Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State have expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will defeat the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and other opposition contenders in the state during the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

They made the remarks while speaking with journalists at a political gathering organised by President Tinubu’s daughter and Nigeria’s Iyaloja General, Dr Mujidat Folasade Tinubu-Ojo.

The event marked the inauguration of the Iyaloja General Movement (IGM), a support group established to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

Speaking at the gathering, the Lagos State Director-General of the movement, Barrister Adejumbo Omofumilewa, described the inauguration as a mini-rally in support of the President.

Omofumilewa expressed confidence that the APC would perform better in Lagos in 2027, saying the party had resolved the issues responsible for its poor showing in the state during the previous presidential election.

He blamed Tinubu’s 2023 defeat in Lagos on the party’s failure to properly assess the political situation, describing the outcome as a betrayal.

“What happened in 2023 that made our candidate lose the presidential election in Lagos State has already been taken care of, because now, everybody is following him,” he said.

‘Peter Obi Not A Threat’

The APC chieftain dismissed the possibility of Peter Obi and other opposition candidates posing a serious challenge to the ruling party in Lagos.

“Obi is not a threat, neither is any party a threat in Lagos State. We are in charge,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the IGM, Dr Nasiru Ladan, revealed that the movement had attracted more than 2,500 support groups, with several other organisations expressing interest in joining.

He said the groups had been integrated into the movement’s structure, while efforts were underway to create a database of supporters across states and local government areas.

Ladan explained that the organisation had begun building its grassroots mobilisation network, with structures extending from the state level to local governments and wards.

According to him, the movement plans to appoint 10 facilitators in every polling unit, each tasked with mobilising 100 voters.

He said the arrangement was part of the group’s strategy to achieve its target of securing 10 million votes for Tinubu, although he did not explain how the target would be independently measured.

Also speaking, the Lagos State APC Chairman, Cornelius Oyefolu Ojelabi, said the party was taking the 2027 elections seriously and would leave nothing to chance.

He noted that APC activities and support groups were expanding across states and local government areas as part of efforts to mobilise voters for the President.

Ojelabi added that the party was engaging Nigerians to showcase the achievements of Tinubu’s administration and seek support for its plans to build on them.

He described the APC’s performance in Lagos during the 2023 presidential election as a wake-up call, particularly given that the same political party had governed the state since the return to democracy in 1999.

According to him, the experience had strengthened the party’s resolve to intensify its mobilisation efforts ahead of the next election.

Ojelabi also supported Tinubu-Ojo’s decision to bring Iyaloja Generals from across the country together under the movement to mobilise support for the President.

In his remarks, the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the IGM, Prince Mendy Achibong, expressed confidence in the movement’s growing presence in the state.

He pledged that Akwa Ibom would deliver more than 80 per cent of its votes to Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, claiming the figure would exceed the state’s performance in the previous election.

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, on Friday engaged in a heated exchange with Channels Television’s Politics Today presenter, Seun Okinbaloye, over a question concerning the alleged attack on him in Ekiti State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Sowore was reportedly attacked in Ado-Ekiti on Friday and subsequently accused the Ekiti State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS) of taking possession of CCTV footage believed to have captured the incident.

Tension erupted during a live interview as the activist recounted the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.

The disagreement began when Okinbaloye asked whether Sowore had provoked the individuals who attacked him in Ado-Ekiti.

Sowore reacted angrily, cautioning the presenter against asking what he described as a condescending question and accusing him of blaming the victim.

He said, “Don’t ask me such a condescending question. I was attacked, I was beaten. You are asking me if I provoked them? That is victim blaming.”

Surprised by the reaction, Okinbaloye attempted to calm Sowore, explaining that he was only seeking to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

However, Sowore maintained that the question was insensitive and had no place in responsible journalism.

“I came here to tell you that I was attacked and the police seized the CCTV to cover it up, and you are asking me if I provoked thugs? Is that journalism?” he asked.

The heated exchange lasted for about two minutes and has since circulated widely on social media, attracting mixed reactions from Nigerians.

While some users commended Sowore for challenging the presenter, others defended Okinbaloye, arguing that asking probing questions was part of his responsibility as a journalist.

The Chief of Staff to Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, Enyinnaya Onuegbu, has accused former Governor Rochas Okorocha of attempting to claim the benefits of a political process in which he allegedly played no part.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This comes after the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday rejected Uzodimma’s candidacy for the Imo West Senatorial District election and declared Okorocha the winner.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Friday, Onuegbu said Okorocha was absent from major meetings and activities leading up to the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in Imo State.

He argued that the former governor could not claim to be an active stakeholder in the party after deliberately staying away from its activities and reconciliation meetings.

Onuegbu further alleged that Uzodimma made efforts to reach Okorocha and other aggrieved party leaders following the primary election, but they refused to answer his calls.

The governor’s Chief of Staff maintained that the APC in Imo State remained united and prepared for the election despite criticisms from Okorocha’s camp.

He said, “Okorocha was absent from key events leading to Imo APC primary. He was nowhere to be found. He didn’t attend any reconciliation meeting, he didn’t show up for stakeholders’ meeting.

“He wants to reap where he did not sow. You cannot stay away and then come back to dictate who becomes a candidate.

“Okorocha heavily distorted the facts. At what point before the primary elections did he address Imo APC members as an aspirant?

“The law requires oral evidence from witnesses, not just conflicting documents. He was not physically present at most of the events leading up to the primaries.”