By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be afraid of a major defeat in 2027 because he would be contesting against millions of Nigerians who have faced unprecedented hardship under his government.

In a statement by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the party made the remark in reaction to a statement by the President that he is not scared of the opposition, whom he mocked as holding its convention on the street.

The party, however, described the remarks as unpresidential, saying that with his utterances, the President appears preoccupied with politics even as the majority of Nigerians sink deeper into poverty and are left helpless in the hands of insurgents and kidnappers.

The full statement reads:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken note of the comments made by Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa concerning the ADC and the state of the opposition.

What Nigerians saw was not the confidence of a leader in control. It was the anxiety of a President increasingly disconnected from the reality of hardship, insecurity, and frustration facing millions of citizens.

At a time when families are battling a historic cost of living crisis, food inflation, rising debt burdens, and collapsing purchasing power, the President chose to mock the opposition instead of addressing the suffering of Nigerians. However, even as he spoke, reports of children being abducted from examination centres were circulating. This is the reality of today’s Nigeria, insecurity spreading deeper into everyday life while government appears distracted.

The President should not be ridiculing the opposition. He should be deeply concerned that the majority of Nigerians have rejected his government, whose ill-conceived policies have ruined lives and destroyed livelihoods. These are the reasons he should be scared, because the people are determined to vote him out.

We also reject the false narrative around the ADC National Convention. We did not hold our convention on the street. If that was the story supplied to the President by agents of disruption, then he has been misinformed.

But even if any opposition party were forced to gather outside established venues, Nigerians would understand why. Under this administration, democratic space has shrunk significantly. No government before now had denied political parties fair access to public venues such as Eagle Square, a national civic ground that belongs to all Nigerians, not to any ruling party.

The President also cannot preach separation of powers while simultaneously assuming the role of interpreter of the law, political referee, and commentator on judicial matters. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot be a President and a judge at the same time.

If this administration truly respected separation of powers, Nigerians would not have witnessed the repeated weakening and humiliation of institutions meant to serve as checks and balances. The legislature, in particular, has too often appeared reduced to an extension of executive convenience.

We also note the President’s recent attempt to ingratiate himself with the supporters of late President Muhammadu Buhari. After years of distancing himself from the late President and denigrating his record, blaming him for every failure of his government, it is hypocritical to suddenly make a U-turn because of the coming election. It is too late.

The issue before the country today is simple: hardship is rising, insecurity is worsening, debt is mounting, and hope is fading. No amount of political theatre can hide that truth.

The ADC remains focused on building a credible alternative anchored on competence, security, prosperity, and democratic freedom. Nigerians deserve better than excuses, propaganda, and power games.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

Barely four days the Council of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE) has on Thursday said, there is no elections into the executive council of Ijaw National Congress (INC) on Monday 13th April 2026 as been speculated in some quarters that elections was held.

CITRE being the only body that superintendents over the INC still maintained it’s action suspending the election into the executive positions of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), insisting on the guiding principles of the INC Constitution. The alleged election had procedural errors, without due process and therefore declared null and void,as there were constitutional violations marred with irregularities that were at variance with CITRE,s constitution.

Addressing press conference in his office at the state Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat in Yenagoa the state capital, Chairman of CITRE, HRM, King Bubaraye Dakolo Agada IV, Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, who is also the Chairman of Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, on Thursday said CITRE stand on the Constitutional Process and the INC Electoral Timeline.

Speaking further said, ” no elections on the 13th of April 2026. We asked our people not to participate in that kangaroo elections and they stayed away. Maybe the outgoing president,Prof. Benjamin Okaba has a motive behind his actions,that is why he is in a hurry to conduct an elections without following due process as stipulated by INC constitution.

” The purported elections was just another efforts in futility. The seven man committee will have it inaugural meeting on Monday 20th April 2026 and at the end, we will organized a credible, peaceful and rancour Free elections.

“Until issues are settled and you withdraw your case and show evidence that you have withdrawn, then you can conduct an elections. Why would he want to deceive everybody, then there must be a motive. There is nothing wrong if he cannot conduct an elections and his time expires, CITRE can take over and manage the affairs of the Ijaw apex body until a proper elections is conducted.

” The constitution has given us power to settle disputes including elections disputes. On this matter CITRE has taken a decision and the decision is final’.

By Our Correspondent

Ahead of 2027 election the crisis in the African Democratic Congress ADC is taking a new dimension as the recently expelled factional chairman Hon.Nafiu Bala Gombe and a two term federal lawmaker Hon.Joseph Leke Abejide have denounced the recently held Abuja convention saying that the crisis is not an internal party affair but attempt to hijack the party by the coalition new entrants

The duo alongside two other party stalwarts made this known on Friday in Abuja at a media briefing where they described the recent convention of the party held in Abuja as a nullity.

The event according to the party stakeholders is to address several critical matters that are essential to the consolidation and strengthening of our bation’s democratic norms and values.

According to the
factional chairman Hon.Bala Nafiu Gombe, a few days ago, a coalition of individuals convened and purported to hold an elective convention in Abuja, despite the clear, binding, and subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal.

He said that the exercise raises grave legal and constitutional questions as to its legitimacy and validity.

He had argeued that any action taken in flagrant disregard of the Court of Appeal’s judgment delivered on 12th March 2026 is not only of questionable legality but is liable to be declared null, void, and of no effect by the Federal High Court upon final determination of the pending suit.

Furthermore, he stated that the noticeable absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the convention strongly indicates that the process lacks official recognition and cannot stand judicial scrutiny as to its legitimacy.

He said: “Their conduct is not unexpected, as those individuals have a documented history of contempt for the rule of law, evidenced by the manner in which they purportedly joined the party several months ago in clear violation of the party’s Constitution.

“As far as the duly constituted and legitimate leadership of the party is concerned, the coalition group are not members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Consequently, they lack the requisite locus standi to convene or conduct any congresses or conventions, and any resolutions or decisions emanating from such gatherings are devoid of legal effect and cannot pass the test of legality”

The factional party leader who is the faction’s chairman said that it is particularly noteworthy that while they were engaged in the said unlawful assembly, their counsel was before the supreme court seeking Judicial validation of the same congresses and convention, thereby underscoring the illegitimacy of the entire exercise.

He revealed that what they have observed is that in certain quarters, there is a misconception that their court case relates to internal party affairs adding that he wish to clarify that this matter is not an internal party affairs.

He also stated that the case pending before Honourable Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja is clearly about a breach of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Constitution and an infringement of rights as a bona fide member of the party.

The matter has now escalated to a criminal dimension, involving the preparation of a false document bearing my forged signature, with the intent to damage my reputation.

Senator David Mark and his associates have relied on Section 83(5) of th Electoral Act, 2026, to avoid judicial scrutiny. However, they appear unaware that the said section contains a proviso.

He said that where a member’s rights al infringed upon or the party’s constitution is breached, the court is vest with jurisdiction to entertain and determine the suit

Also speaking with the same tone, a two term federal lawmaker Hon.Joseph Leke Abejide (Kogi,ADC) said that the recently held convention by a group of persons acting as leaders of the party is null and void

He said that the organizers of the convention the party hijackers who only came to the convention venue to steal, kill and destroy.

He further said that there is a substiting court order by a Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal that there should be no convention by the party until the matter is decided and discharged by the courts

He added that if they are progressives, they will be looking for a good avenue for the exercise instead of choosing a garden despite the existence of many monumental edifices in many parts of the nation for the convention.