Politics

Tension rose in Benue State on Tuesday after suspected thugs allegedly attacked the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, forcing his campaign team to retreat from an entry route into the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced September 19 as the date for the conduct of five by-elections in four states, as the electoral body moves to fill vacancies created in both the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly.

Speaking during separate television interviews on Tuesday, Okonkwo alleged that Baba-Ahmed was suffering from what he termed a “post-political identity crisis” following the 2023 presidential election, while also accusing Obi of failing to provide the leadership needed to sustain the Labour Party movement.

The initiative was announced on Monday by the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during the opening of a two-day Strategic Operational Workshop for Administrative Secretaries at the Marriott Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.

The development has triggered a fresh controversy over the post-election process in Osun State, coming after the APC candidate had congratulated Adeleke and the party's legal team had resolved not to challenge the election result in court.

The two petitions were displayed on the notice board of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Secretariat in Osogbo on Monday, formally setting the legal machinery in motion.

The dramatic ultimatum came in a statement issued by the El-Rufai family following comments made by Musa during a live broadcast of Politics Today on Channels Television on September 3, where the Defence Minister accused the former governor of deliberately planning killings in Southern Kaduna during his eight-year administration.

Obi appealed on Monday in Abuja during the commissioning of the 2027 presidential campaign office of Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde.

Obi, speaking in a preview of an interview with ARISE Television aired on Monday, said his administration in Anambra delivered measurable progress in key sectors and demonstrated the kind of leadership Nigeria urgently needs.

The parallel warnings came against the backdrop of growing political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections and renewed concerns about the ability of political actors and electoral institutions to guarantee a peaceful and credible contest.