Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has strongly cautioned politicians vying to succeed him in the 2027 governorship race to cease using his administration’s shortcomings as their primary campaign strategy, reminding them that his name will not be on the ballot. Speaking at a public function in Ibadan on Monday, Governor Makinde delivered a sharp rebuttal to political aspirants—most notably popular broadcaster and Accord Party governorship candidate, Oriyomi Hamzat—who have recently claimed credit for his political ascent. The governor urged those seeking the state`s top job to focus on articulating their own blueprints for governance rather than dwelling on his administration`s uncompleted projects or political history. “I have seen a few people going around saying they want to become governor. I saw another one that they showed me yesterday saying he was the one who brought me into politics. Some even said I didn’t do some things,” Makinde stated. “I am not the one contesting for governor. The people of Oyo State have given me the opportunity to serve them. Go and tell them what you want to do differently. Stop abusing Seyi Makinde. Abuse Bimbo and his followers. You guys should abuse yourselves. I’m not in the league to contest for governor again. Why is it that Seyi Makinde did not do some things? Is that the message you are passing around as a campaign? I have done my bit.” The governor`s comments come on the heels of a public declaration by Hamzat, the founder of Agidigbo 88.7 FM, who secured the Accord Party`s governorship ticket following its May primary election. Addressing party members on Saturday, Hamzat claimed he was instrumental in thrusting Makinde into the political limelight and asserted that he deserved credit for the successes achieved during the governor`s eight-year tenure. While Makinde had previously acknowledged a cordial, long-standing relationship with the "Kokoro Alate" radio host—praising his commitment to the masses in 2022—the relationship has visibly soured due to conflicting political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. As his second term winds down, Governor Makinde charged the Oyo electorate to demand rigorous accountability from all incoming contestants. Rather than falling for campaign rhetoric, he urged citizens to push candidates for concrete solutions to the state`s remaining challenges. “So next time when people come to talk to you, tell them that it is where we couldn’t finish that they want to continue, and sort those things out,” Makinde added. “So that every mistake that we have made, they will correct it in the best interest of the people of Oyo State.”

