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Edo 2024: Dr. Okundaye harp on competence

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4bn Fraud: Fayemi Breaks Silence On EFCC Probe June 2, 2023 The immediate past Governor of Ekiti State and former Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has refuted the claim that he is under probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged N4bn fraud. Fayemi, in a statement on Friday by the Head of the Fayemi Media Office, Abuja, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, said during his visit to the EFCC, “no such allegation was raised during his conversation” with officials of the anti-graft agency. The statement, however, noted that all Fayemi did during the conversation with the officials of the EFCC in Ilorin, Kwara State, was respond to a frivolous petition from a group that was trying to soil his good name and image. The statement read, “We would like to address the concerns surrounding the invitation and subsequent visit of Dr Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of Ekiti State and former Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, to the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. “Last month, Dr Fayemi received an invitation from the Ilorin office of the EFCC regarding a money laundering petition against him. It was during the height of the preparations for the change of government, with many activities and programmes lined up as part of the event. “A key member of the APC, Dr Fayemi was already committed to playing important roles at these events and his non-appearance would have impacted them significantly. Understanding the significance of his commitments at that time, Dr Fayemi duly notified the EFCC of his willingness to cooperate but requested a more suitable date for his appearance.” The statement said, Fayemi, on Thursday, accompanied by his counsel, visited the EFCC office in Ilorin, and engaged in fruitful discussions with the investigators before being allowed to depart after a few hours. It added, “We firmly believe that Dr Fayemi’s visit has provided answers to the agency’s inquiries regarding the petition. However, should there be a need for further clarification, Dr Fayemi stands ready to cooperate fully. “We wish to note, too, that contrary to the news that made the rounds about a purported N4b fraud case against Dr Fayemi, no such allegation was raised in his conversation with the EFCC. “All he did was respond to a frivolous petition from a faceless group, the so-called Ekiti Patriotic Coalition, which we strongly believed is a front for some anti-Fayemi politicians, who are trying to soil the former governor’s good name and image.” The statement said throughout Fayemi’s tenure, he served the people of Ekiti State with utmost dedication and was renowned for his principled leadership. “As governor, he consistently demonstrated a profound commitment to the welfare of the citizens, driving notable advancements in infrastructure development and attracting valuable investment opportunities to the state. “We affirm that Dr Fayemi will continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity that he’s known for, and we trust that the truth will prevail in due course,” the statement said

Edo 2024: Dr. Okundaye harp on competence, capacity to lead, says rotational system, unconstitutional , unacceptable in the forth coming election

By Elvis Omoregie

 

 

 

A Labour Party chieftain, Dr. Kingsley Oghogho Okundaye, has averred that, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the only law that can determined who qualify to be the next governor of Edo state, not rotational zoning  which is man made agreement by  political parties.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Kingsley Oghogho Okundaye, a US based also posited that, what should be considered now for anybody that want to  be the governor of  Edo state is competence, capacity and the character of the person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He made the clearification at a media interactive parley held with some journalists in Benin city, Edo state.

 

 

 

 

 

“If you ask me that, if the labour party will participate in this coming local government elections in the state. I will say  yes, that we will participate. Luckily, for our emerged candidate that got the ticket to run in oredo local government area Comrade Onaghese Ero Daniel. Is a vibrant young man with the way and manner he emerged as the winner to get the ticket was very encouraging. And he can also share  his story to friends to compete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“But all that we the labour party are asking for is for the process of the local government elections be free, fair and credible. If the process is fair given what labour party stands for and the success we have able to record in the previous elections, regardless of the outcome of the elections, We are confidence that the labour party will emerge winner in Oredo local government area, and many other local government council in the State.

 

 

 

 

 

“We have carefully conducted the primary elections, and the primary elections had been ractified this month. We are ready to go for the elections. Our hope and worry now is for the process to be free and fair. That is what we stand for. Again, traditionally we have seen a situation whereby the ruling party emerged winner in all the local government areas of the state.

