The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has strongly rejected claims that President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were voted into office solely by Muslims during the 2023 general elections. NCA Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab, stated that election data clearly shows the joint ticket received critical winning votes from Christian-majority states and communities across Nigeria. The Christian leader made the declaration while reacting to a viral video featuring Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir. In the video, Jingir defended the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing that Muslims should not apologize for political dominance due to their population. The cleric went further to describe Christians as "infidels" and urged Muslims to use their numerical strength to drive political interests. Speaking on Channels Television, Hayab condemned the cleric`s remarks as unacceptable and highly inflammatory. He noted that while the initial same-faith ticket raised deep concerns among Christians who desired constitutional balance, millions of Christian voters still supported the administration. He challenged the narrative of a single-faith victory, noting that he could list multiple Christian-majority states where Tinubu triumphed. Hayab expressed deep worry over the context of the speech, noting that the derogatory comments were made publicly in the presence of three state governors. He criticized the political leaders for smiling and cheering rather than instantly rebuking or rejecting the divisive rhetoric. According to the NCA leader, this collective silence from authorities validates long-held fears of religious marginalization. The NCA chairman declared that the incident has effectively ended "Nigeria`s pretence" regarding the persecution and discrimination faced by northern Christians. He noted that observations of bias are often dismissed by critics as false alarms or exaggeration. He stated that the public broadcast proved what has been happening in secret for decades, ending any deniability regarding religious tensions. Directly addressing the political class, Hayab challenged the federal government and the governors present at the gathering to publicly state their positions on the cleric`s speech. He warned that the silence of the candidates being campaigned for would be interpreted as an endorsement of the insulting rhetoric. He emphasized that the core issue was no longer about political strategies, but the demeaning language used against citizens. Despite the escalating tension, the NCA affirmed that Christian leaders will not abandon peace talks or structural engagement with the Muslim community. Hayab clarified that the church would continue to collaborate with honest Islamic clerics who understand nation-building. However, he insisted that divisive figures must be called out publicly so the government can act responsibly to prevent a breakdown of law and order. To resolve ongoing disputes over demographic dominance, the NCA chairman renewed his advocacy for the inclusion of religious data in Nigeria’s national census. He argued that accurate, verified population statistics would eliminate manipulative claims of numerical strength used by politicians to cause division. He lamented that leaders are focusing on polarizing rhetoric while citizens grapple with severe hunger and national insecurity. Hayab concluded by warning against a rising pattern of religious extremism, citing another recent video where a speaker threatened to purge Christians from the civil service in Katsina State. He called on security agencies to clamp down on hate speech, urging Nigerians to reject divisive politics and focus heavily on unity, security, and economic progress.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised a fresh alarm over Nigeria’s growing culture of post-election litigation. He warned that the increasing role of courts in determining political outcomes is actively weakening the country’s democratic foundations. Speaking on Tuesday at the 2026 Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, Jonathan stated that the nation`s judicial dependency has created a highly unpredictable political environment. THENEWSCREDIT reports that the former president described Nigeria’s electoral dispute system as a global anomaly. He noted that unlike other African democracies where elections are decisively resolved at the ballot box, Nigeria has institutionalised prolonged legal battles. "The Nigerian situation is extremely different from most other African countries," Jonathan remarked, adding that this trend heavily undermines the power of the ordinary voter. To illustrate his point, Jonathan recalled a historical conversation with a former Deputy President of South Africa during his tenure as vice president. The foreign leader expressed deep shock that Nigerian politicians routinely head to court immediately after losing an election. Jonathan noted that while international peers view court battles as a last resort, Nigeria has normalized it as an official phase of the electoral cycle. While advocating for judicial independence and impartiality, Jonathan lamented the sharp decline in public confidence regarding political judgments. He argued that while criminal offences committed during elections must be prosecuted, civil electoral disputes have become overly politicised. He suggested that for highly controversial cases, the judiciary should order a rerun rather than handpicking winners in a courtroom. Jonathan also targeted the judiciary`s deep interference in the internal affairs of political parties, particularly disputes from party primaries. He expressed worry that judges now frequently determine valid party candidates and legal party leadership. This overreach, he argued, strips political parties of their primary constitutional responsibilities and creates systemic chaos. THENEWSCREDIT further gathered that the dialogue concluded with Jonathan reminding stakeholders that democracy functions as an interconnected ecosystem. This delicate balance requires synchronised transparency from political parties, electoral bodies, security agencies, civil society, the media, and voters. He maintained that true democratic consolidation will only occur when Nigerians restore total confidence in the ballot box rather than legal technicalities.