“The legal luminary also stressed the need for the movement of experienced lawyers from the Bar to the Bench.”
Politics
2027: PDP Must Be Ready To Form Alliances – Lamido
Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has urged leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to prepare to ally with other political parties if the national leadership fails to resolve its deepening crisis.
Lamido said he would lead the PDP in Jigawa into such alliances to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
The former governor made the declaration on Monday during a meeting held at his office with PDP leaders and supporters from all 27 local government areas of Jigawa State.
Speaking to the gathering, Lamido, who governed the state from 2007 to 2015, briefed party faithful on the leadership tussle that has effectively paralyzed the PDP national headquarters.
He revealed that the party’s national secretariat remained under a police lockdown as rival factions continue to vie for control of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Despite national paralysis, Lamido assured that the PDP leadership in Jigawa State remained “intact” and ready to act upon clear directives.
Before the meeting, he reportedly held discussions with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Senate President Bukola Saraki in efforts to explore solutions to the unfolding crisis.
Lamido said the fate of the PDP now rested with governors Bala Muhammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), as well as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He confirmed that the party’s reconciliation committee, led by Saraki, had consulted with the governors and Wike in a bid to broker peace within the party.
Lamido, a founding member of the PDP since 1998, said a failure of internal reconciliation would make alliances with other opposition parties unavoidable.
He told the gathering, “If reconciliation fails, alliances, not coalitions, will become inevitable.
“You know there is a difference between alliance and coalition; we are going to form alliances with any of the opposition parties.”
He said the outcome of the reconciliation efforts would be communicated to grassroots leaders on Wednesday, after which the party in Jigawa would be shown “the direction to follow.”
No Merger, But Strategic Partnerships
Lamido clarified that the PDP was not considering a merger with other parties but rather a strategic alliance, a move he described as capable of reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 polls.
His comments come amid concerns among his supporters that he might defect, particularly after his inability to purchase the nomination form to contest the National Chairman post, a matter he is currently pursuing in court.
Despite his long association with the party, Lamido criticised PDP governors, lawmakers and leaders, accusing them of neglecting the party’s unity and prioritising personal interests over the collective survival of the party.
The crisis at the heart of the PDP, which has led to high‑profile defections to the APC, remains a power struggle over the position of National Chairman, with internal fractures deepening since the 2023 general elections.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Wole Olanipekun, has urged the Olu badan of Ibadan land, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to bring his wealth of experience as a seasoned administrator and foremost traditional ruler to bear in uniting traditional rulers in the Southwest region.
Advocating for a unified identity among the traditional rulers in the region, the legal luminary said traditional rulers can only advance the course of the region with unity of purpose.
Olanipekun made the plea during a courtsey visit to the Olubadan at his Oke-Aremo palace, Ibadan on Tuesday.
He urged the monarch to bring his wealth of experience as former governor, senator and entrepreneur to bear in the interest of the traditional institution in the region.
He described Oba Ladoja as a leading figure among the traditional rulers in Yorubaland, noting the history of the ancient town and the role that it played in wading off the invasion of the Fulani Jihadist.
He said, “It is of note how Ibadan warlords fought gallantly to defend the territorial integrity of the Yorubaland during Kiriji war, Ijaiye war, Jalumi to mention but few.
“With all these in minds, people are looking unto Ladoja as a foremost tradional rulers to bring his wealth of experience to bear in giving the traditional rulers a uniform identity.
“Oba Ladoja has seen it all as a governor and senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His impeachment case and the Supreme Court ruling that invalidate the decision of the House of Assembly has become a reference case.
“Lawyers always make reference to this case whenever such matter arises either at the lower or upper courts.
“Many governors have been saved through the case instituted by Ladoja from any form of unconstitutional impeachment from office.
“As a traditional ruler that have weathered many storms, all eyes are on you.
“We must ensure that unnecessary cracks are not created on the walls of the traditional rulers in Yorubaland so that the onslaught of the lizard can be checkmate.”
In his response, Ladoja described Olanipekun as a foremost lawyer who is being governed by the fear of God.
Ladoja while acknowledging the role of Olanipekun in the promotion of the legal profession stressed the need for timely dispensation of justice.
He said, “There is need for speedy dispensation of cases at the various courts. Litigants are being discouraged with the delayed being experience in the dispensation of justice.
A former Speaker of the Osun State Assembly, Mr Najeem Salaam, on Monday emerged as the African Democratic Congress candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Salaam secured the ADC ticket following the party’s primary held at the Ultimate Civic Centre in Osogbo.
Addressing party delegates before the exercise, the Chairman of the ADC 2026 Primary Election Committee, Mr Emeka Nwajiuba, said Salaam was the sole aspirant for the office.
“The list and information from the ADC Organizing Secretary’s Office, as well as the screening exercise conducted, indicate that Salaam is the only aspirant vying for the party’s ticket,” he said.
The 528 ADC delegates from across the 332 wards of the state then lined up to cast their votes.
Announcing the results, Nwajiuba said a total of 528 votes were cast, of which 520 were valid votes for Najeem Salaam while eight were voided.
“By the power conferred on this panel by the constitution of the ADC, I, Emeka Nwajiuba, Chairman of the panel, announce the candidate-elect and flag bearer of our party for the Osun governorship election 2026: Najeem Salaam,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, Salaam thanked members and leadership of the ADC for their confidence and the mandate entrusted to him.
“I accept this mandate as the gubernatorial candidate of the ADC with a deep sense of responsibility.
“I accept it with hope because our people still believe. I accept it with prayer because the challenges ahead are real,” he said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced online accreditation for journalists and media organisations that intend to cover the 2026 Federal Capital Territory Area Council Election scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
In a notice released on Monday, the commission announced that the accreditation exercise is open to interested media organisations seeking to deploy journalists for election coverage.
According to the commission, “INEC has commenced online accreditation for journalists and media organisations intending to cover the FCT Area Council Election scheduled to hold on Saturday, 21st February, 2026.”
INEC stated that applications must be submitted through its official media accreditation portal at https://imap.inecnigeria.org
The announcement disclosed that it will be opened today, December 15, 2025, and will close on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
The commission stressed that applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered, noting that “Late submission shall not be entertaine
d as the portal will automatically shut down at midnight 12:00am (Midnight) on Sunday, 8th February, 2026.”
INEC further warned that “There will be no extension of time.”
INEC advised media organisations requiring further information on the accreditation process to contact the commission via the designated phone numbers, 07088844564 or 08032861058.
Candidates from 17 political parties are vying for 68 seats in the 2026 Area Council election. The figure, which includes six chairmanship and 62 councillorship positions across the six area councils- Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, and Abaji.
Campaign activities are currently ongoing.
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