Politics

APC and opposition clash over FG’s revenue growth claim

Published

8 months ago

September 4, 2025

The All Progressives Congress and opposition parties on Wednesday clashed over President Bola Tinubu’s claim that Nigeria has already achieved its 2025 revenue target.

While the APC insisted that the President has placed Nigeria on the path of economic recovery, the African Democratic Congress, Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party and the Coalition of United Political Parties accused Tinubu of celebrating statistics while citizens struggle under severe economic hardship.

Also, economists expressed scepticism about the President’s assertion that the Federal Government had stopped borrowing locally, as they called for clarification from the managers of the economy.

The experts pointed to the continuous debt market operations by the Debt Management Office and the Central Bank of Nigeria, questioning the president’s assertion and its alignment with the current economic realities.

For years, Nigeria has depended heavily on crude oil, which accounts for about 70 per cent of government revenue and over 90 per cent of foreign exchange earnings.

Successive administrations have repeatedly promised to diversify the economy, yet oil has remained the main source of revenue.

In 2023, upon assuming office, President Tinubu launched a series of reforms aimed at repositioning the economy.

One of his most significant steps was the removal of fuel subsidy, a policy that has since triggered severe economic hardship. The removal pushed up transport costs, worsened food inflation, fuelled a foreign exchange crisis, and deepened the overall cost-of-living burden for millions of Nigerians, while freeing more revenues for the government.

Although federal allocations to states have increased under Tinubu’s administration, the impact has not been felt at the grassroots level.

Poverty, insecurity, and other social vices have continued to escalate, forcing many Nigerians to seek greener pastures abroad.

While the reforms have delivered some marginal gains, the weight of hardship on ordinary citizens remains overwhelming.

However, on Tuesday, Tinubu announced at the Presidential Villa that the country had hit its 2025 revenue projection in August, attributing the feat to gains from the non-oil sector.

According to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President disclosed this while receiving the founding members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change and The Buhari Organisation, led by former Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

“The economy is now stabilised. Nobody is trading pieces of paper for foreign exchange anymore. The economy is now predictable. You do not need to know the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, to obtain foreign exchange or import goods,” Tinubu said.

“The President highlighted the significant growth in non-oil revenues accruing to the Federation, federal, state, and local governments. From January to August 2025, total collections reached N20.59 trillion, a 40.5 per cent increase from N14.6 trillion recorded in 2024. This strong performance aligns with projections, placing the government firmly on course to achieve its annual non-oil revenue target,’’ the statement added.

According to the statement, the President also said that the Federal Government is no longer borrowing from local banks to buttress the strong fiscal performance since the start of the year.

TInubu, who linked the development to his economic reforms, promised that his Renewed Hope Agenda would continue to prioritise infrastructure renewal, healthcare, food sovereignty, and security.

The ruling APC backed Tinubu’s declaration that Nigeria had hit its planned revenue target in August.

The Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH.

He said, “We support the President because if the target revenue for the year has been met in August, it then shows that the budget is capable of implementation. It means that what is set in the agenda of the budget will be implemented and that the government would not, as had been the case before, borrow money to be able to fulfil the budget of 2025.

“And then that eases pressure on the part of the government to now begin to have money to deliver the infrastructural development that it had targeted in the course of the year.”

Duru insisted the government’s achievement would have a spiralling effect on the economy.

“It will have a trickle-down effect on all borrowings. So the government would not be under any pressure. It also shows that the government can fund and finance the relevant projects that it needs to address the infrastructure deficit in the country, including overhead costs, which has been the major issue in the country,” he stated.

On the perception that the current administration may still have its eyes set on bonds and other loans from the IMF, the APC chieftain argued that it was a figment of the imagination of critics.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, challenged critics of the President’s assertion on meeting the government’s revenue target and not borrowing locally to provide contrary facts.

Bwala, who spoke on Wednesday evening, accused the opposition of being blind and purposeless in their criticism of the President’s statement.

He said, “The problem the opposition has is comprehension. They have sight but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear.

“If you hear what Mr President said yesterday, it is quite clear, concise and self-explanatory.

“I challenge the opposition to come with facts and numbers to counter that; and I will kindly urge the press to ask them for specifics; otherwise, they are just attacking without purpose.”

But the opposition parties faulted the celebration of revenue figures in the face of biting inflation, high food prices, and currency depreciation.

Speaking in an interview with one of our correspondents, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed the President’s declaration as absurd.

He described the APC-led Federal Government’s economic policy as strange, stressing that the revenue target has no meaningful impact on the lives of the citizens.

The ADC Publicity Secretary stated, “What is the essence of the revenue target if it has no direct impact on the lives of the people? What is the purpose of this revenue target if it does not have a direct impact on improving the lives of the people?

“Their economic policy is weird because any economy that does not put the people first cannot really claim to be doing anything. People don’t feel it. The reality that they are proclaiming is different from the reality of the life of the ordinary Nigerian. Nigerians want to see impact. They want to see improvement in their lives.”

He expressed concern that most Nigerians remain trapped below the poverty line.

Abdullahi continued, “I will give you one quick example. You know, the minimum wage, the APC-led government set it at N70,000. Even if it is fixed, it puts the majority of Nigerians below the poverty level.

“The majority of Nigerians will still live below the poverty level. So, that’s what we don’t understand about this claim about generating revenue targets when it does not have any impact.

