By Our Correspondent

As Pamultation for 2027 election heats up,former presidential candidate of Labour Party (Pl), Mr Peter Obi and key South-East political leaders have intensified pre-2027 consultations, holding a strategic closed-door meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan amid growing calls for opposition realignment.

On April 27, 2026 — The high-level engagement, held in Abuja, reportedly focused on Nigeria’s political direction and possible coalition-building ahead of the next general elections. Sources indicate that Obi was accompanied by prominent regional stakeholders, reinforcing the South-East’s push for greater influence in national politics.

Although details of the discussions were not publicly disclosed, the meeting has triggered speculation about a broader alliance capable of challenging the ruling party.

Analysts suggest the consultations may be part of a wider strategy to consolidate opposition strength and possibly present a unified presidential front.

In a related development, political figure Gbenga Hashim urged the labour movement and civil society groups to actively defend Nigeria’s democracy, warning that complacency could weaken democratic institutions ahead of 2027.

Together, these developments underscore intensifying political manoeuvres, as alliances, regional interests, and ideological blocs begin to reposition in what is shaping up to be a defining electoral contest

By Our Correspondent

In a bid actualize his vowed ambition to contest 2027 President Presidential election,President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday opened the long awaited sale of nomination and expression of interest forms of the All Progressives Congress by picking the first forms to prepare grounds for his reelection i

The president bought the forms through a proxy, Federal House of Representatives member, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, Chief James Faleke, who led a delegation of directors in the presidency to the Abuja Intercontinental Hotel (formerly Sheraton Hotels and Towers), where the event took place to purchase the nomination forms.

The documants were handed over to the delegation by the National Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu on Tuesday immediately the party commenced the sales to aspirants, who came from the 36 states of the federation to pick the documents for the 2027 elecrions.

Fielding questions from journalists shortly after picking the forms, Hon. James Faleke, expressed optimism on the chances of the reelection of President Bola Tinubu.

“My name is James Abiodun Faleke. I represent Ikeja Federal constituency. And by the grace of God, I am the representative of Mr. President in the House of Reps. So for all support groups who have made efforts, who have contributed money to purchase the form, I have done so on their behalf, on behalf of Nigerians.

“There is no one particular person that has done this. It is on behalf of all Nigerians.Just as we did pre-2023 election, I was also privileged with some leaders to buy the form. Here again, I am privileged to buy the form on behalf of all Nigerians, for our president, for our performing president and by the grace of God, 2027 will be a reality. By the grace of God, he will contest and he will win the election.

“At the same time, I am also privileged, with my friend here, Hon. Ajala, to pick the form for the incoming governor of Lagos, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamza. And let me also say that those of us who contributed money to buy this form are like more than 1,000 in Lagos.

“It is not just one person. All of us cannot come here and pick the form. Only representatives are sent. And I am also lucky to be one of those who have been sent to pick the form. At the same time, I picked my own form to come back to the House of Reps and you can see the forms with me. So, I am lucky, and I am also waiting behind to get the receipt of our incumbent senator, Senator Idiat Adebule, that I will pick the form for her from my West Senetorial District. This is just to let you know that everything is intact and God is in charge.

“First, let me tell you that political parties can come together as part of democracy. When we do our work, they will do their work,” Faleke remarked.

The president is so far the only aspirant for the presidential election in the APC to have obtained the forms, which cost N100 million representing N30 million for Expression of Interest and N70 million for nomination forms.

Representatives of many other aspirants expecially those vying for governorship, the Senate and House of Representatives seats were seen at the venue and they purchased the two forms for their principals.

The exercise, which started on Saturday, April 25, 2026 will end on Saturday, May 2, 2026 and it is hoped that all aspirants would have picked up their forms because the APC has ruled out the possibility of extending the period for the sales of forms.

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By Our Correspondent

An Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Igbo Union Ndi Igbo worldwide, has praised Senate President, Senator Goodwill Akpabio and his wife Dr. Mrs. Unoma Ekaite Akpabio, for their untiring support to Igbo people and everything concerning Igbo as a nation.

The group said that the couple had remained a formidable support to Igbo cause, describing them as great assets to the progress of Igbo in Nigeria.

The group stand was contained in press statement signed by Ndi Prince Elias Odoemena, the National Convener of the group and made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement described Senator Akpabio’s marriage to an illustrous daughter of Igbo land from Enugu as a continued blessing to the Ndigbo, and a pivotal of developmental monuments being cited in Igbo land as a whole.

The group added that Akpabio’s marriage to Unoma is not a curse but a divine blessing that has transmitted to monumental open doors to the Igbo as a whole, describing Senator Akpabio as son-law well loved in the entire Igbo land, who is more than ordinary son-law.

“He has become a bonafide Igbo man not only by his marriage to our daughter and sister, Unoma, but for the uncountable dividends of democracy he has brought to Igbo land, right from his days as governor of Akwa Ibom State to his present position as number three man in Nigeria. Akpabio has exhibited statefastness, loyalty and love to our people,” he said.

According to the statement “Senator Akpabio has continued to use any avenue available to him to cement the relationship between Igbos and their brothers and sisters from the old Eastern region, by building bridges across the people’s of South South and South-east both politically and economically.”

Igbo Union Nzuko Ndi enumerated some of things Senator Akpabio has done to build friendship, brotherhood and trust amongst the two neighbouring zones in the two country: “Governor Senator Akpabio constructed more than 500 metres Nkana bridge that connects Abia State and Akwa Ibom State. Akpabio built a worship centre, constructed roads in Igbo land and gave and facilitated employments for many sons and daughters of Igbo land.

“This act of kindness to the Igbos has made Senator Akpabio and his wife, our daughter, to be exceptionally loved, respected and reverenced in all communities in Igbo land, as a great in-law of exceptional quality and carriage that has the interest of anything Igbo at their hearts.

The Igbo group said they are all together surprised of Akpabio’s exceptional benovelence to Ndigbo, know his anticidents as a governor in Akwaibom down to this period he now occupies the exholted office of Senate President.

” We in Igbo land are not surprised.We are have being following the activities of the great couple right from their days as the first couple of Akwaibom State. What he implanted in the state, still stand as a reference points to all the in-coming governors in the state.
From roads infrastructure to schools, hospitals, sports facilities etc, Akpabio stood out amongst the governors of his era,” the statement added.

The group said in appreciation for all the good works the couple has been doing in Igbo land, Igbos are ready to honour Sen. Akpabio’s wife, Dr. Mrs. Unoma Ekaite Akpabio soon for her constant reach and support for any thing that concerns Igbo people, describing their act towards her as paying back with love that she has so much extended to her people through her beloved husband.