In an official announcement on its X page, the EFCC released the names and photos of four persons involved in the CBEX scam.
Nigerians allegedly lost over a trillion naira to the CBEX scam. 

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Friday, said Nigerians are paying electricity tariffs that are more than the new minimum wage of ₦70,000 that was approved by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The NLC also said that inflation has eroded the new minimum wage, as it cannot take workers home at the end of the month.

Ajaero lamented that the tax regime introduced by the current administration, especially the tax on salaries, was almost higher than the N70,000 new minimum wage.

He said that the exorbitant prices of rents and transportation have rubbished the new wage approved for Nigerian workers.

The NLC President said, “We have fought battles on minimum wage, and we are still fighting on it. We have fought battles on fuel subsidy and we are still fighting battles on tax regimes. It is a period where tax on your salaries is almost higher than the minimum wage increase on your salaries. It is a period we need to sit and reflect on our survival.

“What are those things that affect us most? The social safety nets that are obtainable in some developed economies of the world we need to fight for them. Very important, the cost of living index. We need to look at it. How does it affect an average worker?

“The manner in which the minimum wage was implemented – me, Osifo and others – we fought and got the N70,000 minimum wage, but how was it implemented? In the local government, for teachers, for workers, in the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

“Whatever we got in terms of minimum wage has been eroded by inflation. The landlords have taken it all; the transporters have taken it; electricity tariff is more than our minimum wage; the tariff on telecom is going high by the day.”

According to him, there was need for the NLC and TUC to stand united and revive their relationships with Nigerians and players in the civil society space to collectively fight the numerous issues affecting workers; else, workers would not be able to survive the current situation they have found themselves in.

“It is a period we need to reenact our relationship with not just the trade union movement but our civil society allies and the mass of Nigerian people.

“The NLC is extending their hand of fellowship to the TUC for us to work together, hand in hand, for the interest of Nigerian people and workers. History beckons that if we fail to work together, we will all perish. At this point in time, we have to work on those things that affect us most.

“An assembly of this nature is such that we should look at our survival strategies. If you do this, and we are ready to work with you, history beckons to show that we can, at a time when we have a difficult situation, and we work together as a movement to rescue the workers of Nigeria.

“The challenges that the workers face here are not a drill; they are real challenges that require a robust, strong trade union to be able to face hands-on,” Ajaero added.

A few days ago, I had a conversation with one of the senior leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was in London for a medical check-up. During our meeting, I sought his views on the latest developments in the party and who will likely emerge as the presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections. His response: “As you are aware, the PDP governors already said they won’t be part of any coalition but will rebuild the party into a formidable opposition. Well, if they are able to keep the party together and Atiku didn’t join the SDP, he is our best bet for now.”

The next question is, does Atiku stand a chance against a master political strategist and sitting president like President Bola Tinubu, who will likely seek reelection for another term? My host replied, “Yes, I think he stands a chance when you consider (President Bola) Tinubu’s abysmal performance and the opposition from the North, especially on issues relating to anti-North policies and (alleged) marginalisation. Don’t forget, Tinubu got the support of the majority of the northern governors to win the APC presidential ticket in 2022. They also worked massively for him in the 2023 presidential election.”

He continued, “However, even Tinubu knows that many of the northern governors and lawmakers are unhappy with him over the tax reform bill and other policies and will work against him, even though they may be shouting ‘Sai Tinubu’ in public now. I believe Atiku is in talks with Peter Obi, and he wants a repeat of the joint ticket they had in 2019. Obi has a huge followership among the youths, who constitute a greater percentage of the voting populace. If Obi can bring that to the table and Atiku also delivers the North and some southern states, then the deal is done. Tinubu will also want to consolidate his base in the South. So, it is likely going to be a north vs south contest.”

After our meeting, so many thoughts kept ringing in my head, especially the ‘north vs south’ contest which he mentioned. How does that bode for Nigeria’s unity? We are yet to recover from the deep-seated animosity and ethnic rivalries that permeated the entire landscape during the last general elections, and now some people are ready to deepen it further with a north vs south political battle. Just recently, these leaders in their Easter and Sallah messages enjoined Nigerians to shun division and embrace unity and co-existence. They also called for a renewed sense of national cohesion and empathy while also urging the citizens to rise above divisions and work collectively towards peace and progress in the country. Yet, because of insatiable lust for power, these same people are prepared to throw that unity to the wastebin and are scheming towards an election that will further polarise an already divided country.

