The upcoming 2027 election in Nigeria is shaping up to be one of the most contentious and violent in the nation’s history. With a heightened atmosphere of political rivalry, many politicians are prepared to engage in ruthless tactics to secure their positions or seize new political offices.

In this charged environment, the governor of Abia State has issued a stark warning to opposing parties, targeting those who may be conspiring to manipulate the electoral process in particular.

Otti, while speaking to journalists in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, said he has no intention of defecting to the ruling APC, despite the wave of defections rocking various Nigerian opposition parties.

He also informed the people of the state that he does not feel intimidated by plots to manipulate the forthcoming 2027 election results across the state.

“I have heard that some people around you are saying they must take over the state and they will write the results. The only advice I have for them is that if they truly want to write results, they should write something else before that time.

“You know what it is? Their will. Because this is our state and nobody can intimidate us but having said that; am I threatened? Absolutely no. Do I bother about that? Absolutely no.

“But I want us to maintain peace and decorum, okay,” Otti noted.

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Otti’s remarks come days after the governor was engaged in a war of words with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, over the alignment of the state officials, including the governor, to the power at the centre.

Kalu while speaking to some of his supporters in the state, had claimed that his party, the APC, would take over Abia State from the incumbent Labour Party government led by Otti.

The lawmaker also said that while Otti has constantly received commendations for his good works and delivery of good governance to Abians, it is important that the governor explain to the people where funds for projects carried out in the state emanated from.

Kalu further told his supporters that Otti could not have successfully carried commendable projects in the state without the financial influence of President Bola Tinubu, who is the leader of the APC at the national level.

“I’m not defecting to another political party. Those planning to manipulate the Abia State governorship election results in 2027 should first write their own will, because this is our state and we cannot be intimidated,”

-Alex Otti speaking to Abians last night. pic.twitter.com/jizxlSwgvW

— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) October 17, 2025

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PoliticsNigeria

By Ifeanyi Chukwu Afuba

At the end of its second plenary summit this year, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria expressed concern at the continued weakening of the opposition in the current political dispensation.

In a communique issued September 19, 2025, signed by his lordships Lucius Ugorji and Donatus Ogun, president and secretary, respectively, the bishops cautioned against a turn to a party state.

‘There seems to be suppression of opposition as Nigeria appears to be tilting to a one-party state, the development of which is not a good omen for democracy,’ the release read in part. Interventions of the Church on the state of the nation are often in general, reflective terms, filled with Biblical exhortation. It’s indicative of the seriousness of the matter when such statements are subject-specific and the defect is emphasised with a prophetic ring, as in the instant.

The shrinking of democratic space in the past three years is disturbing and shows no sign of abating yet. If anything, the chances of a constricted race in which President Bola Tinubu contests against no notable presidential candidate are growing by the day.

The opposition remains a fundamental component of democracy, serving as a bridge between the government in power and the electorate. As emphasised in the maxim that absolute power corrupts absolutely, opposition ranks form a protective belt in democratic practice. Active opposition serves to hold government accountable and promote transparency in administration. It bears stating that the opposition is necessary for the sustainability of the system. The opposition should point out the lapses of an incumbent administration and, indeed, question certain decisions and policies. More insights and better perspectives tend to be gained from such exchanges. By generating alternative solutions to problem areas, opposition parties broaden participation in the political process. Good governance is enabled by the opposition’s watchdog role. An active opposition further offers a choice of alternative government to the voter. A thriving opposition is not merely an important part of democracy; it’s essential in strengthening and enriching democratic governance.

Whither then the present democratic dispensation with opposition participation in the 2027 election looking so unviable? None among the potential contenders in 2027 has the experience of Atiku Abubakar. When Atiku debuted in the presidential arena in 1993, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was operating at the senatorial level. Since 1999, Akitu has been juggling the reins of the presidential office, standing as a candidate from 2007.

