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2027: LP, ADP enter alliance, plan consensus candidates

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The Labour Party and the Action Democratic Party have begun talks aimed at building a broad political alliance to adopt consensus candidates for future elections, starting with the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls and the Osun State governorship election.

The parties said the proposed arrangement would also involve joint voter education, campaigns and mobilisation for agreed candidates, as part of efforts to strengthen opposition politics and improve governance outcomes.

 The initiative, they said, would kick off with the FCT Area Council election scheduled for February 21, 2026, and later extend to the Osun governorship poll slated for August 8, 2026.

 The plan is being pursued under a platform tagged Ballot Alliance for Good Governance, following an inaugural consultation between the Labour Party, represented by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Prince Tony Akeni, and the Action Democratic Party, represented by its National Youth Leader, Chinazam Ike.

Briefing our correspondent on the sidelines of the programme in Abuja, Akeni described the proposed arrangement as a departure from conventional party mergers.

 “The concept of ‘Voters Ballot Alliance’,” he said, “is the first of its kind in our country’s practice of democracy.

From Independence till date, there is no record like it.

He explained that unlike mergers, which require amendments to party constitutions and registration documents, the ballot alliance model is voluntary.

 “While conventional political party mergers entail mandatory amendment of party name, constitution and other registration instruments with the electoral commission, the concept of ‘voters ballot alliance’ is a voluntary agreement among multi-party grassroots faithfuls reached by participating political parties,” Akeni said.

 According to him, the alliance allows parties to rally around the most viable candidate without abandoning their identities.

 “It is an agreement to adopt the most viable, electorate-accepted candidate among the candidates of various political parties contesting for a particular office in a given election. This is done without the participating parties abandoning their original party platforms or identities,” he added.

 Akeni said the model was designed to prevent opposition parties from splitting votes and losing elections.

 “The rationale of the concept is that instead of various political parties splitting or fragmenting their votes and losing to an oppressive or unfavourable political party, the various parties in a specific constituency come together and reach a pre-election and post-victory terms of office or power sharing,” he said.

 He added that under the arrangement, parties would jointly campaign, protect votes and ensure that results reflected the will of the electorate.

 “On election day, the political parties in the ballot alliance vote for, jointly protect the votes and ensure that the actual vote count and winner is announced, paving the way for the victory of the alliance candidate,” he said

Akeni said the alliance, if consistently applied across elections, could reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.

 “It is our conviction that if this model is diligently followed from electoral constituency to constituency… the process will produce an assortment of election winners from different political parties in every election across the states and the country at large,” he said.

 He added that the outcome would “open the political space for the best of citizens to emerge, irrespective of political party differences, promote good governance, strengthen virile and purposeful opposition politics, restore and strengthen true multi-party democracy in our country.”

 Speaking on behalf of the ADP, Chinazam said youths would play a central role in driving the alliance.

 “The youths are the strength and vanguard of elections. If Nigeria’s youths, who form the highest blocs of voting populations, key into the outstanding benefits of the Ballot Alliance concept, good governance, which has eluded our country for so long, will be achieved in record time,” he said.

 He disclosed that the parties planned to test the model in multiple elections.

 “Our plan is to put the Ballot Alliance model to test using the February 21st, 2026, Abuja FCT council elections, Osun state and subsequent Ekiti governorship elections as multi-tier pilot projects,” Chinazam said.

 He added that discussions were ongoing to convene a broader conference of political parties early next year.

 “This is why our party, the ADP, the Labour Party and others are now in talks for a conference of the Ballot Alliance for Good Governance as early as possible in the new year,” he said.

 Chinazam also said the alliance would not exclude major parties.

 “The best aspect of the alliance project is that no political party is left out. This includes the major ruling parties, the APC and PDP,” he said.

According to him, performance, not party label, would determine support.

 “So, if a ruling party’s candidate in an election is doing well, bringing real developments to his or her constituents… such a candidate, whether he belongs to the APC or PDP, will also be adopted to be returned in the polls,” he said.

He concluded that the ultimate goal was to elect leaders committed to good governance “irrespective of political party affiliations.”

Source : punch

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I’m in talks with NDC, PRP leaders over my political future — Kwankwaso

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Former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso has said no final decision has been taken regarding his political future or that of his associates.

The African Democratic Congress chieftain, however, admitted that he is currently consulting with leaders of the National Democratic Congress and the Peoples Redemption Party.

Kwankwaso made this known in a statement shared on his X account on Saturday.

He wrote, “We have noted recent media reports and discussions suggesting a possible realignment within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) due to the current challenges facing the party.

“In light of the misleading narratives in the public domain, I wish to state categorically that no final decision has been taken regarding my political future or that of my political associates.”

He noted that the recent Supreme Court’s judgment affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee but returned aspects of the matter to the high court, leaving the party in a difficult position.

