NEWS
Amaechi Traces Electoral Flaws to Political Opposition
Nigeria’s former minister of transportation and a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, is of the opinion that opposition politicians should be held accountable for weak electoral processes.
He bared his mind at a public lecture in a video clip that trended on Friday, in which Amaechi said Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu “is not invincible.”
In his view, the opposition parties remained Nigeria’s main problem.
His remarks came amid the lingering internal crises rocking opposition political parties, which have splintered into factions and weakened their ability to mount a formidable challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
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As the infighting deepens, several opposition figures have accused President Tinubu and the APC of fuelling the crisis by sponsoring defections from their parties.
Amaechi, however, dismissed such claims, blaming the opposition for the country’s political woes.
“Tinubu isn’t invincible; the opposition is the problem. I don’t see him as invincible, The problem is the opposition,” the former Rivers State governor said.
He argued that opposition parties were consumed by ethnic and regional power calculations rather than conversations about governance and national renewal.
“I tell the opposition party that you’re the problem. Nobody’s saying, ‘Oh, things are bad. How do we change the candidate? Do you want to do one term or not one term?’ That’s all. Nothing else is discussed.
“So, while the elites are busy discussing how to get to power, the voters, the citizens, are helping the elites to achieve that objective,” he said.
Recall that in July 2025, the ADC emerged as the coalition platform adopted by opposition leaders seeking to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
Amaechi joined the party in July, followed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in November, while former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, joined on December 31.
The trio all made public their intentions of contesting the ADC’s presidential ticket.
In the trending footage, Amaechi also revealed that he has been holding meetings with political actors ahead of the 2027 polls.
“If you ask those who meet with me, they will tell you that I have been having meetings and talking to them about the possibility of winning the 2027 election,” he said.
Amaechi criticised the inability of past administrations to deliver meaningful electoral reform, citing the experience under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The problem with elections in Nigeria is that there is no incumbent government that can achieve electoral reform. None! Buhari tried it and failed. In fact, the National Assembly passed the law and dropped it on his table, and the man held his pen to sign,” he said.
He claimed that fears of foreign interference, including claims that “Russia will rig the election,” stalled the reform process.
“I wish I were there. I would have told him that everything has an antidote. So, if there’s a Russia, there’s an America,” Amaechi said.
He explained that efforts to amend the electoral law in 2019 were frustrated, but that Buhari became determined by 2023, viewing electoral reform as the legacy he wanted to leave behind.
However, Amaechi said entrenched interests ultimately blocked the reforms.
“When they got to the National Assembly, they did not come back. By the time they realised that they had omitted people like us who were automatic delegates by being former speakers, Buhari refused to sign.
“People around him made sure he did not sign it into law and got what they wanted. Now, those same people are back here, shouting electoral reform,” he said.
Drawing from his experience managing Buhari’s campaigns, Amaechi stressed the power of citizen mobilisation in safeguarding elections.
“We made it difficult for any Nigerian governor to go to his state and come out freely. Any day Buhari was coming to any state, the governor was on the run because the madness of the citizens chased them away,” he said.
Recalling incidents in Bauchi and Jos during the 2015 campaign, Amaechi said his team mobilised Nigerians to resist electoral manipulation, warning that any attempt to rig elections would provoke resistance.
“If you rig us out, you rig problem. As far as we were concerned, they were going to rig the election, so show them that there will be what? Fire. And the whole world knew there would be fire,” he said.
Amaechi also criticised voter apathy, stressing that citizens, not the government, hold the key to electoral reform.
“Government won’t give you electoral reform. The first solution to electoral reform is the people. Don’t be shouting electoral reform, electoral reform. You are the problem.
“The more you say they have written the result, the more you have voter apathy. Voter apathy will make Tinubu return to Aso Villa with 30-something per cent,” he warned.
He urged Nigerians to prioritise competence over regional or ethnic considerations in choosing leaders.
“Get the best material that can govern the country. If you say you want a president, make sure the president is qualified. The first qualification is that he must change the country when he becomes president.
“The second is that he must have the capacity to say, ‘I will be mad with you. You see, this election, all of us will die,’” Amaechi said.
He also cited opposition missteps in previous elections, including their inability to campaign in parts of the North due to extensive mobilisation by his team.
“Ask the PDP, could they campaign in Kano? They couldn’t. When they went there, what did they hear? ‘Bamaso, bamaso.’ Because we had mobilised Nigerians,” he said.
Executive Vice President and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Elohor Aiboni was among 100 people honoured with the DTN@100 Award.
She joined a list of distinguished recipients recognised by the Daily Times newspapers. The contributions of the awardees to national development will be documented in a special publication, titled Nigerian Grand Book.
Daily Times which started publication in 1926 gave the awards as part of its centenary celebrations in Lagos. The centenary theme is: “Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future.” Chairman, Folio Media Group and Publisher Daily Times of Nigeria Fidelis Anosike said: “We proudly celebrate Elohor Aiboni, Executive Vice President and Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, for her well-deserved recognition at the Daily Times Heroes Award. As a visionary female leader, Elohor has shown that true leadership is defined by action. Her forward-thinking policies continue to drive real, positive change across our nation.”
