Television Nigerian

Atiku: Millions of Nigerians Are Defecting to Survive, Gov Fintiri Confirms

Politics

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February 28, 2026

Atiku: Millions of Nigerians Are Defecting to Survive, Gov Fintiri Confirms

According to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, millions of Nigerians are changing political parties out of pure need, stating that their main priority is to survive.

Atiku made the comment in a statement issued by his media office in response to Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri switching from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He took issue with the growing number of governors from the opposition joining the ruling party.

Atiku claimed that the Bola Tinubu administration is using state institutions to persecute opponents in an effort to push the nation closer to a one-party system, and that the wave of defections reflect growing pressure and political intimidation rather than sincere support.

Atiku insisted that threats cannot divert attention from the dire economic conditions facing the populace, citing rising food costs, growing poverty, declining security, and mass unemployment as examples of poor economic management.

“Ordinary Nigerians are switching political parties because they are struggling to survive, while certain governors may do so to further their personal agendas.

Governors may turn against their country in order to survive. Millions of Nigerians are fleeing their country in order to survive, according to Atiku.

He questioned what the APC will run on in 2027 and asked people not to confuse political cross-carpeting with popularity.

What will be the focus of the APC’s 2027 campaign—hunger or adversity? pessimism? He posed the question.

ADC South-South Rejects Amaechi Endorsement, Describes Oyegun’s Claim as Misleading

Politics

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February 28, 2026

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ADC South-South Rejects Amaechi Endorsement, Describes Oyegun’s Claim as Misleading

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) South-South Zonal leadership has refuted reports that it has supported Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, for president.

John Odigie-Oyegun, the South-South national leader, was said to have previously declared that the zone was fully in support of Amaechi.

In a statement released on Saturday, Mabel Oboh, the South-South Zonal Publicity Secretary, spoke on behalf of the zonal leadership and called the stories “misleading, undemocratic, and a troubling example of how selective narratives can distort political reality.”

The meeting in Oyegun’s home in Benin, according to Oboh, was planned to improve grassroots mobilization, foster internal unity, and strategically position the party for upcoming elections.

These weren’t just any visitors. They were seasoned political leaders with decades of expertise in democratic practice, party administration, and governance.

He stated, “It is incorrect and nonsensical to suggest that such a body would casually abandon constitutional process for an informal endorsement.”

Oboh highlighted Amaechi’s decision to formally inform regional leaders of his desire to run for the party’s presidential ticket during the meeting as a conscientious consultation with his geopolitical zone.

“Courtesy is not coronation, and consultation is not endorsement.” It cannot be interpreted as a show of support to receive a well-known South-South son who decided to formally brief his area leaders, he said.

Oboh emphasized that no motion, resolution, vote, or agreement to support any candidate was ever made prior to, during, or following the meeting.

As this would undermine the idea of internal democracy, the leaders did not support Amaechi or anyone else, she continued.

She further emphasized how improbable the accusation is given Oyegun’s political background.

Oboh went on to say, “It is unthinkable that a leader of his caliber would jeopardize the very democratic institutions he has spent decades bolstering.”

‘Nigeria’s Double Strength’ – Adebayo on Islam and Christianity

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February 28, 2026

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‘Nigeria’s Double Strength’ – Adebayo on Islam and Christianity

Tuesday’s special Ramadan Iftar at the Al-Ahfad Mosque in Gombe brought together clerics and members of the Muslim and Christian communities with the goal of promoting harmony and religious tolerance.

Prince Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) 2023 presidential candidate, spoke at the occasion and characterized the conjunction of Ramadan and the Christian Lenten season as a special chance for a national rebirth.

“This holy Ramadan, which falls during Christians’ Lent, is a time to redeem ourselves, reaffirm our faith, and consider our identity as a community,” Adebayo stated.

He asserts that rather than causing conflict, the existence of Islam and Christianity in Nigeria should be viewed as a “double blessing.”

In order to create a cohesive and forward-thinking country, he exhorted Nigerians to uphold the fundamental principles of both religions: justice, peace, and responsible leadership.

“If we unite and use the principles of our religions to raise a new generation, they won’t be thinking about how to get rid of each other; instead, they will be thinking about how to get rid of bad leadership,” he said. “The earlier we begin, the better for us; the faith and characteristics of our religions talk about peace, justice, and raising leaders who will unite us.”

Dr. Umar Dokaji, the mosque’s chief imam, stated earlier in his speech that the meeting was appropriate because both Muslims and Christians observe fasting times.