The political alliance between Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and popular broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat has finally hit the rocks, ahead of the 2027 general elections. Hamzat, the Accord Party governorship candidate, has claimed responsibility for introducing Makinde to the political limelight that eventually secured him the governorship seat. Addressing Accord Party members in Ibadan on Saturday, the host of the popular interventionist programme “Kokoro Alate” insisted he deserves the credit for the successes recorded during Makinde’s eight-year administration. THENEWSCREDIT reports that Hamzat expressed disappointment over what he described as a deliberate attempt to deny him recognition for the government`s achievements, despite his pivotal role in bringing the administration to power. “Seyi Makinde has reformed Oyo. Who brought Seyi Makinde? I was the one. I was one of those who brought him and supported him as governor,” Hamzat declared. “All those good things, why don`t you give me the credit? Why is it that people only use the unpleasant sides to attack me? Even the opposition parties credit him with wonderful things; why not credit me for those ones too?” Dismissing allegations that he is ungrateful, Hamzat stressed that his support for the governor was strictly built on an agreement to protect the masses, rather than personal gain. “People have called me an ungrateful person. How? Is it not the same Oriyomi that campaigned for him? The belief the public had in me reflected in the election results. I am not following government because of contracts. There was no transactional relationship whatsoever,” he added. The public fallout underscores a deepening rift between the former close allies. Governor Makinde, currently serving out his second term, recently defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to pursue a 2027 presidential bid, having been formally presented as the party`s candidate in May 2026. As part of his succession plan in Oyo State, Makinde has thrown his weight behind Bimbo Adekanmbi, a former Commissioner for Finance under the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Adekanmbi has since been adopted as the APM consensus governorship candidate to drive the continuity of Makinde’s "Omituntun" agenda. THENEWSCREDIT however gathered, Hamzat, intends to disrupt this succession plan. Having picked up his expression of interest and nomination forms under the Accord Party in January, the broadcaster’s entry into the race has heavily altered the state`s political dynamics. The political friction has coincided with rising tensions. In June, the Oyo State Police Command raided an Ibadan residence linked to a former Park Management System member, Surajudeen Babatunde Adio (alias "Suri Ilupeju"), recovering firearms, ammunition, and charms. Political opponents attempted to link the fleeing suspect to Hamzat, a move the broadcaster fiercely denied, labeling it a state-sponsored smear campaign designed to derail his governorship ambition. He reiterated that he has never shielded or supported criminal activities. Looking ahead to his potential administration, Hamzat targeted the controversial Ibadan Circular Road and its 1,000-metre corridor project. He promised Accord Party members that if elected governor, he would immediately open the road for public use regardless of its completion stage, vowing that further construction would be halted until all affected residents receive adequate compensation.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Presidency of attempting to whitewash the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal. In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the Presidency cannot rely on an interim report from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as proof of its innocence. Instead, he maintained that the report exposes deeper systemic failures, raising critical questions about how a fraudulent operation was allowed to thrive inside government corridors. According to Atiku, the ICPC report points to severe negligence and potential connivance by public officers. He emphasized that the scandal goes far beyond the actions of a single individual, noting that the prime suspect allegedly forged a presidential appointment letter, set up a fictitious federal agency, operated directly out of government offices, and opened bank accounts using forged legislative documents. “If public officers were negligent, who are they? Who granted access to government offices? Who recognised this supposed Director General? Who enabled him to operate within the machinery of government?” Atiku demanded. The former vice president argued that the ICPC`s own recommendation to sanction negligent public officers proves the scam was not the work of a lone impostor. He insisted that the identities of all complicit officials must be made public so Nigerians can know who authorized the operation and opened the doors for the fraud to take place. Furthermore, Atiku rejected the use of a preliminary text to declare total exoneration, demanding the immediate and full publication of the ICPC report while investigations into financial accounts and collaborators continue. To ensure absolute transparency, the ADC candidate called on the National Assembly to launch a live-broadcast, open investigation. He noted that this public hearing is especially urgent now that the central figure of the controversy, Mr. Adeyemi, has offered to testify openly before lawmakers. “If the Villa is truly clean, it should be the first to welcome live television coverage. Let Nigerians watch, unedited, as the witnesses testify, and the evidence is presented under oath,” Atiku stated. Warning that anything less than a fully transparent probe will look like a cover-up for powerful individuals, Atiku concluded: “Transparency cannot stop where the trail enters the corridors of power. The Presidency cannot investigate itself into innocence.”

The factional Accord Party’s presidential candidate and National Chairman, Prof. Christopher Imumolen, has formally withdrawn from the 2027 presidential race to endorse President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid. Speaking in Lagos, Imumolen emphasized that the decision followed consultations, prioritizing national interest over personal ambition. Imumolen asserted that Tinubu is best positioned to win in 2027 due to bold reforms and growing support, arguing that continuity is essential for long-term economic benefits. The Accord Party leader praised the administration for its progressive governance, youth empowerment initiatives, and the appointment of competent officials. Having previously been a critic, Imumolen stated that witnessing the administration`s progress prompted this shift in perspective. He argued that no other opposition candidate possesses stronger prospects for success. Dismissing claims of weak party structure, Imumolen clarified the decision was based on performance to ensure political stability. He confirmed that while supporting the President, the Accord Party will continue to compete in governorship and legislative elections.

Former Kogi West Senator and ADC chieftain, Dino Melaye, has issued a stark warning to President Bola Tinubu, cautioning that political endorsements cannot override the "God factor" ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Melaye drew a grim historical parallel to former military dictator General Sani Abacha, reminding the President that human plans are ultimately subject to divine intervention. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Melaye pointed out that Abacha had the backing of all five registered political parties during his regime and faced no internal opposition in his bid to transition into a civilian president. However, his ambitions were cut short by his sudden death. "There is a God factor in the affairs of men. Tinubu does not understand this," Melaye wrote. "Abacha was endorsed by all the 5 political parties at that time. There was no contest, he was already cruising to become a civilian president. God picked His phone and called Abacha." Warning Tinubu not to become overly confident in his political machinery, Melaye added: "When God calls you, there is no network failure. That God has not gone on omugo [nursing mother`s leave]. Tinubu watch it."

