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Senator Abdullahi Adamu Still A Loyal Member – APC Debunks His Rumoured Defection

January 9, 2026

Senator Abdullahi Adamu Joins ADC, Collects Membership Card — Senator Abdullahi Adamu

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The All Progressive Congress, APC, has rejected claims suggesting that former Governor of Nasarawa state Senator Abdullahi Adamu has defected to the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

It described as false and totally misleading reports on the social media space that claiming that Adamu, a former National Chairman of the APC, is now a member of the coalition platform ADC.

A statement Thursday evening January 8, 2025, issued by the Nasarawa State APC Organizing Secretary, Hassan Abubakar, also described the purported defection of Adamu as a deliberate propaganda designed to mislead the public and cause confusion within the party.

Abubakar, who is the State Coordinator of the APC’s e-membership registration exercise, informed that the images being circulated on the social media were taken during the former Governor’s e-membership and revalidation exercise, an ongoing programme aimed at strengthening the party’s database, and internal democracy.

The APC emphasized that Adamu remains a card-carrying and loyal member of the APC.

“For the avoidance of doubt , Senator Abdullahi Adamu at no time ,defected, contemplated defection, or associated himself with any other political party”, the APC noted.

The APC expressed serious surprise and shock over deliberate attempts by some political desperados to misrepresent a legitimate party activity as a defection.

The party, therefore, urged APC members and the general public to disregard the claims of the defection of Adamu,and rely only on verified APC sources for information.

The Source further reports that Senator Adamu in 2023 resigned his appointment as the APC National Chairman after an alleged disagreement with the presidency.

He was elected as the National Chairman at the party’s National Convention in 2022 ,but was forced to make way for Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje , immediately after the 2023 general elections owing to perceived irreconcilable differences with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu .

Fubara Addressed As ‘Madam’ In Rivers Assembly Impeachment Notice

Ayodele Oni

January 9, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

Designation of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara as ‘Madam’ in the impeachment notice served on him on Thursday may turn to be one of the technicalities which can stall the action.

The Rivers State House Assembly had addressed Governor Siminalayi Fubara as “Madam” in the notice of impeachment to the Governor.

The Assembly, on Thursday, initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara.

The Lawmakers launched the process after Major Jack, leader of the Assembly, read gross misconduct charges against Fubara, signed by 26 members of the House.

Martin Amaewhule, the speaker, said the notice of gross misconduct would be served on the governor within the next seven days, as required by law.

The Assembly later served Fubara with the notice of gross misconduct but addressed him as “Madam”.

The notice dated January 8, 2026, was signed by Amaewhule.

The Governor and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu were addressed as ‘Madam’ in the two letters by the Assembly.

The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has advised the assembly against the action warning members not to be teleguided by outsiders.

Amaewhule has threatened to resign as Speaker if the present impeachment move fails.

Insecurity: Edo NMA To Withdraw Services Over Abduction Of Two Members Within 48 Hours

Ayodele Oni

January 9, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

Following the abduction of two medical doctors in Edo state within 48 hours, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Edo State Branch, has announced its decision to withdraw medical services across the state, effective Saturday, January 10th, 2026.

The measure comes in response to the recent abduction of two medical doctors, which occurred on January 1st and 2nd, 2026.

Dr. Eustace Oseghale, Chairman of the NMA Edo State Branch, conveyed the association’s decision in a statement released to newsmen in Benin on Friday.

He stated that the withdrawal of services is a direct consequence of the abduction of their colleagues and a reflection of the heightened sense of vulnerability among medical practitioners in the state.

According to Oseghale, the NMA is calling for immediate intervention to secure the release of the abducted doctors and implement measures to prevent future incidents.

The statement reads, “This incident raises concerns about healthcare professionals’ safety in Edo State, threatening their lives and undermining healthcare delivery.

“We demand the immediate release of our abducted colleagues as well as enhanced security protocols for Edo State residents and regular engagement between NMA Edo and the Edo State Government on security concerns.”

