Political economist and former presidential candidate, Professor Pat Utomi, is prioritizing the “Big Tent” initiative as a vehicle for developing a comprehensive national manifesto and identifying capable leadership ahead of the 2027 elections. Speaking on Arise TV regarding emerging political realignments, Utomi emphasized that the initiative’s primary goal is to endorse competent, reform-minded candidates who are committed to national development, regardless of their specific political party affiliation.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Presidency has publicly claimed that supporters of Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, are responsible for extensive manipulation across social media platforms. This allegation was shared by Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, during a Monday interview on News Central Television.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Bwala characterized Obi’s supporters as the “tigers of social media,” noting that this reputation is widely recognized. He acknowledged that social media has fundamentally shifted how citizens interact with public officials, facilitating direct online criticism of leadership.

Key points from Bwala’s comments include:

• He identified Peter Obi’s followers as the primary “tigers of social media,” noting that while other parties have similar groups, the “Obidients” are the most prominent.

• He suggested that many of these supporters are tech-savvy individuals, some of whom operate from abroad where they have easy access to data.

• He asserted that these supporters have engaged in significant manipulation of online discourse.

• When questioned about whether the government pays for online defense, Bwala denied the claim, stating he does not pay anyone for such services.

• He emphasized his position by remarking that if he were someone who paid for internet agendas, he would have had to “sell his family land” to counter the criticism directed at him during his interview with Mehdi Hasan.

Adebayo Adelabu, former Minister of Power and an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, has asserted that the party has not yet officially named its candidate for the 2027 election. In a statement released on Monday, Adelabu called on APC members across the state to exercise patience and await a formal announcement from the party’s national leadership regarding the recent primaries.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Adelabu cautioned party members against believing reports circulating on social media and other unofficial channels that suggest a consensus candidate has been selected for the governorship and other elective roles. This clarification comes amid reports from some quarters claiming that Senator Sarafadeen Alli emerged as the winner and consensus candidate following the primaries. Furthermore, Oyo APC Chairman Moses Adeyemo reportedly named Alli as the candidate after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos last weekend.

Authority of the National Headquarters Adelabu, who resigned from his ministerial position on April 30, 2026, to participate in the primaries alongside eight other aspirants, emphasized that state-level actors lack the authority to declare a final result. He insisted that such declarations can only be made by the APC national headquarters.

• Adelabu stated that premature claims of victory are intended to mislead the public and create confusion among party supporters.

• He warned that such actions undermine party discipline, fairness, and the principles of internal democracy.

• He advised party members to treat any circulated lists of candidates with extreme caution until official confirmation is provided by the national leadership.