Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has strongly denied allegations that he is supporting any individual or making commitments regarding party tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The governor made the clarification on Sunday at a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress, APC, held in Akure, where party leaders and members gathered to deliberate on internal party matters.

Although Ondo State is not scheduled to hold a governorship election in 2027, political activities within the APC have intensified, particularly among members seeking elective positions in the state and national assemblies.

Aiyedatiwa cautioned party members against spreading unverified claims and misinformation, warning that such narratives could sow discord and weaken party cohesion.

He said the need for clarification had become necessary amid growing speculation as political consultations and preparations for party primaries begin to take shape.

According to the governor, he has neither endorsed any aspirant nor given assurances regarding candidacies for legislative seats.

“In the political space, falsehoods, insinuations and assumptions often circulate with the aim of creating divisions.

“I want to make it clear that I have not promised anyone a ticket. I have not assured anyone of a ticket for either the state or national assembly, nor have I indicated that anyone will be denied a return ticket,” Aiyedatiwa said.

He urged party members to remain focused on unity and collective progress, stressing that fairness and due process would guide all future party activities.

Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, in Osun State, Abiodun Idowu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has explained why reinstated local government council executives have remained in office despite the statutory expiration of their tenure on October 22, 2025.

Idowu on Sunday said the continued stay of the officials was based on existing court processes, noting that the matter was before the Federal High Court in Osogbo for legal clarification.

He explained that the affected executives were elected during the local government elections conducted in October 2022 across the state.

According to him, their tenure was disrupted after a Federal High Court judgment led to their removal from office before the expiration of their term.

Following the court ruling, Governor Ademola Adeleke dissolved the councils through an Executive Order issued in November, citing the judgment as justification.

Idowu said the situation changed after the Court of Appeal delivered a ruling on February 10, 2025, which reinstated the elected executives, allowing them to resume duties at their respective councils.

He added that the appellate court’s judgment remained valid, stressing that it had not been appealed at the Supreme Court.

Explaining the current legal position, Idowu said the interruption of their tenure informed their return to court and maintained that the executives were not requesting additional time in office.

“Our tenure was interrupted for more than two years, and that is why we are seeking judicial determination.

“We are not asking for tenure elongation; what we want is tenure determination,” Idowu stated.

Providing clarification, he said, “The court is to decide whether our tenure ended in October 2025 or should run from February 10, 2025, when we resumed office.”

Idowu criticised the manner of their removal, saying, “The governor used an executive order to sack us instead of allowing us to exhaust all legal means to determine the matter.”

He also referenced past political events, noting, “When the governor was removed by the tribunal, he was allowed to exhaust all legal avenues up to the Supreme Court, but we were denied that opportunity.”

On the pending case, Idowu said, “The matter is still before the Federal High Court in Osogbo and is coming up on February 3, 2026, after which we will know the lawful end of our tenure.”

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has urged the Lagos State Government to immediately suspend what he described as unlawful and unconstitutional demolitions of waterfront properties across the state, warning that the actions amount to executive overreach and contempt of court.

Falana made the call in a statement, referencing a series of existing court orders restraining the government from forcibly evicting residents or demolishing structures in waterfront communities such as Makoko, Oko-Agbon, Sogunro, and Iwaya.

He highlighted that on June 22, 2017, a Lagos High Court, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo (now retired), ruled that previous government-initiated evictions were illegal, rendering over 30,000 residents homeless.

The court found the actions violated the fundamental rights of the affected individuals and awarded N3.5 million in reparations.

Falana noted that the court also ordered a halt to future evictions, a ruling that could safeguard the homes of approximately 270,000 residents from being demolished under the pretext of urban renewal. Also, the court directed the state government to engage affected communities in consultations regarding resettlement, in line with its urban development policies.

In response, the Lagos State Government defended its actions, describing the demolitions in Makoko and other waterfront settlements as necessary measures to protect lives, ensure environmental safety, and promote sustainable urban development.

A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, following a government-resident engagement in Lagos, explained that the interventions aimed to prevent disasters, enhance safety, and position Lagos as a resilient and sustainable megacity.

Addressing criticisms that the exercise was anti-poor, Omotoso said the actions were primarily guided by safety, environmental protection, and security concerns, especially for structures built beneath high-tension power lines or obstructing critical waterways.

“No responsible government can permit habitation under power cables or blockages along waterways,” he added.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said that  Christians are being victimized in some states in the northern Nigeria.

