Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Opposition political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, and Labour Party, have seen a wave of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP, NNPP, and Coalition of United Political Parties accused the APC-led Federal Government of exploiting state resources to coerce politicians into switching allegiance. Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and all party members in the state have officially defected to the APC, citing internal conflicts and other issues. Senator Kawu Sumaila has formally confirmed his defection from the National Peoples Democratic Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Sumaila cited his commitment to his constituents as his primary concern, stating that all politics is local. His departure has also sparked rumors that former presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso may return to the APC. Oluwole Oke, a long-serving member of the House of Representatives, has also announced his resignation from the PDP. Meanwhile, LP Senator Neda Imasuen is on the verge of defecting to the APC, with efforts underway to strengthen the party's ranks nationally and in the state.

Former Rivers State Commissioner and Attorney-General Zacchaeus Adangor has criticized Governor Similaye Fubara for not being a peacemaker as people assume. Adangor resigned in December 2023 after the political feud between Fubara and Wike escalated. He cited instances where Fubara directed management not to allow Adangor to return to Rivers State University and refused to sign a customary court warrant in his community. Adangor argued that Fubara cannot issue directives on how to handle court matters, stating that Adangor was appointed by the governor but had the responsibility to advise him.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria has raised concerns over the increasing costs of its operational expenses, disruptions caused by frequent changes in proposed primaries, and the arbitrary granting of waivers for defectors. Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu urged political parties to adhere strictly to their proposed dates and modes of primaries to ensure certainty and optimal resource deployment. He also criticised the practice of granting waivers to candidates who were recently members of other political parties, as it consumes legal fees and resources that could be used more productively in other electoral activities. The INEC has announced that only six political parties have uploaded their candidate details on the INEC portal so far, and primaries will begin on April 6.

The Kano State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has  said it was not joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for any political scheming ahead of the 2027 general election.Addressing reporters yesterday at Gidauniya, Kano, the party’s state chairman, Yusuf Ado Kibiya, announced that the party would not affiliate with any movement or coalition, apart from the umbrella party.“We categorically distance the Kano State chapter from the breakaway members who have formed a coalition under the African Democratic Party.“This effort is crucial for the strengthening of our grassroots support and enhancement of our operational effectiveness,” he added.Kabiya assured PDP’s national executives of absolute loyalty in all matters concerning the conduct of the party businesses.

The Kogi State Government has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleging that the immediate-past governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was involved in an alleged N80 billion scam. The state governor expressed dissatisfaction with the EFCC's decision to amend a charge against Bello, who left office on January 27. The government accused the EFCC of collaborating with "criminals masquerading as politicians" to tarnish Bello's image and portrayed the agency as infested with individuals who disagreed with President Muhammadu Buhari's efforts to combat corruption in Nigeria. The original charge against Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman was against Ali's associate, Dauda Suleiman. The EFCC's allegations are deemed laughable as the election that produced Bello was conducted in November 2015, and he had no financial dealings with the Kogi State Government.

The People's Democratic Party in Ondo state, Nigeria, has expressed its opposition to the All Progressive Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, who declared that Ondo and Anambra states would receive the Edo treatment when governorship elections take place. The party's Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, criticized Ganduje's vituperations as confirmation of the election being rigged. Peretei argued that Nigerians are losing hope in democracy when major players like Ganduje hold influential positions. He urged Ganduje not to be oblivion as one of its undertakers. The party also praised the courage of the Edo State people in the election, despite INEC's disobedience of their rules. The party urged Ganduje to give the "Edo Treatment" to his people in Kano State, where he was humiliated by the New Nigeria Peoples Party in last year's election.

Women in Ondo State are calling on political parties to nominate female deputy governorship candidates ahead of the November 16 governorship elections. The Ondo State Women Group, which represents various women groups in the state, has issued a communique titled "Agitation for gender balance and inclusiveness." The women demand the nomination of women as deputy governorship candidates from all participating political parties and an increased budgetary allocation for the state Ministry of Women Affairs. They argue that using the Yoruba word "Odatiwa" for inclusiveness while confining women to the "other room" is contradictory and unacceptable.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, loyal to former Governor Ayodele Fayose, has declared that they are the real stakeholders and members of the party in the state. This comes after recent gatherings and moves by some leaders and members called for the repositioning and takeover of the running of Ekiti PDP. They alleged that the activities of Fayose, especially his relationship with the APC-led government of Biodun Oyebanji, are constituting a threat to the progress of the PDP in the state.One of the staunch followers of Fayose, Omolade Bolarinwa, dismissed the calls and moves by some people within the party against the former governor and noted that Fayose has done more for the PDP to win elections. Bolarinwa queried: “Who are the stakeholders? We (Fayose group) are the authentic stakeholders as far as PDP is concerned in Ekiti State. Can those former party chairman and the rest of the people you mentioned, can they claim to be more relevant than a two-term governor? “These people are hungry set, I see them as a group of unserious elements looking for relevance and what to eat. Don’t mind them, they can’t fly to anywhere. We are authentic PDP stakeholders.