Responding to the directive given by President Bola Tinubu directing all political appointees contesting for positions in the 2027 elections to resign by March 31, 2026, the Senior Special Assistant on Citizenship and Leadership, Honourable Nasir Bala Aminu, popular called Ja’oji, has tendered his resignation letter.

The Presidential directive applies to Ministers, Ministers of State, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, and other officials appointed by the President, who where appointed to contribute their share in the development of the country.

In the letter, he profoundly thanked the President, for giving him the opportunity to serve his motherland, Nigeria. Emphasizing that, his choice for the two different positions, was informed by President Tinubu’s concern for Nigerian youth. And the confidence he (President) reposed in them.

He pledged that, at whatever rate, he is ready to serve his country at any time President Tinubu deems it fit. Adding that, Tinubu’s keen interest in the development of Nigerian youth, is one of the cardinal principles of his administration, which serves as morale booster to all ages.

While appreciating the administration’s Renewed Hope Initiative as a driving force, he believes that, many of the good policies and programmea of the administration would bear more fruits when Tinubu gets second tenure, come 2027.

With his resignation, it also means that, Ja’oji is ready and confident enough to contest for elective office. His people remain jubilant over his show of seriousness and commitment in seeking for elective position. Assuring that, they would always support him to achieve his political goals. Under sun or rain.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A fresh crisis has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), threatening to undo reconciliation efforts as a powerful bloc loyal to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, rejected a rival faction’s plan to hold a national convention. The move has intensified the leadership tussle between Governor Makinde’s camp and supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The conflict came to a head on Saturday during the party’s 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, where the Makinde-aligned group dismissed the convention scheduled for March 28–29, 2026, by the Wike-backed faction. The Wike camp, however, insists the convention will proceed as planned, arguing that the current National Working Committee (NWC) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, lacks legitimacy.

The faction loyal to the FCT Minister has already conducted ward, local government, and state congresses, positioning its upcoming Abuja convention as a move to install a new NWC. Party insiders say the group has intensified mobilisation across several states, engaging delegates and stakeholders to secure support for the exercise.

Proponents of the convention describe it as a “reset” aimed at producing a more assertive and electorally competitive leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Beyond the convention dispute, the crisis reflects a fundamental struggle over who holds legitimate authority within the opposition party. The two camps remain deeply divided over reconciliation efforts and the strategic direction of the PDP, raising concerns about the party’s ability to present a united front in time for the next election cycle.

Tensions were laid bare during the NEC meeting, which had been delayed for weeks to allow for broader consultations. In attendance were key party leaders, including National Chairman Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN; Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; House of Representatives caucus leader, Hon. Fred Agbedi; Chairman of PDP State Chairmen, Hon. Tony Aziegbemi; and National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong.

Opposition to the planned convention was swift and unequivocal, particularly from state party leaders who accused the Wike-aligned camp of sidelining broader party structures.

“You must have consultation. You must bring more people to the table when you are sharing those positions,” Aziegbemi said. “Here we are, with just one person, or at most two people, presenting us with a list of members of the National Working Committee of our great party. Will you allow that to happen?”

He added: “Which convention? Where did we decide that we are going for a convention? Who agreed to go to that convention? For us at the level of state chairmen, we want to assure you that we will go nowhere, that we will stand with you, no matter what happens.”

Addressing reporters after the meeting, National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong denied knowledge of any impending convention, while cautioning against public commentary that could further fracture the party.

“Talking about the convention, there’s no convention coming up to our knowledge,” Ememobong said. “But we will not begin to deconstruct that because that would be an inconvenient truth, and we cannot be saying those inconvenient truths at this point in public.”

On reconciliation, Ememobong acknowledged progress while noting the journey is far from over. “Reconciliation is a journey towards a destination, and so you measure it by movement. Movement is being made along that line. The destination will be met. We have a situation of negative peace at the moment—at least a cessation of hostilities.”

National Chairman Turaki underscored the party’s commitment to due process, explaining the NEC meeting was intended to assess developments carefully before taking decisive action.

“We felt it was important to examine these developments microscopically so that we can take informed decisions, not only to save and strengthen our party, but to ensure that multi-party democracy survives,” Turaki said. “All hope is not lost. Indeed, no hope is lost.”

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Nentawe Yilwatda and Ajibola Basiru have been returned as national chairman and national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respectively.

Yilwatda and Basiru were elected on Friday at the fourth elective national convention of the APC held at Eagle Square, Abuja.

The party’s convention election committee announced their election as part of several officials returned via consensus.

Last week, the ruling party said it would retain the existing zoning arrangement for national working committee (NWC) positions during its national convention.

In a statement, Felix Morka, national publicity secretary of the APC, said the arrangement is contained in the party’s published schedule of nationwide congresses, national convention, and related activities for 2026.

He said the zoning formula for NWC positions across states within the geopolitical zones remains valid for the convention.

Morka advised aspirants seeking national offices in the party to adhere strictly to the zoning arrangement.

In furtherance of this decision, both Yilwatda and Basiru were returned unopposed for the national chairman and secretary positions, respectively.

The convention, themed “Unity in progres: Consolidating the renewed hope agenda,” was attended by President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, among other party chieftains.

The convention was organised by a planning committee led by Aminu Masari, former governor of Katsina, and Anyim Pius Anyim, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

According to Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, about 8,453 delegates are participating in the convention.