Politics
Ebonyi SDP Chair Predicts APC Fall In 2027
The Social Democratic Party says it’s strengthening its grassroots base, just as it’s capitalising on growing dissatisfaction among Nigerians in the face of a biting economy. In this interview with EDWARD NNACHI, the Ebonyi State Chairman of SDP, Dr Kingsley Agbor, speaks on Nigeria’s 26 years of democracy, and his party’s preparedness for the 2027 elections
How has your party fared recently in Ebonyi State?
As former President Goodluck Jonathan once said, when you’re putting up poles and wiring, no one notices. It’s only when the lights come on that people begin to pay attention. That’s exactly what we’re doing in SDP. We’re laying structures, connecting grassroots networks, and consolidating our position. We are active in all 13 Local Government Areas and have executive members in virtually every electoral ward in Ebonyi State. But because we’re in opposition, we are moving quietly and strategically. We want to take people by surprise. Soon, they’ll start asking, ‘Where has SDP been all this while?’
There’s this general belief the SDP is ‘lifeless’ in Ebonyi State. What’s your take?
There is one saying that people who pound their mortar loudly every night at times have the impression that the other people who you don’t hear them pound go hungry. Now, what do I mean? The ruling party, because they are in control of the resources and all that, they are free to make all the noise and all that. They believe erroneously that there is no other person existing. But because we are in opposition, we need to get our act right, and our tactics right, and the only tactic we are using is to go underground. And yes, other persons who are out there will believe that life has been snuffed out from SDP. But I can tell you that we are very much alive, and we will take them by surprise. So, it is not true that life has been snuffed out from SDP in Ebonyi State.
On June 12, Nigeria marked 26 years of uninterrupted democracy. Do you think Nigerians have truly enjoyed democratic governance?
Let’s not forget: the spirit of June 12 came from SDP, the platform on which the late MKO Abiola won the 1993 election. That said, when you evaluate Nigeria’s democracy by its core definition — government of the people, by the people, and for the people — you’ll see we’ve fallen short. Government of the people? It implies the people elect their leaders. But with the current electoral system, from INEC to the judiciary, the will of the people is often subverted. So, no, we haven’t achieved that. And government for the people? Let’s look around. How many homes have pipe-borne water? How many communities enjoy stable electricity, accessible healthcare, or quality public schools? Democracy is meant to benefit the people. But what we see is economic hardship — a crate of eggs now costs ₦7,000. Is that progress? I can say that we have just been surviving but whether the core mandate of democracy has been delivered, the answer is no!
So, are you saying we are living in deception?
Yes, we are purely living in deception. I took my time to explain it — government for the people, of the people, and by the people. When you put it line by line, you will see that we haven’t met any of the aspects of democracy.
What’s the way forward?
The way forward is what the SDP is trying to do or what the SDP has been doing. And what have we been doing? We are continuously advocating, mobilising, and sensitising the people to bring about the change. Regrettably, we never had the opportunity in 1993 because many people had in mind that, peradventure they allowed MKO Abiola to govern Nigeria, by today we will not be where we are. Where N2,000 cannot buy a loaf of bread. Where we cannot fly from Enugu to Lagos without spending less than N125,000. These are very disheartening. A journey of not more than 45 minutes, you are spending more than N30,000 just from Enugu to Lagos. The way forward is what we are doing now, continue holding these people by their words, and continue advocating and mobilising people. You see, my heart bleeds anytime I see this type of defection going on. Where are you defecting to? Defecting to a government that has made lives more terrible for its people? A government where its today is better than tomorrow? So, the way forward is that we keep on advocating, we keep on mobilising, and we hope that come 2027, we are going to get it right because SDP is poised and is fully ready and prepared to take us to where we should have been taken in 1993.
Governor Francis Nwifuru marked two years in office on May 29. What’s your rating of his administration?
Coming to score the government — unfortunately, I won’t score him high. Just like the government of David Umahi, which I described as cosmetic governance because in governance, we have hard-core governance and cosmetic governance. What is cosmetic governance? Just like when you see a lady with make-up and the rest of it, it does not solve anything. I have asked someone to tell me how much all the flyovers David Umahi built in Ebonyi State generates into the coffers of Ebonyi State. How many people have those flyovers employed and taken away from the job market? The answer is none. Until the government addresses this, it is purely cosmetic. Unfortunately, Nwifuru has equally followed the step of cosmetic governance instead of hard-core governance. What do I mean by hard-core governance? Let me give an example. Former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai entered into a partnership with a Dutch firm to establish Olam Farms, a mega hatchery and agro-processing enterprise. That initiative provides direct and indirect employment to over 10,000 people and contributes massively to the state’s economy. In contrast, how many Ebonyi people got jobs through the flyovers? What revenue have they generated? Until we embrace hardcore governance that drives the economy and uplifts lives, I cannot give the Nwifuru administration a pass mark. So, I won’t score Nwifuru high until he goes into hard-core governance.
You appear to be a lone ranger in this game. Is there any chance of you defecting to the ruling party ahead of 2027, just like others have done?
