Politics

2027 Coalition: Mass Defection its PDP, Other Political Parties In Borno

Published

2 months ago

July 8, 2025

… As Idris Durkwa, Sheriff Banki, and others take the lead

As the race for the 2027 general elections gathers momentum, with recent inauguration of the interim national Chairman of the coalition party (African Democratic Party/ADC), David Mark, the former Nigerian Senate President and a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP stalwart now leading the coalition movement to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his ruling party (APC), there was a massive defection into ADC in Borno state.

A video trending on some social media platforms indicated that Mattawali Kashim Ibrahim Imam, a former PDP Governorship candidate and APC stalwart in Borno, had a special dinner at his Maiduguri residence recently, where sources said the gathering also featured discussions with many political bigwigs in the state regarding preparations to join the ADC.

Recall that Nigeria’s two main opposition leaders, former presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, have joined the new political party after breaking away from their respective parties recently.

This is even as Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has dismissed speculation in some sections of the online media that he would lead five other governors in defecting to the opposition coalition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In Borno state, our Correspondent observed that, Alh. Idris Mamman Durkwa, a former Governorship aspirant and Hon. Sheriff Banki, a youth mobiliser and stakeholder advocate among others have since taken the lead, as they all dumped their party, PDP with thousands of their supporters, families and associates and pitched tent with ADC.

It was also gathered that, Durkwa, a retired federal civil servant turned politician who stormed Maiduguri last week was leading the massive defections in the state, as many people from different opposition parties including the ruling APC have started tendering their resignation to their ward chairmen.

Amonst them include, Hon. Mohammed Umara Kumalia, former House minority leader and Governorship aspirant and 2023 Borno Central Senatorial Candidate on the platform of the PDP.

Others are, Alh. Saleh Kida, PDP 2023 Deputy Governorship candidate, Alh. Ali Wurge Former PDP national treasurer, Hon. Babakura Abba Yusuf, 2023 House of Representative candidate in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, MMC, Hon. Abdulrazaq Ahmed Zanna, 2023 PDP candidate for Bama, Ngala, Kala Balge federal constituency and other House of Representative candidates.

Also on the list of early defectors are Hon. Maina Justice, who is a leader of stakeholders in Jere local government area, Hon. Fali Wubulari, former House of Assembly member (Askira Uba LGA state constituency) and many Candidates in the opposition parties for House of assemblies in all the 27 local government areas.

Likewise Hon. Isa Lawan Kangar, Borno North 2023 Senatorial candidate, all Ward and local Government party executives, 95% opposition Party stakeholders with their former party executives at state, local Government and ward levels have equally jumped ships.

Speaking on the development to our Correspondent in Maiduguri, Hon. Sheriff Banki, a youth mobiliser and stakeholder advocate for the movement (coaltion) said, the wave of defection into the ADC was a clear indication of a failed APC under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He also faulted PDP leadership for allowing the party which was one of the greatest political party in Africa to loose its followership and acceptability due to selfish interests.

The youth leader specifically alleged that ‘the Borno PDP under the Chairmanship of Hon. Zanna Gadama has remained compromised and sellout to the powers that be, thereby forcing its teaming members to quit’.

Banki also attributed the move to what he termed ‘Economic hardship and frustration by electorate at the local, state and national level and the worsening insecurity bedevilling Nigerians’.

His words: “I am happy to inform you that the massive defection and resignation by prominent members of the opposition parties including the ruling APC as being witnessed recently in Borno state is a beginning to good things happening in the political industry in the state and the country as a whole.

“Nigerians, especially the grassroots have been promised Renewed Hope Agenda by President Tinubu, unfortunately, in the last two years into the APC -led government, the reverse is the case, as people no longer sleep with their two eyes closed, despite facing economic hardships due to bad policies and programmes”. Banki stated.

He therefore enjoined the good people of the state to join ADC which is the only political party that is determined to run a democracy of inclusivity and salvaging it’s people.

(VANGUARD)

Politics

Tinubu’s Mandate Accomplished In Rivers — Ibas

Published

2 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has stated that the mandate given to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been “sufficiently achieved” with the restoration of democratic governance at the grassroots.

Ibas made the remark on Friday at Government House, Port Harcourt, during the presentation of the report on the recently concluded local government elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

He recalled that Tinubu, on March 18, 2025, directed him to stabilise the state, re-establish its institutions, and return Rivers to full democratic governance following his appointment as sole administrator.

According to him, the successful conduct of the polls and the swearing-in of elected chairmen and councillors across the 23 local government areas marked the fulfilment of that mandate.

“Mr. President’s mandate to me was clear: to stabilise the state, create an enabling environment for the re-establishment of its institutions, and return Rivers State back to full democratic governance. With the successful conduct and swearing-in of local government chairmen and their councils, I believe we have decisively achieved the mandate that we were given,” Ibas stated.

He praised RSIEC for what he described as a credible and transparent election, noting that the exercise was free of harassment and voters freely expressed their choices.

Ibas added that the government would review the RSIEC report and issue a white paper in due course. He also commended his team, security agencies, and state officials for their contributions.

