By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi

The All Progressives Congress, APC, National Working Committee, NWC, has confirmed Engr. Toyin Okoro as its candidate for Ekiti South Federal Constituency I in the 2027 general elections.

Okoro has also collected his official Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, nomination form, marking the start of preparations for the poll.

Full campaigns are scheduled to begin in August 2026, in line with INEC’s timetable.

In a statement from his campaign office, Okoro thanked the APC NWC, leaders of Ekiti South Federal Constituency I, and the Ekiti State government under Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for their support.

“With your support once again, we are set for a successful, peaceful, and issue-based engagement with our people.

“I now look forward to presenting my stewardship and vision to the good people of Ekiti South Federal Constituency I, as I seek your mandate to serve with integrity, competence, and dedication,” he said.

Okoro said consultations before the August kick-off will focus on issues that matter most to constituents.

These include inclusive development, infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, healthcare, and accountable representation at the National Assembly.

He urged party members, stakeholders, and constituents to back a campaign “defined by unity, respect, and ideas that deliver real results for our people.”

By David Owei,Bayelsa

A political tsunami hit the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Bayelsa State on Monday as veteran politician, Chief Fyneman Wilson, and thousands of his supporters defected from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yenagoa.

Wilson, a former legislator in the old Rivers State House of Assembly and former Political Adviser to Senator Seriake Dickson when he was governor of the state, said the party lacked internal democracy as every decision was taken by Dickson, who is the NDC national leader.

The political tactician expressed displeasure over how the party treated his son, who he said defeated his opponent in the primary election but that the result was overturned to favour his rival.

Wilson, who warned that there would be consequences if the party jettisoned internal democracy, tendered his resignation last Friday.

He stated that he decided to join APC to help the party win elections and promised to work assidiously for the success of his new party.

He said: “My son, Felix Wilson, contested the (House of Assembly) primary in NDC and he defeated Michael (Magbisa) hands down. I met with the chairman, managing director and national leader of NDC and he told me he would look into it.

“He came to my house and first condoled with me over the demise of my son. I told him to go straight to the point, that my son won the primary election and if he is not declared the winner, I would leave the party.

“The NDC is a one-man show and it is heading nowhere.”

In separate remarks, some of the leaders of the defectors, including Mr. Felix Wilson, Hon. Victor Egba and Mrs Egbuson Clement, all described the NDC as a one-man party and expressed delight to be part of the APC while promising to work for the victory of the ruling party.

Welcoming the new members, the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, who represented Governor Douye Diri, described Chief Wilson as an encyclopedia and a father whose experience in politics will prove valuable to the APC in the 2027 elections and beyond.

The deputy governor said the APC was a democratic party that is fair and just to its members, citing the recent rancour-free congresses and primaries of the party as testament to its democratic credentials.

Akpe stressed that the APC would continue to engage people constructively on the need to join what he called the winning team, saying the decision to dump the NDC for the APC was well thought out.

He said: “Let me appreciate and recognise our father, Chief Fyneman Wilson, who can be rightly described as an encyclopedia. His level of experience in politics is rare and we recognise your presence for being with us where you are supposed to be.

“This day has gone down in the history of Bayelsa State. You have all done what is right. APC is the right place to be. As much as possible, there is inclusivity in the party.

“There were a lot of engagements. All interests were put together during the congreses and primaries to enable the party have the synergy to move together.

“I join the party leadership to say welcome to your party. Together we will work for the success of all our candidates in the 2027 elections.”

Earlier, a former deputy governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi, said with the coming of Wilson, his son and other followers, the APC will coast to victory in Sagbama and Bayelsa West in the 2027 general election.

Also, the Bayelsa West APC Vice Chairman, Akwakwa Akwakwa, welcomed the defectors, describing their decision to join the party as the best.

The member representing Ogbia Constituency 3 in the House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Ogbara, equally expressed delight at the calibre of politicians joining the APC, assuring that their interest will be protected in their new party.

By George Mgbeleke

The increased desperation of the presidency to frustrate efforts by other stakeholders for a clean, fair and democratic contest at the polls in the upcoming 2027 general elections is unhealthy for national growth and development.

In a statement signed by the office of Deputy Director Media, ADC-PWD Unit, recent happenings in the polity where the judiciary, especially, and certain elements hiding under different associations and groups are used to fuel the deregistration of political parties duly registered and recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) tells a dangerous tale that if left unchecked, not only will Nigeria’s democracy be in jeopardy, but the nation may be sliding towards an unpredictable political situation.

Few days ago, the Federal High Court in Kogi State asked INEC to stay action on the registration of National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the grounds that its December 2025 judgment that paved the way to the party’s registration by the electoral body did not take into account, the position of all parties in the suit filed by Peace Movement Party (PMP).

While we recognize and applauds the role of the judiciary in the sustenance of the country’s democracy, however we cannot help but cringe at the tactics of using courts across the country, to create seemingly legal crisis within and around opposition political parties with a view to weakening them and thereby creating a single and indeed, a facade of an overwhelming presidential candidate in the next election.

As Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), we are convinced that if the government succeeds at deregistering the NDC, it will no doubt turn its goons against the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Given that PWDs have in decades suffered more amid the insecurities and economic upheavals caused by this government’s poor performance across sectors; we are calling the attention of the international community to another tactic used by the Nigerian Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to create a situation that would further aggravate the economic, social and political fortunes of PWDs.

Therefore we call on the international community to quickly intervene in the salient war waged by the President Bola Tinubu government against the good people of Nigeria, whose democratic rights he’s bent on undermining.

Information reaching us shows that the government is on Chess by using NDC as a decoy while its real objective is to ensure that the ADC and Atiku are not on the ballot in 2027.

As Persons With Disabilities we strongly condemn this cowardly tactics employed by an administration which has made corruption, nepotism and bad governance enabled by lies and propaganda, a state craft.

While we urge Nigerians to remain vigilant and closely monitor President Bola Tinubu’s desperation to retain power at all costs, we remind the United States of America, the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and other right thinking local and foreign interventionist bodies, that PWDs who form over 3 million of the population of Nigeria are in danger if the administration succeeds in its efforts to provoke other political players to take undemocratic means to remain relevant ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Where will PWDs run to should the political and social crisis being orchestrated by the administration finds full expression ?

We also call on Heads of various security agencies to call those behind these moves to order. The nation is currently facing violent extremism and other forms of criminalities that have stretched our armed forces to their limits. To allow politicians to create another social – political upheaval may be too much for the country to bear.

It’s time for the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, IG of Police, DG DSS, CG NIS, CG NCS, and other relevant Senior Officers of the country’s security apparatus to think beyond political appointments, and put the nation and its interest above all and sundry.

Save Nigeria for us. We have nowhere to run to