Politics
ADC crisis: Court hears Nafiu-Bala Gombe’s suit April 14
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed April 14 for the hearing of a suit filed by Nafiu-Bala Gombe seeking to stop the Sen. David Mark-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) from parading itself as the party’s leaders.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date, following the hearing notices issued to parties in the suit.
Gombe, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, had sued ADC, Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Chief Ralph Nwosu as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
Justice Nwite had adjourned the case sine die (indefinitely) at the last hearing date to await the decision of the Court of Appeal.
The judge adjourned the matter indefinitely after counsel for the defendants informed the court of an appeal filed against the lower court order.
However, the Appeal Court, in its March 12 judgment, ordered the parties to return to the trial court and maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
Against the appellate court’s judgment, INEC, on April 1, removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official portal and website as ADC’s national chairman and national secretary respectively.
In reaction to INEC’s decision, the Mark-led leadership, in a motion on notice filed on April 7 by Sulaiman Usman, SAN, prayed the court to order the commission to restore their names as they were, prior to the institution of the suit by Gombe.
They also sought an order for an accelerated hearing.
Meanwhile, Mark and Aregbesola have urged the court “to dismiss the suit in limine for want of jurisdiction.”
The former Senate President, in his preliminary objection filed on April 7 by his lawyer, Usman, argued that Gombe lacked the locus standi to file the suit, having voluntarily resigned his position as deputy national chairman of ADC.
He argued that the suit is predicated on falsehood and suppression of material facts, particularly concerning the plaintiff’s resignation.
The embattled national chairman stated that the subject matter of the suit borders on internal affairs of a political party, which are non-justiciable.
According to him, the plaintiff has disclosed no reasonable cause of action.
“This honourable court lacks jurisdiction to entertain this suit.
“The suit constitutes a gross abuse of court process,” he added.
Aregbesola, in his consequential counter-affidavit deposed to by Anthonia Nwafor from the law firm of M.E. Sheriff & Co, equally urged the court to dismiss the suit.
He said Gombe, in his suit, seeks to approbate and reprobate at the same time because he is no longer a member of the National Executive Committee of ADC, having resigned his position as the deputy chairman of the committee to make way for smooth and effective coalition and restructuring.
He stated that the party communicated Gombe’s resignation to INEC in compliance with its standard rules and guidelines.
Aregbesola, who said the suit is unmeritorious, sought an order awarding him the sum of N50 million as costs for being discommoded by defending the suit.
On his part, Nwosu, in his preliminary objection filed on April 7 by his lawyer, P. I. Oyewole, equally prayed the court to dismiss the suit.
The ex-party’s national chairman, who argued that the case is premature, submitted that Gombe had failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanism before filing the suit.
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Politics
Lagos APC picks Sonayon-James as Hamzat’s running mate

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has named Damilola Sonayon-James as Lagos deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Sonayon-James, who hails from Badagry, will be the running mate to Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
Princess Sonayon-James is a politician, sustainability specialist, and business leader, widely recognised for her grassroots mobilisation and advocacy for women’s empowerment.
She serves as the Deputy State Chairman of the APC in Lagos State.
She rose to prominence as the State Assistant Woman Leader and was later elevated to the role of Deputy State Chairman of the APC in Lagos State. She has also served as a Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture and Social Services in Badagry West LCDA.
Sonayon-James holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, and a degree in Business and Human Resources Management from the University of Hull in the UK.
She has built a dynamic career in human resources, logistics, and sustainability, operating as CEO of DGS Chauffeurs & Logistics.
The post Lagos APC picks Sonayon-James as Hamzat’s running mate appeared first on Vanguard News.
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Politics
2027 Presidency: Peter Obi picks Kwankwaso as running mate

By Emmanuel Okogba
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has named former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
Obi announced the decision on Saturday shortly after he was officially confirmed as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the general election.
The announcement followed the NDC’s presidential primary, where Obi emerged as the party’s flagbearer.
Obi and Kwankwaso recently joined the NDC after leaving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing internal disagreements and prolonged legal disputes within their former party.
The emergence of the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket is expected to alter the dynamics of the 2027 presidential race by bringing together two influential opposition politicians with strong support bases in different parts of the country.
Obi is widely regarded as popular among young voters and enjoys significant support in the South-East and parts of the South-South, while Kwankwaso remains a major political force in Kano State and across sections of Northern Nigeria through his political network.
Party leaders expressed optimism that the alliance would boost the NDC’s prospects in the next presidential election, describing the ticket as a strategic combination capable of attracting broad national support.
Further details of the party’s campaign strategy are expected to be unveiled in the coming months as preparations for the 2027 polls gather momentum.
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Politics
Rivers 2027: PDP, APC, LP, AA to jointly pick one governorship candidate — Wike

By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA – Federal Capital Territory FCT minister, Nyesom Wike on Saturday declared that the four political parties under the “Rainbow Coalition” in Rivers State will collectively agree on a single governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections, shutting down speculation that any individual has already secured the ticket.
Wike, who spoke at a luncheon organized for coalition candidates in Port Harcourt, the state capital, said the alliance — comprising the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, All Progressives Congress APC, Labour Party LP and Action Alliance AA — has yet to settle on a flag-bearer, and that the decision will be taken jointly under the coalition’s leadership.
“The Rainbow Coalition, we have not chosen who will be the governor of Rivers State. But we have party candidates who have emerged under the Rainbow Coalition. The only decision we have taken is that we are going to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the minister declared.
Wike dismissed what he described as premature victory celebrations among some of the aspirants, warning that such claims create a false impression and undermine his own political standing, particularly given his membership of the PDP.
He urged all candidates from the four parties to sustain their grassroots mobilisation until the coalition formally convenes to take a unified position, adding that every candidate in the alliance is “okay for Rivers State.”
The minister also spoke about what he called a long-standing pattern of external exploitation of Rivers State’s political tensions, accusing certain human rights activists, commentators, and media organizations of profiting from the state’s instability. He said the Rainbow Coalition was assembled to permanently end that dynamic.
“God said no, we must come together as a people, irrespective of our political leanings. What is important is that we must talk about the development of our state. We must talk about the unity of our state,” Wike said.
He also took a swipe at fringe parties — singling out the African Democratic Congress ADC — arguing that political noise and defections are no substitute for genuine electoral structure, and that only the PDP, APC, and Labour Party have demonstrated the operational depth to prosecute statewide and national elections across Nigeria.
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