A director of research at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Femi Otubanjo, has suggested that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara may defect to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday, Otubanjo said Fubara could emerge as a strong contender in the NDC if he joins the party.
According to him, the Rivers governor may, however, face political challenges if he defects while the 28 lawmakers opposed to him remain in office.

Otubanjo described Fubara’s political crisis as unfortunate, adding that the governor was partly responsible for his current predicament.

He added that Fubara’s emergence as governor was tied to the political structure of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

He said: “Fubara will go to NDC and he will try. He might even win, but the danger for Fubara is that when he goes to NDC, and he still has the legislators, 28 of them around him, he might even be impeached before the election and that will make him less powerful and less formidable candidate.

“Overall I know that Fubara’s case has been a very bad one, but he, of course, he’s the one who got himself into it. You cannot, like they say, you cannot immediately go into a river and complain of being wet. He was part of that arrangement of allowing to be selected by one man, and now he has been deselected by the same man.”

Former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and member representing Pankshin North, Rt. Hon. Dewan Gabriel, has announced his decision to step down from contesting for the Senate seat of the Pankshin, Kanam, and Kanke, PKK, federal constituency on the platform of the Young Peoples Party, YPP, to seek re-election into the State House of Assembly in the 2027 general elections.

Hon. Gabriel had been widely tipped to contest for the senate seat after he reportedly purchased the nomination form for the contest but in an announcement on Wednesday, the ex-Speaker said he is stepping down from the senate bid to focus on the re-election into the State House of Assembly.

In the statement titled “Positive Impact to Humanity Phase 2, Pankshin North 2027,” the lawmaker said his decision came following extensive consultations with family members, political stakeholders, supporters, youths, elders, and associates across the constituency.

He stated that his decision was informed by the ongoing political discussions surrounding the senate seat in the PKK zone, the position of his party as an opposition platform, and the need to protect the unity and collective interest of the people.

Hon. Gabriel stressed that his decision is a “sacrifice made in the interest of peace and inclusiveness”, noting that he did not want to be seen as an obstacle to the widely expressed desire of the Ngas people in Pankshin North concerning the Senate position.

He further reaffirmed his opposition to any third-term agenda in the zone, maintaining that he remains committed to the anti-third-term movement and ready to support any credible candidate willing to resist attempts at tenure extension in PKK politics.

National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, David Mark, has reacted to the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s 2027 presidential candidate.

Mark said Atiku’s emergence as ADC’s presidential candidate is an indication that democracy can still work.

Atiku defeated former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen at the ADC’s presidential primary by a wide margin.

Speaking at the official collation and declaration of the results in Abuja, Mark said: “Today is not just about announcing a presidential candidate.

“Today is also about proving a point to Nigeria and to Nigerians.

“It is about proving that democracy can still work. Proving that political competition does not have to become political warfare. That a party can organize itself around principles instead of personalities. And that in a season of deep national anxiety, a bright future is still possible.

‘That is why this gathering matters. And that is why history will remember what we have done here Today.

“Let me begin by thanking every member of the African Democratic Congress for your steadfastness, your patience, your sacrifices, your understanding, and your faith in this party, especially in the face of daunting challenges. Many people doubted us. Some dismissed us. Others predicted confusion, division, and even outright collapse.”

Mark also commended Amaechi and the former Chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group and former Chairman of NNDC, Hayatu-Deen.

He noted that the ADC is the only party that had three aspirants contesting for the presidential ticket.

“It is important to mention that we are the only political party to have 3 strong aspirants contest for the presidential ticket.

“This alone makes the ADC unique in its deep commitment to democracy and democratic practices,” he added.