The suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, have initiated peace talks aimed at resolving their protracted political feud.

Naija News reports that the peace talks, which took place at Wike’s residence in Abuja, were facilitated by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba and current Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

This meeting marks the first significant step toward reconciling the political rift that has significantly impacted the political landscape of Rivers State.

Sources familiar with the discussions revealed to Punch that during the meeting, Fubara made a heartfelt apology for his past actions.

A reliable source, who requested anonymity, disclosed that Fubara, accompanied by the two Ogun governors, “prostrated and begged the FCT Minister for forgiveness.”

The talks are expected to continue, with both politicians scheduled to meet again soon to finalise the reconciliation process.

The longstanding political crisis between Fubara and Wike has caused significant instability in Rivers State over the past two years.

This division ultimately led President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state on March 18, 2025. In response to the crisis, the President appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.

The state of emergency declaration was approved by the National Assembly on March 20, despite facing strong public backlash. In response, 11 PDP governors filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the decision.

The Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Timothy Osadolor, while speaking with Punch, urged Fubara not to compromise the interests of Rivers State for personal political gain.

Osadolor acknowledged the importance of the peace talks but cautioned that the integrity of the state must come first.

“The issue began as a personal dispute but escalated into a national matter, involving constitutional overreach.

“If Fubara’s apology was out of respect for African tradition, that’s fine. But he must not sacrifice the interests of Rivers State for his own position,” Osadolor said.

Osadolor also criticised President Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency, calling it both unjustified and constitutionally flawed.

He argued that Rivers State, which had been relatively peaceful, was unfairly singled out for such drastic measures while other states with more significant security concerns did not face similar actions.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has also expressed support for the peace talks, commending its leaders for their role in mediating the dispute.

The APC’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, praised the party’s leadership, stating that the peace effort was not motivated by political interests but by a desire to ensure stability and good governance in Rivers State.

“For APC leaders to broker peace, it shows our commitment to unity and good governance.

“Our party understands the importance of peace in governance and aims to promote peaceful coexistence, regardless of the individuals involved,” Ibrahim said.

Dr. Sandra Duru, a US-based Nigerian media practitioner and psychologist also known as Prof. Mbeke, launched a scathing attack on suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing her of deceit, fabricating allegations, and orchestrating a plot to destabilise Nigeria’s federal government.

In her broadcast which was held on Thursday night, she included allegations of organ harvesting, manipulation of media, and personal scandals, with Dr. Duru demanding a police investigation and promising further revelations on CNN.

“When she found out that all she’s offering me is not gonna work, she started deleting those things. But those things she’s deleting, I already have them and I’ve submitted them to the police.

“I’ve submitted them to the police in Nigeria, ICC, everywhere, including IPU. And watch me on CNN, I’m gonna bring out more,” Prof Mgbeke said.

Dr. Duru claimed that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan falsely accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of involvement in organ harvesting, specifically alleging a kidney transplant from Nigeria to Europe, which she deemed medically impossible.

“Kidney cannot be removed and preserved. And you can’t fly kidney from Nigeria to Germany or anywhere in Europe to transplant it just like that,” Duru stated, challenging Akpoti-Uduaghan to provide evidence.

She labeled the senator a “pathological liar” whose lies cause emotional distress, particularly referencing the 2021 murder of Iniobong Umoren.

Duru alleged Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed to have known about the murder for three years, making her an accomplice, and reported this to U.S. authorities and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Why didn’t she tell the police she knew who killed Umoren?” she questioned.

The media practitioner accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of admitting that her sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio were false, citing recorded conversations. She claimed Akpoti-Uduaghan denied their interactions, calling Duru “AI” and nonexistent.

To counter this, Duru displayed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s phone number and a March 27 call log during the broadcast, promising to post messages and recordings online.

“She said she hasn’t spoken to me. We don’t have anything to hide anymore. Let her lawyers bring it on,” Duru declared.

These claims align with Duru’s earlier social media posts, where she called Akpoti-Uduaghan a “serial liar” and dismissed her satirical apology to Akpabio as evasive.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, suspended from the Senate on March 6, 2025, for six months, accused Akpabio of making unwanted sexual advances in 2023, including suggestive comments and hand-squeezing during a visit to his home.

