Politics
PDP Chieftain Sowunmi: APC Not Forcing Anyone to Defect, Democracy Not Measured by Opposition Comfort
Peoples Democratic Party chieftain Segun Sowunmi has dismissed claims that the All Progressives Congress is coercing opposition politicians into defecting, describing such arguments as intellectually lazy and politically convenient.
The former spokesman to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar made this assertion in an article titled “Democracy Is Not an Entitlement: A Response to the Alarmism Ahead of 2027,” published on X on Tuesday.
Sowunmi was responding to concerns that Nigeria’s democracy faces existential threats following a wave of high-profile defections to the ruling party, including Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s recent departure from the New Nigeria People’s Party.
The PDP stalwart argued that democracy should not be evaluated based on how comfortable or successful political actors feel, but rather on whether citizens retain the fundamental power to choose their leaders through periodic elections.
“By any serious standard, democracy is measured not by how comfortable political actors feel but by whether citizens retain the power to choose their leaders,” Sowunmi wrote.
He added that warnings about Nigeria drifting toward a democracy without genuine competition were rooted in a fundamental misreading of democratic principles and the country’s actual political reality.
Sowunmi emphasized that ruling parties bear no constitutional or moral obligation to ensure the survival or competitiveness of opposition parties, stating that political relevance must be earned through superior organization, messaging and service delivery.
“Democracy does not impose a duty on a ruling party to preserve its opponents. Parties earn competitiveness; they are not entitled to it,” the PDP chieftain declared.
The statement represents a departure from typical opposition rhetoric, which often attributes mass defections to intimidation, financial inducements or deliberate strategies to undermine multi-party democracy.
Sowunmi’s position aligns with his earlier comments dismissing concerns raised by the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who warned in December 2025 that the country was drifting toward single-party dominance.
The PDP chieftain had told Punch that there was no agenda to transform Nigeria into a one-party state, adding that President Bola Tinubu would never pursue such a destructive path given his democratic credentials and political history.
“There is no agenda anywhere that can make this country a one-party state. And I know that the president can never be dreaming such a dream,” Sowunmi stated during that interview.
Despite defending the democratic legitimacy of defections, Sowunmi has maintained his commitment to the PDP while acknowledging the party faces significant internal challenges that must be addressed before the 2027 elections.
In multiple interviews, he has expressed confidence that the PDP possesses sufficient grassroots support and institutional memory to remain competitive, describing the party as a 27-year political asset that cannot be easily dismissed.
However, Sowunmi has also been candid about the possibility of leaving the PDP if the party’s internal crises persist, stating in June 2025 that he would have no hesitation joining the APC if convinced it served the national interest.
“If I am going to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for president in 2027, by God and everything that is in me, I’ll leave and join his party,” he declared during an appearance on Arise Television.
The political strategist’s nuanced position reflects the complex calculations facing opposition figures as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, with many weighing loyalty to struggling parties against the pragmatic benefits of alignment with the ruling administration.
Politics
Governor Sani Commissions 35km Road Linking 76 Communities, Longest in Kaduna Since 2004
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has commissioned a monumental 35-kilometre asphaltic road described as the longest single infrastructure project delivered in the state over the past two decades, connecting 76 farming communities across three local government areas.
The historic road, inaugurated on Monday at a ceremony attended by traditional rulers, community leaders and residents, stretches from Gadan Gayan through Gwaraji to Kujama Junction, linking Igabi, Kajuru and Chikun local governments.
A standout feature of the project is a 130-metre bridge spanning River Kaduna, providing vital access to rural populations who had previously faced isolation during rainy seasons when the waterway became impassable.
Governor Sani characterized the infrastructure delivery as a watershed moment in Kaduna’s development trajectory, emphasizing that the project reflects his administration’s commitment to inclusive, people-centered governance that prioritizes underserved communities.
The governor recalled that when construction commenced in January 2024, his administration promised to deliver a durable and efficient transport corridor, adding that disciplined planning and professional execution ensured that pledge was fulfilled within record time.
Beyond physical mobility, the road addresses critical economic needs by creating direct linkages between agricultural production zones and commercial consumption centers across the state.
“By traversing agriculturally productive rural communities across three local government areas, this road directly links farms to markets, aggregation centers, processing facilities, and urban consumption hubs,” Governor Sani explained, noting the infrastructure would dramatically reduce post-harvest losses while strengthening agricultural value chains.
