Politics
ANPP Bloc Threatens Exit From APC If Tinubu Drops Shettima; Makes Fresh Demands
The former All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) bloc within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned President Bola Tinubu against what it described as the continued marginalisation of its members, threatening to exit the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the group, operating under the Association of Former ANPP Members.
The group alleged that both the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the APC blocs had dominated the power structure since the 2015 merger that gave rise to the ruling party.
Naija News reports that the National Coordinator of the group, Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, who read the prepared statement, stated that while the CPC faction had produced a president for eight years and the APC bloc currently holds power, the ANPP bloc has been sidelined despite being the second-largest contributor to the party’s formation.
The group specifically cautioned against any attempt to tamper with the vice presidential position in future elections, insisting it “remains sacrosanct” for the ANPP bloc.
“Millions of former ANPP members across the country voted massively for the APC. It is therefore imperative that the Vice Presidential seat be retained for the ANPP bloc in the 2027 presidential election,” Ajumbe declared.
The bloc urged President Tinubu to urgently address internal party imbalances and ensure equitable distribution of leadership positions among the three legacy parties that merged in 2015.
He stated, “The ticket you are serving will be disappointed if you choose another person outside the ANPP bloc in APC as your vice President.”
He said their position was the outcome of the resolution of the meeting they held a few hours before the press conference.
He said, “A few hours ago, we concluded the leadership meeting of the association of former ANPP members of the APC on behalf of millions of our members across the country where we reviewed issues concerning our membership of the All Peoples Congress, APC.
“We looked into our gains since we merged with the former ACN and CPC to form the APC. When our late national chairman, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu initiated this move to bring ACN, CPC and ANPP together to form a mega Party, our desire then was to form a mega Party that would, not only defeat PDP, but also to give Nigerians good governance. When APC was eventually formed, the interim leadership offices were equitably shared amongst the legacy Parties of ACN, ANPP and CPC plus some factions of PDP, APGA and DPP which joined the merger.
“In the unanimously adopted formula for the sharing of the Party positions, the interim National Chairman was allocated to ACN as it had six serving governors in six states, ANPP which had three governors in three states was allocated the position of interim National Secretary. The CPC , which had one governor, was allocated the position of National Treasurer. A faction of APGA which joined then, was allocated the position of the interim National Organizing Secretary, while the group from DPP, which had no state, was allocated the position of National Auditor. Other remaining offices were equitably shared among the Parties that came together to form APC. We hoped for better days ahead in APC, but the reverse is now the case.”
He alleged that, “The ANPP bloc in APC, suffered serious political marginalization/segregation under late General Muhammadu Buhari as our President for the 8 years of his reign.
“Late Muhammadu Buhari’s abandonment of ANPP where his political career as a member of ANPP started and secured presidential tickets when he ran twice, was quite inhumane. Ideally, he was supposed to treat us like members of his own family, if he had studied his political genealogy-tree very well, but alas, he read it parrot fashion, and that was why he treated us like a club of political pariahs.”
He said, “Our ordeal under Buhari was that President Buhari wasn’t a well-groomed politician like the incumbent President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu who started with parish pump politics, to his current status in Nigerian politics. If politics is truly about equity, justice and fair play, members of the ANPP bloc in the APC should have been given sensitive political positions under President Buhari as the second largest partner of the merger, but we were not, but rather, subjected to nihility and political redundancy.
“ANPP bloc in APC which parades seasoned and tested politicians like, the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, serving governors like Professor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, former governors like Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, Senator Yarima Bakura, Senator Alimodu Sheriff, Senator Adamu Aliero, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Alhaji Isa Yuguda, Senator Abdulazeez Yari, Alhaji Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, Serving and former members of the National Assembly like Senator Ali Ndume, Senator Kawu Sumaila, Senator Barau Jibrin, Senator Mohammed Mungunu, Senator Aliyu Lawal Silver plus many members of the house of Representative and states Houses of Assembly.
“At the APC National Party level, leaders like Chief Emmanuel Eneukwu who is the Deputy National Chairman, South and Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, the National Organizing Secretary etc and my humble self, played very significant important roles including funding the process that led to the formation of APC.
“When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a public-spirited grassroots politician was elected, we thought he was going to change the trend within the shortest possible time, but, to our dismay, the situation is getting even worse under his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The bone of contention is that, out of the appointments so far given out ranging from ministerial, managerial, executive directorship among several other plum/juicy appointments under the Tinubu-led government, the ANPP bloc in APC has been conspicuously left out.
“There was never a time we doubted the political shrewdness of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a thoroughbred politician whose coming as the President and Commander- in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was seen as the coming of the Messiah to set democracy free, by ensuring that equity, justice and fair play are given the free hand to flourish unlike what we witnessed throughout the eight years of his predecessor.
“In the next couple of weeks, we shall start holding our states and zonal meetings to intimate our members on our resolutions.”