 

 

 

 

“But, we are not disturbed by that, we are relaying on the “organic based mechanism” , that we have, as a party. It is no longer news, that the labour party is well liked and loved by the strength of the youths, that makes the youths to cause great change in our party today which  gives us the advantage and  put us ahead among other parties. So in that line we have great confidence that our candidates will emerge winner in the next local government elections in Edo state,” he added.

 

 

 

 

 

Commenting on the question asked that, if it is pertinent to cede the governorship position to Edo Central in this incoming 2024 governorship race, Dr. Okundaye stressed:” Labour party is a party that abide by its Constitution. Except, I am wrong, but I have not seen any party that would fix or zone the rotation of office to one particular district. Baring that in mind, I am going to say that, if there is anybody that is suggesting that the number one governorship seat in the State should go to a particular area, that person is not doing so in good faith.

 

 

 

 

 

“They are not abiding to the Constitution. If it must be a party that abide by its Constitution, then our discussion should not be revolving around rotational offices. We believed in competence and capacity. Again, these are the things that suppose to drive our politics.  Our politics should do away with sectional interest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“This has not done justice to governance, whether at the state or national levels. It has not taken us to anywhere in term of developments. My stand is that, if everyone is qualify according to the Constitution let the person contest. So, everyone that is interested to run for governorship position should come out and contest to be part of the process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The discussion now is that, what you have that you are offering to Edo people? What is that thing that, you want to do differently? I have always emphasized that, governance should be about the people, and any well meaning governance and administrator or anybody who is involve in governance must be somebody who identify with the dreams and aspirations of the people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“That should be the first conversation now, and the second most important conversation I heard you say is that, is  the party ready for the election? Is not enough for somebody to say, I  will do this, and that. Is the party really ready? What should we do to make the party ready? What are the things that should be done differently to prevent what occured at the recent elections .

 

 

4bn Fraud: Fayemi Breaks Silence On EFCC Probe June 2, 2023 The immediate past Governor of Ekiti State and former Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has refuted the claim that he is under probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged N4bn fraud. Fayemi, in a statement on Friday by the Head of the Fayemi Media Office, Abuja, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, said during his visit to the EFCC, “no such allegation was raised during his conversation” with officials of the anti-graft agency. The statement, however, noted that all Fayemi did during the conversation with the officials of the EFCC in Ilorin, Kwara State, was respond to a frivolous petition from a group that was trying to soil his good name and image. The statement read, “We would like to address the concerns surrounding the invitation and subsequent visit of Dr Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of Ekiti State and former Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, to the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. “Last month, Dr Fayemi received an invitation from the Ilorin office of the EFCC regarding a money laundering petition against him. It was during the height of the preparations for the change of government, with many activities and programmes lined up as part of the event. “A key member of the APC, Dr Fayemi was already committed to playing important roles at these events and his non-appearance would have impacted them significantly. Understanding the significance of his commitments at that time, Dr Fayemi duly notified the EFCC of his willingness to cooperate but requested a more suitable date for his appearance.” The statement said, Fayemi, on Thursday, accompanied by his counsel, visited the EFCC office in Ilorin, and engaged in fruitful discussions with the investigators before being allowed to depart after a few hours. It added, “We firmly believe that Dr Fayemi’s visit has provided answers to the agency’s inquiries regarding the petition. However, should there be a need for further clarification, Dr Fayemi stands ready to cooperate fully. “We wish to note, too, that contrary to the news that made the rounds about a purported N4b fraud case against Dr Fayemi, no such allegation was raised in his conversation with the EFCC. “All he did was respond to a frivolous petition from a faceless group, the so-called Ekiti Patriotic Coalition, which we strongly believed is a front for some anti-Fayemi politicians, who are trying to soil the former governor’s good name and image.” The statement said throughout Fayemi’s tenure, he served the people of Ekiti State with utmost dedication and was renowned for his principled leadership. “As governor, he consistently demonstrated a profound commitment to the welfare of the citizens, driving notable advancements in infrastructure development and attracting valuable investment opportunities to the state. “We affirm that Dr Fayemi will continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity that he’s known for, and we trust that the truth will prevail in due course,” the statement said

 

 

 

“These are all of the discussion that we suppose to discuss as a party. These are the discussion that the leadership of the party should involve in, at this point. I think the issue of rotational sharing of governorship seat had been belaboured too much  and to me it is an issue of insignificant  he added.