The governor highlighted that agriculture remains the leading contributor to Kaduna State’s gross domestic product growth, making rural connectivity essential for sustaining the sector’s economic dominance.
Early indicators suggest the infrastructure investment is already generating multiplier effects, with new filling stations, markets and small businesses emerging along the corridor even before formal commissioning.
“This is the quiet but powerful multiplier effect of well-planned infrastructure,” the governor remarked, pointing to the organic economic revival happening in communities previously isolated from development opportunities.
The project specifically targets historical inequities in public infrastructure distribution, particularly in Kajuru Local Government Area, which had not benefited from any road construction initiative for over twelve years prior to this administration.
“This prolonged neglect constrained economic activity, and that reality was unacceptable,” Governor Sani stated, adding that his administration is deliberately reversing decades of underinvestment in marginalized communities.
The commissioned road also provides an alternative route that reduces dependence on the frequently congested Kaduna metropolis, cutting travel time and transportation costs for commuters and traders while improving emergency response capabilities.
“Emergency services will respond faster, schoolchildren will reach classrooms with greater ease, and families will enjoy improved access to healthcare, markets and social services,” the governor noted.
Managing Director of Kaduna Road Agency Abdullahi Baba-Ahmad commended Governor Sani for executing massive infrastructure projects across the state, describing the 35-kilometre road as a landmark achievement that demonstrates commitment to delivering democratic dividends to all parts of Kaduna.
Baba-Ahmad revealed that the current administration has completed over 1,300 kilometres of roads across the state, significantly boosting commercial activities, easing travel and improving productivity.
Governor Sani explained that the commissioned road forms part of a broader infrastructure programme encompassing 140 road projects totaling 1,335 kilometres across Kaduna State, with 66 already completed while others are between 60 and 75 percent completion stages.
The infrastructure push follows an earlier achievement in May 2025 when Governor Sani broke another 20-year road construction jinx in Kagarko Local Government Area, underscoring systematic efforts to end infrastructure neglect across all parts of the state.
Traditional rulers and community leaders who spoke at the commissioning ceremony described the road as transformational, with many residents testifying about revived livelihoods, revitalized local economies and communities emerging from years of isolation with renewed confidence in government.
The project’s completion within approximately 14 months from flag-off demonstrates the administration’s capacity for rapid infrastructure delivery despite Nigeria’s challenging economic environment and budgetary constraints affecting many state governments.
News
Wole Olanipekun, Taiwo Oyedele Urge South-West Governors to Maximise Tinubu Presidency for Regional Growth
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Wole Olanipekun, and Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, have called on South-West governors and political leaders to fully leverage President Bola Tinubu’s administration to drive accelerated development across the region.
The duo made the call on Monday in Akure, Ondo State capital, while speaking at a public lecture organised as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of Ondo State’s creation.
They stressed that the South-West must prioritise massive investments in infrastructure, industrialisation, and economic reforms during Tinubu’s tenure to secure long-term regional prosperity.
Olanipekun cautioned that the political advantage of having a South-West president is temporary, noting that President Tinubu’s tenure will come to an end after his second term in 2031.
According to him, the region must act decisively within this window to strengthen its economic base and ensure sustainable development beyond the current administration.

News
BREAKING: Malami Tells Court He Earned ₦12bn+ Legitimately, Seeks Release of Seized Properties
Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has disclosed details of his earnings while asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to set aside an interim order authorising the seizure of 57 properties allegedly linked to him.
Malami made the disclosure through his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), in a motion on notice filed before the court. The application seeks to vacate an interim forfeiture order affecting three of the 57 properties currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the court filing, Malami stated that he had fully and transparently declared his sources of income in his asset declaration submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The document outlined multiple income streams, including:
₦374.63 million earned from salaries, estacodes, severance allowances, and related entitlements.
₦574.07 million generated from the disposal of personal assets.
₦10.01 billion recorded as turnover from private business ventures.
₦2.52 billion issued as loans to various businesses.
₦958 million received as traditional gifts from personal friends.
₦509.88 million realised from the launch and public presentation of his book titled “Contemporary Issues on Nigerian Law and Practice: Thorny Terrains in Traversing the Nigerian Justice Sector – My Travails and Triumphs.”
Malami’s legal team argued that the declared earnings sufficiently explain the source of funds used to acquire the properties in question, urging the court to lift the interim seizure order.
The matter remains pending before the Federal High Court as the EFCC continues its forfeiture proceedings.



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