IBADAN— Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has advised the gubernatorial candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Hon. Abimbola Adekanmbi, to forge his own political path and leadership style. The Governor gave the advice during the APM governorship primary and affirmation ceremony held at the Watershed Event Centre in Ibadan, where Adekanmbi was officially unveiled as the party’s flagbearer. Speaking at the well-attended event, Governor Makinde urged his anointed successor to avoid the baggage of past political conflicts. "I have told Bimbo, `Don’t inherit my enemies; chart your own path,`" Governor Makinde stated. "I’m only human and I make mistakes, just like everyone else. He should improve upon the good things we have done for the benefit of the people in Oyo State." The primary, which attracted a massive turnout of party faithful and political stakeholders, followed a strategic alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to the Governor and the national leadership of the APM. In his acceptance speech, Adekanmbi paid glowing tribute to Governor Makinde, describing him as the architect of modern Oyo State. He promised to consolidate and sustain the administration`s "Omituntun" development agenda. "This responsibility demands humility and commitment to service," Adekanmbi said. "We must come together to campaign, strategize, and ultimately govern for the benefit of the people of Oyo State." During the event, the APM State Chairman, Mr. Adegbenro Fagbemi, presented a Certificate of Return to Adekanmbi, formally cementing his candidacy for the upcoming elections. Candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives, and the State House of Assembly were also affirmed during the political exercise. The high-profile event drew an impressive line-up of top-tier politicians, state executives, and legislative heads from across the state and country, cementing the political weight of the PDP-APM alliance:Oyo State Deputy Governor, Barr. Bayo LawalSpeaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo OgundoyinAPM State Chairman, Mr. Adegbenro FagbemiNational and State Legislators, including Hon. Adedeji Stanley OlajideNotable Political Stakeholders, including Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi.

President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, on Saturday participated in the All Progressives Congress presidential primary at Ward E, Ikoyi, Lagos, as the ruling party commenced its nationwide exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections. The couple arrived at the venue in a motorcade and were received by a large crowd of party supporters, security personnel, and members of the press. Video footage from the primary showed Tinubu and Oluremi navigating through dense crowds of APC members dressed in traditional attire as they moved through the venue. The exercise is part of the party’s May 2026 ward-level primaries, through which the incumbent president is seeking re-nomination as the APC’s flagbearer for the 2027 presidential election. Heavy press coverage accompanied the event, with cameras capturing the president’s movement through the crowd of supporters and party faithful who had turned out at the Ikoyi ward. After voting, Tinubu described the exercise as a demonstration of internal democracy and expressed satisfaction with its conduct across the country. “Demonstration of internal democracy, and it has been going very well according to plan. This is politics, grassroots politics, where every member of the party has the right to participate and be involved. “My challenge is to ensure that we have an internal democracy and it’s peaceful and well organised,” he said in a video shared by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Tinubu also praised APC governors for their roles in the electoral process across their respective states. “Today, I am very satisfied that these governors have done well in their various states. “From the world congresses, to local government congresses, to the delegation accreditation, validation, members register and certification of the electoral process. It has been going very well. “At least, you will score democracy at a high level,” he stated.

The Social Democratic Party, SDP, has said defeating former President Goodluck Jonathan is not its problem, stating that it plans to unseat President Bola Tinubu. The party’s presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, said this, Wednesday during an interview on Trust TV. He was speaking about the reports that Jonathan has joined next year’s presidential race. “Defeating Goodluck Jonathan is not our problem. Our plan is to defeat Tinubu. If it’s not a case where people have kidnapped his image and brand, Jonathan is coming out to run, I would welcome that because it means that at least he would bring a perspective. “He’s been in the office before. He must have learned one or two things and would want to explain why Nigerians kicked him out of office in the first place. And what lessons he’s learnt from that. “He would also explain why he could not handle insecurity, why a lot of money was lost under his administration and what he wants to do about that now, and so many other things he couldn’t do. “He’s gone round the world now and is a well-known international statesman. He has seen how democracy works. He’s a wiser person now,” Adebayo said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that Nigeria’s youthful population could vote him out of office if he fails to address the country’s economic challenges. Tinubu stated this on Thursday at the Africa CEO Forum, noting that Nigeria has a very dynamic youth population that is restless and unwilling to accept excuses. “We have a very dynamic youthful population, restless and not ready to accept any excuses. As a politician, if I don’t prepare them for that, they will vote me out,” the Nigerian leader said. Tinubu also responded to questions bordering on the economy and investment, including efforts he made to improve local tax administration during his tenure as governor of Lagos State. He said, “Lagos is the fifth-largest economy in Africa. I’m very proud of the legacy I left behind there, and I’m still monitoring it.” He further explained that removing bureaucratic bottlenecks would create the right incentives for foreign direct investment in the country. “This year alone, I can beat my chest that Nigeria is attracting close to $20 billion in foreign direct investments,” he said. He added, “Investment is very cowardly unless you are transparent, accountable and forthright. Part of that is Africa looking at itself, putting our resources together so we can go out there and negotiate for ourselves. “I wrote an article in the Financial Times talking about international rating agencies.