“When the people cannot see it, they cannot see it. What is the purpose of revenue? They have borrowed so much money, leaving the country with so much debt. And we cannot see what they used the money for.

“And it’s on that basis that the President is claiming that they have met the revenue target. So, it’s absurd. You know? It’s absurd.”

The New Nigeria People’s Party also dismissed the President’s claim, arguing that governance is not just about increasing revenue.

The NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, said, “My question is, if Tinubu meets his revenue targets, has he met the target set out to ensure he looks after the welfare of the people of this country? His government is a tax-and-spend government.

“He believes that when revenue is coming in, that means it is working. Meanwhile, you are turning the screw on the people of the country who are already suffering. Everything shouldn’t just be restricted to revenue.”

The NNPP stated that while the President may have achieved his personal target, he has yet to meet the expectations of the citizens.

“Yes, it is good that the government makes money. But has the same government cut down its costs? Are the revenues meant to buy SUVs, regulate the Presidential Villa and augment the presidential fleet? These are the questions.

“So, no matter how low or high the bar is, the President set the target himself and has marked his own exam. But what about the target we set for him as a people? He hasn’t met our own target. Inflation is still high, and the naira has lost value. It’s presently at N1,600. So, let him talk about the targets we have set him for as a people.”

Also reacting, the CUPP National Secretary, Peter Ameh, in an interview with The PUNCH, said President Tinubu is disconnected from the realities facing Nigerians.

“I think the president is misunderstanding the yearning and the problems of Nigerians. He’s misunderstanding it in a great deal because he himself, as a president, is disconnected from reality. He has created an alternate universe for himself where he thinks that he’s living in the presidential field and doesn’t know what Nigerians are going through.

“He doesn’t know what Nigerians are going through. So, he thinks that taxing Nigeria and collecting revenue that does not have a direct reflection on the lives of the people is an achievement.

“One of the things he has done is that when he collects his revenue, what are the priorities of investments where he puts this money? Which area is he putting the money into that reflects on the lives of the people? It’s not about meeting the revenue target; Is the life of Nigerians better? Is he investing in healthcare? Is he investing in agriculture? Is he investing in our SMEs that will generate more revenue?

“What he’s doing, the president has decided to tax us, generate enough revenue, yet he’s making so much, he’s still borrowing so much money. If we are meeting this revenue target, then our level of borrowing should have reduced,” he submitted.

The CUPP scribe alleged that both the revenue and borrowed funds are being diverted to finance the private lifestyles of those in power.

“What he’s doing with the money is like, he’s spending more on transportation costs, on overseas travel, he’s spending a lot of money, and he’s spending more on luxury; luxurious lifestyles of those in government.

A factional spokesman for the Labour Party, Tony Akeni, berated the President and his party for what he described as a habitual resort to falsehood.

“I am happy Nigerians now know that the middle name of the APC is lies. This is because you cannot say you have walked away from taking loans and then try to hide in-between local and international ones. Yet, you were making this declaration on the international stage.

“Are you aware that Chatham House, London, has taken him up on this falsehood? They have countered him. And you will see that the contradiction is traditional with President Tinubu and his political party.

“It is all to pump false confidence in the country and give weapons of arrogance for the followers of the APC and their zealots to keep pushing the wrong narrative to deceive Nigerians.”

He wondered why the government was taking loans if it had met its revenue target.

“But there is nothing like that because if they have reached their thresholds or their targets of local revenue generation, why would they add to the burden of Nigeria by borrowing extensively from the foreign arena, where the interests are higher, conditions more stringent and where the fallouts result in more pains and sufferings both in the immediate period and the time to come.

“So the position of the Labour Party is that it is all lies and Nigerians should be doubly vigilant because any time a lie is told, it means there is a tough conspiracy behind the curtain.’’

In a related development, economists have expressed scepticism about the President’s statement on not taking local loans anymore.

A renowned economist, Professor Akpan Ekpo, expressed surprise at the claim, stating, “Maybe he has information we don’t have. But they are still borrowing externally. DMO is still issuing financial papers, and then the Central Bank is still involved in the debt market, and the Central Bank is part of the government. They are involved in Open Market Operations and all those things. So, I don’t know what he means by not borrowing.”

He further noted that meeting revenue targets would be positive, with funds ideally directed towards crucial sectors like health, education, and infrastructure.

“If they have met the revenue target, that’s fine. I would hope that the remaining will be used to address issues in the economy of Nigeria. We should put the money into health, education and infrastructure. When I heard the President say that, I was surprised. I don’t know what he means,” he said.

Prof Ekpo also emphasised that borrowing can be beneficial for financing infrastructure, provided transparency is maintained. “If the country is not borrowing, it’s not something to be proud of, because sometimes it’s good to borrow to finance infrastructure, once they are transparent.”

Also, Prof Segun Ajibola of Babcock University highlighted that the half-year figures released by relevant authorities up to the end of June showed Nigeria had barely crossed half of its 2025 revenue target.

He stressed the need for further clarification from the Minister of Finance and the Debt Management Office regarding the President’s statement.

“Looking at the figures released as of the end of June, the half-year figures by respective authorities, the fiscal authority, the monetary authority, and even the debt management office. At that point, it showed that Nigeria barely crossed half the target for 2025.

“So, I wouldn’t know what might have transpired in July and August. I am not in possession of more accurate data than government functionaries. Maybe, we need to hold our breath and wait for further clarification, especially from the Minister of Finance and also from the Debt Management Office,” Ajibola said.