The veteran presidential candidate, however, is unsure of a platform to contest the 2027 poll because his latest political tent, the African Democratic Congress, is embattled. It’s no ordinary or accidental logjam. The ADC is locked in a curious leadership dispute. If a rival faction led by Ibe Kachikwu, laying claims to the leadership, succeeds, Atiku knows that will be the end of his aspiration. Peter Obi, the candidate of regional and generational anger in the 2023 poll, is caught in a similar bind. Obi is yet to find a secure party where he will run for the next presidential election. His last party, the Labour Party, is also under siege. On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Mr Julius Abure was suddenly acknowledged as the national chairman of Labour Party at INEC’s quarterly interactive meeting with political parties. If Abure’s predictable recognition by INEC persists, Mr Obi knows he cannot emerge as the Labour Party candidate anymore. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is believed to be preparing for a second tenure at the presidency, faces a similarly uphill task. His party, the PDP, had long been a target of destabilisation plots. The Abuja super minister’s agents in PDP, who have so far done a good job of undermining the PDP from within, now face the titanic battle – denying Jonathan a stable and cohesive PDP on which to vie.

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Expectedly, the Presidency rejects allegations of subverting opposition parties. In two comments in quick succession, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed perceptions of the government’s efforts at derailing major opposition parties.
In a release, April 28, 2025, Onanuga stated that ‘no policy, official action or directive from the presidency seeks to “dismantle democracy” or “weaken opposition or create a one-party state.” Returning the blame, the disclaimer submitted: ‘The opposition cannot blame President Tinubu and the governing APC for their poor organisation, indiscipline, and gross incompetence in managing their affairs. It is certainly not part of President Tinubu’s job to organise or strengthen opposition parties.” Onanuga was also on hand to aver that the Presidency was not involved in the opposition crisis when ADC’s relaunch met with difficulties in July this year.

While freedom of speech may not be under threat, the mainstay of opposition relevance, freedom of political association, has become problematic. Today, the environment necessary for the opposition to flourish hardly exists. The government has a responsibility in this regard.

Leadership succession is a major issue for Nigeria, as it is for many other countries. It should be obvious that the management of transition processes impact on the stability of the polity. Our experience harps on the need for a credible electoral process, inclusive frameworks, plural political choices and participatory decision-making. Alienation of the opposition has often come with serious consequences. Regime authorities, by their agenda and priorities, have the choice either of aggravating or ameliorating the challenges of democratic succession. Military termination of the Second Republic was facilitated by the political rift arising from the conduct of the 1983 election. A bitterly disputed general election left in it’s wake a tense polity, which softened the ground for ambitious soldiers. A different form of opposition suppression affected General Ibrahim Babangida’s transition programme to the Third Republic.

A sweeping, generational ban on experienced politicians from participating in the transition cast the exercise in suspicion of a hidden agenda. The restrictive nature of the programme seemed designed to get rid of opposition to self-succession by the political elite. General Sani Abacha similarly began a transition process with an exclusion agenda. The junta succeeded in staving off prospective presidential aspirants with the punitive failed banks and failed contract decrees. Mercifully, divine intervention stopped the tearing of an already broken country. Much of the power game in the Fourth Republic has seen the ruling parties using instruments of authority to put the opposition at a disadvantage. Perceptions of selective use of such bodies as the EFCC to ensure political compliance are rife. The ruling party has, on occasions, been seen to have sponsored the impeachment of opposition and independent-minded governors. In the immediate past administration, executive excesses left a climate of intimidation hovering over the judiciary. What is the worth of democratic rights without a free judiciary?

