Enugu governor accuses rivals of lacking records, plans; promises commencement of Nsukka-Adani, other roads
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has accused some opposition figures seeking to challenge him in the 2027 governorship election of allegedly pursuing political shortcuts in Abuja instead of engaging the electorate with their programmes and vision for the state.

Mbah said his opponents had failed to present clear manifestos or demonstrate what they intended to offer the people, alleging that their political activities were centred on finding ways to manipulate the electoral process.

The governor made the remarks on Tuesday during a campaign tour of Ogboli and Igbo-Ano Development Centres in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, where he visited Adani and Ugbene Ajima communities.

According to him, rather than visit communities, interact with residents and explain their plans, some opposition politicians were allegedly busy seeking alternative routes to the Lion Building, the seat of the Enugu State Government.

“They are somewhere in Abuja, busy looking for an alternative instead of coming to know you or even talk to you. They think that there is a shortcut,” Mbah said.

He challenged his opponents to present their achievements and policy proposals, particularly in education, healthcare, agriculture and economic development, insisting that they had nothing substantial to show the electorate.

Mbah also accused some of his political rivals of having questionable academic credentials, making a fresh allegation of multiple certificate forgery against them.

He said Enugu needed leaders with verifiable records of achievement, professional integrity and the capacity to create wealth before seeking public office.

The governor urged residents to reject what he described as attempts to undermine their electoral mandate, calling on them to use their votes to defeat his opponents in 2027.

Reflecting on his 2022/2023 campaign, Mbah said his administration had presented its credentials and development agenda to the people, stressing that his political opponents should be equally prepared to account for their past records and future plans.

On infrastructure, the governor announced that the construction of the Nsukka-Adani Road and Edem-Nrobo-Abbi-Nimbo Road would commence in earnest as the rainy season gradually receded.

He gave the assurance while addressing residents during the tour, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to improving road connectivity and infrastructure across the state.

Mbah also visited Our Lady Health of the Sick Maternity Hospital (Aru Ike Ndi Oya) in Adani, where he promised to upgrade and equip the facility to meet the standards of the state’s Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres.

He further pledged to provide the hospital with ultrasound equipment to strengthen its diagnostic and healthcare delivery capacity.

At Santa Maria Nursery and Primary School, Adani, where he received a warm welcome from pupils, the governor promised to construct an additional classroom block and establish an innovation hub to promote learning, creativity and technological exposure among the students.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has suffered a setback in Cross River State ahead of the 2027 governorship election following the withdrawal of its Deputy Governorship candidate, Stella Charles Archibong, from the party’s ticket.

Archibong announced her decision in a statement released in Calabar on Wednesday, declaring support for the re-election of Governor Bassey Otu under the Back to South Movement.

She attributed her decision to extensive consultations with elders, family members, members of the Christian community and political stakeholders across the state.

According to her, the collective interest and future of Cross River State outweighed her personal political ambition, prompting her to align with the political direction of the Otu administration.

“My responsibility to Cross River State is bigger than my individual ambition,” she said.

The former NDC deputy governorship candidate expressed gratitude to the party’s State Chairman, Goddy Akwama, its governorship candidate, John Odey, and the national leadership for giving her the opportunity to contest on its platform.

She also apologised to supporters who might be disappointed by her decision, while appreciating their confidence and support throughout her political engagement with the party.

Reacting to her withdrawal, the NDC governorship candidate, John Odey, described the development as surprising but appealed to party members and supporters to remain calm.
In a statement, Odey said the situation required maturity, mutual respect and responsible leadership.

“This development has come as a surprise. I believe that moments such as this call for calm, maturity, mutual respect, and responsible leadership,” he stated.

Odey said he held Archibong in high regard and acknowledged her contributions and commitment to the party’s vision for Cross River State.

He further disclosed that consultations were ongoing with party leaders, stakeholders and other concerned individuals to establish the circumstances surrounding her decision and determine the party’s next line of action.

