Minister of Aviation and Space Development , Festus Keyamo, has hailed the defection of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, describing it as the final piece in consolidating the party’s dominance in the South-South region.
Keyamo wrote in a post on X on Monday, while reacting to the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, welcome message to Diri.
“Finally, the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle in the S/South has moved into place! Officially, five of the six states of the South/South are now in APC, whilst the sixth has a leader and Minister in active, open support of Mr. President.
“From a position of absolute weakness in 2015, 2019 and 2023 to a position of absolute advantage and strength ahead of 2027! Welcome home, Governor Duoye Diri!,” Keyamo wrote.
Yilwatda also welcomed Diri, posting on X,”The Broom Revolution. Welcome to our family and party, Governor Douye Diri.”
Diri had resigned from the PDP on October 15, citing “obvious reasons” without elaborating on the details of his grievances.
On Sunday, at the 14th Bayelsa Thanksgiving Day held at the Ecumenical Centre, Igbogene, Yenagoa, the governor said his decision was motivated by the overall interest of the state.
“Someone had to make the move and I did so on behalf of Bayelsans.
“Although some people might not immediately understand my decision to join the ruling party, time will reveal that it was driven by altruistic motives,” he said.
Keyamo’s statement positions the APC as having gained a “position of absolute advantage and strength” in a region where it had previously been considered weak, highlighting the strategic importance of Diri’s move to the ruling party.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, has announced plans to set up and lead campaign teams for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid in the FCT and Rivers State.
It was reports that Wike made this known on Friday during an inspection of the ongoing Phase Two construction of the Kuje-Gwagwalada road dualization project in Chikuku, Abuja.
The minister said he would personally head the campaign structure in the nation’s capital and his home state, Rivers, as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
He said political parties were already reorganizing ahead of the election, adding that supporters of Tinubu from different political platforms had also begun preparing their campaign structures.
He said: “The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), I believe, is putting itself together for an aggressive campaign. For us who are supporting Mr President from different political platforms, we have put our machinery ready to fully kickstart. Very soon, I will inaugurate the campaign team for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State, which I will lead. All elements of the APC are ready, Mr President is ready, we are ready and you can see the enthusiasm.
“People are happy, and I don’t know who will contest against Mr President as far as this election is concerned. This is governance, and this is what people expect. It will translate directly into actual votes. It is very obvious. Nobody will be able to claim rigging in the FCT. The ‘rigging’ is the projects we are delivering, making the people happy.
“This is my first time getting to this side of the road, and I can see how highly populated this area is. You can imagine the enthusiasm and happiness on the faces of the people. That is why we say the essence of governance is to make people happy. When the people are happy, those in authority are happy.”
President Bola Tinubu, speaking through House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, urged Nigerians to give his administration more time to complete its programmes and reforms.
Tinubu delivered the appeal on Friday at a special Juma’at prayer at the National Mosque, Abuja, marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
Abbas said Tinubu assured Nigerians not to lose hope, promising peace and development would return as the government corrects past mistakes and missed opportunities.
President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to give his administration more time to complete the programmes and reforms it has embarked upon. NigeriaMarket Research
Tinubu made the appeal on Friday through the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, at a special Juma’at prayer held at the National Mosque in Abuja as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The President, represented by Abbas at the prayer, urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country, saying his administration was working to address what he described as the cumulative mistakes and missed opportunities of previous governments.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 66 years of independence, the President described the country as having reached maturity despite the challenges it had encountered over the years.
Abbas, conveying Tinubu’s message, said, “This anniversary, the 66th, by all accounts signifies Nigeria has come of age. A 66-year-old cannot be called a child anymore. Nigeria has become mature, even though when we reflect on the journey from independence to date, we may say it was a mixed journey.
“Nigeria was bedevilled with a lot of issues in the past and opportunities as well. But we thank Almighty Allah for granting us the life and the peace for us to witness this very historic event today.”
The President urged Nigerians to remain hopeful, assuring them that peace and development would return as the country continued on its democratic path. NigeriaMarket Research
“My message to the country on behalf of the Mr President, the Senate President and all members of the National Assembly is that the citizens should not lose hope.
“Peace is coming back to this country. Development is coming back to this country. Things will get better as we progress in this democracy,” he said.
Tinubu said his administration was focused on correcting what he described as accumulated mistakes and missed opportunities inherited from previous governments.
The President further said Nigerians should consider the direction of his administration as it implements its programmes and reforms. NigeriaMarket Research
He added, “More importantly, citizens should look at the focus of the government of today, that the mistakes of the past—the cumulative mistakes and the missed opportunities of the past are being corrected in this particular administration.
“And I want to categorically make it clear that Nigeria is on the right path; that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that Nigerians have finished making sacrifices for this country to be great again.
“We should give this government more opportunity for it to come back and finish the good work.”
Children of former presidents, governors and other political bigwigs are among those seeking Senate and House of Representatives seats ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly polls, as parties intensify preparations for the election.
Named aspirants and incumbents include Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Iyabo Obasanjo, Yusuf Buhari, Bello El-Rufai, Adamu Atiku and Blessing Onuh across multiple states and constituencies.
As political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, the children of several former
Nigerian presidents, governors and other prominent political figures are featuring among those seeking seats in the National Assembly.
According to The Nation, a review of candidates and politicians identified in recent reports shows that some already serve in the Senate or House of Representatives, while others seek to enter the National Assembly in the next election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, according to its published timetable.
Among those linked to the 2027 National Assembly contests are:
1. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan – Kogi
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, daughter of the late former House of Representatives member, Jimoh Abdul Akpoti, is the incumbent senator representing Kogi Central.
She is seeking another term in the Senate on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.
2. Iyabo Obasanjo – Ogun
Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is seeking the Ogun Central senatorial seat on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.
Her proposed return to elective politics places another member of a former president’s family in the 2027 National Assembly contest.
3. Yusuf Buhari – Katsina
Yusuf Buhari, son of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been linked to the Daura/Sandamu/Mai’adua Federal Constituency contest in Katsina State.
His reported involvement adds another former presidential family to the list of political families featuring in the 2027 legislative elections.
4. Bello El-Rufai – Kaduna
Bello El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, currently represents the Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
He is among the politicians featuring in the 2027 National Assembly contests.
5. Chinedum Orji – Abia
Chinedum Orji, son of former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, is contesting the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
6. Adamu Atiku – Adamawa Government
Adamu Atiku, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, is among those linked to the 2027 National Assembly race in Adamawa State.
Reports have also linked him to the Adamawa South senatorial contest.
7. Blessing Onuh – Benue
Blessing Onuh, daughter of former Senate President David Mark, currently represents the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
She is seeking another term in the 2027 election.
8. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu – Delta
Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, represents the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
She is also involved in the 2027 electoral contest.
9. Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion – Edo
Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion, daughter of businessman and politician Gabriel Igbinedion, is associated with the Ovia North-East/Ovia South-West Federal Constituency in Edo State.
She has emerged as a candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election.
10. Olumide Osoba – Ogun
Olumide Osoba, son of former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, represents the Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
He is among the children of prominent political figures seeking National Assembly seats in 2027.
11. Adegboyega Adefarati – Ondo
Adegboyega Adefarati, son of the late former Ondo State Governor Adebayo Adefarati, represents the Akoko South-East/Akoko South-West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
He is seeking another term in the 2027 election.
12. Olamiju Alao-Akala – Oyo
Olamiju Alao-Akala, son of the late former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, is linked to the Orire/Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South Federal Constituency contest in Oyo State.
His participation adds another child of a former governor to the list of politicians featuring in the 2027 National Assembly contests.