The Senate dismissed her petition on procedural grounds and justified her suspension for misconduct, such as violating seating arrangements and disruptive behavior, not the harassment claims.

Duru claimed to have submitted forensically verified evidence—call logs, messages, and recordings—to Nigerian police, the ICC, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and U.S. authorities. She displayed a petition on her TOF (a UN-recognized organization) letterhead during the broadcast, asserting that Akpoti-Uduaghan was invited by authorities but failed to provide evidence.

She also announced plans for a CNN exclusive and an emergency UN meeting to present her case, alongside her book, Unheard Screams, which details Akpoti-Uduaghan’s alleged lies to highlight men’s suffering.

“I’m going to put it there for you guys to see everything, that nothing is AI. Everything I give you has been examined, analysed, verified, and stamped. America, we don’t make mistakes like that.

“We do investigate cases before we go to the media, we don’t just rush like that. We do things in stages. So I took my time. I didn’t come to social media. She went, she did her own social media first, and up to now, she hasn’t gone to court,” Duru stated.

Prof. Mgbeke accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of paying Arise TV for favourable coverage and hiring Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and FIDA (International Federation of Women Lawyers) as “useful idiots” to disrupt a Senate committee hearing on her petition. She alleged Akpoti-Uduaghan sponsored Arise TV awards and offered Duru an award, which she rejected, citing her value for integrity.

She further claimed Akpoti-Uduaghan targeted Akpabio to destabilise President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with promises of a governorship from opposition leaders.

“The target is not the Senate president, but the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, because Natasha was promised to be made a governor by her so-called political fathers, who she mentioned to me, I’ve mentioned to the authority,” Dr Sandra alleged.

Dr Duru claimed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions were part of a broader opposition strategy, supported by a political party leader she contacted but refused to name publicly.

She urged the Nigerian police to investigate Akpoti-Uduaghan, comparing her case to how they would handle activists like Sowore, and called for transparency.

The Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, on Thursday, hinted that President Bola Tinubu would commission sections of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway by May 29th, 2025, as part of a promise to realise the project.

The minister, who disclosed this to journalists in Lagos after inspecting the project, said the first phase of the ongoing 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal road project is over 70 per cent completed despite the contractors not receiving proportional funding.

He said, “The president is the vision behind the coastal road project. By May 29th, he will commission sections of the Lagos-Calabar road as part of his legacy project to bolster road infrastructure.

“We have surpassed our expectations on the Federal super highway project with the thickness of the roads and the quality of iron reinforcement used on the concrete pavements.

Umahi said, “We will earn carbon credits on the Lagos-Calabar coastal road because the pavement is concrete, which has low emissions compared to asphalt roads.

“We will earn carbon credits using solar because we are not burning diesel. This is very important. We are going to be having trees all through.”

The Minister explained that the road will ease traffic congestion and integrate multi-modal transport infrastructure.

He said, “This project will evacuate all the traffic jams out of the town, which will be a big plus for us. We are not only building for today, we are also building for tomorrow. And, of course, there will be a rail line in the middle. The middle is 12 meters apart.”

However, he commended Hi-Tech Construction Company for its dedication to nation-building, and he noted that construction work was carried out in three shifts.

He hinted that the Financial promoters, the Deutsche Bank and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, are very enthused with the project’s fast pace, as are the development partners, who have given their nod to realising the project’s full potential and work progress.

Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, on Thursday, urged the United States to increase its support for Nigeria through enhanced intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism cooperation, and military capability development.

Matawalle made this appeal during a meeting with Major General Garrick Harmon, Director for Strategy, Engagement, and Programs at the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).

The meeting, held at Ship House in Abuja, marked Harmon’s first official visit to Nigeria in his current role.

He emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral defence relations and called on the United States to scale up its assistance in key areas such as intelligence cooperation, technical training, logistics, and equipment provision.

“Nigeria is dedicated to promoting regional peace and security; however, we cannot achieve this alone,” Matawalle stated.