Akin Osuntokun, a former political adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, has revealed that his former principal is the main driving force behind a proposed Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso joint ticket for the 2027 presidential election. Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Osuntokun dismissed swirling speculations that Obasanjo’s recent political posturing was designed to favor President Bola Tinubu. Instead, he insisted that the former president remains deeply critical of the current administration and is actively backing an opposition alliance. Osuntokun described the potential pairing of Obi and Kwankwaso as a highly realistic and compelling force that stands a far better chance of success than the Labour Party`s 2023 structure. According to him, Obasanjo personally stepped in to broker the relationship between the two political heavyweights. "Look, Obasanjo is critical of Tinubu. If you can say that Obasanjo is supporting any ticket, it is Peter Obi and Kwankwaso. As a matter of fact, he is the main sponsor of that ticket," Osuntokun stated, adding that Kwankwaso’s massive political base in Kano State would provide a "big bonus" for the ticket`s national impact. He further disclosed that Obasanjo had attempted to seal this exact deal before the 2023 general elections, reminding Kwankwaso at the time that a standard one-term agreement would have eventually positioned the former Kano governor as the ultimate beneficiary. The remarks come on the heels of intense public debate over an open letter written by Obasanjo in response to allegations made by the former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba. Osoba had accused Obasanjo of deceiving the Alliance for Democracy (AD) leaders in 2003, leading to the collapse of AD`s dominance in the South-West. Osuntokun strongly rejected the narrative that Obasanjo’s recent statements or past meetings with Tinubu meant they were working together. "How do you reconcile Obasanjo being the major sponsor of the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket with the theory that he is working for Tinubu because Tinubu visited him?" he questioned. He also defended Obasanjo against the 2003 electoral manipulation claims, attributing the AD losses to shifting local political realities rather than a presidency-led conspiracy. While Osuntokun acknowledged that President Tinubu would hold a significant advantage in 2027 due to the traditional power of incumbency, he remained highly optimistic about the opposition`s prospects. He concluded by noting that an Obi-led ticket captures the popular imagination of the Nigerian electorate far better than any alternative configuration, including a ticket led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has made a startling revelation, accusing his former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, of actively bankrolling a clandestine plot to impeach him during their first term in office. Obasanjo disclosed that Atiku provided ₦5 million to the leadership of the House of Representatives to ignite the legislative coup. The explosive allegation emerged as a direct counter-reaction to recent comments made by Chief Olusegun Osoba. The former Governor of Ogun State had sparked fresh debates after revisiting the controversial political maneuvers and alliances that shaped the outcome of the 2003 general elections. According to Obasanjo,THENEWSCREDIT reports that the legislative rebellion was spearheaded by the late Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba. The former president asserted that Na’Abba’s hostile actions were fully instigated and engineered from within the walls of the presidency by his own deputy. Detailing the timeline of the betrayal, Obasanjo stated that Atiku capitalised on his temporary absence from the office on a specific Friday. The former Vice President allegedly invited Speaker Na’Abba to a private meeting, where he systematically convinced him that the administration must be restricted to a single term. To guarantee the execution of the plan, financial mobilization was immediately deployed during the closed-door session. Obasanjo explicitly stated that Atiku handed over the sum of ₦5 million directly to Na’Abba to facilitate and kickstart the logistical work required for the impeachment process. However, the inner circle of the presidency was already monitoring the subversion in real time. Obasanjo revealed that the entire interaction, including the exchange of funds, was completely compromised by his internal security architecture and promptly flagged. THENEWSCREDIT further gathered the covert operation was intercepted and fully documented by the then-Chief of Staff to the President. Obasanjo highly praised his top aide, describing him as a thoroughly trained, professional intelligence officer who meticulously recorded the breach and presented the evidence directly to him. Despite the gravity of the political mutiny within his own cabinet, the former military general maintained that he remained entirely unbothered by the threat. Obasanjo concluded that he stayed calm throughout the crisis because he knew the instigators lacked any legitimate constitutional basis to remove him.