The group’s text further read, “To offer our services to this government and Nigerians, the APC government led by our President should consider our members by appointing us as board chairmen, ambassadors, ministers, heads of government agencies and departments.
“Vice presidential seat remains sacrosanct for the former ANPP bloc in APC as the second largest contributor to the formation of APC.
“Since the formation of APC, CPC bloc has ruled for 8 years under the late President Buhari. The ACN bloc is currently occupying the Presidency. Fairness and equity demand that our president should hand over power to the ANPP bloc when his tenure expires in 2031.
“In the next couple of weeks, we shall start holding our states and zonal meetings to intimate our members on our resolutions. We are aware that Mr. President is too – busy and may not be aware of the exclusion of the former ANPP bloc from the scheme of things in the APC led federal government and that is why we are bringing it to his notice.
“We may be tempted to seek for greener political pastures elsewhere should the APC led government led by Senator Bola Ahmed reject us.”
A former House of Representatives aspirant under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Danjuma, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Danjuma, popularly known as Garkuwa Babba, was the ADC aspirant for the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency and also served as National Chairman of the ADC House of Representatives Aspirants Forum.
He announced his defection after meeting with Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, at the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, Naija News understands.
During the meeting, Danjuma declared his support for the APC and pledged to mobilize his political network and grassroots supporters for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said he would support Governor Yahaya’s senatorial ambition, the APC governorship candidate in the state, Dr Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna, and other candidates of the party.
Danjuma said his decision to leave the ADC was largely influenced by Yahaya’s leadership, performance and development record in Gombe State.
He praised the governor for what he described as tangible development across the state, saying his achievements had boosted confidence in the APC and reduced the appeal of opposition parties among voters.
According to him, joining the APC was a deliberate move to support continuity, stability and further development in Gombe State.
Receiving Danjuma, Governor Yahaya welcomed his decision to join the APC, describing the development as a major boost for the party.
The governor assured the new APC member and his supporters of an inclusive and united party, stressing the importance of unity, loyalty and collective effort.
Yahaya said the APC remained open to individuals and groups who shared the vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Gombe State.
He added that Danjuma’s political experience, network and grassroots reach would be valuable to the party.
The governor also urged APC members and stakeholders to remain united, saying the strength of the party depended on its ability to accommodate different interests while working towards the development of Gombe State.
“These men and women will carry the ADC banner and our commitment to offer Nigerians credible leadership and a real alternative,” the party said.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has released the names of its governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the 2027 elections in 28 states
The list, signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, includes several prominent politicians and former public officials seeking to contest the poll.
“These men and women will carry the ADC banner and our commitment to offer Nigerians credible leadership and a real alternative,” Mr Abdullahi wrote in a post on X on Friday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the governorship elections for 6 February, 2027. It will hold alongside the state House of Assembly elections.
The remaining eight states hold their governorship elections outside of the regular election season as a result of previous court decisions. The eight states are Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun.
The presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on 16 January, 2027.
ADC governorship candidates
The candidates and their running mates are Kalu Agu and Alozie Darlington (Abia); Modibbo Ribadu and Aguwa Iliya (Adamawa); and Akpanudedehe James and Nsien Tommy (Akwa Ibom); Halliru Jika and Sama’ila Mohammed Kabir (Bauchi); Herman Iorwase Hembe and Abba John Abba (Benue); Babagana Buhari and Mamman Dauda (Borno); Nkoyo Toyo and OkwoChe Andrew Adagbor (Cross River; and Great Ogboru and Afiari Gloria (Delta).
Others are Ukpai Mba Udeh and Onwe Daniel Ede (Ebonyi); Ocho Obodeze Chukwuma and Eze Arinze Christopher (Enugu); Bala Bello and Bala Sani Isa (Gombe); Sabo Mohammed Nakudu and Musa Ya’u Balarabe (Bauchi); and Isa Mohammed Ashiru and Kantiok Irmiya Ishaku (Kaduna).
There are also Ibrahim Ali Amin and Shehu Abdulkadir Bari (Kano); Ahmad Baba Kaita and Aminu Yar’Adua Ahmed (Katsina), Abubakar Malami and Zagi Musa Mohammed (Kebbi); Zakari Mohammed and Olawuyi Julius Olayide (Kwara); Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and Gbadamosi Babatunde Olalere (Lagos).
The list also includes Nuhu Angbazo and Ahmed Yusuf (Nasarawa); Mohammed Kpautagi and Musa Mamman (Niger); Biodun Collins Ogundipe and Muraina Oluwaranti Oluyemi (Ogun); Taofeek Adegboyega Adegoke and Wahab Adeniyi (Oyo); and John Sunday Sura and Pwajok-Kele Chundung Bitrus (Plateau).
