- Igbo torn between emotion and motive, declares Soludo
- Says those that couldn’t defeat Tinubu out of energy gained’t achieve this now
- Unites APGA, APC, PDP, Accord in Anambra for president’s re-election
- Akpabio: Akwa Ibom’ll ship South-South’s highest votes to Tinubu
- Urges APC factions to unite
Deji Elumoye, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja, David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka and Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
The Vice Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso; Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, and Personal Assistant to the President on Radio and Broadcast (Office of the Vice President), Hajya Rahma Abdulmajid, yesterday insisted that the South ought to retain energy in 2027, warning towards breaking the present rotational association between the North and the South.
While Kwankwaso warned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) towards disrupting the zoning association, Yusuf and Abdulmajid argued that permitting the South to finish its eight-year tenure was mandatory for nationwide stability, reciprocity and peaceable coexistence.
Also yesterday, Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, mentioned the Igbo had been torn between emotion and motive forward of the 2027 elections, urging them to assist President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, whereas Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured that Akwa Ibom State would ship the very best votes for the President in the South-South.
It’s Still Turn of South in 2027, Kwankwaso Warns Atiku, ADC
Kwankwaso has warned Atiku to not disrupt the zoning system by contesting, urging him to permit the system to proceed by supporting Mr. Peter Obi to finish the remaining tenure belonging to the South.
Kwankwaso, who acknowledged this throughout an interactive session with journalists at his residence in Kano, yesterday, additionally warned the ADC towards inflicting confusion over the rotational presidency between the North and the South.
He mentioned regardless that zoning was not enshrined in the structure, widespread sense dictates that if one a part of the nation guidelines for 2 phrases, the opposite area needs to be allowed to take over.
According to the previous governor, fielding any candidate from the North wouldn’t assist the nation’s peaceable coexistence however will slightly create confusion and disharmony amongst Nigerians.
“Atiku should not disrupt the system by contesting at this point in time. He should allow the system to continue by supporting Peter Obi to complete the remaining tenure belonging to the South.”
Kwankwaso recalled how he contested for president three consecutive occasions however determined to desert his ambition to permit the Southern a part of the nation to supply Mr. Peter Obi.
“What is going on in the ADC won’t assist us. Some folks wish to create confusion by bringing a candidate from the North, understanding full effectively that it’s nonetheless the flip of the South. After Obi presidency, it’s going to return to the north.
“I sacrificed my ambition for Peter Obi because he is credible and from the South. We share common goals and ideology. We are strong and can manage the affairs of this country with ease,” he added.
The Kwankwasiyya chief harassed that for the Nigerian system to be balanced, Obi from the South needs to be given the chance to steer the affairs of the presidency.
Yusuf, Presidential Aide Insist on Power Rotation
Specifically, the Presidency justified the present energy rotation between the North and the South by urging the North to honour the present eight-year tenure being served by the South to completion, in the curiosity of reciprocity and nationwide stability.
It mentioned Nigeria’s nationwide stability hangs by a slender thread, demanding that the North honour the unwritten energy rotation pact and permit the South to finish its full eight-year tenure, warning that breaking this foundational belief might jeopardise the nation’s unity.
Personal Assistant to the President on Radio and Broadcast (Office of the Vice President), Hajya Rahma Abdulmajid, acknowledged this in Kano throughout the Grand Inauguration & Strategic Media Awards Ceremony of Matan Arewa 4 Tinubu Again (MATA).
According to her, Nigeria’s energy rotation association was not a sectional concession however a reciprocal compact that has stabilised the Fourth Republic.
In a veiled reference to Atiku, who she recalled attended and took part in the well-known Kaduna assembly the place the facility rotation settlement was reached, Abdulmajid argued that the North can not sacrifice the soundness of Nigeria for the ambition of 1 man.
Tracing the origin to Kaduna, she famous that when army rule ended, patriots negotiated a framework for unity, sustaining that, “current in that room was Atiku Abubakar himself, as later confirmed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
“Chief Sunday Awoniyi, the great Northern elder, stood up in 1998 and declared that the North should not field a candidate, in order to heal the wounds of June 12 and soothe the pain of the South.”
She additional listed different patriots who formed the understanding to incorporate Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, talking for the South; Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, talking for the North; Dr. Alex Ekwueme, and Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo.
