Politics
Only 1 Faction Recognized By INEC— Dr. Ahmed Says
The National Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr. Ajuji Ahmed, has reaffirmed his leadership, dismissing claims of a parallel faction within the party.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, he insisted that the party remains under his leadership and the National Working Committee (NWC) inaugurated in 2022.
Dr. Ahmed emphasized that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognizes only one NNPP, with its official logo featuring red, white, and red colors, a book, and an academic cap with the slogan “Education for All.”
He urged Nigerians and media organizations to verify this information on INEC’s website.
Addressing recent reports of an NNPP National Convention in Lagos, Dr. Ahmed dismissed the gathering as an illegal meeting.
He stated that the party had not held any convention outside its headquarters in Abuja and refuted claims of a new NWC being inaugurated.
“We did not hold any convention this year in any hotel lobby in Lagos,” he said.
“The NNPP does not operate from Apapa, and any claims to the contrary are false.”
The NNPP chairman accused certain former party members of attempting to destabilize the party, allegedly backed by external political interests ahead of the 2027 elections.
He claimed these individuals had engaged in anti-party activities after the 2023 general elections and were expelled following due disciplinary processes.
“They have been jumping from pillar to post, going from one court to another, and swiftly losing one case after another,” Dr. Ahmed said, citing court rulings in Abuja, Ekiti, Port Harcourt, Awka, Kano, and Katsina.
He referenced an Abuja Federal High Court ruling from April 2024, which declared the expelled members as impostors and prohibited them from representing the party. Despite this, he said, they held an unauthorized meeting in Lagos, defying a court injunction issued on January 16, 2025, by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Dr. Ahmed further revealed that INEC had filed a legal process denying any knowledge of the so-called convention in Apapa. Under Nigerian law, he said, INEC must monitor all political party activities for them to be recognized.
“The greatest danger to any democracy is the disregard for the rule of law,” he warned, alleging that unseen forces were attempting to weaken opposition parties.
Dr. Ahmed urged NNPP members nationwide to remain united and ignore distractions from expelled members. He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to providing strong opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Our NWC was inaugurated in April 2022 for a four-year tenure, which ends in April 2026. We will continue to represent the people and uphold democracy,” he said.
Politics
2027: Aregbesola, Fayemi and Others Poised to Join SDP as Obi and Atiku Factions Forge Alliance – Insider Report
Recent reports indicate that Rauf Aregbesola, the former Governor of Osun State, and Kayode Fayemi, the former Governor of Ekiti State, are currently in negotiations to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Additionally, sources reveal that former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, along with former Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Adamu, discontented members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and several ex-Ministers from President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration are also considering a move to the SDP.
This development occurs amid ongoing discussions regarding a coalition among opposition parties, aimed at presenting a united front to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the APC in the upcoming 2027 elections.
According to insider information, the coalition will likely include Atiku Abubakar’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi’s faction of the Labour Party (LP), and Nasir El-Rufai, who has recently defected to the SDP.
The opposition parties are reportedly strategising to unite under an existing registered party. However, should they fail to reach a consensus on a common platform within the party they wish to join, they may opt to align with the SDP instead, as per sources cited by our correspondent.
It is noteworthy that Kola Ologbondiyan, the former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, has suggested that talks of a merger among opposition politicians are gaining momentum. During a recent appearance on the AIT Focus programme, Ologbondiyan expressed optimism that the opposition would present initiatives that could inspire hope among Nigerians.
The former PDP spokesperson asserted that defeating the current government would be achievable, given the proposals that opposition leaders are preparing to unveil.
By Abubakar Yunusa
The leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has welcome the former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to the party.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has officially joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), on Monday morning in what is being seen as a strategic realignment ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
His defection was confirmed on Monday, with SDP leader and 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, welcoming him into the party.
Adebayo described El-Rufai’s entry as a significant boost to the SDP’s vision, calling it a “moment of renewed hope for Nigeria.”
He also praised the former governor’s leadership and work ethic, noting that his presence would strengthen the party’s push for reforms.
“With the hardworking and sagacious Mallam joining our ranks, an avid worker for the people has been enlisted in our forces against poverty and insecurity,” Adebayo wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
El-Rufai’s defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) follows his growing discontent with the ruling party’s direction.
The former governor cited a misalignment between his values and the APC’s current trajectory as a key factor in his decision.
Adebayo also used the occasion to call on other like-minded politicians and citizens to rally behind the SDP’s mission of addressing governance failures in Nigeria.
“There is no time to waste. Join us on the march again! God bless Nigeria,” he urged.
El-Rufai, who previously served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and two-term Governor of Kaduna State, brings extensive political and administrative experience to his new party.
His move is expected to shape political dynamics ahead of the next election cycle.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a warrant for the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), to appear before it.
The Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly issued the arrest warrant on Monday during plenary, after the expiration of its 72-hour ultimatum for the electoral chief to appear before the House.
Enebeli had fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct a fresh Local Government (LG) poll in the state following a Supreme Court verdict that annulled the October 5, 2024 local government poll conducted in the state.
The Amaewhule-led Assembly had vowed to probe the conduct of Enebeli regarding the conduct of the annulled LG poll last year.
Over the weekend, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, invited members of the Assembly to a dialogue on the implementation the Supreme Court’s verdict.
The Supreme Court had also barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies from releasing funds to the government of Rivers State until it purges itself of what the court described as flagrant disobedience to court orders.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel of the court had unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker.
In dismissing Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.