The Nigerian Democratic Congress and the ruling All Progressives Congress traded words on Saturday after the NDC zoned its presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections to the South, a move widely seen as a deliberate attempt to weaken incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027.

The decision, reached during the NDC National Convention in Abuja, also introduced a proposed single four-year term arrangement for the party’s eventual presidential candidate, with an agreement that the ticket would automatically return to the North in 2031. The development has intensified speculation that the opposition coalition may eventually produce former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, as presidential candidate and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as running mate.

Reacting swiftly to the development, the APC dismissed the NDC’s zoning arrangement as no threat to Tinubu’s second-term ambition, insisting that the ruling party remained firmly in control of the nation’s political structure ahead of the 2027 polls.

Speaking with journalists at the Plateau Governors Lodge in Abuja during the screening of presidential, governorship and senatorial aspirants, APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, argued that the real political battle ahead of 2027 was not between the APC and the NDC, but among opposition parties themselves.

“Never at all. Why should we be afraid? If you look at it now, the fight is not between APC and ADC or any other political party, but it is ADC versus the NDC. So now we have been vindicated when people say the APC was fighting opposition,” Yilwatda said.

“Now everybody has seen clearly that it is the opposition fighting themselves. So when you talk about us having problems or challenges, why should we be afraid? All the by-elections, the ADC has won none.”

The APC chairman maintained that opposition strength should not be measured by media appearances or public rhetoric but by electoral performance on the field.

“The major threat we have is actually the PDP. Even the PDP has not done very well in terms of performance in the election field. Performance is not on TV, not on radio, not in newspapers; it is on the field during elections,” he stated.

Yilwatda said despite the growing noise around opposition coalitions, the APC remained the party to beat because of its political spread and control across the federation.

Also reacting to the zoning arrangement, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, maintained that the APC was not threatened by the NDC coalition and zoning formula.

“The problem I have with the media is that you know the truth, yet you always want to dance around,” Uzodimma said.

“In a country of 36 states, 31 are sufficiently transparent members of the All Progressives Congress. Look at that proportion. Nigeria has already spoken.”

The governor argued that the APC’s dominance across most states of the federation already reflected public confidence in Tinubu’s leadership and the party’s political structure.

“So we’re not threatened by anybody. First of all, this party that zoned the presidential ticket to the South — where is their head office?” he queried.

Earlier at the convention, the NDC formally adopted the zoning arrangement after a motion moved by the member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Afam Victor Ogene, received unanimous support from delegates drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The arrangement effectively clears the path for Obi and other southern aspirants to pursue the party’s presidential ticket, while also reserving the 2031 presidential slot for northern aspirants under the proposed one-term agreement.

Addressing delegates, NDC National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, described the convention as the birth of a new political movement built on justice, inclusion, accountability and national development.

“Today we gather not merely to hold a convention, but to write a new chapter in the democratic history of our dear nation, Nigeria,” he said.

Cleopas noted that the registration of the NDC in February 2026 followed years of struggle, institutional delays and political resistance, adding that the party intended to provide responsible leadership and constructive opposition.

He lamented worsening economic hardship, inflation, insecurity and unemployment across the country, saying millions of Nigerians were struggling to survive.

Also speaking at the convention, former Bayelsa State Governor and National Leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, described the gathering as a historic turning point in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

“In me, you have a hard-boiled opposition operative,” Dickson declared to loud applause from delegates.

He said the decision to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South and the 2031 slot to the North reflected the party’s commitment to fairness, equal citizenship and national stability.

“We want a balanced and stable Nigeria. We do not want a Nigeria of divisions and grievances,” he stated.

According to him, the four-year rotational arrangement would help deepen trust among Nigeria’s diverse regions while reinforcing national cohesion.

In his keynote address, Obi described the NDC as a platform for “national liberation”, insisting Nigerians would resist every attempt to undermine democracy and credible elections.

“Today in Nigeria, we are seeing beneficiaries of democracy, beneficiaries of the judiciary and beneficiaries of good governance turn themselves into agents of destroying democracy and injustice,” Obi said.

The former presidential candidate warned against attempts to entrench one-party dominance in the country.

“We cannot have one party in Nigeria. Nigeria must have democracy. Those who think there will be no free and fair elections in 2027 should rethink because Nigerians will insist on credible elections,” he declared.