The NMA leadership insisted on withdrawal of services state wide if their demands are not met, stressing that a safe working environment is crucial for healthcare providers.

“We’ll continue to withhold services until our demands are met and colleagues are safe.

“We urge a swift resolution and the safe return of our colleagues. Security operatives should take this seriously, as they’ll be held responsible for the consequences of our action.”Oseghale said.

Maureen Chigbo, Veteran Journalist, Loses Lawyer-Sister To Kidnappers In Abuja

The Source

January 8, 2026

Dr Maureen Chigbo, an award winning Veteran Journalist and Publisher of Realnews Magazine, has lost her sister, Princess Nwamaka Mediarrix Chigbo, a Barrister-at-Law, to kidnappers in Abuja.

In a statement dated January 8, 2026, signed on behalf of the family, Dr. Chigbo narrated the harrowing circumstances under which her sister was kidnapped on January 5, 2026, while she was on the phone with another of their sisters. She also narrated the frantic efforts made to secure her release by both family and the Police. They were fruitless.

The family was, finally, invited to send the photograph when the Police told them a critically injured Lady had been seen in the streets of Abuja and taken to a Specialist Hospital.

Dr. Chigbo said she immediately boarded a flight from Lagos to Abuja only to be confronted by her sister’s badly tortured and broken body in the mortuary.

Following, the family’s statement.

“THE family of Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo, an Abuja-based lawyer, is saddened to announce her brutal death at the hands of still-to-be-identified kidnappers in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory on Monday, 5th January 2026.

Before her abduction, Barrister Nwamaka was on the phone with her sister Anthonia, who briefly interrupted the call to attend to a client. When she reverted, the Barrister’s phone was still live, and Anthonia could hear her sister’s distress cry before the phone suddenly went dead and unreachable.

Anthonia alerted her elder sister, Maureen Chigbo, and other family members, who called the lawyer’s number repeatedly to reach her or her abductors to no avail.

When a call finally went through, a male voice rained curses in English and Hausa language, saying: ‘Thunder fire you there, send three million Naira or else we will kill her.’

“The captors gave no further details and abruptly terminated subsequent calls.

“Barrister Nwamaka’s family later tried to contact the Police Force Public Relations Officer and left a text message on her phone.

“They were referred to two police complaint numbers.

The family equally sent a distress text and WhatsApp message to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and also contacted the FCT Police Commissioner, who immediately linked them up to the Commander of the Scorpion Squad, in charge of kidnapping in Abuja.

“The Commander later called to inform the family that the police were tracking the kidnappers, who were said to be ‘in motion and would likely drop the lawyer off once they might have collected the ransom.’

“The kidnappers never initiated any calls, and when Nwamaka’s family members reached them through her phone for clarification on how the ransom would be paid, they only heard the lawyer screaming in pain, ‘I am dying. …save me, please send the money, I am dying,’ before the phone finally went dead again.

“The family maintained contact with the Police Commander throughout Monday night to follow up on the rescue operation.

At 4 am on Tuesday, 6th January, when Maureen called the Commander, he expressed surprise that the lawyer had not called or returned home. He then promised to escalate the rescue operation.

“The Commander later called to inform the family that ‘a lady had been found in a critical condition’ and taken to an Abuja specialist hospital. He requested that Nwamaka’s picture be sent for identification purposes.

“Maureen immediately took a flight from Lagos to Abuja and on reaching the hospital, saw her sister’s lifeless body in the mortuary with bruises, swollen eyes and a cracked skull, all signs of a tortured death.

“The Chigbo family has met with the Police authorities, who assured them that the case was under investigation and that the culprits would be apprehended.

“Nwamaka was an active member and former treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja, member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, IFWL,

FIDA and Global Association of Female Lawyers, GAFA. She was a former President of Catholic Lawyers Association, Abuja.

