By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has categorically denied that any final decision has been made regarding his political future, even as a close ally told reporters that he and fellow opposition leader Peter Obi plan to defect from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Monday.

In a statement issued in the late hours of Saturday, the former governor and 2023 presidential candidate acknowledged “wide-ranging consultations” with leaders from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and others to explore options for protecting their democratic interests.

The clarification comes after Buba Galadima, a key Kwankwaso ally, disclosed to newsmen on Saturday, May 2, 2026, that both Kwankwaso and Obi would leave the ADC for a new political platform on Monday.

Kwankwaso cited multiple legal challenges facing the ADC, including a recent Federal High Court ruling that “delegitimised the party’s recent convention” and an application by the Attorney General of the Federation to deregister the party.

“We left the NNPP due to externally influenced legal problems that made our stay perilous,” Kwankwaso said. “The ADC has now been also forced into this difficulty.”

Regarding presidential ambitions, Kwankwaso noted that the ADC has yet to zone its presidential ticket or take any decision on a candidate. “I have therefore neither declared any intention to run for president nor endorsed any aspirant,” he stated.

His absence from two recent ADC stakeholders’ meetings, he said, was due to “unavoidable personal commitments” for which he had apologised to party leadership.

A definitive position on his political direction will be announced “in the soonest possible time,” he added.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced that aspirants seeking its presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections will pay N100 million for nomination forms, as the party released its detailed primary election timetable on Sunday.

In a press statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party outlined a fee structure that places the ADC among Nigeria’s costliest political platforms. Aspirants for governor will pay N50 million, while those seeking a Senate seat will pay N20 million. Candidates for the House of Representatives will be required to pay N10 million, and State House of Assembly aspirants will pay N3 million.

To encourage wider participation, the ADC introduced concessional rates: a 50 percent discount for youths and a 25 percent discount for women and persons with disabilities.

The party’s 2026 primary elections will begin on May 21 with simultaneous ward-level elections for State Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate seats. Governorship primaries follow on May 22, and the presidential primary is scheduled for May 25.

A Special National Convention on May 27 will ratify all candidates.

The timetable requires aspirants to collect application forms from April 1 to May 4, purchase nomination forms from May 5 to May 10, and submit completed documents by May 13. Screening runs from May 14 to May 15, with appeals heard May 18–19 and a final cleared aspirants list on May 20.

The ADC urged strict compliance with the party constitution and the Electoral Act, positioning itself as “the primary platform for Nigerians seeking competent, accountable, and people-focused leadership in 2027.”

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Allied Peoples Movement.

Mohammed announced his defection on Saturday following a meeting with political stakeholders convened to deliberate on the implications of the Supreme Court’s judgment on the PDP leadership crisis and to determine a way forward.

Speaking after the meeting, the governor said he had spent the past eight days in Abuja engaging key stakeholders in efforts to resolve the party’s internal challenges.

He noted, however, that the apex court’s verdict, which nullified parallel conventions conducted by rival factions within the PDP, had significantly altered the political landscape.

According to him, the judgment effectively stripped both factions of legal standing, leaving the party’s Board of Trustees to temporarily oversee its affairs.

He added that subsequent developments had further deepened uncertainty within the party.

“After careful consideration and wide consultations with leaders and stakeholders across the country, it has become clear that our efforts to restore stability have not yielded the desired results,” he said.

The governor expressed appreciation to the PDP for providing a platform for his political growth and service but stressed the need to move on in the interest of governance and political stability.

“However, as responsible leaders, we cannot allow our people to be left without a credible and effective political platform,” he stated.

Mohammed explained that his decision to join the APM was a strategic move aimed at ensuring political continuity and electoral success.

He described the party as a viable platform free from legal encumbrances.

He also disclosed that members of the State Executive Council interested in contesting elective offices had resigned in line with the law.

While appreciating the PDP for its role in his political journey, he said the decision to leave was driven by necessity.

“We remain PDP at heart. We are leaving not out of bitterness, but out of necessity—to continue the struggle for good governance,” the governor said.

Announcing his new political platform, Mohammed declared, “Consequently, after extensive consultations, we have taken a firm and strategic decision to join the Allied Peoples Movement.”

To ensure a smooth transition, the governor outlined measures including the establishment of a compliance committee, commencement of online membership registration, formal resignation of interested members, engagement with APM leadership, and the constitution of a committee to interface with the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He urged his supporters to remain calm and united, emphasising that the move was not borne out of uncertainty but a deliberate repositioning.

Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the APM, Yusuf Dantalle, formally received the governor and his supporters into the party.

Dantalle described the APM as a “clean, democratic party” guided by the motto “Nigeria First,” with principles anchored on integrity, sacrifice, and service.

He commended Mohammed’s leadership style, describing Bauchi as a state where democratic values thrive and political participation is inclusive.

The APM chairman also highlighted the party’s performance in recent local government elections, noting that it secured councillorship victories and remained competitive alongside other parties.

He assured the defectors that the party has no internal crisis, stressing that it operates strictly in accordance with its constitution.

Dantalle subsequently presented the governor with his membership card and party insignia, symbolising his formal admission into the party.

He added that the party’s symbol, the cassava plant, represents resilience, inclusiveness, and economic value, reflecting its vision for national development.