Let me begin with Atiku, Nigeria’s vice president from 1999 to 2007 during the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency. Atiku has been contesting presidential elections since 1993, and he is likely to do so again in 2027. Unlike before, when he jetted off to Dubai after elections and resurfaced after four years, Atiku has played the role of an opposition figure very well since the conclusion of the 2023 elections, constantly checkmating every decision taken by the Tinubu administration. However, from a candid point of view, Atiku’s desire to become Nigeria’s president is driven more by desperation than patriotism. He mouths the need for unity in the country on festive occasions, but in his heart, he is ready to jettison that unity for his selfish ambition.

The last presidential election reinforced my belief that Atiku is not a nationalist as he claims. There is an unwritten agreement that power should rotate between the north and south in the spirit of fairness, equity and justice. After a northerner, Muhammadu Buhari, was about to complete two terms of eight years, Atiku, who is from the northern state of Adamawa, threw his hat in the ring. If Atiku had won the election and served two terms, it would mean the north would have been in power for 16 consecutive years. How will that engender unity in a heavily polarised country? Will Atiku, in his heart of hearts, allow another southerner to become president after another southerner has completed eight years? Despite winning the presidential ticket of the PDP, Atiku’s party was heavily polarised, and he lost the main election. Just like he did with the Biblical Pharaoh, God ‘hardened’ the heart of Atiku, and he refused all the entreaties of party stakeholders, especially the G-5 governors led by Nyesom Wike. The rest, as they say, is history.

Atiku, who will be 80 years old in 2027, lost two golden opportunities to become Nigeria’s president. The first was in 2003 when the majority of the governors of the then ruling party, PDP, agreed to back him in the party’s presidential primary against his principal, Olusegun Obasanjo. The old, wily Obasanjo knew he had to stoop in order to conquer, and he did just that – he knelt down before Atiku and begged him to allow him to run for a second term.

Giving a vivid picture of what transpired then, Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, as published by TheCable in the August 3, 2018 edition, said: “Before the PDP primaries in January 2003, Obasanjo got everyone he knew could reach me on the surface of the earth, including Yemi Ogunbiyi and my son, to get me to help him intercede when it was clear that (Abubakar) Atiku was in a position to take his job. He knew Atiku had a lot of regard for me and called me ‘Uncle’.

“The pressure was intense. Of course, I could not have knelt before Atiku, not to embark on a course of action that would lead to his boss’ disgrace. But I can confirm to you that Obasanjo, as president, knelt down before Atiku so that he would not lose his job. But I warned Atiku that for making Obasanjo kneel down for you, be sure you would have to pay heavily for that. I guess my warning came to pass if you remember Atiku’s dramatic change of fortune once Obasanjo was sworn in for a second term of office.”

The second golden opportunity missed by Atiku was in the last presidential election when Atiku refused entreaties by major stakeholders in the PDP to respect the zoning formula in the party, which states that the presidential candidate and national chairman cannot come from the same region. Atiku is from the North-East (Adamawa), while the then national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, is from the north-central (Benue). The director-general of the presidential campaign, Aminu Tambuwal, is also from the north-west (Sokoto). In the interest of unity, the stakeholders want Ayu to resign so that another chairman from the southern part of the country can step in, but Atiku disagreed.

Also, the PDP stakeholders pleaded with Atiku to field Wike as his running mate. After a series of meetings both locally and abroad, Atiku breached the agreement and settled for Ifeanyi Okowa, the immediate past governor of Delta State. Now, Okowa has dumped Atiku and the PDP and has gone to pitch his tent with President Tinubu’s APC.

Speaking on Channels Television recently, Governor Seyi Makinde said the PDP also made a grave mistake by handing the presidential ticket, national chairman slot, and office of the director general of the presidential campaign to members from the northern region only. He said the exclusion of southerners from the three major slots dealt a self-inflicted blow to the PDP, which culminated in the loss suffered by the party in the poll.

How can you breach the rotation agreement between the north and south as well as the zoning formula within your party, and then convince Nigerians that you have the capability to unite the country? That is food for thought for Alhaji Atiku.