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A Nation Betrayed: How NASS Budget Padding Exposes Tinubu’s Complicity and the Rot in Nigeria’s Leadership. By George Omagbemi Sylvester

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A Nation Betrayed: How NASS Budget Padding Exposes Tinubu’s Complicity and the Rot in Nigeria’s Leadership. By George Omagbemi Sylvester

A Nation Betrayed: How NASS Budget Padding Exposes Tinubu’s Complicity and the Rot in Nigeria’s Leadership.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

In a disturbing revelation that should outrage every patriotic Nigerian, civic-tech organization BudgIT has uncovered a monumental financial scandal in the 2025 budget, one that shatters every illusion of fiscal responsibility under the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. According to BudgIT’s damning analysis, the National Assembly padded the 2025 Appropriation Act by inserting 11,122 projects worth a staggering ₦6.93 trillion, projects not proposed by any Ministries, Departments or Agencies (MDAs), but smuggled in by lawmakers.

 

This is not a clerical oversight, but a calculated and treacherous move. More importantly, this raises one inescapable question: Why did President Bola Tinubu sign this fraudulent budget into law if he was genuinely against it? The answer is simple, brutal and damning: because he is part of the collaboration. This is not just corruption, it is institutional betrayal. It is the final confirmation that the war in Nigeria is not between political parties but between the corrupt elite and the suffering Nigerian masses.

The Anatomy of Budget Padding
Let us first understand the scale of this treachery. The 2025 national budget, totalling ₦28.7 trillion, now has nearly 25% padded content, courtesy of lawmakers’ “constituency projects.” These are not national priorities or economically strategic programs. These are politically motivated insertions designed to enrich contractors linked to lawmakers, reward political loyalty and in some cases, simply launder money.

BudgIT revealed that several of these projects are duplicated, vague, inflated or outrightly useless, such as the procurement of hundreds of boreholes and solar streetlights in areas that do not even have roads, schools or hospitals. These are not investments; they are tools of financial cannibalism.

A similar trend happened in previous years, but never on this scale. In 2021, former President Buhari complained that the National Assembly inserted over 1,000 projects worth ₦150 billion. Now, under Tinubu, that figure has ballooned to ₦6.93 trillion; which is nearly forty-six times higher. This is not reform. This is regression at gunpoint.

Tinubu’s Silence is Complicity
To sign such a budget, fully aware of its fraudulent padding, is not a mistake, this is an endorsement. President Tinubu, known for his political astuteness and Machiavellian tactics, cannot claim ignorance. BudgIT’s report was based on public records. If civic groups could uncover this, then surely the Office of the President, with all its resources, was also aware.

Yet, Tinubu raised no alarm. He signed it into law. Why?

Because the padding was politically convenient. This budget is not just a fiscal document, it is a loyalty purchase agreement. As the APC seeks to consolidate power ahead of 2027, especially in light of its underwhelming performance, it is using state resources to bribe lawmakers across party lines. These padded projects are political IOUs for securing second-term endorsements and collapsing opposition platforms.

This is not democratic governance. This is budgetary banditry, orchestrated under the guise of legislative “oversight.”

The Cost to the People


While the so-called leaders gorge themselves on fake projects and fraudulent allocations, ordinary Nigerians are gasping for breath. Inflation is above 33%, food inflation is at 40%, unemployment remains sky-high and naira continues to hemorrhage value, trading at nearly ₦1,500 to the dollar. Meanwhile, the masses are told to “tighten their belts” while the political elite expands theirs.

