Intense schemings, drama and tension are not in short supply as the political parties on Thursday commenced the process for the nomination of their candidates for the 2027 elections across the country.

Reports from our correspondents show that the process has been particularly tense in Ogun,Oyo,Delta,Ebonyi,Nasarawa and Adamawa states where some incumbent federal lawmakers are facing challenges in their bid for a return to the National Assembly.

Much of the activity though is in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are keeping a relatively low profile as they await the decision of the Supreme Court of the leadership crises rocking the two parties before the close of nomination on May 30.

A meeting of APC stakeholders in Ogun Central Senatorial District held on Thursday in Abeokuta to prepare the party for the consensus or primary was inconclusive after claims by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun were strongly challenged by his rivals for the senatorial ticket.

The meeting, convened at the residence of party elder and former governor,Aremo Olusegun Osoba turned tense after Amosun allegedly claimed that he had been endorsed by President Bola Tinubu for the ticket and had also been directed by the president to support Senator Solomon Olamilekan for the governorship race .

Jolted by the former governor’s claims, some of those at the meeting were said to have pressed him for details of the alleged presidential endorsement and directive.

They reportedly found his response unconvincing and Aremo Osoba ,sources said, declared that he was not aware of any such endorsement.

Consequently, other party members seeking the ticket – Gbenga Obadara, a former senator,the incumbent Shuaib Salisu and Olamide Talabi, insisted that they remained in the race.

Some stakeholders recalled how Amosun almost jeopardised the chances of the APC in the 2019 governorship election when he sponsored a rival party and its candidate against the official candidate of the APC.

The meeting concluded without any agreement, with Aremo Osoba hinting of a fresh meeting to resolve the issues and possibly reach a consensus.

Supporters of Governor Dapo Abiodun and those of former Governor Gbenga Daniel remain locked in a war of words over the declaration of the governor as the APC candidate for Ogun East senatorial district at last Monday’s meeting of stakeholders.

Daniel was denied entry to the venue of the meeting.

Daniel’s loyalists under the aegis of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Otunba Gbenga Daniel (BATOGD) Movement, alleged that the endorsement lacked due process within the party structure.

Speaking at a press conference in Sagamu,the group said Abiodun’s endorsement lacked legitimacy, and that the majority of attendees were not qualified to participate in such a meeting.

Tinubu, Olubadan not backing any aspirant in Oyo – Adelabu

Chief Bayo Adelabu, who resigned as Power Minister on Tuesday in pursuit of his governorship aspiration on the platform of the APC in Oyo State has declared that neither President Tinubu nor the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has endorsed anybody for the party’s governorship ticket.

He dismissed any contrary report as false and misleading.

Addressing supporters and party members in Ibadan, shortly after returning from Abuja, Adelabu insisted that the gubernatorial contest was open to all interested members of the party.

He said: “Asiwaju is the President of Nigeria, overseeing 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. He is the President of 774 Local Governments. He is the President of almost 3,000 wards. So, he will not endorse or have a special interest in anyone.”

He said the President had advised party stakeholders to either reach a consensus or conduct primaries.

He added:“He (Tinubu) said we should all go and meet as a party, reach consensus among ourselves as a party with critical stakeholders on the ground, and if it’s not possible for us to reach consensus, then we go for a direct primary.

“On the Olubadan endorsing an aspirant, I take the report as a rumour, and I don’t believe in it. Olubadan is the father of all, irrespective of status or political affiliations.”

He pledged to run an inclusive government if elected to administer the state.

Members of the PDP in the state remain in suspense as Governor Seyi Makinde continues to keep the name of his preferred successor secret, apparently waiting for the Supreme Court’s verdict on the leadership crisis in the party.

The governor belongs to the Turaki-led faction which is not currently recognized by INEC.

However, Mr.Bimbo Adekanmbi, who is widely regarded as the governor’s choice last week declared his intent to seek the PDP governorship ticket.

Okowa, Nwoko, Ochei intensify consultations for Delta North

The race for the senatorial tickets for Delta North and Central in the APC is no less intense.

Former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko, and former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei have been criss-crossing the zone consulting and mobilizing their supporters .

Okowa, who represented the District between 2011 and 2015 before becoming two-term governor of the state, has largely focused consultations around the nine local government areas of Delta North.