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has strongly cautioned politicians vying to succeed him in the 2027 governorship race to cease using his administration’s shortcomings as their primary campaign strategy, reminding them that his name will not be on the ballot. Speaking at a public function in Ibadan on Monday, Governor Makinde delivered a sharp rebuttal to political aspirants—most notably popular broadcaster and Accord Party governorship candidate, Oriyomi Hamzat—who have recently claimed credit for his political ascent. The governor urged those seeking the state`s top job to focus on articulating their own blueprints for governance rather than dwelling on his administration`s uncompleted projects or political history. “I have seen a few people going around saying they want to become governor. I saw another one that they showed me yesterday saying he was the one who brought me into politics. Some even said I didn’t do some things,” Makinde stated. “I am not the one contesting for governor. The people of Oyo State have given me the opportunity to serve them. Go and tell them what you want to do differently. Stop abusing Seyi Makinde. Abuse Bimbo and his followers. You guys should abuse yourselves. I’m not in the league to contest for governor again. Why is it that Seyi Makinde did not do some things? Is that the message you are passing around as a campaign? I have done my bit.” The governor`s comments come on the heels of a public declaration by Hamzat, the founder of Agidigbo 88.7 FM, who secured the Accord Party`s governorship ticket following its May primary election. Addressing party members on Saturday, Hamzat claimed he was instrumental in thrusting Makinde into the political limelight and asserted that he deserved credit for the successes achieved during the governor`s eight-year tenure. While Makinde had previously acknowledged a cordial, long-standing relationship with the "Kokoro Alate" radio host—praising his commitment to the masses in 2022—the relationship has visibly soured due to conflicting political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. As his second term winds down, Governor Makinde charged the Oyo electorate to demand rigorous accountability from all incoming contestants. Rather than falling for campaign rhetoric, he urged citizens to push candidates for concrete solutions to the state`s remaining challenges. “So next time when people come to talk to you, tell them that it is where we couldn’t finish that they want to continue, and sort those things out,” Makinde added. “So that every mistake that we have made, they will correct it in the best interest of the people of Oyo State.”

The political alliance between Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and popular broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat has finally hit the rocks, ahead of the 2027 general elections. Hamzat, the Accord Party governorship candidate, has claimed responsibility for introducing Makinde to the political limelight that eventually secured him the governorship seat. Addressing Accord Party members in Ibadan on Saturday, the host of the popular interventionist programme “Kokoro Alate” insisted he deserves the credit for the successes recorded during Makinde’s eight-year administration. THENEWSCREDIT reports that Hamzat expressed disappointment over what he described as a deliberate attempt to deny him recognition for the government`s achievements, despite his pivotal role in bringing the administration to power. “Seyi Makinde has reformed Oyo. Who brought Seyi Makinde? I was the one. I was one of those who brought him and supported him as governor,” Hamzat declared. “All those good things, why don`t you give me the credit? Why is it that people only use the unpleasant sides to attack me? Even the opposition parties credit him with wonderful things; why not credit me for those ones too?” Dismissing allegations that he is ungrateful, Hamzat stressed that his support for the governor was strictly built on an agreement to protect the masses, rather than personal gain. “People have called me an ungrateful person. How? Is it not the same Oriyomi that campaigned for him? The belief the public had in me reflected in the election results. I am not following government because of contracts. There was no transactional relationship whatsoever,” he added. The public fallout underscores a deepening rift between the former close allies. Governor Makinde, currently serving out his second term, recently defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to pursue a 2027 presidential bid, having been formally presented as the party`s candidate in May 2026. As part of his succession plan in Oyo State, Makinde has thrown his weight behind Bimbo Adekanmbi, a former Commissioner for Finance under the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Adekanmbi has since been adopted as the APM consensus governorship candidate to drive the continuity of Makinde’s "Omituntun" agenda. THENEWSCREDIT however gathered, Hamzat, intends to disrupt this succession plan. Having picked up his expression of interest and nomination forms under the Accord Party in January, the broadcaster’s entry into the race has heavily