The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is on the verge of recording a historic political breakthrough as it prepares to welcome its first sitting state governor into its ranks, a development that could alter Nigeria’s party alignment ahead of the 2027 election, DAILY GAZETTE reports.

Multiple party sources confirmed that advanced negotiations have been concluded with Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State.

If finalised, the move would mark a turning point for the party, which has long operated on the margins of Nigeria’s major political blocs.

Securing a sitting governor would not only strengthen its legitimacy but also provide access to an established grassroots political structure, lawmakers and local government networks.

Sources within the party further told DAILY GAZETTE that discussions focused on building a broader coalition platform, expanding the ADC’s electoral viability and positioning it as a credible alternative to the dominant parties.

Within the Peoples Democratic Party where Makinde remains a leading figure, the development is already generating anxiety as party members are worried about the potential erosion of influence in Oyo and its ripple effects nationally.

A sitting governor joining the ADC could catalyse further defections, reshape opposition calculations and inject fresh competition into Nigeria’s evolving multiparty terrain.

Stay tuned for more…

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following a tense session marked by disagreements over Clause 60(3) concerning electronic transmission of election results.

Proceedings in the Senate were momentarily stalled as lawmakers began clause-by-clause consideration of the bill. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe raised a demand for a division over Clause 60(3), prompting a rowdy session in the upper chamber.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio noted that he believed the demand had been previously withdrawn, but several opposition senators immediately objected.

Citing Order 52(6), Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin argued that revisiting a provision on which the Senate President had already ruled would be out of order.

The submission sparked further uproar in the chamber, during which Senator Sunday Karimi had a brief face-off with Abaribe.

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, reminded lawmakers that he had sponsored the motion for rescission, emphasizing that decisions previously taken by the Senate were no longer valid, and that Senator Abaribe’s demand was consistent with that motion.

Akpabio suggested that the call for division was largely an attempt by Abaribe to demonstrate his position publicly.

The Senate President sustained the point of order, after which Abaribe rose in protest and was urged to formally move his motion.

Rising under Order 72(1), Abaribe called for a division on Clause 60(3), specifically concerning the provision that if electronic transmission of results fails, Form EC8A should not serve as the sole basis, and he advocated for the removal of the proviso that allows for manual transmission in case of network failure.

During the division, Akpabio asked senators supporting the caveat to stand, followed by those opposed.

Fifteen opposition senators stood in opposition.

When the votes were counted, 55 senators supported the proviso while 15 opposed it.
Clause-By-Clause Consideration

Earlier, proceedings were momentarily paused as lawmakers began clause-by-clause deliberation of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following a motion to rescind the earlier amendment.

The motion was formally seconded on Tuesday, paving the way for the upper chamber to dissolve into the Committee of the Whole for detailed reconsideration and reenactment of the legislation.

During this session, Senate President Akpabio presented the clauses one by one for debate. The process briefly stalled when at Clause 60, Senator Abaribe raised a point of order, drawing immediate attention on the floor.

Following his intervention, murmurs spread across the chamber as lawmakers spoke in small groups and consulted the Senate President’s desk. The session moved into a closed-door consultation.

Election Timetable
Before rescinding the Electoral Act, the Senate raised concerns about the timing of the 2027 general elections and technical inconsistencies within the legislation.

Rising under Order 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved to reverse the earlier passage of the bill and return it to the Committee of the Whole for fresh deliberation.

He explained that this followed the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission of a timetable setting the 2027 general elections for February 2027 after consultations with the leadership of the National Assembly.

Bamidele stated that stakeholders had raised concerns that the proposed date conflicted with the law’s provision requiring elections to be scheduled no later than 360 days before the expiration of tenure.

He further noted that the 360-day notice requirement in Clause 28 could place the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections during Ramadan, potentially affecting voter turnout, logistics, stakeholder participation, and the inclusiveness and credibility of the electoral process.

The motion also highlighted discrepancies in the Long Title and multiple clauses, including Clauses 6, 9, 10, 22, 23, 28, 29, 32, 42, 47, 51, 60, 62, 64, 65, 73, 77, 86, 87, 89, 93, and 143, which affected cross-referencing, serial numbering, and internal consistency within the legislation.

Despite the tensions and technical concerns, the Senate proceeded to pass the amended Electoral Act, reinforcing the legal framework for future elections while addressing procedural and legislative inconsistencies raised during debate.

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday fired tear gas at demonstrators gathered at the National Assembly Complex, as protests intensified over proposed changes to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026.

The protesters had assembled to demand the mandatory inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results in the legislation.

Their return to the complex followed a five-day pause after lawmakers earlier assured them that concerns raised would be reconsidered.

Tension escalated after the Nigerian Senate reconvened for an emergency plenary to revisit Clause 60(3) of the bill, which has generated widespread public debate and criticism from civil society organisations and electoral reform advocates.

During deliberations, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno moved a motion proposing the removal of the phrase “real-time” from the clause and the substitution of the word “transmission” with “transfer.”

The proposal triggered renewed outrage among protesters, who argued that the change could weaken transparency in the electoral process.

Security operatives subsequently moved to disperse the crowd with tear gas as demonstrators attempted to maintain their presence at the complex, insisting that credible elections depend on immediate electronic transmission of results.

Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has described his father, Nasir El-Rufai, as an impeccable administrator while celebrating his 66th birthday.