An ardent Catholic, Nwamaka authored a book on Infant Jesus, and until death was the Vice President of the Infant Jesus Association, member of the Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Group among other religious groups.

“The family expresses its gratitude to the Police for their efforts and cooperation so far, and urges the Force to ensure that justice is served in Nwamaka’s case.

“The family also wishes to thank Nwamaka’s friends, colleagues and well-wishers for their support and prayers. Her funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as possible.

“Maureen Chigbo

For and on behalf of the Family

A.I

Jan. 8, 2025”

NYSC Warns Institutions Against Mobilizing Corps Members With Irregular Academic Records

Ayodele Oni

January 8, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

Director General, (DG) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, has accused some Corps Producing Institutions (CPIs) of mobilising Prospective Corps members with inconsistent academic records for personal or illegal gain.

Brig-General Nafiu in his keynote address at the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Pre-Mobilisation Workshop in Abuja, warned that the NYSC NDHQ will not hesitate to impose appropriate sanctions on any CPI found to violate established standards.

“The NYSC mobilisation process is a complex ecosystem of interconnected actors and systems.

“As we start the 2026 Batch ‘A’ mobilisation at the very beginning of a new year, it is both timely and necessary to address these issues with honesty, clarity, and determination. I have identified a number of such issues.

“First are the challenges with CPIs, which hold a crucial role in the mobilisation value chain. As the primary source of mobilisation data and the producers of graduates for national service, they are essential to the credibility of the entire process.

“Unfortunately, several issues continue to weaken effective service delivery at this level. These include violations of established NYSC mobilisation guidelines, uploading unqualified graduates, inconsistent academic records, data discrepancies, intentional record manipulation for personal or illegal gain, and weak internal verification systems.

“Together, these practices undermine the integrity of the mobilisation process and cause unnecessary operational and reputational challenges for the Scheme.

“To reverse this trend, CPIs must strengthen their internal data validation processes before uploads. Heads of institutions need to exercise greater oversight over mobilisation activities within their domains, while Desk Officers must undergo ongoing training and retraining to stay updated with evolving standards and technologies.

“CPIs should be aware that the NYSC NDHQ will not hesitate to impose appropriate sanctions on any CPI found to violate established standards,” NYSC DG said.

While listing other challenges, the NYSC DG said: “Next is the Internal Operational Gaps within NYSC, which involves improving service delivery requiring not only external compliance but also internal reflection.

The NYSC must be willing to look inward to identify internal challenges include inconsistent application of mobilisation guidelines, weak cross-departmental coordination, delays in resolving and escalating issues, and unnecessary human interference in automated processes.

“Such gaps diminish institutional efficiency and gradually undermine public trust. Moving forward, the NYSC is fully dedicated to strictly following Standard Operating Procedures, strengthening collaboration across departments, area offices, and State Secretariats, improving monitoring and performance evaluation, and reinforcing discipline, professionalism, and ethical behaviour at all levels.

“Another important issue is Technology and Data Management Challenges. While the Scheme has made significant progress in digital mobilisation, notable challenges remain.

“These include poor data quality at the source, limited technical skills among some system operators, resistance to full automation, and inadequate feedback mechanisms.

“Technology should serve as an enabler of service delivery, not a source of frustration.

“To achieve this, we need to institutionalise ongoing capacity building on NYSC digital platforms, establish clear escalation channels for technical issues, conduct regular system audits and upgrades, and greatly minimize human intervention in automated processes,” he said.

Earlier, the Director Corps Mobilisation Department, Mrs. Rachel Idaewor, had explained that: “The NYSC Pre-Mobilization Workshop serves as a vital platform for fostering collaboration among the NYSC, CPIs, and other critical stakeholders.

“While we have made significant strides in enhancing our mobilization processes, it is clear that we need to focus on optimizing our service delivery across the mobilization value chain.