Obi also painted a grim picture of the nation’s socio-economic situation, claiming that over 140 million Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty while millions of youths remained unemployed or underemployed.

“Nigeria is not poor. Nigeria was looted into poverty, and we are coming to reverse that situation,” he added.

Kwankwaso, while endorsing the zoning arrangement, described it as a necessary step toward fairness, equity and national healing.

“It is therefore with great sense of unity and solidarity that as a loyal party member, I support the decision to zone the presidential ticket of the NDC to the South so that it allows the region to complete its turn in producing national leadership,” he stated.

The former governor also criticised the current state of governance in the country, blaming poor leadership for worsening insecurity and economic hardship.

“We are witnessing a sharp decline in the quality of life. Insecurity has created widows and orphans across the land. Millions have been displaced from their homes,” he said.

Kwankwaso expressed optimism that the NDC would emerge as a platform for national renewal, anchored on inclusive leadership devoid of ethnic and religious bias.

“This party shall also ensure to change the way things are done today by prioritising leadership without ethnic jingoism and religious favouritism,” he added.

Meanwhile, Yilwatda also dismissed speculation that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, would be excluded from the APC screening process ahead of the elections.

“Why are you singling one governor out of many? Three governors have not come. All of them have their reasons for not appearing, and we know they are chief executives of their states with state responsibilities,” he explained.

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The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday heard fresh arguments in the suit seeking to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party and other political parties, with defendants urging the court to stay proceedings pending the determination of an appeal before the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

After hearing the application for stay of proceedings and joinder, the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, subsequently adjourned the matter till May 18, 2026.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and several political parties.

At the proceedings, counsel for the sixth defendant (Accord), Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, urged the court to suspend further hearing in the matter, arguing that an application relating to the proceedings had already been filed before the Court of Appeal.

Adetunbi, who cited Supreme Court authorities, argued that a lower court could not continue to entertain arguments on issues already pending before a higher court.

Counsel for the 3rd defendant, the ADC, S.E. Aruwa; counsel for the 4th defendant (Action Alliance), Peter Abang; counsel for the 5th defendant (Action Peoples Party); and counsel for the 7th defendant (Zenith Labour Party), all aligned with the submissions seeking a stay of proceedings in the matter.

The defence lawyers collectively argued that it was settled law that the trial court should await the outcome of proceedings at the appellate court before taking further steps in the matter.

They maintained that proceeding with the hearing of the suit while an appeal was pending could prejudice the issues already submitted before the Court of Appeal.

Counsel for the APP further informed the court that an affidavit of facts had already been filed before the appellate court on May 7, 2026, and served on parties, adding that no counter-affidavit had been filed against the processes.

Abang, however, raised an additional argument on jurisdiction, contending that the 4th defendant had earlier challenged the competence of the suit and that the court should not proceed in a manner capable of pre-empting the appellate court’s decision on the issue.

Aruwa (ADC) also argued that the Court of Appeal was active and could determine the appeal within a week.

Opposing the applications, counsel for the plaintiff, Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba, argued that the appeal before the appellate court was interlocutory and did not automatically deprive the trial court of jurisdiction to continue hearing the matter.

Ruba relied on a 1989 Supreme Court decision, insisting that there was no subsisting order from either the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal directing Justice Lifu to stay proceedings.

Counsel for the first defendant (INEC), Haliru Mohammed, told the court that he would align himself with the position of the law, while noting that INEC had already filed a counter-affidavit to the substantive suit.

Counsel for the AGF, O.A. Abdulraheem, did not take any position on the issue.

The court also entertained several applications for joinder filed by politicians seeking to be made defendants in the matter.

Counsel for an applicant seeking to be joined as the 8th defendant, M.E. Sherriff, urged the court to grant the application filed on behalf of a serving member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sani Yakubu Noma.

Sherriff argued that his client, being a member of the ADC, would be directly affected if the party were deregistered.

Another applicant seeking to be joined as the 9th defendant, Abayomi Oluwafemi, told the court through his counsel that he intended to contest the Ogun State governorship election on the platform of the ADC, and would therefore be adversely affected if the party was deregistered.

The 6th defendant also moved separate applications seeking the joinder of two governorship candidates of the Accord Party in Osun and Ekiti states, as the 10th and 11th defendants.

Responding, counsel for the plaintiff opposed all the joinder applications on the ground that the applicants were not necessary parties since no relief was being sought against them.