It’s therefore very important that the opposition has the room to operate and effectively play its complementary role. Beyond Onanuga’s protestations, the government’s weakening of opposition parties need not be by direct means. The PDP’s loss of four governors to the APC in 2025 alone is unprecedented. In just a space of four months, Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno, Enugu State’s Peter Mbah, and Bayelsa State’s Duoye Diri publicly defected to the APC. The fourth, Rivers State’s Simnalaya Fubara, is considered to have joined the ruling party quietly for tactical reasons. The illegality of Fubara’s suspension as Governor was clear enough. No one among the defenders of the ridiculous action has cited the constitutional provision defining a state of emergency as a power to abort constitutional order. Only a state House of Assembly and a court with requisite jurisdiction may intervene on the mandate of an elected Governor. The bullying represented by Fubara’s experience can serve as an indirect message to the opposition. You either play ball or get beaten.

Many Nigerians are still struggling to understand how the Supreme Court, in all of five months, was unable to hear the PDP Governors’ suit challenging the constitutionality of Rivers State emergency rule. Where lies the confidence that litigations on party leadership tussles will be justly addressed? How can opposition parties stand strong, free from the ruling party’s underhanded tactics?

And while the ruling party finds the defections into its fold fair and square, she says nothing about the illegitimately inherited mandates therefrom. Electoral mandates belong to political parties whose logos appear on the ballot papers. What right do defecting politicians have to transfer the mandate from their originating parties to another party? Defections rob the electorate of their authority, their values, and their self-esteem. Rewarded mandates from defection transactions are a potential source of instability.

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A scenario in which major opposition parties and candidates are not on the ballot in 2027 is not far-fetched. That would be an unprecedented, costly development. A situation in which opposition parties are adopting the incumbent as their candidate amidst protests from their members would be unhealthy and counterproductive in the long run.

With no provision for independent candidates, no lawful efforts should be spared to ensure that parties give expression to the yearnings of their membership, as well as the mood of society.

Despite numerous appeals from various groups nationwide urging President Bola Tinubu to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), without conditions, new challenges have emerged regarding the planned protests aimed at showing solidarity for the Southeast indigene.

Kanu has been in detention since 2015, and as the calls for his release grow louder, the organization and execution of demonstrations in his support have encountered significant obstacles. Click link to continue reading.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has distanced itself, alongside South-East governors and Igbo Ministers, from the nationwide protest scheduled for October 20, 2025, demanding the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Ohanaeze, in collaboration with the region’s governors and ministers, said it holds “a grave sense of responsibility and a profound commitment to the well-being of the zone and the stability of the country.”

The group specifically condemned the planned protests, describing them as orchestrated by political actors including Sowore and Atiku, and said such demonstrations were not in the interest of the South-East or the nation.

The statement was issued on Thursday by the factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and Chief Chinyereze Thompson Ohia, the organization’s National Spokesperson, and was made available to journalists.

Ohanaeze said, ”We view this purported demonstration with extreme suspicion and firmly believe it to be a thinly veiled attempt at fomenting unrest, destabilizing the government of President Bola Tinubu, and exploiting the legitimate concerns of Ndigbo for nefarious political ends.

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”Our considered assessment, informed by credible intelligence and meticulous analysis, reveals that this proposed action is nothing more than a cynical ploy designed to instigate a repeat of the EndSARS riots, ultimately aimed at undermining the current administration.”

It noted that this scheme, allegedly funded by elements associated with Atiku Abubakar and his cohorts, seeks to exploit the genuine desire for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release and draw unsuspecting Igbo citizens into a dangerous and destructive venture.

“In light of these grave concerns, we unequivocally reject the deception and Advocacy for Peaceful Resolution: The pursuit of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release through political solutions and the established judicial processes is paramount. We vehemently denounce any attempt by politicians, particularly those with a demonstrable history of acting against Igbo interests, to utilize the situation for their political gain.

“The sudden and unsolicited display of “uneasy affection for Igbo caused by individuals previously indifferent or even hostile to our community raises significant red flags. We, the Igbo people, are too astute and discerning to be ensnared by the Atiku-Sowore booby trap.

