Former All Progressives Congress, APC, Vice Chairman, Salihu Lukman, has expressed a strong desire to see the APC-led Federal Government and president Bola Tinubu defeated in the 2027 general elections.

Featuring in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ on Friday, Lukman said he is frustrated by the current approach of the opposition, urging them to step up their game if they want to wrestle power from the ruling party.

He also expressed disappointment with the current state of the opposition and lack of a party that can hold elected leaders accountable.

According to him, there is concern that the opposition may repeat the mistakes of the 2023 polls, despite the judicial process, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the personal ambitions of opposition leaders to ensure that the country’s destiny is prioritised.

“Look, as a person, I don’t have any restraint. I want APC and President Tinubu defeated out of government in 2027. But the way we are going about it, I’m frustrated.

“As a Nigerian, I’m not excited by all these developments because, if you recall, as an advocate of the coalition and the unity of the opposition leaders, when we started about two years ago, the objectives were basically two: to get the opposition leaders united, and to also factor the need to build a party that can hold elected leaders accountable.

“As it is today, I think no matter what comes out of the judicial process, I see us going back to 2023, repeating almost the same things that happened in 2023, and expect miracle to happen,” he said.

By Luminous Jannamike, Abuja

The Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Friday said it had manually submitted former President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential nomination and the names of its other candidates for the 2027 general elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, despite the electoral body’s refusal to recognise the committee.

The move deepens the party’s leadership crisis, with the Turaki camp insisting it validly nominated its candidates in line with the Electoral Act and warning of fresh legal action if INEC publishes a different list.

Addressing journalists, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said the party opted for manual submission after INEC declined to provide access codes for electronic submission, insisting the codes were only an administrative convenience.

“Notwithstanding INEC’s refusal to provide us with the necessary access codes… we have successfully submitted, manually and in full compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the list of candidates sponsored by the authentic Peoples Democratic Party,” Ememobong said.

He added that the submission, which included Jonathan’s presidential nomination and all governorship, National Assembly and state assembly candidates, was acknowledged by INEC.

Ememobong warned the commission against publishing any list other than the one submitted by the committee.

“Should the Commission publish names other than those lawfully submitted by us… we are exhausting every constitutional, legal and democratic avenue to ensure that our party is not hijacked or annexed to the ruling party,” he said.

He traced the dispute to the Supreme Court judgment on the PDP’s leadership, saying the party’s Board of Trustees and a requisitioned National Executive Committee meeting constituted the Interim National Working Committee after the ruling left the party without a legally recognised national leadership.

According to him, INEC declined to recognise the interim leadership despite being formally notified, forcing the party to seek judicial intervention.

Faulting the Federal High Court judgment, Ememobong said, “The judgment… reads more like an appeal on the judgment of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. It is clearly inconsistent with the extant decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal that form the foundation of our case.”

He said the party had appealed the judgment and would also challenge alleged discrepancies between the judgment delivered in court and the Certified True Copy.

The PDP also accused INEC of abandoning its neutrality.

“The Commission’s actions have regrettably reinforced the growing public perception that it is no longer acting with the impartiality expected of the nation’s electoral umpire,” Ememobong said.

He alleged that the commission withheld material facts in court proceedings involving the party and ignored congresses it monitored, warning that such actions were eroding public confidence in the electoral process.

Ememobong further alleged that the PDP was the first target of a broader campaign to weaken opposition parties and entrench one-party dominance.

“We were the pioneer target for opposition dismantling and capture… but it has now spread to almost all the opposition parties,” he said.

Calling on Nigerians to defend multi-party democracy, Ememobong warned that electoral authoritarianism undermines democratic consolidation before expressing confidence that the party would prevail.

With about six months to the 2027 general elections, Niger State’s political landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation as parties reposition, old alliances are tested and new ones begin to emerge.

What started as disagreements over the outcome of party primaries has evolved into defections, reconciliation efforts and intensified political consultations, setting the stage for what many observers believe could be one of the state’s most competitive governorship contests in recent years.

For the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, the task is to preserve its dominance and unite members after divisive party primaries.

Opposition parties, on the other hand, are seeking to convert the cracks within the ruling party into electoral gains, insisting that security, governance, public spending and economic realities have reshaped the political conversation ahead of the polls.