Public infrastructure is collapsing. Schools remain underfunded, hospitals are glorified mortuaries and insecurity has become a permanent fixture. Yet ₦6.93 trillion enough to build 20 world-class universities or electrify entire regions has been carved out as a political slush fund.

Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education and former Vice President of the World Bank for Africa, once noted, “The problem with Nigeria is not lack of resources. It is the deliberate theft of the commonwealth by a few.” That is exactly what this budget represents: a theft of historic proportions, blessed by the presidency, executed by lawmakers and paid for by the blood and sweat of ordinary Nigerians.

A Nation Held Hostage
The fundamental betrayal here is not just the money. It is the normalization of impunity. Nigeria has become a hostage state where lawmakers legislate for themselves, the executive protects the corrupt and the judiciary often dances to the tune of power. The 2025 budget saga is not just another scandal, it is a window into how deeply broken the Nigerian state has become.

Even worse is the sheer arrogance with which this fraud is being executed. No lawmaker has denied BudgIT’s report. No investigation has been ordered. The Presidency has remained silent and the APC, whose manifesto once promised “fiscal discipline,” has said nothing.

Silence is not just death anymore, it is endorsement. Every day this padded budget stands unchallenged, democracy dies a little more.

Calls for Action
This cannot be allowed to stand. Civil society must rise. Journalists must demand answers. Every Nigerian must understand that this is not politics this is plunder. The 2025 budget must be reviewed, the padded projects must be removed and those responsible must face prosecution.

Section 81(1) of the Nigerian Constitution empowers the President to prepare and lay before the National Assembly an annual budget. However, it also states in Section 80(4) that “no moneys shall be withdrawn from any public fund other than in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly.” This legal ambiguity has been weaponized by both the legislature and the executive to enrich themselves while the nation bleeds.

This is where the people must draw the line. Budget padding is not just bad governance, it is treason against the Nigerian people. Those who participate in it, approve it or benefit from it must be named, shamed and prosecuted.

Final Thoughts: Time for a Revolution of Accountability
The time for timid reform is over. Nigeria needs a revolution not of guns, but of accountability, transparency and civic outrage. If the President will not fight corruption, then the people must. If lawmakers will not serve the people, they must be voted out even if it means starting from scratch.

History will not be kind to the collaborators of this budget. And neither should we.

As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” The 2025 budget scandal matters. It is a defining moment in the fight for Nigeria’s soul. And we must not remain silent.

A Nation Betrayed: How NASS Budget Padding Exposes Tinubu’s Complicity and the Rot in Nigeria’s Leadership.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester

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One Voice, One Future: Youth Power for a New Nigeria

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One Voice, One Future: Youth Power for a New Nigeria

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

In the history of nations, there always comes a defining moment when the youth must rise to rescue their future from the grip of complacency, corruption and systemic decay. That moment, for Nigeria, is now. The clarion call is no longer a whisper in the dark, it is a deafening roar echoing across the cities and villages, the streets and campuses and the diaspora. 2027 is not just another election year; it is a generation’s opportunity to reclaim its destiny.

Nigeria, once hailed as the Giant of Africa, is now crawling under the weight of failed leadership, nepotism, economic collapse and insecurity. Over 70% of Nigeria’s population is under the age of 35, this is not a mere statistic; it is a superpower waiting to be activated. Yet, for decades, the same recycled leadership has ruled the country like a private estate, while the youth are sidelined, patronized or pacified with empty slogans.

The Reality: A Nation Betrayed
The facts are brutal and undeniable. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), as of the fourth quarter of 2024, youth unemployment stood at 42.5%, one of the highest rates globally. Thousands of graduates are turned out yearly into a job market that has nothing to offer them. Our educational institutions are underfunded, with lecturers going on endless strikes, while billions of naira are siphoned into the offshore accounts of corrupt politicians.

