A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, says the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has now become a new haven for fugitives fleeing from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Babachir made this statement during the ADC stakeholders’ meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, declaring that both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would be defeated in the 2027 general elections.

The National Vice Chairman of the ADC accused the APC of being delusional, claiming that its only mantra was to write election results even before elections begin.

“This is pure delusion because it will not happen. Nigerians will back us to frustrate any criminal manipulation of the 2027 election results,” he stated.

The ex-SGF, however, warned that not every politician defecting from other parties would be accepted into the ADC, lest they corrupt its ideals with attitudes imbibed from their corrupt, undemocratic home parties.

He described the ADC as a party of visionaries and patriots who are fed up with the direction of the country under the leadership of the PDP and APC.

“Every patriotic Nigerian now understands that our country has reached the edge of a cliff. The ADC offers Nigerians an opportunity to make a U-turn, recalibrate, and redirect our governance toward a progressive, people-centric system,” he stated.

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…Waive, Oguma, Oghenechovwen, Majemite, Others Preach Unity, inclusivity

Leaders and stakeholders of the Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency Forum (U3) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sunday, threw their weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, endorsing them as the party’s sole candidates for the 2027 general elections.

Moving the motion for the vote of confidence and endorsement of the duo as the APC’s sole candidates for 2027, the member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Francis Waive, commended President Tinubu for his developmental strides, particularly the approval of the Federal Medical Centre in Udu.

Waive also commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori whom he described as a hard working progressive Governor, insisting that both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori deserved a second term for the good works they are doing.

He called on members to mobilize constituents to participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise to ensure massive support for both Tinubu and Oborevwori in 2027.

The motion, which was unanimously adopted after being put to voice vote by the Chairman of the forum, Olorogun John Oguma, was seconded by the member representing Ughelli North Constituency I at the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Matthew Omonade.

Earlier in his welcome remarks during the meeting, which was held at Ovwian, Udu Local Government Area, Oguma said the group was put together to strengthen unity of the party in the area and to ensure the re-election of both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

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“This gathering is to see how we can deliver Tinubu and Oborevwori come 2027. In Abuja, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock, and in Asaba, there is no vacancy in Dennis Osadebe House,” Oguma declared.

Continuing, he said; “we want to work and ensure that we win all five elections for the APC in 2027”.

He stressed that the U3 forum predated the merger of the legacy parties, adding that it was necessary for members to come together, strategize, and ensure that everyone is carried along in the scheme of things.

Also in his remarks, the host and deputy chairman of the forum, Chief Eddie Ono Sorhue, thanked the forum’s leadership for the privilege to host the meeting and commended membere for the unity that exists within the party.

Delivering the vote of thanks, Secretary of the forum, Rt. Hon. Festus Agas, a former Secretary to the Delta State Government, lauded the U3 leadership and members for their commitment and unity of purpose.

Also speaking, Chairman of Udu Local Government Area, Chief Vincent Oyibode, commended the U3 leadership for its ongoing media sensitization on the voter registration exercise and charged members to sensitize their communities to register and obtain their voter cards.

Chatting with newsmen, Chief Fred Majemite praised the unity among members, describing the endorsement of both leaders as a step in the right direction. He urged party faithful to return to their wards to mobilize for the APC.

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Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chris Oghenechovwen emphasized that the forum must remain united to achieve success.

The meeting was attended by political leaders, stakeholders, and party faithful from Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu local government areas.

The Deeper Life Bible Church has been prominently featured in the media recently due to the ongoing succession race following the leadership of Pastor William Kumuyi, the church’s founder.

The controversy has evidently taken a toll on Pastor Kumuyi, who expressed deep emotional distress while addressing the matter from the pulpit, coming close to tears.

Many have found this development quite unusual. This is because the Deeper Life Bible Church has been a closely-knit conventional church that rarely gets involved in controversies.

This is because the church runs a system that is both conventional and rigid, which leaves very little room for frivolities to infiltrate the church’s structure and doctrines. In many ways, the entire operation of the church revolves around the church’s founder and General Superintendent, Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi and it has been working perfectly for the ministry until recently when the leadership crisis erupted.

