President Bola Tinubu’s administration was accused yesterday by Nigeria’s new political coalition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), of being in a panic before the 2027 presidential election.
The coalition characterized the government’s abrupt push for reform as the result of political panic triggered by the opposition’s increasing influence and credibility, rather than compassion or policy. It called the government’s actions “calculated incompetence.”
The announcement was made as Peter Obi, a presidential candidate, criticized the inefficiencies in the Tinubu administration and emphasized that, as a Nigerian leader, he would not purchase a N150 billion plane at a time when hundreds of Nigerians were losing their lives.
But Professor Babagana Zulum, the governor of Borno State, denied rumors in the online media that he will join five other governors to defect to ADC. In a statement, Zulum vowed to support the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Furthermore, the former Police Affairs Minister, Hon. It is believed that Adamu Waziri came to agreements with many members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Yobe State to defect to the ADC.
Likewise, the entire Benue State Labour Party (LP) organization in Ogbadibo Local Government Area formally disbanded to form the ADC.
However, two South-South factions disputed on whether they supported ADC. SSYA expressed concerns about ADC and its new promoters, while the South-South Coalition for Aregbesola proclaimed support for Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the former Interior Minister and current National Secretary of ADC.
However, the ADC contested the recent revelation by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, that the government intended to eliminate obstacles to food security and export in a statement issued by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s acting national publicity secretary.
Abdullahi questioned why it took the coalition’s formation to force the Tinubu administration to begin considering ways to give Nigerians access to food.
Without the pressure exerted by the opposition coalition’s successful unveiling last week, the party claimed, the government would have continued its deliberate disregard for the suffering of the Nigerian people.
“By tweeting in front of the world on Saturday that all obstacles to ‘the realisation of the Tinubu administration’s potential’ would be removed going forward to enable food sovereignty and export,” ADC added, “Bayo Onanuga didn’t just issue a statement, he issued a confession.”
Confession: This government purposefully sat on its hands while Nigerians were hungry. They want praise for taking the bare minimum action now that political pressure is increasing? It is not reform. This isn’t a leadership style. This is an administration that has been cornered by its own shortcomings and is fighting for its life.
Let’s be clear: this government was forced to act by the rise of the ADC and the increasing strength of a unified opposition. For hundreds of millions of Nigerians, terror was what pushed them, not their hunger. Concern over the elections in 2027. Worry that Nigerians have become aware. Fear that if the opposition is unified, the 2027 election would be a straight-up contest between the APC and the Nigerian people.
The APC has been purposefully using poverty as a weapon, no doubt about it. One can only conclude that the government has purposefully sat on its hands and watched Nigerians starve for the past two years after Bayo Onanuga declared that they would no longer put off removing the obstacles that had impeded food security.
“All Nigerians should start posing the obvious questions to the Tinubu administration.”
While millions went hungry and businesses failed, the statement questioned why the obstacles Onanuga mentioned in his press conference could not be resolved sooner.
It pondered, “Was it to put up a propaganda-driven, last-minute show nearer the 2027 elections? It’s a pattern. There is a strategy here. It’s a political system that controls optics, not a government responding to a pressing national issue. Their every action has been a political ploy to get ahead of 2027. Show off your eyes, Nigerians.
The president is campaigning two years early because he knows he is in trouble, the ADC insisted, arguing that the president is not governing.
He is aware that Nigerians have had enough, the statement continued. And the worst thing. He is putting the future of the nation at danger in order to win reelection.
“The declaration from Onanuga is about politics and 2027, not food security or economic diplomacy.”
Declaring, “This is not governance,” ADC urged Nigerians to resist being influenced by manufactured news releases and unexpected awakenings. That’s desperation.
As Nigeria’s leader, Obi: I refuse to purchase a N150 billion jet while others starve to death.
When hundreds of Nigerians perished from starvation, Obi emphasized that, as a Nigerian leader, he would not purchase a N150 billion plane. He denounced the waste in the Tinubu administration.