The World Bank states that over 40% of Nigerians live below the poverty line, with youth bearing the brunt of the economic despair. The same youth are used during elections as pawns, thugs, online propagandists and cheerleaders for politicians who have never and will never fight for their future.

We must say: “Enough is Enough.”

The Power of Youth: A Sleeping Giant
Across Africa, the story is changing. Youth-led movements are challenging old orders and shaking the foundations of outdated governance systems.

In Uganda, Bobi Wine, a musician turned politician, galvanized millions of youth to challenge President Museveni’s long-standing dictatorship. While he didn’t win the election, he ignited a flame of hope. In Sudan, youth were at the center of the 2019 revolution that ousted the 30-year regime of Omar al-Bashir.

As Nelson Mandela once said, “Youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.” But as things stand in Nigeria, tomorrow never seems to come, unless we seize it.

In 2020, during the #EndSARS movement, we saw a glimpse of what a united, tech savvy and courageous Nigerian youth can achieve. For once, the world stood still as Nigerian youth organized without a central leadership structure, crowd funded, coordinated logistics, engaged in civic education and peacefully demanded justice. Despite the violent crackdown at Lekki Tollgate, the spirit of resistance lives on.

2027: The Youth Mandate
If we are serious about change, then 2027 must be our electoral revolution. Not through violence, but through strategic mobilization, political education, voter registration and active participation in the democratic process.

Let us be clear: the days of apathy are over. As the African proverb goes, “He who is not part of the solution is part of the problem.”

Youth must no longer be mere spectators or online critics; we must become candidates, campaigners, policy drafters, party leaders, election monitors and political donors. Our demographic power must translate into voting power and our voting power must produce accountable leadership.

According to INEC, less than 35% of youth eligible to vote actually did so in the 2023 elections. This is a travesty. With over 90 million Nigerians under 40, if even 50% of us vote smartly and strategically in 2027, we can turn the tide.

Towards a National Youth Alliance
What we need now is not another party, we need a movement, a coalition, a National Youth Alliance that transcends ethnicity, religion and class.

A youth amalgamation that brings together student unions, tech entrepreneurs, young professionals, artisans, artists, athletes, activists and influencers. A youth vanguard that builds structures, fields candidates, protects votes and holds leaders accountable.

We must engage in issue based politics, not stomach infrastructure or tribal loyalties. The youth must demand answers to the questions that matter:

“Why are over 10 million Nigerian children out of school?”

“Why does Nigeria remain the poverty capital of the world, according to the Brookings Institution?”

“Why is our minimum wage ₦70,000 when a bag of rice is over ₦70,000?”

“Why are lawmakers earning ₦30 million monthly while civil servants are owed arrears?”

The late Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader, once said, “You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness.” We need a bit of that madness, the madness to challenge the status quo, to think differently and to act boldly.

From Hashtags to Ballot Boxes
It is not enough to trend on Twitter or rant on TikTok, social media is powerful, yes I agree, but it is not a substitute for civic engagement; we need to bridge the gap between online activism and offline results.

Youths must start at the grassroots to win local government seats, state assemblies and build a pipeline of leadership that is tested and accountable. The #NotTooYoungToRun Act must not be a symbolic victory; it must be a political weapon in our hands.

Let us support credible youth candidates with our time, resources and platforms. Let us organize town hall meetings, debates and policy hackathons. Let us raise funds, build apps to track campaign promises and expose corrupt leaders.

As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said, “When we refuse to engage in politics, we end up being governed by our inferiors.”

Time for Tangible Action
It is time for each Nigerian youth to ask themselves: What am I doing today to secure my tomorrow? Are we registering to vote? Are we sensitizing our peers? Are we demanding better governance at the community level?

We must begin to think long term, beyond 2027. The goal is not just to elect a few fresh faces. The goal is to build a sustainable youth-driven democratic culture where excellence not ethnicity, becomes the metric of leadership.

Let us stop romanticizing suffering. Nigeria has the talent, the resources and the manpower to be great. What we lack is visionary leadership and that is what we must now provide.

