Politics
“You’re Crying Over Lost Chances to Loot” — APC’s Basiru Fires Back at Opposition Over 2027 INEC Timetable Complaints
The APC has heard the opposition’s complaints about INEC’s 2027 election timetable — and its response is not sympathy.
National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Ajibola Basiru, came out swinging on Friday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at Aso Rock, dismissing the wave of criticism from opposition figures as the frustrated howling of people who are angry not about democracy, but about losing access to Nigeria’s public resources. “They are crying because of loss of opportunity to plunder the resources of the Nigerian people,” he said bluntly, in remarks that made clear the APC has no intention of engaging the opposition’s objections on their merits.
The statement came in direct response to a high-profile press conference held earlier in the week, where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and a coalition of opposition figures gathered in Abuja to warn that Nigeria was sliding toward a one-party state under President Tinubu. The group had taken particular aim at the newly released INEC timetable, which sets presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, and governorship elections for February 6, 2027 — dates pulled forward from earlier projections to align with the newly signed Electoral Act 2026. Opposition parties have also flagged a specific provision in the Act requiring all political parties to submit fully digitalised national membership registers to INEC by April 2, 2026, with party primaries scheduled to run between April 23 and May 30 — a window they describe as impossibly tight.
The ADC, which has been the most vocal in its rejection of both the law and the timetable, pointed out that the APC had been compiling digital membership records since as far back as February 2025 — giving the ruling party a full year’s head start on a requirement opposition parties only became aware of when it was almost too late. ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi said the requirement to submit a digitalised membership register across all 36 states within roughly 32 days was almost practically impossible for most opposition parties to achieve, while warning that failure to comply would render any congresses or conventions they hold invalid in INEC’s eyes — effectively barring them from fielding candidates at all.
Basiru was unmoved. He dismissed opposition critics of the Electoral Act as “a committee of circus displayers,” arguing that when a law has been passed by the appropriate legislative body, people who do not have a single elected representative have no credibility to demand it be cancelled. He described their objections as born of ignorance and political irrelevance rather than any genuine concern for democratic standards.
On the economy, Basiru stayed firmly on message. He insisted that Nigerians are happy because the country is genuinely getting better, claiming that the naira is performing better than almost any other currency in the world and that food inflation has dropped from roughly 35 percent to approximately 15 percent. He also used the occasion to give an overview of the APC’s internal processes, confirming that the party had completed its ward and local government congresses successfully and that state congresses were scheduled for the following Tuesday.
His parting message to the opposition was direct — go back to the Nigerian people, go back to the trenches, and see if they have any credibility left to earn electoral viability.
INEC, for its part, has defended the timetable with equal firmness. National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna said he could not understand what the fuss was about, arguing that parties should already have had their membership sorted out long before the timetable was released. The Commission maintained that the schedule complies fully with the constitution and urged all stakeholders to cooperate in good faith.
The opposition, however, is not backing down. The ADC has said it is reviewing all legal and strategic options and will announce its final position in the days ahead. Former presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim went further, calling on INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan to resign, insisting that the chairman cannot be trusted and that mass action will follow if he remains in office.
With party primaries now just weeks away and the clock ticking on a digitalisation requirement that the ruling party was quietly preparing for long before anyone else knew it was coming, the battle lines for 2027 are being drawn in real time — and the fight, it is clear, has only just begun.
President Bola Tinubu has appointed former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi, as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Abuja.
The appointment was announced on Thursday, October 22, 2026, by the institute’s Director of Coordination and Liaison, Lilian Omo-Odigwe.
According to the announcement, Tinubu approved the appointment following a recommendation by the incumbent DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi.
Bichi’s appointment takes effect from October 22, 2026, for an initial four-year term in accordance with Section 4 of the National Institute for Security Studies (Establishment) Act, 2019.
He succeeds former DSS chief A.A. Gadzama as chairman of the institute’s governing board.
The NISS said Bichi’s experience in intelligence, security administration, operational leadership and institutional training would contribute to the institute’s strategic direction and governance.
