Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu has said that his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, will not apply federal government force to win elections in Abia State in 2027.

He said the party would dislodge the ruling Labour Party with people’s votes.

He made the declaration in Umuahia on Sunday while addressing the members of Renewed Hope Partners and other APC members.

Kalu, who told Abia people, especially the members of the APC, to obtain their voter’s cards in the ongoing continuous voters’ registration, said the cards would be used to sack the ruling Abia government in Abia by 2027.

“We are not going to take over this State by force. Some people when we talk, they say we want to use Federal government power, no!

“We are going to use the votes of the masses”, said Kalu.

He accused the the Labour Party, LP-led administration in Abia State of underperformance, saying that two former governors, Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu achieved better results with about 3 and 4 billion Naira they received as monthly FAAC allocations, when compared to the bigger allocations the State is receiving presently.

He said that Abia people are prepared to re-elect President Bola Tinubu in 2027 based on his various achievements and for money he is making available to Abia and other State governors.

The Deputy Speaker disclosed that some persons in Abia are hauling insults at him for recently telling the truth to the Abia State government, but vowed to sustain his role as “the leader of the opposition in the State.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi could form the strongest opposition ticket against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections, according to Demola Olarewaju, Special Assistant on Digital Media Strategy to Atiku Abubakar.

He revealed this while speaking on the “Mic On Podcast.”

He suggested that a partnership between Atiku and Obi could create a “co-presidency” scenario, allowing Nigerians to benefit from both leaders’ ideas.

“I think the best bet would be to have the two of them on that ticket and give Nigerians this sort of sense of co-presidency,” he explained.

Olarewaju described Atiku as a resilient politician who consistently supports fellow candidates after losing primaries.

“He lost the primaries to Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and worked for him, delivering Adamawa State in that election. That’s who Atiku Abubakar is,” Olarewaju said.

He also emphasized the importance of youth participation in politics, noting that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) plans to reserve 35 to 50 percent of its positions for young people and women.

“Nigerians deserve a party that recognizes the strength of young people, Gen Z, Gen Alpha, even, and harnesses their potential,” he said.

On the possibility of a younger candidate taking the lead, Olarewaju added that Atiku has expressed willingness to step down for a younger candidate if defeated in the primaries, but he remains the strongest opposition candidate.

“The strongest ticket that the opposition can present is the marriage of Atiku and Obi,” he said, stressing that their similar political ideologies make such a partnership feasible and strategically strong.

Reinstated local government chairmen under the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State have pledged to recall over 1,500 dismissed workers and clear outstanding salary arrears owed to traditional rulers, following the release of withheld federal allocations to councils.

The federal government had withheld the allocations since February 2025 due to a leadership dispute between APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The funds were eventually released in September into accounts operated by the APC chairmen.

Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, in the APC faction, Abiodun Idowu, announced the development during a press briefing in Osogbo on Friday.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the APC-led executives to restoring effective grassroots governance across the state.

Idowu maintained that the reinstated chairmen remained the legitimate administrators of the 30 local government councils and the area office, as affirmed by the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on February 10, 2025.

“Our mandate, freely given by the people of Osun State during the October 2022 local government elections, was temporarily interrupted but now restored by the court. We are back to serve and deliver dividends of democracy at the grassroots,” Idowu said.

He disclosed that the APC chairmen had concluded plans to re-engage the 1,500 workers disengaged by the present administration, including teachers, health workers, O’YES cadets, and O’Meal vendors employed under the former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration.

“Plans are ongoing to recall and re-engage the 1,500 teachers employed by the last APC government but sacked by the current administration. We will also recall the dismissed health workers, O’YES cadets, and O’Meal vendors. Beyond recalling them, we will offset part of their salaries and emoluments. This is a policy statement, not politics,” Idowu stated.

He added that arrangements had also been made to clear arrears owed to traditional rulers, noting that the chairmen considered the welfare of monarchs critical to local administration and community peace.

“The traditional rulers will also benefit from the new development as we have concluded plans to clear their outstanding allowances and entitlements,” he assured.

The ALGON chairman, however, accused the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke of allegedly using the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, and other affiliated groups to obstruct the release of the federal allocations meant for councils.

He argued that the funds could have alleviated financial pressures affecting the councils, traditional rulers, teachers, and health workers if released earlier.

“Those funds were meant to drive local development, but political interference delayed their release,” Idowu alleged.

Idowu further dismissed claims that the APC-led council executives were attempting to divert local government funds through unauthorised deductions, describing such reports as baseless fabrications aimed at discrediting their return to office.

He urged residents of the state to remain calm and supportive, promising that the restored local government leadership would focus on community development, job creation, and restoring public confidence in local governance.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume has blasted former Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Addressing newsmen on Friday in Abuja, Akume said Obi could not rescue Anambra state as a governor let alone talking about rescuing 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

“Like I have already said, it’s like differences without division, rivalry. We love this country and we have to borrow from the example of President Bola Tinubu.

“He’s a Muslim but at peace with all of us: Christians, Muslims and traditionalists. Nigeria is a huge country in the move, and under his direction, we know that we are going to reach the promised land.

“I know he inherited a very bad economy but we are out of it. Today, our Gross Domestic Product, GDP, has grown by 4.4%.

“What are people hanging around talking about? Coming to rescue Nigeria. Which Nigeria? If Peter Obi could not rescue Anambra, he’s talking of rescuing the 36 states and Abuja.