He has been engaging leaders from Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North East, Ika South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, and Ukwuani.

His senatorial bid followed alleged pressure from political stakeholders across the district, with strong backing from leaders in Asaba and the wider Anioma political structure.

On his part, incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko, says he is seeking re-election to complete the good work he started in the Senate and to continue to uplift Anioma people.

Nwoko has been reaching out to traditional rulers, youth groups, and APC structures. His influence remains strong in the Aniocha/Oshimili axis, Ika communities, and parts of Ndokwa/Ukwuani.

Another top contender for the seat, former Speaker Victor Ochei has also stepped up consultations, especially within Oshimili South, Ika, and Ndokwa blocs, leveraging his long-standing grassroots political network.

Ochei has maintained strong ties with party leaders, traditional institutions, and youth stakeholders, with renewed engagement across Onicha-Ugbo, Asaba, Ibusa, and surrounding communities.

His political structure is considered formidable, particularly among old PDP and emerging APC realignments.

In the battle for Delta Central Senatorial ticket are former deputy senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and the incumbent Ede Dafinone.

Omo-Agege is a leading force in the APC and a towering figure in Delta politics.

Despite his defeat in the 2023 governorship election, he still commands a powerful grassroots structure across Delta Central, strong loyalty among Urhobo political blocs, and deep influence within the APC. His supporters see him as the region’s strongest link to national power.

Addressing his supporters in Oromurhu-Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Omo-Agege confirmed that he has bowed to mounting pressure from his constituents to recontest the Delta Central Senatorial seat.

He said his presence at the event was not to formally declare his ambition, noting that the announcement had already been made earlier.

Dafinone, however, is not yielding ground. He has steadily built his own political base through constituency projects, youth empowerment, and a more measured leadership style.

His growing appeal among professionals, younger voters, and community leaders makes him a serious challenger to Omo-Agege’s long-established dominance.

Omo-Agege represents the old, battle-tested machine of structure, loyalty, and federal connections, while Dafinone projects a quieter strategy built on incumbency, accessibility, and local trust.

Zoning threatens APC structure in Ebonyi

Unwritten arrangements on zoning are now threatening party unity in the Ebonyi State chapter of the APC as the party prepares to pick its candidates.

One such arrangement exists between the Abakaliki bloc, comprising Ebonyi North and Central senatorial zones and the old Afikpo bloc, which makes up the present Ebonyi South zone.

This understanding, often referred to as the “Charter of Equity,” was established by the state’s founding leaders to ensure a balance in the sharing of governorship and deputy governorship positions.

For instance, Ebonyi Central Senatorial Zone has remained a flashpoint during elections due to disputes over zoning. The zone consists of four local government areas: Ikwo, Ezza South, Ezza North, and Ishielu.

Ikwo LGA, the most populous, boasts of a voting strength believed to surpass the combined strength of the other three LGAs. Ezza South and Ezza North are dominated by the Ezza clan, while Ishielu comprises multiple blocs, including Ezzagu, Ori-Agba, Igbo Ato, and Igbo Ano.

Currently, the zone is represented in the Senate by Ken Eze from Ezza South. In the House of Representatives, Chinedu Ogah represents Ikwo/Ezza South, while Joseph Nwobasi represents Ezza North/Ishielu.

Ikwo LGA has never produced a substantive senator for the zone, except briefly when Emmanuel Onwe held the seat before being replaced by Julius Ucha following a court ruling.

As the APC begins the sale of nomination forms, calls have intensified for the Senate seat to be zoned to Ikwo.

However, others insist on maintaining the current zoning arrangement. The debate has polarized stakeholders, with supporters of Ogah advocating continuity.

In Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency, zoning tensions are also escalating.

Since 1999, Edda LGA (formerly Afikpo South) has produced only one representative, while Afikpo LGA has dominated the position. The incumbent, Iduma Igariwey, has held the seat since 2015 and is reportedly seeking a fourth term.

Although he won his last election on the platform of the PDP, his recent defection to the APC has sparked a backlash.

Many party stakeholders argue that allowing him to contest again would undermine the zoning principle and deny Edda a fair opportunity.

