The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly paying people between ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 each to attend its Northwest zonal campaign flag-off rally in Kaduna State.

The council claimed that despite the alleged payments and mobilisation of attendees from across the seven states of the Northwest and beyond, the rally at the Kaduna Township Stadium recorded a disappointing turnout.

In a statement reacting to the event, the ADC-PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the rally as a failed attempt by the ruling party to demonstrate its political strength in the region.

According to him, the sparse attendance contradicted the APC’s expectations for an event intended to showcase its popularity ahead of the 2027 general election.

“For a rally billed as the Northwest zonal flag-off, what we witnessed was a shameful spectacle. Despite the alleged mobilisation of crowds from across the zone and beyond, the stadium remained scantily filled, with empty seats everywhere,” Ologbondiyan said.

He further criticised the reception given to speeches by APC leaders, describing the crowd’s response as unenthusiastic and suggesting that the ruling party was losing public acceptance.

The ADC-PCC spokesman also questioned President Bola Tinubu’s reported commissioning of road projects during the event, arguing that the exercise raised concerns about the administration’s claims of achievement.

Ologbondiyan additionally alleged that some rally attendees expressed dissatisfaction with the APC after leaving the venue, chanting “Ba mu yi,” a Hausa expression he interpreted as a rejection of the ruling party and its policies.

He maintained that attendance at political rallies did not necessarily translate into genuine electoral support.

“You can rent a crowd, but you cannot rent acceptance. Even if people attend a rally, that does not mean they have surrendered their convictions. The real test of public support is what Nigerians will decide at the ballot box,” he said.

The opposition campaign council accused the APC of repeating promises made during the 2015, 2019 and 2023 election cycles without adequately accounting for its years in power.

It also criticised Tinubu for allegedly blaming opposition leaders for Nigeria’s economic difficulties rather than taking responsibility for the consequences of his administration’s policies.

The council singled out the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy had increased the financial pressure on households already grappling with rising living costs.

It consequently called on the ruling party to discontinue what it described as wasteful political jamborees, apologise to Nigerians over the prevailing economic hardship and begin preparing for what it termed an orderly transfer of power in 2027.

The ADC-PCC further presented the ADC as a credible alternative, expressing confidence that voters would use the next general election to register their dissatisfaction with the APC-led administration.

“The message from Kaduna is loud and clear: Nigerians are saying ‘Ba mu yi’ to the APC and Tinubu. Come 2027, they will speak even louder with their votes,” Ologbondiyan declared.

The APC had yet to respond to the specific allegations of payments to rally attendees contained in the ADC-PCC statement at the time of this report.

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has approached the Federal High Court in Bauchi, seeking the disqualification of Tijjani Aliyu Mohammed, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) deputy governorship candidate, from the 2027 Bauchi State governorship election over alleged violations of electoral laws.

The suit challenges the legality of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) publication of Mohammed’s name as the PRP running mate, with the APM alleging that his name was missing from the party’s membership register submitted to the electoral umpire before the stipulated deadline.

The party is also questioning whether Mohammed was eligible to contest on the PRP platform, alleging that he remained a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when the PRP submitted its membership register to INEC.

Speaking with journalists in Bauchi, the APM’s legal adviser, Barrister Jidauna Tula, said the action was instituted in the interest of justice and fairness.

The suit, marked FHC/BAU/CS/70/2026, lists INEC as the first defendant, Mohammed as the second defendant and the PRP as the third defendant.

Tula explained that the legal action followed INEC’s publication of Mohammed’s name on October 10, 2026, as the PRP deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

He said the party was seeking the court’s interpretation of Sections 77(4), 77(5) and 77(6) of the Electoral Act 2026, alongside relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

According to the APM legal adviser, the central question is whether INEC lawfully published Mohammed’s name when, according to the plaintiff, he was not listed in the PRP membership register submitted to the commission on May 10, 2026.

The party is also asking the court to determine whether the alleged continued membership of the APC affected Mohammed’s eligibility to emerge as the PRP deputy governorship candidate.

The APM maintains that compliance with electoral laws governing party membership records and candidate eligibility is essential to the validity of the nomination process.

In its prayers before the court, the party is seeking declarations that INEC’s publication of Mohammed’s name was unlawful, citing the combined provisions of Sections 177(c) and 187(2) of the Constitution and Sections 77(4), 77(5) and 77(6) of the Electoral Act 2026.

It also wants the court to declare that the publication was invalid on the grounds that Mohammed’s name was allegedly absent from the PRP membership register submitted to INEC.

Furthermore, the plaintiff is asking the court to rule on whether the alleged breaches of electoral law render the publication of his name null and void.

