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Supreme court affirms Soludo as APGA governorship candidate

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Professor Charles Soludo
Chukwuma Soludo
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The supreme court has affirmed Chukwuma Soludo, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the November 6 election in Anambra state.

The five-member panel of justices led by Mary Peter-Odili also affirmed Victor Oye as the national chairman of the party.

APGA has been plagued by internal crisis which led to two factions producing candidates for the Anambra governorship election –Soludo from Oye’s faction and Michael Umeoji from Jude Okeke’s faction.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier picked Umeoji as the party’s candidate following two different court judgments by Musa Ubale, judge of a high court in Jigawa state (who upheld the suspension of Oye as national chairman) and Bello Kawu, a judge of the federal capital territory (FCT) who ordered INEC to monitor the primary election of the Okeke faction and comply with the result.

However, a court of appeal sitting in Kano on August 10 affirmed Oye as national chairman of APGA — meaning the return of Soludo as the governorship candidate.

Aggrieved by the judgment of the Kano appeal court, Edozie Njoku and Chinedu Okoro, both chieftains of the party, filed an appeal before the Abuja division, asking that the ruling be set aside.

Ruling on the appeal marked CA/AW/256/2021, filed against Sylvester Ezeokenwa and five other party chieftains, the Abuja division of the appeal court held that the suit constituted an abuse of judicial process.

In a unanimous decision read by Jummai Sankey, the appeal court held that it was bound by the doctrine of ‘stare decisis’, a Latin phrase which means ”let the decision stand”, adding that setting aside the ruling of the Kano division will amount to questioning its own judgment.

The panel of three, led by Monica Dongban-Mensem, president of the court, also said the Abuja division lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

The sum of N10 million naira was also awarded against the appellants in favour of Ezeokenwa and APGA.

The matter was further appealed to the supreme court.

In its judgment, the apex court unanimously upheld the judgment of the Kano state appeal court division which validated the primary election that produced Soludo.

According to the supreme court, the appellate court was right when it quashed a Jigawa state high court judgment that recognised a parallel primary election that was conducted by the Okeke-led faction of APGA.

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2027: Obi Unsure of ADC Presidential Ticket, Emphasises Commitment to ‘Cause’

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Peter Obi
Peter Obi
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Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said he is uncertain about securing the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking in a video circulating on social media, Obi told supporters that his focus remains on a broader political mission rather than personal ambition, noting that there is no guarantee he will emerge as the party’s flagbearer.

“I cannot be certain that the ADC will give me the presidential ticket. What matters is that we are committed to a cause,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor reflected on Nigeria’s current political climate, questioning how the situation evolved and the potential consequences if ongoing reform efforts are abandoned.

“I keep wondering how we ended up in this situation and what might happen if we decide to stop working on this project,” he added.
Obi also reaffirmed his commitment to his ideals despite reported threats, while expressing appreciation to his supporters for their continued loyalty.

“It’s not easy to be in the opposition in Nigeria, and I’m thankful to those who keep supporting even when there’s no clear reward,” he said.

He, however, raised concerns over the uncertainty of political alliances, warning about the possibility of shifting loyalties among stakeholders.
“How can we be certain that the people we’re working with right now won’t leave us behind tomorrow? I wish we could be sure, but we can’t,” he said.

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Ogun Lawmakers Back Tinubu’s 2027 Bid, Endorse Adeola for Governor

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Senator Solomon Adeola and President Bola Tinubu
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No fewer than 20 members of the Ogun State House of Assembly have declared support for the re-election of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, citing his administration’s economic reforms and infrastructure development as key achievements.

The endorsement, announced on Wednesday in Abeokuta, aligns with an earlier position taken by the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Governor Dapo Abiodun and other party stakeholders.

Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat, the Majority Leader, Hon. Sherrif Yusuf, said the decision reflects confidence in the President’s efforts to stabilise the economy and expand critical infrastructure nationwide.

According to Yusuf, the administration has made notable progress in fiscal reforms and road development connecting key economic corridors, adding that continuity would help consolidate ongoing gains.

The lawmakers also unanimously endorsed the governorship ambition of Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, describing him as an experienced legislator with a strong record of performance and commitment to public service.

Yusuf highlighted Adeola’s contributions in the National Assembly, including leadership roles in strategic committees and advocacy for development projects and empowerment initiatives across Ogun State.

In addition, the Assembly members expressed support for Governor Abiodun’s future political aspirations beyond his current tenure, noting that his administrative experience and governance record position him for higher responsibilities.

The lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to the APC, pledging continued support for leaders whose policies and vision align with the aspirations of the people of Ogun State and Nigeria.

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Aduda Defects to APC, Pledges Abuja Win for Tinubu in 2027

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Senator Philip Aduda at that APC National Secretariat Abuja
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Former Senate Minority Leader, Philip Tanimu Aduda, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging to secure victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during the 2027 general elections.

Aduda was formally received into the APC on Tuesday at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, where the National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, handed him the party’s insignia in the presence of key members of the National Working Committee and supporters.

Welcoming the former lawmaker, Yilwatda described the APC as Nigeria’s leading progressive platform, highlighting ongoing economic reforms and major infrastructure projects under Tinubu’s administration. He pointed to the Sokoto–Badagry road project as a strategic corridor expected to boost agriculture, commerce, and national connectivity, adding that recent policies have strengthened the non-oil sector and improved the country’s trade balance.

Explaining his decision, Aduda said his defection was informed by “alignment and realignment,” citing what he described as visible development strides in the FCT. He commended Tinubu for granting the territory autonomy from the Treasury Single Account and establishing the FCT Civil Service Commission, moves he said have enhanced career progression for civil servants.

“I was in the minority for nearly seven years and couldn’t secure a ministerial slot for the FCT. This President has recognised us and given us representation in the Federal Executive Council,” Aduda stated.

He dismissed opposition parties in the territory as weak, expressing confidence that the APC would dominate the FCT in 2027. He also referenced the party’s performance in recent area council elections, where it secured five out of six councils, as evidence of its growing political strength.

Also speaking, FCT APC Chairman, Abdulmalik Usman, described Aduda as a political heavyweight whose defection would significantly boost the party’s electoral prospects. He noted that the APC is well-positioned to mobilise over 1.7 million registered voters in the FCT ahead of the next general elections.

The high-profile defection is expected to reshape political alignments in Abuja, as parties begin early strategic positioning for the 2027 polls.

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