Insisting on the facility rotation association, the Presidency mentioned, “In 1999, when the weapons of army rule lastly fell silent, this nation didn’t simply swap governments—we made a sacred promise. Our founding patriots gathered in Kaduna with one pressing, defining query echo-chambered in their minds: How can we hold Nigeria one?
“And from that sacred deliberation came a compact: not a sectional concession, but a reciprocal agreement. This gentleman’s agreement decreed that power must rotate between North and South every eight years—an arrangement to guarantee fairness, to ensure stability, and to guarantee that no Nigerian ever feels like a stranger in his own country.”
On how the association labored, Abdulmajid mentioned it survived as a result of it was honoured.
“This isn’t fiction. This is our historical past. And how did it work? It labored as a result of we honoured it. In 1999, we gave it to the South—Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, eight years, from 1999 to 2007. Then we gave it to the North: Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2007. But demise, a painful demise, lower his tenure brief in 2010.
“His vice, Goodluck Jonathan from the South, took over. The North felt cheated. The North said our turn was not complete, and that agitation was legitimate. What happened? In 2015, power returned to the North. The late former President Muhammadu Buhari, eight full years, 2015 to 2023! The sequence was restored! The principle survived,” she acknowledged.
The Presidency contended that the settlement was a two-way road and the North has already taken its full profit.
“My people, listen to me. The agreement is reciprocal; it is a two-way street. The North has already taken its full benefit after eight solid years under Buhari. You cannot eat your cake and still demand another man’s cake,” Abdulmajid mentioned.
The presidential aide harassed that stability requires reciprocity, recalling that the present President, a Southerner, labored tirelessly for the late General Muhammadu Buhari to emerge victorious when the North demanded energy should return after Jonathan’s tenure.
“That same logic applies today. You cannot abandon a principle when it becomes inconvenient. If you do, you tell the world that the agreement was never a principle at all—merely a temporary tactic. And if we destroy trust today, what will we use to negotiate tomorrow? Let us be honest. Much of this noise against the South completing its term is not a matter of principle. It is personal ambition,” she queried.
Attributing opposition to the South finishing its time period to non-public ambition, Abdulmajid mentioned, “Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar tells us zoning is “self-defeating.” But he participated in and benefited from zoned preparations in 2015 and 2019 after they favored his ambition! When rotation opened the door for him, it was acceptable. When it stands in his approach, it turns into “intellectually dishonest.”
“Shall we sacrifice Nigeria’s stability for one man’s ambition? The North’s genuine interest is not served by that; the North’s interest is stable inclusion. The guarantee that power will return to you only lives if we honour the compact today.”
The Presidency appealed to the North to not break the sacred promise that binds nation, urging the folks of the area to rise collectively and full the Southern tenure, describing it as not merely an election.
“This is for our honour. This is for reciprocity. This is for the enduring stability and peaceful coexistence of our great nation. That is exactly what the re-election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term stands for. That is the future we build today,” it added.
Also talking, Governor Yusuf corroborated Abdulmajid’s place, saying the unity of Nigeria might solely be assured by truthful play and inclusivity.
The Governor who was represented by his Director-General of Media and Publicity, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, argued that reversing the present rotational association would paint the North in ignoble mild, whilst he urged the area to take care of the established order by re-electing President Tinubu for a second time period.
In his remarks, former Governor of Jigawa State and rapid previous Minister of Defence, Mohammad Abubakar Badaru, mentioned the Renewed Hope Administration of President Tinubu has benefited the North greater than another a part of Nigeria.
Badaru listed main accomplished highway tasks to incorporate the 88km Zuba-Jere part and the 81km Abuja-Kaduna part of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway commissioned in October 2026, the 77km Kaduna-Pambeguwa highway, Yakasai-Badume-Damargu-Marken Zalli roads in Kano, and the Jimeta Bridge in Yola.
On social infrastructure, Badaru cited accomplished well being services equivalent to Gadon Kaya PHC in Kano, three Polio Emergency Centers in Katsina, Kano and Sokoto, pharmacy lab at ABUTH Zaria, 50-bed psychological well being heart at UNIMAID, and infertility heart at ATBUTH Bauchi, plus ongoing upgrades at Bichi General Hospital and deployment of 79 CNG ambulances.
Igbo Torn Between Emotion and Reason in 2027 Elections, Declares Soludo
Soludo has summarised the disposition of the Ndigbo forward of the 2027 elections, saying they had been torn between feelings and motive in the forthcoming presidential election, however suggested that it was higher to embrace motive than work on emotion.
