Nigerian political news recap: Rivers 2027, ADC, Tinubu

KontrinewsMay 1, 20265 Mins read4

Political realignments, court rulings and governance decisions shaped Thursday’s major headlines as President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive reportedly triggered fresh political calculations in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.

In another major development, media entrepreneur, Dele Momodu, dismissed reports linking him to a vice-presidential ambition alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, while reaffirming support for an opposition coalition.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has updated its official records to reinstate former Senate President,David Mark, as National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, alongside other members of the party’s National Working Committee.

In governance, Tinubu approved a reshuffle in the power sector, appointing a new minister and special adviser as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges.

Elsewhere, a senator from Borno State stepped down from the governorship race and endorsed Governor Babagana Zulum’s preferred candidate, while governors within the Peoples Democratic Party declared the opposition party effectively leaderless and fixed dates for crucial BoT and NEC meetings.

Internationally, authorities in the United States charged three Nigerians over alleged fraud-related offences, while a Lagos woman was remanded by a court for allegedly attacking her teenage daughter with a knife.

Below is a list of the top stories:

Tinubu’s directive triggers new power play in Rivers ahead of 2027

The political atmosphere in Rivers State over the past year has appeared calm outwardly, but beneath the surface, uncertainty and tension persist.

The lingering fallout from the rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his former political ally, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, continues to cast a shadow over governance in the oil-rich state.

Despite the widely publicised reconciliation brokered through repeated interventions by President Bola Tinubu, signs suggest that mistrust still exists among the principal actors in the crisis.

Wike’s recurring comments that the “mistake of 2023 will not be repeated in 2027”, widely interpreted as a signal that he may withhold support for Fubara’s second-term bid, have further heightened political uncertainty around the governor’s future.

Dele Momodu refutes VP ambition with Atiku, backs coalition

Media entrepreneur and publisher Dele Momodu has denied reports suggesting he is considering a vice-presidential bid alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insisting he has no plans to contest any election.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Thursday, Momodu described the claim as a distraction and urged supporters and party members to disregard it.

“When I first received this poster from a friend, I dismissed it as a joke designed to distract us… I will be most grateful if my friends and party members can do me the honour of ignoring this joke,” he said.

Mark-led ADC survives as S’Court voids Ibadan PDP convention

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Thursday delivered two landmark judgments that reshaped the leadership disputes within the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

In its rulings, the apex court nullified the PDP’s controversial Ibadan convention while restoring the ADC leadership structure headed by former Senate President David Mark.

The judgments triggered immediate political consultations, as top PDP figures, including Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, alongside members of the party’s Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee, convened an emergency closed-door meeting in Abuja.

INEC restores David Mark-led ADC leadership

The Independent National Electoral Commission has updated its official records to restore former Senate President David Mark as National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, alongside other members of the party’s National Working Committee.

Checks on the commission’s website on Thursday night showed that former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola was also reinstated as the party’s National Secretary.

Other officials re-listed by the commission include Dr. Mani Ahmad as National Treasurer, Akibu Dalhatu as National Financial Secretary, and Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor as National Legal Adviser.

INEC had earlier removed the officials’ names from its portal in compliance with a Court of Appeal ruling, a development that drew protests from the Mark-led faction and several opposition figures.

Tinubu reshuffles power sector, appoints new minister, adviser

President Bola Tinubu has commenced a fresh restructuring of Nigeria’s power sector following months of widespread blackouts, with the nomination of a new Minister of Power and the appointment of a presidential adviser to oversee reforms.

As part of efforts to fast-track improvements across the electricity value chain, the President nominated Mr Joseph Tegbe as Minister of Power, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Tinubu also appointed former power minister Mr Lanre Babalola as Special Adviser on Power and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reset and Restoration, a body expected to drive key reforms aimed at stabilising electricity supply nationwide.

Borno senator drops gov bid, backs Zulum’s anointed candidate

The senator representing Borno Central Senatorial District, Kaka Lawan, has withdrawn from the Borno State governorship race and declared support for Mustapha Gubio, the candidate reportedly backed by Governor Babagana Zulum.

The senator’s legislative aide, Usman Alkali, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that the decision followed a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja, where participants agreed that Lawan should step down in favour of Gubio.

According to the statement, Lawan is expected to retain his position in the Senate following the resolution.

Govs’ camp declares PDP leaderless, fixes BoT, NEC meetings

The governors-backed Peoples Democratic Party camp has declared that the party is currently without a National Working Committee following Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment, and announced that the Board of Trustees will convene an emergency meeting on Sunday ahead of a National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Monday to determine the party’s next steps.

Former Niger State Governor and BoT National Secretary, Babangida Aliyu, made the announcement after an expanded PDP National Caucus meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

Aliyu explained that the Supreme Court nullified the November 2025 convention that produced the Tanimu Turaki-led NWC, while also reaffirming the suspension of Kamaldeen Ajibade, Samuel Anyanwu, and others.

The faction said the combined effect of both rulings left the party without a legally recognised national working committee, creating a governance vacuum that the BoT emergency meeting and subsequent NEC session were designed to address.

US charges three Nigerians for alleged fraud

Three Nigerians have been arraigned before a United States federal court in Rhode Island on charges of participating in an online romance and wire fraud scheme.

The suspects, identified as William Elvis, Moses Hezekiah, and Destiny Oghentega, each face one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to a statement on the Department of Justice website obtained by PUNCH Metro on Thursday.

Court documents showed that the alleged scheme began around early 2021 and involved several conspirators who targeted unsuspecting victims through online impersonation.

The suspects and their accomplices reportedly posed as professionals working abroad, gradually building romantic relationships with victims over a period of time before defrauding them.

Lagos woman remanded over knife attack on teenage daughter

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has confirmed the arrest and arraignment of a woman accused of assaulting her 15-year-old daughter in the Ipaja area of Lagos State.

The incident sparked public outrage after a viral video emerged on Wednesday allegedly showing the woman attacking the teenager at 32 Tashoro Street near Ipaja.

In the footage, the suspect was seen reportedly pinning the girl down while brandishing a knife after allegedly beating her near the entrance of a residential compound.

Providing an update in a statement shared on X on Thursday, the agency said the case came to public attention following the circulation of the disturbing video online.

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