Former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has criticised Peter Obi over alleged plans to dump the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the National Democratic Coalition (NDC).

Speculations about Obi’s possible defection have intensified following the recent Supreme Court judgment that ended the prolonged leadership crisis within the ADC. Although no official confirmation has been issued by Obi or his camp, some political observers believe he may be weighing a move to the NDC in the wake of the ruling.

In a post on his X handle on Saturday, Ahmad suggested that such a move, if true, would reflect an attempt to avoid internal party competition.

“Reports and indications suggest that Peter Obi and his blind supporters are reconsidering another political move away from their current platform, the ADC,” he wrote.

“The question here is whether Peter is leaving to escape standing against other aspirants within his party. It is the same path he once embraced in 2022 leading to the 2023 presidential election,” he added.

He further argued that party primaries remain a key test of democratic strength and leadership credibility.

“If a political figure appears so afraid to test their popularity within their own party structure, it naturally leads to questions about how they intend to build the broad national consensus required to lead a country as diverse and complex as Nigeria,” Ahmad stated.

He maintained that internal party contests are fundamental to democracy, adding that difficulty in competing within a party raises broader questions about national leadership capacity.

“Party primaries are a fundamental pillar of democracy. If Peter struggles to compete fairly among fellow aspirants within his party, it becomes difficult to convincingly argue that he can unify and lead an entire nation with diverse interests and strong political contenders,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, Peter Obi has not publicly reacted to the defection speculation.

Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has adopted consensus candidates for all elective positions ahead of the 2027 general elections, effectively ruling out contests across constituencies.

Governor Francis Nwifuru announced the decision shortly after a stakeholders’ consultative meeting held in Abakaliki, describing the move as a product of extensive engagement within the party.

Addressing journalists at the Government House, Ochudo Centenary City, the governor said the meeting was convened to deliberate on key party issues and to chart a unified course toward the next elections.

“As the leader of the party, we convened a meeting of stakeholders and deliberated on issues concerning our party,” Nwifuru said, noting that the outcome reflected a collective agreement among members.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, former Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said the consensus arrangement followed wide-ranging consultations initiated by the governor.

He explained that the process began about a week earlier when the governor notified stakeholders of plans to hold joint consultative meetings across the state.

According to Anyim, the consultations culminated in a broader stakeholders’ session where outstanding issues were resolved, leading to agreement on candidates for all elective positions.

“For the first time in the history of the state, stakeholders, electorates and party members were fully involved in selecting those who will fly the party’s flag,” he said.

He described the meeting as productive, adding that participants unanimously endorsed the consensus approach as the best option for party cohesion and governance.

Anyim said the decision implies that there will be no contest for party tickets in any constituency in the state.

“The implication is that there is no constituency that is going to be contested because we have reached consensus on all elective offices,” he said.

He commended the governor’s leadership style, attributing the outcome to his consultative approach and ability to unify party stakeholders.

The former Senate President expressed confidence that the inclusive process would enhance the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.

“Because the people are part of the process, the election will be easier for us to win,” he added, assuring that party members across the state would mobilise support for APC candidates.

He also disclosed that the names of the consensus candidates for various positions would be released in a formal statement.

The stakeholders’ meeting, which began at about 4:00 p.m., ended late in the evening after deliberations on party strategy and candidate selection.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Federal Government of favouritism over the planned construction of a N25 billion ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

In a statement issued on Friday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola, said the project reportedly being undertaken alongside the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN,raises concerns about equitable treatment of religious groups in the country.

The group also criticised what it described as uneven distribution of relief funds, citing the reported allocation of N2 billion to victims of violence in Plateau State without similar interventions in other affected states, including Borno, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Kwara.

MURIC further questioned reports that N1.2 billion was shared among the 19 northern states ahead of the Eid al-Kabir celebration, describing the figure as disproportionate when compared to the Plateau intervention.

“How can only one state be given N2 billion while all the 19 states in the North are asked to share N1.2 billion? But is it right to treat Muslims like second class citizens, animal farm?” the statement read.

The organisation also called on the federal government to provide clarity on plans for Muslim religious infrastructure, urging authorities to ensure parity.

“So we must ask federal government to tell Nigerians when land of equal size will be given to the Muslims to build their grand national mosque. Of course federal government must not forget the N25 billion cooling off somewhere in the Central Bank which will accompany the land allocation for Muslims,” the group added.

MURIC urged the government to uphold fairness and inclusivity in its policies, warning that perceived imbalance could heighten religious sensitivities.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the federal government or CAN regarding the allegations.

The Kebbi State Government has removed the Vice Chancellor of Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero (AFUSTA), Prof. Danshehu Bagudu Gwadangaji, alongside five other top administrative officers, following the outcome of a recent investigation into the institution’s affairs.