He pointed out that asking Islamic and Christian experts to share a meal together was a real-world example of religious tolerance, particularly during a period when the nation is dealing with ethnic and terrorist crises in some areas and claims of religious persecution.

In addition to urging assistance for marginalized communities and emphasizing that justice is still crucial to addressing Nigeria’s ongoing problems, Dokaji stated, “This type of gathering will help unite the two major religious faithful and will go a long way in preventing deadly religious crisis in the largest Black nation on earth.”

Speaking on behalf of the Christian invitees, Reverend Abare Kalla, a former North-east Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said that the united fasting period was divinely planned.

He emphasized that the vast majority of Muslims worldwide oppose terrorism and noted that the prayers and supplications made by Muslims during Ramadan are similar to those made by Christians during Lent.

Together, Christians and Muslims can defeat the forces of violence and division endangering the nation, he continued.

As an example of peaceful coexistence, Kalla recounted how the Christian and Muslim communities in Nasarawa State had previously settled a dispute over a place of worship in an amicable manner.

Islamic experts, Christian priests, and local leaders came together for the interfaith Iftar with a shared demand for justice, peace, and national unity.

Where Has Awolowo’s Ideals Gone in Today’s Opposition?

Culture and Lifestyle

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February 28, 2026

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Where Has Awolowo’s Ideals Gone in Today’s Opposition?

“Democracy, in my humble opinion, is the best kind of government and the rule of law man’s victory over the capricious use of power.”Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909–1987).

Any country that has lost its history would undoubtedly be condemned to a lack of a thorough knowledge of its political, social, cultural, and traditional values. Before recently, Nigeria was at a crossroads when Olusegun Obasanjo, the country’s president, outlawed history as a subject in schools for the vile reason of trying to hide his shady political past.

Any Nigerian who is currently forty years of age or older may not, unless they work for it, have any historical awareness of the significance of our late political icon and sage, Chief Jeremiah Oyeniyi Obafemi Awolowo, to our wonderful nation because of Obasanjo’s local and presidential neglect. Awolowo, who passed away on May 9, 1987, is still regarded as the unquestionable father of progressive politics in Nigeria.

I apologize to the late Biafran warlord Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, but Awolowo will always be remembered as the “best president Nigeria never had” because of his lasting legacy. Additionally, Awolowo will always be regarded as the most prominent, knowledgeable, and powerful one-man political opposition this potentially great nation has ever produced—as long as Nigeria exists. Throughout his life, Awolowo was just as powerful as his political groups, which spanned both the first and second republics. His political organization, the Action Group, AG, which was founded on March 21, 1951, was as powerful as he was throughout the first republic. More importantly, the party was a rift in the fabric of the central government at the time and was firmly embedded in the hearts of his people.

Awolowo was a powerful opposition leader at the time, and the ruling party would suffer politically if it ignored him. In the first republic, his imprisonment served as a sign of the political era’s nunc dimittis. At that time, the Awolowo opposition phenomenon was so powerful.

Let’s go ahead to the second republic. Awolowo ran under his progressive Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), but he was unsuccessful. Although his UPN had the greatest and most empirically supported political party manifesto/program in Nigerian history, Awolowo continued to be a particularly powerful and effective opposition voice against mal-governance until the fall of that republic and beyond.

When Awolowo was the Premier of the Western Region in the 1950s, he founded his Action Group party, which is based on his welfare-socialism political philosophy. No Nigerian, educated or not, can dispute Awolowo’s developmental and progressive influence, which has made his region one that other sections of the country follow and envy, whether in the ancient western region, the present southwestern Nigeria, or the entire country. Free health care, free education at all levels, full employment for all residents, and integrated rural development are all programs that his party successfully implemented and that have been deemed too idealistic to accomplish by the nation’s succeeding administrations.

Awolowo is a selfless, intellectually astute, and prophetic opponent. He wrote to National Party of Nigeria (NPN) President Shehu Shagari in 1981, stating that the “ship of state is fast approaching a huge rock” and that Nigeria would suffer “unspeakable disaster” if nothing changed.

His warning was disregarded, and the disastrous results are, as they say, history. In the southwest of the country, no political party has been able to duplicate the Awolowo uniform cardinal program magic wand, not even in modern-day Nigeria.

Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida established a Political Bureau under the leadership of Professor Samuel Cookey just months after seizing power in a military coup in August 1985. Naturally, at the time, Awolowo was one of the prominent Nigerians summoned by the Bureau. However, Awolowo identified the Babangida abracadabra when no one else did in his brave letter to Professor Cookey dated February 28, 1986. “I do fervently and will continue to fervently pray that I may be proven wrong,” he said, speaking truth to ruthless military might. Because I have a strong gut feeling that the quest we have started is pointless. We would be extremely dissatisfied when the new order finally materializes. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the current president of Nigeria, was among the members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) group that emerged from the horrific conclusion of that experience, which prevented Nigeria from having its best elections ever. At the time, few Nigerians took him seriously.

No opposition figure in modern-day Nigeria possesses the political ideological discipline and selflessness of an Awolowo. Now, despite current political divisions, we have avaricious political harlots posing as advocates for the public. They attack current leaders and the government for financial and appointment chances and criticize for their own personal gain rather than the good of the group.

The political opposition had a strong base thanks to Awolowo. Whether you like him or not, there is no denying his political savvy, moral integrity, and unwavering discipline. The administration of the time shuddered when Awolowo spoke. He served as the moral and political conscience of his time, something Nigeria has yet to replicate. Awolowo offered other viewpoints free of pointless resistance to a shared national issue.

In contrast to the selfless oppositional model of Awolowo, the modern opposition squandered a great deal of time, effort, and money settling preventable internal party disputes and divisions, leaving little opportunity for any significant checks on the current administration.

In the nation’s current political parties, there are numerous instances of power struggles and divisions that hinder the development of significant opposition. Because to their leaders’ insatiable desire for power and financial gain, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) are currently in avoidable political binds.

These political parties’ leadership lacks the political legitimacy and credentials necessary to persuade voters that they would be a good successor for the current administration.

Which person, Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar, has crossed political parties in their excessive desire to control this nation, in defiance of any recognized ideology? Could it be Rabiu Kwankwaso or any of the former politicians running for president without any set policy programs or principles?

Nigeria’s opposition is disorganized and lacks coherence. They continue to harbor the delusion of taking control in this chaotic condition without a clear or alternative vision for governing. Instead of the nation’s opposition’s present weak and disorganized front, where is the intended strategic direction?

Is the current opposition able to hold the ruling party effectively accountable? The current opposition is unclear in its ideology. Rather than reinforcing their opposing base, they are more concerned with facilitating easy alignment with the ruling party. The absence of a strong message from the political establishment makes it understandable why the opposition always finds it difficult to carve out a place in the electoral landscape.

The opposition of today is still looking for a “Awolowo,” and finding answers to the nation’s ongoing security and economic problems is becoming increasingly difficult.

Orashi Power Project: Boosting Imo State’s Energy Sovereignty

Politics

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February 28, 2026

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Orashi Power Project: Boosting Imo State’s Energy Sovereignty

There was more going on than just the presentation of a substation as Hope Uzodimma stepped in front of Owerri citizens to launch the first phase of the Orashi Electricity Project. In the context of Imo State’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the governor had referred to the project as a gift to the populace, with the goal of reshaping the state’s economy in addition to lighting houses.

For many decades, companies in many parts of Nigeria have relied more on diesel generators than the national grid for their electricity, and moments of hope have been punctuated by extended periods of darkness.

Like other states, Imo experienced cost inflation, decreased productivity, and depleted household incomes due to this generator-driven economy. A conscious departure from that history was therefore marked by the opening of the 15MVA, 33/11KV Injection Substation operated by Orashi Electricity Company Limited.

“Power is what transforms everything,” Uzodimma said. Imo is safeguarding energy sovereignty in addition to creating infrastructure with the commissioning of the Orashi Electricity Company Limited 15MVA, 33/11KV Injection Substation in Owerri.

Nigerians today strongly identify with the concept “energy sovereignty,” which refers to more than just megawatts. It suggests stability, control, and a state’s ability to set its own economic pace without being always vulnerable to outside disturbances.

The Orashi Power Project is the first concrete step toward that objective, in Imo’s opinion. This innovation is based on the Electricity Act of 2023, which Bola Tinubu signed into law.

By enabling states to make direct investments in the production, transmission, and distribution of electricity, the Act decentralized Nigeria’s power industry. In an area that had hitherto been dominated by federal oversight, it signaled a structural change.

According to Uzodimma, who publicly praised the President for empowering states to take the initiative, “we would not have been here today if it weren’t for this visionary law.” Additionally, he expressed gratitude to the federal government for giving Imo State permission to acquire the Ohaji-Egbema power plant, which had previously been abandoned. This action improves the Orashi framework’s long-term prospects.

“The Orashi commissioning is proof that Nigeria’s electricity reforms are effective,” said Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power. He claims that since 2023, the private sector has invested more than $2 billion on decentralization around the country.

