Politics
Rivers crisis: 6 reasons why Fubara may escapes impeachment
Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan made an iconic quote that has since gone into the political lexicon of the country’s history: “My political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian”. It presupposes that Jonathan would rather not pursue his ambition if such would lead to any violence.
In the heat of the Boko Haram terror attacks, Jonathan also came up with yet another assertion that he had not used one tenth of his power. This forced many to ask, why crave for political position if you can’t exert the power thereof? Jonathan did not last in the office as President. He was booted out. He is an Ijaw man of Niger Delta extraction.
Rivers state, Siminalayi Fubara does not need to speak out that he does not need to use one tenth of his constitutional power as governor. The world has seen it all. And it is counted for him as weakness, hence the escalation of crisis in the state.
Years before his death, former petroleum minister, Professor Tam David West had once described Jonathan as “the weakest President” Nigeria ever produced. But Rivers people have since come to acquiesce themselves with the fact that the leadership of government in Rivers state is taking shade under the tree of weakness while professing the path of peace. And the peace is pyrrhic.
Pundits have averred that since October 29, 2023 when the crisis began in the state with the threat of impeachment, Governor Fubara failed to exert his power and nib it in the bud once and for all. While he keeps hoping that there would be a political solution some day, the opposition was swinging from post to post looking for where to nail him . They appear to be succeeding from recent developments especially with the recent Supreme Court ‘5-0’ judgment.
Lack Of Consultation
Sources within government circle in the state had informed that the governor would rather choose to carry the gauntlet alone without any botheration. The source noted that the man in the Bricks House does not care about some of the elders who stick out their necks to fight for his political survival. “Even a governor of a nearby state would call him, the man would not answer. He does not relate well with the leadership of the ethnic nationalities in the region who are solidly behind him in this fight”.
Governor Fubara knows that there is a bigger masquerade behind the Minister of the federal capital territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, stoking the fire of crisis in the state. He knows the masquerade would not listen to him for obvious reasons. But there are distinguished Nigerians like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto among others. But “Oga will not want to consult anybody”, he said.
He went on to reveal that “even when Papa Edwin Clarke was alive, am not sure Oga visited him one day despite the late man’s stout defence of his government”. The Governor chooses to surround himself with political feather weights who cannot rise up when occasion calls. They are supporters of the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. In 2023 these men were chased out of Rivers state to Abuja by Wike. When the table turned, Wike moved to Abuja as a minister while they returned to Port Harcourt to pitch tent with Fubara. Nothing to offer.
Miserly
Governor Fubara is known to be “a nice man”. Another source put it this way: “Fubara is generous. However, this generosity does not seem to reflect or show in the politics of the state. The governor has reportedly said that the revenue of the state is to develop Rivers for the betterment of the people. This is good. We support him for that. But he is fighting a survival battle and he needs to fight. Until lately, he was not doing that. The Supreme Court judgment appears to have woken him up. But how far can he go? He has lost huge grounds.’
A member of the Elders Council in Rivers state had rebuked the governor for being “too stingy with money”. According to him, “last Christmas, not even a grain of rice from this government despite our support for him. Whatever we are doing, we are not doing it because of Fubara but for Rivers state. We like peace and not war”.
Peace Moves
A prominent retired Army officer from the north was said to have sent emissaries to the Governor to broker peace in the state. He turned it down. Though the man’s move was predicated on his interest in the oil well in Rivers, many northerners would definitely love to side with Fubara in the ongoing political quagmire just to spite Wike who is seen as Tinubu’s strongest man in the south-south region.
“Yes, the general sent some persons to come to Port Harcourt to meet with the Governor. They could not. Maybe the governor was not willing to receive them. The effort is still on. We believe that he will see the reason to meet with the team and douse tension in the state”, the source said. “The governor appears to have made the fight an Ijaw affair. This is not an Ijaw fight. It is a fight for Rivers people and all lovers of peace and uprightness. This explains why the Governor has to come out firm and establish his authority to prove to all that he is fully in charge of governance in the state”, he said.
Nevertheless, Comrade Franklin Ntekim believes that Governor Fubara’s mien disposition should not be taken for docility. “I believe that it is his own strategy. If you look at it clearly, the governor had been winning the war until the Supreme Court came out with that controversial judgment. He is not weak but a very calculative person”.
Countering Franklin’s position, a social commentator, Comrade Gregory Akpan fumed that if it was not a sign of weakness or fear “how come the Governor had five consolidated cases in the Supreme Court and he could put up any fight and he lost them all. The courts are operated by human beings. Did his men fight to present quality and sound arguments and make noise against possible injustice that is common in our system?”