“The recent Supreme Court judgment, while affirming the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC), also remitted the matter back to the High Court. This has left the party in a precarious position,” he said.

According to him, a separate ruling by the Federal High Court had also invalidated the party’s recent convention, while the Attorney General of the Federation had applied for the deregistration of the ADC.

Kwankwaso said the challenges mirrored the legal issues that earlier forced him and his supporters out of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

“In addition, the Federal High Court has recently ruled to delegitimise the party’s recent convention. The Attorney General of the Federation has also strangely applied to a Federal High Court to deregister the ADC.

“We left the NNPP due to externally influenced legal problems that made our stay perilous. The ADC has now been also forced into this difficulty,” he added.

He disclosed that consultations had begun with leaders of the National Democratic Congress, Peoples Redemption Party and others to determine the best path forward.

“Consequently, like other major stakeholders, we have commenced wide-ranging consultations — including with leaders from the NDC, PRP and others to explore the best options for protecting our democratic interests. We shall announce our decision in the soonest possible time,” he added.

On the 2027 presidential race, Kwankwaso said he had neither declared interest in contesting nor endorsed any aspirant.

He recalled finishing second in the 2014 APC presidential primary won by Muhammadu Buhari, and later supporting the winner. He also said he contested the 2019 PDP presidential primary before backing Atiku Abubakar.

He said, “On the issue of presidential candidacy, I wish to recall my consistent record as a committed democrat. In the 2014 APC presidential primary, I came second to President Muhammadu Buhari (whom I fully supported to victory), with Atiku Abubakar third, Rochas Okorocha fourth, and the late Sam Nda-Isaiah fifth.

“Similarly, in 2019, I contested the PDP presidential ticket and immediately supported the winner, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, serving as the campaign’s coordinator in the North. I have always placed national interest and party unity above personal ambition.”

Kwankwaso added that the ADC had yet to zone its presidential ticket or choose a candidate, making current speculation unfounded.

He also explained that his absence from two recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings was due to unavoidable personal commitments, which he had communicated to party leaders.

“Furthermore, the ADC is yet to zone its presidential ticket or take any decision on a candidate. I have therefore neither declared any intention to run for president nor endorsed any aspirant. All speculations to the contrary are premature and unfounded.

“My absence from the two recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings was due to unavoidable personal commitments. I promptly communicated my apologies to the party leadership.

“We shall continue to engage constructively at all levels. Any definitive position on our political direction will be communicated formally through official channels at the appropriate time,” he said.

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Workers’ Day: ADC criticises rising living costs

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed concern over the rising cost of living in Nigeria, saying it is placing increasing pressure on workers and affecting real incomes.

In a Workers’ Day statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said many Nigerians are facing economic strain as prices of essential goods and services continue to rise.

“Across Nigeria today, workers are doing more and earning less. Rising costs of food, transport, housing, and energy have reduced the value of workers’ wages,” the statement said.

The party linked the situation to broader economic and security challenges, noting that inflation, limited job opportunities, and disruptions to business activities are contributing to the pressure on households.

According to the ADC, addressing these challenges requires policies that support job creation, improve security, and stabilise prices to protect workers’ purchasing power.

The party emphasised the need for an economic framework that promotes enterprise, encourages productivity, and ensures that workers are adequately rewarded for their labour.

It also called for sustained interventions to ease the burden on citizens, particularly in areas affecting daily living costs.

“The focus should be on building an economy that works for ordinary Nigerians, where productivity translates into improved livelihoods,” the statement added.

The ADC reiterated its position that workers’ welfare should remain a priority, stressing the importance of policies that enhance income stability and economic opportunity.

 

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Buhari’s son gets automatic APC ticket to seek Reps seat

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Yusuf Buhari, son of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has picked the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to contest for the Daura/Sandamu/Mai’adua Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 elections.

Our correspondent  reports that Yusuf picked the ticket unopposed after a stakeholders’ meeting held in Katsina on Tuesday, April 28, unanimously adopted him as the party’s candidate.

The consensus agreement was announced by the chairman of the Consensus Committee for Daura Zone, Alhaji Ahmed Dangiwa, a former minister of housing and urban development.

Speaking after Yusuf’s adoption, Mannir Musa, APC Chairman, Mai’adua Local Government, urged party members to accept the outcome in good faith.

“I urge all our people to be obedient and accept the consensus reached by the committee and stakeholders in good faith. We should all work together for the unity and progress of the party and our people,” he said.

He also appealed to Katsina governor Dikko Radda to support aspirants who did not get tickets so that they could continue to serve their people.

Musa urged aspirants offered the tickets through consensus to work for their constituents when elected in the secondary election.

He named other automatic candidates to include Nasir Yahaya for the Daura senatorial seat race and Mustapha Musa for the Mai’adua constituency in the Katsina State House of Assembly.

Yusuf Buhari, in a remark, thanked party members for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to provide quality representation if elected. (NAN)

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