The immediate past National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, has declared that the party is not contesting next year’s governorship election in Osun State to participate but is determined to win.

It was reports that Omisore stated this as he commenced grassroots consultations across the state over his decision to join the race for the APC governorship ticket.

In a statement issued by his media office and signed by Jamiu Olawumi, the former Deputy Governor stated that he is committed to due process and consensus-building, hence his decision to engage with party members at the grassroots before making a final decision.

“This is not about ambition alone; it is about collective reasoning and strategy. Osun needs common sense now more than ever. We cannot afford to field a candidate who merely participates, we must present a candidate who can win,” Omisore said.

At the consultation, former Commissioner for Education, Hon. Folorunso Oladoyin Bamisayemi, praised Omisore’s role as APC National Secretary in averting internal crises and ensuring the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the party’s 2023 presidential candidate.

“Senator Omisore’s base in Ife is one of the four largest voting blocs in Osun. His sustained financial and strategic support for the APC, including backing of reinstated local government officials across Osun, speaks volumes of his commitment,” Bamisayemi said.

Similarly, Hon. Olanrewaju Balogun, Chairman of Ilesa East Local Government Area, described Omisore’s project as a unity agenda.

“With these successful engagements, Senator Omisore is set to continue consultations across the state in what many stakeholders are calling the beginning of a rescue mission for Osun State,” he said.

The consultation tour also featured a courtesy visit to Chief Akinwande Ayinde Akinola, the Sawe of Ilesa, at his country home in Ijamo, where discussions centred on reinforcing mutual commitment to Osun’s progress.

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC), with the 2027 general elections drawing closer, is grappling with internal uncertainty as the anticipated membership of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and ex-Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, remains stalled.

Sunday Punch gathered from credible sources within the coalition that the delay by both men and other political heavyweights in formally joining the party has left its future direction unclear.

According to insiders, the ADC’s struggle is further compounded by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s delay in recognising Senator David Mark’s leadership of the party, as well as ongoing legal disputes and financial constraints.

One source stated that the refusal of Atiku, Obi, and other prominent leaders to fully join is slowing down the momentum, adding that the unresolved leadership issues and financial pressure have left the party struggling to gain traction.

However, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed suggestions of uncertainty.

On March 20, opposition figures launched a coalition in Abuja, announcing the ADC as their adopted platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Weeks later, on July 1, Atiku, Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and others publicly pledged support for the coalition at a high-level meeting in Abuja.

Under the arrangement, Senator David Mark was named interim National Chairman, while former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was appointed as National Secretary.

Despite the declarations, sources confirmed that formal membership has remained thin.

Atiku, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party over a month ago, has yet to register with the ADC or join another platform. Similarly, Obi has withheld membership, even as the Labour Party continues to struggle with internal crises.

A party source who spoke with Punch stated, “So, members of the party, especially the NWC members, are seriously worried and concerned that Atiku, Obi, and quite a lot of Nigerians, especially politicians they expected would have joined the ADC, are yet to join. This is affecting the momentum the party is supposed to gather.

“Since he left the PDP, Atiku has been partyless, and he has also refused to join the ADC. Peter Obi has also refused to join. As this continues, a lot of Nigerians are not even encouraged to also join the party, so to speak.

“Right now, within the coalition, everybody is still trying to study and understand, then come to an understanding of whether the whole thing is going to work or not. But one thing is certain: all of us want to push the current government led by APC out of power. But is this arrangement going to work? There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding it.

“If these people had joined the party, perhaps by now more Nigerians would have trooped into the party and the momentum would already have started building ahead of the 2027 elections. For now, everything is just quiet within the party, even though David Mark’s leadership is struggling to ensure that the party takes shape. But there are a lot of challenges, especially with regards to these key figures not joining.

“It is really affecting the party because if they join, more resources will come, more members will come, and we will be able to play our real role as opposition leaders holding the government accountable and selling the party to Nigerians. But for now, that is what it is.”

Another coalition leader disclosed that the absence of INEC’s recognition of Mark’s leadership, along with a few pending litigations, had hindered the party’s growth.

The source stated, “The ADC still remains a formidable party to challenge President Tinubu in 2027. It is our party; it is the coalition party adopted by many Nigerians. The challenges we have now are just that INEC has not fully recognised the leadership of David Mark, and that is stalling some of our processes. We know that the government of the day is sponsoring some people to go to court to challenge us, and that is also an issue, but we know we will overcome all these things.

