Television Nigerian

When an unidentified person tried to approach the stage where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was speaking on Thursday, June 19, 2025, during a public address in Kaduna, it was a brief but scary moment. The president briefly stopped speaking in the middle of the sentence while his security team acted to neutralize the possible danger in the episode, which was caught on live television.

The intruder reportedly came out of the audience and tried to enter the stage directly, according to the witnesses. The person was kept from reaching the president by Tinubu’s security’ prompt action. Without escalation, the security detail swiftly surrounded the invader and dragged him out of the area. President Tinubu maintained his composure during the little incident. Following some observation, he was heard telling his security detail to “leave him alone” before continuing.

At the time of this report, neither the intruder’s name nor his intentions were known. Official information on the person and whether he constituted a real threat to the president’s safety has not been made public by the authorities. But the event has sparked new questions about how well security measures work at high-profile government functions.

Security experts have commented on the incident, pointing out that although the president’s protective detail responded well to pressure, the ease with which the person entered the stage raises questions about possible weaknesses. One expert stated that “no breach, no matter how minor, should be taken lightly, especially at a time of heightened political tensions in the country.”

During his visit to Kaduna, President Tinubu addressed national security issues and unveiled North-West development initiatives. After the disruption, the event went on without any more incidents.

Separately, reports from Kano suggest that some sections of the population are becoming increasingly dissatisfied. A group of irate young people allegedly tore down and burned pieces of one of President Tinubu’s 2027 campaign billboards in the city. Although the demonstrators have not released an official statement, it is thought that the activity reflects mounting frustration over security and economic issues.

Incidents like the protest in Kano and the security breach in Kaduna, according to political commentators, highlight the tense political climate as the general elections in 2027 get near. Opposition politicians and civil society organizations have criticized President Tinubu, who is anticipated to run for reelection, for governance issues like economic hardship and insecurity.

Regarding the Kaduna tragedy and the vandalism in Kano, the Presidency has not yet issued an official comment as of the time of publication. To avoid more interruptions at presidential events, security services are reportedly looking into both incidents.

As political activities step up nationally, the Kaduna breach and the vandalism in Kano serve as reminders of the necessity for increased surveillance.

The opposition coalition, led by renowned political personalities including as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai, is gaining traction as preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election ramp up. As part of its efforts to strengthen its national footprint, the coalition is said to have recruited key officials to manage activities in the country’s six geopolitical zones.

According to insiders, the alliance plans to present its preferred party program next week. There are continuing discussions over whether to adopt an existing political party or start a new one. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are reportedly being considered as potential platforms. However, some coalition members think that forming a new party will help avoid internal fights over control of party structures, which are typical when merging with established parties.

The alliance has also expressed concerns about the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), claiming that the organization has refused to approve applications from new political associations wanting to register ahead of the 2027 elections.

Read Also: 2027: Tinubu’s Running Mate Choice Coming Soon — Presidency Speaks

In terms of structure, the following appointments have been made to supervise zonal coordination:

North East: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar

North Central: Former Senate President David Mark.

Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State,

South East: Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential contender.

South South: Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation.

South West: Former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola

These appointments are tentative and require final approval from the coalition’s leadership.

As the 2027 election approaches, political observers will be paying close attention to how this coalition frames the contest and whether it can pose a credible challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Election of 2027: The Presidency Discusses Tinubu’s Final Running Mate Selection Date
The All Progressives Congress (APC) must formally nominate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at its national convention in 2026 before Tinubu may declare his running mate for 2027, the presidency has stated. In response to persistent rumors about a potential shift in the vice presidential position, this announcement was issued.

There is no intention to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima, according to an interview released on June 19 by Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s special assistant on communications and strategy. Despite some recent endorsements for Tinubu that did not specifically include the vice president, Onanuga denied rumors that Shettima was being marginalized. This omission, he said, is not out of the ordinary because the Nigerian presidential system typically chooses a candidate first, and then the running mate.

