By Son Tertsea, Abuja

Peter Obi, candidate of the National Democratic Congress NDC and Sheyi Makinde, of Allied People’s Movemt, APM have given acceptance speeches after affirmation by their political parties.

At the NDC convention Obi unveiled his roadmap for national recovery.

“It is with deep humility that I accept the role of presidential candidate of our party. I express my profound gratitude to the leaders of our party, His Excellency Seriake Dickson, the National Chairman, National Secretary, members of the National Working Committee, our relentless supporters and the Nigerian people who have steadfastly kept the spirit of hope alive,” he said.

The erstwhile Anambra State governor described Nigeria as a country at critical crossroads:

“Businesses are struggling, communities are suffering, and an alarming number of citizens have lost faith in the very concept of governance.

“Yet, I stand before you filled with optimism and strong faith in the resilience of our people, for I firmly believe that a new Nigeria is possible.

“In terms of security, the situation in Nigeria has considerably worsened. The global terrorism impact assessments ranked Nigeria as the eighth most affected nation in 2022, sixth in 2024, and fourth in 2026.”

Obi promised to solve the problem of insecurity with intelligence-driven and technology-based security reforms while addressing the root causes of violence: poverty and unemployment.

“We must address insecurity with resolve and urgency, for no nation can thrive while its citizens live in trepidation. The primary responsibility of government is to ensure the protection of lives and property,”

He further promised major reforms in the healthcare sector:

“Nigeria suffers from one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. Furthermore, health insurance coverage in Nigeria hovers at a mere 10 per cent.

“This situation is regrettable. I pledge that within four years, our health insurance coverage will more than double to over 20 per cent.”

On power, Obi said:

“Nigeria today is the nation with the highest number of citizens lacking access to electricity globally. We currently generate and distribute a mere 4,000 megawatts of electricity for a population exceeding 200 million,” he regretted promising the distribution by at least 10,000 megawatts within four years of presidency.

On his part, Sheyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, after emerging as the presidential candidate of Allied People’s Movement, APM, unveiled a reset agenda rooted in economic restructuring, petroleum sector overhaul and a decentralised security architecture.

“I stand before you today with deep humility and a profound sense of responsibility as I accept the nomination to serve as the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I believe the answer is simple… Nigeria must reset. We cannot continue recycling the same leadership approaches while expecting different results. A new direction must emerge; one built on competence, courage, accountability and compassion for the people.”

He promised reforms that directly improve citizens’ welfare, insisting that governance must be practical rather than rhetorical. That Nigeria must derive greater benefits from its status as an oil-producing nation, promising reforms in pricing, institutional efficiency and accountability within the petroleum sector.

“Nigerians must benefit from being an oil-producing country just like other oil-producing countries in the world.

“We will pursue fair, transparent and right pricing templates for petroleum products that reflect the realities of the cost of production. Nigerians must be protected from arbitrary pricing.

“I dare dream that the NNPC will be reformed and become lean, efficient and commercially driven through proper joint venture incorporation and institutional reforms.

“I dare dream that we will reset Nigeria and take the difficult but necessary decision to restructure the ownership of our refineries so Nigeria can finally stop bleeding resources into systems that no longer serve the people effectively.”

On national security, Makinde lamented the powerlessness of state governors called Chief Security Officers without constitutional control over security agencies.

“As Governor of Oyo State, I carry the painful burden of being called Chief Security Officer, yet lacking constitutional control over the security agencies needed to fully confront these threats.

“As President of Nigeria, I will work to reform our national security architecture so that states are no longer left helpless in moments of crisis. The decentralisation that we need for more effective security will be prioritised,” he assured.

Makinde equally expressed concern over ongoing kidnappings and insecurity across the country, describing them as a national emergency requiring urgent reforms.

The governor promised food security, transport reforms and agricultural productivity, stressing the need for data-driven planning.

He added that transportation costs had become a major burden for Nigerians and would require practical interventions based on tested models, to be issue-based and focused on solutions rather than political rhetoric:

“We will start with collating accurate data on our capacity in the agriculture sector so that we can address the gaps in production, processing, agrologistics and storage.

“I do not stand here promising miracles. I stand here promising leadership that listens, leadership that acts, and leadership that understands that governance must improve the lives of ordinary people.”

At the event, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, represented by his deputy, Mohammed Jatau, led a delegation from the North-East to endorse Makinde’s candidacy, describing him as the leader Nigeria needed at its critical moment in history:

“We are here on behalf of the government and people of Bauchi State to support, endorse and celebrate the emergence of our dear distinguished brother, Oluwaseyi Makinde, as the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement.

