The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and other key northern figures have pushed back against a call by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje for the North to hold off on contesting the presidency until 2031.

Ganduje made the statement while hosting a delegation from the Tinubu Media Centre and the Tinubu Northern Youth Forum at the APC headquarters in Abuja. He argued that since former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, served two terms, it would only be fair for President Bola Tinubu to complete eight years as well.

However, northern leaders strongly disagreed. ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, dismissed Ganduje’s stance, calling it an attempt to impose loyalty in a way that does not reflect democratic values.

He made it clear that voters cannot be pressured into supporting a candidate. “What he said is just his opinion. Voters will decide whether to accept, reject, or modify it.

In 2015, people were sold promises of anti-corruption and other things, only to realize later that they weren’t true. Then, in 2023, ‘Renewed Hope’ was introduced, but for many, that hope is now turning into a nightmare,” he said.

The Labour Party has confirmed that Peter Obi will once again be its presidential candidate in the 2027 elections.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, made it clear that the next election won’t be an easy ride for President Tinubu.

“Tinubu won’t have it easy in 2027. We are bringing Peter Obi back to show how serious we are,” he said.

Arabambi also addressed the recent departure of actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo from the party.

He dismissed Okonkwo’s exit as a relief, claiming the former spokesperson was never truly loyal to the Labour Party and had been working in favour of the APC and President Tinubu.

“We wish Kenneth Okonkwo well, but his resignation is good riddance to bad rubbish. He should stop talking about the Labour Party,” Arabambi added.

He further dismissed claims of a leadership crisis in the party, insisting that the Labour Party is not in turmoil and will remain a strong force ahead of the next election.

In a recent development, governors from Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have voiced their opposition to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) February 10 deadline for the old N200, N500, and N1,000 naira notes to cease being legal tender.

The governors argue that the policy’s implementation has led to significant hardships for Nigerians, particularly in rural areas where access to banking services is limited.

The APC governors have expressed concerns that the scarcity of the new naira notes is disrupting daily life and economic activities. They highlight that many citizens are struggling to access cash, which is essential for their livelihoods.

In response to these challenges, the governors have sought a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss the implications of the policy and to advocate for an extension of the deadline.