The exit of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, ahead of the 2027 presidential election, remains a concern for the once united opposition coalition movement in Nigeria.

The opposition is divided and there are differing opinions on whether a joint presidential ticket of Obi and Kwankwaso will be able to cause an upset in the next general election on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

Reports last week said that Kwankwaso, the leader of the dominant Kwankwasiyya Movement in Kano, had joined the NDC along with Peter Obi, the leader of the Obidient Movement.

Recall that Peter Obi and Kwankwaso were candidates in the 2023 presidential election on different platforms – Labour Party, LP and New Nigerian People’s Party, NNPP.

Peter Obi of the Labour Party won 12 states and over six million votes, same as Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while Kwankwaso won Kano State, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The merging of Peter Obi, Kwankwaso and Atiku Abubakar under the ADC was seen by many as a clear win for the opposition coalition in 2027, but now with the collapse of the merger, questions are being raised about the chance of the opposition deposing the ruling government in the next election.

But some political analysts believe that the growing division among opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 general election could weaken their chances of posing a strong challenge to President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC.

Nigerians are also frustrated that opposition leaders were unwilling to make political sacrifices and unite around a single presidential candidate instead of pursuing separate ambitions.

This was the sentiment shared by former Minister of Sports and Youth Development and a chieftain of the ADC, Solomon Dalung while speaking to.

He also said the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket in the NDC has no chance of winning the presidential election in 2027.

He believes that the ADC is the biggest winner in the current political power game.

Obi and Kwankwaso leaving the African Democratic Congress surprised me. I mean, looking at how we formed the coalition, which included, I mean, looking ourselves on the faces and telling ourselves the truth that we were going to do everything possible to ensure that the interest of democracy and Nigeria is uppermost and not individual ambition.

“And that’s the motivating spirit that has brought us to this point. “So to wake up with the news of the duo exiting from the coalition was a grave surprise to me, because if we are looking at the interest of democracy and Nigerians, then certainly there is no sacrifice that is too much. We have to sacrifice our personal interest, we have to sacrifice our personal comfort, we have to sacrifice everything to make sure that we reach the ultimate goal.

“So, to me, there is nothing over and above this and so exciting because of the reasons they gave that, oh, because of the court cases was why they were exiting, to me, is a weak argument and untenable, because they should have remained in the party and fought the battle to the end.

“These cases were dragging on, and they didn’t go. They didn’t walk away when these cases were in the Court of Appeal. The cases were taken to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court resolved the issues by reinstating the leadership of the party and also by nullifying the orders of the Court of Appeal and made a clear pronouncement on the jurisdiction of court as to party affairs.

“That, then, is the Supreme Court of the land. It has made clear rules. What happens to those cases in court, then? Now the cases in court become academic exercises, all the ADC lawyers will need to do is to go there and tell the court you have no jurisdiction.

“So why would they run away after the Supreme Court judgement which is in favour of the party? I think it’s all about their failure to sacrifice their personal interest to come together and address the sufferings of the Nigerian people.

And now you ask me what will happen to their departure and their chances of winning the presidential election? Well, their chances of winning the election are very, very slim. This is because, if you combine, let’s work even with the 2023 statistics, the votes of Kwankwaso and Obi in 2023, sorry, they cannot beat Tinubu. That was 2023. Now the water has gone under the bridge so far.

The vote that Tinubu won the election with, the one that came from the Muslim-Muslim ticket has now receded because they are the ones that form the chunk of the APC vote. The chunk of it is the ADC right now. And then Atiku, who has a traditional support base and then the addition to this dimension for the ADC is the Buhari support base.

And now 60% if not 70% of the Buhari supporters are in ADC. So you summarize this, you will know the ADC still has better chances of winning the election than any political party in Nigeria.

Obi and Kwankwaso support base will support the NDC. What happens to the NDC is that the youth that make up the majority They will rally behind Peter Obi and Kwankwaso but it won’t lead to victory. If you evaluate Peter Obi in 2023, there were 10 million registered voters from the South East.

“Of that 10 million, only 2.5 voted and out of that 2.5, Peter Obi got 1.9 million votes. Peter Obi’s votes were mostly from Benue, Pateau and now these three strong states as they are today had been fractured by APC.

“So Peter Obi’s base has already been breached. So I wonder where will be his stronghold this time in actual.