The decision was announced in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Yakubu Bala Tafida, who said the action was taken after deliberations at a State Executive Council (SEC) meeting. He explained that the move was based on recommendations contained in the report of a visitation panel set up by the government to review the university’s operations.

Those affected by the decision include two Deputy Vice Chancellors in charge of Academic and Administration, as well as the Registrar and the Bursar.

In a related development, the government approved the dissolution of the university’s Governing Council, also in line with the panel’s recommendations.

To ensure continuity in the administration of the institution, the state government appointed Prof. Sama’ila Arzika Mungadi as the Sole Administrator of AFUSTA with immediate effect from April 30, 2026.

The government did not provide further details on the specific findings of the panel but reiterated its commitment to repositioning the university for improved efficiency and academic excellence.

The Lagos Green Line Rail, Kano State Metro Rail, and the Kaduna State Rail project each designed to ease urban congestion, enhance mobility, and stimulate regional economic activity have been approved to proceed by the Federal Government.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) gave the approval of three major rail infrastructure projects valued at $2.99 billion.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele, who confirmed this noted that the projects have already been captured in the extended 2025 budget and are expected to strengthen the capital component of the overall investment framework.

According to him, The Federal Executive Council approved three transformative rail project and these are Lagos Green Line, Kano state metro city rail project and Kaduna State Rail project. The projects are to be sponsored by the Ministry of Finance incorporated.”

The Lagos Green Line is expected to complement existing urban rail initiatives in Lagos, Africa’s largest city, while the Kano and Kaduna rail projects are projected to boost commercial activity in northern Nigeria by improving passenger and freight movement.

The FEC also approved the resolution of the concession dispute surrounding the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MM2) in Lagos, alongside the establishment of a Nigerian aircraft leasing company to support local airlines.

Minister of Aviarion and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said that approval were given to two major memos presented by the Aviation Ministry, describing both decisions as “significant milestones” for the sector.

The Minister disclosed that the federal government has finally settled the over 20-year dispute with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, owned by renowned businessman, Wale Babalakin, over the MM2 concession.

According to him, the dispute, which spanned multiple administrations, involved several contentious issues, including the control of the domestic terminal (MM1), financial claims against the government, and exclusivity rights.

“As you all know, there has been a long-standing dispute between the concessionaire and the federal government over MM2. Today, I can happily tell you that this government has resolved that issue once and for all”.

He explained that one of the major sticking points was a Supreme Court judgment which awarded Bi-Courtney N132 billion in damages, with interest accruing from 2009.

Keyamo, however, revealed that the concessionaire agreed to waive the claim as part of the negotiated settlement.

“The first thing we told him was to write off the N132 billion plus interest. Nobody is going to pay that, and he agreed and wrote it off,” the minister stated.

He added that Bi-Courtney also relinquished its claim to the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal One (MM1), which it had argued was included in the original concession agreement.

“We told him to hand back the local airport (MM1) to the federal government. We cannot leave the entire domestic aviation operations in Lagos in private hands. He agreed,” Keyamo said.

On exclusivity, the minister said the clause granting Bi-Courtney sole rights to operate a private airport within Lagos was also removed.

“That clause was not right, even for security reasons. He agreed, and we removed it,” he added.

The federal government, on its part, agreed to restore ownership of the long-abandoned Hotel and Conference Centre opposite MM2 to the concessionaire.

Keyamo said the facility, whose construction had stalled for years, must now be completed within two years.

He said: “We gave it back to him to complete and run on a shared basis with the federal government. He has 24 months to deliver it. We will not tolerate further delays”.

He further disclosed that the government will permit regional flight operations from MM2 and expand the terminal’s apron to accommodate more aircraft.

The Minister noted that the new agreement would also ensure that the federal government begins to earn revenue from MM2 operations, which had not been the case during the dispute period.

“At the end of the day, it was give and take. He made concessions, and we also made concessions. Both sides benefitted,” Keyamo said.

He added that a formal signing ceremony involving all stakeholders would be held in Lagos, where full details of the agreement would be made public.

Keyamo also announced that FEC approved the establishment of a Nigerian aircraft leasing company, structured as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), to be driven by private sector investment.

He described the initiative as a “game changer” aimed at addressing the persistent challenge of access to aircraft by Nigerian airlines.

“The major problem of private operators in Nigeria has been access to aircraft and equipment. Nigeria is unique because our aviation industry is almost entirely run by the private sector,” he said.

The Minister explained that the new leasing company would aggregate aircraft for local airlines, reducing their dependence on foreign lessors and improving operational stability.

“Instead of airlines going all over the world looking for aircraft, there will now be a local platform to lease aircraft on both short-term and long-term basis,” he said.

Keyamo noted that many Nigerian airlines currently struggle with leasing arrangements, leading to frequent flight delays and cancellations.