If indeed the annual revenue targets had been met in August, as stated by the President, Ajibola called for ideas on how to better utilise any potential surplus revenue from September to December, saying, “If indeed we have been able to meet the annual revenue target in August, then it is wonderful. What then happens to the revenue flow from September to December? We can start brainstorming on what to do with that surplus.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Arthur Stevens Asset Management, Tunde Amolegbe, offered an alternative interpretation, suggesting that the President’s statement might refer to not exceeding the projected N13 trillion fiscal deficit.

“The truth of the matter is that you know, some of these statements one needs to put in perspective. It’s very possible that what he meant was that we are not going to borrow beyond the N13tn gap, which was estimated in the project in the first place.

‘’You remember that at the beginning of the year, because of the difference in the projected oil price that was used in the budget, compared to what the market price was, it was projected that the N13tn deficit might grow beyond that.

“However, now that it appears that the country has been able to increase production of crude, and also oil prices seem to have reached a level that is close to our price estimate used for the budget, it is very possible that what the president meant was that we are not going to go beyond the N13tn (fiscal) deficit that has been projected in the budget. Not that there won’t be any need to borrow,” he pointed out.

Amolegbe projected that continued borrowing will be necessary until the year-end, noting the recent DMO treasury auctions. “I suspect that we will probably still need to borrow between now and the end of the year. I mean, the DMO conducted a treasure auction yesterday (Tuesday). They conducted an auction a few weeks ago. I suspect there are other auctions still coming up.’’

A former Chief Economist at Zenith Bank, Marcel Okeke, was more direct in his assessment, calling the claim “laughable” and “unrealistic”. He questioned the historical precedent of the government exceeding revenue projections by August in any fiscal year.

“Has it ever happened in this economy? By August, in any fiscal year, has the government made and exceeded its revenue projections? In order not to insult the president, I would say that the claim he made is laughable. But the claim doesn’t look realistic. It doesn’t seem as if it reflects reality because, from what we have been reading, there are a number of ongoing borrowing negotiations, whether from within or from without.

“They have surpassed their revenue targets by August, and they have stopped borrowing. I don’t know how to wrap my head around it.’’

A Professor of Forensic Accounting at Copperstone University, Zambia, Richard Mayungbe, described the Nigerian economy’s recent performance as a result of successful diversification from crude oil dependence.

Speaking on the President’s announcement, Mayungbe said the development reflects a deliberate effort to strengthen non-oil revenue streams.

“The President has diversified the economy from solely relying on crude oil to generating revenue from non-oil sources. This is a major boost for the country and ensures economic resilience,” he said.

According to him, restarting the economy after years of slow growth is a gradual process that requires courage and decisive leadership. He praised the administration for taking bold steps, including the removal of the oil subsidy, noting that the decision had already been necessitated by fiscal realities during the last days of the previous government.

He further highlighted improvements in foreign exchange management, pointing to the unification of multiple FX windows and the stability of the naira. “You no longer have to depend on the Central Bank for access to foreign exchange. Most banks now allow naira cards to be used internationally, which is a sign of a stabilising economy,” Mayungbe argued.

However, in a review of the half-year done by multiple investment houses, borrowings had been projected to increase in H2.

Cardinal Stone mid-year outlook titled, ‘Charting The Sustainability Path,’ noted that Nigeria mostly relied on the domestic market for deficit financing in the first half of the year, with the government issuing about N3tn via Treasury Bills and Bonds, suggesting that a further net issuance of about N10.08tn may be required to cover the estimated deficit for 2025.

During the first half, the Federal Government sought National Assembly approval for $21.00bn, €2.20bn, and ¥15.00bn under its rolling borrowing plan.

Projecting, the analysts said, “We expect a notable increase in external sourcing in H2 25. Precisely, the government has set its sights on raising $1.20bn through the Debt Management Office and a further $2.00bn at concessionary rates through multilateral sources.

‘’These numbers suggest that a cumulative total of N4.90tn (using the official exchange rate of $1,530.00/$ as of June 1, 2025) may be sourced from abroad, with the balance of N5.19tn likely to be raised from the domestic market after catering to rollovers.

“We are of the view that a part of the external borrowings may be used to finance the $1.12bn Eurobond maturity due in November and cumulative coupons of c.$1.38bn,” the report added.

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Politics

Makinde joins presidential race, warns against one-party state ahead of 2027

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday formally joined the presidential race for 2027 under an alliance involving the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples’ Movement.

In his declaration speech delivered at a rally held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, and witnessed by a mammoth crowd, Makinde said,

“Today, I, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, FNSE, announce my candidacy for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the PDP/APM alliance.”

The PUNCH had earlier reported that Makinde may formally declare his presidential ambition during the rally on Thursday.

With the declaration, Makinde joined former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party, among others, to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Speaking at the rally, Makinde said Nigeria was drifting dangerously towards a one-party state, warning that democracy itself was under threat if opposition forces failed to unite against what he described as systematic attempts to weaken alternative political voices.

At the rally were party enthusiasts, supporters and political stakeholders from across the country.

The rally, described by organisers as a “Unity Mega Rally,” turned Ibadan into a political carnival, with supporters of both parties chanting solidarity songs and waving party flags.