As for President Tinubu, he granted an interview in the ThisDay publication of April 13th, 1997, where he declared that ‘I don’t believe in One Nigeria’. The interview resurfaced online during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, but his loyalists claimed that he was quoted out of context, especially when you consider the fact that as governor of Lagos State, he ran a pan-Nigerian cabinet which included many non-Yoruba-speaking people.

However, since becoming president, questions have been raised about his appointments, which some Nigerians believe are heavily skewed in favour of the south-west. To counter this, his media aides released the list of ‘all’ the appointments made by the president, but also quickly withdrew it after many loopholes were discovered. Sunday Dare promised to provide an updated list very soon, but he has yet to do so three weeks later.

Having lost Lagos, Osun, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, Edo, Abia, Plateau, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Anambra and Imo in the 2023 presidential election, President Tinubu cannot afford to take chances again if he desires to seek re-election in 2027. It is glaring that many of the northern stakeholders who worked for him in the 2023 presidential election will not do so again. This singular reason explains the recent actions taken by the president in Lagos during the Obasa impeachment imbroglio. Tinubu weighed the political value of Obasa on one hand and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the 36 lawmakers on the other. His verdict? Obasa, one of his die-hard loyalists, has more political value than Sanwo-Olu and the lawmakers. He therefore did everything possible to restore Obasa to his position.

The president also did the same in Rivers during the battle between the former governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, who is now the minister of the FCT, and the current governor, Siminalayi Fubara. Many analysts believe that Tinubu sided with Wike, especially given the fact that only Fubara was suspended for six months while Wike remained in office. Last week, it was reported that Fubara met with the president in London, and they allegedly had an agreement that Fubara’s sins would be forgiven if he joins the APC. Now, Delta state is already in the kitty with the defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Okowa. We are also told to expect more defections into the APC in the days ahead.

If things continue this way, then, as rightly predicted, the 2027 presidential election will be a serious battle between the north and south, a complete departure from the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which to date remains the freest, fairest and most credible election in Nigeria’s history. Is that the future our leaders desire for our beloved country and generations unborn?

Akinsuyi, former group politics editor of Daily Independent, currently studies sustainability communications strategies at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

The Ogun State Police Command has reportedly recovered human body parts hidden in buildings operating under the guise of Cherubim and Seraphim Church parishes in Kobape town and along Abiola Way in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The grim discovery followed the arrest of three suspects, Sunday Akintobi, Oladimeji Olaniran, and Isaiah Tijani, who were arrested on April 22 in separate locations across Abeokuta.

The suspects were allegedly found in possession of various human parts.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, disclosed the details of the incident in an interview with PUNCH on Friday.

She revealed that the arrests were made by operatives of the command’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, acting on credible intelligence.

“On April 22, 2025, at about 8am, operatives of the Ogun State Police Command, through its SWAT unit, acted on credible intelligence and apprehended one Sunday Akintobi (36), a resident of the Itoku area in Abeokuta, suspected of trading in human body parts,” Odutola was quoted as saying.

She further stated that ongoing investigations [b)led to the arrest of two additional suspects, Oladimeji Olaniran (40) and Isaiah Tijani (38), and that searches conducted at their residences led to the discovery of skeletal remains and other human parts.[/b]

“Further investigation led to the arrest of two additional individuals: Oladimeji Olaniran (male, 40 years) and Isaiah Tijani (male, 38 years).

“A search of their residences led to the recovery of body parts believed to be human remains,” Odutola stated.

According to Odutola, some of these remains were found concealed within buildings falsely posing as religious centers, particularly Cherubim and Seraphim Church parishes located in Kobape and along Abiola Way.

The state Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, has since ordered a thorough and discreet investigation to uncover the full extent of the suspects’ activities.

Forensic experts have been deployed to examine the recovered remains and verify claims made during interrogations.

“As a friendly force, the Ogun State Police Command urges the public to refrain from shielding criminal elements and to provide timely and credible information to security agencies,” Odutola appealed.

The police also issued a warning to families and communities to take measures in securing the gravesites of their loved ones, as grave robbery appears to be part of the growing concerns surrounding ritual-related crimes in the region.

CP Ogunlowo, reaffirming the command’s commitment to tackling violent crimes, emphasized that every effort would be made to bring those involved to justice and prevent further desecration of human dignity.

