Atiku's coalition and others' destined failure in 2027 — Gandhi

 In advance of the 2027 presidential election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has attacked opposition politicians who are forming a coalition to oppose President Bola Tinubu. Dr., the APC's National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, dismissed the coalition moves as a doomed joint venture.

 After leaving a meeting on Friday night in Kaduna between an APC delegation and former President Muhammadu Buhari, Ganduje compared the coalition's brains to strange bedmates who were unable to cooperate. The APC delegation was at Buhari’s residence only a few hours after Vice President Atiku Abubakar led other opposition figures, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, paid a post-Sallah homage to the ex-president.

 The ruling party, Ganduje told reporters, was comfortable and would win not only the presidential election but more governorship seats in 2027.

 We are here to pay Sallah homage to the former President and also we took time to explain to him the achievements of our great party as he left it, because we have promised to be briefing him from time to time,” he said.

 Asked about the opposition leaders’ visit that preceded the APC’s earlier in the day, Ganduje said it was none of his party’s business.

 He said: “But I must tell them that history is about to repeat itself.  They have a joint venture which will not work.  This is because they are just some kind of particles that cannot come together.

 “Well, it’s a game, but we will not reveal our own intrigues and game plan.  But I can assure you that we are up to the challenge. “Our party has grown significantly stronger as a result of the progress that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made, which is very encouraging. “Though we have 21 APC states now, I can tell you we are eyeing some more states to come into our fold; either the governors themselves will come or we go into election and we defeat them.

 “So, we are comfortable ahead of 2027, but we are not resting on our oars, because it is politics and we are used to the game.”

 On alleged lopsided appointments by the President, Ganduje said there was no truth to the claims but explained that the party was working on the statistics of appointments done by President Tinubu to clear the air on the allegation.

 His words: “We are coming up with the true figures of the appointments to show Nigerians that Mr.  President is not engaged in skewed appointments.”

 Ganduje stated earlier in his presentation to Buhari on the state of the APC that the party had implemented a new people-centered approach to campaign administration, which was distinct from the previous practice of inaugurating national campaign governorship councils for states in Abuja. He added that the campaign councils are inaugurated in the affected states to enable party members and other stakeholders in those states to participate in greater numbers and in greater numbers. He said: “This innovation has helped to engage the right people to organise and manage campaigns in their states for effective delivery before and during the election.

 "Your Excellency, as you must be aware, we won governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, Edo, and Ondo, but unfortunately lost those elections in Bayelsa State," we said. "Your Excellency, our current focus is on the states of Anambra and Osun." And in compliance with the time-table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the party successfully conducted primary elections in Anambra on April 5th, 2025.

 “Today, we have in our fold former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim; former Labour Party governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Edwin Nkwegu; Senator Obinna Ogba; Senator Uche Ekwunife from Anambra State, and thousands of their supporters.

 “Other decampees are former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko; former Kaduna State governor, Ramalan Yero; former Edo State Deputy Governor, Phillips Shuaibu; two-term Senator representing Edo South and former Clerk of the National Assembly, Senator Matthew Onoghide and Senator Halliru Dauda Jika.

 “Your Excellency, in the same vein, the NNPP also lost some of its former National Working Committee members to APC, such as Prof.  Rufai Alkali, former National Chairman, who led other prominent leaders and members, including Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, former National Organising Secretary; Prof.  Bem Angwe, former National Legal Adviser; Dr.  Isa Shika, Chairman and the immediate past Secretary, North West; Mikaih Takwat, Kaduna senatorial candidate, and thousands of their supporters to join us.

 “Other notable decampees are Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the Senate and Hon.  Yusuf Shittu Galambi, the only NNPP member of the House of Representatives, Gwaram Federal Constituency in Jigawa State.  Recently, we also had Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North. He praised Buhari for remaining loyal to the APC and reassured him that the party would continue to work with, consult, and seek his wise counsel for the party's management. He spoke of the "cordial relationship that exists between you and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is working hard to build on some of your legacies and add value to the lives of Nigerians," and he acknowledged that. PDP has capacity to stand alone – Sokoto Chairman

 Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State, Alhaji Bello Goronyo, said yesterday that the party was strong enough to reclaim its position across Nigeria without merging with any other political group.

