*** Says Rules must apply equally to all political parties 

By Chidera Orji 

Ahead of the 2027 general election, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to strictly follow its published timetable for the 2027 general election, adding that  the rules guiding the elections must apply equally to all political parties.

The party’s National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, made the call when he received a pre-election fact-finding mission of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.

Yilwatda, who received the delegation alongside members of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, said the electoral process must remain fair, transparent and predictable.

He cautioned against any adjustment of electoral deadlines that could give one political party an advantage over others.

He urged INEC to adhere to its published timetable, stressing that all political parties should be treated equally and that electoral deadlines should not be altered in ways that could favour any party.

“We have inaugurated our campaign council, commenced campaign activities and uploaded our candidates to INEC’s portal. We have also presented candidates for all the positions we are contesting, unlike some opposition parties that have faced difficulties completing their submissions,” he said.

Yilwatda also highlighted the party’s membership and political structures, claiming that it had about 13 million registered members across the country’s local government areas.

He said the party had more than 261,000 executive members from the ward to the national level, adding that its membership cards were designed to allow verification through National Identification Numbers, NIN, and voter identification details.

On its elected representatives, he said the APC had 31 governors, 88 senators and 208 members of the House of Representatives.

The chairman, however, said the party’s size and political strength should not be used to undermine other parties or restrict their participation in the electoral process.

“Being the largest political party does not mean that we want to suppress anybody. We want a democratic environment in which every party can organise, campaign and seek the support of Nigerians without fear,” he said.

“We will not use our position to intimidate or suppress opposition parties. Every political party must have equal access to the media, campaign venues and other legitimate platforms to present its programmes to Nigerians,” he said.

***Orders APC, INEC to recognise ex governor as candidate for Imo west senatorial district 

**” Uzodimma remains our candidate, party studying ruling, says APC

By Eze Nnadi 

It was relieve for former Imo state governor, Rocha’s Okorocha as a Federal High Court in Abuja has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Imo west senatorial district election in 2027

The Court, presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, nullified the recognition of the current Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as the APC candidate and ordered INEC to publish the name of former governor Rochas Okorocha.

Okorocha had asked the court to declare him winner of the party’s primary election for the Imo West senatorial district, arguing that he won the primary election with arguing that the authentic document  that was signed and released after the election proved that he won the primary with 150,780 votes.

Uzodimma was however declared the winner of the primary and his name was forwarded to INEC by the APC, which maintained that the official results showed that the governor polled 230,464 votes, while Okorocha scored 1,098 votes.

Delivering his judgement in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, challenging the outcome of the APC primary and INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate, Justice Egwuatu restrained Uzodimma from parading himself as the APC senatorial candidate for the January 16, 2027 election, holding that he did not win the party’s May 18, 2026 primary.

He declared that Okorocha emerged as the lawful winner of the primary, which was monitored by INEC, and directed the APC to submit his name to the electoral commission as its candidate.

Justice Egwuatu further declared that the nomination and submission of Uzodimma’s name to INEC by the APC contravened Sections 29 and 32 of the Electoral Act adding that it failed to comply with the APC’s guidelines for conducting primary elections.

Justice Egwuatu contended that a separate  document submitted by a different NWC member, claimed that a direct primary was conducted for the same election

He described the conflicting accounts as significant, noting that votes were reportedly allocated to the aspirants despite the claim that Uzodimma emerged through consensus.

The judge subsequently ordered the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to INEC and directed the commission to replace Uzodimma’s name with that of the former governor.

Speaking with journalists following the judgment, counsel to the plaintiff (Okorocha), O.J. Aboje, described the judgment as a vindication of his client, whom he noted had been accused in the media of forging the results.

He said, “Firstly, we’re happy. You recall that in the last few weeks my client has been accused in the media of forging documents; he did this, he did all that. But you have all heard the court.”