The institute is responsible for strategic security training, research and capacity development for personnel within Nigeria’s security sector and allied institutions.
Bichi previously served as Director-General of the DSS from September 2018 until August 2024, when he left the position and was succeeded by Adeola Ajayi.
During his career, he held several positions within the intelligence agency, including State Director of Security in Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto and Abia states. He also served in different directorates at the DSS national headquarters and headed the State Services Academy in Lagos.
Before joining the DSS, Bichi began his career in the Security Division of the Kano State Cabinet Office and transferred his service in 1984. He later received specialised training in intelligence processing, analysis and security administration.
His appointment comes as the Federal Government continues efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security institutions amid persistent challenges, including kidnapping, banditry and other forms of violent crime.
As chairman of the NISS Governing Board, Bichi is expected to provide oversight on the institute’s strategic direction and contribute to strengthening professional training and institutional capacity within the country’s security sector.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Femi Olaniyi-Ferrari, has declared his intention to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 governorship election.
Olaniyi-Ferrari made the declaration during an interview in Lagos on Monday, October 19, 2026, saying his party was prepared to offer residents an alternative leadership focused on public welfare, accountability and socioeconomic development.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the candidate argued that Lagos residents deserved a government that listens to their concerns and responds to their needs.
He also questioned the prolonged dominance of one political party in the state, maintaining that a change in leadership should be considered by voters.
Olaniyi-Ferrari said the SDP intended to reshape the state’s political landscape through policies and programmes designed to improve residents’ living standards.
SDP Promises People-Centred Governance
The governorship candidate said his party would prioritise transparency, economic opportunities, social welfare and sustainable development if given the mandate to govern Lagos.
He explained that the SDP would intensify grassroots mobilisation and engagement across the state to communicate its policy proposals and attract support ahead of the election.
Olaniyi-Ferrari also urged eligible voters to examine the manifestoes and policy commitments of political parties before deciding whom to support in 2027.
He emphasised that elections provide citizens with an opportunity to influence the direction of governance through their votes.
According to him, the SDP’s proposed approach would focus on responsible management of public resources, broader access to opportunities and government policies that reflect residents’ aspirations.
The candidate expressed confidence in his party’s ability to mobilise supporters across Lagos and compete for the governorship seat.
He further called on residents to participate actively in the electoral process, stressing the importance of credible elections and informed choices in strengthening democracy.
The SDP’s declaration comes as political parties and their candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with the APC facing challenges from opposition parties seeking to secure the support of Lagos voters.
However, the outcome of the contest will ultimately depend on the candidates’ campaigns, policy proposals and decisions made by voters at the polls.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has withdrawn recognition of its chapters operating outside Nigeria, citing a subsisting court judgment that reportedly restricts Nigerian political parties from establishing and supervising branches abroad.
The party announced the decision on Sunday through its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, who said the move followed a review of the party’s relationship with its foreign-based chapters.
According to Director, the decision was taken in deference to a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama in a case involving Professor Ali Alao, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and another party.
The suit, identified as No. CV/187/2025, reportedly addressed the legal status of diaspora chapters established by political parties registered in Nigeria.
The NDC spokesperson said the court held that Nigerian political parties lacked the legal authority to establish, operate or supervise chapters outside the country’s territorial boundaries.
Consequently, the party said it was halting recognition of its foreign chapters and withdrawing all previously granted recognition in compliance with the judgment.
Despite the decision, the NDC expressed appreciation to Nigerians living abroad for their support, loyalty and contributions to the party.
Director disclosed that the party had begun a harmonisation process in locations where multiple groups were operating, with the aim of bringing them together under a unified structure.
He added that the party was still reviewing the judgment and had referred the matter to its legal department for further advice and guidance.
The NDC also acknowledged the interest of Nigerians in the diaspora in its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The party encouraged its supporters abroad to remain engaged, continue interacting and maintain their political interests through appropriate and lawful channels.
The development comes as political parties prepare for the 2027 elections, with the NDC indicating that its withdrawal of formal recognition would not prevent continued engagement with supporters outside Nigeria.
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