“We call to denounce and avoid planned unrest. We implore all Nigerians, particularly those who cherish truth, justice, and democracy, to distance themselves from the planned protests, riots, and acts of civil disobedience scheduled for 20th October 2025.

“Ndigbo must not be used as pawns in any political game orchestrated by Atiku Abubakar and his allies, the ultimate aim being to destabilize the Tinubu administration. We emphatically state that this planned disruption does not serve the interests of Ndigbo, nor does it contribute to the cause of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“The Atiku-Sowore scheme will undoubtedly undermine the ongoing judicial proceedings and the ongoing political discussions and negotiations, which Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has wisely entrusted to a team led by Hon. Obi Aguocha.

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“Concerns Regarding Public Safety and Security: We are deeply concerned that the planned protests and riots will endanger the lives and property of Nigerians, a tragic scenario we witnessed during the EndSARS riots. The potential for widespread violence, looting, and the destruction of critical infrastructure is a grave concern that cannot be ignored.”

John Chuma Nwosu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State, has officially committed to serving only one term if elected.

Nwosu, a resident of Nnewi in the Anambra South Senatorial Zone, is running in a race that includes the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who is also from the same zone and is seeking re-election.

Anambra State follows an unwritten zoning arrangement, which entails the rotation of the governorship among its three senatorial zones. As part of this tradition, Nwosu has promised to complete the remaining term for the South, which is part of the ongoing rotation cycle.

To formalize his commitment, Nwosu visited the High Court in Awka on Thursday, where he swore an affidavit affirming his intention to govern Anambra State for a single four-year term.

The move has been hailed as a bold and exemplary step, reflecting Nwosu’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and selfless leadership.

Speaking after signing the affidavit, Nwosu said leadership should not be about holding on to power but about achieving tangible results within a set timeframe.

He stated, “I came into the race to serve, not to rule. I have publicly made this commitment before and have now legally sealed it before the court. Four years is enough to transform Anambra if there is sincerity of purpose.”

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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has dropped a major hint that he may endorse one of his current team members as his preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Speaking on Thursday during the Stakeholders’ Consultative and Engagement Meeting on the 2026 Budget at the Ogunlana Hall, University of Ibadan, Makinde said such a move would guarantee stability and sustain his administration’s development roadmap.

According to him, continuity is key to maintaining the progress Oyo State has recorded in the last few years.

“If we put anybody forward in our team, what it means is that we have evaluated that individual. It wouldn’t be about the individual per se. If, within the team, we have a roadmap for continued development of Oyo State for 2027 and beyond, and we have people within that team who have already bought into it, that would be the best path forward,” he said.

Governor Makinde, whose second term ends in 2027, stressed that while he may make recommendations, the final choice of the next governor rests squarely with the people of Oyo State.

“The decision on who would be the next governor rests with the people of Oyo State. We will make our own submission to the people, because Oyo State has gone beyond stunt politics. Maybe it used to happen in the past. Now, Oyo State people will ask you questions,” he added.

Consequently, Makinde’s remarks have already stirred political interest within the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and beyond.

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His statement might set the stage for internal realignments as 2027 draws closer.

However, it could be recalled that earlier this year in January, Governor Makinde had hinted that his preferred successor would likely be someone younger and part of his current political structure.

PoliticsNigeria

Former Abia State Governor and Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, has proclaimed himself the most important political figure in Nigeria’s South East, dismissing claims that Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi is his leader.

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, Kalu highlighted his political achievements, arguing that his electoral and administrative record surpasses Obi’s.

“Peter is not my leader. I’m the most important politician from that zone. I have won two states before under the PPA.

“I have run for president before. My 4.9 million votes are still there since 2007,” Kalu stated.

He further noted that his influence extended to the federal level during the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

“I achieved a lot with PPA. We had ministers, ambassadors, and several appointments under President Yar’Adua,” he said.

Challenging Obi directly, Kalu added: “Arrange in your studio a meeting between me and Peter Obi. Put two of us in the same place.”

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