Double Ultimatum
Arising from the Supreme Court judgment which reinstated them as the “valid” members of the House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule and the 26 other lawmakers on Monday ordered the Governor to present the 2025 budget before the House within 48 hours.
That ultimatum expired on Wednesday midnight only for another ultimatum to sack all Commissioners and political appointees who were not screened and confirmed by Amaewhule within another 48 hours. The House ordered the Governor to forward another list of nominees to the Assembly for proper screening to fill all vacant positions in the state executive council.
Governor Fubara had since denied ever seeing any letter asking him to present the budget. In a letter by the secretary to the state government, SSG, Dr Tammy Danagogo, the Governor said such letter was never brought to his office, hence, he could not respond to anything in social media space.
The two quick ultimatums issued out by Amaewhule are an indication that the House was in a hurry to get the Governor impeached. The battle line is now drawn. Interesting events are expected to unfold as the days go by.
Support Base
Governor Fubara has been enjoying a robust support since the political fight between him and Wike broke out in 2023. The show of solidarity has never been because of the moves by the governor but largely because of their interest in the state. Such groups as the pan Niger Delta Elders Forum, PANDEF, Ijaw national Congress, INC, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC and many more are solidly behind the Governor. President of INC, Professor Benjamin Okaba in his recent press statement warned on dire consequences if Fubara is impeached by the pro-Wike lawmakers.
The leadership of IYC from the eastern zone said “the purported 48-hour ultimatum issued to the Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, by the defected Martins Amawhule-led House of Assembly to present the 2025 budget is a clear indication of an orchestrated effort to create chaos and potentially impeach the governor. This is not only an attack on our leadership but also an affront to the will of the Rivers people who have entrusted their governance to one of our own.
“The IYC firmly warns that we will not stand by and allow detractors to steal this mandate. We are committed to defending our rights and ensuring that the voices of the Ijaw people are heard and respected”.
INC on its part recalled that “In 2003, when Marshall Harry backed Sergeant Awuse’s governorship ambition, it was not Awuse but Harry himself who was assassinated, marking a painful loss for the Ijaw people. By 2007, Ijaw leaders such as Soboma George and Farrah Dagogo played a decisive role in securing victory for Sir Celestine Omehia, while Prince Igodo, a Kalabari-Ijaw warlord, was killed during Omehia’s swearing-in to prevent security breaches”.
He went on to recall that “in 2011, when Rotimi Amaechi sought to nominate Pastor Tonye Cole as a minister, Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of then-President Goodluck Jonathan, ensured that Nyesom Wike took the slot instead”. The INC lamented that despite these consistent sacrifices by the Ijaw people, an Ikwerre political elite now seeks to frustrate the first riverine governor in decades.
The body stated that the Ijaw people will defend Governor Fubara “with every pint of blood in their veins”, emphasizing that they would not stand by and allow their long-awaited tenure to be truncated.
Prof. Okaba also cautioned that while the INC has worked tirelessly to preserve peace in the Niger Delta, leading to increased oil production and revenue for the nation, regrettably, the same resources are now being used to marginalize the Ijaw people.
Issuing a direct warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the INC insisted that the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State must not be treated as ordinary politicking. Prof. Okaba stressed that the Ijaw people, numbering over 40 million worldwide, would not tolerate any attempt to undermine their place in the Nigerian politics.
He further stated that while it enjoins Governor Fubara to, in the spirit of sportsmanship, work with all duly constituted arms of government in the State, “if Governor Fubara’s tenure is truncated by the Amaewhule-led Assembly or anybody else, the INC cannot guarantee the sustenance of the current peace in the Niger Delta, nor the continued rise in oil production.
Division Among Ijaws
Meanwhile, there appears to be a sharp division among the Ijaws following a recent call by the Rivers rescue Movement, RRM, rebuking the utterances of the IYC and INC leadership over the crisis in the state.
This is as the leadership of the group after an extensive deliberations with Ijaw leaders expressed sadness over the recent statements credited to the President of INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba, Chief Sara Igbe, Alhaji Asari Dokubo and some leaders of IYC. Speaking to a cross section of journalist the secretary of RRM said for them as a group those statements were not only reckless, thoughtless and provocative but also a grave threat to national security and peaceful coexistence.
“As a group that stand for peace, justice and a united Nigeria, we believe no individual or organization has the monopoly of violence, so we are calling on the Nigerian Security agencies to arrest these individuals or any other person or group that will threaten the Nigerian State, it’s economy or people.