Speaking further, Makinde said the country had reached a critical political crossroads, insisting that the time had come for Nigerians and opposition parties to work together to rescue democracy and reset the nation.

“We have witnessed the continuous meddling in the affairs of opposition parties in our dear country with the aim of taking Nigeria to a one-party system. Without a multiparty system, there is no democracy,” he added.

The governor lamented the worsening economic and security situations in the country, saying many Nigerians had been pushed into survival mode while those entrusted with power were allegedly treating public authority as personal property.

According to him, the opposition movement extended beyond political parties to include ordinary Nigerians frustrated by hardship and governance failures.

“They calculated and said opposition cannot unite. But I am here today to say it is a miscalculation.

“The opposition in Nigeria is not just the political parties. It is the everyday Nigerian for whom the country does not work,” he said.

Calling for mass civic participation, Makinde urged Nigerians to resist political apathy and become actively engaged in shaping the future of the country.

“This is the time for every one of us to shake off the apathy that is gradually taking root and engage with the political process to ensure that Nigeria works for us.

“It is time to confront our fears. It is time to be engaged citizens and not spectators in our own country,” he added.

The Oyo State governor said the newly announced PDP/APM alliance represented the beginning of a broader opposition coalition aimed at offering Nigerians an alternative political direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Describing Ibadan as “the city of warriors,” Makinde declared that the alliance would field candidates for elective offices from top to bottom across the country.

He, therefore, called for unity among opposition parties, describing the alliance between the PDP and APM as the beginning of a broader political coalition.

In his goodwill message, former Osun State Governor and PDP chieftain, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said the emerging alliance was borne out of dissatisfaction with the performance of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He said the alliance was driven by promises made to Nigerians by President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 election campaign.

Oyinlola said, “What brought us to this level of alliance? About three and a half years ago, our brother, Bola Tinubu, said it was his turn to become President. He assured Nigerians that the power sector would be revitalised, the oil sector repositioned, and the country would move towards progress and prosperity.

“But where are we today? That was the purpose of the opposition summit in Ibadan, to chart a new course for the country and build a stronger alliance capable of addressing the challenges facing Nigerians,” Oyinlola said.

Earlier, some leaders of the PDP and APM signed a Memorandum of Understanding as part of the ongoing coalition and realignment efforts between the two political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The signing and presentation of the MoU were held at the PDP South-West Secretariat, Soji Adagunodo House, Old Ife Road, Ibadan.

Makinde, speaking after signing the MoU, said, “To the opposition political parties, this is the time for unity, one party at a time. That is exactly what the PDP and the APM are demonstrating today.

“This is the moment to work together in unity and determination to give our generation the leadership and direction it urgently needs. Today, I proudly declare the birth of the Reset Nigeria Movement. The time to reset Nigeria is now.

“And so, today, here in my home state, in Ibadan, the city of warriors, the first grand alliance is formed: the alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples’ Movement.

“This partnership will enable us to present candidates at every level of government, from the Presidency to the state houses of assembly and every office in between.”

Speaking at the signing and presentation of the MoU, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Dr Eddy Olafeso, thanked Makinde for the privilege of bringing new energy and unity among political leaders and for his strategic capacity and management of resources as the governor of Oyo State.

The governor later led the PDP and APM leaders, top government officials and political functionaries to Mapo Hall, where thousands of party loyalists had converged for the mega rally, with the Chairman of the PDP in Oyo State, Dayo Ogungbenro, noting that the unity rally was the climax of the alliance between the PDP and the APM after the two parties signed the MoU.

He described the alliance as the beginning of good things for Oyo State and Nigeria, assuring that the alliance of the two political parties would produce the President, Governors, National and State House of Assembly members in the 2027 general elections.

In their separate goodwill messages, Oyinlola and the PDP National Vice Chairman (South-East), Chief Ali Odefa, noted that the alliance of the two political parties was a result of the failure of the ruling APC to keep its numerous campaign promises.

They added that Nigeria “cannot afford to operate a one-party system, as parties are coming together to ensure an end to the incompetence of the current administration in the country.”

Also in their remarks, the National Chairman of APM, Dantalle and the National Secretary of the party, Oyadeyi Ayodele, congratulated Makinde and the leaders of the parties on the alliance, stressing that both parties had begun to work together to ensure that Nigeria reclaimed its pride of place as one of the best countries in Africa.

The two events had in attendance the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal; former deputy governor, Hamid Gbadamosi; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin; former Speaker, Monsurat Sunmonu; all serving House of Representatives members of the party in Oyo State as well as governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly aspirants on the platform of the party in Oyo State.

Also in attendance were the APM National Vice Chairman (South-West), Peter Olabanji; APM National Women Leader, Hajia Hafsat Usman; APM Chairman, Oyo State, Adegbenro Fagbemi; PDP Chairman, Ekiti State, Tunji Odeyemi; PDP Caretaker Chairman, Osun State, Babatunde Tijani and the PDP Chairman, Lagos State, Dr Amos Fawole.

Top government functionaries, including the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Segun Ogunwuyi; Chairman, Ibadan Airport Upgrade Committee, Bimbo Adekanmbi; Deputy Chief of Staff, Kazeem Adeniyi; Chairman, Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; commissioners, special advisers, executive assistants, special assistants and other PDP stakeholders were also in attendance.

Wike rejects PDP–APM alliance

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, rejected claims of any alliance between the PDP and the APM, insisting that the narrative was fabricated.