“We require more robust support from the United States, particularly in intelligence sharing and capacity building, to effectively combat terrorism, insurgency, and transnational threats,” he emphasized.

In response, Major General Harmon expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and affirmed the U.S. commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security efforts.

He described the engagements during his visit as productive and reflective of the solid partnership between both countries.

Both parties acknowledged shared strategic interests and agreed on the need for deeper collaboration to confront regional security threats, the statement by the Ministry Director of Information and Public Relations, Patience Ituke reads.

The immediate past Deputy President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is in a dilemma over whether to remain with All Progressive Congress (APC) or rejoin the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following his seemingly shaky influence in the APC.

While leaders in PDP are calling him to come back to the PDP, get the ticket on a platter of gold and pursue his governorship ambition in 2027, APC has been threatening him with sanction over his claim as the leader of the party in Delta State.

Delta APC, in a statement dated April 30, 2025, and signed by the publicity secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, said with the entry of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori into APC, he has assumed the position of the party leader in the state.

The statement titled, “Delta APC Reaffirms The Position of His Excellency Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori As Leader Of APC in the State” said the position is not subject to debate or contention.

Delta APC said it is strange, arrogant and reprehensible for any individual to continue to arrogate or to parade himself as the leader of the party in the state in clear opposition to the present reality of the governor as leader of the party.

“Let it be known that such divisive tendencies will be firmly resisted, and anyone who seeks to undermine this position by continuing to parade himself as such will face severe sanctions from the Party” it warned.

But the former commissioner for Higher Education and Agriculture in Delta State, Prof Patrick Muoboghere, has told Omo-Agege to return to PDP and pursue his governorship ambition in 2027.

Muoboghere made the invitation while reacting to the mass defection from the PDP to the APC in Delta, stating that like a lion, Omo-Agege has been caged in his own den.

“He should not allow himself to be humiliated and pushed around in the APC, where his leadership is being undermined. The PDP is ready to welcome him back with open arms and support his governorship ambition and ensure he succeeds in his political endeavors.”

The PDP chieftain said the statements of the Vice President Shettima where he said, “Omo-Agege is my friend, work with him” is an insult to the senator whom he said had earlier released a press statement a day before Monday, welcoming Oborevwori to the party as a leader in the party but within 24 hours, he was told that he should queue behind the governor and work with him.

He described the scenario as an insult, degrading and demeaning to Omo-Agege, the 2023 Delta state APC Governorship candidate to have addressed himself as the leader of the party and his followers.

“Senator Omo-Agege made a statement on Sunday welcoming the Governor to the party in his capacity as a leader of the party in the state, but within 24 hours, he was stripped of his title and compelled to work with the Governor.

“The Governor is the leader of the party and Omo-Agege who has built the party and has been working hard to gather followers has just been stripped of his leadership and he is being chased away from the party. In any political party, after the governor, every other person is immaterial because everybody must follow the governor, and in this case, once the governor indicates interest to contest the election, there will be no primary election and the party will give him the ticket.”

Muoboghere reassured Omo-Agege and other potential returnees that the PDP is the right platform for them to achieve their political goals and aspirations if they so wish.

He also urged others that defected to the APC to reconsider their decision and come back to the PDP, where they will be valued and respected, noting that the PDP is committed to promoting unity, inclusiveness, and fairness in its political activities as it has always been

The Federal Government has summoned Vice Chancellors of affected universities and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to an emergency meeting scheduled for May 6, 2025, following disturbing allegations of unauthorised deductions from student loans.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, described the situation as extremely concerning, vowing that the government would leave no stone unturned in its quest to uphold transparency, protect public funds, and ensure students receive the full benefits of the loan scheme.

A press statement by Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Boriowo Folasade, said the Federal Ministry of Education has received with deep concern a media report alleging that some Nigerian universities made unauthorised deductions from funds disbursed under the NELFUND scheme.

The Minister stated that if proven true, such actions would constitute a gross violation of public trust and a betrayal of the government’s commitment to equitable access to education.

