The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has accused the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, of going against the power-sharing agreement he supported in 1999 by seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

News reports that Akume made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from Miyetti Allah Fulaku Yesoyeso, led by its National President, Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, the SGF recalled that the power-sharing agreement was reached during a meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors-elect in Kaduna in 1999.

Akume maintained that the existing power-rotation arrangement provides for the South to occupy the presidency for eight years, after which the North would have its turn.

He argued that, under the arrangement, the North would have to wait until 2031 before producing the country’s next presidential candidate.

The SGF noted that successive administrations, from former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the current administration of President Bola Tinubu, had largely adhered to the arrangement.

He recalled that Obasanjo served two terms of eight years before the late President Umaru Yar’Adua succeeded him. Following Yar’Adua’s death in office, his then Vice-President, Goodluck Jonathan, assumed the presidency and served for almost six years before Muhammadu Buhari took over.

According to Akume, Buhari completed two terms before Tinubu succeeded him, with the current president having served four years and another four years remaining under the power-sharing arrangement.

He said, “Under the agreement, the South was to serve for eight years before power returned to the North for another eight years. I am surprised that Atiku, who was part of the meeting and supported the arrangement, is now seeking to become president after Buhari has already served eight years,” Akume said.

“This is not the time for the North. The North will come in to contest in 2031.

“Personal ambition should not be allowed to divide the country or undermine its unity. Those seeking the presidency from the North should wait until 2031.”

The National Vice-Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, has maintained that there is no constitutional provision preventing Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, from contesting the Imo West senatorial seat in the 2027 elections while still serving as governor.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Human rights activist and chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has vowed that the party will adopt a tougher approach ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Yesufu declared that the NDC would be both refined and rugged, insisting that no group or individual had a “monopoly of madness.”

She warned that the party would not tolerate intimidation or attacks against its members, adding that supporters would stand their ground whenever they were threatened.

Naija News reports that she made the declaration on Thursday following an attack on NDC supporters ahead of the party’s town hall meeting at the Classic Event Centre in the Oregun area of Lagos State.

According to Yesufu, the political campaign was not solely about the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, but belonged to everyone supporting the movement.

She said, “In 2023 we were refined, in 2027 we will be refined and rugged. Nobody has monopoly of madness and anybody wey say him dey crase we go send am go psychiatric hospital. We are not slaves, we are citizens. This campaign is not Peter Gregory Obi campaign, it is our campaign.”

Recall that the NDC town hall meeting in Oregun, Lagos State, turned violent after suspected political thugs invaded the venue and attacked party supporters.

According to The Cable, the attackers, who were armed with cutlasses, cudgels and stones, disrupted the event and forced participants to flee for safety.

Chairs and other items at the venue were reportedly scattered during the attack.

The incident allegedly left some supporters injured and several vehicles damaged. A journalist covering the event was also reportedly assaulted, while his recording equipment was taken.

The confrontation later spread to Kudirat Abiola Way, disrupting traffic before police operatives arrived and fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.