“Kwankwaso used to run Kano but now it’s been divided into so many pieces. You have the Gandujes of APC, then you have the Governor who was with Kwankwaso now joined APC.

“Kwankwaso left some fragments of his supporters in the ADC because some people have refused to move with him to the NDC like Obi’s supporters that have also refused to move with him in some states.

So I don’t know what the permutation is.” I have no idea what the calculation is. But if it’s this politics, I think nothing makes sense about it.

“Now at this point, let me be very frank, the ADC is the highest beneficiary in all this, because I have enumerated factors that swell the ADC support. Atiku has a traditional base. Buhari’s traditional support base came out again, and some of their followers didn’t follow them out. So at the end of the day what will happen is ADC is the highest benefit.

“Now, what is the consequence of the movement of governors into the APC? That’s not good. Because most of the governors that left did not leave with their people that is. They did not follow them in this move.

And so they added nothing. The primaries of APC is again going to leave the ADC with a lot of harvest and probably maybe the NDC. APC is the most rejected of all and the worst is going to come during the primaries in this political power play.

“Very very low is the Presidential prospect for the NDC. They may have members of the National Assembly being elected under the party but Obi-Kwankwaso’s chances are slim.

“It was the opposition summit that announced a single presidential ticket, not the ADC. But why would Peter Obi think that he would not be the only candidate, even if the ADC had said so? That is self-defeat. Why did you think you had no chance? There are so many people who had confidence in him and were working for him in ADC, a lot of people have been disappointed, including me.

“Because I don’t see him leaving the ADC and saying he didn’t have a chance. So he was expecting to get the ticket handed over to him in a democracy? So I think there is no good reason, or wisdom in that departure because the coalition is not about his personal interest.

“The Coalition is about the reckless behavior of political actors and the arrogance of the presidency, it is about a sense of entitlement. Peter Obi has proved that, oh, it is all about him, his personal ambition for presidency, and not for the interest of the suffering Nigerians. He has replicated Tinubu’s same philosophy.

all those who are contesting, are they better than any of us? But we do not sacrifice for the sake of contest. But above all, the ADC is still stronger and the ADC is the party to beat in 2027.”

But while the argument holds that the present political realignments have put the opposition at a disadvantage and could give the ruling APC an easier ride in the next presidential contest, a popular Abuja-based political analyst, Jide Ojo, told anything could happen.

“I think the defection of Mr. Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso from ADC to NDC is in accordance with their constitutional rights,” he said. It is also something that will give them the clearest and best chance to try their luck in 2027 as it is becoming obvious that staying put in ADC will most likely make them live in the shadows of Atiku.

“Lots of people didn’t understand what goes on behind the scenes. There have been talks between the camps of Peter Obi and Atiku. Peter’s camp was hoping Atiku would not run in 2027. Atiku’s was hoping Peter Obi would be his running mate in 2027.

“Atiku wanted a rerun of 2019 where he will be the presidential candidate and Peter Obi will be his running mate. Peter Obi does not want to be a running mate. “ He told his supporters he was going to be on the ballot. There’s only one ticket. It cannot be divided in two.

“So he looked at the options, and if he didn’t defect at the time he defected, in another three, four days the gate would have closed for membership registration, which was 10th of May.

“So there is only one ticket and there are two, three juganots fighting for the same and each of them sees their best opportunity in 2027 because Atiku said he is no longer going to contest after this one. “Give me this opportunity because I will do one term, Peter Obi said.

“And Peter Obi’s desperation is because, you know, the argument is it is the turn of the south, by 2031 it will be the turn of the north. So if Peter Obi is not on the ballot for 2027 that means he will be missing a big chance to try his luck whether he wins or not, it’s a secondary matter, but to be on the ballot, because once that slips by, it will not be 2031, at that time he will be close to 70 years and people will be using age against him.

“So it’s a bit of a dilemma. Politics and morality are not oil and water. Sometimes you do things because you think that is the best strategy for getting what you want.

“Tinubu went for a Muslim-Muslim in 2023, because there was a road to victory for him. But some other people, if they do it, they won’t even get 1/10th of the vote that he was able to get.

“So it’s all part of the political strategy, permutation, alignment and realignment and it’s within their constitutional rights.

