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Okonkwo Confirms Open 2027 Coalition Ticket

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Okonkwo Confirms Open 2027 Coalition Ticket

The lawyer said southerners and northerners won’t be stopped from contesting the presidential ticket of the coalition.

A member of the new political coalition aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said that the presidential ticket of the political alignment will not be zoned to any region in particular.

Okonkwo, who was the spokesperson for the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi, said that aspirants from both the Northern and Southern region of the country would be allowed to contest for the ticket.

The lawyer, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, said no one would be stopped from contesting for the ticket of the coalition.

“I have said it clearly, nobody is going to stop anybody from contesting for the presidential ticket in the coalition, nobody,” he said.

Asked if having another president from the North would be considered as being balanced by Nigerians after Muhammadu Buhari completed eight uninterrupted years before the emergence of Tinubu, Okonkwo proposed a six-year single tenure.

He said, “Politicians have shown that it is very difficult to trust them even when the person promises one term. So, if somebody has taken a term from the South and it is in the middle of the game and the person is not performing like Tinubu, you are going to get into a problem.

“If you get another Southerner, he is going to stay there for eight years. The North will say no, this is injustice. Nobody will allow Tinubu to continue because he is not performing.

“So, the best is to throw it open. When the best comes in, every other person will support him and the person will promise to do four years.”

He reiterated his earlier position that he does not support some of the leaders of the coalition, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to emerge as the candidate of the new alignment.

‘I didn’t betray Obi’
Okonkwo also denied what he referred to as insinuation by Obi that he betrayed him, saying that he was loyal to the former Anambra State governor whilst he worked for him as a spokesperson.

“When I worked for him, I never consulted any politician, I never talked with any political party, I was 100 per cent loyal; not 99. When I left I told the whole world.

“I said from now onwards, I am not going to speak for this person again. They don’t understand what betrayal means. But again, anybody writing anything against me is a reflection of who that person is, not a reflection of who I am,” Okonkwo said.

‘Tinubu’s govt worst in Nigeria’s history’
Okonkwo also spoke strongly against the Tinubu’s administration, saying that it is the worst government in the history of Nigeria.

He said he never thought any government would be worse than that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that floating of the naira by Tinubu was a “terrible thing to do.”

The former actor said that rather than floating the naira, Tinubu should have made policies that would sustain the currency by making exportation higher than importation.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the National Opposition Coalition Group (NOCG), comprising major national political figures, including a former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register its newly formed political party, All Democratic Alliance (ADA).

The group is chaired by a former Senate President, David Mark.

Channelstv.com

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Politics

TINUBU 2027: Fayose Stakes ₦10m, Mocks City Boys Rally

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A Nigerian businessman and social media personality, Isaac Fayose, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will struggle to secure meaningful votes in Nigeria’s South-East region during the 2027 presidential election.

Fayose made the statement while reacting to the recent political mobilisation by the City Boys Movement in Imo State. The group, which is widely associated with Seyi Tinubu, had visited the state earlier in the week as part of efforts to build grassroots support for President Tinubu ahead of the next general election.

The gathering reportedly took place in Owerri and featured the presence of several public figures, including socialite and businessman Pascal Okechukwu. However, the outing quickly drew criticism online after images and videos circulated on social media suggesting a modest turnout at the event.

Reacting to the development on his Facebook page, Fayose mocked the rally and questioned the level of support the president enjoys in the South-East.

He wrote, “The city boys movement outing in Owerri Imo state yesterday was a show of shame …
Security operatives wey Dey there pass the crowd.”

The businessman went further to challenge supporters of the president, insisting that Tinubu would struggle to secure a significant share of votes from the region if the election is conducted fairly.

“I am ready to bet any of them with 10 million naira. President Tinubu won’t get 20% of the total vote cast come 2027”.

The South-East region has historically recorded low electoral support for Tinubu’s political platform. During the 2023 presidential election, voting patterns across several states in the zone showed overwhelming backing for opposition candidates.

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Just In: Court Stops Top Governor From Seeking Re-Election, Gives Reason

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Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been stopped from contesting the 2028 governorship election in the state The Federal High Court in Akure, the state capital, gave the ruling on Thursday, March 12, citing the Supreme Court judgment that presidents and governors can spend more than eight years in office Thus, the governor, who has been sworn in twice, would be spending more than eight years should he win the 2028 governorship election

The Federal High Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo state capital, has ruled that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state did not have the legal right to contest the 2028 governorship election in the state.

According to the trial court, electing the governor would be a violation of the constitutional limit of eight years in office. Justice Adegoke delivered the judgment that Aiyedatiwa cannot seek re-election in 2028 on Thursday, March 12.

Recall that Aiyedatiwa first assumed office on December 27, 2023, after the death of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. He was again sworn in on February 24, 2025, after he was declared the winner of the November 16, 2024, governorship election in the state.

According to The Tribune, the court held that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) does not allow a president or governor to stay in office for over eight years, citing the decision of the Supreme Court in Marwa v. Nyako to support its claim. A member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Akin Egbuwalo, through his lawyer, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), sought the interpretation of Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, as it relates to the tenure of the governor.

Reacting to the court ruling in an interview on Channels TV, the governor explained that he did not see it coming, citing that he was only in office to govern and was not even thinking of re-election for now. He added that he will only contest if the people want him to continue and the constitution permits it.

His comment has started generating reactions from Nigerians. Below are some of their comments:

Safety Cabal

“The Governor is more interested in future opportunities to contest; he has not justified the essence of his being elected. I pity the people of Ondo State.”

Okilori criticised the governor:

“Ondo state is so unfortunate to have this man as Governor. Despite all support masses gave him during Aketi situation and sickness.”

Taiwo alleged that the governor did not have any capital project to point to:

“Baba won do another term by fire by force, the man no get anything to offer the state, no better capital project , 3 more years to go.”

Onyeka Clinton urged the media house to fix the transmission problem:

“Does this station know that its clips blink? Please, they should work on it so that it will be easy for us to watch online post. Sometimes I wonder if they don’t notice it.”

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JUST IN: Top Female Senator Dumps PDP For APC, Details Emerge

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Lagos PDP Chair Absent As Bode George Launches LG Campaign

Senator Ipalibo Banigo has officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Banigo’s defection letter was read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

As reported by The Punch, the federal lawmaker said her decision to join APC is to advance development in Rivers State and President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Banigo, representing Rivers West Senatorial District, said her decision is intended to align politically with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“The decision follows extensive consultations with my constituents, my political associates, and critical stakeholders across my senatorial district, given the prevailing internal divisions, protracted leadership disputes, and ongoing litigations within the People’s Democratic Party, which have adversely affected cohesion.

“This decision is also predicated on my resolve to join my political mentor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in supporting President Bola Tinubu, to actualize his re-election bids and enable the President to continue his evident economic reforms, which have significantly improved the economic situation, enhanced currency stability, and driven numerous infrastructural developments across our dear nation.”

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