According to Adelabu, a dependable power supply is an economic facilitator in addition to being infrastructure. That straightforward statement captures the larger idea of what Imo is trying to accomplish: turning reform into outcomes.

A 15-kilometer, 33KV transmission line that runs from Egbu to New Owerri and is connected to a 45-kilometer distribution network forms the core of Phase One. These facilities, along with the 33/11KV injection substation, are intended to stabilize the supply of electricity throughout the Owerri axis, encompassing residential areas, marketplaces, public buildings, and industrial clusters.

Welders, tailors, hairdressers, cold room operators, cybercafé operators, and craftsmen are among the small company owners who will be immediately impacted. Historically, monthly expenses for generator fuel have frequently outpaced employee compensation. A shop’s decision to open at all was frequently influenced by the price of gasoline or fuel.

Reduced operating expenses are anticipated as grid dependability improves. Higher margins, reinvestment opportunities, and maybe the creation of jobs are all correlated with lower overheads. In plain terms, Uzodimma stated that the initiative reduces energy expenses, increases investor trust, and gives small businesses the stability they require to prosper.

The concept goes beyond the state capital and include all 27 local government areas.

The Imo State Government and Orashi Electricity Company Limited have a Memorandum of Understanding that pledges the integrated power provider to statewide growth. Systemic transformation, not incremental improvement, is the goal.

Orashi Electricity Company Limited markets itself as more than just a distributor. It is envisioned as an integrated provider engaged in distribution, transmission, and generation—a thorough strategy that is in line with international best practices in energy management.

Its goal is to become Nigeria’s top integrated power company, known for sustainability, innovation, and quality. Delivering dependable, reasonably priced, and environmentally friendly electrical solutions is its goal in order to completely transform Nigeria’s energy landscape.

Underpinning this goal are technical collaborations. The activation of the injection substation, according to Mustapha Madkour, CEO of Madkour Holding, whose company acts as a technical partner, is a sign of cooperation and strategic partnership in fortifying Imo’s infrastructure backbone.

This kind of infrastructure requires long-term maintenance planning, operational discipline, technological know-how, and financial resources. Imo is making an effort to combine state-level ownership with international standards by combining international technical assistance with local policy direction.

The multiplying impact of electricity is not limited to lighting. It affects digital innovation, industrial production, agricultural processing, and healthcare delivery. Consistent power in hospitals guarantees uninterrupted medical processes and vaccine cold storage. It improves research capacity and digital learning in educational institutions. Data centers, coding laboratories, and startup ecosystems are supported in technology clusters.

Imo’s larger development projects seem to support this energy endeavor. To maintain pace, the Skill-Up Imo program, which has purportedly taught digital skills to 65,000 youth, needs steady electricity. Darkness prevents technology-driven entrepreneurship from thriving.

To draw in both domestic and foreign events, the hospitality and conference facilities, such as the restored Concorde Hotel and the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre, rely significantly on a stable power supply.

Orashi is not a stand-alone initiative in this regard; rather, it serves as a platform for other industries.

The failure of infrastructure projects is frequently caused by uneven political commitment rather than technical faults. Uzodimma has continuously presented the Light Up Imo program as a pillar of his administration’s legacy.

With the Orashi Power Project as one of its major accomplishments, the Imo Progressives Movement (IPM), represented by its National Convener Eugene Dibiagwu, recently voiced satisfaction with the level of development in the state’s three senatorial zones.

Commissioning ceremonies are not the only way to ensure energy sovereignty. Responsible consumption, on-time bill payment, and infrastructure preservation are all necessary for sustainability. To preserve financial viability, Uzodimma has encouraged locals to protect installations and fulfill payment responsibilities.

Cost recovery and effective revenue management are essential to the success of decentralized power solutions. Whether Orashi develops into a reproducible template or faces financial difficulties will depend on transparent billing systems, metering expansion, and customer involvement. The Electricity Act of 2023 created a chance; how it is carried out will determine the result.

Every state in Nigeria is keeping a close eye on it. Subnational governments now have a competitive area to innovate in thanks to the decentralization of power control. Imo is now one of the pioneers pushing the limits of state-led energy transformation because to its early action.

As Imo recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, the significance of light is potent. Both literally and figuratively, electricity is linked to the illumination of streets and opportunities.

A better quality of life, investment attraction, and economic self-determination are all reflected in the Orashi Power Project.