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The troubles began a few months ago when some senior church members speculated that Pastor Kumuyi had relocated to England. His absence resulted from attending various conferences and crusades abroad. During his time away, the church found itself without a leader, as noted by a youth pastor who spoke to us confidentially. He explained, “Deeper Life is a unique church where activities are closely monitored from the top. However, things began to decline while the General Overseer was away for several months. Without his guidance, branches and pastors started to act independently; everyone was doing as they pleased.”

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The youth pastor further elaborated that some senior pastors, who have contributed significantly to the church’s growth alongside the General Overseer, felt they deserved more authority and respect. They believe they should hold more prominent positions within the church hierarchy. Some members expressed concern about Pastor Kumuyi’s age and felt the church needed a new direction to expand beyond its current operations.

According to the youth pastor, while Pastor Kumuyi was away, some senior members convened to discuss the necessity of having a leader to coordinate church activities. Some even suggested that the General Overseer could pass leadership to a younger individual.

In response to these developments a few weeks ago, Pastor Kumuyi spoke from the pulpit and was visibly emotional about the situation.

He has expressed significant displeasure regarding subtle agitations within the church concerning his potential successor. He questioned whether church members are tired of him and emphasized that no one can exert control over him.

During a recent Bible study program, which was shared online, Pastor Kumuyi appeared visibly agitated while addressing the congregation. He stated that he would not be stampeded into yielding to the demands of certain elements within the church.

He confronted the issue directly before the audience, asking, “Are you tired of me?” to which the congregation responded with a resounding “Nooo.” The 83-year-old pastor took particular issue with comments made by an unnamed young preacher the previous week, who repeatedly stated, “There is no leadership without a successor.”

“The brother who spoke last Tuesday kept saying there is no leadership without a successor,” Kumuyi noted. “He mentioned it twice, which I found excessive, especially since your father is still here. God will give a successor in His own time,” he asserted.

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Pastor Kumuyi emphasized that Biblical precedents illustrate that it is God—not human pressure—who appoints successors. He firmly stated, “You are not going to fight your shepherd, your pilot. I reject any member of the church, whether you are a worker, choir member, or security personnel, who tries to control me. I won’t even take that from my wife because I am the head of my home. I stand where I stand, and nobody will put me under pressure.”

He urged church members not to undermine his mission and warned against any attempts to sway him. “Don’t try to kill my conviction. It will only make me resist you so that when you get to the other side, you won’t say I didn’t warn you. I will continue to remind you of this until I leave,” he said.

Pastor Kumuyi explained that he has deliberately created opportunities for many gifted individuals within the church to preach, but he insisted that the matter of his successor is ultimately “in the hands of God.” He stated, “If God has provided you with a pastor who is still active at this age, with a strong voice, preaching the gospel everywhere, and you are clamoring for a successor, it makes me think you are tired of seeing me around. You don’t want me to feel like I’m imposing myself on you.”

While acknowledging that there will eventually be a successor, Kumuyi maintained that this transition will occur on divine terms. He added, “When the time comes, God will choose a man after His own heart. Don’t try to drive me away, even though I know…”

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday said he turned down the move to install former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as his successor in 2027 because of his lack of maturity.

Obasanjo disclosed this in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the second edition of the annual symposium of the Ajibosin Platform themed “Importance of Leadership in Governance.”

He revealed that former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had recommended El-Rufai to be his successor, but he refused.

Under the Obasanjo’s administration, El-Rufai served first as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises and later as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007.

While exiting power in 2007, Obasanjo backed the late President Umar Yar’Adua as his successor.

Chidoka, who was the keynote speaker at the event, recalled how El-Rufai recommended him to Obasanjo at the age of 34, a move that brought him closer to the presidency and eventually led to his appointment as the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Addressing the gathering, Obasanjo playfully taunted Chidoka for omitting the El-Rufai story.

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“Let him tell you. He didn’t mention that. He was pushing when I was leaving government that his friend, El-Rufai, should be brought in as my successor,” Obasanjo said.

Facing Chidoka, who sat among the panelists, Obasanjo asked, “No be so? Meaning is that not true?”