Tula disclosed that the party’s counsel, Luka Musa Haruna, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had also requested a mandatory order directing INEC to remove Mohammed’s name from the final list of candidates for the 2027 Bauchi governorship election.

The legal challenge relies, among other provisions, on Section 187(2) of the Constitution, which extends relevant provisions concerning the qualification and disqualification of a governorship candidate to the deputy governorship candidate.

The suit represents the second legal challenge initiated by the APM against the PRP’s candidates in Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 election.

The party had filed another action a week earlier, challenging the eligibility of the PRP governorship candidate, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, to contest the election.

A member of the Accord Party, Adebukola Ajaja, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the disqualification of all candidates fielded by the party for the 2027 general elections over an alleged breach of electoral and party regulations.

Ajaja, who identified herself as the party’s National Secretary, instituted the suit on October 21, 2026, through her lawyer, Edmund Biriomoni.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2524/2026, names the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Accord Party, its National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, and National Organising Secretary, ThankGod Kenechukwu, as the first to fourth respondents, respectively.

According to court documents obtained by DAILY GAZETTE, the plaintiff alleged that her responsibilities as National Secretary were usurped by Mgbudem and Kenechukwu in the submission of the party’s list of candidates to INEC for the forthcoming elections.

She argued that the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties stipulate the procedures for submitting candidates’ particulars to the electoral commission.

In her application, Ajaja contended that the National Chairman and National Secretary were required to jointly sign and submit the relevant correspondence and EC9 series forms containing the party’s candidates for the 2027 elections.

She challenged letters dated June 30, July 19 and August 5, 2026, alongside Forms EC9(A), EC9(B), EC9(C), EC9(D) and EC9(E), which she alleged were jointly signed and submitted by the third and fourth respondents.

The plaintiff asked the court to declare that the submission of the documents by the National Chairman and National Organising Secretary was unlawful and inconsistent with the applicable provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.

She also sought orders nullifying the disputed letters and candidate forms on the grounds of alleged non-compliance with the relevant legal requirements.

Ajaja further urged the court to grant a perpetual injunction setting aside the documents submitted to INEC, arguing that they were invalid, null and void.

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly paying people between ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 each to attend its Northwest zonal campaign flag-off rally in Kaduna State.

The council claimed that despite the alleged payments and mobilisation of attendees from across the seven states of the Northwest and beyond, the rally at the Kaduna Township Stadium recorded a disappointing turnout.

In a statement reacting to the event, the ADC-PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the rally as a failed attempt by the ruling party to demonstrate its political strength in the region.

According to him, the sparse attendance contradicted the APC’s expectations for an event intended to showcase its popularity ahead of the 2027 general election.

“For a rally billed as the Northwest zonal flag-off, what we witnessed was a shameful spectacle. Despite the alleged mobilisation of crowds from across the zone and beyond, the stadium remained scantily filled, with empty seats everywhere,” Ologbondiyan said.

He further criticised the reception given to speeches by APC leaders, describing the crowd’s response as unenthusiastic and suggesting that the ruling party was losing public acceptance.

The ADC-PCC spokesman also questioned President Bola Tinubu’s reported commissioning of road projects during the event, arguing that the exercise raised concerns about the administration’s claims of achievement.

Ologbondiyan additionally alleged that some rally attendees expressed dissatisfaction with the APC after leaving the venue, chanting “Ba mu yi,” a Hausa expression he interpreted as a rejection of the ruling party and its policies.

He maintained that attendance at political rallies did not necessarily translate into genuine electoral support.

“You can rent a crowd, but you cannot rent acceptance. Even if people attend a rally, that does not mean they have surrendered their convictions. The real test of public support is what Nigerians will decide at the ballot box,” he said.

The opposition campaign council accused the APC of repeating promises made during the 2015, 2019 and 2023 election cycles without adequately accounting for its years in power.

It also criticised Tinubu for allegedly blaming opposition leaders for Nigeria’s economic difficulties rather than taking responsibility for the consequences of his administration’s policies.

The council singled out the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy had increased the financial pressure on households already grappling with rising living costs.

It consequently called on the ruling party to discontinue what it described as wasteful political jamborees, apologise to Nigerians over the prevailing economic hardship and begin preparing for what it termed an orderly transfer of power in 2027.

The ADC-PCC further presented the ADC as a credible alternative, expressing confidence that voters would use the next general election to register their dissatisfaction with the APC-led administration.

“The message from Kaduna is loud and clear: Nigerians are saying ‘Ba mu yi’ to the APC and Tinubu. Come 2027, they will speak even louder with their votes,” Ologbondiyan declared.