Final Words: A Movement, not a Moment
This is a movement, not a moment. It will require sacrifice, unity and strategy. There will be obstacles, betrayals and frustrations. But we must remain focused.

As the Pan-Africanist Kwame Nkrumah declared: “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa.” Likewise, any victory in 2027 will be meaningless unless it sets off a chain reaction of liberation, innovation and transformation across all levels of Nigerian society.

So, dear patriotic Nigerian youth; RISE! This is your time… Your country needs you more than ever.

Don’t wait for change, be the change.

Together, we can make a difference.

#YouthFor2027 #NationalAllianceNow #SecureTheFuture #NigeriaDeservesBetter

One Voice, One Future: Youth Power for a New Nigeria
By George Omagbemi Sylvester

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2027 Power Pact? Atiku Offers Peter Obi VP Slot in One-Term Deal Amid Mega Coalition Talks

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2027 Power Pact? Atiku Offers Peter Obi VP Slot in One-Term Deal Amid Mega Coalition Talks

2027 Power Pact? Atiku Offers Peter Obi VP Slot in One-Term Deal Amid Mega Coalition Talks

 

There are strong indications that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may have proposed a single-term presidency deal to Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, in a move aimed at unifying the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to multiple high-level sources involved in the coalition negotiations, who requested anonymity, the offer was first tabled during a discreet meeting between Atiku and Obi in the United Kingdom earlier this year. Atiku reportedly pledged to serve only one four-year term and hand over to Obi in 2031—a strategic rotation aimed at strengthening opposition unity and appeasing both leaders’ support bases.

The former Anambra State governor, who served as Atiku’s running mate in the 2019 presidential race under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is said to have tentatively accepted the proposal. However, he is currently consulting with his inner circle and political loyalists before making any formal announcement.

This development comes nearly two months after Atiku, Obi, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other political stakeholders publicly declared plans to form a coalition to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. The March 20 coalition announcement in Abuja sparked widespread debate and raised hopes for an opposition merger capable of ending APC’s dominance.

Sources say discussions have moved beyond exploratory talks to active alignment of strategies, with plans to sign a formal agreement. “Atiku and Obi met earlier in the UK where Atiku suggested the coalition idea and asked Obi to be his running mate,” said a party insider. “Obi asked for time to consult his people, and recent developments indicate he has agreed.”

There are also discussions about the political platform the Atiku-Obi ticket might run on, given the internal crises currently plaguing both the PDP and LP. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has emerged as a strong contender, with several coalition loyalists reportedly engaging with the party’s leadership or quietly switching affiliations.

A source familiar with the talks explained: “The Social Democratic Party (SDP) was an option, but it’s believed that the APC has already infiltrated it. The ADC, on the other hand, is gaining momentum, with many stakeholders aligning behind its vision for a mega political platform.”

When contacted, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, did not confirm the specifics of the agreement but acknowledged ongoing coalition talks. “What I can tell you is that both Atiku and Obi are focused on building a broad-based coalition capable of unseating the APC in 2027,” he said.

Obi’s camp has remained tight-lipped on the alleged deal. Peter Ahmeh, a close ally of Obi and National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, avoided confirming the VP offer but noted Obi is actively working to resolve the LP’s internal disputes.

The National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, dismissed reports of an Atiku-Obi joint ticket, saying: “As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing of this nature currently on the table. Obi has not discussed anything of the sort with me.”

ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu confirmed his party is in contact with all major opposition stakeholders and hinted at a major announcement soon. “The ADC is committed to building a mega African political party,” he said. “We’ve engaged with all key players and even government officials. The project is beyond Nigeria—it’s about rescuing Africa through credible leadership.”

As the political landscape begins to shift, Nigerians are watching closely. If sealed, an Atiku-Obi alliance under a united banner could reshape the dynamics of the 2027 election and pose the most formidable challenge yet to the APC’s reign.

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