The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Adamawa for the 2027 election, Maurice Vonobolki, has said the era of political godfathers in the state is over.

Speaking to journalists at Yola International Airport after returning from Abuja with his certificate of return, Vonobolki said the influence of political godfathers ended when Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri came to power in 2019.

He said, “The cancer called ‘godfatherism’ was eradicated since the emergence of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri in the 2019 election. Fintiri was elected without any godfather behind his emergence, except for the support of the Adamawa voters.”

He added, “We are going to bring an end to the politics of godfatherism. People of Adamawa State, you, yourself, will own your government by yourself. After all, government is for the people, by the people, and for the people.”

Vonobolki said the PDP had given all members a fair chance to contest for elective positions but noted that some unsuccessful aspirants were creating unnecessary tension and confusion.

He said that now the party’s candidates had emerged through the approved PDP and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) processes, any misunderstanding over the primaries would be resolved.

According to him, the certificates of return issued to successful candidates prove there is no division within the Adamawa PDP. He described the party as “one big family” and called on members to unite ahead of the 2027 general election.

Vonobolki stressed that the visit was not part of a campaign but to present the certificates of return to party members and address what he described as false claims and propaganda.

He also said, “PDP remains one political party all over Nigeria under the leadership of Honourable Abraham Mohammed, who is the national chairman of the party.”

The PDP candidate congratulated party members across the country and invited aggrieved members to return, saying, “We extend our hand of fellowship to all other members of PDP who feel aggrieved and want to come back home.”

He expressed confidence that the party would win the 2027 elections and said the people of Adamawa would determine the future of their state.

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Friday held a closed-door meeting with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, at the former minister’s residence in Abuja.

Details of the meeting were not immediately available as of the time of filing this report.

The meeting comes barely 24 hours after Amaechi visited former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, also in Abuja, as consultations continue within the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Following Thursday’s meeting, Tambuwal congratulated Amaechi on his emergence as the ADC’s vice-presidential candidate, describing him as an experienced public servant whose commitment to democratic ideals would strengthen the party’s mission.

“Our meeting provided another opportunity to reflect on the enormous responsibility before us as we work with other patriotic Nigerians to build a broad, united and credible platform capable of restoring hope, strengthening our democracy and offering our people the purposeful leadership they deserve,” Tambuwal said in a statement.

He also welcomed the judgment of the Federal High Court affirming the legitimacy of the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC, describing it as a victory for the rule of law, constitutional democracy and due process.

According to Tambuwal, the judgment clears the way for the party to focus on strengthening its internal cohesion and presenting Nigerians with what he described as a credible alternative built on justice, inclusion, competence and national renewal.

Amaechi was recently unveiled as the running mate to the ADC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2027 general elections.

The party has also uploaded the names of Atiku and Amaechi to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal ahead of next year’s election.

The Osun State governorship campaign atmosphere intensified on Friday as the governorship campaign councils of the two major political parties exchanged allegations over unresolved political killings, with both calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

In separate statements issued during the visit of the Inspector-General of Police to Osun State on Friday, the Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council urged the police chief to ensure the arrest of suspects declared wanted in connection with the killings of its members, while the Imole Campaign Council (ICC), representing the Accord Party, called for investigations into alleged killings involving APC members and demanded the redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.

The APC Campaign Council, in a statement signed by its Head of Media and Publicity Committee, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, welcomed the Inspector-General of Police and expressed confidence in his commitment to professionalism, justice and the rule of law.

According to the council, “the police should intensify efforts to apprehend all persons declared wanted over alleged violent crimes and ensure they are prosecuted in accordance with the law.”

The APC campaign also requested a comprehensive review of unresolved murder cases involving its members since 2022, alleging that several party chieftains and supporters were killed in separate incidents across the state.

It appealed for a thorough investigation into the recent alleged attempted assassination of its Director-General, Hon. Oluwole Oke.

The council specifically called for “the immediate arrest of Olalekan Oyeyemi, also known as Emir Ajagungbade, Nurudeen Wakili, also known as Nurudeen Alawonle, Solomon Adefioye, also known as Solo Iwara, and Jide Joda. They had been declared wanted by the police in connection with various killings involving APC members.”

It also urged the Inspector-General to investigate allegations linking Senate Minority Leader Lere Oyewumi to the murders of APC chieftains Saheed Oyegunju and Remi Abass, as well as claims that he allegedly interfered with police investigations.

The council called on the police to “follow all credible leads and evidence without interference.”

“The Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council remains committed to peace, democracy and the rule of law. We urge all our members and supporters to remain peaceful and continue to cooperate with security agencies as they discharge their constitutional responsibilities.”

Responding in its own statement, the Imole Campaign Council expressed concern over recent developments involving policing and security management in Osun State, arguing that public confidence in law enforcement should be protected.

The council, through its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, alleged that unresolved killings involving Accord members also deserved investigation.

It listed several people who have lost their lives in separate incidents of political violence and urged the Inspector-General to ensure that all cases were thoroughly investigated.

The Imole Campaign Council also called for the redeployment of Osun State Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan, arguing that a new police commissioner whose neutrality would inspire public confidence should be appointed ahead of the governorship election.

“This call is not made out of hostility toward any individual but in the overriding interest of restoring public trust in policing within Osun State. Confidence in law enforcement is indispensable to peaceful elections, political stability and effective crime fighting,” the statement said.

The council urged the Inspector-General to investigate APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji, Wole Oke and Engr. Remi Omowaiye over separate allegations relating to the killings of Accord members, while also seeking the arrest of several individuals it alleged were involved in violent attacks in parts of the state.

The council, while urging its supporters to remain law-abiding, avoid inflammatory conduct and cooperate with lawful security operations, maintained that it remained committed to peaceful political engagement before, during and after the August 15 governorship election.