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The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has rejected the call by the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) to contest the 2027 presidential election with either Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal or Adamawa State Governor Umar Fintiri as his running mate. The prominent coalition, comprising 40 groups, made the appeal yesterday after a courtesy visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The President of NYLF, Comrade Eliot Afiyo, who named Obasanjo as the group’s patron, listed the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate,…

2027: Tinubu Can’t Lose with Strong Allies Like Orji Uzor Kalu, Yari, Ganduje, Ibori—Lamido The Pioneer Leader of Arewa Summit International, Dr. Bashir Lamido, has ruled out the possibility of incumbent President Ahmed Bola Tinubu losing re-election in 2027. He stated that the strong backing of political heavyweights would make it practically impossible for Tinubu to lose. Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the Abuja Expo and Ruhe Global Resources International Education Fair held on Wednesday in Abuja, Lamido named Abdul’aziz Yari, Orji Uzor Kalu, Abdullahi Ganduje, and James Ibori as prominent politicians whose cooperation with Tinubu would weaken…

SDP National Youth Leader, Ogbonna, Welcomes Mallam El-Rufai, Urges Nigerian Youths to Join Party As former Kaduna State Governor and FCT Minister, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, officially joins the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the party’s National Youth Leader, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogbonna, FCIHRM, has warmly welcomed him into the SDP family. This move, seen as a strategic realignment ahead of the 2027 elections, was celebrated by Dr. Ogbonna, who described it as a beacon of hope for Nigerian youths and the country at large. In a press statement personally signed in Abuja and made available to journalists, Dr. Ogbonna hailed El-Rufai’s…

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu Mourns Ex-Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Dubem Onyia Former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has expressed sadness over the passing of former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia. Onyia, who served as a minister from 1999 to 2003 and was earlier elected to the House of Representatives in 1999, died on Monday at an Abuja hospital after a brief illness. In a statement on Tuesday, Kalu described Onyia as a seasoned diplomat, astute politician, and dedicated patriot who contributed immensely to Nigeria’s foreign relations and national development. “The news of Chief…

Ex-Foreign Affairs Minister Dubem Onyia Is Dead Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and ex-member of the House of Representatives, Chief Dubem Onyia, has passed away. Onyia, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 before resigning to serve as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 1999 to 2003, died on Monday at an Abuja hospital following a brief illness, The Sun reported. A seasoned diplomat and politician, Onyia played a key role in Nigeria’s foreign relations, holding strategic positions such as Chairman of the International Technical Commission for the National Boundary Commission, Chairman of the…

Odumeje Declares Presidential Ambition, Says Nigeria Needs Young Leaders, Not ‘Old Cargoes’ Anambra-based cleric, Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly known as Odumeje, has declared his intention to run for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027, stating that the country needs young, digital-minded leaders instead of “old cargoes.” Odumeje made the announcement during a sermon on Sunday, a video of which has since gone viral on social media. However, he did not disclose the political party under which he plans to contest. With the next presidential election scheduled for 2027, political actors have already begun making moves ahead of the polls. He said, “Both…

Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has made a surprising statement about Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate. In a post on his X handle, Bashir admitted that his perception of Obi had changed significantly. “Peter Obi is surprisingly not a bad person after all. My views on him have changed recently. My mind was poisoned by my former party members,” he revealed. His statement has sparked reactions across social media, with many interpreting it as a shift in political loyalty. He even concluded with “Sai Obi!”—a phrase that seems to express newfound support…

Ex-Kaduna Governor Mallam El-Rufai Dumps APC, Joins SDP The immediate-past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufa’i, has resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress and defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In a statement he issued on Monday, El-Rufai expressed his disappointment with the APC’s leadership style, accusing the leadership of the party of straying from the progressive ideals of its founding members. At this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish. I have now decided to join the…

Dr Uzor Ngoladi Unveiled as Director of Arthur Nwankwo Institute of Education and Intellectual Freedom at the Launch of Athena Centre Institutes in Abuja The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership officially launched its flagship initiative, the Athena Centre Institutes, at a prestigious event held in Abuja on March 5, 2025. The highlight of the launch was the unveiling of Dr Uzor Ngoladi as the pioneer Director of the Arthur Nwankwo Institute of Education and Intellectual Freedom, one of the key institutes under the Athena Centre umbrella. The Arthur Nwankwo Institute of Education and Intellectual Freedom is established to honor…

Ex-Presidential Aide, Doyin Okupe Is Dead Dr. Doyin Okupe, a Nigerian physician, politician, and former presidential aide, has died. He passed away at the age of 72. According to sources close to the family, Dr. Okupe had been critically ill in the weeks leading up to his demise. His health had reportedly deteriorated significantly, prompting concern among his loved ones and supporters. SaharaReporters confirmed that his death was linked to cancer, marking the end of a long struggle with the illness. In October 2023  Okupe was hospitalised with prostate cancer and was flown to Israel for treatment. However, it was…