“For other people I don’t want to mention their names. They came, they saw, they didn’t conquer even in their states,” he said.

The leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement in Gobirawa Ward, Dala Local Government Area of Kano State, Alhaji Amadu Danfulani, has defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Danfulani announced his defection on Tuesday at the APC state headquarters in Kano, citing disappointment with the Kwankwasiyya Movement and its leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

He also criticised the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, in the state, accusing it of pursuing what he described as “anti-people’s policies.”

His defection was received by the APC Zonal Chairman for Kano Central, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Ungoggo, who represented the state chairman, Abdullahi Abbas.

Other party leaders at the event included Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, Managing Director of the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority; the APC chairman of Dala Local Government, Alhaji Munir Haruna; and the Gobirawa Ward chairman of the party.

Ungoggo said the APC remained open to members of other political parties who wish to defect, provided they abide by its rules and constitution.

Danfulani was accompanied by some of his supporters, whom he said had also left the NNPP for the APC

Rivers State chapter of the African Democracy Congress, ADC, has vowed to ensure that the Emohua Local Government workers who were recently sacked by the council chairman, Hon. Chidi Lloyd get justice.

DAILY POST recalls that the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Rivers State chapter, had on Monday, directed its members across the 23 local government areas to proceed on a seven-day warning strike over the move by the chairman.

They alleged that Lloyd sacked over 300 workers in the council after returning for a second term as LG chairman.

According to reports, the Chairman had during his first tenure, dismissed the workers, describing them as ghost workers.

They were, however, reinstated by the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, during the political crisis that rocked the state.

However, upon his return after the recent LG election, Lloyd fired the workers again.

The strike by NULGE was, however, suspended following a swift intervention of Governor Fubara.

Reacting, ADC in a statement by its Chairman, Chief Sampson Leader, condemned the action, describing it as heartless.

The ADC chairman issued the statement on Tuesday shortly after a brief meeting with senior political adviser Dr. Fortune Alfred, who is currently the head of the south-south regional office of the foreign, commonwealth and development office.

According to the ADC Chairman, the “heartless actions of Hon. Chidi Lloyd, who callously sacked the LGA workers amidst Nigeria’s economic turmoil exposes the cruel disregard of our current government for the well-being of Rivers state citizens”.

He noted that “such acts of barbarity are a hallmark of the oppressive regime propped up” by leaders at the federal level

“The ADC will not stand by idly while our people suffer. We vow to fight tirelessly for justice and liberation, and by 2027, we will liberate Rivers state from the clutches of these oppressive rulers.” Sampson added.

The chairman acknowledged Governor Fubara’s swift intervention, warning that any further abuse of power would be met with fierce resistance.

The Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, has called for a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Anambra State slated for 8th November, 2025.

IPAC also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to provide a level playing field for all the political parties and the candidates participating in the election.

It made the call in a congratulatory message to Nigerians on the occasion of the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary.

The body of political parties hailed Nigerians for a milestone in the nation’s democratic governance and saluted the courage and patriotism of the founding fathers and compatriots who fought for the independence from the British colonial masters.

“We call for a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Anambra State slated for 8th November 2025. We urge INEC to provide a level playing field for all the political parties and their candidates participating in the election,” the statement signed by Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, the National Chairman of IPAC said.

“Politicians should also imbibe issue-based campaigns and eschew politics of bitterness that impedes the nation’s electoral process.

“We should respect the sanctity of the ballot box and ensure that every vote is counted and counts in the overall result. Election is the beauty of democracy, let us rebuild trust in the democratic system ahead of the 2027 general election.”

It added, “Nigerians are a resourceful and resilient people determined to build a better nation in spite of our political, socio-economic and security challenges.”

It urged citizens to use the 65th Independence anniversary as an opportunity for sober reflection and rededicate themselves to the service of the nation bearing in mind that this is the only country they have.

“It is time for action. It is time for patriotism. It is time to deepen the nation’s democracy and look forward to the future with renewed confidence and faith.

“This is our chance to steer the ship of the nation to the path of rectitude, progress, development and advancement, and bequeath to our children, indeed, future generations a peaceful, stable, just and prosperous society.

“Politicians should also imbibe issue-based campaigns and eschew politics of bitterness that impedes the nation’s electoral process.

“We should respect the sanctity of the ballot box and ensure that every vote is counted and counts in the overall result.

“Election is the beauty of democracy, let us rebuild trust in the democratic system ahead of the 2027 general election,” it said.

As the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, IPAC said it is unwavering in its commitment to sustainable democracy and development in the country.

“Together, we will build an enduring democracy. We are all in it together.,” the statement added.

A prominent leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State, Hon. Mohammed Bello, has resigned from the party, describing his decision as a move to “come out from bondage.”

Bello, a former senatorial aspirant for Yobe Zone A, announced his exit along with many of his supporters.

In a resignation letter addressed to the APC Ward Chairman in Gwange, Damaturu, and made available on Monday, Bello said his decision takes effect immediately.

“I am writing to formally notify you of my decision to resign my membership from the All Progressives Congress (APC) immediately,” the letter read in part.

.“This decision has not come lightly; it follows considerable reflection on my personal values and the direction of the party. After much deliberation, I have concluded that it is in my best interest and that of my community to step away from the party at this time.”

Bello thanked the APC for the opportunities he had while in the party, saying the relationships and experiences he gained would remain valuable. He also submitted his membership card along with the letter.