POLITICS
APC Convention: Integrity Group Warns Amaechi, El-Rufai

… Insists no Consensus Yet
By Jude Opara, Abuja
Worried over the alleged endorsement of the former governor of Nasarawa State Senator Abdullahi Adamu by President Muhammadu Buhari as the consensus candidate for the National Chairmanship position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming National Convention, a group under the aegis of APC Integrity Group has advised the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Ameachi and the governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai not to allow their personal ambitions destroy the party.
The group made which includes; members of the legacy parties – Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) – accused Amaechi and El-Rufai of being behind the alleged endorsement of Adamu by the President.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Coordinator, Malam Dawu Mohammed and Secretary Comrade Chinsom Nwakanma, the group said the issue of endorsement of any candidate by Buhari is a fluke and should be disregarded because the President is close to all the candidates and would not adopt any one of them without consulting the rest.
According to them, the aspiration of securing the Presidential and Vice Presidential tickets of the party through a preferred National Chairman, which the Minister of Transportation and governor of Kaduna State are pushing for was capable of destroying the party.
However, the Integrity Group urged the National Chairmanship candidates, North Central governors and the National leadership of the party to reach a consensus among candidates and that election should be conducted if consensus fails. Owing to this, on Wednesday the Senator Sani Musa campaign organization rejected the purported endorsement report of Senator Adamu by the President.
In a statement it issued in Abuja, the organization said; “the campaign organization of Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, a leading aspirant for position of the National Chairman of the APC, has urged its teeming supporters across the country to ignore the news making the rounds on the purported endorsement of a fellow aspirant by the President. This is a blatant misinformation and should be ignored. “What turned out to be a group picture of Distinguished Senators taken shortly after Wednesday’s plenary was misconstrued by mischief makers to depict a tacit endorsement of another aspirant. “The campaign organization notes with disappointment the brazen desperation of the supporters of the aspirant in subjugating their selfish interest at the expense of national interest, party loyalty and the long-term stability of Nigeria’s democracy. We urge our supporters to remain calm, focused and law abiding. As reiterated earlier, let us continue to exercise more patience as we await further directives from President Muhammadu Buhari and the leaders of our great party.”
Similarly, another candidate, Alhaji Saliu Mustapha has also dismissed the alleged endorsement of Senator Adamu.
Mustapha in a reaction he gave through his media aide, Dapo Okubanjo, said the race is still open.
Okubanjo said; “Mallam Saliu Mustapha is a core party man, so he expects that once a decision is taken on a matter as important as that of a consensus candidate, it will be passed on by the party leadership through official channels.
“And until that is done, he believes that the race is still open to all contenders who showed interest in being the next National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
The Integrity group in their position paper said, “we have observed with dismay the plan by some persons to destroy the APC by trying to foist a national chairman on the party.
“This would not be the first time that a Minister and a governor would be accused of obtaining a false signature from the President through his Personal Assistant (PA).
“We are calling on the governors and leaders of the party to speak out on the issue before such falsehood would destroy the party.
“As an Integrity group we are not against any candidate but think it would be logical that a member of the legacy parties emerged as National Chairman, as had been suggested by the former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
“If we allow co-joiners of APC to hijack the party, it will spell doom of our democracy.
“We also call on the handlers of Mr. President and Personal Assistants to be circumspect in what they do with some persons, as their actions can be injurious to the country and the party that the President leads.
“We sincerely believe that for us to have a formidable government, we must have a formidable party, therefore we object to a leadership foisted on the party by few for their Presidential and Vice Presidential ambitions.
“The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Ameachi or any other person has a right to support a candidate, as we have seen in some reports on how he (Ameachi) brought in Senator Abdullahi Adamu to the race, but foisting him on the President or the party in whatever guise is what we frowned at, as that could be a plot that is very destructive to the APC.
“We expect this issue to be resolved and resolved amicably by the leadership of the party, which include the Tripartite Committee.”
“Also, we expect that the recently signed electoral act should become operational by Ministers or political appointees with interest in Conventions or congresses to resign.”
POLITICS
Osun 2026 Guber: APC Aspirants Should Not Waste Money Contesting Against Adeleke – Ex Party Chieftain, Jackson Ojo