 Goronyo made this declaration while addressing journalists at a PDP stakeholders’ meeting in Sokoto.

 He described the 2023 general elections as a litmus test that confirmed the PDP remained the preferred choice of Nigerians.

 "We are capable of reclaiming our mandate. Goronyo stated, "Tried and trusted by Nigerians, we are the best choice." He stated, "it is deeply rooted and strong, especially at the grassroots level," describing the PDP as the only political party among the five registered for the 1999 elections. Goronyo also urged PDP members to remain committed, supportive and prayerful as the party continues its efforts toward safeguarding Nigeria and improving the lives of its citizens.

 El-Rufai is criticized by the northern group for suddenly praising Atiku. The Northern Conscience Movement (NCM) yesterday voiced strong reservations over what it described as a perplexing shift in political alignment by former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, particularly his recent public praise for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

 The group called on Nigerians, particularly younger citizens, to critically examine these political dynamics and reject the culture of opportunism that has come to define the nation’s politics.

 In a statement issued yesterday, NCM Coordinator, Lawal Nuhu Ahmed, criticised El-Rufai’s apparent U-turn, highlighting his past scathing criticisms of Atiku, whom he once labeled a “liar,” obsessed with power and “haunted by his corruption demon.”

 The NCM also mentioned El-Rufai's memo to former President Muhammadu Buhari, in which he criticized the APC leadership, emphasized the deteriorating economy, and pointed to the growing internal discord within the ruling party. He emphasized the deteriorating relationship between the President and other party leaders, the party's lack of unity, and the ailing economy. While these observations may hold merit, the group said the timing and context of his newfound admiration for Abubakar and Buhari appear to be driven more by political expediency than a sincere change of heart.

 According to Ahmed, "Atiku Abubakar's recent overtures toward President Muhammadu Buhari, despite his previous allegations of Buhari's involvement in the smuggling of looted funds, underscore a complex and possibly contradictory political maneuvering." “A critical reminder of the historical context that shapes contemporary political narratives is Abubakar's recollection of the 1984 incident, when he, as the head of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command, intercepted 53 suitcases allegedly linked to Buhari's aide. “Young Nigerians, particularly Millennials, may benefit from revisiting this episode to understand the deep-seated issues of corruption that continue to plague their nation.

 “Abubakar’s assertion that Buhari’s administration has exacerbated corruption, thereby undermining efforts against terrorism in the Northeast, raises pertinent questions about accountability and governance. 

 “Ultimately, the juxtaposition of past actions and current alliances reveals a troubling paradox in Nigerian politics, where the line between accountability and opportunism often blurs, leaving citizens to discern the truth amidst a cacophony of conflicting narratives.

 “The Northern Conscience Movement critiques the recent engagement between El-Rufai and prominent PDP figures, including Atiku Abubakar and Aminu Tambuwal, in their outreach to President Buhari under the guise of unifying against President Tinubu for the 2027 elections.

 “This maneuver is perceived as disingenuous, undermining the integrity of political discourse in the region.  Furthermore, the Movement expresses concern over Buhari’s receptiveness to this coalition, deeming it insensitive given the prevailing political tensions.

 “Such actions may exacerbate divisions rather than foster genuine collaboration, highlighting the complexities of Northern Nigerian politics in an increasingly polarised landscape.

 “The NCM believes that such political maneuvering undermines the principles of transparency and accountability that are desperately needed in Nigeria. 

 “The evolution of El-Rufai’s rhetoric illustrates how personal interests can eclipse previously held convictions, leading to alliances that many would deem improbable.

 “This phenomenon is not unique to El-Rufai; it is symptomatic of a broader trend in Nigerian politics, where ideological consistency is frequently sacrificed on the altar of power and influence.”