The state APC chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha, has convened a stakeholders’ meeting to address the issue. However, the final decision is expected to be made by Governor Nwifuru in consultation with key figures, including former governor David Umahi and former SGF, Senator Pius Anyim

Heat in Nasarawa APC over Governor’s endorsement of Wadada

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has embarked on a mission to quench the discontent sparked in the state chapter of the APC by his choice of Senator Ahmed Wadada as his preferred successor.

Particularly disturbed by the governor’s announcement of Wadada as preferred successor is the camp of former Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu who is also interested in the governorship ticket.

His supporters have been staging protests ,calling for a free and fair primary to pick the most popular person as candidate.

However, at a stakeholders meeting in Keffi, the state capital yesterday, stakeholders, comprising members of the State House of Assembly, local government chairmen, party leaders, youths and women groups, supported the governor’s endorsement of Wadada.

Dr Danladi Jatau, Speaker of the State Assembly, on behalf of the 16 APC lawmakers, commended the governor for what he described as a well-considered decision.

Jatau said that the governor had carried out wide consultations before making the endorsement, adding that the lawmakers were fully in support and would work towards Wadada’s emergence at both the party primaries and the general election.

He described Wadada as a loyal party member with the competence and experience to lead the state.

The speaker also appreciated other aspirants who had accepted the decision and urged those yet to do so to align with the party for its overall success.

“If God did not give you today, He can choose you tomorrow; even if it is not the governorship, it could be another position,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Safiyanu Isa-Andaha, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, said the 13 local government chairmen unanimously supported the governor’s choice.

Isa-Andaha said the chairmen had consulted widely with their constituents and resolved to back Wadada to sustain the developmental strides of the current administration.

“We will mobilise to ensure his victory at the primaries and the general election in 2027,” he said.

Responding, Wadada expressed gratitude to the governor and party stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him.

He pledged to run an inclusive administration and consolidate on the achievements of the Sule administration in infrastructure, industrialisation and security if elected.

The senator urged his supporters to conduct issue-based campaigns and avoid attacks against other aspirants.

“This endorsement is not about me, but about the future of our state. I urge my supporters not to attack any aspirant physically, in the media or on social media,” he said.

He also appealed to other aspirants to work with him in the overall interest of the party.

Uneasy calm in Osun Accord Party over alleged plan to cede tickets to PDP defectors

Tension is brewing in Accord Party in Osun State over alleged plot to give automatic tickets to lawmakers who recently defected from the PDP.

Old members of the party are kicking over the offer of automatic tickets to the Deputy Senate Minority leader Lere Oyewumi ,Representatives Mahruf Adewale (Osogbo), Bamidele Salam (Ede), Soji Adetunji (Ikirun), Mudashiru Alani (Iwo), Larne Oladebo (Irewolede), and Clement Olohunwa (Boluwaduro), as well as the Osun State Speaker of House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun and 24 other state lawmakers who defected from the PDP.

A group within Accord Party under the aegis of Broad Coalition of Concerned Political Stakeholders and Grassroots Mobilisers led by Hon Gabriel Adekunle, warned that the issue of automatic tickets could have serious political consequences across the state.

“We warn that sidelining credible aspirants who have invested significant time, resources, and grassroots energy into the democratic process could breed silent discontent, dampen mobilisation, and potentially push committed political actors toward avoidable realignments,” Adekunle said.

History, according to him, “consistently shows that when the political field is perceived to be uneven, grassroots morale weakens and opposition forces gain unnecessary advantage. Political strength is best preserved through open and credible competition, not closed arrangements.”

The group said the people of Osun are politically conscious and highly sensitive to signals of exclusion or preferential treatment, noting that public goodwill, no matter how strong, must be carefully sustained through demonstrable fairness.

“Governor Adeleke enjoys significant goodwill among the people, but goodwill must be protected with inclusive decisions. Any perception that democratic space is narrowing may carry unintended electoral implications, including for future contests,” the group stated.

However, the party’s State Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande dispelled the rumor of planned automatic tickets for lawmakers from PDP.

He said: “Primary election is internal affairs of the party, the insinuation that we have purported plan to give automatic ticket to the defected lawmakers is a lie. The national leadership and state have not met to decide on the mode of primary to adopt whether it is consensus or others.”