In an appearance on Channels Television last night, Obi reaffirmed his refusal to borrow money for personal use, as is the case under the current government. He asked the government of Nigeria to tell the people where the money it was saving by eliminating fuel subsidies was going.
“If your people are dying, you should be prepared to die,” Obi stated. You’re responsible for that task. If your citizens are dying, why should the government provide security? Who is watching over you from above? Everybody perishes there if you crash.
He asked Tinubu’s reasoning for buying a president jet.
Without necessarily burdening Nigerians, Obi claimed that if he had been president, he would have eliminated the corruption related to the gasoline subsidy. He blasted the Tinubu administration for its “disorganized” behavior.
The LP’s past presidential candidate said, “Organization is key. In the event that corruption is involved, it must be eliminated first, followed by the elimination of the actual subsidy, economic organization, the progressive handling of any leftover issues, and the promotion of alternative thinking.
When this administration cut off subsidies, what did they say? It was to cease borrowing for subsidies, they added. Compared to the administrations of Jonathan and Buhari, this one has borrowed more. Approximately N80 trillion was our debt at the time Buhari was departing.
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Our current value is over N180 trillion. In return, we have nothing. Do you, as a government, want that? No. I wish to change some of these things. Legislation requiring all borrowing to be used for investments in vital areas of development—not for personal consumption—must be passed.
In contrast to the president’s recent launching of bus stations, Obi said he would guarantee gradual improvements to Nigeria’s electrical supply if elected. He explained that these are some of the things he is willing to borrow to enhance.
He also emphasized that strengthening the opposition political parties is a means of ensuring democracy flourishes and pledged to do so as president, in contrast to Tinubu’s claimed efforts to weaken the opposition.
Zulum Rejects Defection Rumors and Confirms APC Loyalty
Rumors that Zulum intended to bring five other governors to the opposition ADC were refuted by several media outlets.
In a statement released over the weekend by his spokesperson, Dauda Iliya, Zulum condemned the rumor as baseless and the product of dishonest people looking for attention.
He declared that he will always remain faithful to the ruling APC.
In a statement, the governor said, “We have learned of a false and malicious social media report that is making the rounds in some places, claiming that I and five other governors intend to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).”
All of this is untrue and only exists in the sponsors’ minds. Their contributions to the advancement of Nigeria or Borno State have been insignificant, making them critics. This is a prime example of politically driven, low-cost speculation that is only intended to divert our attention and incite needless political conflict.
“My commitment to Borno State’s welfare and advancement is my only focus, and I remain steadfast in my support of the APC. I implore the people of Borno and the world at large to ignore this hoax. There is no time for flimsy politics. We have a lot of work ahead of us to repair and develop our beloved state.
The governor declared, “I urge the public and media outlets to confirm information from reliable official sources and to disregard the frantic fabrications of those who use disinformation to gain relevance.”
“We are still committed to serving Borno State under the auspices of the APC, our wonderful party.”
Former Police Minister Waziri and Other PDP Members Join Yobe State’s ADC
Hon., former Police Affairs Minister. Along with a number of PDP members, Adamu Maina Waziri purportedly finalized arrangements to join the ADC.
With four consecutive wins of the party’s governorship ticket (1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015), Waziri was perhaps the most powerful political figure in the Yobe APC since its founding in 1999. He was spotted with coalition members. The now-deceased Usman Albishir defeated him in the 2011 primary.
He defeated Tinubu in the state during the most recent presidential election, reportedly with the support of more than half of the party’s members.
Residents of the state capital, Damaturu, reported that ADC was spotted on Sunday in a display of power as supporters circled the town in a convoy of cars while loud music played to commemorate the party’s ascent.
But according to lawmaker Abubakar Sani, the PDP structure is still in place for the time being, “but only the former Minister of Police Affairs, Hon. Those that defected to the ADC were Adamu Maina Waziri, the state’s party leader, and his followers. The PDP, however, still has the Damagum-led party structure.