The plaintiff further contended that one of the applicants had admitted in his affidavit that he belonged to the Labour Party, which was not a defendant in the suit and urged the court to dismiss the applications and award N50 million costs.

Counsel for the applicants, however, argued that parties likely to be adversely affected by the outcome of a suit were entitled to be joined under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

The judge thereafter adjourned the matter till May 18 for ruling and adoption of all processes for final determination of the court.

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THE fate of some aspirants into the Rivers State House of Assembly, who are believed to be loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, appears to be hanging in the balance, following reports that many of them have been disqualified by the screening committee.

Though there were conflicting reports on the situation of things regarding the screened aspirants, sources close to the All Progressives Congress (APC) confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that the fate of many of the contestants might have been sealed.

“The committee has done its job. All the documents needed to be attached have been attached to the forms of each aspirant. But the party has the final say,” a source in the know said.

The source in the party said that all that was required to clear and disqualify the aspirants had been submitted by the screening committee, adding that the National Working Committee, however, has the final say on the matter.

The development, according to the sources, places loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, firmly in charge of the transition process in Rivers.

According to the sources, the Rivers State House of Assembly Screening Committee of the APC, in its report, had, after the two-day exercise conducted at the party secretariat in Port Harcourt, on Saturday and Sunday, screened a total of 98 aspirants, out of which only 33 reportedly scaled the screening hurdle, while 65 were said to have failed the exercise.

Among those cleared were all 29 serving lawmakers loyal to the FCT minister in the Rivers House of Assembly, including the deputy Speaker, Maol Dumle, House Leader, Major Jack, and House spokesman, Enemi Alabo George.

The development is seen as a significant boost for the Wike camp ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, as the cleared lawmakers are expected to participate in the APC primaries.

In what observers describe as a major blow to Governor Fubara, all 32 aspirants reportedly backed by the governor were said to have been disqualified by the committee.

Sources privy to the report said that those who were not cleared in the report included former factional Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, alongside lawmakers loyal to the governor, Sokari Goodboy, and Timothy Orubibanuagha. Also affected was a known ally of the governor, Chijioke Ihunwo.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the state assembly, Martin Amaewhule, was reported to have obtained nomination forms to contest for the House of Representatives seat.

Reacting to the development, the state chapter of the APC has asked aspirants, who participated in the screening to check their status at the party secretariat along Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

In a statement by the state Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, the party said appeals arising from the screening outcome would commence today, through the party secretariat.

Screening Committee disowns report of disqualification

In another twist on Monday, the Secretary of the screening committee for Rivers, Tanko Yamowa, denied that the report of the disqualified aspirants emanated from the committee, adding that the report was false, unauthorized, and “does not emanate from the appropriate party authorities.”

The statement clarified that it is important to note that the screening exercise conducted by the committee headed by Honourable Muraina Ajibola, was concluded less than 24 hours ago, and no official list has been released by the party at this time.

It stated that as a responsible political party, they are guided by established procedures, rules, and timelines regarding the publication of screening results and related information.

The statement insisted that any official communication concerning the status of aspirants will be communicated through the appropriate channels in due course.

The statement, therefore, urged party faithful, aspirants, supporters, and the general public to disregard the purported list and treat it as the handiwork of mischief makers whose intention is to create confusion and unnecessary tension within the party.

It further affirmed that the party remains committed to transparency, fairness, and due process throughout the entire exercise.

‘Axed’ aspirants have the right of appeal — APC national secretary

Amidst the confusion over the fate of certain lawmakers in the Rivers Assembly, believed to have been disqualified by the Screening Committee led by Honourable Ajibola, the national secretariat of the party has reacted to the development.

Reports had indicated that the factional Speaker of the Rivers assembly, Victor Oko Jumbo, and 64 other aspirants who are loyalists of Governor Sim Fubara have been axed by the screening committee.

Reacting to the development in a telephone interview with the Nigerian Tribune, National Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Basiru, did not confirm if the factional speaker has been disqualified ahead of the primary for state assembly ticket in the South-South state.

He said: “There is no such report before us. No one will stampede us.

“In any case, even any aspirant is disqualified, he has a right to appeal. That’s why we have the screening appeal panel.

“Such aspirant(s) can always approach the panel to state their case. So, the report of the screening committee isn’t final and binding on the National Working Committee. There is a window for appeal.”

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