Why should I defect to a government I just described as cosmetic? I’ve chosen the path of service through hard-core governance. I’ll stay on the side that advocates for true change. I just told you—what they are giving us is cosmetic governance and I won’t want to be part of cosmetic governance, so that when I’m gone, one million years after, they will say it is the government of so-so people that did this. You still hear of Sam Mbakwe, and Jim Nwobodo — you still hear of those people. Sam Mbakwe wasn’t that rich, but if you go to Owerri you will see his legacy there.
How prepared is your party to take over the reins of governance in Ebonyi State?
The 2027 election is not going to be between PDP or any party and APC, it is going to be Nigeria and APC, and they are looking for a very organised platform. That platform we have is SDP. We are fully ready. Like I told you, we are going underground. If I tell you the number of supporters we have, you will be amazed. Whatever thing we are doing now, we are fully ready. You will be surprised at the kind of people that will emerge — that will pick up SDP tickets. They might not be the popular people you know every day. No! We are getting hardcore people who have travelled far and wide.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, said those championing the coalition against President Tinubu are not credible and can’t unseat him. What’s your take?
Now, you see that he has the arrogance and free will to say anything he wants to say. But I want to tell you what El-Rufai told us. He said in 2013, when they were regrouping into APC to unseat PDP, all they heard was, “You can’t remove an incumbent government, he has control of the police, INEC is in his pocket, he has all the money.” But he said, “Will you allow yourself to get distracted?” They said all the answers they gave to them, they appreciated and said ‘thank you’ and went underground. They were told they were wasting their time. He said six months into that election, they were very sure they had won because all they needed to do, they had done. They went door-to-door and saw that Nigerians had already changed their minds. I’m not surprised about what he (Umahi) said; he is the current Minister of Works and can say all he needs to say. But I want to assure you that just as it happened in 2015, nobody believed it was going to happen because they were working underground. I want to assure you that it will happen. When it happens now, unfortunately, and disappointingly, people like David Umahi will be among the first to defect back to SDP, so, that he will take power. It is very unfortunate.
Punchng.com
..Likely Successor of Mahmood Yakubu
Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) has alleged emerged as the likely candidate to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
SaharaReporters exclusively reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed Yakubu to proceed on leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure.
Insider sources described the move as a response to what they termed Yakubu’s “last-minute betrayal” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government that appointed him.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma reportedly met with President Tinubu shortly after the president returned from a 12-day working vacation, alleging that Yakubu’s efforts to register new political parties toward the end of his tenure had disrupted Tinubu’s preparations for a second term.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the governor also claimed that Yakubu was covertly supporting a candidate in the Imo State governorship election.
Following this briefing, Tinubu reportedly requested that Yakubu suspend all official duties and proceed on terminal leave.
The directive caused disruptions at INEC, leading to the abrupt cancellation of Yakubu’s final quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, as well as a planned session with civil society organisations.
The president is expected to submit the name of a new INEC chairman to the National Assembly in the coming days, with sources identifying Prof. Amupitan as the likely nominee.
Yakubu’s current five-year term is set to expire in the first week of December 2025, marking the conclusion of his 10-year service.
He was first appointed INEC Chairman on October 21, 2015, by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, succeeding acting chairperson Amina Zakari. Following Senate confirmation on October 29, 2015, he was sworn in on November 9, 2015.
After completing his first term in November 2020, Yakubu was nominated for a second and final term by President Buhari, confirmed by the Senate, and sworn in on December 1, 2020.
“Tinubu is shopping for Prof. Yakubu’s replacement, and Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan is likely to be the next INEC Chairman,” a top government source told SaharaReporters.
Amupitan’s Profile
Amupitan is a legal scholar and administrator with over 34 years of academic and professional experience. A native of Ijumu Local Government Area in Kogi State, he is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Yemisi Amupitan, and together they are blessed with four children.
Amupitan began his academic journey at the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer. He steadily rose through the academic ranks, becoming a Reader in 2003 and a Professor of Law in 2008.
Over the years, he has held several key administrative positions, including Head of Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and a member of the University’s Governing Council.
He has also served on the Governing Councils of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Council of Legal Education. Today, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos.
In December 2023, Professor Amupitan was inaugurated as the second Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), thereby affording him affiliation with the school.
According to records online, he obtained his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Jos in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing the Barrister at Law program at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
He went on to earn a Master of Law degree in 1993 and a Ph.D. in Law in 2007, both from the University of Jos. In recognition of his achievements in the legal profession, he was conferred with the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.
His areas of specialisation include the Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, and Privatisation Law.
Throughout his career, Amupitan has contributed to research, focusing on the legal frameworks for privatisation, reform of electoral laws, and reforms in petroleum and corporate governance laws.
He is an active member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the National Association of Law Teachers.
– Source: SaharaReporters
It is no longer a matter of speculation that former President Goodluck Jonathan is contemplating a bid for the presidency in the 2027 election, as evidenced by his numerous consultations with prominent political figures in Nigeria.
Jonathan seems to remain uncomfortable with the manner in which he lost the 2025 presidential election to the late Muhammadu Buhari, who notably became the first opposition candidate in Nigeria’s history to successfully unseat a sitting president. …Click the link to continue reading.