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
A former Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Jackson Lekan Ojo has advised those in the race for the APC ticket not to waste their resources as the victory of Governor Isiaka Adeleke is practically a done deal.
In a video post on his Facebook page, Jackson Ojo said Governor Adeleke has won the heart of the people of his state with his transformation of all the 30 local governments in the State and prompt payment of workers and pensioners.
According to him, the achievements of Governor Adeleke has already done 80 percent of his campaign ahead of the election.
Jackson Ojo, who is a Security Expert and global affairs analyst, from Osun State, stressed that he has always advised political office holders to perform while in office as this is the greatest strategy and tactics to win future elections.
He stressed that the abysmal performance of the APC at the Federal level and the poor performance of previous APC governors in Osun state will count heavily against any candidate that is presented by the party to contest against governor Adeleke.
The former APC chieftain added that he is not patronizing the governor for any personal gain as there is nothing that the governor can give him that God has not already given him.
He stressed that his intervention in the Osun governorship race is to stop opponents of the governor from wasting their resources for an election they can never win.
His words: “Two weeks ago I resigned from partisan politics, so I am no longer member of any political party in Nigeria. When I speak now I am not speaking in favour or against any political party. So, I am very free to air my views
“This is my views on the forthcoming governorship election in Osun state. I still see some people struggling for governor in Osun state come 2026.
“That is highly impossible for an APC aspirant. What is the APC government doing at the national level, what are the doing in the Senate, what are they doing in the House of Representatives to encourage Nigerians?
“If we are in a place like America or United Kingdom (UK) APC will not be able to win ordinary councillorship again in this country. Is it in the management of economy, education, health, security and others?
“In all these areas put together they have not scored up to 10 percent. I can boldly mark them today they they have woefully failed in area of agricultural development, educational development, health development, security, economy and infrastructural development. In all ramifications this party has failed.
“Look at the antecedents of the APC in Osun state. Aregbesola tried a bit, yes, but then Aregbesola left the State aground.
“When Baba Jeje, Mr. Go Slow, the unfortunate Minister of Blue Economy or whatever they call it, came there was nothing to write home about during his tenure as governor of Osun State. He came, he bartered the state, he rubbished the State, he insulted the state, he disgraced the State on the platform of APC.
“Now another APC is coming out now thinking of winning? Winning where, defeat who?
“Governor Adeleke does not know me, there is no benefit Adeleke can give me that God has not given to me. I can’t be a Commissioner in Osun state. No. I can’t be Special Adviser or whatever. I can’t even take their contract. I don’t think they can award the kind of contract that I need to an individual.
“But then, Adeleke has tried. If you go to my community you will see the way he has positively turned the community. Even if I am the governor of Osun State I don’t think I can do what Adeleke has done in my town and that transformation cuts across all the 30 local government areas of Osun State. All the communities, all the local governments, all.
“This man is no longer paying half salary of quarter salary. This man is not owning workers, he is not owning pensioners. This alone has spoken, this alone has done 80 percent of his campaign.
“If you perform well in office that is the highest strategy and tactics that you can use to win the heart of the people.
“Come 2026 whoever is putting money on ground in Osun state to go and contest governorship in Osun state, honestly that person has money to waste. It is sadaka, the money they have stolen they want to come and do sadaka. It is Adeleke till 2030.”
POLITICS
Former DG of PDP Governors Forum Defects to ADC

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Former Director General of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, Hon C.I.D Maduabum has resigned from the party and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement made available to Daily Asset in Abuja on Sunday, Hon Maduabum said he is dumping the PDP because the party has been “hijacked by self-serving, unscrupulous elements who are more interested in personal power grabs than in party discipline, internal democracy, or national interest.
”Part of his statement read: “After deep reflection, extensive consultations, and careful evaluation of the current political realities within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I have taken the difficult but necessary decision to resign my membership of the PDP with immediate effect.
“As a committed democrat, a two-term member of the House of Representatives, and former Director-General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, I have dedicated significant portions of my political life to building the PDP as a platform for democratic consolidation and national development.
“However, the soul of the party I once served with pride has been hijacked by self-serving, unscrupulous elements who are more interested in personal power grabs than in party discipline, internal democracy, or national interest.
“The PDP today is a shadow of its former self. It has descended into chaos, internal betrayal, and systematic destruction by diverse forces who have no regard for the principles upon which the party was founded. Sadly, voices of reason are no longer welcome, and genuine reformers are vilified or silenced.
“I can no longer in good conscience remain in a house that has been stripped of its moral compass and overrun by opportunists.
“In light of this, I am proud to announce that I am joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) — a party that now stands as the only credible democratic alternative for Nigeria.
“The ADC is emerging as a beacon of hope for good governance, integrity, accountability, and inclusive politics. It offers the opportunity for principled politics, genuine people-oriented leadership, and a platform for rebuilding our nation from the grassroots up.
“The ADC Coalition includes progressive minded people like Mr. Peter Obi and others.
“I join the ADC not merely as a defector but as a reformer committed to helping build a new political culture — one based on merit, ideology, discipline, youth inclusion, and national unity.
“The time has come for all well-meaning Nigerians to take a stand against the decay in our political system. I call on all patriots, especially those disillusioned by the dysfunction in the traditional parties, to rally around this movement for a new Nigeria through the ADC.
“I remain committed to the democratic ideals of justice, equity, and service to the people. The struggle to rescue Nigeria and restore its promise continues — and it begins now on a new, firmer footing.”
POLITICS
Anambra: INEC Registers 96,085 New Voters, Extends CVR by Three Days

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has registered 96,085 new voters in nine days and extended the exercise by three days in Anambra.
The commission disclosed this in a statement by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Thursday in Abuja, after its weekly meeting.
He said that on the preliminary stage of the CVR, 56,017 representing 58 per cent of new registrants were female while 50,429 52 representing 48 per cent were young people between the ages of 18 and 34.
“The commission is pleased with the turnout of registrants in Anambra and the peaceful conduct of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in all the 326 registration centres in the state.
“As of yesterday, Wednesday, 96,085 new voters have successfully registered in nine days. On average, the Commission registered over 10,600 voters per day.
“In addition, 12,595 voters applied for transfer of their registration both within and outside the state while 7,061 persons applied for the update of their records or the replacement of their damaged or lost Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).
“The CVR in Anambra ends today. However, in response to appeal from citizens, the Commission hereby extends the exercise for three more days. It will now end on Sunday, July 20,” he said.
Olumekun said that the commission would thereafter display the register for claims and objections by citizens as provided by law.
This, according to him, will be followed by a further clean-up of the data using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).
“Subsequently, the detailed breakdown of the new registrants by age, gender, occupation and disability will be published for public information,” he said.
Olumekun also disclosed that INEC had received five more letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties.
According to him, the new application brings the number received so far by the commission to 134.
Olumekun stated that the details of the new associations, indicating their proposed names, acronyms, logos, addresses and interim leaderships were already published on INEC website and other platforms for public information.
He said that INEC would continue to keep the citizens up to date on all its activities.