Despite the development, the NDC candidate assured supporters that the party remained committed to its vision of building a prosperous, inclusive and economically productive Cross River State.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a controversial resignation letter allegedly written by former African Democratic Congress (ADC) Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala, ruling that the document was not authentic.

Justice Peter Lifu, in his judgment delivered on Thursday, November 5, held that the disputed letter, which the faction led by former Senate President David Mark relied upon to justify its leadership transition, could not be accepted as credible evidence of Bala’s resignation.

A Certified True Copy of the judgment obtained by DAILY GAZETTE on Wednesday showed that the judge reached his decision after comparing the signature on the purported resignation letter with those on Bala’s sworn witness statements.

According to the court, the signatures were materially different, raising serious doubts about the authenticity of the document.

Justice Lifu explained that the certification of a document does not automatically establish that the person whose name appears on it actually signed it.

He maintained that although certification could confirm that a document was a true copy of the record held by an authorised institution, it could not resolve a dispute over the genuineness of a signature.

The judge consequently rejected Exhibit ADC-1, the disputed resignation letter, as evidence that Bala voluntarily relinquished his position in the party.

“I am not satisfied that Exhibit ADC-1 represents the genuine act of the plaintiff,” the judge declared.

The ruling is a significant development in the prolonged leadership crisis rocking the ADC, particularly as the Mark-led faction had relied on the alleged resignation to justify the leadership transition that produced David Mark as national chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary.

Bala had approached the court in September 2025, challenging the legitimacy of the leadership arrangement.

The Mark-led faction had claimed that Bala resigned on May 17, 2025, and that his resignation was subsequently communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, Bala consistently denied writing the letter, describing it as forged and insisting that the signature on the document was not his.

In April 2026, he publicly disowned the document, declaring that neither its contents nor the signature originated from him.

Beyond the disputed resignation letter, Justice Lifu also ruled that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting on July 27, 2025, had not been demonstrated to have complied with the statutory requirement for democratic election under Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

The judge held that neither the powers of the party’s National Executive Committee nor INEC’s subsequent recognition of the leadership arrangement could replace compliance with the law.

The judgment also nullified the Mark-led leadership arrangement and the party’s nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Meanwhile, the Mark-led faction has rejected the judgment and indicated plans to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed why he turned down an offer of political asylum from the United States during the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha, despite being warned that he risked arrest if he returned to Nigeria.

Obasanjo said he rejected the offer because he believed he had committed no offence that warranted fleeing his country.

The former president made the revelation in an interview with BBC News Pidgin published on Tuesday, where he recounted his experiences during the Abacha administration, including his arrest and eventual imprisonment.

Reflecting on his retirement from the Nigerian Army, Obasanjo said he had not envisaged leaving the military at the age of 42, having risen to the rank of a four-star general and served as military Head of State.

He explained that after leaving the military, he ventured into agriculture, a business he said was flourishing before the Abacha government began targeting him.

Obasanjo recalled that while he was travelling, the American ambassador to Nigeria contacted him and disclosed that the US government was prepared to grant him political asylum over fears that he would be arrested upon returning home.

However, he said he declined the offer, questioning why he should seek refuge abroad when he had committed no wrongdoing.

“This was difficult for me. I haven’t done anything. What do they want to arrest me for? Um, I don’t want political asylum,” he recalled saying.

The former president further alleged that Abacha had ordered his elimination, although he said he was initially unaware of the alleged plan.

He disclosed that upon his return to Nigeria, his passport was confiscated before he proceeded to his farm.

According to him, one of his security personnel informed him on arrival that government security operatives had surrounded the property.

Obasanjo said a police officer in plain clothes subsequently approached him, claiming that an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) wanted to see him.

He rejected the officer’s approach, insisting that if the AIG needed his assistance, he should personally come to the farm.

Obasanjo recounted that he eventually drove himself to the police station, where the AIG informed him that he had received instructions to arrest him.