Onanuga also denied rumors that Tinubu’s previous actions as Lagos’s governor, including switching deputies, suggested he intended to unseat Shettima. “Those previous changes were the result of particular political disputes and do not reflect a standard practice,” he clarified. Tinubu and Shettima still have a great working relationship, he stressed, calling rumors of a rupture “beer parlour gossip.”

Read Also: ‘Emergency Measures Aren’t a Stand‑in for Democracy’ – Senate Leader’s Warning to Rivers

Fears of Islamization, which arose during the previous election, have much subsided, Onanuga said when asked if another Muslim-Muslim ticket is possible. It is no longer a contentious subject, he noted, because the majority of names being considered as possible running mates are Muslims.

Additionally, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has voiced their opposition to the APC replacing Shettima. Emphasizing that it might be a bad idea to replace the vice president, the group called for extensive consultations prior to any such action. APC North-East stakeholders met recently in Gombe, where some leaders approved Tinubu without naming Shettima, amidst rumors of internal divisions. Following that, Governor Babagana Zulum urged the party to keep the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.

Former Chief Security Officer Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), who served under the late Head of State General Sani Abacha, has formally announced his plan to run for president in 2027 under the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate majority leader, informed officials run Rivers State under emergency rule on Thursday that the intervention was a constitutional response to restore order in the face of a crisis, not a substitute for democracy.
During the defense of Rivers’ ₦1.4 trillion 2025 budget in the National Assembly in Abuja, Bamidele, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee in charge of the state’s emergency administration, made the claim.
Bamidele stressed in his remarks to the committee and Rivers authorities that the purpose of the emergency rule, which was established by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), was to stabilize unstable areas.
“In any political environment, emergency rule is not a substitute for democratic government,” he stated.

“Instead, it is an extraordinary measure intended to bring stability in place of instability, peace in place of conflict, and order in times of disorder.”

According to the Senate leader, the committee will keep a careful eye on how the budget is being implemented to make sure that funds are being used for the benefit of Rivers State residents.

“Our responsibility is not just to assess the numbers, but also to make sure that the budget is faithfully carried out,” Bamidele stated.

“Citizen trust in governance is restored when allocations on paper translate into real solutions on the ground.”

He added that ongoing monitoring would concentrate on vital areas including security, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

Review of Missing Financial Records Delays — Rivers Administrator
The only administrator of Rivers, Ibok-Ete Ibas, said the lawmakers that the complete evaluation of first-quarter spending was hampered by officials’ refusal to provide important financial data.

Ibas said, “Some state officials withheld important information that was necessary to ensure a more complete capture of expenditures undertaken in the first quarter.”

He said the 2025 budget was in line with the Rivers State Development Plan (2017–2027), even though it might not be perfect given the current situation.

Read Also: Lamido Gets Threat from NNPP Chieftain: ‘I’ll Expose You If Defamation Continues’

“The budget is crafted as a people-centered fiscal blueprint, responsive to present challenges and future development imperatives,” stated Ibas.
On March 18, after months of political unrest, President Bola Tinubu proclaimed emergency rule in Rivers State. Bamidele led an 18-member ad hoc committee that Senate President Godswill Akpabio established to supervise the state’s governance in response.

The panel’s members include Senators Adamu Aliero (Chair, Land Transport), Sani Musa (Chair, Finance), Adetokunbo Abiru (Chair, Banking and Insurance), Peter Nwebonyi (Deputy Chief Whip), and Tahir Munguno (Chief Whip).

The former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has been threatened by Malam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate for governor in the general election of 2023, for remarks made against him in his recently published autobiography.
According to reports, Lamido recently released his autobiography, “Being True to Myself,” which untangled military interventions, political events, and other events in Nigeria from the end of the Second Republic, through transition plans, and into the Fourth Republic.
Ringim responded to the book by accusing Lamido of falsifying his political background and facts during his speech at the party’s event on Wednesday in Taura Local Government Area.

In the book, Lamideo, the head of the NNPP, accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of treating his son Abdulsalam Abubakar unfairly by arresting him and Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, among others.
Lamido’s assertion that the PDP lost the 2015 gubernatorial election due to the candidate’s avaricious and nasty demeanor was also contested by Ringim.