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the presidential ambition of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, is “dead on arrival”. Wike made the remark on Thursday while speaking with journalists during an inspection of road projects in Abuja, hours after the Oyo governor declared his presidential ambition in Ibadan. During his declaration at the joint mega-rally of the PDP and APM, Makinde stated that the country’s situation has “continued to deteriorate, putting the majority of Nigerians on survival mode daily. The governor added that government officials responsible for citizens’ welfare have abdicated their duties. Reacting, Wike dismissed claims of a political alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement, describing the arrangement as a “fraud”. “That’s the 419 we are talking about. INEC also knows that there is no such thing as a PDP-APM alliance,” he said. The minister further accused some opposition figures of misleading Nigerians with claims of a formal agreement or memorandum of understanding between both parties. Wike maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission has no record of any such alliance, adding that the PDP remains independent in its electoral preparations. “The screening of aspirants by the Abdulrahman Mohammed PDP faction clearly indicates that the party is independent and not in any alliance,” he stated. He also argued that Makinde’s political moves were behind the alleged arrangement, insisting that no such coalition exists. “What you have is Seyi Makinde joining APM to be able to actualise his presidential ambition, which is already dead on arrival,” Wike said. Wike insisted that the PDP would present its own presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, urging Nigerians to disregard speculation about any merger or coalition. He further referenced Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, noting that no discussion of a PDP–APM alliance was raised during his engagements within the party structure. “It’s unfortunate. We know that has been his game plan, and we would say he cannot fly the flag of PDP,” Wike said of Makinde. When asked about comments relating to internal matters in the All Progressives Congress, Wike declined to engage, stressing that it was not his concern. He further noted that party disputes are strictly internal affairs. Earlier during the inspection, Wike expressed satisfaction with progress on the 13-kilometre Gomani-Yangoji road project, saying it was on track for inauguration during activities marking President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary in office in June. Bola Tinubu He added that the project reflects a broader policy to extend infrastructure beyond city centres into satellite communities in order to reduce rural-urban migration. “Remember that when we came on board, one of the directives of Mr President was that we should not concentrate development and provision of infrastructure only in the cities. We must open up all the satellite towns in order to discourage rural-urban migration,” Wike said.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan will appear on the 2027 presidential ballot, a coalition pushing for his return to power has declared. However, Jonathan himself is yet to formally accept the proposal. The Convener of the Coalition for Jonathan and a member of the African Democratic Congress, Dr Tom Ohikere, made the disclosure in an interview with ARISE TV, saying the former president would make his position known within one to two days. He was responding to questions about Jonathan’s comment that seeking the presidency was “not a computer game,” which Ohikere said had been misread by some observers. “Let me make sure that it must not be misunderstood by Nigerians. When he said it’s not a computer game, what he was trying to say was that it’s not an easy thing for somebody to just come up and say he wants to contest presidency. A lot is involved. It’s a huge process, a very comprehensive process. “But all I want to say is that Goodluck Jonathan will be on the ballot,” he said. When pressed on whether Jonathan had accepted the coalition’s proposal, Ohikere acknowledged he had not. “He never accepted. But in the fullness of time, shortly, shortly, give him the next one or two days, he will make his pronouncement,” he said. The coalition has been actively pressing Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election, framing his potential candidacy as a vehicle for national healing and unity. During recent visits, Jonathan reportedly indicated he would consult widely before arriving at a decision. The ADC has positioned itself as the platform for Jonathan’s potential run, as opposition forces continue to regroup ahead of the 2027 general elections. Jonathan’s eligibility to contest, however, remains the subject of legal dispute. A Federal High Court suit is challenging whether his return to the ballot would violate term limit provisions of the 1999 Constitution, given that he served as president from 2010 to 2015. Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election to President Muhammadu Buhari and conceded defeat before results were fully announced.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, May 8, for a hearing in a suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was instituted by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to declare Jonathan constitutionally ineligible to seek the presidency again. Justice Peter Lifu had, on April 28, ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants after they failed to file responses to the suit. Jonathan is listed as the first defendant in the matter, while the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation are joined as second and third defendants, respectively. The plaintiff is seeking an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election. He also prayed the court to stop INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate for the poll. In the originating summons, the plaintiff asked the court to determine “whether in view of the combined provisions of Sections 1(1), (2) and (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the 1st defendant is eligible, under any circumstances whatsoever, to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Jideobi argued that Jonathan had already exhausted the constitutional limit of two terms, having completed the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua before serving another full term after winning the 2011 presidential election. In an affidavit deposed to by Emmanuel Agida in support of the suit, the plaintiff stated that Jonathan was sworn in as president on May 6, 2010, following Yar’Adua’s death on May 5, 2010. The affidavit added that reports suggesting Jonathan may contest the 2027 election informed the decision to approach the court. “That the plaintiff believes that the 1st defendant, having completed the unexpired term of late President Yar’Adua and subsequently served a full term after the 2011 election, has exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures as president,” the affidavit partly read. The plaintiff further argued that if Jonathan contests and wins the 2027 election, he would be taking the presidential oath of office for the third time, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution. Agida said the suit was filed “in the public interest, in defence of the rule of law and accentuation of the supremacy of the Constitution, and to preserve the integrity of the Nigerian constitutional order.