Members of the APC Elders Forum in Adamawa Central senatorial zone have warned that President Bola Tinubu could face difficulties winning Adamawa State in the 2027 election if concerns over the alleged imposition of candidates are not addressed.

Speaking at a press conference in Yola on Thursday, the group’s spokesperson, Mohammed Jimeta, said the ruling party risks repeating mistakes that contributed to the PDP’s defeat in 2015.

Referring to the 2015 governorship election in Adamawa, Jimeta said, “In 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP chieftains sat in Abuja and appointed the present National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, as the governorship candidate, but the people of Adamawa State voted for the person they wanted as governor.”

He questioned the emergence of Mustapha Salihu as the party’s senatorial candidate, arguing that Salihu contested for governorship rather than the Senate during the primaries.

“The President himself knows that Mustapha Salihu did not contest for the Senate; he contested for governor. It was Abdulraheem Abbati who contested for the Senate in the Central senatorial zone. So, how can Salihu become the senatorial candidate in the zone?” Jimeta asked.

The elders insisted that, for fairness and justice, the ticket should be given to Abdulraheem Abbati, who they said legitimately contested for the seat.

Jimeta also argued that several local government areas in the zone have produced senators over the years, while Yola North has yet to be given the opportunity.

“Salihu and Senator Abbas are from the same local government area, so why is the APC showing bias against the people of Yola North? A few individuals are trying to deny Abbati the ticket,” he said.

The group further called on National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to help prevent what they described as an injustice, warning that failure to resolve the issue could hurt both the APC governorship candidate and President Tinubu in future elections.

“There will be two losers—the Adamawa State APC governorship candidate and the President. To avert the looming political setback, the issue should be addressed now,” Jimeta stated.

He added that Abbati worked for Tinubu’s success in the state during the last election, saying, “Abbati was the returning officer for President Tinubu in Shelleng Local Government Area, even when some enemies of the APC in Adamawa State were working secretly against him.”

The Osun State chapter of the Labour Party has appealed for calm following recent incidents of political violence, including reported gunshots and killings in parts of the state.

The state chairman of the party, Mustapha Adebayo Muhydeen, made the appeal in a statement issued on Thursday, expressing concern over what he described as a disturbing rise in politically motivated violence.

Muhydeen said the development was a source of worry and urged political stakeholders and their supporters to embrace peace as political activities continue ahead of future elections in the state.

He recalled that during his inauguration as the chairman of the Labour Party in Osun on April 25, 2026, he had stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence among residents before, during, and after the August 15 governorship election.

According to him, “the recent incidents threaten the stability and democratic progress of the state and should not be allowed to continue.”

“The Labour Party in Osun State is deeply concerned about the recent spate of violence, including gunshots and reported loss of lives in some communities. We call on all political actors and their supporters to exercise restraint and allow peace to prevail.”

The party chairman urged security agencies to intensify efforts to maintain law and order across the state and ensure that those responsible for acts of violence are identified and prosecuted.

He maintained that political competition should not degenerate into violence, adding that democracy can only flourish in an atmosphere of peace, tolerance, and mutual respect.

Muhydeen stated, “No political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen. We urge all stakeholders to put the interest of Osun State above partisan differences and ensure that peace is not compromised.”

He also sympathised with families affected by the recent violence and called for justice and support for victims of the unrest.

The Labour Party chairman advised youths across the state not to allow themselves to be used by politicians as agents of violence, warning that such actions could have lasting consequences for their future.

Muhydeen reaffirmed the party’s commitment to peaceful political engagement and urged residents to remain calm while relevant authorities address the situation.

He stressed that dialogue and lawful engagement remain the appropriate means of resolving political differences in a democratic society.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Dr Jelili Akinola, has described corruption as the biggest obstacle holding Nigeria back.
Akinola made the assertion while assessing 27 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Thursday.

He said that decades of democratic governance in Nigeria have been a mix of progress and missed opportunities due to the high rate of corruption.

According to him, decades of mismanagement and diversion of public funds have slowed growth in road infrastructure, healthcare, education and other sectors across the country.

He maintained that the nation has recorded significant achievements compared to the state of affairs before 1999.

“But the way public funds keep disappearing into private pockets is hindering the nation’s progress,” Akinola said.

The PDP chieftain urged the federal government to strengthen institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau.

He also called for the non-selective prosecution of corrupt officials.

According to him, political will and transparency in governance remain critical if Nigeria is to meet its development goals.

The PDP chieftain also called on citizens to demand accountability from elected leaders, adding that voter apathy during elections creates room for bad governance.

He noted that development starts with honest leadership and a people who refuse to accept excuses for stolen money.

Akinola said that though democratic consolidation since 1999 has been uneven, it has made irreversible progress when compared with the era of military rule.

According to him, the biggest gain since the return to civilian rule is the culture of regular elections and peaceful transfer of power.

“Since 1999, we have moved from one civilian government to another without military interruption. That alone is consolidation.

“Nigerians now expect elections every four years, and that expectation was not there before,” he said.

Akinola, however, noted that the quality of democracy remains weak.

He urged the National Orientation Agency to launch nationwide campaigns to encourage citizens to shun corruption and embrace patriotism.

Akinola also advised Nigerian leaders to lead by example and govern the country with the fear of God.

The PDP chieftain further called for collaborative efforts to address the security challenges confronting the nation, noting that no meaningful development can be achieved in the face of insecurity.

NAN