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2027: I’ll Support Fresh Southerner, Northerner Willing To Use Four Years – Okonkwo

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With talks about a coalition brewing ahead of the 2027 election, former Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign spokesman Kenneth Okonkwo says he will support a fresh southerner or northerner who is willing to vacate office after a four-year single tenure.

He hinged his decision on equity and fairness to both northern and southern regions of the country, in line with the unwritten rule of rotational presidency.

“Everybody should come together. It is something that can be discussed. Who is going to do four years is going to influence who I am going to support because I still believe in equity and justice,” Okonkwo said on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.

The lawyer, who dumped the Labour Party in February 2025, said he is open to joining the coalescing coalition to trounce President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next poll.

Talks about a coalition have been gaining momentum of late and were heightened by the defection of former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

El-Rufai has been pictured with the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, amongst other power brokers in the opposition. Like El-Rufai, Okonkwo recently met with Atiku, saying Nigeria needs cooperation to defeat the ruling APC in the next poll.

Okonkwo described the APC government as incompetent, saying the opposition must put up a formidable front to wrest power from the incumbent in the next election.

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He said, “My game plan is simple. If the opposition is serious about wresting power from this incompetent government, they must all come together and act like one because that was what APC did in 2013, and that was what helped them to wrest power in 2015.

“I believe in coalition. When I was leaving, I said I am open to discussions with every group to consolidate the opposition so that we can take out this government.”

‘Complex and Complicated’

The lawyer described the 2027 election as complicated and complex but said the coalition could discuss the modalities for victory in the poll.

Okonkwo said, “2027 is one of the most complicated and complex times in the political history of Nigeria because we have this gentleman’s agreement—eight years in the South, eight years in the North.

“Now, when an incumbent is not doing well, and in the middle of his tenure, it is a very difficult thing to change or to project what will happen.

“Would you say you want to get a fresh person from the South? The North will say that means he will do another eight years. They will be scared, and politicians are not very good at being trusted.

“Would you allow an incompetent government to continue just because you want to sacrifice the whole of Nigeria? Just because you want to leave an incumbent government to finish eight years?

“Would you say let it go to the North when it has just been four years in the South? The South would say you are shortchanging us. So, it is a very complicated thing.

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“The best thing if politicians were to be trusted is to have a free, fair primary where every qualified person, whether South or North, would partake in it. And whoever would emerge would agree to do four years, whether from the South or the North.

“If he [the northerner] does four years, it would have been shared between North and South—four years each, and then it returns to the South.

“Then if a Southern person, a fresh person, wins, he will do only four years to complete the eight years. Then, it will go to the north, where it will spend eight years.

“So, if the north agrees that the person there now is not doing well but it is not yet our turn but we can do four years – if the person emerges from the free and fair elections because if you begin to regiment it and say he won’t do primary, then it will be a selective thing, not democratic.”

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Protesters Storm Attorney-General Office, Demand Probe Of Former NNPC Boss, Mele Kyari

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The protesters expressed disappointment that despite President Bola Tinubu’s removal of Kyari and the entire NNPCL board on April 2, 2025, no step has been taken to investigate the alleged corrupt practices under Kyari’s leadership.

Hundreds of protesters have stormed the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to demand the prosecution of former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, and a thorough probe into the company’s transactions for the past five years.

See also  PMS pump price hits N685/litre in North
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Bode George Slams Atiku: Buhari Beat You Like A Kid In 2019, Now You’re Begging Him Over Planned Coalition

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Atiku has reportedly been calling on opposition figures across the country to form a mega party that would wrest power from President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

An elder statesman and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Bode George, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for what he described as a humiliating and disgraceful political pilgrimage to ex-President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Appearing on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Tuesday, the former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP accused Atiku of sidelining his party faithful while cosying up to Buhari, a man who thoroughly defeated him in the 2019 presidential election, just to pursue his personal ambition of leading a new opposition coalition ahead of 2027.

Atiku has reportedly been calling on opposition figures across the country to form a mega party that would wrest power from President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Meanwhile, the former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP has debunked the coalition agenda, indicating that it was a plot to weaken the PDP.

Speaking on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Tuesday, the PDP chieftain, also questioned the purpose of the mega party Atiku is championing, saying the former Vice President’s call for coalition is for his ambition.

“Those who are now forming a mega party, what is the purpose of that mega party? You’re a member of a solid organisation, you want to pull out.

“You are meeting with Baba Buhari, is he a member of our party? Have you discussed your mega something with anybody else? Do you think it is a private fiefdom? Is PDP a private company? Nobody owns the PDP. You bring it within the party. Let us discuss it. Once it is approved, then you move. You don’t just flip flop because of your personal ambition,” he said.

See also  As Governor, I listened, I Didn’t Kill Like Buhari Government Did – Senator Okorocha

The PDP chieftain slammed the ex-vice president for taking his coalition campaign to Buhari, who he said beat him ‘like a little kid’ in the 2019 presidential election.

The elder statesman also questioned Atiku’s motive for visiting Buhari with his fellow northerners.

“Look at General Buhari shaking hands with these guys. Is he a member of our party? We presented you against him, and he flogged you like a little kid, and then you are running there.

“And if you look at the congregation of those who visited Buhari, they are all from one side, who are the others from our party? No, it’s not done that way. In fact, my conclusion was, What is this man trying to do with this mega party? Is he trying to divide Nigeria from the north and then the south?,” George queried.

The elder statesman added that Atiku’s move is a plot to get another presidential ticket without regard for the unwritten zoning arrangement between the northern and southern parts of the country.

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Fresh Protest Erupts In Rivers State Over Suspension Of Governor Fubara As Demonstrators March In Port-Harcourt

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The presidency said the action was taken in response to allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and acts capable of threatening peace and stability in the state.

Supporters of suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, took to the streets of Port-Harcourt on Tuesday to demand his reinstatement.

The protesters, dressed in black, began their march from Aggrey Road in the Old Port Harcourt Township, carrying placards with messages such as “Together we stand for Governor Sim Fubara,” “We want back our Governor, we all voted for,” and “Governor Fubara is the pride of Rivers People.”

Fubara was suspended on 18 March 2025, following the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu. The suspension also affected the Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly.

The presidency said the action was taken in response to allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and acts capable of threatening peace and stability in the state.

Tuesday’s protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations that have taken place across the state since the suspension.

While some groups have supported the president’s decision, others have condemned it and described it as politically motivated.

The protesters said they would continue to organise peaceful demonstrations until Fubara is reinstated.

Security operatives were present during the protest to maintain order, and there were no reports of violence.

The presidency has not responded to the renewed calls for the governor’s reinstatement.

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We Only Get Power Supply for 2 Hours Daily—Kano, Kastina, Jigawa Residents Lament

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Residents of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states have been undergoing hardship following cuts in power supply by the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).

They said in the last three days, they got power supply for between two and three hours daily.

This is just as several Small-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the states said they were facing difficulties operating due to poor power supply and shortages.

Report revealed that businesses like welding, tailoring, phone charging, ice making and other small trades have been thrown into difficulties due to the shortage in electricity supply while others don’t even receive any power supply from the distribution company for days.

The KEDCO has apologised for the poor supply and blamed it on a system upgrade on its critical distribution infrastructure and vegetation control on electricity feeders requiring safe working space for its engineers.

Residents in the affected states have also been groaning as several basic amenities such as water supply and others are affected.

See also  As Governor, I listened, I Didn’t Kill Like Buhari Government Did – Senator Okorocha
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