You see the issue of winning an election, for you to be a politician of note, one thing you must overcome is fear.

“Politicians take big risks. Nine months out from the next election, it’s impossible to predict a winner at this stage. We’ve seen people go for protest votes. No one saw Goodluck Jonathan losing the 2015 election. But it did happen. It was an upset.

“Offset is permissible in politics, okay, David can beat Goliath. So all of this is possible, even if people think ADC staying put will be a bigger boost.

But I say, if he stays in ADC and he doesn’t get the ticket, the best he will get is running mate, and that is second best, and he wants to be a frontliner, not living in somebody’s shadow. So no one can say this is the smartest. It’s all about the pathways.”

Meanwhile, the decision of Peter Obi and Kwankwaso to leave the ADC for the NDC may not be unconnected with the issues of zoning for Atiku’s hard supporters.

Dele Momodu, a former presidential candidate and a diehard follower of the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, speaking on this, told Arise News that zoning was another strategy by the Tinubu administration to divide Nigerians along regions.

“Well, zoning has all of a sudden become important because politicians now see it as the only credential needed to win an election, especially the presidential election,” he said.

“The APC and Tinubu are very aware that if they don’t start drumming this thing of zoning, there is no clear way for them to win. They know that. Very clear. But I’m not going to get caught up in this zoning hullabaloo because I’ve come to realize that it is a deliberate distraction from the important issues that we should be talking about.

“It is a distraction, and I can say this without any fear of contradiction, it is not what we need at the moment. Winning an election is strategy. Those who want zoning have their right. The same Kwankwaso told us just two, three years ago that he will not be able to be a running mate to Peter Obi and he gave his cogent reasons, one of which was that the part of the country he comes from will not vote a Peter Obi, you have the video.

“I also know that Kwankwaso is already aiming at 2031, so the game has already started. So his permutation is that he has to come out now and be like a Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the earth and to portray himself as a friend of the South, so that when it comes to his turn to run, he will be able to point at the fact that, after all, I sacrificed my own time for Peter Obi, that’s being clever.

But I don’t know. I believe in the God factor.” We don’t know who’s going to be here in 2031 or not. “I know that even in Kano his people are kicking him and attacking him. I live partly on social media. Some of us are getting kicked in the south for supporting a northerner. That is what Tinubu has been able to do. To divide Nigeria into North and South. Instead of us talking about we have no electricity, we have no security and so on and so forth.

“All we are now talking about is where a man comes from. I think it’s like someone has hypnotized us. We have been jazzed into thinking only about what part of the country you come from.”

However, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Osita Okechukwu, had earlier dismissed a similar statement credited to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that zoning is “self-defeating,” stressing that such a stance is a classic case of self-denial.

Okechukwu condemned Atiku’s stance, noting that the former VP, was one of the foremost beneficiaries of zoning within the Nigerian political sphere.

The former Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, VON, made his remark in response to inquiries from journalists on Atiku’s position.

He said: “How can one of the foremost beneficiaries of the zoning convention suddenly deny its profound significance in promoting national cohesion, inclusion, equity, peace, and justice?

“In the public domain there is throughout history the law with its legal teeth and the convention with its moral weight, governing human affairs. If there was no zoning arrangement, could Atiku have become Vice President?

“Has he forgotten why he stormed out of the PDP presidential primary process in 2014 and joined us in APC, after President Goodluck Jonathan emerged as the party’s candidate?…”

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Nollywood, the Nigerian movie industry, has been thrown into mourning following the death of popular actor, Alex Ekubo.

Ekubo died Monday night at Evercare Hospital, Lekki, Lagos after a battle with liver cancer, it was learnt. He was forty.

The death was confirmed by Vanguard on Tuesday, the former Big Brother Naija star and Director of Communication of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Boma Akpore, saying the actor’s body had been moved to Ebony Vaults in Ikoyi.

Another colleague, Godwin Nnadiekwe, mourned the actor on Instagram.

“I’m struggling to find the words,” he wrote. This news has really broken me. “Nollywood has lost a rare soul and I am lost for words because this wasn’t the plan Alex Ekub.”

Veteran director Lancelot Imasuen, who gave Ekubo his first movie role, described the death as “devastating and unbelievable.”

“That’s how I gave him his first role in a movie that took him into Nollywood,” Imasuen said.

