By Divine Perezide

Fresh political developments suggest President Bola Tinubu is contemplating a significant shift in his 2027 re-election strategy, with indications that he may replace Vice President Kashim Shettima with former Kano State Governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, as his running mate.

According to reports by Business Day, this potential move is gaining traction among key figures within the ruling All Progressives this shift was further fueled by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje’s noticeable silence on Shettima during a recent party meeting in Gombe State.

Insiders reveal that negotiations are already underway to reintegrate Kwankwaso into the APC. He has reportedly met with President Tinubu in recent weeks, with strategists within the party viewing his return as a vitalstep towards strengthening the APC’s chances in the upcoming elections.

Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the Néw Nigeria People Party (NNPP) in 2023 and a prominent political figure in Northern Nigeria, especially through his influential Kwankwasiyya movement, holds considerable sway in Kano – a critical state with over 5.9 million registered voters, second only to lagos.

Sources close to the presidency suggest that Tinubu’s team sees Kwankwaso’s popularity in Kano and the wider North-west as a strategic advantage. “He has the influence and voters base the president needs to secure a second term,” one source disclosed emphasising the importance of bringing him on bored early.

Meanwhile, murmurs within the APC indicates that other political heavyweights are also eyeing the Vice President’s seat. Several Northern politicians, including at last least four sitting governors- Mali Mala Buni (Yobe), Muhammad Yahaya (Gombe), Uba Sani (Kaduna), and Dikko Radda (Katsina) – as well as lawmakers like House Speaker Tajudeen Abass and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, are believed to be maneuvering behind the scenes for a shot at the vice presidency.

While the ruling party deals with internal recalibration, opposition forces are not resting. Former Presidential contenders Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi are reportedly in talks to form a united political alliance ahead of 2027. Along with other prominent political actors, the duo is working towards launching a new party The All Democratic launching a new party, the Democratic Alliance (ADA).

This emerging coalition includes powerful figures such as former Senate President David Mark, ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai, Aminu Tambuwal, and Rauf Aregbesola, as well as former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal. A committee has already been formed to oversee the party’s registration with the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), signalling a move to challenge Tinubu’s re-election from a united front rather than fragmented opposition platforms.

As Nigeria heads towards another electoral season, both ruling and opposition camps are intensifying efforts to consolidate power, setting the stage for a high-stakes political showdown in 2027.

By: Divine Perezide

Stakeholders of Gbaramatu kingdom have called for federal and state government intervention over alleged threat issued to the Ijaws in Ikantu and Zou-alagha Uba communities from group of persons believed to be From the Itsekiri ethnic nationality, actual news reported.

The appeal was made through the Fiyewei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, High Chief Godspower Gbenekama at a press briefing on Monday June 16, 2025.

He noted that the threat to the Ikantu and Ijaghala communities to be sacked from their community should not be taking lightly.

Chief Gbenekama added that the Ijaw ethnic nationality remain a peaceful people and will remain so emphasizing that since the issue of delineation became a topic of discourse, the people of Ijaghala and Ikantu have been receiving threat to be evicted from their communities.” We the Ijaws will not fight the Itsekiri people but they must leave the Ikantu and Zou-alagha Uba people alone.” We are peaceful people but if any Ikantu or Zou-alagha Uba indegenes are attacked by the Itsekiris because they traced their ancestoral root back to Gbaramatu kingdom, our god’s will fight for us and for them”

Chief Gbenekama observed that according to the Nigeria Constitution every Nigerian has the right to live in any part of the country and Ikantu and Zou-alagha Uba communities are not an exception.” There is freedom of speech, movement and association in this country and I am pleading with those threatening our brothers and sisters in Ikantu and Zou-alagha Uba communities to stop the act”.

He said the threat alone is enough for the state and federal governments to take action to protect the lives and property of the people of both communities.

Chief Gbenekama urged Government at all levels to prioritize the safety of its citizens even as he cited the gruesome killing of Benue residents. He also used the medium to appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to complete the delineation of the Warri Federal Constituency as further delay is not in the best interest of the people.

“INEC come and complete your work, there is peace in Warri Federal Constituency, why is our own different ljaws will always continue to call on God to help us” He stated.

Chief Gbenekama appealed to the state and federal governments to fish out the gun runners in Warri Federal Constituency, alleging that they are preparing to use their arms on Gbaramatu and other Ijaw kingdoms.

By: Staff Correspondent

In a strong-worded protest lettr, the people of oil rich Kokodiagbene Community, host to the Otunana (Utulala) field, has warned Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, to desist henceforth from its usual strategy of divide-and-rule tactics by it allegedly conniving with the Itsekiri ethnic group to register the above field under the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, at the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, as “Abiteye, Makaraba and Utonana (AMU-HCDT) for Itsekiri benefiting communities.”

The warning is contained in a protest letter addressed to the General Manager, PGPA, Lagos; the Area Manager, Warri; and the Operations Manager, Escravos; and that was signed by Comrade Ark Selegha and Gabriel Ukuli, Chairman and General Secretary of Kokodiagbene Community, respectively, on13th June 2025.

The host community of Kokodiagbene said they own the field which is located in the community and is less than 300 km from the main town, and added further that the original name, Utulala field, had been corrupted over time by the Itsekiri as Otunana field.

The letter reads in part: “The people of oil rich Kokodiagbene Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, write, in a strong-worded protest petition, against as well as reject the ongoing registration of Otunana (Utulala) field by the Itsekiri ethnic group, facilitated by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as Abiteye, Makaraba and Utonana (AMU-HCDT) for Itsekiri benefiting communities.

“It will interest CNL’s management and the general public to know that Kokodiagbene Community is the rightful owner of Utulala now being referred to as Otunana flowstation, situated in the community, less than 5km from the main town of the community.”

The people of Kokodiagbene in the protest letter also alleged that the fraudulent registration of the AMU-HCDT by Chevron is a ploy by the Itsekiri to falsely solidify their claim on the field, and warned that should Chevron fail to stop forthwith with the registration, it will lead to a total shut down of the flowstation permanently.

“It is imperative to send this warning and caution against any purported attempt by CNL, in connivance with some top Itsekiri management staff, to register the flowstation in an attempt to buttress their fraudulent fictitious claim.

“This serves as a last warning against CNL to desist from its old strategy of adopting divide-and-rule tactics by instigating ethnic conflict to enable them employ and deploy their kins men from outside their area of operations.

“We warn again, that we will not condone this evil act which will no longer be tolerated and allowed to continue, and to avoid a total shut down of Chevron operations in the area, as we condemn in strong terms this anomaly and injustice meted on the good and peace loving people of Kokodiagbene Community.”

“We therefore ask that Chevron stops forthwith with any further registration process as it concerns Otunana (Utulala) field. A stitch in time, they say, saves Nine,” they warned.