• ADC leaders clash over power rotation strategy
• Atiku distances party from zoning politics
• Amaechi warns of southern backlash
• PDP leadership fight resurfaces at Appeal Court

OPPOSITION unity came under renewed strain yesterday as zoning disagreements within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and unresolved court battles rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) exposed widening fault lines ahead of the 2027 general election.

ADC chieftain Rotimi Amaechi argued that the party’s presidential ticket should be zoned to the South, warning that fielding a northern candidate could complicate efforts to win support in the southern part of the country.
Speaking during a meeting with party leaders in Kano State, Amaechi said retaining power in the South for now would make mobilisation easier and reduce regional resistance, even as he pledged support for whoever eventually emerged from the party’s primaries.

Amaechi urged the ADC to present a candidate Nigerians could be convinced had the capacity to “turn things around”, citing competence, age and respect for the prevailing understanding on power rotation as critical considerations.
In a parallel development, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde held a closed-door meeting with former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), at his hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State, in what was widely seen as part of broader opposition consultations.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Atiku distanced the ADC from zoning politics, insisting that the party’s constitution made no provision for zoning and that no plans existed to adopt it. He said zoning was formally entrenched only in the Peoples Democratic Party, adding that the ADC was instead focused on building strong structures nationwide.
Atiku also played down speculation about a 2027 presidential bid, saying his immediate priority was party organisation rather than personal ambition. He said efforts were ongoing to entrench the ADC from ward to national levels, alongside mobilisation and registration of members across the country.

The former vice president said his visit to Niger State was aimed at strengthening the ADC’s presence in the state and advancing discussions on electoral reforms, particularly the demand for full electronic transmission of election results. He urged opposition parties to sustain pressure on the National Assembly to prevent the issue from stalling.
Reacting to recently proposed and gazetted tax reforms by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Atiku accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of lacking credibility.

“What do you expect? APC generally is a party of forgers and riggers. They forge everything, certificates, age limits, they forge everything. That is the hallmark of APC,” he said.

Although he did not disclose the specific purpose of his visit to Babangida, Atiku said it was not his first engagement with the elder statesman.
Makinde declined to speak with journalists, reportedly remaining in the inner chamber of Babangida’s residence after Atiku had departed. Journalists were later informed that the governor was on a private visit and would not grant any interview, after which reporters were asked to leave the premises.

Atiku arrived in Minna at about 1:30 p.m. and proceeded directly from the airport to Babangida’s residence. Makinde arrived at about 2:10 p.m., roughly 30 minutes after Atiku had left.
The former vice president was accompanied by several ADC leaders and stakeholders, including the party’s governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Baba Agaie; former Osun State governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Senator Ben Obi; Senator Ozemina from Edo State; Niger State ADC chairman, Musa Hassan, and other party officials.
PDP leaders storm Appeal Court over party leadership tussle

The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, alongside Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, yesterday appeared at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, over the protracted leadership crisis within the party.

They were joined by members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) for the scheduled hearing of an appeal bordering on the PDP’s leadership status.
The party has been embroiled in a long-running tussle between factions aligned with PDP governors and those loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. The crisis has led to the sealing of the party’s national secretariat by the police, mutual expulsions and the dissolution of state party structures by rival camps.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, adjourned sine die ruling on a motion filed by the Turaki-led faction seeking leave to adduce fresh evidence in an appeal challenging Federal High Court judgments that halted the PDP’s national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
During proceedings in appeal number CA/ABJ/CV/1695/2025, with former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Austin Nwachukwu, Amah Abraham Nnanna and Turnah George listed as respondents, counsel to the appellant, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told the court that his client had filed a motion seeking time to respond to applications brought by some of the respondents.

He also moved a separate application filed on December 22, seeking the court’s permission to introduce fresh evidence in the appeal.

However, counsel to the 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents, Joseph Daudu, opposed the application, arguing that the materials sought to be introduced were not new and had always been available to the appellant. He added that issues surrounding the evidence would be resolved in the substantive appeal.
After hearing arguments from all parties, the three-member panel of justices adjourned ruling on the motion to a date to be communicated to the parties.

The court also adjourned till tomorrow for the adoption of final addresses in all appeals arising from three judgments of the Federal High Court relating to the PDP’s 2025 national convention in Ibadan.
It would be recalled that on November 11, 2025, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, restrained the PDP from proceeding with the convention and barred INEC from supervising or recognising any outcome from it. The order followed a suit filed by Lamido, who complained that he was denied the opportunity to purchase the nomination form for the position of national chairman.

Justice Lifu held that the PDP failed to comply with statutory requirements governing the conduct of its convention, including the publication of a valid timetable, and ruled that the balance of convenience favoured the claimant.

Earlier, in October 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the same court had also stopped the convention in a separate suit filed by Austin Nwachukwu, Amah Abraham Nnanna and Turnah George. The court ruled that the planned convention violated provisions of the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution and the PDP constitution, and ordered the party to comply fully with all statutory requirements before proceeding.