“RRM is wondering if the purveyors of these message of destruction or economic sabotage are more Ijaws than the 9 grateful Rivers State House of Assembly members from the IJAW extraction that have been maltreated, humiliated and denied all their allowances by the Gov Fubara administration for over a year when no court had declared their seats vacant?
“RRM want to make it clear that we run a constitutional democracy guided by laws and the highest court of the land (The Supreme Court) has spoken and Gov Fubara is bound to obey the ruling. Furthermore, the public is hereby advised to disregard their empty, watery and old fashioned threat because the laws of Nigeria is always supreme”, the group said in a statement.
Vanguard
Despite several appeals across Nigeria persuading 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.
”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.”
2027 Election: Goodluck Jonathan Told What To Do Ahead Of Poll As Plots To Unseat Tinubu Deepens
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.
“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.”
2027 Election: Goodluck Jonathan Told What To Do Ahead Of Poll As Plots To Unseat Tinubu Deepens
As the 2027 elections approach, the battle lines between former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola and President Bola Tinubu are becoming thicker politically, with fresh predictions on the presidential election showing there are more battles to settle between the two politicians.
Recently, Aregbesola’s public confrontations have reignited tensions, indicating that the underlying issues remain unresolved. Click the link to continue reading.
The former Minister of Interior and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will lose power in 2027.
According to him as reported by Politics Nigeria, the ADC, “by the grace of God,” will take over leadership at both the national and state levels. Aregbesola made the remark on Saturday in Ilorin while speaking with journalists shortly after inaugurating the Kwara State secretariat of the ADC along Basin Road.
He said the ruling APC has lost touch with the people and is now resorting to intimidation of opposition parties nationwide. “If APC is confident of its strength, it won’t be so hyped and charged as to be hounding and hunting opposition all over the place.”
The former Osun State governor accused the APC of harassing ADC members across the country, citing Lagos, Kebbi, and Kaduna as examples. He said such actions show that the ruling party is insecure about its popularity.
“They themselves know that they are not popular and the party that will harvest their unpopularity is ADC,” he added.
Aregbesola insisted that the ADC would emerge victorious in the next general elections.
“Regardless of the grandstanding, by the grace of God, ADC will take over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria and in most of the state,” he declared. Speaking on politicians defecting to the APC, Aregbesola dismissed them as “enemies of the people,” adding that their exit would not affect ADC’s growth.
“The governors that are going to APC are the enemies of the people and people know this. They are hated, so it is good riddance to bad rubbish,” he said. Also speaking at the event, former Kwara State governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who recently joined the ADC from the PDP, said the party is ready to lead the country.
“The party has been prepared and is here to stay. It’s to demonstrate to us that a new dawn has been set up in Kwara. And it’s you and I,” he told reporters.
In his words, “This is the beginning of a new direction in our political experience and we are poised to take over leadership of the country in 2027.” The National Publicity Secretary of the ADC and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, also took a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying it has lost relevance in Nigeria’s political scene.
Aregbesola, once a key ally of President Bola Tinubu, fell out with the APC leadership shortly before the 2022 Osun governorship election, leading to deep cracks within the party in the state.
The former minister had announced his return to active politics under the ADC platform, vowing to build a “credible alternative” to both APC and PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.
As Nigeria’s political transfer window opens, many prominent politicians are taking significant risks by leaving their current political parties to join the ruling party. This strategic move is aimed at enhancing their chances for reelection in the upcoming electoral cycle.
The National Chairman of APC, while apologising for arriving for the meeting late, attributed his lateness to a meeting he held with all APC governors in Kebbi State the previous day to assess the state of the party.
Assuring members that the ruling party was in very healthy condition, he said “there is no viral or bacterial infection. We even took the party to the lab in Kebbi—it came out clean!”
The APC Chairman then revealed that the party would be receiving some new defectors from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) next week.
Yilwatda said: “Next week, I will be receiving some notable figures from the ADC.
“Some of those who had defected from PDP have reached out to ADC and are now returning to APC.
“Many of them have completed their ‘medicals’ and will be officially unveiled next week.
“In another two weeks, we will unveil yet another big figure who just finished his own ‘medicals.’
“He tried to unveil himself the day before yesterday—you probably saw it in the news. But officially, we’ll be receiving him soon.
“More people are coming. More senators are joining; more governors, more members of the National Assembly. The APC is the bride of the moment.”
Commending party members for the solidarity he enjoyed from them on the death and burial of his mother recently, he thanked them for standing firmly by him during the trying period.
He said: “When I lost my dear mother, the entire APC family and Platin Alcohol stood firmly by me.
“You provided a shoulder to lean on and became a pillar of strength for me during one of the most difficult moments of my life.