Several months ago, high-ranking stakeholders from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) reportedly traveled to The Gambia to engage with Jonathan and persuade him to accept the party’s nomination for the upcoming election.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, has recently positioned himself as a facilitator in both national and continental matters, particularly concerning conflict resolution and the enhancement of democratic practices throughout Africa and beyond.
Political expetrs assert that the recent decision by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP to designate the 2027 presidential ticket for candidates from the Southern region was a strategic move intended to create favorable conditions for Jonathan’s candidacy.
During a speech in Benin City, at the 70th birthday celebration of his longtime ally and former Chief of Staff, Mike Aiyegbeni Oghiadomhe, Jonathan expressed sentiments of betrayal by individuals he had previously placed his trust in during his re-election campaign.
Most recently, a significant meeting took place in Abuja between former President Jonathan and Senator David Mark, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
However, Jonathan’s aspiration to secure a nomination from the coalition party may face challenges, as Senator Mark clearly indicated that the only pathway to attaining the party’s nomination would require Jonathan to formally join the ADC and actively participate in a transparent presidential primary process.
On September 12, 2025, Jonathan extended his consultations to Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate from the Labour Party (LP), engaging in discussions in Abuja concerning potential strategies for forming a unified opposition front in anticipation of the 2027 presidential election.
In recent months, the prospect of Jonathan and Obi as potential challengers to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has garnered considerable attention.
Following various reports regarding his prospective return to Aso Villa in 2027, Jonathan privately visited notable former military leaders, Generals Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Minna, Niger State, on September 15, 2022.
During separate meetings with the two leaders, Jonathan characterized his visits as routine engagements with esteemed elder statesmen, emphasizing, “The visit is simply a regular occurrence, particularly as I am the youngest of all former leaders. It also provided an opportunity to check in on General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who has recently returned from medical treatment, and to visit General Babangida.”
Moreover, former Minister of Information and Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, has publicly stated that Jonathan will indeed contest in the 2027 presidential election, positioning him as the flagbearer for the PDP.
Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has further expressed his belief that Jonathan represents the PDP’s strongest candidate for the 2027 presidential election, urging concerted efforts from the party to facilitate his return as a viable contender.
As the sitting president and a significant political figure, it is improbable that Goodluck Jonathan, despite extensive consultations, would be able to defeat Bola Tinubu. In the 2023 elections, regardless of the challenges he faced with his political party, he emerged victorious and continues to serve as president, commanding respect from both his supporters and opponents alike.
2027 Election: Be Careful To Contest Under The Party – Primate Ayodele Sends Warning To Jonathan
Former Kwara governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and ex-lawmaker Abubakar Amuda Kannike have officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and are now key leaders in the party ADC chieftain
Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq confirmed the high-profile defections, describing the party as a credible alternative to both APC and PDP in Kwara State
Several other prominent politicians, including former Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, are also strengthening ADC grassroots structures ahead of future political contests
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kwara state has confirmed that former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and ex-federal lawmaker, Honourable Abubakar Amuda Kannike, have officially joined the party and are now playing significant leadership roles.
This was disclosed by a party chieftain, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, during a Yoruba-language interview monitored by Legit.ng.
Abdulfatah Ahmed served as governor of Kwara state from 2011 to 2019, while Abubakar Amuda Kannike represented the Ilorin East/Ilorin South constituency in the House of Representatives between 2015 and 2019.
According to the ADC chieftain, the former governor and other top political figures in the state have now repositioned themselves within the ADC, which he described as a “credible alternative” to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He explained: “Many of the politicians who resigned from the PDP in Kwara have already joined us. They are now our members. Some people think that because certain politicians have not made public declarations, they are hiding. That is not true. Former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is with us. He is in Ilorin now, actively engaged in ADC activities.”
The ADC leader added that several other prominent politicians, including former Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, are also involved with the party, even if their schedules sometimes take them outside the state.
He continued: “Recently, Hon. Amuda Kannike, the former House of Representatives member, was around for his daughter’s wedding, and he is fully with us. Danladi from Offa is also back home. Zakari Mohammed is around too. Oba Aluko is here as well. All these leaders have returned to the grassroots to strengthen ADC. Our focus remains on the grassroots, because that is where real politics begins.”
Abdulrasaq also disclosed that his defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ADC brought with it all the party’s structures in the state. “As a former chieftain of NNPP, I moved with all the 193 ward chairmen and the 16 local government chairmen of NNPP into ADC. They are all now members of ADC,” he said.
He stressed that former Governor Ahmed and Hon. Kannike are not just members but leaders actively giving directives to the ADC in Kwara.
“The former governor is among our leaders and one of those giving us direction in the party. He is fully committed to the progress of Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole. This is the reason he joined ADC,” Abdulrasaq said.
He further emphasised what makes the ADC different from other political parties. “What sets ADC apart from APC and PDP is our guiding principle.
We have vowed before God not to treat the people the way other politicians have treated them. We will not manipulate the people or exploit them. That is our commitment.”
Atiba Varsity Tasks New Staff, Places Premium On Academic Excellence
Tell Trump This: Primate Ayodele Sends Warning To Donald Trump In New Prophecy
