Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly renounce reports associating him with a presidential ticket being championed by an unknown political group. Keyamo shared this demand in a statement posted to his handle.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Describing the situation as a “bizarre comedy,” the Minister criticized the group for involving the former President in what he termed a “political charade.” He expressed strong disapproval that individuals lacking official political standing would claim to offer a presidential ticket to a former head of state.

Keyamo questioned the legitimacy of these actors, noting that they are not even registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He expressed disappointment that such individuals would involve a “revered figure” in a venture he dismissed as a “journey to nowhere.”

To protect his international reputation, Keyamo insisted that Jonathan should immediately issue a firm rejection of the proposal. The Minister further warned that if the former President remains silent, it could reignite negative public discourse regarding his past administration and the 2015 election, noting that Jonathan was the first sitting president to be voted out of office.

Following his nomination as the presidential flagbearer for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi has officially selected Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate. In his acceptance speech, Obi emphasized a commitment to a collaborative leadership style, pledging that Kwankwaso would be a true partner rather than a “spare tyre” in the administration.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In outlining his vision for a “New Nigeria,” Obi addressed several critical national challenges:

• Security: Highlighting a sharp decline in safety—noting Nigeria’s shift to the 4th rank in global terrorism impact by 2026—Obi vowed to treat the protection of life and property as his administration’s primary responsibility.

• Healthcare: Criticizing the current state of the health sector, where only 10% to 20% of primary healthcare centres are functional, he promised to rehabilitate facilities across all 8,809 wards and boost health insurance coverage to over 20%.

• Economic Reform: Obi identified massive potential in Nigeria’s uncultivated land for agricultural growth and pledged to increase power generation by 10,000 megawatts within four years.

• Job Creation: With youth unemployment exceeding 40%, he proposed supporting small and medium enterprises through improved access to funding, tax incentives, and targeted interventions.

Obi concluded by thanking the NDC leadership and reiterated his commitment to reducing the cost of governance, strengthening the rule of law, and fostering national unity.

The recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections, held nationwide between May 16 and May 23, 2026, have resulted in a significant setback for numerous lawmakers who recently defected from opposition parties. Many legislators, including members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, had abandoned platforms like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) to join the ruling APC, largely in pursuit of more secure pathways for re-election in 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The primary outcomes have fueled intense controversy, with several unsuccessful aspirants alleging that the processes were marred by manipulation, imposition, and a lack of internal democracy. While party leadership maintains that all proceedings adhered to established electoral laws and internal guidelines, a substantial number of high-profile defectors failed to secure nomination.

Lawmakers Who Failed to Secure APC Tickets

The list of notable political figures who switched parties but were unable to obtain the APC ticket includes:

• House of Representatives: Hon. Nicholas Mutu (Delta), Hon. Mike Etaba (Cross River), Hon. Ngozi Okolie (Delta), Hon. Esosa Iyawe (Edo), Hon. Matthew Nwogu (Imo), Hon. Mansur Musa Jega (Kebbi), Hon. Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Hon. Daniel Asama (Plateau), Hon. Ajang Iliya (Plateau), Hon. Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), and former lawmaker Hon. Nicholas Ossai (Delta).

• Senate: Sen. Ned Nwoko (Delta North) and Sen. Neda Imasuen (Edo South).

Disqualified Aspirants

Furthermore, several prominent figures who defected to the APC were disqualified entirely, preventing them from participating in the primary contests. This group includes:

• Rivers State: Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, Hon. Boma Goodhead, Air Commodore John Azubuike Opara, and Anderson Allison Igbiki.

• Other Regions: Senator Benson Agadaga (Bayelsa East) and Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South).

This wave of losses and disqualifications has sparked fresh debate regarding the political calculations of opposition members who sought refuge in the ruling party, with many now facing an uncertain political future after finding their efforts to transition to the APC platform unsuccessful.