“We are freed from unstable power supplies and unsustainable operating expenses today,” Uzodimma declared. Continuity, upkeep, and growth will determine if history finally confirms that assertion. For the time being, the 15MVA injection substation’s commissioning is a significant step in ensuring Imo’s power sovereignty and illuminating the way for the company’s next 50 years.

‘I Will Not Be Bullied’ – Seyi Tinubu Speaks on VDM Claims

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February 28, 2026

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‘I Will Not Be Bullied’ – Seyi Tinubu Speaks on VDM Claims

The son of President Bola Tinubu, Seyi Tinubu, has refuted claims that he is involved in a continuing online conflict between content producer King Mitchy and controversial activist VeryDarkMan.

According to reports, King Mitchy recently received funding from Seyi Tinubu to remodel a public school in just six days. Later, she and VeryDarkMan got into a heated online argument over claims that she had neglected to account for donations from the general public since 2025.

VeryDarkMan responded by accusing Seyi Tinubu of funding Mitchy’s charitable endeavors, which intensified the dispute.

According to reports, the activist urged people to hold Mitchy and Seyi Tinubu responsible if anything were to happen to him in a recent video that was uploaded on his Instagram page.

Seyi Tinubu responded by calling the accusations and implication made about him “false” in a series of posts on his Instagram page. He clarified that the only time he ever interacted with King Mitchy was in public, when he provided funding for her non-governmental organization, or NGO.

“In the last few days, my name has been purposefully included in an online dispute between King_Mitchy (‘Mitchy’) and VeryDarkMan (VDM),” he stated.

“Let me be clear: the accusations and suggestions made against me are untrue.”

As part of his larger support for youth empowerment projects around Nigeria, Seyi Tinubu revealed that he met Mitchy once along with other people and gave financial support for her NGO activities.

He claims that a follow-up meeting was planned to get information on the donation’s effects, but it was postponed because of his condition.

“There has never been any kind of impropriety, no secret arrangement, or private encounter,” he said.

According to the president’s son, his reputation is being damaged by a quarrel that he neither started nor took part in.

VeryDarkMan “appears to have been looking for a trigger” to attack him, he added, and took advantage of the circumstance.

“Let’s at least deal in facts if my name attracts attention.” It’s not illegal to support charitable causes. It’s not a scandal to meet someone in public to help their NGO. Falsehoods are not made true by repeatedly repeating them, he continued.

Seyi Tinubu said that such attacks could have detrimental effects on mental health and further denounced what he called internet bullying and harassment.

“I refuse to be intimidated, and I refuse to use fear to elevate fiction,” he wrote. “No argument should turn into harassment that endangers someone’s safety or well-being.”

He reiterated his dedication to generosity, pointing out that he has backed programs in education, business, healthcare, and youth development for more than ten years through his foundation and individual contributions.

He declared, “Outreach and philanthropy should never be politicized or weaponized.” Instead of bullies, Nigeria needs builders. Instead of sensationalism motivated by conjecture, we need responsible discourse.

Rejecting the charges, he demanded patience, de-escalation, and a return to “truth and responsibility.”

“The sound will subside. Character and effort remain. I’m still determined to serve Nigerians with honesty and openness, especially our young people,” he said.

INEC Revises Timetable, Allots 91 Days for Party Primaries

Politics

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February 28, 2026

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INEC Revises Timetable, Allots 91 Days for Party Primaries

Opposition critiques of the 2027 general election schedule have been disregarded by Ajibola Basiru, National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who characterized them as politically driven and misdirected.

Speaking to Saturday Punch on Friday, Basiru claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s schedule strictly adhered to the Electoral Act.

The opposition figures’ complaint was deemed unnecessary by the APC scribe in response to requests for a reconsideration of the schedule.

They’re amusing people. The schedule was released in compliance with the recently enacted electoral law,” he stated.

He claims that the opposition’s response shows a lack of readiness for the elections in 2027.

Instead of publicly criticizing the timeline, Basiru recommended those who feel it violates the law to seek legal remedy.

“Their lamentation only demonstrates their lack of preparation and tardiness,” he said. So, they wish to schedule their own timeline for the election in which they wish to take part?

“They may choose to boycott the elections politically or contest the schedule in court if they are so certain that something bad has happened.”

In recent days, opposition parties have criticized the updated schedule, claiming that it imposes strict timelines that could hurt them in the run-up to the general elections in 2027.

APC Secretary Hits Back at Opposition Over INEC 2027 Calendar Disputes

Politics

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February 28, 2026

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APC Secretary Hits Back at Opposition Over INEC 2027 Calendar Disputes