The former minister nodded his head in agreement.

Obasanjo went on to explain that he brushed aside the recommendation of El-Rufai as his successor because he felt his former minister needed to mature.

The former president added, “I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he said, ‘I suggested this person, why didn’t you agree?’ I said El-Rufai needed to mature. You remember? When I left the government and, many years later, he saw the performances of El-Rufai, he came back to me and said, ‘You’re absolutely correct. El-Rufai needed to mature.’”

Obasanjo, however, applauded Chidoka, El-Rufai, and others for their “special attributes,” which he said were the driving forces of his administration.

Speaking further on the theme of leadership, the former president emphasized the importance of character, exposure, experience, and training as the hallmarks of good leadership.

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He said, “It’s only in politics that I found out there is no training for leadership. Even among armed robbers, I was told there is an apprenticeship. But it’s only in politics that there is no training in leadership. That’s not good enough.”

Earlier, while delivering the keynote address, Chidoka blamed Nigeria’s challenges on what he described as excuses and the “politics of alibi.”

“Leadership finds its true measure not in speeches or charisma but in the systems it leaves behind. Moral conviction must translate into the everyday machinery of governance rules, routines, and institutions that make competence predictable and corruption difficult.

“Nigeria’s problem has never been a shortage of ideas; it is the absence of systems strong enough to outlive their authors,” he said.

He called for a shift from excuses to action and accountability.

Chidoka added, “We must therefore make leadership accountable not to rhetoric but to results: measure by building national dashboards and accountability systems that track every promise, every budget, every outcome. Monitor by strengthening the institutions that evaluate government performance and expose complacency.”

The convener of the symposium, Aare Olanrewaju Bakinson, said the lecture aimed to discuss the critical role effective leadership plays in shaping societies and nations.

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“Leadership is not just about power; it’s about responsibility, vision, and service. As we explore this theme, we’ll examine the qualities of good governance, the impact of leadership on development, and strategies for fostering ethical leadership,” he stated.

Prominent personalities at the event were Senator representing Ogun Central, Shuaibu Salis; the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola; the Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege; and former Ogun First Lady, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun among others.

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The National Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Dan Iwuanyanwu, has accused some influential politicians and businessmen from the South-East of secretly working against the release of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

According to Iwuanyanwu, these individuals fear that Kanu’s freedom could threaten their political ambitions and influence in the region. He said this while speaking on Channels Television on Monday.

“There are some top businessmen who are involved in businesses in Abuja, oil and all that,” Iwuanyanwu said during the programme.

“There are some top politicians who are of the view – and which is correct – that if Nnamdi Kanu comes today, there are people whose political career will come to an end permanently without him saying a word. Nnamdi Kanu has been loved by the people,” he added.

The ZLP chairman stated that Kanu’s popularity remains strong and “organic,” adding that his continued detention is not just a matter of national security but also the result of deep political fears within the South-East elite.

Iwuanyanwu’s comments come amid growing calls for the Federal Government to comply with court orders and release Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021.

Also on Monday, human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, joined protesters in Abuja demanding Kanu’s immediate release.

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He warned that continued detention could “further intensify public agitation” across the country.

“Today will be different and nobody can stop this spirit and this is to ensure that we bring our brother home,” Sowore said while addressing the crowd.

He revealed that police and security operatives had used teargas to disperse protesters at several locations, including Utako and Apo, but the demonstrators regrouped and continued their march.

“They teargassed us, we relocated to Utako, they teargassed us, we relocated to Apo, Apo has the biggest so far and that is to show to you that very soon, this will get out of hand if they don’t do something about releasing Nnamdi Kanu,” Sowore stated.

He maintained that the protests were peaceful and aimed at demanding fairness, not violence. “We are not threatening violence, we are just saying that in this country we all deserve a right to be citizens,” he said.

Meanwhile, the demonstrations in Abuja have intensified this week, with several groups insisting that justice must be served.

It could be recalled that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was first arrested in 2015 and later re-arrested in 2021 after jumping bail.

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However, despite several court rulings ordering his release, the DSS has continued to hold him in detention, a situation that has continued to spark both national and international criticism.