“My tears were soothed because you were there to offer comfort and support.
“Thank you so much for all you did—from the very beginning of my loss, through the burial, and even after.
“May God bless and reward you richly.
“I must also extend my deepest gratitude for how you stood your ground when we faced the setback at the Supreme Court.
“Many people thought that was the end of APC on the Plateau; that we had been buried politically.
“But what they didn’t see was the seed that had already been sown.
“That seed germinated, and today, APC is stronger, more vibrant and growing bigger by the day.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome our new members.
Some, like “The Masquerade,” are actually among the founding fathers of APC—so this is more of a homecoming than a new beginning.
“You are welcome back home, along with the former treasurer and the former Chairman of Mikang Local Government—also founding fathers of our great party.
“At the state level, I want to welcome others who have returned or joined us from various parties—Labour Party, PRP (like Boni), and PDP (like the one fondly referred to as “The Big Priest from the Dew Shrine”).
“As presented by the leader, you are all welcome.
“The beauty of APC is that it is a party that welcomes people, regardless of when they join.
“You don’t need to have been in APC from the beginning to rise. I am a testimony to this fact—many others are as well.
“If you join APC today, you are a full member with full rights and privileges.
“That is the spirit and the letter of our party’s constitution.
“This is your home. Your room is ready. Your bed is ready. The food is ready. Everything in the house is ready for you.
“And for those of you who were chased out of PDP, be encouraged.
“The Bible says God will prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. That is exactly what God is doing for you here in APC.
“Those who rejected you will see you celebrated here.”
Charging party members to remain loyal and dedicated, he said they should think twice if anyone is trying to deceive them to leave the APC.
“Even those trying to lure you to PDP are on my phone daily, asking quietly for a chance to return.
“They are like Nicodemus, reaching out in secret.
“We have set up a dedicated team to prepare and ensure that our members take maximum advantage of this programme.
“This is your label, your sweat—it belongs to you. It is your product, your effort, and your votes that have been harvested.
“We are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind—especially those who suffered, who voted, and who stood with us.
“Whether you are just joining us today or you’ve been here from the beginning, you are part of the labour.
“This programme is not meant only for early entrants or original members. What we are working on to benefit our people will cover everyone.
“Whether you arrive today, tomorrow or next week, you are part and parcel of the design we’re putting in place to benefit our people at the state level.
“We have received many individuals who have decamped to join us—and more are still coming.
“We are also working on medical support for a lot of our members. As they continue to come in, we will screen and sign, screen and sign, screen and sign.
“We will do our best to ensure that there is a place for everyone.
“It’s like building a football team. We sign and assign—sign players and assign them positions.
“All local governments, all wards, all communities—we need people to come in and inject life into this movement. The more, the merrier.
“That is the hallmark of politics. The more people you have, the stronger the movement becomes.
“We have seen the excitement across the board. I remember vividly—on the day of my mother’s burial, when Mr. President arrived at the church, he turned to me and said, ‘I’ve not seen this kind of crowd in most places I’ve visited.’
“He acknowledged that the APC family on the Plateau is truly strong.
“Now, imagine if only a handful of members—say six of them—had gone to the airport to receive him, and then the streets were empty, the church was empty, and we conducted the burial in silence. What impression would he have taken back to Abuja about APC in Plateau?
“Instead, he left with a clear message: APC in Plateau is strong, organised, and ready.
“All of us here have passed that message to him loud and clear: We have the numbers. We can win elections. We can hold Plateau State. We have the capacity. And all of us here are determined.
“As Governor Lalong said, ‘choice gets back to rescue, rescue gets back to Generation Next.” These three forces—Choice, Rescue, and Generation Next—have now given a new face to APC on the Plateau.
“So now, if you want to name it, you can call it Choice to Rescue Plateau for Generation Next.
“Anyhow you want to call it, the essence remains the same—rescuing Plateau for the future of the next generation.
“We are proposing that OPA Week be held on October 30, 2025, during which all those who have decamped will be officially received into the APC. “
He revealed that the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, had agreed to officially receive all the decampees on the APC platform.
“Less than two weeks ago, we welcomed the President. In two weeks’ time, we’ll welcome the Vice President.
“Just yesterday, I spoke with a number of governors, and a good number of them have agreed to be in attendance.
“The Senate President has offered to come, and the Speaker of the House has also indicated his willingness to attend.
“So once again, we will have a full house on the Plateau—just like we did during my mother’s burial.
“And this time, we will elevate the atmosphere, raise the volume, increase the energy, and turn up the dancing steps!”
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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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