“Such cooperation is crucial in curbing ritual killings and other violent crimes in the state,”Odutola stated.

She also noted that the CP, who ”remained resolute to stem the tide of crimes”, had mandated expert forensic examinations in line with confessions made by the suspects.

“He (CP Ogunlowo) has also made it clear that relatives of deceased should secure graveyards of their loved ones in the best way possible to repress grave robbers,” Odutola said.

The suspects are currently in custody, and further updates are expected as investigations progress.

Saraki: There is No Cause for Alarm, We’ll Reposition PDP

Following the development in the Delta State Chapter of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), I have been inundated with phone calls from leaders and members of our party as well as various youths who have been active in promoting democracy and good governance in our country. Many of the callers want to know what my reaction is to the defection of top PDP leaders in Delta State and its impact on our party.

My view is that those who want to leave the PDP should leave now and let the rest of us who want to stay concentrate on rebuilding the party and refocusing it to play the role of a viable opposition that will provide a better alternative for the good people of Nigeria.

I am convinced that it is important for all Nigerians to work for the sustenance of democracy. And to sustain democracy, there must be viable choices for people at every point. Also, there must be a viable opposition to keep people’s hope alive and create credible alternatives to keep the government on its toes. A one-party state as being disingenuously designed by some people will not augur well for a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-religious, and highly diversified society like ours. It is even more dangerous when we eliminate alternatives and make people hopeless.

Therefore, it is in the interest of Nigeria and the survival of our democracy for the opposition to be vibrant and strong enough with the capacity to replace the ruling party at any point. Thus, my charge to our party members is that the PDP is merely experiencing a rebirth. Those who want to leave the party should go and let those of us remaining have a clear view of who we are talking to and where their political loyalty lies. All we need is for those who want to stay back in PDP to show commitment and we can all work to rebuild the party.

This development has vindicated the stance of people like me who have decided to remain silent and watch events unfold. I have seen that there was no sincerity with supposed leaders of the opposition. One was not sure of the next person one was talking to.

My appeal to PDP members nationwide is that we should know that the sustenance of democracy is not a sprint. Rather, it is a marathon. It is not a knock-out football match series. It is a league. 24 hours is a long time in politics and nobody can predict how the dynamics will evolve in the coming weeks and months. That is why PDP members across the country should not be discouraged, disillusioned, disappointed, or demoralised by the development in Delta State. We should stay strong and focus on strengthening the party. It is not necessary at this point to lament why they left.

Our party members should also refrain from blaming our woes on the ruling party. That would be a lazy approach. They are playing politics to win elections. It is our responsibility as party members to ignore their antics and seize the moment and momentum to make our party stronger and better.

Yes, it is unbecoming and shocking for the running mate to the standard bearer of a leading party to abandon ship to join the ruling party. This is unprecedented and nobody should try to justify such an act with the talk of being put under pressure. It is simply a sign of how low we have sunk as a polity. The country is experiencing a collapse of leadership values.

These developments in the polity are the reason why I have always canvassed the idea that we should emphasize building and strengthening our institutions and not individuals. With the defection of the governor of Delta State, even if the party has only ten governors in its fold, the PDP is still in a good position to win the next round of elections..

Our numerous party members should know that the PDP is better with fewer members who are loyal, sincere, determined, dedicated, and committed to its ideas, ideals, and progress than to have so many who will identify with us in the afternoon and be romancing the ruling party in the night.

We still have about two years before the next election. That is a long time in politics. We have enough time to brace up to the challenge. There is nothing that prevents us from getting some governors from the other parties to join our ranks. My appeal to our young party members is that this defection is just a mere challenge to us to further mobilize and put our house in order. Also, our women’s wing should seize the opportunity to help in the rebuilding mission. The PDP will come out stronger from this development.

I am very sure the various leadership organs of our party will soon make public their reaction to this development and convey the necessary meetings to strategize on how to strongly and strategically respond to it. Therefore there is no cause for alarm.

Our party members should not lose focus, hope, or the determination to win. We should see the current development as a challenge to rebuild and refocus the party. Tomorrow is very bright.