He also disclosed that former United States President Jimmy Carter intervened in his situation by appealing directly to Abacha.

According to Obasanjo, Carter’s intervention initially secured his release into house arrest after he had been detained at an undisclosed location.

However, he said the situation took another turn when security operatives arrived at his residence at about 1am while he was playing squash and announced that they were taking him away.

“They came and said they were taking me away. And they took me away, and from there, I went to prison,” he said.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has declared his willingness to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race in support of a consensus opposition candidate capable of defeating President Bola Tinubu.

Duke said he would willingly support another candidate, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar or the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, if opposition parties collectively agree on a preferred flag bearer.

The former Cross River State governor made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during the unveiling of his running mate, Malam Sule Mohammed, and the PRP’s manifesto.

Responding to questions about whether he would step aside for a stronger opposition candidate, Duke said any decision reached through a democratic and collective process would receive his support.

He, however, argued that opposition parties must first establish a common vision and agree on the future direction of Nigeria before settling on who should lead the proposed coalition.

According to him, the objective of an opposition alliance should not be limited to selecting a presidential candidate but should focus on developing a shared agenda capable of addressing the country’s challenges.

Duke said he would respect the outcome of such negotiations, regardless of who eventually emerges as the consensus candidate, insisting that political leaders must demonstrate commitment to democratic principles.

He added that he expected other aspirants to show the same spirit of sportsmanship if he eventually emerged as the preferred candidate.

The PRP presidential candidate also criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that opposition parties were facing deliberate or unfair obstacles in securing campaign venues, billboards and other advertising platforms across the country.

He claimed that the APC enjoyed overwhelming visibility in several states, leaving opposition parties struggling to publicise their activities and reach voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Duke further alleged that political advertising had become prohibitively expensive in some states, with reports suggesting that parties could require as much as N1bn to commence serious campaign publicity.

He disclosed that the PRP had repeatedly postponed its retreat because of difficulties securing suitable venues.

Meanwhile, the PRP National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the party was committed to strengthening opposition unity but would not surrender its political structure to another party.

Baba-Ahmed explained that the PRP was considering supporting one or more credible opposition candidates with the capacity to defeat the APC, while maintaining its identity and organisational independence.

He stressed that the party was not participating in the 2027 elections merely to make up the numbers, expressing confidence that negotiations among opposition parties could produce a winning strategy.

The PRP chairman also said the emerging opposition coalition would focus on electoral strategies, inclusion of women and young Nigerians, improved security and the protection of vulnerable communities.

He maintained that the ultimate objective was to build a country where citizens would enjoy equal opportunities irrespective of their religious beliefs or geographical backgrounds.
Baba-Ahmed expressed optimism that Nigerians would make the right choice in 2027, adding that the PRP was prepared to contribute meaningfully to the political change the country needed.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to set aside a subpoena directing its Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, to produce electoral documents relating to President Bola Tinubu’s 1999 Lagos State governorship election and 2023 presidential election.

Court documents obtained by DAILY GAZETTE indicate that Amupitan, through his lawyers, filed a Motion on Notice dated November 10, 2026, seeking to nullify the subpoena issued on October 26.

The subpoena was issued by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the ongoing criminal case instituted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria against human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore is standing trial over his description of President Tinubu as a criminal.

The court had directed the INEC chairman to appear as a witness for Sowore and produce specified electoral documents submitted by Tinubu to the commission.

The documents include Tinubu’s INEC Form CF01 submitted during his 1999 Lagos governorship election, alongside an affidavit relating to lost certificates, as well as the Form CF01 submitted for his 2023 presidential election.

The subpoena, titled Subpoena Duces Tecum, also required Amupitan to remain in court throughout the proceedings until the matter is determined.

It directed him to appear before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, Courtroom 5, at 9am on October 26, 2026.

The court had ordered the INEC chairman to appear and produce the requested documents in connection with Sowore’s trial.