He accused Makinde of pushing what he described as “Political 419” ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking on Thursday while inspecting ongoing road construction in Gomani-Yangoji, Kwali Area Council, Abuja, Wike said neither the PDP nor the Independent National Electoral Commission had any knowledge of such an arrangement, dismissing the reports as baseless.

The minister noted, “When I say people are fraudulent, they think I am joking. And that is the 419 we are talking about.

“There is no alliance between PDP and APM or any other political party, as the case may be. INEC also knows that there is nothing called a PDP-APM alliance,” Wike added.

He further maintained that ongoing internal processes within the PDP, including the screening of presidential aspirants, showed the party had not entered into any coalition agreement. According to him, the party’s eventual nomination process would expose the truth to doubters.

The minister specifically linked the controversy to Makinde’s alleged presidential ambition, arguing that it was being pursued through what he called a collapsing political strategy.

“What you have is Seyi Makinde joining APM to be able to actualise his presidential ambition, which is already dead on arrival,” he said.

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Politics

Atiku, Amaechi submit ADC presidential forms

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi on Thursday submitted their ADC nomination forms at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, submit his presidential nomination forms at the secretariat of the African Democratic Congress in Abuja. Photo: Rotimi AmaechI | X

Atiku, in a post on his X handle on Thursday, said his presidential bid represents a broader movement aimed at restoring national prosperity and rebuilding Nigeria.

Amaechi, on his part, pledged to turn the country around within four years if elected, arguing that competence, experience and performance—not ethnicity or political sentiment—should determine the 2027 contest.

Their declarations come as the ADC continues to attract high-profile politicians ahead of the next general elections, amid intensifying political realignments across the country.

Speaking after submitting his form at the ADC national headquarters in Abuja, Atiku wrote, “The march to restore prosperity and better days to our beloved nation took a firm and decisive step forward today at the national secretariat of our great party, the African Democratic Congress.”

The former vice president said the movement transcended politics and was focused on national renewal and hope.
“This is more than a political journey; it is a national movement rooted in hope, renewal, and the collective resolve to save Nigeria from despair,” he stated.

He also called on Nigerians across ethnic, religious and regional divides to support the movement.

“I call on all Nigerians, regardless of region, faith, or background, to join us in this noble cause. Together, we will restore the promise of our nation and bring good times back again,” he added.

On his part, Amaechi pledged to transform Nigeria within four years if elected in the 2027 general election.

Amaechi made the promise shortly after submitting his nomination forms, where he also took a swipe at the administration of President Bola Tinubu, blaming it for the country’s worsening economic hardship.

The former Rivers State governor said the 2027 election should be based on competence, experience and performance rather than ethnic or regional sentiments.

“What Nigerians should do is assess all of us who are running for office based on our records.

“Nearly everybody who is running for the office of the president has served Nigeria in one way or another. Let this be a referendum. If you have performed, whoever has outperformed the other, vote for the person,” he said.

Amaechi argued that his years in public office had prepared him for the task of leading the country, citing his tenure as governor and later as Minister of Transportation under the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The next thing is, who is capable of delivering the votes? Who is capable of beating the incumbent? Who has the experience? I believe I am the most experienced.

“I am young, I am the most experienced, and I believe I have the capacity.

“Go back to Rivers State and see what I have done. Go back to the Ministry of Transportation and see what I have done, and assess it and see whether I can turn the country around. And I will, in four years, turn the country around,” he declared.

Amaechi, who served as governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, was a key figure in the formation of the All Progressives Congress and later served as Director-General of President Buhari’s 2015 campaign.

As Minister of Transportation between 2015 and 2023, he oversaw major railway projects, including the Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan rail lines, although critics questioned the rising debt associated with some of the infrastructure projects.

Speaking on the state of the nation, the former minister criticised what he described as the growing hardship under the Tinubu administration, saying Nigerians were bearing the brunt of economic policies that had worsened living conditions.

“Nigerians should vote for merit, not vote for those who say, ‘I’m from this place’ or ‘it is our turn.’

“It is the ‘Emilokan’ mentality that brought us here. It is our turn that brought us here. Now Nigerians are suffering,” he said.

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Politics

Fierce lobbying, tension as APC primaries begin

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Fresh tensions have erupted across several states as the ruling All Progressives Congress commences its primaries on Friday (today) ahead of the 2027 general elections, forcing party leaders and key stakeholders loyal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intensify consultations to prevent a full-blown internal crisis.

The growing unrest, which has triggered protests, collapsed consensus negotiations, and led to accusations of candidate imposition and reconciliation efforts across multiple states, comes as the APC leadership races to preserve party cohesion before the primaries gather momentum nationwide.

Concerned by the situation, President Tinubu has appealed to members, aspirants and party leaders to conduct themselves as sportsmen and women.

He warned that rancorous behaviour would only serve the opposition, and cautioned winners against gloating, while urging losers to accept defeat with grace.

In a personal statement he released on Thursday, the eve of the commencement of House of Representatives primaries, Tinubu said the exercises were not merely platforms to produce standard bearers but a referendum on the APC’s unity, resilience and strength as a party entering its fourth election cycle.

He said, “In every contest, there will be a winner and a loser. I urge the winners not to gloat in victory and the losers to show sportsmanship by taking things in their stride and preparing for another time.