“In response, the Ministry is convening an urgent meeting on May 6, 2025, with the Vice Chancellors of the affected universities and the Managing Director of NELFUND. The meeting will aim to thoroughly investigate the matter, ensure full accountability, and reaffirm the Ministry’s zero-tolerance policy toward financial malpractice in the education sector.

“To reinforce this effort, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Athena Centre, will launch a compliance-tracking initiative and a countdown webpage to monitor institutional transparency. They will also offer technical assistance and introduce an Annual University Transparency Index to promote accountability and enhance the global relevance of Nigerian universities,” the statement said.

Additionally, it said a training programme will be organised for Bursars and ICT Heads of universities and polytechnics on the development and maintenance of an open-portal initiative.

“As part of our National Education Sector Reform Initiative (NESRI), governance remains the top pillar of our agenda,” Dr. Alausa said.

“We are committed to strengthening transparency, promoting responsible financial conduct, and ensuring that every kobo allocated for student welfare is used appropriately. Let me assure Nigerians that this matter will not be swept under the carpet. Anyone found culpable will face appropriate sanctions.”

Dr. Alausa further emphasised that President Bola Tinubu, who established NELFUND as a flagship initiative, made adequate budgetary provisions to support both students and institutions in a fair and transparent manner.

“NELFUND was created to expand students’ access to high-quality education and to support universities financially in a legal and sustainable way. Any attempt to exploit this fund is unacceptable and contradicts the President’s vision for inclusive human capital development.”

The Minister reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting public funds and ensuring that students receive the full benefits of all government education support schemes.

Calls for bold reforms in infrastructure, industrialisation, governance

President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has issued a sobering warning on Nigeria’s economic trajectory, cautioning the country risks long-term stagnation unless it confronts its chronic infrastructure and power deficits head-on.

In his keynote address delivered at the 20th Anniversary Dinner of Chapel Hill Denham in Lagos, Adesina painted the picture of a country full of potential but hampered by policy inaction and weak execution.

He urged Nigerian policymakers and investors to move boldly in reforming key sectors if the country was to reclaim its economic future.

The AfDB president stated, “Without reliable power Nigeria’s economy will be locked in a never-ending slow growth trajectory, without transformation. You cannot industrialise, you cannot compete, and you certainly cannot create jobs at scale if you don’t have electricity.

“Access to power is not just about lights, it’s about productivity, competitiveness, and prosperity.”

He stressed that electricity access will be pivotal in unlocking Nigeria’s digital economy, attracting data centres, enabling artificial intelligence applications, and lowering costs for small and large businesses.

Adesina said, “The digital economy cannot thrive on diesel generators. We must create a 21st-century grid, powered by clean, reliable, and scalable energy solutions. And for that, the private sector must be at the heart of the energy transition.”

Adesina called for structural reforms to encourage greater private investment in Nigeria’s energy sector. He identified areas needing improvement to include cost-reflective tariffs, enforceable power purchase agreements, and access to blended finance from multilateral institutions, like AfDB and World Bank.

He stated, “The market must work, investors need clarity, certainty, and contracts that are bankable. With the right regulatory environment, Nigeria can become a hub for green energy, not just for itself, but for West Africa.”

Adesina revealed that AfDB, in partnership with World Bank, had launched “Mission 300”, an ambitious initiative to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030.

“Nigeria should position itself to be a major beneficiary of this, it is time to accelerate electrification with urgency and scale,” he said.

Beyond the power sector, Adesina warned that Nigeria’s broader infrastructure shortfall was impeding industrial growth and regional competitiveness.

He called for renewed efforts to mobilise long-term capital, especially pension and sovereign wealth funds, into infrastructure as an asset class.

According to him, “Nigeria must build world-class infrastructure, from highways to railways, speed trains, airports, seaports, telecoms, and broadband connectivity.

“If we do not fix our logistics bottlenecks, we will continue to lose in the African Continental Free Trade Area.”

He added, “Let us be clear, no investor will stay in a market where they cannot move goods efficiently or communicate seamlessly. Infrastructure is not a luxury. It is the foundation of every competitive economy.”