RSIEC Chairman, Dr Mike Odey, who presented the report earlier, described the election as a “historic achievement” for Rivers and the country. He stressed that it was organised, coordinated, and concluded within 30 days — an unprecedented record in Nigerian electoral history.

Politics

2027: Jonathan, Obi Hold Closed-door Meeting

Published

1 day ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, on Thursday, held a closed-door meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.

Obi, who disclosed the visit in a post on his official X handle on Thursday, described Jonathan as his ”elder brother, a statesman, and leader,” adding that they had a fruitful meeting and discussed the state of the nation.

“Today in Abuja, I met with my very dear elder brother, statesman, and leader, former President Goodluck Jonathan. We had a fruitful closed-door meeting and discussed the state of our dear nation,” Obi wrote.

Although details of the meeting were not made public, the development comes amid ongoing conversations about Nigeria’s political direction and the state of governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Jonathan, who led Nigeria between 2010 and 2015, has in recent years positioned himself as a mediator in national and continental issues, particularly in conflict resolution and democratic strengthening efforts across Africa.

Obi, on his part, has continued to engage stakeholders following his strong showing in the 2023 elections, where he came third behind Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The meeting is the latest in Obi’s series of consultations with key political figures as discussions around Nigeria’s future political realignments intensify.

Attempts to obtain clarification from Obi’s former campaign spokesman, Dr Yunusa Tanko, and leaders of the Obidient Movement were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.

Thursday’s meeting is the latest in Obi’s string of high-level engagements, signalling what observers believe could be the early stirrings of a new political coalition.

Speculations became rife of Jonathan’s possible return after the Peoples Democratic Party zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.

There have also been reports that the PDP had been wooing Obi to return to the party, as he is seen as major force capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Politics

INEC Shortlists 14 Associations For Political Party Registration

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that 14 political associations have met the initial requirements to proceed to the next stage of registration as political parties in Nigeria.

This decision followed the Commission’s regular meeting held on Thursday, where it also reviewed preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and the end-of-tenure Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory.

In a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, INEC revealed that it received 171 applications from associations seeking registration.

“Each request was assessed on the basis of its prima facie compliance with the provisions of Section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Section 79 (1, 2 and 4) of the Electoral Act 2022 and Clause 2 (i and ii) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022,” the commission stated.

Out of the total applications, only 14 associations satisfied the preliminary legal and procedural criteria to advance, while 157 did not meet the threshold.

“Out of the total number of applications received, 14 associations have met the requirements to proceed to the next stage, while 157 have not.

“The commission shall officially communicate the decision arising from today’s meeting to all the associations in the next 24 hours,” the statement noted.

Olumekun noted that their interim chairmen and secretaries will be invited to a briefing scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 11:00 am at INEC Headquarters in Abuja.

“The interim Chairmen and Secretaries of the pre-qualified associations are invited to a briefing on Wednesday, 17th September 2025 at 11 am at the commission’s Headquarters in Abuja,” he stated.

INEC emphasised that meeting these initial criteria does not equate to full registration.

The final decision on the registrability of each association will be made after this verification phase to ensure full compliance with the legal framework.

“In addition to uploading the required information to the portal, the commission will physically verify all claims by each association in line with our Regulations and Guidelines.

“The final determination of the registrability of the associations as political parties will be made after the physical verification of all their claims to determine compliance with the legal framework,” the statement said.

“We wish to reiterate that party registration is a continuous process under the law. The commission remains open to the consideration of applications that meet the criteria as provided by law,” Olumekun added.

Fourteen associations are now cleared for the next phase, including the African Transformation Party, chaired by Ikhane Stanley, with Secretary Emmanuel Shaibu; The All Democratic Alliance is led by Chief Akin A. Ricketts and Secretary Abdullahi Musa Elayo; Mohammed Kabir and Secretary Chibuike Onyendilefu represent the Advance Nigeria Congress; while the Abundance Social Party is represented by Comrade Frank Oruwa and Secretary Sikiru Oripelaye.

The African Alliance Party is headed by Olusegun Peters with Secretary Haruna Abubakar; the Citizens Democratic Alliance is led by Engr. Muazu Magaji and Secretary Tamunotonye Inioribo; Barr. Fortune Oghenegare Aghwaretoma and Secretary Munirat Adama lead the Democratic Leadership Alliance; The Grassroots Initiative Party is represented by Nze Kanayo Chukwumezie and Secretary Mohammed Abas Kuti; while the Green Future Party has Dr. Adebayo Adefolaseye and Secretary Peace Daful as its interim leaders.

The Liberation People’s Party is chaired by Hon. Alani Akinde with Secretary Douglas Aji; Hon. Ada Okwori and Secretary Asuquo Edet Alexander are at the helm of the National Democratic Party; The National Reform Party is led by Abdulkadir Mohammed and Secretary Destiny Ormonigho Odugo; Also shortlisted are the Patriotic Peoples Alliance represented by Hon. John Ughulu and Secretary Jackie Wayas; and the Peoples Freedom Party chaired by Engr. Agbanifo Francis Akhigbe with Secretary Akintola Michael Alao.