Soludo was referring to the assist being given by most Igbo folks to Obi, who’s from the area.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ assembly of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party, which he convened in Awka because the Anambra State Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Committee of APC, Soludo insisted that those that couldn’t win Tinubu when he was not in energy mustn’t anticipate to win him now that he was in cost.
Speaking on the well-attended assembly which had members of the 4 political events in attendance, Soludo insisted that there could be penalties for not supporting Tinubu if he gained reelection subsequent 12 months.
He mentioned: “This is a grand coalition for the progress, prosperity, safety, and welfare of Nigeria and naturally, Anambra. This is a battle for the soul of Ndigbo and Anambra, a battle between emotion and motive. Emotion will all the time dominate, however motive will ultimately triumph.
“We have clamoured for the presidency since 1978, we have held many positions in Nigeria except president. So, how do we get there? We need partnerships. Politics is about interest, we are not doing Tinubu any favour by supporting him, rather we are doing ourselves a favour. We did not vote for him in 2023, yet he won, and some people want us to repeat the same mistake?”
Soludo mentioned he was certain of Tinubu’s victory subsequent 12 months, saying, “A warrior who you couldn’t beat when he was sleeping in 2023, is it now that he’s totally awake that you simply assume you may defeat him? It can’t occur. Show me wherever in the world that anybody has taken energy from a strong incumbent president?
“Ndigbo have been enjoying politics of protest and it isn’t in our personal favour. Our brother who’s working for president (Peter Obi) is my buddy. We are shut, our households are shut and we’ll stay shut. The solely place the place we disagree with one another is in politics. We can not hold deceiving our folks.
“In politics, there may be not prize for second place, that’s the reason I say we must always not throw away our votes. We should keep in mind there may be consequence for working and failing. So, for Ndigbo, this can be a battle between short-term emotion and motive.
“If we back Tinubu for a second term, after his tenure, power will move to the north, and when it comes to the South again, we will be able to negotiate with other regions in the South to support us because we supported them when they needed us.”
The Governor insisted that he was not supporting Tinubu’s reelection for any percuniary features, including that after profitable a second time period as governor, he was accomplished with election contest.
He mentioned: “I grew up in the period after we used to say – communicate the reality and disgrace the satan. In 2023 I even wrote it down that he (Obi) will fail. I wrote that at finest he would come third, and what later occurred? This time, I’m saying it once more that he’ll fail. Once you go to election with fragmented opposition, the incumbent will carry the day.
“I’m saying this truth because I care for Igbo. I’m no longer contesting any election after my second term, so I can retire to my village and be enjoying fresh palm wine, but it is the future of Ndigbo that we are fighting for. That is why I’m shouting because I know that contesting and failing has serious consequences.”
Soludo charged all events in the coalition to exit and scout for votes to make sure a convincing victory for Tinubu on January 16, 2026.
He mentioned events should undertake a door-to-door marketing campaign technique to have the ability to attain undecided voters, insisting that securing victory for Tinubu in Anambra will give the state the appropriate to barter for favours in his second time period. He additionally scored the president excessive on tasks being accomplished in the state, saying solely victory will give him the braveness to finish the tasks when he returns.
“Tinubu is doing many tasks in Anambra State. We wish to assist him to make sure that he returns to finish them. There are quite a few different tasks that we’d need him to do, however you may solely ask for them if you’re a member of the inside chamber.
“We need to partner the federal government for some projects. Our roads need to be motorable, there is the gas pipeline project, rail project, erosion menace. Some of these are not things a state can take on with just FAAC, and the only way the federal government can come to our aid is if we are partners,” Soludo mentioned.
Akpabio: Akwa Ibom’ll Deliver South-South’s Highest Votes for Tinubu in 2027
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has assured President Bola Tinubu and the management of the APC that Akwa Ibom State would ship the very best variety of votes for the ruling get together’s presidential candidate in the South-South geopolitical zone in the January 16, 2027 common election.
Akpabio, in response to an announcement from his Media Office, gave the peace of mind yesterday, at a particular non secular service organised to dedicate the APC’s 2027 election campaigns to God on the International Christian Worship Centre, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The service, which had the theme, ‘We Are Well Able,’ introduced collectively get together leaders, authorities officers, political stakeholders and supporters to hunt divine steerage for the get together forward of the forthcoming common election.