“This workshop’s theme, ‘Enhancing Service Delivery Across the NYSC Mobilisation Value Chain’, highlights our commitment to improving the processes that underpin our mobilisation strategy.

“We aim to explore innovative approaches that enhance service delivery and address the challenges that we currently face. Maintaining high standards in service delivery is not solely an operational challenge; it impacts the trust and confidence of all stakeholders involved,” Idaewor said.

APC Looses Fmr National Chairman, Adamu To ADC

Ayodele Oni

January 8, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

Nasarawa State went agog as a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The move has sent ripples through Nigeria’s political space as the country gears up for the 2027 general elections.

The defection ceremony took place in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where Adamu was officially received by top ADC leaders, party faithful, youth groups and other political stakeholders.

Adamu’s decision to leave the APC reportedly followed prolonged dissatisfaction with the party’s internal affairs at both the state and national levels.

A founding member of the APC and a prominent power broker since the party’s formation in 2015, his exit is considered a major blow to the ruling party.

A former two-term governor of Nasarawa State and an experienced lawmaker, Adamu is widely regarded as one of the most influential political figures in the North-Central region.

Addressing supporters at the event, Adamu said his defection was driven by principle and conscience.

He accused the APC of straying from its founding values, alleging the marginalization of seasoned members, suppression of opposing views and erosion of internal democracy.

The Keffi event was marked by a strong show of support for the ADC, with party flags, solidarity songs and chants highlighting the significance of the moment for the opposition party.

ADC leaders described Adamu’s entry as a major boost to the party, noting that his political experience, grassroots network and national stature would strengthen its growing influence.

They also pointed out that the development reflects increasing public interest in alternatives beyond the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Full List Of Allegations Leveled Against Fubara, Deputy By Rivers Assembly Emerge

Adesina Soyooye

January 8, 2026

Simi Fubara and Professor Ngozi Odu — Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu,

By Adesina Soyooye

The Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday, January 8, 2026, began impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, allegedly for gross misconduct and constitutional violations.

Following are some of the allegations against Governor Fubara and Deputy Governor Odu by the Speaker Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.

For Fubara:

■The alleged demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex

■Authorising expenditures not captured in the approved budget

■Withholding statutory funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission.

■Ignoring and refusing to implement Supreme Court judgments affirming the financial autonomy of the House of Assembly

Thereafter, the Assembly shifted focus to Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu.

The allegations against Odu include:

■Engaged in reckless and unconstitutional use of public funds

■Actively obstructed the Rivers State House of Assembly from carrying out its legislative responsibilities

■Colluded to allow unauthorized individuals to occupy government offices without due screening

■Sought budget approval from an alternative group rather than the legally constituted Rivers Assembly

■Withheld salaries and allowances due to lawmakers and the Assembly Service Commission.

The impeachment notice will be served on both the Governor and his Deputy within seven days.

Impeachment: Rivers APC Warns Assembly Members Against External Influence

Ayodele Oni

January 8, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has rejected the latest move by the state House of Assembly to impeach Governor Fuminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngizi Odun.

The Party advised all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly especially APC members, to resist pressures from outside the Assembly chambers to destabilize the Government of Rivers state ably led by His Excellency Sir Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

Reacting to an impeachment notice initiated on Thursday by the APC dominated assembly, the party stated that “The attention of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has been drawn the latest unfortunate developments coming out from the chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”

The statement, signed by Darlington Nwauju the State APC Spokesperson, noted that “We concede that the legislature is an independent arm in the tripod of governance, and the constitutional responsibilities of checks and balances are within their democratic purview.

“Our position as at today on this matter is that, we solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment process against our Governor and his deputy.

“It will be totally untenable for our party to keep quiet when an obvious hangover from strifes that occurred within the PDP are allowed to resurface in our great party.

“It is important to say to Rivers people and Nigerians that since the latest threat of impeachment centers on the budget, may we remind ourselves that under the period of emergency rule, a budget was transmitted to the National Assembly by the President and Commander-in-Chief in May 2025 which was approved by the Senate on 25 June 2025 and subsequently by the House of Representatives on July 22 2025 for a total sum of #1.485 trillion.