altered the state`s political dynamics. The political friction has coincided with rising tensions. In June, the Oyo State Police Command raided an Ibadan residence linked to a former Park Management System member, Surajudeen Babatunde Adio (alias "Suri Ilupeju"), recovering firearms, ammunition, and charms. Political opponents attempted to link the fleeing suspect to Hamzat, a move the broadcaster fiercely denied, labeling it a state-sponsored smear campaign designed to derail his governorship ambition. He reiterated that he has never shielded or supported criminal activities. Looking ahead to his potential administration, Hamzat targeted the controversial Ibadan Circular Road and its 1,000-metre corridor project. He promised Accord Party members that if elected governor, he would immediately open the road for public use regardless of its completion stage, vowing that further construction would be halted until all affected residents receive adequate compensation.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Presidency of attempting to whitewash the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal. In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the Presidency cannot rely on an interim report from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as proof of its innocence. Instead, he maintained that the report exposes deeper systemic failures, raising critical questions about how a fraudulent operation was allowed to thrive inside government corridors. According to Atiku, the ICPC report points to severe negligence and potential connivance by public officers. He emphasized that the scandal goes far beyond the actions of a single individual, noting that the prime suspect allegedly forged a presidential appointment letter, set up a fictitious federal agency, operated directly out of government offices, and opened bank accounts using forged legislative documents. “If public officers were negligent, who are they? Who granted access to government offices? Who recognised this supposed Director General? Who enabled him to operate within the machinery of government?” Atiku demanded. The former vice president argued that the ICPC`s own recommendation to sanction negligent public officers proves the scam was not the work of a lone impostor. He insisted that the identities of all complicit officials must be made public so Nigerians can know who authorized the operation and opened the doors for the fraud to take place. Furthermore, Atiku rejected the use of a preliminary text to declare total exoneration, demanding the immediate and full publication of the ICPC report while investigations into financial accounts and collaborators continue. To ensure absolute transparency, the ADC candidate called on the National Assembly to launch a live-broadcast, open investigation. He noted that this public hearing is especially urgent now that the central figure of the controversy, Mr. Adeyemi, has offered to testify openly before lawmakers. “If the Villa is truly clean, it should be the first to welcome live television coverage. Let Nigerians watch, unedited, as the witnesses testify, and the evidence is presented under oath,” Atiku stated. Warning that anything less than a fully transparent probe will look like a cover-up for powerful individuals, Atiku concluded: “Transparency cannot stop where the trail enters the corridors of power. The Presidency cannot investigate itself into innocence.”

The factional Accord Party’s presidential candidate and National Chairman, Prof. Christopher Imumolen, has formally withdrawn from the 2027 presidential race to endorse President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid. Speaking in Lagos, Imumolen emphasized that the decision followed consultations, prioritizing national interest over personal ambition. Imumolen asserted that Tinubu is best positioned to win in 2027 due to bold reforms and growing support, arguing that continuity is essential for long-term economic benefits. The Accord Party leader praised the administration for its progressive governance, youth empowerment initiatives, and the appointment of competent officials. Having previously been a critic, Imumolen stated that witnessing the administration`s progress prompted this shift in perspective. He argued that no other opposition candidate possesses stronger prospects for success. Dismissing claims of weak party structure, Imumolen clarified the decision was based on performance to ensure political stability. He confirmed that while supporting the President, the Accord Party will continue to compete in governorship and legislative elections.

Former Kogi West Senator and ADC chieftain, Dino Melaye, has issued a stark warning to President Bola Tinubu, cautioning that political endorsements cannot override the "God factor" ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Melaye drew a grim historical parallel to former military dictator General Sani Abacha, reminding the President that human plans are ultimately subject to divine intervention. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Melaye pointed out that Abacha had the backing of all five registered political parties during his regime and faced no internal opposition in his bid to transition into a civilian president. However, his ambitions were cut short by his sudden death. "There is a God factor in the affairs of men. Tinubu does not understand this," Melaye wrote. "Abacha was endorsed by all the 5 political parties at that time. There was no contest, he was already cruising to become a civilian president. God picked His phone and called Abacha." Warning Tinubu not to become overly confident in his political machinery, Melaye added: "When God calls you, there is no network failure. That God has not gone on omugo [nursing mother`s leave]. Tinubu watch it."

