Following his nomination as the presidential flagbearer for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi has officially selected Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate. In his acceptance speech, Obi emphasized a commitment to a collaborative leadership style, pledging that Kwankwaso would be a true partner rather than a “spare tyre” in the administration.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In outlining his vision for a “New Nigeria,” Obi addressed several critical national challenges:

• Security: Highlighting a sharp decline in safety—noting Nigeria’s shift to the 4th rank in global terrorism impact by 2026—Obi vowed to treat the protection of life and property as his administration’s primary responsibility.

• Healthcare: Criticizing the current state of the health sector, where only 10% to 20% of primary healthcare centres are functional, he promised to rehabilitate facilities across all 8,809 wards and boost health insurance coverage to over 20%.

• Economic Reform: Obi identified massive potential in Nigeria’s uncultivated land for agricultural growth and pledged to increase power generation by 10,000 megawatts within four years.

• Job Creation: With youth unemployment exceeding 40%, he proposed supporting small and medium enterprises through improved access to funding, tax incentives, and targeted interventions.

Obi concluded by thanking the NDC leadership and reiterated his commitment to reducing the cost of governance, strengthening the rule of law, and fostering national unity.

The recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections, held nationwide between May 16 and May 23, 2026, have resulted in a significant setback for numerous lawmakers who recently defected from opposition parties. Many legislators, including members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, had abandoned platforms like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) to join the ruling APC, largely in pursuit of more secure pathways for re-election in 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The primary outcomes have fueled intense controversy, with several unsuccessful aspirants alleging that the processes were marred by manipulation, imposition, and a lack of internal democracy. While party leadership maintains that all proceedings adhered to established electoral laws and internal guidelines, a substantial number of high-profile defectors failed to secure nomination.

Lawmakers Who Failed to Secure APC Tickets

The list of notable political figures who switched parties but were unable to obtain the APC ticket includes:

• House of Representatives: Hon. Nicholas Mutu (Delta), Hon. Mike Etaba (Cross River), Hon. Ngozi Okolie (Delta), Hon. Esosa Iyawe (Edo), Hon. Matthew Nwogu (Imo), Hon. Mansur Musa Jega (Kebbi), Hon. Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Hon. Daniel Asama (Plateau), Hon. Ajang Iliya (Plateau), Hon. Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), and former lawmaker Hon. Nicholas Ossai (Delta).

• Senate: Sen. Ned Nwoko (Delta North) and Sen. Neda Imasuen (Edo South).

Disqualified Aspirants

Furthermore, several prominent figures who defected to the APC were disqualified entirely, preventing them from participating in the primary contests. This group includes:

• Rivers State: Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, Hon. Boma Goodhead, Air Commodore John Azubuike Opara, and Anderson Allison Igbiki.

• Other Regions: Senator Benson Agadaga (Bayelsa East) and Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South).

This wave of losses and disqualifications has sparked fresh debate regarding the political calculations of opposition members who sought refuge in the ruling party, with many now facing an uncertain political future after finding their efforts to transition to the APC platform unsuccessful.

The legal challenge to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s eligibility for the 2027 presidential election has moved to the Court of Appeal in Abuja. Legal practitioner Jideobi Johnmary is seeking to overturn a Federal High Court judgment by Justice Peter Lifu, which previously affirmed Jonathan’s right to contest. Johnmary argues that the lower court’s proceedings were fundamentally flawed because the judge failed to first address a pending motion for recusal, which challenged his impartiality. Additionally, the appellant is contesting a ₦20 million cost awarded against him, labeling the amount as “punitive” and “excessive.” Johnmary is requesting that the case be reassigned to a new judge for a fresh hearing.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

An appeal has been filed in Abuja against the Federal High Court’s decision to clear former President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2027 presidential race. The appellant, Jideobi Johnmary, contends that Justice Lifu committed a “grave miscarriage of justice” by handling both the substantive case and a motion for the judge’s recusal simultaneously. Johnmary maintains that the court should have prioritized the recusal motion, as it directly questioned the judge’s competence and neutrality. Furthermore, the appellant challenges the substantial ₦20 million fine imposed by the court, arguing that it serves as an oppressive penalty rather than a reasonable compensatory cost. The case, which includes INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents, currently awaits a hearing date at the appellate level.

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• The Appeal: Abuja-based lawyer Jideobi Johnmary has appealed the Federal High Court ruling that declared former President Goodluck Jonathan eligible for the 2027 presidency.

• Procedural Concerns: The appeal argues that the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, violated the appellant’s right to a fair hearing by deciding a recusal motion and the substantive suit together, rather than treating the recusal as a preliminary threshold point.

• Disputed Costs: Johnmary is also contesting the ₦20 million fine awarded against him in favor of Jonathan, arguing that the cost is punitive and excessive.

• Requested Outcome: The appellant is seeking to have the case reassigned to a different judge for a fresh hearing.

• Background: The original suit sought to bar Jonathan from the 2027 election based on presidential term limits, but Justice Lifu dismissed it as frivolous, noting that previous court rulings have already settled the issue of Jonathan’s eligibility.