“The ultimate winners are those who don’t choose to wreck the boat but rather work to prepare for another round. Our opponents are waiting for us to be against each other; we should disappoint them.”

The President made a pointed reference to a mode of political engagement he said the party had left behind, invoking it precisely to warn against its return.

“We should not play the politics of old, the do-or-die politics that we have put behind us. Politics should never be a zero-sum game. Any candidate that wins does so for all of us as a party,” he stated.

The President said wherever consensus had already been reached among aspirants, it should be maximised to reduce friction.

“I am aware that, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and our party’s constitution, leaders at various levels have initiated conversations to produce consensus candidates.

“It is a commendable option that would help in reducing rancour and bad blood among party members,” said Tinubu.

But where consensus fails, he said, members must conduct themselves with discipline.

“I urge us all to go into the primaries as brothers and sisters,” the President appealed.

Tinubu directed party governors and leaders to ensure a level playing field and rise above personal sentiment.

He said, “You must rise above sentiment to offer all aspirants a level playing field that guarantees participation without let or hindrance.

“While only one person will win for every seat contested, we should give eventual losers the satisfaction of a fair contest.”

He also directed that winners and party leaders at all levels reach out to those who did not succeed with olive branches, and urged aspirants who felt aggrieved to approach the party’s redress committees rather than destabilise the process.

The President called for the inclusion of women and youth, saying, “I appeal to voters in the primaries and leaders at all levels to give special consideration to our women and youth in the contest. We cannot afford to relegate the two significant demographics of our population.”

He also issued a firm directive to security agencies deployed for the primaries, urging them to limit their role strictly to maintaining peace.

According to him, “The police and other security agencies must remain professional and avoid acting as interlopers during this exercise. Your duties strictly centre on ensuring peaceful exercise. Nothing more.”

The APC primaries, kicking off with House of Representatives aspirants, are scheduled to run through to the presidential primary on May 25, 2026.

The primaries are taking place under the Electoral Act 2026, which reduced the statutory notice period for elections from 360 to 300 days, a change Speaker Tajudeen Abbas noted could allow Presidential and National Assembly elections to be held in January 2027.

Consensus talks collapse

Investigations by The PUNCH revealed that while some APC-controlled states successfully adopted consensus arrangements for the primaries, others descended into intense disputes as aspirants resisted pressure to step down for preferred candidates.

The crisis has become particularly pronounced in states such as Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Oyo, Yobe and Abia, where disagreements over direct primaries, endorsements and alleged automatic tickets have sharply divided party stakeholders.

In Abia State, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, moved to calm rising tension by dismissing speculations that certain aspirants had already been handed automatic tickets ahead of the primaries.

Speaking during a pre-primary stakeholders’ meeting of the APC in Umuahia on Thursday, Kalu insisted that the party would not impose candidates on members.

According to him, every aspirant seeking elective office under the APC platform must emerge through a transparent and democratic process.

“We are not going to impose any candidate. We want to ensure that after the primaries, the party is not going to disintegrate. We have worked hard and it is now time to harvest,” Kalu declared.

He added, “There is no automatic ticket and no list by anybody. The party has given us only two democratic options — consensus or direct primaries.”

The deputy speaker stressed that the wishes of party members would ultimately determine who emerges as candidates for the 2027 elections.

Also speaking at the meeting, former Abia State governor and senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, said President Tinubu had specifically mandated party leaders in the state to remain united ahead of the elections.

“The President told me clearly that the only gift Abia APC can give him is to deliver the state,” Orji Kalu said.

He added, “The President also told me not to quarrel with my younger brother. I have no problems with Ben Kalu anymore. The quarrel is gone. Abia APC is now united.”

The APC disclosed during the meeting that three governorship aspirants, nine senatorial aspirants, 24 House of Representatives aspirants and 64 House of Assembly aspirants purchased nomination forms in the state.

According to the state Organising Secretary, Emeka Okoroafor, only one House of Representatives aspirant was disqualified for not being a registered party member.

Meanwhile, consensus negotiations for House of Representatives tickets remained deadlocked in Kano State as party leaders struggled to avert divisive contests across the 24 federal constituencies.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Thursday, the Kano APC Publicity Secretary, Auwal Soja, confirmed that consultations were still ongoing late into the evening.

“Consensus among the aspirants of the APC for the 24 federal constituency seats is still ongoing, which will hopefully be concluded by 10 pm today,” he said.

He, however, admitted that direct primaries would hold wherever consensus arrangements fail.

“As you know, the APC Constitution provides only for direct primaries and consensus as legitimate pathways for selecting candidates,” Soja added.

The Electoral Act 2026 permits political parties to adopt either direct primaries, where all registered party members vote, or consensus arrangements backed by written consent from cleared aspirants.

Despite the reconciliation efforts, indications emerged that consensus talks in Kano may face resistance in some constituencies, especially Kumbotso Federal Constituency, where supporters of rival aspirants have openly demanded competitive primaries.

In Taraba State, the party’s consensus initiative suffered a major setback after several aspirants refused to withdraw from contests across strategic constituencies.

The collapse of the arrangement forced the APC to prepare for direct primaries in multiple National Assembly and state assembly constituencies ahead of today’s exercise.

In a statement issued by the APC State Publicity Secretary, Aaron Artimas, the party disclosed that the State Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa, had reconstituted another committee to continue negotiations with aggrieved aspirants.