The APC had yet to respond to the specific allegations of payments to rally attendees contained in the ADC-PCC statement at the time of this report.

President Bola Tinubu has hit back at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition leaders over their criticism of his administration’s handling of the economy, insisting that they were responsible for creating the hunger and poverty his government is seeking to eradicate.

Tinubu made the remarks on Saturday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign flag-off at the Kaduna Township Stadium in Kaduna State, where he solicited support for his re-election bid in 2027.

The President defended his administration’s economic policies, promising Nigerians prosperity, economic recovery and greater opportunities if given another term in office.

Reacting to opposition criticism of the rising cost of living, Tinubu accused his political rivals of creating the economic challenges they now blame his government for failing to resolve.

“I argue, I hear my opponent talking about hunger, poverty. Who created it? They did. They created the hunger, they created the poverty, we are trying to eradicate it,” the President said.

Tinubu also praised APC governors for their performance, particularly in developing their respective states and ensuring the regular payment of workers’ salaries.

“We pay salaries regularly; our governors are working, and I am proud of them. They are developing. To you, the children of our country, it’s a promise of second-time prosperity. You will not regret going to the polls,” he added.

The President urged party supporters to mobilise voters ahead of the 2027 general election, asking them whether they had obtained their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

He also dismissed the opposition as incapable of offering Nigerians a credible alternative, describing its criticism of his administration as evidence of frustration.

“Our opponents are angry because they are failures. They have nothing to offer you but heckling. We have prosperity, consistency, growth, recovery and opportunity,” Tinubu said.

Addressing concerns over the removal of the petrol subsidy, the President urged Nigerians to move beyond the policy, declaring that the era of subsidy payments was over.

“What is past is the past. Fuel subsidy is in our past. No more corruption. No more falsification of invoices. No more lies. No more smuggling of wealth,” he said.

Tinubu further called on Nigerians to vote for APC candidates across all levels of government, including the presidency, governorships, Senate, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly.

He expressed gratitude to Nigerians for supporting him in the 2023 presidential election and appealed for a renewed mandate, promising a better future for young people.

“Our youth population, thank you. We promise you a better future, a better tomorrow,” the President added.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu for blaming the opposition for hunger and poverty in Nigeria, insisting that the administration must take responsibility for the country’s economic challenges ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was reacting to Tinubu’s remarks at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign flag-off in Kaduna on Saturday, where the President accused the opposition of creating hunger and poverty.

In a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President described Tinubu’s comments as either “delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia.”

Atiku argued that the APC had been in power for several years and could not reasonably blame opposition parties for economic hardship experienced under its administration.

“The APC governed Nigeria for eight years before you took office. You have added another three and a half years. Nigerians know who has been in power, and hardship did not begin when the opposition started talking about it. Stop insulting their intelligence and answer for your record,” he said.

He accused the Tinubu administration of worsening the economic situation, arguing that Nigerians were struggling with the rising cost of living and deserved answers rather than political excuses.

The ADC presidential candidate also faulted the President’s planned inauguration of a section of the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, describing the ceremony as disconnected from the daily realities of ordinary Nigerians.

“A road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon cutting ceremony,” Atiku said.

He further challenged the Federal Government to account for the removal of the petrol subsidy and the depreciation of the naira, which he said had fallen from about ₦471 to ₦1,329 against the dollar.

Atiku also cited a World Bank estimate that 63 per cent of Nigerians would be living below the national poverty line in 2026, using the projection to question the administration’s handling of the economy.

Beyond the cost-of-living crisis, the former Vice President raised questions about federal budget implementation and public expenditure.

He queried the extension of the 2024 budget into 2025 alongside a separate 2025 budget, as well as figures he cited as ₦7.13 trillion recorded under “energy security” in 2024 and ₦11.2 trillion in NNPC pipeline-related spending.

He called on the government to explain the expenditure, disclose the projects and services delivered, and identify the beneficiaries of the funds.

Atiku also demanded clarification over what he described as a $12.4 billion gap in Nigeria’s external accounts in the first half of 2026 and a reported $22.5 million payment in “other charges” associated with an Abu Dhabi financing facility.

On security, he accused the administration of failing to adequately address killings, kidnappings and displacement across the country, insisting that Nigerians were entitled to question the government’s response to the persistent threats.

“You cannot govern for three years, make life harder, and then blame others for describing the hardship. You asked who created the hunger. Nigerians are asking what you have done to end it,” he said.

Atiku maintained that the 2027 presidential election would serve as a referendum on Tinubu’s performance, arguing that voters would assess the administration based on their economic circumstances and experiences in their communities.

“The people will judge your government by the lives they are living, not by the excuses you offer at campaign rallies,” he added.