Adamawa ADC turmoil not subsiding

The crisis in the Adamawa State chapter of the ADC is not showing any sign of improvement as two of the factions loyal to Senator Abbo Ishaku and Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed continue to seek an alternative platform for their supporters to contest.

Abbo, in a message to his supporters earlier in the week, asked them to expect his new party this weekend.

He said the decision to leave the ADC was because the party “ conducted congresses against two ( 2) existing court orders meaning the illegal state executives produced by the illegal state congress CANNOT conduct a legitimate PRIMARY ELECTIONS that will be acceptable before any court of law in Nigeria.

“In 2023 in Plateau state, a STATE HIGHCOURT gave ruling against the PDP which was disobeyed by the party. The consequences were massive as all those that contested and won elections to the HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and SENATE lost their seats to the APC that came SECOND.

“This same treatment is waiting for anyone that runs for elections under the Illegal state executives in Adamawa state.

“Under the new electoral act, we have up to 10th May 2026 to join a new political party.

“Again, let me remind you, President Faye of Senegal was in prison for 11 months and came out of Prison two weeks ( 13 days actually) to elections and still won the Presidential election against the sitting President’s party.

“I have been out there meeting the people for about 3 years now and we have more than 10 months to the general elections.

“WE HAVE TIME.”

Adamawa APC chairman pledges transparent primaries ahead 2027 elections

Alhaji Hamza Madagali, Adamawa State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday assured aspirants of a free, fair and transparent governorship primary ahead of the 2027 elections.

Madagali gave the assurance while receiving an APC governorship aspirant, Mr Felix Tangwami, in Yola.

He stressed his commitment to internal democracy and equal opportunity for all contestants.

“Under my watch, there will be a level playing field for all aspirants. We will ensure a free and fair process that no one will have cause to regret,” he said.

The chairman emphasised that the party would uphold democratic principles across all elective positions, from the State Assembly to the governorship, assuring members of a credible process.

Earlier, Tangwami, who is the Commissioner for Health in Adamawa, congratulated Madagali on his emergence as chairman and pledged loyalty to the party leadership.

He said unity and discipline would remain central to his ambition.

The aspirant explained that his visit was to formally notify the party of his entry into the governorship race, noting that his ambition is driven by a desire to serve and contribute to the state’s development.

-I’ve experienced hunger,I know how to improve people’s standard of living -Girei

Another APC governorship aspirant in Adamawa State, Dr Salihu Bakari Girei says he knows deprivation because he has tasted it and will work hard to improve the life of the ordinary people should he become governor.

Girei said at a press briefing in Yola yesterday when he officially declared his governorship aspiration that at the beginning of his university days, he had to endure 48 hours without food because his father who retired from the public service around that time was not paid his benefits on time.

Girei vowed a commitment not only to improve the life of retirees, but also other senior citizens and youths if he gets a chance to lead the state.

Girei, an educationist who has held most of his public offices in the sector, including once being chairman of the state universal basic education board and more recently being a director with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, said he has much passion for education and will give the sector a pride of place.

Protests mar Benue APC primaries

The camps of Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),Chief George Akume are sharply disagreed on the nomination of candidates for elective offices in the APC.

Both sides are trading blames over alleged manipulation and favouritism.

The disagreements centre on zoning of elective offices.

In Gwer West Local Government Area, Hon. Godwin Sengev claimed he was suspended from the party for questioning the zoning system, which he alleged favored Mbapupuu area for the House of Assembly position.

Similarly, in Gboko Local Government Area, aspirants rejected the purported nomination of a Catholic priest as a consensus candidate, with Mrs. Joy Luga Hunde stating that there was no consensus.

HoR Deputy Speaker Kalu on massive mobilization in Abia

House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu is intensifying his mobilization drive across Abia State to get more support for the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

Working in the same direction is Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North).

They are positioning the party for a show of strength against the ruling Labour Party (LP) and Governor Alex Otti.

Otti ,according to sources, plans to get automatic tickets for the majority of LP federal and state lawmakers found to have lived up to expectation in the performance of their constituents.

For now,the governor has no rival in the LP for the governorship ticket.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on whose platform Enyinnaya Abaribe got reelected from Abia South Senatorial District, is practically ineffective since the senator switched to ADC.