“Makinde possesses the qualities required to lead Nigeria towards progress and national renewal. We firmly believe that he is the leader Nigeria needs at this critical moment in our nation’s history. We are confident that he possesses the vision, competence, experience and commitment required to move Nigeria forward and deliver the leadership our people deserve.

“I wish to assure our brothers and sisters gathered here today that Bauchi State, the North-East region, and indeed many patriotic Nigerians across the northern part of the country stand firmly behind the APM movement.

“The people of Oyo and the people of Bauchi share a strong bond of friendship, cooperation and mutual respect. Our destinies are interconnected, and our aspirations for a better Nigeria are the same.”

The APM National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, presented the party’s flag and Certificate of Return to Makinde, describing his emergence as the beginning of a broader political movement tagged: “Reset Nigeria Agenda.”

He said state chairmen and stakeholders unanimously supported Makinde’s nomination with event marking the birth of the “Reset Nigeria Movement.”

–Wike-backed leadership gives thump down

By Isa Abdul, Abuja

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Saturday, emerged as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2027 general election, as hoodlums invaded A-Class Event Centre Abuja where he was endorsed at a Special National Convention by a faction of the PDP led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, SAN.

The event took place despite opposition from the party’s faction led by Nyeson Wike, FCT minister.

Suspected thugs reportedly invaded the original venue for the ratification of Jonathan’s candidature, A-Class Event Centre, and attacked participants.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the attack occurred shortly after the factional leaders relocated from the venue to engage with police personnel deployed to the area.

Turaki and other factional members shifted the activities to their operational office in Area 10, Garki, after security personnel barricaded the A-Class Event Centre and crowned the ex-president in absentia with the issuance of a Certificate of Return.

Fred Agbedi, a former House or Representatives member, received the certificate on behalf of the former President after a brief ceremony.

The party leaders returned to the A-Class Event Centre for an engagement with police officers stationed at the venue.

Shortly after Turaki concluded his remarks at the scene, hoodlums arrived in two Coaster buses armed with sticks launched a sudden attack on party officials who were already returning to their vehicles.

The attack forced party leaders, journalists and other stakeholders to scamper.

In the ensuring chaos, a journalist’s mobile phone was reportedly snatched.

The convention’s highlight was the ratification of Jonathan’s candidature through a voice vote following a motion moved by the Chairman of the PDP State Chairmen’s Forum and Edo State PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, and seconded by former Minister of Aviation, Mohammed Dagash.

With Jonathan’s candidature, a new chapter has been added to PDPs tale of crises.

But it is not clear, as at press time, if Dr Jonathan has accepted to be part of this and the herculian tasks ahead: to step into the murky internal PDP war and then move on to the larger contest between an incumbent president whose power grab philosophy is well known.

Confusing is the both factions’ claim to their legal grounding.

The Wike faction got the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeals filed by the Turaki faction and upheld previous lower court rulings in its favour. This nullified the parallel PDP National Convention held in Ibadan, stripping the rival group of legal standing. It also declared the National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu (a staunch Wike ally) as the legitimate National Secretary of the PDP and the Caretaker Committee led by Abdulrahman.

But addressing supporters at the Abuja event, Turaki accused unnamed political interests of attempting to undermine democracy through intimidation and abuse of power.

“No matter how highly opinionated they may be about themselves, or no matter how they think they can use their positions to thwart democracy, we want to tell them that Nigeria is bigger than anybody and any group of persons.

“We will not fight. The time of fighting will come when we meet at the polls. We will meet you there; we’ll fight you there, we’ll defeat you there, and then we will pin you down on the ground.”

The former minister went on to uphold the legitimacy of the faction and what it was doing as being consistent with the supreme court judgments and the provisions of the PDP constitution.

He maintained that the PDP Board of Trustees and members of the National Executive Committee had intervened to address the leadership vacancies created by judicial pronouncements, leading to the formation of an Interim National Working Committee:

“What we are doing today is in line with the judgment of the Supreme Court, which affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.”

At the event also, an elder statesman and PDP founding member, Prof Jerry Gana, spoke against the dip in what what ought to give democracy full traction: an unbiased, independent electoral umpire which the pro-democracy activists canvassed for:

“It is with great pain that I see this situation, that so many years after democracy, we are still being reduced to this.

“We insisted that we must have an Independent National Electoral Commission. Unfortunately, after so many years of development, is INEC now independent?”, he queried.

Gana also criticised the heavy security presence noting it was a threat to democratic freedoms:
“We are supposed to be having a special convention in a very well-organised place. Now the police have taken over the whole place. Are we back to military rule?
“This is a disgrace. Let the whole world know that Nigerian democracy is challenged because people cannot meet freely.”