News of the death was met with a flood of tributes from colleagues, celebrities and fans.

Funke Akindele reminisced about their bond and how Ekubo called her “Ore mi” with fondness.

Other celebrities such as Bolanle Ninalowo, Peter Okoye, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Omoni Oboli, Mo Abudu, Kate Henshaw, Yvonne Jegede, Kunle Remi and Ruth Kadiri also mourned the late actor.

Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, described Ekubo as a “rare talent,” while broadcaster Oseni Rufai wrote, “Rest well Alex.

About Ekubo
Born April 10, 1986 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Ekubo hailed from Arochukwu in Abia State.

He is one of Nollywood’s recognisable faces over the past decade, known for his charisma and strong screen presence.

In 2020, he was listed by the United Nations as one of the “Most Influential People of African Descent under 40” for his contributions to entertainment and social development.

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Fresh indications emerged Tuesday that Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, might have dropped his governorship ambition and decided to seek re-election into the National Assembly.

Sources who spoke to Punch said Kalu may now be preparing for another run at the Bende Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

One of the indications was his reported appearance before the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee in Abuja on Sunday, a move believed to be a signal of his intention to retain his seat in the Green Chamber.

The development comes weeks after some political stakeholders bought the APC governorship expression of interest and nomination forms for Kalu, urging him to contest the Abia governorship election.

The group’s spokesman, James Uko-Kalu (SAN), who presented the forms in Abuja earlier this month, said the Deputy Speaker was a bridge-builder and had shown in the National Assembly that he was a capable leader.

Kalu then said he would consult widely before taking any final decision.

“The buying of this form is obviously a call to me to step up. I have gratefully received it and after due consultations, my position will be made known within the next one or two days,” he said.

Ally Confirms Reps’ Plan
Kalu had decided to return to the National Assembly, a close ally of the Deputy Speaker said, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

It is true that he is returning to the House, if he wins the primaries and the election. He did speak about being a governor but you know, one plus one is not always two in politics.

“He has consulted widely and there is a chance that the people want him to continue the good works he is doing in parliament,” the source said.

There had been widespread speculation that Kalu would be a strong contender against Governor Alex Otti’s re-election.

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The lmo State chapter of African Democratic Congress, ADC, stated it is structurally intact, ideologically focused and remains firmly under capable leadership.

This was contained in a communique issued on Tuesday by its Publicity Secretary, Chief Macdonald Amadi after the party’s state Executive committee meeting held at Owerri, the state capital.

The meeting was convened by the State Executive Committee to take stock of the present situation of the Party, to further build internal cohesion and to consolidate strategy for the 2027 general elections, it said.

It said in a statement that the meeting was held against a background of recent political realignments and the Committee took the opportunity to reaffirm the party’s stability, direction and commitment to disciplined and issue-based politics.

It further said: “Any insinuation of fragmentation does not reflect the reality on ground.

To sustain this momentum, the Committee has resolved to intensify the grassroots mobilisation in all the 27 Local Government Areas of the state.

“This ongoing engagement will strengthen the membership, increase civic engagement, and guarantee the party goes into the next primaries and general elections with a level of organizational strength never before seen.

The Committee also has enormous confidence in the leadership of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, former Governor of Imo State and Hon. Engr. Gerald Irona, former Deputy Governor.

“Their commitment, experience and stabilising influence have been crucial in keeping the Party united and focused during this period.

“In the same vein, the Committee pledges unalloyed loyalty to the National leadership of the ADC under the distinguished chairmanship of Senator David Mark.

“The Chapter is in step with the vision of the National Working Committee and will work together to position the Party for a decisive victory in 2027.

The Committee reaffirms, above all else, its unwavering commitment to a united Nigeria, governed by the principles of justice, competence and inclusive development.

The African Democratic Congress remains the most credible platform to deliver the renewal that Nigerians deserve.

“The ADC in Imo State is united, determined and focused. “We call on all members to remain resolute, avoid distractions and recommit to building a Party that will restore confidence in governance and deliver tangible progress to the people.

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Today, no fewer than 2,620 aspirants, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives, are expected to know whether they have been cleared to contest the 2027 elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Osifo Stanley, Tinubu’s only opponent for the presidential ticket and several other serving and former political office holders are also waiting for the outcome.