The ADC itself is in crisis in the state with Mazi Kanu O. Kanu and Don Normal Obinna led factions laying claims to the leadership structure of the party.

Kanu is aligned with the David Mark led leadership while Obinna is with Nafiu Bala.

Kwara APC,PDP yet to roll out modalities for picking candidate

The APC and PDP in Kwara State are still working on the modalities for picking their candidates.

This has not stopped governorship aspirants from Kwara North Senatorial District from insisting that equity, fairness, justice and inclusiveness require that the zone must produce the next governor.

Governorship aspirants from the APC include Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly Salihu Yakubu Danladi, Mohammed Bio and chartered accountant Tajudeen Audu.

Ex-Senator representing Kwara Central in the upper legislative chamber Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe has also thrown his hat in the ring under the umbrella of APC.

The list of APC governorship aspirants from Kwara South includes Deputy Senate Majority Leader Oyelola Ashiru, former APC chair Hon Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, Port Harcourt based business tycoon Oluwatoyin Tajudeen Alabi and Global President, Offa Descendants Union (ODU) Dr Azeez Olaniyi. All have officially made their intention known.

The governorship aspirants in PDP so far are constitutional lawyer and former Speaker of the state House of Assembly Prof Ali Ahmad, Olasheni Ibiwoye (SAN) and Omar Bolaji, son of former Nigerian foreign affairs minister, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.

Ex-presidential aide Ja’oji declares for Tarauni House of Reps seat

A former Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Citizenship and Leadership, Nasir Bala, popularly known as Ja’oji, yesterday declared his intention to contest the Tarauni Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives on the platform of APC.

Ja’oji made the declaration before thousands of supporters during a procession from Gadar Lado to the APC Secretariat at Farm Centre, and onward to Ja’oji Quarters in Kano. Party leaders from across the constituency joined the rally.

He recently resigned his presidential appointment following what he described as sustained pressure from supporters in Tarauni and other parts of Kano State urging him to run.

Addressing the crowd, Ja’oji said his ambition was not driven by personal interest but by “a deep sense of responsibility, commitment, and consistent engagement with the people and the ideals of our great party.”

“Over the past few years, I have remained steadfast in my loyalty and contributions to the growth, unity, and electoral successes of our party at various levels,” he said.

Ja’oji noted that his tenure as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership had sharpened his grasp of governance, nation-building, and inclusive leadership.

Rep Wase faces challenge in Plateau

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ahmed idris Wase is facing opposition in his bid for a fresh term in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly.

Although a group, Wase Equity Project said it has raised funds to purchase nomination forms for him for his 6th term in the House of Reps,another group Wase Progressives For Equity, Unity and Inclusive Governance has vowed to stop his return.

In a communiqué in Jos, the group said Rep Wase has cornered the seat for “ over two decades”.

It acknowledged and appreciated the contributions and years of service of Wase, it said the “prolonged monopolisation of this critical office by a single district is a sharp contradiction to the principles of fairness, inclusion and balanced representation that underpin democratic governance.”

The group said democracy thrives not merely on elections but on equity, while demanding for zoning of seats to either of the three districts away from Bashar.

“The concentration of political power within a single district over an extended period breeds discontent, weakens collective ownership of governance and marginalises equally deserving districts” it said.

Ex-Minister Sirika seeks senatorial ticket

Aviation minister in the Buhari Administration, Alhaji Hadi Sirika yesterday declared his intention to bid for APC senatorial ticket for Katsina North.

The current Senator from the zone is Nasiru Sani Zango Daura.

Yusuf Buhari, son of the late President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier declared to seek the APC ticket for Daura/Sandama/Mai’adua Federal Constituency of Katsina State.

He has the incumbent, Aminu Jamo Daura to contend with.

Declare your 2027 intention now, Wike’s ex-aide tells Fubara

A public affairs analyst and publisher, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, has asked the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to publicly declare his intention to seek reelection in 2027.

Inko-Tariah, a former Special Adviser on Media to former Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State wondered why the state is witnessing low political activity ahead of next year’s general election.

Speaking in Port Harcourt yesterday , Inko-Tariah, who is also the publisher of a Port Harcourt based tabloid ‘Hard Truth’ blamed the situation on what he referred to as state capture, claiming that powerful interests were influencing political processes.