According to him, Lamido presents himself in the book as a reliable leader who has never harmed anyone during his political career, but this is not at all the case.

Read Also: INEC Rejects Calls for New Party Registration, Says No Approvals Granted

“Lamido is not treating himself and his political allies fairly because he has made a number of false claims that should be rectified.

In the 2015 general election, when I ran as the PDP’s governorship candidate, he claimed that all of my political allies abandoned me, which is why the party lost the election.

To put it plainly, the former governor is aware of the part he played in the PDP’s electoral defeat, despite the party’s popularity and strength in the state.

“I am well aware of you, including your personal and political history. If you keep slandering me, I might have to tell you things that will make you look bad in public.

Ahead of the general elections in 2027, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resisted growing criticism on how it has handled the registration of new political parties.
The electoral authority reportedly stated that adherence to legal and constitutional requirements is non-negotiable.
The commission urged the public to ignore online allegations that it had registered two new parties, the Independent Democrats and the Peoples Democratic Movement, saying in a clear statement on Wednesday that the reports were untrue.

To be clear, no new party has been registered by the commission as of yet. There are currently 19 political parties registered in Nigeria. Through its official 𝕏 handle, INEC said, “Nothing has been added.”

According to INEC, both of the aforementioned political parties were among the 72 deregistered in February 2020, in accordance with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, after having been first registered in August 2013.

INEC Issues a Warning: “No Registration by Blackmail”
INEC emphasized that the party registration process is a legal, not political, exercise in response to pressure from different political leaders and coalitions requesting registration.

“Groups that applied for registration as political parties should submit authentic, verifiable documents and comply with all requirements for registration instead of trying to blackmail INEC with baseless accusations,” stated Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

According to The PUNCH, he reaffirmed that only submissions that completely comply with constitutional requirements would be accepted, adding that the commission places a higher priority on the caliber of applications than their quantity.

“The number of applicants who can successfully satisfy the criteria for registration is more important than the number of applications that the commission receives,” he continued.

Political stakeholders have accused INEC of purposefully delaying the registration of new parties, which has led to the commission’s stance.

Rotimi Amaechi, a former transportation minister, charged that the INEC chairman was impeding opposition initiatives. He stated on Arise TV: “We wouldn’t have won if the current INEC chairman had served as INEC’s chairman in 2015.” God bless Jega. Jega opened the way for us to register APC, and we met all the registration requirements. The current man would not register you if you complied with all of these requirements.

Seun Kuti, a musician and activist who is the leader of Movement of the People, a political organization based on the legacy of his father, Fela Kuti, also criticized INEC’s actions.

In Nigeria, 72 political parties have been deregistered and no new ones have been registered since 2018. In a statement, Kuti stated, “This harsh restriction restricts citizens’ political choices and undercuts true democratic representation.”

APC leader Salihu Lukman and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal have both expressed disapproval of INEC’s stance.

Read Also: Speaker Abbas Backs APC as Only Path for Nigerians in 2027

INEC Describes Difficult Party Registration Requirements
Oyekanmi described the extensive requirements associations must fulfill in order to obtain party status under the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties in his comments to The PUNCH.

These consist of:

12 months before to the general election, a letter of intent must be submitted.

An administrative fee is paid.

submitting documents online using an INEC-issued access code.

Among the necessary documents are:

The platform and constitution of the prospective party.

proof that the Abuja headquarters is being occupied legally.

a membership list with names, addresses, and contact details.

affidavit from the secretary or chairman attesting to the documents’ legitimacy.

Evidence that the National Executive Committee, which consists of representatives from the FCT and at least 24 states, embodies the Federal Character principle.

“An application will be deemed invalid if it is found at any point during the registration process that the same individuals submitted multiple applications or that any part of the application is fraudulent,” Oyekanmi said.

He promised that within the allotted time, applicants will receive regular updates on the status of their submissions.

INEC emphasized that it will continue to handle all election matters with integrity and transparency and that its actions are strictly governed by the law.

It stated that the commission is still dedicated to following the constitution in every election procedure.