Akin Osuntokun, a former political adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, has revealed that his former principal is the main driving force behind a proposed Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso joint ticket for the 2027 presidential election. Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Osuntokun dismissed swirling speculations that Obasanjo’s recent political posturing was designed to favor President Bola Tinubu. Instead, he insisted that the former president remains deeply critical of the current administration and is actively backing an opposition alliance. Osuntokun described the potential pairing of Obi and Kwankwaso as a highly realistic and compelling force that stands a far better chance of success than the Labour Party`s 2023 structure. According to him, Obasanjo personally stepped in to broker the relationship between the two political heavyweights. "Look, Obasanjo is critical of Tinubu. If you can say that Obasanjo is supporting any ticket, it is Peter Obi and Kwankwaso. As a matter of fact, he is the main sponsor of that ticket," Osuntokun stated, adding that Kwankwaso’s massive political base in Kano State would provide a "big bonus" for the ticket`s national impact. He further disclosed that Obasanjo had attempted to seal this exact deal before the 2023 general elections, reminding Kwankwaso at the time that a standard one-term agreement would have eventually positioned the former Kano governor as the ultimate beneficiary. The remarks come on the heels of intense public debate over an open letter written by Obasanjo in response to allegations made by the former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba. Osoba had accused Obasanjo of deceiving the Alliance for Democracy (AD) leaders in 2003, leading to the collapse of AD`s dominance in the South-West. Osuntokun strongly rejected the narrative that Obasanjo’s recent statements or past meetings with Tinubu meant they were working together. "How do you reconcile Obasanjo being the major sponsor of the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket with the theory that he is working for Tinubu because Tinubu visited him?" he questioned. He also defended Obasanjo against the 2003 electoral manipulation claims, attributing the AD losses to shifting local political realities rather than a presidency-led conspiracy. While Osuntokun acknowledged that President Tinubu would hold a significant advantage in 2027 due to the traditional power of incumbency, he remained highly optimistic about the opposition`s prospects. He concluded by noting that an Obi-led ticket captures the popular imagination of the Nigerian electorate far better than any alternative configuration, including a ticket led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has made a startling revelation, accusing his former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, of actively bankrolling a clandestine plot to impeach him during their first term in office. Obasanjo disclosed that Atiku provided ₦5 million to the leadership of the House of Representatives to ignite the legislative coup. The explosive allegation emerged as a direct counter-reaction to recent comments made by Chief Olusegun Osoba. The former Governor of Ogun State had sparked fresh debates after revisiting the controversial political maneuvers and alliances that shaped the outcome of the 2003 general elections. According to Obasanjo,THENEWSCREDIT reports that the legislative rebellion was spearheaded by the late Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba. The former president asserted that Na’Abba’s hostile actions were fully instigated and engineered from within the walls of the presidency by his own deputy. Detailing the timeline of the betrayal, Obasanjo stated that Atiku capitalised on his temporary absence from the office on a specific Friday. The former Vice President allegedly invited Speaker Na’Abba to a private meeting, where he systematically convinced him that the administration must be restricted to a single term. To guarantee the execution of the plan, financial mobilization was immediately deployed during the closed-door session. Obasanjo explicitly stated that Atiku handed over the sum of ₦5 million directly to Na’Abba to facilitate and kickstart the logistical work required for the impeachment process. However, the inner circle of the presidency was already monitoring the subversion in real time. Obasanjo revealed that the entire interaction, including the exchange of funds, was completely compromised by his internal security architecture and promptly flagged. THENEWSCREDIT further gathered the covert operation was intercepted and fully documented by the then-Chief of Staff to the President. Obasanjo highly praised his top aide, describing him as a thoroughly trained, professional intelligence officer who meticulously recorded the breach and presented the evidence directly to him. Despite the gravity of the political mutiny within his own cabinet, the former military general maintained that he remained entirely unbothered by the threat. Obasanjo concluded that he stayed calm throughout the crisis because he knew the instigators lacked any legitimate constitutional basis to remove him.

Mixed reactions are trailing the bombshell announcement by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, that he has reconciled with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The governor confirmed his return to Wike`s political family on Wednesday during the foundation-laying ceremony of the RIVEN Medical Industries Project in Rumuosi, Port Harcourt. Fubara declared his alignment with the "Rainbow Coalition," a political movement founded by Wike ahead of the 2027 general elections. "I am supporting President Tinubu for the Presidency and OK Chinda to be the next Governor of Rivers State," Fubara announced. "I am part of the Rainbow Coalition, and I’m back to my political family." The governor urged residents and political stakeholders to sheath their swords and end the prolonged political crisis in the state, framing his decision as a sacrifice for long-term peace and socio-economic development. The development has triggered intense debate online and across political circles, splitting the governor`s support base into camps of disappointment and pragmatism. While some stakeholders see the move as a strategic survival tactic, others have fiercely criticized the governor, labeling the reconciliation a betrayal of those who stood by him during his feud with Wike. Social media reactions on X (formerly Twitter) highlight the deep division: @Barnny_summy: "Fubara has terminated his political career. History will remember. Very shameful." @ChiefObi: "Wike’s political group? Never seen a coward like Sim in my life." @jointrd44: "Fubara knows pretty well what will happen to him when he leaves office in 2027. It is only wise to support Wike coalition." @aoidogwu1309: "Those opportunistic people who enabled him on a collision course against Wike have all left him behind today." @fuji_xud: "He should have rejected coming back than this shameful outing." The political realignment shifts the power dynamics in Rivers State significantly as parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 electoral cycle.