Adesina urged Nigeria to adopt modern financing models, such as “originate-to-distribute”, and de-risk infrastructure projects to make them more bankable. He also called for deeper local capital markets and the expansion of local currency financing for large-scale projects.

Turning to manufacturing, the AfDB president lamented Nigeria’s declining industrial capacity, stating that the country’s manufacturing export value per capita is just $160, a far cry from Vietnam’s $3,600 or Malaysia’s $7,100.

He said, “In the 1980s, Nigeria showed signs of becoming a manufacturing giant. We assembled cars, produced textiles, and processed agricultural goods. Today, much of that has vanished. We lost ground, and others took our place.”

Adesina said Nigeria missed the opportunity to become an auto-manufacturing powerhouse, a role South Africa now played on the continent.

He stressed that Nigeria must urgently industrialise by linking its raw materials to finished products, developing industrial zones, and improving the ease of doing business.

“Every barrel of oil, every ton of cassava or cocoa, should not just be exported raw,” he said. “We must add value at home. That is how you create jobs, grow GDP, and build economic resilience.”

In addition, Adesina stressed the need for a knowledge-driven economy built on science, technology, and innovation.

He said, “Nigeria must invest in its universities and research institutions, and reverse the brain drain by creating an environment where talent can thrive at home.”

He also pointed to agriculture as a transformational opportunity. Through initiatives like the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), a $1.3 billion programmeco-financed by the AfDB, Islamic Development Bank, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Adesina said Nigeria could become a major player in global food markets.

“These zones will turn rural areas into economic zones of prosperity, they will create millions of jobs for youth and women, and reduce rural-to-urban migration,” he added.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have informed a United States Court for the District of Columbia on Thursday that they needed an additional 90 days to produce investigation reports related to an alleged drug case involving President Bola Tinubu in the 1990s.

The two US federal agencies made the request in a Joint Status Report submitted to the court, along with the plaintiff in the case, Aaron Greenspan.

However, Greenspan, an American, rejected the proposal and instead suggested a 14-day extension for the FBI and DEA to produce the records.

The District Court, presided over by Judge Beryl Howell, had previously ordered the agencies, on April 8, 2025, to search for and process non-exempt records related to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted by Greenspan, with a report due on May 2, 2025.

Greenspan, the founder of the legal transparency platform PlainSite, had filed 12 FOIA requests between 2022 and 2023, seeking information on a Chicago drug ring that operated in the early 1990s.

His requests included records on Tinubu and three other individuals: Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Abegboyega Akande, and Abiodun Agbele.

Previously, the FBI and DEA had issued “Glomar responses” — a refusal to confirm or deny the existence of the requested records — but the court ruled that such responses were inappropriate in the instance.

In the Joint Status Report dated May 1, 2025, the FBI and DEA stated that they have begun their searches for responsive, non-exempt, reasonably segregable portions of the records requested by the plaintiff and anticipated completing their searches within 90 days.

On his part, Greenspan insisted that the agencies should produce unredacted versions of already-identified documents by next week, while the remaining records should be produced within 14 days.

He also argued that the defendants failed to provide any valid rationale for why the search for the documents would take 90 days.

Greenspan and two lawyers representing the defendants, Edwards Martin, Jr. and Jared Litman, signed the report.

The report reads: “Aaron Greenspan (“Plaintiff”) and Defendants Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the only remaining defendants in this case, respectfully submit the following joint status report proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings, pursuant to the Court’s Order of April 8, 2025 (ECF No. 47).

“Pursuant to the Court’s order, the defendants FBI and DEA must search for and produce non-exempt records responsive to the plaintiff’s FOIA requests (FBI Requests Nos. 1588244-000 and 1593615- 000, and DEA Request Nos. 22-00892-F and 24-00201-F).

“The FBI and DEA have initiated their searches for responsive, non-exempt, reasonably segregable portions of records requested by the plaintiff and anticipate completing their searches in ninety days.

“Given the years-long delay already caused by the defendants and the fact that many responsive documents have already been identified, the plaintiff proposes that the FBI and DEA complete their searches and productions by next week, or, at the very least, produce unredacted versions of the already-identified documents by next week, with the remainder completed in 14 days. The defendants provide no rationale for why their search for documents should take 90 days.