“Interestingly, this budget is for one year and should run up till August 2026 and if the Governor is comfortable with the composition of the said budget, he may elect not to present any supplementary budget.

“Besides, the constitution allows for a six-months spending window into the new fiscal year by a state governor.

“We therefore strongly advise all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly especially APC members, to resist pressures from outside the Assembly chambers to destabilize the Government of Rivers state ably led by His Excellency Sir Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

“Let it be known that our party will do everything possible to ensure that the Government of Rivers State, which is an APC government, is not destabilized through fratricidal disagreements.

“We therefore call on members of the State Assembly especially APC members, to immediately discontinue the impeachment process inorder not to drag the image of our great party to the mud and stifle the continuous progress and development of Rivers State.

“Let our state remain a democracy and not a politicocracy!!!”

APC Group Says Moves To Impeach Fubara Insult On Tinubu, Asks NASS To Intervene Now

Adesina Soyooye

January 8, 2026

By Adesina Soyooye

A call by the Mandate Group of the All Progressive Congress has asked for the immediate discontinuation of the impeachment proceedings against the Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu.

The Mandate Group described the move as “constitutionally flawed, politically motivated, and a direct affront to the peace accord personally brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The Mandate Group in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Ayodele Alonge, warned that the impeachment initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly, is a product of a “faulty legal line and must be suspended to prevent further destabilisation of the state.”

It says: “The ongoing impeachment proceedings are fundamentally flawed and lack the constitutional and procedural grounding required for such a serious action.

“More than a legal misstep, this is an affront on the office of the President who personally mediated the peace between Governor Fubara, Minister Nyesom Wike, and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“It undermines the painstakingly restored harmony that Nigerians witnessed last year.”

The allegations against Fubara include extra-budgetary spending, demolition of the Assembly complex, withholding funds due to the Assembly Service Commission, and alleged non-compliance with a Supreme Court directive on legislative autonomy.

In same way, the allegations against Deputy Governor Odu include reckless and unconstitutional expenditure and obstruction of the Assembly’s statutory duties.

But the Mandate Group said: “President Tinubu intervened decisively last year to resolve tensions that threatened governance in Rivers State. Governor Fubara returned to office following a reconciliatory process he signed alongside Minister Wike under the supervision of Mr President.

“To attempt to unravel that agreement now is not only irresponsible, it is a direct challenge to the authority and wisdom of the President himself.

“The Assembly is hinging their decision to impeach the Governor on the Budget of Rivers State that was passed by the National Assembly during the emergency rule. They have no such powers whatever to challenge the implementation of that budget.”

The APC Progressive Mandate Group, also, pointed out the benefits of Fubara’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in December 2025 and said it has already catalysed a wave of defections by prominent state leaders into the ruling party.

Those who have defected include at least five members of the House of Representatives representing Rivers constituencies.

“Governor Fubara has strengthened APC’s presence in Rivers State, building bridges with key leaders and lawmakers whose inclusion amplifies the party’s national relevance.

“These developments reflect confidence in his leadership, yet the impeachment efforts threaten to undermine the very gains the President sought to secure through dialogue and political reconciliation,” Alonge said.

The Mandate group also faulted Wike’s role and that of his loyalists in the Assembly, and suggested that the impeachment is less about governance and more about political sabotage.

“For long, the narrative has painted Governor Fubara as the source of instability. It is now evident that the effort to destabilise Rivers stems from a faction led by Minister Wike and sympathetic legislators who are intent on dismantling the peace that President Tinubu painstakingly facilitated. Their ambition is undermining state cohesion and the broader democratic order.

“Wike must also be called upon to face his duty as FCT minister or resign immediately. Wike’s current role in the latest impeachment proceedings against Fubara is an insult on the president who showed uncommon courage in appointing him as a minister, despite his membership of the PDP.