The Senate President, who referred to as on APC members in the state to shut ranks and current a united entrance, mentioned the get together might solely translate its electoral ambitions into actuality if inner divisions and disagreements had been put aside.
He attributed his emergence as President of the Senate to the assist of Tinubu, describing the event as a possibility for Akwa Ibom State to show its appreciation via large electoral assist for the President.
He mentioned, “An Akwa Ibom son, via the assist of Mr. President, is in the present day the President of the Senate and the quantity three citizen of Nigeria. Whether you want him or not, he’s there in the present day.
“The only way to thank Mr. President for that support is to give him all our votes. From what I have seen here today, Akwa Ibom State will give Mr. President the highest number of votes in the South-South region.”
In an handle titled ‘One Family, One Destiny, One Akwa Ibom Under God,’ the assertion defined that Akpabio emphasised the significance of unity, inclusiveness and peaceable coexistence amongst members of the APC, warning towards divisions primarily based on the size of membership or political affiliation.
He maintained that the get together ought to function as one household in which outdated and new members take pleasure in equal alternatives to contribute to its development and electoral success.
He mentioned, “In the APC household, there needs to be no aborigines and no newcomers; no landlords and no tenants; no first-class members and no second-class members. There needs to be just one massive household, united by a standard function and a shared duty.
“Those who were here yesterday have a history to honour, and those who arrived today have contributions to make. Neither history nor arrival should become an instrument of exclusion.”
Using a biblical illustration from John 14:2, the Senate President mentioned there was ample political area for each member of the get together, regardless of after they joined.
He mentioned, “Our Lord Jesus Christ declared in John 14:2: ‘In my Father’s home are many mansions.’ Let me borrow that lovely imagery in the present day. In this home, there are a lot of mansions, sufficient for everybody!
“There is room for the pioneer and room for the newcomer; room for the elder and room for the youth; room for individuals who laid the muse and room for individuals who will elevate the roof.
“Nobody needs to demolish another person’s mansion to find accommodation, and nobody needs to extinguish another person’s candle for his own light to shine. We may have arrived through different doors, but we must learn to live under one roof,” he added.
Akpabio additional urged political leaders and get together members to make sure that their political ambitions didn’t override the welfare and aspirations of the folks.
He mentioned political actions ought to replicate the ethical values of the religion professed by the folks, stressing that electoral campaigns should respect human dignity and promote peaceable coexistence.
“Therefore, our politics must reflect our faith, our campaigns must honour human dignity, and our ambitions must never become greater than the welfare of our people,” he acknowledged.
The Senate President additionally described Akwa Ibom as a growing success story, attributing the state’s progress to purposeful management, peace and sustained growth.
According to him, the state’s achievements shouldn’t be measured solely by bodily infrastructure but additionally by its capacity to strengthen relationships amongst its folks and restore public confidence in governance.
He mentioned, “Akwa Ibom has turn out to be a Nigerian surprise story, an affidavit to the chances of purposeful management, peace and growth.
“Our state is demonstrating that progress isn’t merely in regards to the roads we assemble or the buildings we erect, but additionally in regards to the bridges we construct between folks and the hope we restore in human hearts.
“We must preserve this progress and ensure that the chapters yet to be written are greater than those already written,” he mentioned.
He additionally linked the state’s growth to the broader nationwide curiosity, insisting that Akwa Ibom couldn’t obtain sustainable prosperity in isolation from the challenges confronting different components of the nation.
Akpabio mentioned, “Akwa Ibom’s greatness is inseparable from Nigeria’s greatness. We can not want peace in Uyo and be detached to insecurity elsewhere in our federation, nor have fun prosperity in our communities whereas ignoring hardship in different components of our nation.
“Nigeria is not merely the nation to which Akwa Ibom belongs; it is the larger destiny to which Akwa Ibom contributes,” he mentioned.
He urged political stakeholders to show nationwide solidarity via their actions and strengthen the foundations of democracy.
Earlier, Governor Umo Eno thanked the folks of Akwa Ibom for his or her assist over the last election and appealed for even better backing for Tinubu, Akpabio, himself and different APC candidates in the 2027 common election.
The governor additionally reaffirmed his dedication to serving the folks with the concern of God, expressing the hope that they might give him one other mandate to proceed his administration’s growth agenda.
He urged residents to maintain their assist for the APC, describing the forthcoming election as a possibility to consolidate the get together’s political fortunes and growth efforts in the state.