“The plaintiff intends to request reimbursement for his costs: the filing fee of $402.00 and $38.22 for certified mail postage, totalling $440.22.

“The defendants propose that the parties submit a joint status report on or before July 312025 to update the Court on the case status following the agencies’ search for responsive, non-exempt, reasonably segregable records requested by the plaintiff. The plaintiff proposes that they submit a joint status report on or before May 31, 2025.”

In a move that is set to redefine the face of broadcasting in Nigeria, TVC Communications has unveiled the country’s first set of Artificial Intelligence (AI) news anchors.

The media company made this known in a press release on Wednesday night. 

This groundbreaking innovation, spearheaded by its flagship brand TVC News, introduces AI-driven bulletins in English, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Pidgin.

The move positions TVC Communications at the forefront of tech-driven journalism in Africa, as it aims to bridge linguistic gaps across Nigeria’s diverse population of over 240 million people.

According to the media company, the development aligns with its strategic goal of expanding coverage and delivering news in languages familiar to its wide-ranging audience. It, however, noted that the AI anchors were designed to complement the work of human journalists, not replace them.

“We are excited to be at the forefront of this innovation in Nigeria’s broadcast industry,” said the Chief Executive Officer of TVC Communications, Victoria Ajayi. “Our AI news anchors will enable us to take our news coverage to the next level as we showcase our commitment to leveraging technology to drive growth using innovation.” 

Ajayi emphasised that the integration of AI is a support mechanism for human talent within the organisation, which she described as a “constellation of seasoned professionals.”

While the introduction of AI in media has sparked concerns globally ranging from misinformation to deep fakes, TVC Communications assured the public that proactive steps were already in place to mitigate such risks. These include watermarking of AI-generated content and implementing robust verification processes.

“Our commitment is to continue to raise the standard and maintain the highest sense of integrity, professionalism, and the assurance to our audience that we will always take proactive steps to mitigate the risks that these challenges may pose,” the company stated.

The organisation also noted that all AI-delivered content will be thoroughly reviewed and approved by a team of trained journalists and editors, in full compliance with the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.

Editorial oversight, the company added, will ensure that AI-generated content maintains accuracy, balance, neutrality, and cultural sensitivity. The fusion of technology and journalism, TVC believes, marks a leap toward the future of news broadcasting on the continent.

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has said that the coalition spearheaded by Atiku Abubakar is dead on arrival.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, said the coalition will not work because Peter Obi will not agree to a political association that’s designed to support Atiku’s presidential ambition. 

Recall that in 2019, Atiku and Obi contested on a joint ticket as President and Vice Presidential candidates on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Four years later, they contested on different platforms as Obi dumped the PDP for the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 election.

However, as the 2027 election approaches, Atiku, who has been calling for the formation of a coalition to wrest power from Tinubu, has invited Obi and other opposition figures to join him in the campaign.

Recently, the former Vice President announced that the coalition would adopt a political platform that guarantees good governance to unseat President Tinubu.

However, Olayinka has maintained that Atiku’s push for the coalition is to realise his presidential ambition.

“The moment you are doing coalition, and that coalition is to support one person’s ambition. Who is talking about coalition Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and who is thinking about benefiting from coalition Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, how will coalition now work? The moment you are talking about coalition to to benefit Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, coalition will not work,” he said. 

Olayinka insisted that the coalition will not work because Atiku and Obi will not be able to agree on who the platform should present as its presidential candidate for the coming election. 

“Is anything working in coalition today? It has failed before they even started with it. They will tell you that, Alhaji Atiku will run with Peter Obi. Will Peter Obi agree to run with Atiku Abubakar? Will Atiku allow Peter Obi to run as President under the coalition? Or will Peter Obi allow another person to be presented as candidate? These are the issues. It cannot work and it will not work,” he said.

The FCT minister’s aide concluded that the fact that the coalition has not fully formed with identifiable presidential and vice presidential candidates indicates that the agenda is dead on arrival.