“For Atiku and Obi, yes, their membership is important. Both of them and some others are yet to join the ADC as a coalition party, but we expect them to do so as soon as possible, and their late membership is of concern too. This is affecting the party in a way because those who ordinarily would have joined the ADC because of these leaders are also yet to do so.

“Of course resources, the calibre of people you have will determine the resources that will be available to the party for it to carry out its activities and, of course, maintain its structures across Nigeria. All these things are a factors. But of course, the party is waxing stronger by the day, and with time, we hope that it will get better. Nigerians are already trooping into the party as their only alternative to the failed All Progressives Congress.”

When contacted, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, said the former Vice President remained committed to the coalition.

Ibe told Punch that Atiku had begun the process of becoming a member of the ADC.

He stated, “Atiku is not contemplating leaving the coalition. It is propaganda for anyone to say so. The party is being organised across the country. The party is being planted in different parts of the country, and registration is ongoing.

“About His Excellency’s membership, he will do that at the right time. It’s a process that is in place. Registration is one of the steps. It’s a process, and it is ongoing.

“He remains committed to the coalition arrangement. Nigerians are behind the coalition, and all the leaders will work together to rescue Nigeria.”

Speaking with Sunday Punch, the ADC National Publicity Secretary affirmed that Atiku, Obi, and other key figures were with the party, stressing that the coalition remained on track.

Abdullahi stated, “We are not disturbed over Atiku and Obi’s delayed membership. Nothing has changed; both of them are very much with the coalition. We don’t have any concerns. Anyone that’s telling you we are disturbed is a liar; we are not disturbed at all.

“Have you heard otherwise from them? You should ask them too. Ask them if they are not with us. You know they are fully with us.

“Everything is on track. There is always time for everything. It’s not everything you do in a party that is in the public domain. The organ of the party that should be visible is the organ of the party that is visible at the moment.

“We have the February FCT election to prepare for. We are setting up our structures across the country. I just came back from Kwara. If you look across the country, people are busy. We are trying to build up the party in the states.”

On INEC and funding, the spokesman explained that the party had completed its documentation with the electoral body and was managing its activities with the resources at its disposal.

He stated, “We have completed all documentation with INEC. Everything that we need to do now, we are able to do. We don’t have any financial problems. Everything we need to do, we are able to do. Don’t forget we are not a ruling party, so we don’t have access to the government. But we are doing fine financially and otherwise.”

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Leader of the United Kingdom (UK) Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has spoken openly about the racism and hostility she has endured since becoming the first black woman to lead the party.

It was reports that in an interview with the Sunday Times, Badenoch admitted she was taken aback by the level of abuse directed at her following her election.

While stressing that only a few Conservative MPs were involved, Badenoch noted that much of the abuse came from online spaces.

“There’s a certain cadre of people who clearly can’t cope with the fact that I won this and I’m doing it. The level of personal attacks from anonymous people, it’s hysterical,” she said.

“Not even just from MPs. I actually don’t think it’s that many MPs. I think it’s two to three people out of 120. That’s nothing. But online as well. People used to talk about Trump derangement syndrome. I think there’s a Kemi derangement syndrome: ‘How could she possibly have done this?’” she said.

She added that social media attacks often included racist tropes:

“There’s a lot of ethno-nationalism creeping up, lots of stuff about my race and my ethnicity and the tropes around, ‘well, she couldn’t possibly have done this all by herself, ’” Badenoch said, speaking about her critics.

It was reports that Badenoch, who was born in Wimbledon but grew up in Nigeria before returning to the UK at 16, rarely speaks extensively about her race. She has often criticised anti-racism campaigners and critical race theory.

She recalled being pilloried in the past for her view that Britain was not a racist country.

“I always try to think of every possible explanation before I go to race and racism. I think that is a healthy way to run a society. I remember when I stood up a few years ago and said Britain is not a racist country, ethnic minorities do very well here, it is white working-class boys who are actually struggling on a lot of metrics, and I got pilloried for that,” she said.

Badenoch is preparing for her first party conference speech amid poor polling numbers, with the Conservatives currently at 17%, and growing speculation that her shadow justice secretary, Robert Jenrick, could challenge her leadership.

Reacting to reports Jenrick may soon replace her, Badenoch dismissed the claims as “wishful thinking.”

“There will always be people who are sore losers, our candidate didn’t win, and so on, and sour grapes. When I hear those things, I can tell those people are not focused on the country at all. Many of those people having those conversations think this is a game. But the lives of people in this country aren’t a game,” she said.

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