Arch. Audu Sule Katagum, the former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, has passed away at the age of 69. Serving as deputy governor from 2018 to 2019 under Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, Katagum died during the early hours of Saturday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

On Saturday, Wole Oluyede, the governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, reached Polling Unit 6 at Osagburu Hall, Ward 3, in Ikere-Ekiti, to cast his vote. The polling centre saw an early turnout, with a notable presence of elderly voters waiting for accreditation, including 86-year-old Madam Abiodun Ajewole. Other senior citizens were also observed at Osagburu Hall while electoral officials conducted the process.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In the meantime, voting activities commenced at the polling unit of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, in Ikogosi, Ekiti West Local Government Area. At Ward 6, Polling Unit 003, situated by the Oyebanji family compound in Okelele, residents gathered early to verify their names on the electoral register. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials arrived and provided instructions to the voters before accreditation and voting officially started at approximately 8:30 a.m.. One voter named Aduke expressed her readiness to participate after confirming her registration, stating her hope that other community members would follow suit.

Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, has publicly asserted that Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), lacks political viability in Northern Nigeria. In an interview with DCL English, Yusuf emphasized that Obi will face intense scrutiny from northern voters regarding his past actions and positions.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Yusuf identified the primary competitors for the 2027 race as President Bola Tinubu (APC), Atiku Abubakar (ADC), and Peter Obi (NDC). According to Yusuf, Obi must personally address several concerns to gain acceptance in the North, specifically noting that his supporters cannot speak for him on these issues:

• Political Accountability: Voters intend to heavily examine Obi’s record during his time as Governor of Anambra State.

• IPOB Associations: Yusuf plans to interrogate Obi’s refusal to distance himself from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which the government has labeled a terrorist organization.

• Stance on Nnamdi Kanu: Obi will face questioning over his public defense of the IPOB leader, specifically his claims that Kanu is innocent and should not have been detained.

• Campaign Rhetoric: Yusuf alleged that Obi’s 2023 campaign was overly focused on Christian and Igbo-centric interests, which he argues makes it difficult for Northern Muslim voters to support him.

Yusuf concluded that for Obi to be competitive, he must engage directly with the Northern electorate and overcome these significant hurdles regarding his political history and platform.

Source Citation:

1. Provided user input regarding Professor Usman Yusuf’s statements on Peter Obi.