The development was also made public by Sowore, who shared copies of the subpoena and hearing notice served on Amupitan in a Facebook post.

However, by filing the fresh motion, INEC is now asking the court to overturn the order compelling its chairman to produce the president’s historical electoral records and testify in the criminal proceedings.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Chief Uche Nnaji, has pledged to end what he described as excessive taxation in the state if elected governor in 2027.

Nnaji alleged that the state’s taxation policies were driving businesses and investors away, making Enugu one of the most expensive states in Nigeria in which to operate a business.

The former Minister of Science and Technology made the remarks while addressing Enugu indigenes resident in Aba, Abia State, during a meeting organised by the Enugu State Consultative Forum, Abia State chapter.

He accused the state government of imposing heavy tax burdens on traders and business owners, including those operating in rural communities, warning that the situation was worsening economic hardship among residents.

According to him, his administration, if elected, would prioritise industrialisation, job creation, security and economic recovery rather than imposing taxes that could suffocate businesses.

Nnaji also expressed concern over what he described as the resurgence of armed robbery in parts of Enugu State, linking the development to unemployment, hunger and rising economic difficulties.

He promised to establish industries that would provide employment opportunities, reduce poverty and take more than 50,000 youths off the streets.

“What is happening in Enugu State is condemnable. Enugu is for all, but today, businessmen and investors are relocating from the state due to excessive taxation. And the state government doesn’t care,” he said.

He alleged that traders in rural communities were being subjected to unreasonable levies, claiming that some deliberately delayed opening their shops until tax officials had left.

Nnaji further claimed that government officials collected as much as N36,000 from some rural traders, despite their limited earnings.

“Tax is based on profit, not on shops, as they are doing in Enugu. People are hungry. Armed people now invade homes at midnight to collect phones, computers and food items such as rice, beans and garri. This is something that happened more than 20 years ago,” he added.

The PDP candidate also questioned the state’s internally generated revenue, alleging that it had increased from N26 billion to N406.7 billion.

He compared the figure with the revenue profiles of Abia and Anambra states, arguing that the development raised questions about the state’s revenue collection methods and their consequences for businesses.

He equally accused the current administration of significantly increasing Enugu’s debt profile, although he did not provide specific figures to support the allegation.

Nnaji said his proposed economic recovery programme would focus on wealth creation, industrial development and improving the standard of living of residents.

He disclosed that an Enugu State Recovery Committee had been established under his chairmanship as part of efforts to mobilise support and communicate his plans to indigenes living outside the state.

“We have set up the Enugu State Recovery Committee, with me as chairman. This is why we are visiting Enugu people residing outside the state, telling them about the poor situation of things in their state.

“Last week, we were at Alaba International Market, and we have visited many places. I want to recover Enugu. Once we win, we will build industries based on coal, iron ore and cement. There will be no more excessive taxation in Enugu when I win,” he said.

He also criticised the condition of roads in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, questioning how the state government had deployed its internally generated revenue and monthly federal allocations.

Speaking at the meeting, the Director-General of the Uche Nnaji Campaign Organisation, Charles Ndukwe, and Chief Uche Ugwu backed the candidate’s position, arguing that the state’s taxation policies had placed undue pressure on traders and business operators.

They maintained that the campaign’s agenda centred on industrialisation, employment generation and economic recovery, while expressing confidence in the PDP’s grassroots support in Enugu.

Similarly, PDP senatorial candidates, including Kingsley Chizoba Nweke, representing Enugu East, and Nestor Ezeme of Enugu North, encouraged Nnaji to remain committed to his governorship ambition.

Earlier, the President of the Enugu State Consultative Forum, Hon. Sunday Okonkwo, said the candidate’s manifesto addressed critical challenges confronting the state, particularly industrialisation, insecurity and youth empowerment.

Okonkwo said the forum was interested in governance proposals capable of improving the business environment and addressing the concerns of Enugu residents.