Politics
Battle For National Assembly Leadership Sparks Division, Regional Tensions
The contest for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly could result in the emergence of an unexpected candidate, as leaders from the Northern and South-West regions have entered the fray regarding the selection of principal officers for the National Assembly.
Currently, a heated dispute has arisen between supporters of the sitting President, Muhammadu Buhari, and those of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, leading to a division within the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The conflict centers around the micro-zoning of the Senate President position to Senator Godswill Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State, which has allegedly sparked a covert clash between the two factions.
This power struggle has caused a rift among legislators representing the six geo-political zones of the country, deepening divisions along lines of ethnicity and religion among the newly elected senators and their counterparts in the House of Representatives.
Concerned about the unfolding situation, prominent figures from northern states, including two former military heads of state, as well as influential traditional rulers from the North and South West, have taken action by intervening and engaging in discussions with key senators.
A senator-elect, who requested anonymity, disclosed that the elder statesmen undertook the responsibility individually and personally reached out to influential senators, especially from the Northern region.
Their primary message emphasized the importance of prioritizing Nigeria’s unity and national cohesion in their decision-making process regarding the election of Assembly leadership.
According to the confidential source, the core appeal made during these discussions was for Northern senators to refrain from utilizing their numerical advantage to overpower the Senate and undermine the fair competition for its leadership position.
“Instead, they appealed to us to emulate the APC governors from Northern Nigeria who in the most patriotic manner gave all their support to the emergence of a southern candidate for the party and did all within their powers for the victory of Bola Tinubu from the South-West at the polls.
“They are talking to us, especially those who have declared interest in the presidency of the senate to drop their legitimate ambitions for the sake of unity and cohesion of Nigeria and support the Southern region in producing it”
The senator-elect further confirmed to our correspondent that initially, the Northern senators were not opposed to the idea of the South producing the Senate President.
However, their discontent stemmed from the president-elect’s unilateral decision to choose Senator Akpabio without consulting or considering the opinions of other stakeholders.
“But, with the seriousness of the moves by these patriotic and highly respected statesmen and the esteemed traditional rulers, I see the major contender from the North, Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari dropping the gauntlet and supporting a more credible and consensus-vibrant aspirant from the South.
“Apart from the manner he was chosen by the President-elect, Northern Senators see an Akpabio-led Senate as an attempt to bring back the agitations for resource control, something they loathe with a passion.
“We can not trust his leadership as he is unlikely going to protect the interest of the North,” a northern Senator said.
In the North, there are three prominent contenders vying for the Senate President position: Abubakar Yari, Jibrin Barau, and Sani Musa. From the South, potential candidates include Osita Izunaso, Orji Kalu, and Godswill Akpabio.
Additionally, there have been unconfirmed reports suggesting that a former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole, may also enter the race for the Senate President position.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has explained that the persistent crisis and legal disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party compelled him to defect to the All Progressives Congress.
The governor’s defection was formally announced on Monday by his deputy, Mani Mummuni, after a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Gusau.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the move was described as a necessary step taken in the interest of the state and supported by political stakeholders across Zamfara.
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According to the statement, Governor Lawal had remained committed to the PDP despite the ongoing leadership crisis and had made several efforts to reconcile factions within the party.
However, attempts to achieve peace and unity reportedly failed, leading to prolonged legal battles.
The development followed a judgment by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP challenging an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court.
The earlier judgment had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The governor was said to have informed political stakeholders during a series of meetings that he would make a final decision about his political future after the appellate court delivered its ruling.
Following the judgment, Lawal concluded that joining the APC would better position him to continue what he described as the “Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild Mission.”
His defection marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Zamfara State and could influence political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has handed a significant setback to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, dismissing his appeal challenging a Federal High Court ruling that questioned his eligibility to contest the upcoming governorship election.
A three-member panel delivered a unanimous judgment on Monday, affirming that the trial court acted correctly when it allowed Dr Akindele Egbuwalo, the plaintiff, to amend his originating summons.
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Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, who read the lead judgment, said the governor failed to show that the High Court’s decision caused any miscarriage of justice or denied him a fair hearing.
The appeal was therefore dismissed for lacking merit, and the court awarded ₦2 million in costs against Aiyedatiwa.
The ruling reinforces the November 24, 2025, Federal High Court decision in Akure, which granted Egbuwalo permission to challenge Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility for re-election.
Earlier, the Court of Appeal also rejected an application by Aiyedatiwa to set aside a January 27, 2026, order staying proceedings in the case before the Federal High Court.
The appellate court clarified that the stay was a lawful exercise of its jurisdiction aimed at protecting the integrity of the proceedings.
The panel further emphasized that attempting to overturn its own order would be akin to sitting on appeal over its own decision.
The governor’s remaining option, the court noted, is to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court. Another ₦2 million in costs was awarded against Aiyedatiwa.
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party has deepened following a ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja which upheld a ban on the party’s proposed national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
A three-man panel of the appellate court on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by a faction of the party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to hear a suit concerning the controversial convention.
The Turaki-led faction had approached the Court of Appeal after a Federal High Court barred the party from holding its planned national convention scheduled for November 14 and 15, 2025.
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The lower court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising or validating the proposed convention.
However, delivering judgment, the appellate court ruled that the Federal High Court had the authority to entertain the case, rejecting the argument that the matter was purely an internal affair of the party.
According to the court, the appellants could not present what it described as a clear violation of the party’s constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as merely an internal party issue.
The panel subsequently dismissed the appeal and awarded a cost of N2 million against the appellants.
The ruling is part of judgments delivered in nine harmonised appeals filed by the Turaki-led faction over the dispute surrounding the convention.
The latest court decision is expected to further intensify the internal wrangling within the opposition party as it continues to grapple with leadership disputes and preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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