According to the statement, “The committees achieved a tremendous amount of success, as many aspirants have already agreed to step down in the interest of party unity.”

The statement added that the fresh committee would continue engaging aspirants “who may still be holding out for one reason or another.”

However, reports submitted by zonal committees showed that consensus collapsed in constituencies such as Takum, Donga, Ussa, Kurmi, Nguroje and Wukari, where aspirants insisted on testing their popularity through direct primaries.

Former lawmaker, Tukur El-Sudi, who chaired one of the reconciliation committees, disclosed that many aspirants rejected appeals to step down for incumbents.

“All aspirants in Nguroje declined to withdraw for the incumbent lawmaker because they insisted the process must remain competitive,” he said.

Similarly, Dr Philip Duwe, who chaired the Southern Zone Consensus Committee, revealed that many aspirants initially feared that the consensus arrangement was merely a strategy to impose candidates.

According to him, “Several aspirants believed the process was designed to favour certain individuals, but the consultations later became useful platforms for dialogue and reconciliation.”

He further disclosed that huge financial investments made by aspirants for mobilisation and consultations also contributed to the breakdown of consensus talks.

The APC state chairman, Bawa, however, defended the process, insisting that disagreements should not be viewed as failure.

“The inability to achieve consensus everywhere is not a failure. It simply reflects internal democracy because aspirants are expressing themselves freely,” he stated.

In Yobe State, the APC is equally preparing for the House of Representatives primaries following the failure of party stakeholders to settle disagreements through consensus.

A senior party source disclosed that Governor Mai Mala Buni had returned to the state to personally supervise reconciliation meetings aimed at salvaging consensus talks before the primaries.

“The governor has arrived in the state and is expected to meet with party stakeholders to decide whether consensus can still be achieved or whether the primaries will proceed,” the source said.

The source added, “The party is fully prepared for the primaries on Friday, but consultations are still ongoing.”

The development followed earlier intervention by Vice-President Kashim Shettima in the Yobe governorship succession battle after intense disagreements among aspirants over alleged endorsement moves.

One of the governorship aspirants, Senator Ibrahim Bomai, had openly condemned attempts to impose candidates.

“No individual, regardless of influence or past office, has the moral authority to determine the leadership of millions behind closed doors,” Bomai had declared.

“Yobe State is not a private estate. Leadership must emerge through the free and transparent choice of the people.”

In Kaduna State, the government confirmed that Governor Uba Sani had constituted a high-powered reconciliation committee to address grievances arising from the primaries.

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, said the committee was established to prevent internal divisions and sustain party unity.

“The initiative is designed to deepen mediation and constructive engagement among aspirants across the state while fostering political stability and consensus-building within the party,” Maiyaki said.

According to him, the committee would engage aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders in constituencies where competing political interests had generated tension.

Political observers believe the intervention may be linked to rising complaints from aspirants who felt sidelined during recent party activities.

In Kwara State, uncertainty persisted over whether the APC would eventually adopt direct primaries or consensus arrangements.

Speaking with The PUNCH, the state APC chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, said the state chapter was awaiting directives from the party’s national leadership.

“I am not in a position to say whether the party will adopt consensus or direct primaries. We are still waiting for directives from Abuja,” he stated.

The uncertainty comes amid fierce political calculations in the state where about 16 governorship aspirants are reportedly seeking the APC ticket.

However, the Amalgamated APC Elders and Stakeholders Forum in the state declared support for any consensus arrangement approved by President Tinubu and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“With the Otoge Revolution of 2019, Kwara State was liberated from godfatherism and underdevelopment. We cannot afford to go backwards,” the forum declared.

Tension also boiled over in Oyo State as angry APC members staged a protest at the party secretariat in Ibadan over alleged attempts to impose candidates.

The protesters accused party leaders of allowing money and influence to determine the selection process.

They warned that repeating the mistakes of the 2023 elections could further weaken the APC in the state.

Confirming the incident, the state APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, alleged that hoodlums invaded the secretariat and attacked party officials.

“The hoodlums reportedly unleashed terror on members of the state executive committee and damaged vehicles, windows, tyres and office property,” Sadare said.

He added, “It was clearly a sponsored attack by disgruntled elements, but we are grateful no life was lost.”

Attempts by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to ensure the emergence of consensus candidates ahead of today’s House of Representatives party primaries have hit a roadblock.

Sources said the governor asked those who refused to accept his preferred candidates to go to the field.

In Oredo federal constituency, the preferred aspirant is Dr Paddy Iyamu, but his opponent, Osaro Obazee, has refused to step down.

Omosede Igbinedion is the only aspirant for Ovia Federal Constituency, and she has been reportedly tipped to emerge as the candidate.

In Uhunmwode/Orhionmwon constituency, incumbent Billy Osawaru was picked ahead of his opponent, Washington Osifo, while the leaders of the APC in Ikpoba-Okha/Egor federal constituency opted for Igbinovia Osaze.

In Edo Central, the battle for Esan West/Igueben/Esan Central is between Joseph Eseigbe, who was picked as the preferred candidate over a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun. Onobun, according to APC sources, refused to step down.

Odianosen Okojie, husband of Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson, has been endorsed for a second term ticket for Esan North East/Esan South East.

But no consensus arrangement was reached for the House of Representatives seats in Edo North. For the Owan Federal Constituency, Julius Ihonvbere is up against Abdul Oroh and Andrew Ijegbai.