But he said the governor should leverage the organic support he currently enjoys in the state and declare his intentions.

Inko-Tariah said: ” The primaries are coming up. The sad part of it is that this man (Fubara) even without the nod of Mr President in a free and fair election, will win because he still has organic support.

“I will enjoin the governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara to contest because he has the organic support. Rivers’ people are solidly behind him.

“And I also have a conviction from the snippets of information coupled together that the All Progressive Congress national is solidly behind him. In a free and fair election Fubara doesn’t need anybody’s support. He just needs the support from the people.”

Aiyedatiwa targets one million votes for Tinubu

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa yesterday cautioned aspirants against desperation and ‘do-or-die politics.’

Aiyedatiwa gave the warning at the APC Central Senatorial District stakeholders’ meeting held at the Akure Township Hall, where he said candidates would emerge through merit, loyalty and winnability.

The governor also declared a target of one million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Ondo State in the 2027 presidential election, describing it as a key priority for the party.

He said the APC had already commenced political consultations ahead of the elections, adding that the process would involve collection of nomination forms, screening, appeals where necessary, and either direct primaries or consensus arrangements as approved by the party.

According to him, party leaders were already engaging aspirants to encourage consensus building, stressing that only one candidate would emerge for each position.

“It is not a do-or-die affair. If you are not chosen, do not rock the boat. Remain in the party. One day, opportunity will come,” he said, recalling his own experience of losing a Senate bid in 2018 but remained loyal to the party.

He also warned against defection, insisting that loyalty to the APC must be sustained even after internal contests.

The governor said the party’s stakeholder structure had been expanded from 10 to 60 leaders per local government to deepen inclusion and broaden consultations.

Reaffirming the party’s electoral goal, Aiyedatiwa said the APC remained committed to retaining power in 2027, adding that ongoing federal projects in the state including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and major road dualisation projects demonstrated the performance of the Tinubu administration.

He maintained that the 2027 elections remained a “task that must be achieved” for the APC.

Consensus deals shape early race for 2027 tickets in Enugu

The window for the nomination of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections has officially opened, setting off a flurry of political activity across parties in Enugu State, with strong indications that consensus arrangements may dominate the process.

In the All Progressives Congress (APC), the path to candidacy appears largely predetermined, following a wave of endorsements and strategic consolidation of party structures. Party sources disclosed that Governor Peter Mbah has secured overwhelming backing from key blocs, including the influential Enugu West and Enugu North Senatorial Districts; Awkunanaw political clan, alongside other stakeholders across the state.

Further strengthening his position, the governor recently led a delegation of party leaders to meet President Tinubu—a move widely interpreted by political watchers as a signal of federal backing.

The consolidation was also evident during the APC state congresses, where loyalists of the governor’s camp emerged as executive members at all levels. Notably, allies were positioned in strategic roles, including the office of the Deputy National Chairman (South), which Dr. Ben Nwoye currently occupies, effectively tightening the governor’s grip on the party’s structure in the state.

“With this level of control, it will be extremely difficult for any challenger to upturn the arrangement,” a party insider said, adding that consensus candidacy is almost inevitable within the APC.

According to the insider, similar procedure would be adopted to produce other elective positions in the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

In the African Democratic Congress (ADC), recent weeks have seen a shift from internal discord to cautious reconciliation. The party had earlier been embroiled in a leadership tussle that produced three parallel state executives, threatening its cohesion.

However, the crisis appears to have been resolved, with stakeholders rallying behind the leadership of Professor Augustine Akubue. The turning point, sources said, came after a high-level meeting in Enugu involving key national figures, including Peter Obi.

The meeting, it was gathered, focused on reinforcing internal party democracy and harmonising state-level operations, paving the way for a more unified front as the nomination process gathers momentum.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains mired in uncertainty, as it awaits a Supreme Court ruling to determine the authentic leadership faction of the party in the state. Apart from the movement of Governor Mbah and a significant number of the party structure into the APC, the prolonged legal tussle has significantly weakened its standing, with some stakeholders expressing concern over its dwindling appeal.

Political analysts note that the PDP, once a dominant force, is no longer the “beautiful bride” in Enugu politics. The internal divisions, they argue, may lead to a situation where any aspirant who emerges could secure the party’s ticket. (The Nation)

Update news