The remaining candidates are Gabriel Pidomson and Okumgba David Amapakaye (Rivers); Manir Mohammad Daniya and Isah Bello Ambarura (Sokoto); Abubakar Umar Tutare and Kwetishe Haruna Kwenyan (Taraba); Kassim G. Gaidam and Kori Lawan Mohammed (Yobe); and Shinkafi Bilyaminu Yusuf and Muhammad Abdulmuddalib Auwal (Zamfara).
ADC performance in off-cycle elections
Since the ADC was adopted as the platform for the opposition coalition in 2025, it has struggled to make a significant impact in the three off-cycle elections held in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun off-cycle governorship elections.
In the 2025 Anambra governorship election, APGA’s Chukwuma Soludo was re-elected with 422,664 votes, defeating APC’s Nicholas Ukachukwu, who polled 99,445 votes. John Nwosu, the ADC candidate, finished fifth with 8,208 votes, representing about 1.4 per cent of the 584,054 valid votes cast.
In the 2026 Ekiti governorship election, the ADC candidate, Dare Bejide, finished third with 12,872 votes, accounting for about 3.4 per cent of the 375,777 valid votes cast.
In last month’s Osun governorship election, the ADC candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 1.7 per cent (17,180) of the 985,079 valid votes cast.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the exit of global ride-hailing brand Uber from Nigeria, alongside the shutdown or scaling down of operations by several major international companies, as further evidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies are turning Nigeria into a “graveyard of businesses.”
Naija News reports that global ride-hailing company, Uber, had announced the shutdown of its operations in Nigeria, bringing an end to a 12-year presence in the country.
The company said its services would cease in Nigeria from September 2, 2026, following a review of its business operations
Uber disclosed the decision in a statement issued on Wednesday, describing its departure from the Nigerian market as a difficult one.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the growing list of businesses shutting down, scaling back or leaving the country exposes the widening gap between the government’s claims of economic progress and the reality confronting businesses and ordinary Nigerians.
The party said it was particularly astonishing that President Tinubu and his government were celebrating a marginal 0.2 percentage-point improvement in GDP at a time when businesses are closing, jobs are disappearing and millions of Nigerians are sinking deeper into poverty.
“Certainly, a 0.2% growth does not justify the extreme hardship that Nigerians are suffering,” the party said.
He argued that while the Tinubu government celebrates a marginal improvement of 0.2 percentage points, Nigeria’s poverty rate has snowballed to 63%, affecting an estimated 140 million Nigerians.
The ADC also asked President Tinubu to explain 0.2% GDP growth to the 140 million Nigerians who have sunk into poverty since he came to power; the workers who have watched the value of their salaries disappear; businesses that have struggled with energy costs; and millions who have been forced to reduce the quantity and quality of food on their tables.
“When the President and his party say things are getting better, we expect them to tell us what has improved in the lives of Nigerians. They should tell us how much food their “GDP growth” has put on the tables. They should tell us which bill it has paid. If 0.2% is a mark of success in their books, President Tinubu and APC should tell us what they consider as failure,” the ADC said.
The party said that Uber’s exit after twelve years in Nigeria reflects the increasingly hostile operating environment confronting businesses, particularly the soaring cost of energy and transportation, with the price of fuel rising by as much as 1,700% following the removal of fuel subsidy and devaluation of the naira.
“This is precisely why the ADC Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has proposed the restoration of a targeted fuel subsidy to bring down the cost of fuel, transportation and production,” the party said.
It also cited the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria’s earlier report that 767 manufacturing companies, including 20 iconic global brands, have shut down or ceased operations in Nigeria, while hundreds more are distressed since President Tinubu assumed office in 2024. It listed among the companies that have shut down or scaled down operations in the country to include Microsoft, Jumia and Bolt Food, Pick n Pay, Shoprite, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Sanofi-Aventis, Bayer AG, Procter & Gamble, Unilever and PZ Cussons, among others.
“Therefore, when the President announces that Nigeria has turned the corner, we wonder which corner he is talking about. If indeed the economy is improving, or the slightest hope exists in the minds of those who run these businesses that this APC government can improve the economy, why are they closing shop and moving elsewhere?” ADC asked, citing the example of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which it said shut down manufacturing in Nigeria after 50 years.
“The painful truth is that Tinubu has turned Nigeria into a graveyard of businesses. Every business that shuts down or pulls out is a vote of no confidence in the Tinubu administration and its capacity to manage the economy. Each exit delivers a blow to the economy. But perhaps, more importantly, each one represents a massive loss of jobs and increased poverty.
“Therefore, when the APC and its government celebrate even the most negligible shift in GDP numbers and flaunt that as evidence to show that things are getting better, they are immediately contradicted by the painful reality that Nigerians are getting poorer and hungrier. Those who had jobs yesterday are not sure how long it will take before their employers close shop, and those earning salaries are struggling even to transport themselves to work,” the party concludes.
ADC reiterated that its presidential candidate’s plan to subsidise the production costs of fuel to make it more affordable will bring down the cost of living, make businesses more profitable, and create jobs across sectors.
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