Ihonvbere hails from Owan West Local Government, while other aspirants hail from the Owan East LGA. Ihonvbere was accused of breaching an agreement that each local government should spend two terms.

A former Chairman of the Edo Internal Revenue Services, Otunba Bamidele Bankole-Balogun, the preferred candidate for Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, has been endorsed by APC leaders.

Sources said incumbent lawmaker representing Estako Federal Constituency, Sunday Dekeri, failed to get the endorsement of party leaders for another term in office and was replaced by Blessing Agbomhere.

In contrast, Sokoto and Borno States appeared to have recorded smoother consensus arrangements.

In Sokoto, party leaders confirmed that affirmation exercises for consensus candidates would begin across federal constituencies.

“We have agreed on consensus for all elective positions in Sokoto and preparations for affirmation have been concluded,” a party chieftain disclosed.

Similarly, in Borno State, the APC officially adopted former Commissioner for Works, Mustapha Gubio, as consensus governorship candidate after consultations led by Governor Babagana Zulum.

The decision followed the withdrawal of Senator Kakashehu Lawan from the race in the interest of party unity.

Party stakeholders in the state have largely endorsed the arrangement, with no major opposition recorded so far.

Governor Zulum also called on aspirants vying for seats in the state and federal level to support a consensus decision, announcing that any aspirant who voluntarily withdrew would be considered for appointments.

The governor’s spokesman, Dauda Illiya, in a statement on Thursday, said Zulum stated this during a critical stakeholders’ meeting at the Multipurpose Hall of the Government House in Maiduguri, the state capital.

Illiya stated, “Governor Zulum also announced that aspirants who voluntarily withdrew from contests would be considered for appointments and other opportunities at both the federal and state levels.”

The governor further emphasised his commitment to democratic principles, assuring stakeholders that no candidate would be imposed on any constituency.

“As a democrat, I will not force any candidate on a particular constituency, but rather encourage us to continue consultations with stakeholders for consensus candidates to emerge,” Zulum stated.

To facilitate consultations across the state, Illiya said the governor constituted zonal consultative committees headed by the Deputy Governor, Umar Usman Kadafur for the Southern Zone; APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori, for the Central Zone; and Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno for the Northern Zone.

According to him, the governor formally presented the APC consensus governorship candidate, Mustapha Gubio, to stakeholders, fulfilling the promise he made during the high-level stakeholders’ meeting held on 25 April.

“APC Deputy National Chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori, and state chairman of the party, Bello Ayuba, all re-echoed the need for consensus as the means of primary election in the stated,” he said.

The meeting was attended by prominent personalities, including Deputy Governor Umar Usman Kadafur, Gubio, APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori, former Governor, Senator Maina Ma’aji Lawan; Senators Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Mohammed Ali Ndume, and Kaka Shehu Lawan SAN, serving and former members of the House of Representatives, APC state chairman, former Nigerian Ambassador to China, Amb. Baba Ahmed Jidda, Speaker, Borno State House of Assembly, and other members of the House.

Gbajabiamila, Elliot issue
On Thursday, a video went viral online, where the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, narrated how the role played by the lawmaker representing Surulere 1 constituency, Desmond Elliot, in the botched impeachment saga of Mudasiru Obasa as state House of Assembly speaker, almost cost him his job.

Gbajabiamila made the revelation while reacting to Elliot’s reported insistence on returning to the Lagos Assembly for a fourth term.

Speaking at a meeting ahead of the party’s primaries in Lagos, Gbajabiamila said, “I almost lost my job as Chief of Staff last year because of Desmond Elliot. Mr President called me to his house in Abuja during the Lagos Speaker Obasa saga. He said, ‘I hear this Desmond is your boy, the one we gave you,’ and I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He is one of the people causing problems in the Lagos House of Assembly.”

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives said he immediately defended Elliot, insisting he was not involved in the alleged plot to destabilise the Assembly.
However, he said the President maintained that intelligence reports implicated the lawmaker and directed him to warn Elliot to “retrace his steps.”

Gbajabiamila said he subsequently contacted Elliot and relayed the President’s warning, urging him to distance himself from the crisis if he was involved.
He further disclosed that days later, the Director-General of the Department of State Security Service allegedly informed him that his own name was being mentioned as one of those backing Elliot in the matter.

According to him, the situation became so serious that there were assumptions within political circles that Elliot could not have acted without his knowledge or support.

“I called him again and told him to go and make a public statement that he was not part of it,” Gbajabiamila said.
He, however, said that up to date, Elliot had not made any public statement denouncing his role in the saga.

The former Speaker added that his longstanding relationship with Tinubu ultimately saved him from losing his office.
Gbajabiamila also accused Elliot of attempting to introduce religious division into Surulere politics, alleging that the lawmaker had written official complaints accusing him of creating tensions between Muslims and Christians in the constituency.

He maintained that throughout his political career, he had resisted attempts to divide constituents along religious lines.
Elliot’s seat in the Assembly is being contested by Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, who has the backing of Gbajabiamila and other stakeholders from Surulere constituency..

Additional reporting: Isah Ojo, Animasahun Salman, Ademola Adegbite, Toheeb Omotayo, Godwin Isenyo, Umar Sani, Justin Tyopuusu, Tukur Muntari and Ogbonnaya Ikokwu and Adeyinka Adedipe