According to a statement released by the party yesterday, the PDP structure has not disintegrated into ADC in response to the purported mass movement among the state’s PDP ranks.
PDP Yobe State Publicity Secretary Salihu Baba signed the statement, which said, “The PDP in Yobe State has categorically dismissed reports suggesting the collapse or weakening of the party following the departure of one of its former chieftains, Adamu Maina Waziri.”
The reports were characterized by the PDP as deceptive, baseless, and a conscious effort to mislead the public and erode the party’s renewed vigor.
The party declared, “The Yobe State PDP chapter and its whole structure from wards, local government, and state remains intact and waxing stronger and has no desire whatsoever to join any coalition.” We welcome new members who are interested in joining the party, though, and our doors are open.
The Labour Party disintegrates into the ADC
In Ogbadibo Local Government Area, Benue State, the whole Labour Party (LP) structure was formally abolished and merged into the ADC. At a broader stakeholders’ meeting on Saturday, July 5, this was declared.
ADC’s full support was expressed by LP’s top officials, members, and grassroots supporters, indicating a realignment in the region’s political scene.
Party insiders said the decision was made following weeks of deliberation and consideration of the country’s current situation.
A statement released following the meeting claimed that the mass defection was a “bold and strategic decision” driven by a common resolve to save Nigeria from the ongoing suffering and poor governance under the federal government led by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A shareholder who chose to remain anonymous said. The choice to dissolve the Labour Party’s organizational framework and establish the ADC in Ogbadibo LGA was made after careful consideration and group determination. It is our opinion that the ADC provides a more progressive, open, and people-focused political alternative.
Groups from the South Trade Tackles for ADC Support
Due to their support for ADC, the South-South Youth Amalgamation (SSYA) and the South-South Coalition for Aregbesola exchanged insults.
The former Interior Minister and current ADC National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was endorsed by the South-South Coalition for Aregbesola yesterday for joining forces with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Chibuike Amaechi, and other members of the new opposition party to oppose Tinubu’s reelection in 2027.
Mr. Sunday Oleghe, the group’s convener, stated in a statement released in Benin City that Aregbesola has the necessary skills to guide the party to victory.
In his roles as Interior Minister and Governor of Osun State, Oleghe claimed to have introduced some reforms that are still considered legacy measures today.
There has never been a better moment for the alliance of political titans to unite in order to save our nation and democracy, he said, adding that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is helping to make history.
When Aregbesola was governor of Osun State, he brought Sukuk projects to Nigeria, despite the Christian Association of Nigeria’s opposition, claiming that it was Islamizing the country. To date, Sukuk loans have been utilized to fund a number of projects during the previous administration. He saw in Sukuk what many others did not see at the time.
According to the group, Aregbesola also instituted school feeding while serving as governor, ensuring that the food provided to schoolchildren was grown by the state’s farmers. This served as a form of empowerment for the state’s farmers. Today, this school feeding program has been embraced by the federal government and a number of states.
However, South-South Youth Amalgamation (SSYA) emphasized that the will of the people and a tradition that represented the nation’s federal character and democratic norms, rather than the individual aspirations of a select few, defined Nigeria’s political trajectory.
The group questioned the motivations and feasibility of this specific coalition ahead of the general election in 2027, but acknowledged the democratic freedom of political players to create alliances, according to a statement released by its chairman, John Carlkson.
While we respect the freedom of individuals and organizations to form political coalitions, Carlkson said, “We must voice our serious concerns about the intentions and sustainability of this specific collaboration.
At the core of this new partnership is an excessive amount of ambition that seems to put individual benefit ahead of the welfare of the Nigerian people as a whole. We must acknowledge that the coalition is not strong enough to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
“Nigerian politics is a complex system governed by historical precedents and popular will, not just a chessboard for the aspirations of a select few.”