Amid the shifting alliances, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, is battling its own internal disputes over leadership and candidacies, while the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says it remains firmly in contention despite growing attention on the APC and the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

As political actors intensify consultations and parties rebuild their structures, DAILY POST examines the events shaping the race, the competing narratives from the major political players and the issues that could influence voters when Niger people eventually head to the polls.

Fallout from APC Primaries

The current political realignments can be traced to the APC primaries held in May 2026, where candidates emerged for various elective positions ahead of next year’s elections.

Although party leaders hailed the exercise as successful, its outcome left some aspirants dissatisfied, with complaints over the emergence of candidates in some constituencies.

Some aggrieved members remained in the APC to seek reconciliation, but others began exploring political alternatives, setting the stage for one of the biggest waves of defections witnessed in the state in recent years.

Political observers say the fallout from the primaries has continued to influence political calculations, forcing both the ruling party and the opposition to review their strategies ahead of the election.

Defections Alter Political Calculations

Those calculations became more pronounced on Thursday, July 16, 2026, when the Niger Rescue Movement Political Family announced its decision to dump the APC for the ADC.

The political family, led by former Chief of Staff to former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Maikil Al-Amin Bmitosahi, defected alongside former commissioners, former local government chairmen, former councillors and other party loyalists.

The defectors cited dissatisfaction with developments in the APC led administration of Governor Bago following the primaries and declared their intention to work for political change ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Their decision immediately sparked debate across the state, with supporters and critics of the ruling party offering different interpretations of what it could mean for the governorship race.

Opposition parties described the defections as evidence that cracks were beginning to appear within the APC. The ruling party, on its part, dismissed the move as politically insignificant, insisting it remained united and focused.

Bago Moves to Reconcile Aggrieved Members

Days later, Governor Bago convened a special meeting with APC candidates and unsuccessful aspirants, a move seen as part of efforts to consolidate the party and address concerns arising from the primaries ahead of the 2027 elections.

The defections and post-primary discontent prompted the APC leadership to step up efforts to restore confidence within its ranks.

The meeting, held on Saturday, July 25, brought together Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba, APC North Central Zonal Vice Chairman Mu’azu Bawa Rijau, APC State Chairman Aminu Musa Bobi, candidates, aspirants and other party stakeholders.

According to the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the meeting was aimed at strengthening unity among party members and evolving strategies to ensure victory for all APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.

Addressing the gathering, Bago urged party members to remain committed to the APC, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and his administration’s New Niger Agenda.

He stressed that loyalty and unity remained critical to the party’s success, urging members to place the collective interest of the APC above personal ambitions.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for candidates and aspirants to deliberate on issues arising from the primaries and offer suggestions on strengthening the party ahead of the elections.

The reconciliation meeting came days after Governor Bago made remarks that generated political reactions across the state.

‘I Have Their Files’

During a sympathy visit to Kagara following the communal violence in Rafi Local Government Area, the governor disclosed that he had records relating to the immediate past administration but had deliberately chosen not to investigate former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.

According to him, although some people had urged him to probe his predecessor, he considered peace and stability more important than political vendetta.

Bago also criticised politicians who left the APC after the primaries, suggesting that some were driven by personal interests rather than the overall interest of the state.

He further warned against fake news and misinformation, directing security agencies to investigate individuals spreading information capable of causing public disorder.

Government Dismisses Claims of Political Rift

Amid the political speculations, the state government dismissed reports suggesting that influential stakeholders had withdrawn support for Governor Bago.

Speaking with DAILY POST, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, said there was no truth to claims that elder statesmen in the state were opposed to the governor’s re-election.

He said former military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar remained supportive of the administration, adding that both leaders had continued to commend Governor Bago’s developmental efforts.

Bologi also dismissed claims that the governor was facing an internal rebellion within the APC, insisting that reconciliation efforts were already yielding results.

According to him, the meeting with candidates and aspirants demonstrated the party’s resolve to close ranks and approach the 2027 elections as a united family.

ADC Sees Opportunity

If the APC insists the post-primary crisis has been brought under control, the opposition believes the developments present an opportunity to reshape the state’s political landscape ahead of 2027.

The governorship candidate of the ADC, Dr. Mohammed Kpautagi Mohammed, accused the Bago administration of poor governance, lack of transparency and disregard for due process, urging Niger people to vote out the ruling APC in the next election.

