***Final training to hold April 26–27 at Bassan Jiwa Hajj Camp

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board will this weekend conclude its orientation and educational programme for intending pilgrims ahead of the 2025 Hajj exercise.

Director of the Board, Mallam Kadiri Edah, made this known in Abuja, stating that the final phase of the training will be held on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 at the FCT Permanent Hajj Camp, Bassan Jiwa, near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

According to him, the orientation was conducted in batches to allow pilgrims gain a deeper understanding of Hajj rites and adapt to new guidelines introduced by the Saudi Arabian authorities and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Edah revealed that Islamic scholars have been mobilized to conduct the sessions in seven languages, reflecting the FCT’s diverse population. He noted that the final phase will include practical demonstrations to further enhance pilgrims’ readiness for the spiritual journey.

“The orientation is critical to ensuring that our pilgrims understand the spiritual and logistical aspects of Hajj. We want to ensure that every participant performs an acceptable pilgrimage,” Edah said.

The Director also disclosed that the Board has commenced the visa application process and secured standard accommodation in Makkah. Additionally, reputable service providers have been engaged to handle catering and other logistics for the FCT contingent in Saudi Arabia.

He urged all registered intending pilgrims who are yet to submit their completed application forms or international passports to do so immediately, warning that any delay could jeopardize their travel preparations.

Mallam Edah also encouraged full participation in all remaining programmes organized by the Board, stressing their importance in helping pilgrims achieve a spiritually rewarding and well-organized Hajj experience.

***Says Southwest Zonal Congress a model for unity-building

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is actively addressing internal differences and reconciling various interest groups across the country in preparation for the 2027 general elections, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, has said.

Speaking with our correspondent in Abuja, Ologunagba acknowledged that reconciliation within a political party is complex and often slow due to competing interests—personal, regional, or communal—but emphasized that the PDP is steadily making progress through established mechanisms.

“This election is about the people,” he stated. “Reconciliation is never easy because individuals come with vested interests, but our party has a structure in place to navigate these challenges. That process is ongoing.”

He highlighted the efforts of the PDP’s Reconciliation Committee, which has been engaging stakeholders across the six geopolitical zones to mend fences and unify the party.

“We just concluded a very successful Southwest Zonal Congress,” Ologunagba noted. “Despite differences, the process was seamless, and the turnout was impressive. It demonstrated the PDP’s capacity to manage internal disagreements and come out stronger.”

He described the Southwest as a critical political bloc with a history of leadership in national discourse and praised its example in demonstrating that reconciliation is possible even in the face of entrenched positions.

“The Lagos chapter, for instance, had longstanding divisions, but those were resolved through dialogue and compromise. This is what great political institutions do—build consensus without being disagreeable,” he added.

Ologunagba said the unity achieved in the Southwest would serve as a template for other zones, as the PDP works to reposition itself as a strong contender in the 2027 general elections.

“We are committed to a politics of inclusion, give-and-take, and national interest. The success of the Southwest Congress is a reflection of what we can replicate nationwide,” he said.

The PDP, which held power at the national level for 16 years before losing to the APC in 2015, has been grappling with internal conflicts and regional rivalries in recent years. However, party leaders have expressed confidence that ongoing reconciliation efforts will return the PDP to national prominence.

***Alleges five governors under pressure to defect to APC

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has warned political leaders across Nigeria, especially in the North and South, not to fall for what he described as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s desperate moves to retain power in 2027.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the Bayelsa-born political activist alleged that the president is currently deploying tactics of blackmail, political pressure, and threats of state of emergency to coerce opposition governors into defecting to the APC.

“Tinubu is blackmailing and intimidating at least five opposition governors—particularly from the South—to defect to the APC. This is not about political alignment; it’s about raw pressure and threats,” Frank claimed.

He warned that the president is playing a dangerous ethnic card—manipulating Southern support while subtly pitching the region against the North in preparation for the 2027 elections.

“To Tinubu, 2027 is about him versus the North,” Frank said. “He has forgotten that it was the North that helped him into power in 2023.”

Frank urged Nigerians to reject what he called Tinubu’s divisive leadership style, noting that ethnic polarization, economic hardship, and insecurity have worsened under his administration.

“Nigerians don’t need a Northern or Southern president; they need a competent leader who can fix the economy, stop the killings, and end the sufferings brought about by fuel subsidy removal, increased tariffs, and inflation,” he said.

Frank accused Tinubu of undermining democracy by stoking internal crises within opposition parties like the PDP and Labour Party, allegedly to weaken them ahead of 2027.

“His aim is simple: destroy viable platforms that could challenge him. He is already planning to grab and run with the results, as he did in 2023,” he added.

The former APC spokesperson further urged opposition leaders to unite and ensure their coalition succeeds in preventing Tinubu’s re-election, warning that the North, in particular, will face greater neglect if the president returns to power.

“Should Tinubu win in 2027, the North will suffer untold marginalization. He has already sidelined them in appointments and infrastructure. This is the time to act,” Frank said.

He warned that some governors remaining in opposition have been forced to sign undertakings pledging to deliver their states to the APC or risk being denied second terms.