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said contesting Nigeria’s presidency is “not a computer game” as he reacted to calls by youth groups urging him to contest the 2027 election. Jonathan spoke on Thursday while receiving some youth groups who visited him at his office in Abuja to press him to return to the presidential race. Responding to the appeal, the former president said he would consult widely before taking any decision, stressing that leadership required careful consideration. “You are asking me to come and contest the next election. Presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you and I’ll consult widely,” he said. The former president commended the youths for showing interest in the country, describing patriotism as essential to nation-building. “If you have no interest in the country, you will not bother to be here,” he added. Jonathan also urged young Nigerians to promote peace and credible elections, warning that the absence of transparent electoral processes discourages competent citizens from participating in politics. “The key thing we need in this country is peace. “You continue to advocate for that. And you continue to advocate for peaceful and credible elections in the country. Because if we don’t have peaceful and credible elections, most good citizens will not want to bother to get involved in politics,” he said. The former president lamented Nigeria’s low voter turnout, saying the country records one of the poorest participation rates during elections despite having a large voting population. “I’ve observed elections in about 14 or more African countries and even Southeast Asia. Nigeria has the lowest turnout in every election cycle. “I think INEC needs to do something about it. They need to start to get consultants to look at it. And what is the cause? As young people, you must be involved in the electoral process,” he stated. Jonathan challenged the youths to participate actively in the electoral process by obtaining voter cards and voting during elections. “If I ask how many of you have your voter’s card now, probably 50% of you don’t have your voter’s card. And you’re asking me to go and contest the election. So you must participate in the electoral process,” he said. He also lamented the perception of Nigerians abroad, attributing it partly to leadership failures over the years. “The highest level of disdain shown to Nigerian youths abroad has to stop. Even African countries that we have, African countries that even when we are students, as of our scholarship monies, we are contributing to solve problems in those countries,” he said. Jonathan, however, reiterated that he had only listened to the appeal and would continue consultations before making any political decision ahead of 2027. “I will consult. I cannot just wake up and say I want to be the president of Nigeria again. But I am telling you that I will consult. If there is a need to, I will wait,” Jonathan stated.

The race for Agodi Government House is in its early stages and, while Adekanmbi is a leading figure, the final, official "anointing" by the Governor or Elders Council has not been officially confirmed, with other contenders also in the mix. Based on recent reports as of May 2026, Hon. Abimbola "Bimbo" Adekanmbi is a prominent contender for the 2027 Oyo State governorship race, having declared his ambition and joined the People`s Democratic Party (PDP). However, the assertion that he has been officially anointed as Governor Seyi Makinde`s sole successor is not yet a finalized fact, but rather part of ongoing political maneuvering and intense speculation surrounding the 2027 election. Adekanmbi, a former Commissioner for Finance and Deputy Chief of Staff, officially declared his intention to run for governor under the PDP on April 21, 2026, following his resignation from the APC. Governor Makinde has tasked an advisory council with screening various aspirants to identify a qualified successor for 2027. Adekanmbi is among the top contenders in the PDP, alongside figures like Dr. Nureni Adeniran, Dr. Debo Akande, and Hon. Debo Ogundoyin. Adekanmbi has been handling high-profile assignments for the Makinde administration, including chairing the committee for the upgrade of the Ibadan Airport to international standard. While some political groups highlight him as the "candidate to beat", others have expressed concern regarding past financial allegations.

The Senate was thrown into disorder on Wednesday for over 15 minutes following a heated exchange between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Adams Oshiomhole over the interpretation of amended Standing Rules. The disruption began after Akpabio commenced the reading of the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday’s sitting when Oshiomhole, APC, Edo North, raised a point of order. The Senate President ruled him out of order, citing the 2023 Standing Rules, which prohibit points of order during that stage of proceedings. Oshiomhole persisted, prompting Akpabio to call on former Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, to clarify the rules. Kalu supported the Senate President’s position, stating that points of order were not permitted at that time. Despite repeated warnings, Oshiomhole continued, leading Chief Whip Senator Tahir Monguno to caution that disciplinary powers could be invoked if the disruption persisted. Akpabio said, “We should not just go home, buy forms and come here without knowing the rules.” While continuing the session, the Senate President issued a stern warning to Oshiomhole, stating, “If you become unruly, we will use the rules to take you out of the Senate.” Order was eventually restored, and the chamber proceeded with its business. Senator Adamu Aliero moved for the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings, which was seconded by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro. The clash is believed to be linked to the Senate’s recent amendment of its Standing Rules ahead of the 2027 general elections. On Tuesday, the Senate amended Orders 4 and 5, restricting eligibility for presiding and principal offices to senators who have served at least two consecutive terms, including the immediate past term. The amendment effectively limits contest for positions such as Senate President and Deputy Senate President to returning members of the current 10th Assembly.