In a tribute, the lawmaker expressed deep admiration for the former governor, highlighting his leadership qualities and personal influence on his life and career.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Banking Regulations described his father as a bold reformer and noted the pride he takes in being associated with him.

“Happy 66th Birthday to our dear father, His Excellency, Mallam Nasir @elrufai. I have said this before and I will say it again. I also love to proudly say it. One of the greatest honours of my life is being called your son.”

“You are an impeccable administrator, a courageous leader, a bold reformer and a fantastic father.”

“No son could have asked for a better father. As you turn 66, I pray that Allah SWT continues to guide, protect and bless you. Our love and loyalty to you is permanent and pensionable. And here’s a timely reminder you always told us, Quranic verse, (Surah Al-Anfal 8: 30). ‘They plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.’

“On behalf of the excellent people of Kaduna North that I proudly represent based on the good traits you taught me. We celebrate the father of Modern Kaduna and the original restorer of the Abuja Master Plan, as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. I hope you are appreciating all the natural love from people that you have never even met. You truly deserve it after years of excellent service to our nation.”

The tribute comes amid ongoing developments involving the former governor, who is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after honouring its invitation.

The Department of State Services has also filed charges against him following his allegation that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, ordered his arrest.

El-Rufai had claimed he became aware of the alleged move after an unnamed individual intercepted a telephone conversation involving Ribadu.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has assured his supporters of his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, urging Nigerians to unite in rescuing the country for future generations.

Obi made the declaration in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during the OBIDIENT Conference and the official launch of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) initiative themed “Activating the PO Effect in ADC.”

He warned that decades of mismanagement could negatively impact the youth and the nation’s future.

He alleged that the Federal Government is opposed to his candidacy but insisted he would contest even if elections were held figuratively “in their bedroom.”

Obi criticized the current administration for accumulating significant loans, noting that most will be repaid between 2045 and 2050, long after the officials responsible have left office.

On leaving the Labour Party, Obi explained that the party’s leadership issues hindered his recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Democracy must work. I left the Labour Party when I learned that as long as I remained, INEC would not recognise its leadership.

The Federal Government doesn’t want me on the ballot paper, but I will contest the coming election regardless,” he said.

He stressed the importance of real-time online transmission of election results in 2027.

Obi promised that, if elected, his administration would prioritize investments in education and health, emphasizing that intentional investment in human capital is key to national development.

He also pledged to tackle poverty and reduce criminality through strategic policies.

He further stated that he plans to tour the entire country and visit higher institutions to understand grassroots challenges firsthand, asserting that the focus of his campaign is the well-being and future of Nigerians.

Regarding corruption, Obi highlighted his personal example, noting that during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, neither he nor his family benefited from government allocations.

“If you find any misuse, petition me to the appropriate authority,” he said.

Addressing participants, Tanko Yunusa, coordinator of the Obidient Movement worldwide, urged Nigerians to mobilize nationwide for the 2027 elections and to unite under the ADC as the vehicle for political transformation.

Ben Smith, Akwa Ibom State coordinator, added that internal divisions could undermine the collective goal of a new Nigeria.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has raised concerns over what it described as “secessionist” efforts aimed at destabilising the second-term bid of Gov. Peter Mbah.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in the state, Dr Ben Nwoye, made the allegation while receiving the state chapter of Asiwaju Renewed Mandate South East (ARMSE) led by its leader, Chief Josef Onoh, at his office in Enugu on Monday.

Nwoye clarified that the so-called secessionists are not advocating for a separate country from Nigeria but are groups within Enugu State pushing for the creation of a new state.

He noted that “there are different groups of new State agitators in Enugu State who are itching for a new state to be created from the state and some in combination with other parts of others states from the South-East.”

He added that such agitators have been “going round, making efforts to field some other candidates for the 2027 governorship election, sometimes from the same Senatorial district as Gov. Mbah and sometimes from outside the East Senatorial District which the rotation understanding in the state currently favours.”

On the implications of these efforts, Nwoye warned, “Those in opposition to Gov. Peter Mbah want to destabilise the state. There are those who are secessionists even though they are not Biafra agitators, but elder statesmen recruiting others from Enugu East Senatorial Zone to run for governorship in 2027. There are also external factors from outside Enugu State. They said that they want a new state, but they should not destabilise the state before leaving to anywhere. We are in support of creation of additional state but you cannot come and destabilise the one that we are already into. Don’t create stories to damage the one we have for now.”

Chief Onoh, addressing the meeting, said that attempts to truncate Gov. Mbah’s re-election “would erode the tripod rotational agreement entrenched by the founding fathers of Enugu State.”

Explaining the purpose of the visit, Onoh said, “Though the Asiwaju Renewed Hope Mandate was designed to promote President Tinubu’s re-election, we sought for his permission to also use it for Gov. Mbah for Enugu State to remain great. If we support Gov. Mbah for the next four years, it will be doing the right thing. It is safer for Gov. Mbah to complete two terms so as not to destabilise the ongoing process of rotation that has stabilized the state. It is to curtail disaster in the state that made us come because such instability had affected other states in Nigeria. So, we came to pledge all the support to ensure that the understanding in the state is kept.”

Onoh also highlighted the historical context of the rotational agreement, tracing it from 1999 and citing the contributions of founding fathers such as Sen. Jim Nwobodo, late Chief C.C. Onoh, and Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, which he said has maintained uninterrupted two-term governorships in Enugu State.