Pinhero SAN, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shetima, who are 2nd and 3rd respondents and represented by Adebayo Adelodun SAN, as well as the All Progressives Congress (APC), represented by Chief Afolabi Fashanu SAN, hinted to oppose the admissibility of the electoral documents. The Respondents confirmed they have gone through the documents sought to be tendered and will be giving reasons for objection when presenting their written addresses. Consequently, the panel of the court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani admitted the documents as exhibits after they were tendered by Chief Emeka Okpoko SAN. In the meantime, further hearing in the petition has been shifted to June 2, at the instance of the Petitioners. Obi and LP approached the PEPC are challenging the declaration of President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.