By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Presidential Villa in Abuja is on track to sever its connection to the national electricity grid by March 2026, following the completion of a dedicated solar mini-grid project. The Federal Government has finalized plans to move the seat of power entirely off-grid, marking a major step toward energy independence and cost reduction.

State House Permanent Secretary, Temitope Fashedemi, disclosed this on Wednesday while defending the 2026 budget proposal before the Senate Committee on Special Duties at the National Assembly. He confirmed that the solar installation was completed in late 2025 and has been undergoing technical evaluation since December.

“We are hopeful that by March we will be able to effect a full cutover,” Fashedemi told lawmakers. He emphasized that the shift from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) would significantly lower the operational costs of running the Presidential Villa.

To demonstrate the viability of the project, Fashedemi cited the State House Medical Centre, which has operated entirely on solar power since May 2025. According to him, the facility has not switched on its generator since installation.

“In fact, since May last year, the generator at the Medical Centre has not been switched on for one minute,” he said. He added that less than three per cent of the centre’s energy needs were briefly supplemented from AEDC during the initial transition phase, with the remainder fully covered by solar panels and battery storage.

The Federal Government allocated N10 billion in the 2025 budget for the solar mini-grid project—a decision that sparked public debate at the time. An additional N7 billion has been proposed in the 2026 Appropriation Bill to consolidate and expand the initiative.

The transition comes amid efforts to resolve longstanding electricity debt. In February 2024, AEDC listed the Villa among its top government debtors, with an outstanding balance of N923.87 million. Following reconciliation, the figure was reduced to N342.35 million, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed to be settled immediately.

Fashedemi further revealed that the testing phase uncovered instances of overbilling by AEDC, including charges for electricity allegedly not delivered. He confirmed that discussions were ongoing to reconcile what he termed “legacy liabilities” with the utility company.

With the full transition to solar, the Villa will no longer rely on its aging generator fleet, some of which have been in use since the complex was first constructed.

While a few units may be retained strictly for emergency purposes, Fashedemi expressed confidence that the new solar infrastructure would provide stable, sustainable power for the entire Presidential Villa.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has called on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to zone its presidential ticket to the South ahead of the next general election, warning that fielding a northern candidate could undermine the party’s appeal in the region.

Speaking in Kano during an interactive session with youth groups, Amaechi advised the ADC leadership to carefully consider Nigeria’s unwieldy but established practice of power rotation. He argued that presenting a northern flag bearer at a time when many southerners expect the presidency to remain in the South would make it difficult to galvanise voter support.

“If you elect somebody from the North, I’m not saying we won’t campaign, but it will be difficult to convince the South to give up power,” Amaechi said. “They will ask the North, ‘Why is it that only when power comes to the South that there is a problem?’”

The former Rivers State governor outlined three critical factors the party must weigh in selecting its candidate: capacity, age, and the prevailing political dynamics—particularly the unwritten understanding that power should rotate to the South.

“First is capacity. Second is age. Third, which is the last point, is to respect the unwritten law of power that is now in the South,” he stated.

Amaechi suggested that a clear zoning decision in favour of the South would ease the path for southern politicians and voters to rally behind the ADC. He further noted that such a move could set the stage for a future transfer of power to the North.

“They should conclude that and then transfer power to the North,” he said. “It makes it easier for those of us from the South to say we are going to compete because the North has said, ‘finish all this.’”

Despite his firm stance on zoning, Amaechi reaffirmed his loyalty to the ADC, emphasising that regional considerations would not influence his commitment to the party. He pledged to support whoever emerges as the standard bearer through the primary process.

“Whether it is a Southerner or a Northerner is immaterial; I will support whoever emerges at the primary,” he said. “But I also advise the ADC to look around and identify the best material that can convince Nigerians that things will be turned around.”

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has alleged that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has agreed to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on the condition that he emerges as the party’s vice-presidential candidate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 general elections.

Fayose made the claims in a statement titled “Between Atiku and Makinde, Untold Story of What Happened in Minna Yesterday,” posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday.

According to him, Makinde met with Atiku in Minna, Niger State, on Tuesday in what he described as a carefully choreographed meeting designed to ensure “confidence and acceptability,” with selected personalities in attendance.

“It is no longer news that the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, went to Minna, Niger State, yesterday to hold a meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar,” Fayose wrote.

“Here is what happened behind the curtains. Venue and personalities involved in the meeting were carefully chosen so as to ensure confidence and acceptability.”

Fayose alleged that Makinde agreed to join the ADC on the understanding that he would secure the vice-presidential ticket as Atiku’s running mate, subject to ratification by Atiku’s inner caucus.

He further claimed that discussions at the meeting took into account the possibility that the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, might neither accept a vice-presidential slot nor be considered widely acceptable in the North as Atiku’s political successor.

“Consideration was given to the fact that Peter Obi will not accept to be Atiku’s running mate and he won’t also be acceptable to the North, as Atiku’s successor,” Fayose stated.

The former governor also alleged that Makinde offered an initial contribution of N10 billion—payable in two tranches—to support what he described as the “proper take-off” of the ADC, with additional funds to be made available at the commencement of campaigns.

According to Fayose, Atiku is “70 per cent certain” of clinching the ADC presidential ticket, having allegedly influenced the party’s decision not to zone its presidential slot.

He further claimed that Makinde pledged to mobilise delegates from the South-West during the party’s primaries and leverage his wife’s Rivers State roots to garner support in the South-South. Fayose alleged that Makinde argued that his candidacy could split South-West votes in the general election to the ADC’s advantage.

Fayose added that a follow-up meeting between key figures was scheduled to hold in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, within the next two weeks.

Atiku and Makinde on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd.), at his residence in Minna.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Atiku reportedly said his visit was aimed at strengthening the ADC’s structures in Niger State and paying a courtesy call on Gen. Babangida. He maintained that the meeting was not related to the 2027 presidential election, stating that his current engagements were focused on electoral reforms, particularly the push for real-time electronic transmission of results.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Governor Makinde nor the ADC had publicly responded to Fayose’s allegations.