“Some aircraft come into the country and within three months they are gone because operators cannot meet lease obligations.

That is why you see disruptions”.

He clarified that the federal government would not directly fund the leasing company but would provide guarantees to support lease financing and aircraft repossession.

“The role of government is to guarantee the leases. We are not putting in funds, but we will have equity in the company and earn returns,” the Minister explained.

He disclosed that several major African and international investors have already expressed interest in the project, citing Nigeria’s large aviation market and strategic location.

“Investors are already chasing us. We have the market, the traffic, the population and the routes. This is the Nigerian aviation franchise we are selling to the world,” he said.

He said the President has directed the Minister of Aviation to work with the Ministers of Finance, Justice, and Trade and Investment to finalise the structure of the SPV.

Keyamo expressed optimism that the initiative would significantly boost the capacity of Nigerian airlines to compete with foreign carriers, which currently dominate about 95 per cent of international traffic to and from Nigeria.

“This is a major step towards empowering our local airlines to take back their market share. In the next few months, Nigerians will begin to see the impact.”

Also, Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris, and his Works counterpart, David Umahi, outlined a set of decisions by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), including the creation of a Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reform, key federal appointments, and approvals for major road projects nearing completion.

Idris said the Council’s decisions were anchored on a renewed push to reposition the power sector and accelerate infrastructure delivery nationwide.

He disclosed that the Council approved the appointment of a Special Adviser on Power to the President and endorsed the establishment of a high-level task force to drive comprehensive reforms in the electricity sector.

According to him, the decisions followed the submission of a report by a presidential committee set up on March 4 to review the commercial and institutional framework for the proposed Grid Asset Management Company (GAMCO).

Idris said President Tinubu approved the appointment of former Minister of Power, Lanre Babalola, as Special Adviser on Power to strengthen coordination and policy oversight in the sector.

He added that the newly created Presidential Task Force on Power Sector Reform would be chaired by the President, with Babalola serving as a key member.

“The task force is part of renewed efforts by the administration to reposition the power sector as a critical driver of industrialisation and economic growth,” he said.

Membership of the task force includes the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Also speaking, the Minister of the Economy, Minister of Power, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Minister of Information and National Orientation, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Others are the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), as well as representatives of electricity generation and distribution companies.

The Minister noted that the committee would focus on implementing far-reaching reforms to address longstanding structural challenges, stressing that stable electricity supply remains central to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

He added that the government was committed to a total overhaul of the sector to unlock industrial growth and improve the quality of life for Nigerians.

Idris also disclosed that the FEC meeting was preceded by the swearing-in of a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and four Permanent Secretaries.

“The President today performed the swearing-in after her clearance by the National Assembly as a National Commissioner of INEC in person of Rear Admiral K. M. Marafa (rtd).

He added that the Council deliberated on a 32-point agenda and formally welcomed the newly appointed Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, to his first FEC meeting.

“Let me unveil to you for the first time at the FEC meeting, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, who is joining us for the first time. Welcome to the Federal Executive Council,” he said.

Commenting on nation’s infrastructure, Umahi defended the cost of ongoing and newly approved road projects, insisting that they reflect value for money despite rising construction costs.

“When people talk about cost, we must look at unit pricing and quality. What we are doing now is cheaper and far more durable than what was done years ago”.

He explained that the administration has standardised the use of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) for federal highways, describing it as more durable and cost-effective over time.

According to him, several newly approved projects average about N3.2 billion per kilometre, even amid increases in cement prices.

Umahi disclosed that 10 major projects approved by FEC are spread across the country and structured to maximise economic returns while addressing long-standing infrastructure gaps.

He said flagship projects such as the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway and Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway are being executed using concrete technology, while key legacy corridors are being expanded to improve connectivity.

The minister cited the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi road, now extended to link Gombe, Yobe and Borno states, bringing its total stretch to about 700 kilometres.

On the Carter Bridge in Lagos, Umahi said structural assessments confirmed that the facility could not be salvaged, prompting approval for a complete reconstruction.

“This is not just rehabilitation. It is a complete rebuilding to modern standards,” he said.

He added that the government is leveraging alternative financing models, including tax credit schemes and tolling, to ensure sustainability.

“This is infrastructure as investment, not just expenditure”.

Umahi further disclosed that several completed projects are ready for commissioning, including sections of the Abuja-Kaduna highway, as well as key routes in the South-South and coastal corridors.

According to him, segments of the Kano-Jigawa and Suleja-Minna roads have been completed, with the Azeri section of the Kano–Jigawa corridor, spanning about 37 kilometres, fully delivered and awaiting inauguration.

He attributed the scale and pace of infrastructure delivery to President Tinubu’s hands-on approach to governance.

“Mr President is extremely detailed. Every item is interrogated. That is why we can confidently say Nigerians are getting value,” Umahi said.