Dogara made the remarks on Sunday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, where he responded to questions on whether Christians are being victimised in the region.

He explained that in several North-Central states, including Plateau, Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa, Christians are not silenced or marginalised, suggesting that people from those states cannot claim that their voices have been suppressed.

However, the former Speaker acknowledged that some areas in the North still experience religious-related challenges, describing the issue of victimisation as complex and dependent on individual states.

Dogara said that while some states allow Christians to practise their faith freely without discrimination, there are “pockets of problems” in certain parts of the region that require attention.

He stressed that addressing such challenges would require cooperation between Christians and Muslims who are committed to peaceful coexistence.

He said: “Think in some part of northern Nigeria, yes. But there are some parts of northern Nigeria where, as a matter of fact, for instance, if you come in from Plateau State, you come from Benue state, to some extent, Taraba, Nasarawa state, and all those, you can’t claim that your voice has been drawn. You understand.”

On whether there is a victimization of the Christian faith in Nigeria, Dogara added:

“That is perhaps a very difficult question to answer, and then it’s on state by state basis. There are absolute states like I’ve mentioned, where, as a Christian, you don’t have any problem. But certainly from what we know, on the feelers we get. There are areas, pockets of problems in certain part of the North that we need to work on, but I believe that it will demand Christians and Muslims who understand working together to be able to take care of these concerns.”

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has said the current federal government has performed worse than he and others expected, especially in the areas of security and governance.

Speaking on ARISE TV Prime Time, El-Rufai said the situation in the country has deteriorated beyond what he imagined during the election period.

“If you asked me in 2022 or 2023 when we were campaigning that things would ever be this bad, I would say that you are mentally ill,” he said.

El-Rufai questioned the handling of public funds, alleging that about $100 billion is deducted monthly from the Federation Account without proper appropriation by the National Assembly and state assemblies.

“Government data, I’m not quoting something out of the air. So for that $100 billion that goes out every month from the Federation account, without appropriation by the National Assembly, by the way, without appropriation by the state assemblies, because part of the money belongs to the states, so each state assembly is supposed to appropriate that part,” he said.

According to him, the deductions and spending are unconstitutional and amount to an impeachable offence.

“So the entire deduction and expenditure is unconstitutional. It’s an impeachable offense,” he said.

He said the practice has allegedly continued for over 15 months, raising concerns over accountability.

“So where has that $1.5 trillion gone? What is it being used for?” he asked.

El-Rufai also linked the spending to the worsening security situation, questioning why insecurity continues to rise despite the huge sums being spent.

“Why is the security situation just getting worse? Why is the government asking communities to protect themselves?” he asked.

He concluded by stating clearly that, in his view, the President’s government has fared worse, compared to expectations.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Abdullahi Abbas, has said the party is open to welcoming Governor Abba Yusuf if he defects from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Abbas said the APC would not reject any politician joining its ranks, stressing that politics is about strength in numbers.

“He is welcome to our party, because politically no right thinking politician will reject a political addition and as you know, politics is a game of numbers,” he said.

“Therefore, defection to your party means addition to your number and by extension an increase to our success during the polls.”

Abbas added that the party’s position has always been clear.

“We have made our point clear on several occasions that we will welcome anyone that has seen the beauty of our party and wants to join us,” he said in am interview with Daily trust.

On concerns about automatic tickets, Abbas said the issue is premature.

“That is not an issue for now, it is an issue of when all processes are completed and whoever is coming has finalized his or her defection processes,” he said.

He noted that Governor Yusuf would not be defecting alone.

“There are elected local government chairmen, councilors and other political office holders that will defect to our party with him,” Abbas said.

According to him, discussions on strategy would come later.

“Therefore, it is an issue of when all has been finalized, then we will sit down and map out a strategy that all will benefit from,” he said, adding that the party’s focus is winning the 2027 elections.

“We await his coming and believe me we will work out a modality that will ensure the success of the party in a unanimous manner without any form of crisis between old members and the new members,” Abbas said.

Sharing his personal view, he added, “I believe in Nigerian political contests, it is very hard for an incumbent governor to fail the primaries.”

Abbas also dismissed reports about delays in the governor’s defection. He described them as rumours, saying, “The governor didn’t openly declare that he was coming to APC on a particular date.”

He explained that defection by a sitting governor involves careful steps.

“A governor’s defection is not something that one can just work-up one day and say, I have decamped,” Abbas said.

“There are processes involved and until those processes are duly followed and completed, the defection continues to remain a plan yet to be executed.”