Today’s Headlines:Why We Dumped Obi for Tinubu—Former Obidient;Who gets the gavel–Akpabio or Uzodimma?

A group of former members of the 2023 Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi have announced their decision to dump the former Anambra State governor and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The group, which described itself as comprising professionals who worked within Obi’s campaign organisation, also adopted the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its political platform for the 2027 general election.

The group, which has now taken up a new name, ‘Batified Obidients’ at a press conference in Abuja, cited concerns about Obi’s leadership capacity and their convictions that the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms and policies, though painful, are necessary for taking Nigeria out of economic doldrums as reasons for their action.

The statement read at the press conference was prepared by Adesina Fagbenro-Byron who is the National Coordinator of the Batified Obidients and former Director of Operations in Peter Obi’s 2023 campaign council.

The battle for the presidency of the 11th Senate is gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, with incumbent Senate President Godswill Akpabio seeking another term, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma positioning himself for a return to the National Assembly, and the ruling All Progressives Congress facing competing interests over who should lead its legislative caucus, writes LAOLU AFOLABI

The race for the 11th Senate presidency is already generating political tensions, with incumbent Senate President Godswill Akpabio declaring “no vacancy,” Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike opposing Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma’s reported ambition, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole challenging a controversial amendment to the Senate Standing Orders that raised questions about eligibility for the coveted seat.

Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, who challenged Akpabio for the Senate presidency in 2023, is also a significant figure in the unfolding political calculations. His appointment as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid places him in a prominent position within the ruling party’s structure.

The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, on Thursday raised the alarm over an alleged plot to destabilise its ranks, undermine its electoral fortunes and weaken efforts to build a credible opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party accused some of its former members and serving officials of allegedly working to create divisions within its ranks and sabotage its grassroots support.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the PRP National Chairman, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, alleged that those behind the plot were seeking to deploy hundreds of millions of naira to influence party members and create a faction within the organisation.

The party, however, did not name the individuals or provide evidence to substantiate the allegations in the statement.

The former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, on Thursday, said Nigerians are not feeling the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.

Akande insisted that Nigerians are not benefitting from the increased revenue accrued from the fuel subsidy removal.

The former presidential aide disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

According to Akande: “The decision of fuel subsidy, that was the decision that was taken at the Federal level, the president came and said that subsidy is gone.