Signed

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON
Former Senate President and Waziri of Ilorin

The Federal Government has announced the revitalization of over 901 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across Nigeria, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

In addition, the government plans to upgrade 2,701 more PHCs, as part of efforts to ensure that each ward in the country has at least one fully functional health centre.

Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director of NPHCDA, disclosed this on Tuesday during the agency’s first quarterly news conference for 2025, held in Abuja.

He noted that the initiative is part of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme and the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint.

He stated that the NPHCDA has adopted a three-pillar strategy aimed at strengthening the primary health care (PHC) system, restoring public trust in healthcare services, and enhancing the nation’s frontline health security.

“Our goal is to rebuild trust in our health system by ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of their location, has access to quality and functional primary health care,” he said.

Addressing service delivery gaps and increasing investment

According to him, the agency has assessed over 18,000 PHCs across the country and identified service delivery gaps, which are now being addressed through increased federal investment and strategic collaborations with state governments and development partners.

To support these efforts, the number of PHCs funded under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) is being increased from 8,406 to 17,600.

He added that high-volume PHCs will now receive N800,000 per quarter, while low-volume centres will get N600,000, an increase from the previous uniform rate of N300,000.

Aina also unveiled new digital tracking and accountability tools, including a real-time public dashboard for monitoring PHC status ( https://phc.nphcda.gov.ng ) and a digitised financial management app, which has already been piloted in four states.

Key highlights of the PHC revitalization plan[b]

He explained that these tools are designed to enhance transparency and efficiency in PHC operations.

“Key highlights of the plan include: The launch of a digitised financial management system to streamline fund usage and reporting across PHCs.

“Expanded use of BHCPF’s four gateways:

NPHCDA, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), for infrastructure, health security, and emergency response.

“A commitment to the accountable use of the one billion dollars mobilized by the Federal Government for PHC revitalization.

“Implementation of tiered funding models based on PHC capacity and service volume, along with strengthened workforce development and partnerships with states to ensure skilled and consistent staffing.”

Aina reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to reaching every child and community with life-saving vaccines as Nigeria marked African Vaccination Week 2025.

He emphasized the theme, “Immunization for All is Humanity Possible, ” and urged citizens and the media to utilize the public dashboard to monitor PHC progress and contribute to transparency in the country’s health delivery system.

Immunization as a cornerstone of primary health care

Dr. Eshetu Wassie, Head of the Expanded Programme on Immunization at WHO, highlighted that immunization is not only a cornerstone of primary health care but also a fundamental human right.

He stressed the effectiveness of vaccines, which have saved more than 154 million lives in the past 50 years.

“As we gather for 2025 and African Vaccination Week, I urge all of us, governments, partners, health workers, communities, and the media to recommit to this life-saving mission,” Wassie said.

UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Cristian Munduate, emphasised the need to reach the most vulnerable populations.

She highlighted that one in three infants remained unreached, with “zero-dose” children being the most vulnerable.

Munduate also called for stronger partnerships, increased domestic funding, and community-driven solutions to address barriers such as insecurity and vaccine access.

She urged the media to help build trust in vaccines and ensure that no child is left behind, rather than amplifying misinformation.
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•Top chieftains kick against automatic ticket for new entrants

•He isn’t in a hurry to defect —NNPP spokesman

Amidst the claims and counter-claims of planned defection of former New Nigerian Peoples Party ( NNPP) presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), feelers from the party reveal that the move by the former Kano State governor is already creating disquiet in the party.

Party sources said that Kwankwaso’s move, believed to be based on a deal brokered President Bola Tinubu, with the NNPP leader, is causing disaffection in the camp of national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and a presiding officer in the Senate eyeing APC governorship ticket in Kano in 2027.

The party sources claimed that barring any hitches, the NNPP former presidential candidate is expected to meet with President Tinubu when the latter returns from his trips to France and the United Kingdom.

Apart from Kwankwaso, three serving federal lawmakers on the platform of the NNPP met last week with the APC national chairman ahead of their formal declaration for the ruling party..

While the NNPP national secretariat and the Kano chapter continue to dismiss Kwankwaso’s planned defection as a fluke, the APC national chairman and the Kano chapter confirmed the move in separate remarks in the last one week.

Kano APC chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, in a press statement, however cautioned against preferential treatment for new entrants into the party.