“We call on the National Assembly to uphold constitutional order and intervene decisively. The federal legislature must ensure that due process and legal propriety are respected in Rivers State. Let it be clear that the actions of a few cannot dictate the political destiny of an entire State.

“This impeachment is not corrective; it is a political misadventure. Halting the process and acknowledging the President’s role in restoring peace is essential, not just for Rivers State, but for the credibility of democratic governance in Nigeria. Those behind this disruption must understand that attempts to subvert national reconciliation will neither succeed nor be tolerated.

What You Might Expect in 2026: A Valedictory Edition

The Source

January 8, 2026

By Azu Ishiekwene

I forecast that by May 29 or earlier, the president will replace ministers, especially those who have since outlived their IOU value. As pressure mounts ahead of the pre-election year, no fewer than five of them will be replaced or reassigned by the end of 2025 – What You Might Expect in 2025, January 10, 2025

This seventh edition of my special yearly forecast might be the last. I’ve enjoyed doing it– the hits and the misses – especially the big hits.

From twice forecasting that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would lose (2019 and 2023, he’ll lose again in 2027), months before the election, to predicting that at least five ministers would be fired in 2025 (seven were fired), nothing has given me greater pleasure than the Nostradamus-like thrill of watching a situation foretold unfolding.

2026 will be a complex year as local and national politics clash with increasingly challenging economic realities, leaving citizens torn between their lived experiences and warmed-over promises from politicians.

Geopolitical contests between President Donald Trump’s America and Xi Jinping’s China, on the one hand, and between Trump and the rest of the world, on the other, will continue to leave traditional US allies and the world baffled.

Politics, global power contests against the backdrop of a world still in fragile recovery and fiercer resource competition, will go hand in hand with technological acceleration in defining the year. Those who already find it difficult to distinguish between content generated by fake generative artificial intelligence (AI) and the real thing will face compounded misery as AI evolves from one-size-fits-all to agentic models,which can think and act independently, as well as work collaboratively with humans.

Goodbye, android, welcome to the Year of the Humanoid!

Unrelenting tensions

Economic tensions will not ease significantly. The tug-of-war between the conservative management of Nigeria’s monetary system on the one hand, and the pressure to lower interest rates and pursue a more robust fiscal policy on the other, will intensify this pre-election year.

Except President Bola Ahmed Tinubu takes early steps to quell the heightened rumours that the Ministry of Finance is a divided house at the highest level, it would be even more challenging to align monetary and fiscal policies, potentially undermining confidence.

Petrol pump price is another area of interest. The cost will likely be stable at around 850/litre, if two things happen: 1) oil production increases to up to 2m bpd, and NNPC is freed from some of its significant current forward crude pledges – the $3 billion crude swap with Afreximbank is due to expire in March, for example, and 2) global oil markets remain stable.

Extended Christmas bonus

It would be an extended Christmas bonus, up to March, for consumers enjoying the price slash by the Dangote Refinery. NNPC-backed importers had massively imported petrol in November to hedge against the 15 percent duty earlier announced by the government for January, only to be outmanoeuvred by the Dangote Refinery. The tensions will benefit consumers.

Electricity supply will remain unstable, with one source indicating that the dilapidated transmission system, which requires a sustained annual investment of $500 million to revamp, will still experience multiple collapses this year. On the campaign trail or beforehand, President Tinubu is likely to announce private-sector involvement in electricity transmission through four main hubs, with Aliko Dangote, Barth Nnaji, Heirs Holdings, and Bua playing major roles.

2027 coming early

It’s 2026, but it feels like 2027. There are suggestions that the elections in Nigeria might happen earlier, in the last quarter of 2026.That’s unlikely.

With Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) gaining five sitting governors from the opposition through defection (one-third of the figure it won during the 2023 election), the opposition has been alleging a systematic creation of a one-party state. The truth is more nuanced. In a political system that relies heavily on patronage, 10 years out of office have left the opposition financially depleted and lacking ideas.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), after squandering its best chance yet to regain power in 2023 because of infighting, has dissolved into factions, the one controlled by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, not ready to challenge the ruling party for the presidency in 2027, while the other one has morphed into the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

ADC’s strange bed fellows

The Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is heading to the ADC, will face his second major political betrayal in a decade as the only NNPP Governor, Abba Kabiru Yusuf of Kano State, defects to join the APC.

ADCis a collection of strange bedfellows, comprising, among others, Atiku, former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Kaduna Governor Nasir-El-Rufai, and the former leader and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

As campaigns begin this year, the ADC would once again promise to do what Napoleon could not do. At the primaries, because ADC is a party of the North prepared by the North for Atiku, he will defeat Obi for the party’s ticket, and later, offer him the position of running mate, to the displeasure of “Obidients.”

What will happen to ADC?

Obi, El-Rufai and Kwankwaso, but Obi in particular, will energise the campaign. However, here are three simple reasons ADC, if it stays together, is a party for 2031, not 2027. 1) The new coalition is still an elite fantasy, with minimal roots or visibility in the rural areas where the mass of voters are.

It’s improbable that it would take root in one year to the ballot or significantly dent the APC’s chances of reelection. 2) The opposition is unlikely to find the money required to fund a presidential election, estimated by some sources to be about $2 billion (over N1 trillion). With the current tighter monitoring of the financial system and the scrutiny of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on money bags, campaign funding, especially for the opposition, may prove more challenging than before.

And, of course, a bonus for the ruling party is the wave of defections, which has swept some of the most financially viable and electorally significant states to the ruling APC.

Why governors’ defections will matter

Governors don’t necessarily win elections, as we saw in 2023 when Obi’s Labour Party won in 12 states where the governors belonged to another party. But that was then. With states now receiving 62 percent more from the Federation Account than they did in 2023, the ruling party has a more potent war chest than before. And thegovernors (not to mention a few multibillionaire businessmen and politicians in Tinubu’s corner) committed to the ruling party, now 29 out of 36, and still counting, will go for broke.

Yet, this same advantage, if it continues, will likely work against the APC towards the end of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term, as it would weaken the ruling party and set the president against the governors in the battle for his successor.

For politicians and parties that barely survive losing one election, the real test for the ADC is not whether it will win in 2027, because it likely will not, but whether it can survive and prepare for the next election cycle.

World Cup. Who wins?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is in June. Argentina is the defending champion, but it is unlikely that they will successfully defend their title. Among the five top favourites – Spain, England, France, Brazil, and Argentina – I’ll tip Spain to win.

They’re not only the reigning European champions, but their consistency, cohesion, depth and tactical clarity put them a cut above the rest. My heart beats for Morocco, of course, semi-finalists in 2022, and Africa’s best hope in this tournament, but my money would be on Spain.

MAGA misery

For the world, what Trump does or does not do and how, will continue to be a major concern. US domestic issues, including healthcare subsidies, immigration enforcement, and executive actions related to the trade tariffs, will continue to be critical flashpoints.

It would become more interesting in November, when the Democrats are likely to regain control of the House in the midterm elections. At that time, not only would Democrats start plotting to return to the White House in earnest, but Republicans who had been MAGA hostages would also try to set themselves free.

Trump and his enemies

One good thing Trump has done for the world is to open its eyes to the options of a better, different world, despite America. The gold rally and increasing flight to other, less dollar-centric assets, and means of trade will likely accelerate even faster in 2026.

Trump will not fulfil the wish of his enemies by falling into a river full of crocodiles, as President Dwight Eisenhower wished for Patrice Lumumba. But there’ll be no shortage of those happy to push him over the river’s edge if he gets close!

Ishiekwene is the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the book, A Midlifer’s Guide to Content Creation and Profit.

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