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INEC Has No Power To Sack Governors Over Defection – NBA President Declares.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, SAN, has dismissed calls for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare any governor’s seat vacant on the grounds of party defection, stating that such action is unconstitutional.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, Osigwe made this clarification in response to a public appeal by African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain and Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, who urged INEC to declare Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri’s seat vacant after his recent resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Okonkwo argued that Diri’s defection automatically disqualified him from holding office since he was elected under the PDP platform in 2023. Citing Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he maintained that a person contesting for the office of governor must be a member and candidate of a political party, insisting that INEC should promptly organize a fresh election within 90 days.
Governor Diri, who announced his resignation from the PDP during an expanded State Executive Council meeting in Yenagoa on Wednesday, attributed his decision to “obvious reasons.” His move has fueled speculation of a possible defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the recent crossover of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and other political figures.
However, Osigwe swiftly countered Okonkwo’s claims, describing his interpretation of the law as “baseless and unconstitutional.” The NBA president emphasized that the Constitution and previous judicial pronouncements do not empower INEC—or any other body—to remove executive officeholders such as the president, vice president, governors, or their deputies for defecting from their political parties.
He referenced the landmark Supreme Court judgment in Atiku v. Attorney-General of the Federation, where the court ruled that only legislators risk losing their seats for party defection, not members of the executive arm.
“In 2006, when then-Vice President Atiku Abubakar defected from the PDP to the AC, President Olusegun Obasanjo attempted to declare his office vacant. The Supreme Court ruled that the provision on defection applies exclusively to lawmakers, not to the executive,” Osigwe explained.
The NBA president noted that the law on this matter is settled and should not be revisited. “It is 2025, and we are still debating issues the Supreme Court has already clarified. There is no constitutional basis to remove a governor for changing political parties. Even if a governor defects multiple times, his seat remains secure under the law,” he stated.
Osigwe urged Nigerians and political commentators to refrain from reviving legally resolved matters, stressing that the constitutional interpretation on the issue is “clear and unambiguous.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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