Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has stated that the core objective of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s Rainbow Coalition is whether it can successfully deliver votes for President Bola Tinubu. Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Fayose asserted that both Wike and the APC governors are ultimately supporting Tinubu, albeit through different approaches.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Fayose emphasized that the ongoing friction between Wike and the APC governors does not pose a threat to Tinubu’s re-election prospects. “If Rainbow works for Wike in Rivers, and it can bring results, that’s all the president wants,” he noted, adding that Wike operates primarily within his sphere of influence and is not imposing the coalition across other states. He further dismissed the dispute as a natural byproduct of political interest and power struggles, arguing that the controversy will actually benefit the President.

“Everything works together for good, for the president. Without controversy, you can’t get far. Controversy in itself will help the election,” Fayose stated, pointing out that both factions remain united behind Tinubu despite their differing methods. He concluded that the public disagreement takes nothing away from the ruling camp, noting that it simply reflects individual political egos and localized strategies.

Renowned Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has advocated for a more active role for Islamic scholars in resolving the ongoing banditry crisis in Nigeria’s North-West, stating that deploying credible Muslim clerics to reach out to bandits through sustained preaching could yield substantial results in subduing regional insecurity.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The cleric made this call in a post on his official Facebook page on Wednesday. Gumi argued that religious engagement serves as a valuable complement to conventional security operations, pointing out that many bandits are themselves products of ignorance, social neglect, and deprivation. He suggested that strengthening religious and community-based outreach could reduce the heavy reliance on military and kinetic measures.

Reflecting on his efforts, Gumi noted, “Since 2021 up until now, almost six years since we began preaching to bandits, one cannot help but imagine what could have been achieved if many credible Islamic scholars had been systematically deployed to engage bandits across the North-West.” He emphasized that these engagements should focus on educating bandits on Islamic teachings regarding the sanctity of human life, the protection of property, and the strict prohibition of killing and oppression. Furthermore, the cleric maintained that public views on the crisis are frequently clouded by bias, remarking that “people are the victims of their own prejudice.”

Arise Television anchor Rufai Oseni has publicly questioned the political influence asserted by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, specifically challenging Wike’s claim that he can secure electoral victories for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. Oseni raised these doubts on Wednesday while analyzing the ongoing political disputes between Wike and governors elected on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform. Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has controversially pledged his support for Tinubu’s re-election bid, despite his party’s intention to field its own candidates in 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Oseni further critiqued the tendency of politicians to cite their political “structure” as proof of their ability to dictate election outcomes. He specifically referenced Wike’s 2019 re-election as Rivers State Governor, a process marked by significant disruption and a 22-day suspension of result collation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before Wike was declared the winner. While INEC records show Wike won that election with 886,264 votes against the AAC candidate’s 173,859, Oseni highlighted irregularities in the process.

Additionally, Oseni pointed to reports regarding the 2023 presidential election in Rivers State, noting a discrepancy between official results, which favored the APC’s Bola Tinubu, and independent tallies, which suggested the Labour Party’s Peter Obi won by a wide margin. Questioning the nature of the “structure” politicians rely on, Oseni asked, “Is it the structure that we can turn INEC around? Is it because INEC is not as independent as an institution as it should be?”

Oseni concluded by referencing the 2022 PDP presidential primary, where Atiku Abubakar defeated Wike with 371 votes to Wike’s 237. Arguing that Wike’s claims of “delivering” candidates do not align with his own performance in internal party contests, Oseni stated, “If Wike was that popular, why didn’t he win the primaries in the PDP and beat Atiku Abubakar? … Politicians keep acting as God.”