The APC will today release names of cleared aspirants as part of preparations to meet the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

We learnt that the ruling party screened about 2,980 aspirants for various elective positions including one presidential slot, 28 governorships, 109 Senate, 360 House of Representatives and 991 state assembly positions.

The APC screening exercise reportedly took place between May 8 and May 12.

Sources said the screening panel had given President Tinubu a waiver.

Among those screened were serving governors, former governors, lawmakers, ministers and technocrats who bought and submitted nomination forms.

Among the prominent personalities whose fate will be decided by today’s publication is Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who is seeking a senatorial seat.

Uzodimma is governor of Imo State, chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and chairman of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors leading Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

The APC hierarchy was under pressure to prevail on him to jettison the senatorial ambition to avoid a constitutional and political crisis, sources within the party told Vanguard.

Party sources said the fear is that Uzodimma can serve as both governor and senator-elect at the same time as his tenure as governor will not end until January 2028.

Today, the fate of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who is in a political battle with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, will be decided.

It was gathered that Wike held a meeting with the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yiltwatda, Tuesday.

A political battle has ensued between the incumbent governor, Dapo Abiodun, and the former governor and current senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, over the Ogun senatorial seat.

Similarly, Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya is battling with his predecessor, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo for a Senate ticket.

Among those screened is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu who is contesting the APC governorship ticket in Abia State.

Kalu was recently queried for alleged attendance at the Nigerian Law School while participating in the National Youth Service Corps scheme.

The development comes amid brewing tension within the APC as many aspirants continue to insist on direct primaries instead of consensus arrangements.

Some aspirants reportedly threatened to resist any candidate imposition.

Reacting to the rising tension, APC National Chairman warned aspirants against violence and anti-party activities .

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yiltwatda said the party would not tolerate any act that would disrupt the primary elections.

“The party leadership will not condone any act that is capable of disrupting the smooth conduct of the primaries,” he said.

He warned that aspirants or supporters found sponsoring violence, unrest or anti-party activities would be subjected to discipline including suspension from the party.43

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday challenged professional bodies in Nigeria to pay less attention to public criticisms and more attention to attracting tangible development to their institutions and members.

Wike spoke in Abuja while receiving the Body of Benchers’ delegates on a courtesy visit to his official residence in Life Camp, led by its Chairman, Albert Akpomudje.

“Leaders of professional associations should be remembered for the projects and reforms they attracted while in office, rather than for frequent appearances on television criticising government,” the minister said.

“What is leadership all about? “What will you say is your legacy at the end of your tenure?” Wike asked.

“You can’t be in a position and what you do is to criticise government everyday. People will ask you, “what did you do for your profession, when you had the opportunity?”

According to him, successive leaders of the Body of Benchers had shown exemplary leadership in consistently seeking government intervention to improve infrastructure and facilities for the legal profession.

“You are not the first Chairman of the Body of Benchers but you came with requests that will better the institution and open up the area for everybody. That’s leadership,” he said.

Wike said the annex building of the Body of Benchers was close to completion and would be delivered by June, while the access road around the Nigerian Law School and EFCC Academy corridor was already 98 per cent complete.

He also approved a fresh request for a new access road to the Body of Benchers annex building and directed the relevant officials of the FCT Administration to immediately assess and incorporate the project into the ongoing works.

The minister used the opportunity to rebut what he called “destructive criticism” from some professional groups, insisting that constructive engagement with government brings better results.

“Constructive criticism is good, but not the kind where nobody sees anything good in what government is doing,” he said.

He was especially critical of the criticism of government-built houses for judges, saying infrastructure and welfare support to judicial officers would strengthen institutions, not weaken them.

“If the government provides accommodation for judges, people say they are compromised. “But when the NBA goes about seeking support from government, nobody talks about compromise,” Wike said.

He said professional associations need to work harder at identifying gaps in their sectors and partnering with government to fill those gaps.

“Being president of an association and all you do is go to television programmes to criticize the government is not enough. “What did you sketch for your members?” He asked, “What did you improve?”

Earlier, His Royal Highness Akpomudje praised the FCT Administration for what he called a remarkable infrastructural transformation across Abuja, most especially, projects that have benefitted the legal profession.

He said the Body of Benchers was happy with the completion of its annex building, the ongoing construction of the fire service station project and the building of access roads within the complex.