Reacting to the ruling , Okorocha described it as victory for the Nigerian judiciary and democracy

The former governor in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemodo, described the judgment as a landmark decision.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for “providing the enabling environment for the Judiciary and other Institutions to function for the nation’s rapid development and growth.”

Okorocha who  expressed gratitude to the people of Imo State, particularly residents of Imo West Senatorial District, for their prayers, moral support and spontaneous celebrations following the judgment, also commended Uzodimma for being among the respondents in the case, describing his involvement in the proceedings as part of a historic judgment.

“This judgment, to say the least, is a resounding victory for the nation’s judiciary. It is a victory for the nation’s fast-growing democracy. It is an outstanding victory for the nation’s Constitution, as amended

“It is a remarkable victory for all lovers of what is right and haters of what is wrong. It is a notable victory for posterity and history. Finally, it is a victory for Imo people in general, and Imo West Senatorial District people in particular.”

But the Imo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has declared that governor Hope Uzodimma remains the party’s candidate for the zImo west senatorial district election in 2027, even as it said the party’s legal unit is currently studying the ruling

The chapter in a statement issued by it’s Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, in response to the court ruling on Thursday said it will is “aware of some unverified reports making the rounds across many social media platforms and being circulated by renowned opposition figures about a purported change in the candidacy of our Party for Imo West Senatorial District. 

“The Party wishes to state without any confusion that His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma,  CON, remains the candidate of our Party for Imo West Senatorial District,  having won the primaries of our great Party with the overwhelming support of the majority of our Party members.

“The Party’s legal department shall study the outcome of a legal intervention in this matter and act accordingly.

“We urge our teeming party members and supporters of our great Party to remain focused and undistracted and remain committed to working assiduously for the victory of our Party across all constituencies in the state.”

**”Says no retiree would be forgotten 

*** Why we’re taking fresh loans – Tinubu

By Sam Otuonye 

The federal government has disclosed that it has approved N758bn Pension Bond to settle accrued pension arrears , rights and strengthen the Pension Protection Fund.

The approval was announced by President Bola  Tinubu at the inaugural National Pension Week Leadership Summit held at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, on Thursday

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, the president also announced measures aimed at restoring dignity and financial security to retirees.

This is even as he assured Nigerian retirees that no citizen who has served the country will be forgotten in retirement

He further pledged to strengthen the Contributory Pension Scheme and improve pensioners’ welfare, adding that his administration regarded pension payments as an obligation to workers rather than a privilege granted by government.Follow Politics

The president , who spoke on the themed, “Pensions for All: Building a Secure Future Together,” emphasised  that pension benefits represented earnings deferred by workers and held in trust for their retirement.

He noted that the bond would work as a restitution to Nigerians who served the country but were denied timely access to their retirement entitlements, adding that the measure is intended to address outstanding pension obligations inherited by his administration, including cases in which retirees had waited for years to receive their accrued benefits.

The President who also announced plans to implement the Minimum Pension Guarantee provision of the Pension Reform Act 2014, which he said had remained unimplemented for more than 11 years after the law was enacted, emphasised that the policy shift would strengthen retirement protection and provide greater assurance for pension contributors.

Tinubu further announced the launch of PenCare, a national retiree wellbeing programme designed to provide access to essential healthcare for low-income pensioners.Follow Politics

The initiative is expected to expand the scope of retirement protection beyond savings and benefit payments to include healthcare support for vulnerable retirees

However, he warned employers in the public and private sectors against deducting workers’ pension contributions without remitting them to the appropriate pension accounts, describing such practice as a breach of trust and urged employers to ensure that contributions were remitted fully and promptly.

Tinubu also charged the National Pension Commission to enforce pension regulations without fear or favour, while calling on Pension Fund Administrators and Custodians to improve their expertise, diversify investments responsibly and reduce costs.

He said the success of pension fund management should be measured by the benefits contributors ultimately received rather than the size of assets under management.

The President cautioned that retirement savings must generate returns capable of protecting contributors against inflation, stressing that capital preservation and disciplined growth should go hand in hand.