In her response, Elohor said: “Although this award is presented to me, I do not regard it as mine alone. I share it with my colleagues across the Shell Companies in Nigeria, our partners, and the many people I have had the privilege of working with and learning from over the years.”
Elohor was commended for her achievements in a career in the energy industry that started in Shell in 2002. In addition to serving in operational roles within and outside Nigeria, she has worked as asset manager for Bonga, leading up to her appointment as Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) in 2021, the first female to hold the post. Early this year, she took up the role of Executive Vice President and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, also the first female and Nigerian to hold both roles.
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In her acceptance speech, Elohor also called for concerted efforts towards educating the girl-child. She said: “If we are serious about shaping Nigeria’s future, we must be equally serious about educating and empowering the Nigerian girl child. Education provides not only knowledge, but also confidence, choice and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to her community and country.”
Photo Caption – L-R: Energy and Investment Solicitor, Sam Aiboni; Executive Vice President and Country Chair, Shell Nigeria, Elohor Aiboni; actress Rita Dominic; and Daily Times Chairman, Fidelis Anosike, during the award presentation at Harbour Point, Lagos.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, following their historic qualification for the final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The President commended the team for their impressive 3-1 victory over Brazil in Wednesday’s semi-final, describing their achievement as a remarkable milestone that has brought immense pride and joy to Nigerians at home and abroad.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu also praised the coaching crew and everyone whose hard work and support contributed to the team’s successful campaign.
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With the Flamingos set to face Japan in the final, the President urged the players to remain focused, confident and determined as they pursue the historic world title.
“I encourage you to approach the final with the same fighting spirit and belief that have brought you this far. I have confidence in your ability to make history by winning the coveted world title,” he said.
Tinubu also called on Nigerians to rally behind the young players, describing them as national ambassadors whose achievements continue to showcase the country’s sporting excellence.
He said the team’s performance would inspire a new generation of girls to pursue their dreams without limitations.
“Once again, Nigeria is proud of you. Go for the trophy, Flamingos!” the President added.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has disclosed its support for healthcare infrastructure in Sokoto State through the donation and subsequent handover of an Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) to the state government.
The development was contained in the company’s September 2026 Monthly Operations and Financial Report, which also highlighted its financial performance, oil and gas production, pipeline infrastructure and other operational activities.
According to the report, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Health visited the NNPC Foundation and NNPC Limited on September 1, 2026, to present a letter of appreciation to the Foundation for donating the Infectious Diseases Hospital and handing it over to the Sokoto State Government.
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The engagement provided an opportunity for the state government to formally acknowledge the Foundation’s intervention and support towards strengthening healthcare infrastructure in Sokoto State.
The report identified the engagement as part of the NNPC Foundation’s public impact initiatives.
NNPC Records ₦509bn September Profit
On its financial performance, NNPC recorded a profit after tax of ₦509 billion in September 2026, representing an 18.1 per cent increase compared with the previous month.
The company’s revenue also rose to ₦4.608 trillion from ₦3.74 trillion recorded in August, representing an increase of approximately 23.2 per cent.
Cumulative statutory payments to the Federation increased by 17.4 per cent, rising from ₦9.49 trillion between January and August to ₦11.14 trillion between January and September 2026.
Crude Oil and Gas Production
The report showed that average crude oil and condensate production stood at 1.70 million barrels per day during the period.
Natural gas production increased to 7,789 million standard cubic feet per day, while total hydrocarbon production reached 3.04 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.
The monthly operational summary also presented production and sales trends for crude oil, condensate and natural gas.
Pipeline Infrastructure Records Progress
On infrastructure development, NNPC reported 100 per cent availability of its upstream pipelines.
The company also disclosed that the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline had reached 100 per cent completion, while the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline stood at 95 per cent completion.
According to the report, the OB3 River Niger Crossing pipeline had been commissioned and operationalised.
For the AKK pipeline, NNPC said sustained collaboration with stakeholders was helping to accelerate construction and pre-commissioning activities towards achieving early gas delivery to Abuja in 2026.
NNPC Reports 54% Retail Station Availability
The report also highlighted the availability of petrol at NNPC retail stations across the country, putting the nationwide Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) availability level at 54 per cent.
A geographical map showing retail station availability across different parts of Nigeria was included in the monthly operational summary.
NNPC Outlines Strategic Production Efforts
On efforts to sustain production growth, NNPC listed accelerated restoration of shut-in wells and facilities, production optimisation and well interventions among its priorities.
The company also highlighted efforts to strengthen facility reliability and preventive maintenance, address infrastructure and operational constraints, improve community engagement and resolve storage, tank-top and export infrastructure challenges.
These measures, according to the report, are aimed at sustaining production growth and improving operational efficiency across its oil and gas assets.
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