Also expressing strong reservations against Kwankwaso and others planning to join the APC, the chairman of its Kano chapter declared that, the party “would not serve as a refuge for individuals facing legal or ethical challenges.

“We are also aware that some individuals are seeking to join our party for personal reasons—either because they have failed politically at the national or state level, or because they are under investigation by the economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Commission (ICPC).

“They should know that our party is not a safe haven for certain categories of people. We will not shield anyone. The law will take its course.”

The clash of ambition

Checks revealed that while Tinubu is working to secure the support of Kwankwaso and his supporters ahead of 2027 general election because of the latter’s grip on Kano, certain chieftains of the APC are jittery that their interest could be sacrificed in the horse trading with Kwankwaso and his NNPP.

A party source told the Nigerian Tribune in confidence that the Kano APC chairman is being emboldened by forces in Abuja who may lose out in the power game, arising from the Presidency romance with Kwankwaso and NNPP lawmakers.

The source further claimed that the NNPP lawmakers about to defect had been promised automatic ticket to secure their return to the National Assembly.

“If Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, decides to join Kwankwaso, it also means the deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, would also have to sacrifice his governorship ambition,” the source said.

“Such a deal isn’t tidy enough. How do you reward those who have stayed with the party through thick and thin?“ the source queried.

Kwankwaso not in a hurry to leave NNPP —Spokesman

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in a telephone interview, Ladipo Johnson, who confirmed that Kwankwaso’s defection is on the card, however said the former presidential candidate was still consulting with stakeholders.

He said:”That is still under speculation. When it will happen, the party will be taken into confidence.

“Kwankwaso is busy consulting with the party, building the base and structures. He is consulting with people across board. If he is going to join the APC or any other party, it will be announced formally.”

Asked if APC is the next platform for Kwankwaso, the NNPP spokesman said: “We will look at all the options.”

We are not aware of defection —Meseko

In spite of the statement by APC Kano chapter on Kwankwaso defection plan, the APC national secretariat claimed it was in the dark about such move from the former NNPP presidential candidate.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in a telephone interview, Honourable Duro Meseko said the APC National Working Committee (NWC) was not privy to any discussion or move to encourage Kwankwaso to join the ruling party.

“Where did you get that from, Kwankwaso planning to join APC? I am not aware of such move,” he told the Nigerian Tribune.

A former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has officially declared his intention to contest in the 2027 gubernatorial election in Nasarawa State under the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.

Adamu made his declaration yesterday, during a meeting with members of the State Working Committee of the APC held in Lafia, the state capital. The former police chief said his decision was driven by a “clarion call” from the people of Nasarawa who, according to him, believe in his leadership capabilities and experience. He pledged to run an all-inclusive and people-oriented administration if elected as governor.

“I am answering the call of my people who believe I can serve and move Nasarawa forward.

“My administration, by the grace of God, will be inclusive, transparent, and focused on delivering tangible development across all sectors,” Adamu stated.

Meanwhile, his declaration has added a significant name to the growing list of aspirants eyeing the governorship seat in 2027.

Former member of the House of Representatives and ex-presidential adviser Dr. Usman Bugaje has accused Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), of systematically using money to induce defections from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking in an interview with Arise News, Bugaje claimed that the APC has been aggressively targeting opposition figures, leveraging both financial incentives and potential legal threats.

His words: “Well, for what I know—and I don’t claim to know everything—the APC is basically using money to buy off PDP.

“Some say it’s a carrot and stick approach. The money is the carrot. What’s the stick? Possibly the EFCC. They might do these kinds of things. This has been the practice since the time of President Obasanjo.”

Bugaje argued that the root cause of the ongoing wave of defections is money, warning that such practices pose a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic system.

He said: “For me, this is a very serious issue. This should be the center of our political discourse. As long as money remains the determining factor, then that’s the end of democracy and the end of politics.”

His comments come in the wake of a major political shake-up in Delta State, where Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who was also the PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, defected to the APC. They were joined by members of the National Assembly, State Assembly, and several local government chairmen.

Bugaje stated that he is skeptical about the PDP’s ability to function as an effective opposition.

“There has not been real opposition since the moment Nyesom Wike did what he did,” Bugaje said.

“The PDP missed its chance to be a viable opposition party. Just look at their conduct on major national issues—from emergency rule debates to budget discussions. They failed to act like an opposition,” he added.