He added that although pension assets could contribute to national development through infrastructure and productive enterprises, investment decisions must prioritise the interests of contributors and meet rigorous risk-and-return requirements.

Tinubu also called for the expansion of pension coverage beyond the formal sector to include traders, artisans, farmers, transport workers and other self-employed Nigerians.Buy Maps

He urged Pencom to use the opportunity provided by the Personal Pension Plan and new distribution channels to provide more accessible opportunities for informal-sector workers to save towards retirement.

The President urged state governments, organised labour and other stakeholders to work towards expanding pension coverage, improving compliance and ensuring faster payment of benefits.

Meanwhile,  President Bola Tinubu has defended the 

Government’s efforts to secure  loans from international financial institutions and banks, arguing that the value of investments financed by borrowing should matter more than the amount of debt incurred.

The President, responding to criticism from opposition leaders over the government’s borrowing plans, said the funds were intended to support critical infrastructure, stimulate economic growth and create opportunities for future generations.

In an article titled “From reforms to delivery: Our infrastructure investment and growth strategy”, Tinubu stated: “The real question is not how much we borrow, but what we build, what value we create and what future we leave behind.”

He listed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Trans-Sahara Superhighway, electricity grid upgrades and the modernisation of major commercial ports in Lagos among the projects expected to strengthen Nigeria’s productive capacity.

According to the President, the projects, combined with investments in healthcare, education and vocational training, would improve connectivity between economic regions, lower transportation costs, expand agricultural and industrial activities and attract private-sector investment.

The article, which was made available to journalists on Thursday, projected that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway could reduce logistics costs along its route by between 15 and 20 per cent.

It also estimated that the project could contribute up to two per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through increased trade, tourism and industrial activities.

“The project is also projected to generate about 100,000 direct jobs in construction and engineering, alongside more than 150,000 indirect jobs in logistics, materials and related services.”

Explaining the broader economic significance of the infrastructure projects, Tinubu said: “We are not simply building highways. We are opening economic corridors, connecting markets, unlocking industries and reshaping Nigeria’s economic geography,” the President said.

He maintained that achieving the administration’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030 would require sustained investment in infrastructure to improve productivity, promote industrialisation and facilitate trade.

“We cannot build a USD 1 trillion economy with infrastructure designed for an economy a fraction of that size,” Tinubu said.

The President argued that improvements in key economic indicators and rising confidence among international investors were creating opportunities for Nigeria to attract long-term capital for infrastructure development.

He attributed the progress recorded by the economy to reforms introduced by his administration in May 2023, including the removal of petrol subsidies, unification of the foreign exchange market, tax reforms and coordinated efforts to curb inflation.

According to him, the measures were designed to restore macroeconomic stability, strengthen public finances and improve Nigeria’s position in international financial markets.

Tinubu stressed that the proposed $1 trillion economy could not be achieved through declarations alone, but would depend on sustained investment, increased productivity, industrial growth and expanded trade.

He said infrastructure development would remain central to achieving the target within the administration’s 2030 timeline.

Citing recent economic indicators, the President said Nigeria’s real GDP grew by 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, while headline inflation declined to 14.63 per cent in September from 20.98 per cent recorded a year earlier.

He also disclosed that the country’s gross external reserves had risen to $55.1 billion as of October 9, 2026, including approximately $46 billion in net reserves.

Tinubu further said Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio had increased to 12.5 per cent from seven per cent, describing the figures as evidence of progress in the government’s economic reform programme.

The President maintained that the administration’s infrastructure strategy was aimed at translating economic reforms into tangible benefits through job creation, stronger productive capacity and improved access to markets.

However, the debate over fresh borrowing comes amid concerns about Nigeria’s debt burden and the need to ensure that loans translate into productive investments capable of generating sufficient economic returns.

The effectiveness of the government’s borrowing strategy will therefore depend not only on the scale of infrastructure spending but also on project delivery, transparency, accountability and the economic benefits generated for Nigerians.