However, the Nyesom Wike PDP faction’s leadership had earlier distanced itself from the convention through its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, who maintained that former Cross River State senator, Sandy Onor, remained the recognised presidential candidate of the party.

By Philip NyamAbuja

A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue state, Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun has called for the cancellation of the just concluded governorship primaries due to alleged irregularities and undemocratic practices.

Kuraun, who made the call in Abuja on Thursday at a media briefing, also accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of diversion of election materials demanding that he be declared as candidate of the party in the alternative.

The aspirant alleged that “What transpired was a grave subversion of internal democracy and a deliberate manipulation of a process that ought to have reflected the genuine will of party members across the 276 Council Wards and 23 local government areas of Benue State.

“In view of the overwhelming irregularities, absence of transparency, denial of due process, and the failure of the exercise to meet acceptable democratic standards, I respectfully call on the National Working Committee of the APC to cancel the purported governorship primary election conducted in Benue State on 21st May 2026 and conduct a fresh, transparent, and independently supervised primary election; declare me, Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun, the valid winner of the primary election based on the undisputed fact that I was the only aspirant who substantially complied with the party’s stipulated preparatory requirements for the conduct of the exercise, including the duly acknowledged submission and deployment of agents across the 276 council wards and 23 local government areas of Benue State, as well as the overwhelming turnout and visible participation of my supporters across the state despite the failure of election materials to reach the designated ward centres”.

Speaking further, the aspirant alleged that “The APC Governorship Primary Election conducted in Benue State on Thursday, 21st May 2026 was neither credible, transparent, nor reflective of democratic standards expected within a ruling political party.

“I was the only governorship aspirant who demonstrably prepared for the exercise in accordance with the requirements and guidelines of our great party, the APC.

“Prior to the primary election, I duly submitted the comprehensive list of my Ward and Local Government Agents to the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee at the APC State Secretariat in Makurdi. The submission was formally acknowledged by the Committee.

“To the best of available evidence, no other aspirant submitted such comprehensive agents’ lists covering the entire 276 Council Wards and 23 Local Government Areas.

“Most importantly, I was the only aspirant with agents physically present and verifiably deployed across the field during the exercise. This fact is supported by extensive pictorial and video evidence taken across the wards and local governments in Benue State.

“Our agents and supporters were visibly present, mobilized, and prepared for the democratic exercise. They wore identification tags, coordinated party faithful, and waited for the distribution of election materials in anticipation of a credible process.

“Unfortunately, what followed was deeply disturbing. My agents and supporters across the 23 Local Government Areas patiently waited at their respective ward centres for the arrival of election materials, which reportedly departed Makurdi at about 1:00 p.m. for onward distribution to the designated wards.

“However, in many instances, these materials never arrived at the approved ward centres for the conduct of the primary election.

“Instead, reports and evidence later showed that the materials were seen being taken away or found in the possession of certain government appointees and individuals outside the designated electoral process.

“This unfortunate development ultimately created room for the diversion of election materials to unknown locations and opened the door for the falsification and fabrication of results without actual voting taking place in many areas.

“I challenge anyone claiming victory in that exercise to publicly provide authentic video or pictorial evidence showing actual accreditation, voting, counting, and collation processes across the 276 Council Wards of Benue State.

“Several disturbing irregularities have since emerged from the purported results announced, including:

“Allocation of votes to aspirants whose supporters and agents were not present in several wards; instances where I overwhelmingly won but was falsely recorded as scoring zero votes.

“Inclusion of names of persons who reportedly did not participate in the screening process or were not duly cleared to contest; announcement of fabricated figures from locations where election materials never arrived and voting never occurred.

“These actions represent a direct assault on democratic credibility and internal party democracy. Following the declaration of the disputed results, I immediately activated the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the APC in line with the timetable and guidelines of the party.

“However, when it became time to formally file my appeal before the Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee, the Committee members became unavailable and could not be found anywhere despite repeated efforts by myself, my representatives, and my legal team to reach them.

“It is my firm belief that this deliberate unavailability was calculated to frustrate my constitutional and democratic right to seek redress within the party framework.

“Faced with this obstruction, I had no option but to forward my appeal through DHL courier service to the National Chairman of the APC, with copies duly sent to the National Legal Adviser.

“The complaint was officially acknowledged at the office of the National Chairman on 25th May 2026. Regrettably, up till this moment, I have neither received any formal response nor been invited for any meeting, hearing, or discussion concerning the complaint filed”.