Isoko Traditional Rulers Divided Over 250 Million Offer To Confer Chieftaincy Title On Senatorial Aspirant

A Delta South Senatorial candidate in a desperate bid to garner endorsements has made an offer of a whopping N250 million to Isoko Traditional Rulers for conferment of an omnibus Chieftaincy Title on him, insisting that he had never had one.

The offer is however been rebuffed by some of the notable Kings, who view the offer as a “Greek gift”, and vowed to stonewall it, while the other group is desperate to have their hands in the bounty.

A traditional ruler, who crave for anonymity said: “you are offering a hefty N250 million for a chieftaincy title at the eleventh hour when in normal circumstances it should be free based on your performances while in office.

Frantic efforts are being made to get the integrity group of traditional rulers on board to grant the Senatorial Candidate his wish through intensive lobbying.

The traditional rulers are said to be consulting amongst themselves whether to accept the offer.

Isoko is made up of 17 autonomous clans, each with its own authority to confer chieftaincy on deserving sons and daughters.

Last week Saturday, Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas, representing Delta South gathered some traditional rulers, politicians and Isoko Development Union (IDU) at his country home, Emede in Isoko South and got an endorsement for a second term come 2027.

The endorsement had not gone down well with the generality of Delta South, especially the people of the two local governments in Isokoland as it has been heavily criticized.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A coalition of chieftains from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by the party’s interim Chairman, David Mark, staged a peaceful protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja. The demonstration was in response to INEC’s recent withdrawal of recognition from the David Mark-led faction as the legitimate leadership of the party.

Prominent figures in the protest included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governors Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Peter Obi, as well as former Ministers Rotimi Amaechi and Rauf Aregbesola.

The leadership crisis within the ADC has deepened in recent times, with the emergence of yet another faction backed by state chairmen of the party. This group claims legitimacy over the two existing factions—one led by Nafiu Bala and the other by David Mark.

Amid this increasingly undemocratic atmosphere, the David Mark-led faction had scheduled its national convention for April 14. However, with today being April 8, questions are being raised over whether the faction can meet that deadline or if the leadership dispute will be resolved before the date.

Meanwhile, INEC has set May 10 as the final deadline for all political parties to submit the names of their flag bearers for the 2027 general election.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused Nafiu Bala, the party’s factional chairman, of acting against democratic principles.

In an interview with DCL Hausa on Tuesday, Kwankwaso revealed that he had invited Bala for a meeting aimed at resolving the party’s crisis amicably, but Bala failed to show up.

“We scheduled to meet yesterday, but despite waiting until morning, he did not come. I had been warned he wouldn’t show up, and his absence is deeply disappointing. I want to pass my message through you now, so that if you meet him, you can deliver it on my behalf,” Kwankwaso said.

He added, “Given the current situation in our country, our party and our democracy cannot afford someone who behaves like the lizard at the mouth of the water pot—blocking progress. As a leader of this movement in Nigeria, I believed that when I invited him, he would honour the request so I could advise him, as a father would a son.”

Kwankwaso noted that Bala was born in 1990 and still needs guidance as a youth. “His current actions are not only harmful to his own future, but also to the ADC and Nigerian democracy as a whole.”

He further warned, “He must recognise that millions have registered with our party. What was once a small party has grown significantly because prominent leaders joined with a mission to do what is right for this country. If he continues to stand in the way of that progress, it will become a very serious problem for him.”

The senator also called on the Emir of Gombe, other traditional rulers, and Islamic scholars (Ulamas) to intervene in the dispute.

“This is a serious matter, and he must realise his mistakes so we can resolve it. I offer this advice freely because I know it is for everyone’s benefit,” Kwankwaso concluded.