Politics
2027: ADC has no preferred presidential aspirant – Lukman
By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA: One of the leaders of the African Democratic Congress ADC, Mallam Salihu Moh. Lukman, has declared that the party’s standard bearer in the 2027 presidential election will emerge through a transparent primary election, saying the party has no special preference.
This was as he disclosed that anyone who emerges as candidate of the party would be supported by all to avoid the pitfalls of the past.
Speaking when he appeared Tuesday morning on a Channels TV programme monitored in Abuja, the former All Progressives Congress APC national vice chairman for the Northwest, also appealed to supporters of various leaders of the coalition to join hands with the ADC to rescue Nigeria.
He said once the opposition leaders are divided, it is as much as granting victory to APC and President Bola Tinubu.
“So, as much as possible, we must keep the opposition together, and in keeping the opposition together, it is not about asking anybody to step down.
“And I appeal to the Obidients and other groups, to really understand that the ADC and the coalition is the home for them and they should come and let us build ourselves together.
“If Peter Obi emerges as the presidential candidate of ADC, we will all support him and strengthen him to overcome the shortcomings of the past. So also, any other, if it is Atiku Abubakar who emerges, for instance, we will support him and strengthen him in such a way that he doesn’t repeat the mistakes of former President Buhari.
“So, I think these are issues which as Nigerians, we must be very
honest and frank in engaging them if we are going to move this country forward. This is the kind of debate we want to have in ADC.
“Everybody will slug it out in the presidential primary, apparently”, he said.
According to him, the ADC would also factor in the issue of equity in its deliberations, saying the party will accommodate everyone.
“I always put forward to them that, look, as far as I am concerned, it is not a question of trusting leaders. I mean, leaders must earn the trust. So the best way leaders can earn trust is to be able to show humility that they are ready to subordinate themselves to the wishes of members of the party.
“Coming from APC, having a situation where we trusted leaders and they ended up becoming emperors today. Look at what is happening in APC. Everywhere you hear ‘on your mandate, on your mandate, on your mandate,” I am not going to stand on anybody’s mandate.
“We want the person to always subordinate himself to members of the party, always seeking to get clearance in terms of what they are doing. That is the kind of template that we are looking for. And I think as Nigerians, we must resist the temptation of setting up leaders in a way that they become very arrogant, believing that it is either them or nothing. That is the kind of negotiation that is right now going on within the coalition and it is a very difficult negotiation, I must confess, but we are very confident that in the end, we will succeed in presenting a common candidate.”
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that he’s still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Wike’s comment followed his expulsion from the party by the faction led by National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki.
Turaki had formally dispatched expulsion certificates to 11 prominent party chieftains, including Wike, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Umaru Bature, Kamarudeen Ajibade, SAN, Abdurahman Muhammad Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.
He said their expulsion was aimed at sanitising the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reacting to the development on Friday, Wike dismissed the claim while assuring that he would continue to work with other party members in making PDP a relevant opposition party.
The minister spoke while addressing journalists after inspecting the Interchange bridge and road linking Gwarinpa with Jahi and direct to Katampe, Gishiri and Maitama.
He said, “Those that are factionalized are bound to leave the party, I’m still in PDP and you can see that not everybody has left.
“We still have good numbers and we will continue to work together and that’s what I have said to the party. Put your house in order because at the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it’s the party that is losing.
“So those who are worried, we can work together to see how the party can remain a relevant opposition.”
The governments of Abia and Imo States have announced the launching of a joint security taskforce and surveillance along the Aba-Owerri expressway, starting from Owerrinta in Abia State all the way to Owerri, Imo State.
The launch followed recent attacks by criminals on the expressway, including kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
The formation of the joint security taskforce and surveillance was announced by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity.
His statement read in part: “Arising from a strategic emergency security meeting held today, 4th December, 2025, by the Governors of Abia and Imo Sates at the Imo State Government Owerri House, His Excellency Governor Alex Otti and His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma resolved to set up a joint security Taskforce that shall consist of Soldiers, Naval Personnel, Police Officers , DSS Personnel, and other Government Security Agencies.
“The joint security Taskforce shall, starting from tomorrow 5th December 2025, patrol the road 24 hours nonstop, while carrying out massive surveillance in the surrounding bushes using sophisticated drones and other modern security equipment.”
According to the statement, Governor Alex Otti commended the Governor of Imo State for arresting the criminals who carried out an attack on His advanced team and other passengers a few days ago.
“The two Governors, while assuring citizens plying the road on a daily basis and those returning home for Christmas of their safety and security, warn that there would be severe consequences for any criminal caught on the road going forward”, Ekeoma concluded.
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the senate two lists of 34 career and 31 non career ambassadors nominees for screening and confirmation.
Prominent names listed as non career ambassadors include Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Victor Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Also listed as non career ambassadors nominees are Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Vice Admiral Ete Ibas, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Nora Daduut, Fatima Ajimobi, and Senator Ita Enang among others.
The two lists brings to 68 number of persons nominated so far as ambassadors awaiting confirmation by the Senate.
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