Kpautagi promised that an ADC administration would prioritise security, healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure, local government autonomy and prudent management of public resources.

He also maintained that insecurity, economic hardship and what he described as poor governance had created the need for a change in leadership.

An ADC chieftain, Dr. Abdullahi Ishaq, said the party was not depending solely on the recent defections from the APC but had been quietly strengthening its structures across the state before the current political realignments.

According to him, the recent influx of politicians into the ADC would further boost the party’s grassroots mobilisation ahead of the election.

He argued that insecurity had remained the biggest challenge confronting many communities in Niger State, adding that governance should be measured not only by physical infrastructure but also by the protection of lives and livelihoods.

Ishaq also said issues of fiscal responsibility, public spending, humanitarian support for victims of insecurity and service delivery would feature prominently in the party’s campaign.

PDP Rejects Third Force Label

On its part, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has, however, dismissed suggestions that the governorship contest would be between only the APC and the ADC.

Speaking with DAILY POST, the party’s State Secretary, Hamidu A. A. Kadi Kuta said the PDP remained a strong political force and should not be excluded from any assessment of the 2027 race.

He expressed confidence that more political realignments would occur before the election, insisting that the PDP had the structure and capacity to challenge for power.

According to him, the party was concentrating on strengthening its organisation across the state and ensuring that all its candidates were properly uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.

On Governor Bago’s performance, Kadi Kuta declined to give a direct assessment, saying it was for Niger people to compare the present administration with previous governments of PDP and decide who deserved their mandate.

NDC Battles Internal Crisis

Even as opposition parties attempt to capitalise on the APC’s internal challenges, the NDC is battling a crisis that has also raised questions about its preparedness for the election.

In an early July statement, a House of Representatives aspirant for Bida/Katcha/Gbako Federal Constituency, Mohammed Abubakar Katcha, called for the resignation of the party’s Niger State Chairman, Ahmed Inuwa.

Katcha alleged that the chairman had “mortgaged the party in Niger State to advance the interests of APC candidates,” warning that such actions could undermine the party’s chances in the 2027 elections.

He also accused the state leadership of compromising the party’s internal processes and appealed to the national leadership to intervene before the situation deteriorated further.

The uncertainty appears to have extended to the governorship ticket, with Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad Guregi and Idris Usman Makanta, popularly known as Shinkafan Nupe, both laying claim to being the party’s governorship candidate.

A source within the party, who requested anonymity, told DAILY POST that the lingering dispute had unsettled many members of the party.

“As it is, our party is not in order. We still have issues resulting from our primaries aside from the governorship candidate wahala. We feel there are forces out to destabilise our party,” the source said.

Checks by DAILY POST showed that both aspirants have their posters displayed in parts of the state, each presenting himself as the party’s governorship candidate.

Although some political observers have linked the crisis to alleged attempts to weaken the NDC ahead of the election, Makanta, in a separate interview with journalists, however, denied claims that he was in the party to work for Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago or the APC.

Governance Takes Centre Stage

Beyond the shifting political alliances, governance is expected to dominate the conversation ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Security, infrastructure, public spending, agriculture, education, healthcare, youth employment and the state’s borrowing profile have emerged as some of the issues political parties are expected to campaign on.

Political analyst, Mark Martins said it was still too early to conclude that recent defections would determine the outcome of the election.

According to him, elections are won through effective grassroots mobilisation, party cohesion, voter acceptance and sustained political engagement rather than defections alone.

For Mahmoud Sani, a commercial bus driver in Minna, performance will be the deciding factor.

“It is not going to be about party but individual performance. Even if a candidate has never held public office before, I will look at the person’s antecedents and success story. Nigerians should vote for whoever has the capacity to deliver.”

With campaigns soon to officially commence, political calculations in Niger State remain fluid.

The APC says it has begun reconciling aggrieved members and remains confident of retaining power.

The ADC believes the recent defections and public dissatisfaction have strengthened its chances, while the PDP insists it still has the structure and capacity to challenge for Government House.

The NDC, however, faces the immediate task of resolving its internal disputes before presenting itself as a viable alternative.

For many residents, party affiliation alone may no longer be enough.

As political parties continue to mobilise support and consolidate their positions, the ultimate verdict will rest with the electorate, whose votes will determine whether the ruling APC secures another term or whether the opposition succeeds in changing the political direction of Niger State.