“Tinubu does not believe in the will of the people. He only believes in holding onto power by any means, even if it means manipulating the system,” he said.

Calling for vigilance, Frank concluded, “Nigerians must do the patriotic thing—reject Tinubu in 2027. Our democracy cannot survive another term of this style of leadership.”

He urged opposition leaders to prioritize Nigeria’s future and stay united for the sake of national stability and economic recovery.

***VP Shettima to lead formal reception April 28

In a stunning realignment of Nigeria’s political landscape, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, and a host of top political leaders have formally dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC)—ending the PDP’s 26-year dominance in the state.

The defection, which was announced on Wednesday at a closed-door meeting with stakeholders at Government House, Asaba, sets the stage for a dramatic shift ahead of the 2027 general elections. Oborevwori directed all PDP stakeholders in the state to follow suit and join the APC en masse.

The governor, his deputy, former governor and ex-PDP Vice-Presidential candidate Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, members of the National Assembly, State Assembly, commissioners, local government chairmen, and top political aides were all in attendance.

The governor and his allies are scheduled to be officially received into the APC at a rally to be held at the Cenotaph in Asaba on Monday, April 28, where Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to lead the welcoming delegation.

Speaking to journalists, Charles Aniagwu, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, cited disillusionment with the national leadership of the PDP as a key reason for the move.

“For some time, speculation has been rife about our next political move. This decision follows extensive consultation with leaders and stakeholders. The political taste of the PDP has changed—like palm wine gone sour—and our drinking pattern must change too,” Aniagwu said.

He added that the move to the APC was not only strategic but necessary to continue development across the state and maintain unity among political actors.

Echoing similar sentiments, Senator James Manager, pioneer state chairman of the PDP, said the defection was a survival move.

“One cannot remain in a sinking boat. This decision was not taken lightly but after honest consultation. The PDP as it stands today cannot effectively contest against a sitting president with only 11 governors. The leadership vacuum and internal disunity are undeniable,” Manager stated.

He also referenced a recent PDP Governors’ Forum meeting in Ibadan, where leaders reportedly resolved not to collaborate with any other political platforms. That decision, he said, further alienated many within the party.

The mass defection dramatically alters the political balance in the South-South, historically a PDP stronghold. With over 1.4 million registered voters in Delta, the APC now gains significant momentum in the region and a major boost for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

The development is expected to trigger further realignments across other PDP-controlled states and may accelerate internal crises already simmering within the opposition party.

***Slams Rising Insecurity, Rivers Political Crisis, Says 2027 Will Not Be Business as Usual

Legal luminary and former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has delivered a scathing critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of presiding over worsening insecurity and a dysfunctional governance system.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja during a private event to mark his wife’s 50th birthday, Adebayo said President Tinubu has become nothing more than a “mascot of bad governance,” as insecurity, political instability, and economic hardship continue to escalate under his watch.

“What shocks me is that Nigerians are still shocked by Tinubu’s governance. We’ve always known that these people take elections seriously, but not governance,” Adebayo stated pointedly.

He described the deteriorating security situation as evidence of a systemic failure led by an unprepared leadership.

“The incompetence of President Tinubu and his security team speaks for itself. If the president were truly serious, he would return home and confront these issues head-on,” he said.

On the deepening political turmoil in Rivers State, Adebayo rejected the idea of an emergency rule, describing the ongoing crisis as a betrayal of democratic norms and a constitutional aberration.

“This so-called emergency, where elected officials are being stripped of their mandate, is unconstitutional. The solution is clear—restore the people’s mandate or conduct a fresh, credible election,” he insisted.

According to Adebayo, the Rivers political standoff is the result of a failed power-sharing conspiracy, not a governance structure built in the interest of the people.

Taking aim at state governors, the former SDP flagbearer said many are equally culpable, describing them as disconnected from their constitutional responsibilities and complicit in the overall governance failures.

“When the president sings the solo of incompetence, the governors join in the chorus. They are all singing bad songs,” he quipped.

While voicing support for the idea of state police, Adebayo said most governors lack the competence and authority to manage internal security effectively.

“The governors are mostly ceremonial leaders, powerless when it comes to security. They don’t understand what it means to govern,” he lamented.

Adebayo called on citizens to abandon political idolatry and instead focus on reclaiming governance from failed elites.

“Don’t waste time praying for politicians to succeed or fail. What matters is when we will have a government that truly emerges from the people and works in their interest,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to become the real opposition, insisting that meaningful change can only come from the people, not recycled political players.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Adebayo declared that the SDP will again present a credible platform, but warned that the party would not serve as a safe haven for disgruntled elements fleeing other political camps.

“We will contest in 2027. But we won’t be a getaway car for those seeking revenge or compensation for broken political promises. SDP is not for political mercenaries,” he emphasized.

He reaffirmed that the SDP remains committed to integrity, people-focused governance, and a clean break from politics as usual.

On a lighter note, when asked about his wife, the celebrant of the day, Adebayo offered a warm tribute:
“My wife is a blessing. She’s my greatest personal achievement—she helped me grow from a boy to a man.”