‘Every day we are upgrading roads in the city centre and in the rural areas. “This is what governance should be, in fact,” he said.

Akpomudje added that collaboration between the executive, legislature and judiciary was still required to strengthen democratic institutions and improve access to justice in Nigeria.

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Arsenal defender Ben White is set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury, which is also expected to end his hopes of featuring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ben White, 28, was taken off during the first half of Arsenal’s 1-0 victory at West Ham United on Sunday and later left London Stadium with a knee brace.

The defender has suffered a “significant medial ligament injury” which will rule him out of the club’s final two league matches and the UEFA Champions League final on May 30, Arsenal confirmed in an official statement.

The statement read: “Our medical team are now managing the recovery and rehabilitation programme for Ben, with everyone fully focused on supporting the aim of Ben being ready for the start of our pre-season preparations.

White has played in 30 games in all competitions this season and has started Arsenal’s last five matches, but has only been named in the starting line-up for nine league games.

Mikel Arteta’s side are on the cusp of history. Arsenal can win their first Premier League title in 22 years with victories against Burnley and Crystal Palace. They are also preparing for their first Champions League final in 20 years, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain.

White, who is aiming for a pre-season return, is unlikely to be fit in time for the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. England manager Thomas Tuchel is expected to name his squad on 22nd May.

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A former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has declared his intention to contest the governorship election in Oyo State, promising to execute projects and policies that will improve the living standard of the people.

Adelabu announced his intention to run on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado, Ibadan, on Tuesday, reports say.

The event was attended by prominent party members and leaders such as Kunle Sanda, Isiaka Alimi, Wale Sanusi and many more.

Adelabu, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, said he joined the race because he believes the state deserves more dividends of democracy while addressing the gathering.

First of all, I would like to thank Almighty Allah. We started this journey in 2019 and I think 2027 will be our own time. We remember our past leaders, former governors of Oyo State that have passed on. I want to thank all leaders here.

“This declaration message is more than a declaration. Here is a precis of Adebayo Adelabu’s Manifesto. “Today is a day to take back Oyo State for real progress.

It is with all humility that I stand before you today to declare my intention to contest for the gubernatorial election on the platform of our great party, APC, in the year 2027. I want to appreciate the President and Commander in chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Thank you for the new hope.

“Why am I running again? But I think Oyo State deserves better. Oyo State merits security and stability as governance is more than rethorics.

“I am contesting because I have the experience and exposure to build a greater Oyo State that is economically advanced. “Good governance must be felt at the grassroots.

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The Appeal Committee of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Assembly Screening Committee, chaired by Abdul Mahmud, has upheld the disqualification of aspirants linked to the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

It was gathered that about 33 aspirants that took part in the screening exercise on Saturday were cleared while 65 were disqualified.

The 65 disqualified aspirants were identified as loyalists of Fubara.

Some aspirants who were disqualified have filed 19 appeals, the appeal committee chairman told journalists on Tuesday.

The deadline for filing of appeals is Wednesday, he said.

The committee said the final list of cleared aspirants will be released when the date for appeals elapses.

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Adams Oshiomhole, Senator for Edo North in the National Assembly, has engaged in a war of words with Arise News anchor, Rufai Oseni, over his view on South African investments in Nigeria.

‘Morning Show’ on Tuesday Oshiomhole said Nigeria should nationalise South African businesses over the killing of Nigerians in South Africa.

The lawmaker said he knew MTN was quoted on the stock exchange and noted that Nigerian shareholders can keep their shares and take control away from South Africa.

He said, “We should re-privatise it and let Nigerians take over and there would be no repatriation of funds to South Africa.

In the campaign of President Ramaphosa, a major shareholder in MTN, he argued that foreigners are taking the jobs of South Africans.

“Now South Africa has high unemployment and some have displaced aggression on other Africans. Life is more valuable. “Nigeria should not go looking for investors who prefer wealth to human life.”

Rufai in return wondered why Oshiomhole took that stance on the matter.

He said: ‘It is the same government that is saying they want investors. So how does that sound when you can arbitrarily nationalize people’s shares when they come to invest in your country and you want foreign direct investment?

“So if Nigerians have chaos with any country, it is to take their shares nationalize? That is how Adams Oshiomhole sees things right? So you just nationalise people’s shares like that?”

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