Mixed reactions are trailing the bombshell announcement by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, that he has reconciled with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The governor confirmed his return to Wike`s political family on Wednesday during the foundation-laying ceremony of the RIVEN Medical Industries Project in Rumuosi, Port Harcourt. Fubara declared his alignment with the "Rainbow Coalition," a political movement founded by Wike ahead of the 2027 general elections. "I am supporting President Tinubu for the Presidency and OK Chinda to be the next Governor of Rivers State," Fubara announced. "I am part of the Rainbow Coalition, and I’m back to my political family." The governor urged residents and political stakeholders to sheath their swords and end the prolonged political crisis in the state, framing his decision as a sacrifice for long-term peace and socio-economic development. The development has triggered intense debate online and across political circles, splitting the governor`s support base into camps of disappointment and pragmatism. While some stakeholders see the move as a strategic survival tactic, others have fiercely criticized the governor, labeling the reconciliation a betrayal of those who stood by him during his feud with Wike. Social media reactions on X (formerly Twitter) highlight the deep division: @Barnny_summy: "Fubara has terminated his political career. History will remember. Very shameful." @ChiefObi: "Wike’s political group? Never seen a coward like Sim in my life." @jointrd44: "Fubara knows pretty well what will happen to him when he leaves office in 2027. It is only wise to support Wike coalition." @aoidogwu1309: "Those opportunistic people who enabled him on a collision course against Wike have all left him behind today." @fuji_xud: "He should have rejected coming back than this shameful outing." The political realignment shifts the power dynamics in Rivers State significantly as parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 electoral cycle.

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has strongly rejected proposals to negotiate with bandits, warning that such talks will only enrich terrorists and worsen Nigeria`s security crisis. He described the dialogue strategy as a proven failure that undermines the efforts of national security agencies. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Ganduje reacted to recent statements by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso. Kwankwaso had indicated that a Peter Obi-led presidency in 2027 would hold dialogue with terrorists to restore peace, a stance Ganduje firmly condemned. The APC chieftain argued that granting concessions, logistics, and money to non-state actors operating illegal firearms creates an enabling environment for terror to thrive. He noted that asking local authorities, traditional rulers, and police to sit with heavily armed forest fighters undermines constitutional law and order. According to Ganduje, past attempts at negotiation have only legitimised criminality, leaving bandits with millions of naira in ransom and logistics to fund heavier weaponry. He stressed that these financial windfalls are systematically used to purchase more weapons, which are then deployed against citizens to cause panic and trigger further negotiations. Advocating instead for sustained kinetic action, Ganduje stated that the solution lies in the coordinated strategies of the nation`s security forces. He emphasized that the Air Force, Army, Navy, police, and DSS must be empowered to do their due diligence rather than relying on a failed system of appeasement. The political row highlights the deep ideological divide on national security ahead of the 2027 general elections. While the opposition proposes dialogue as a path to peace, the ruling party camp maintains that compromising with unlicensed gunmen only fuels the lucrative business of kidnapping. Ganduje concluded by urging security agencies to maintain aggressive tactical pressure on criminal elements across the country. He warned that any government policy that bows to criminal intimidation will continue to fail and jeopardize the safety of all Nigerians.

An Assistant Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Remmy Hazzan, has defended the All Progressives Congress (APC) for retaining its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 elections. Dismissing concerns of bias, he stated that the arrangement does not threaten Nigeria’s religious balance. Speaking during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese Ijebu, monitored by THENEWSCREDIT,Hazzan argued that President Bola Tinubu’s long-standing marriage to Senator Oluremi Tinubu—an ordained pastor in the RCCG—is proof of his disposition toward religious inclusivity. "If such a man could live with his Christian wife, an ordained pastor, for as long as they’ve been married, that shows his religious tolerance level," Hazzan, a former Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, asserted. Addressing criticisms from the Christian electorate, the cleric maintained that the party`s strategic decision was driven by political realities rather than a disregard for Christian interests. He noted that because this is the first time a Southern Muslim has emerged as the presidential candidate of a major political party, unusual political dynamics dictated the choice of a running mate to secure crucial Northern support. Hazzan emphasized that political strategy should not be equated with bigotry, urging that competence should always be the ultimate metric in public office. "The best of us should rule the rest of us," he stated. "Christians, throw up your best. Muslims, throw up your best. When we have a congregation of the best of the best, then we are sure that only the best will be good enough for the citizenry." He also challenged the notion that faith and governance are mutually exclusive, encouraging Christians to actively participate in politics without compromising their core principles.