That is the uncomfortable truth of the “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” saga. Adeyemi has been charged with eight counts of fraud and forgery. But the bigger scandal is not one man’s alleged audacity. It is how a non-existent agency got close to N1.3bn in the 2026 budget, secured office space in the heart of government, hosted top government functionaries from Nigeria and abroad, and allegedly operated multiple accounts.

This is not a story about Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila versus Prince Adeyemi. This is a story about systemic failure. And until the system is properly fixed, it is quite probable that the next Adeyemi is somewhere forging another letterhead.

There are several systemic breaches in the saga that public finance analysts and other commentators have already pointed out, but they nonetheless require restating. There is a failure of due diligence in budgeting. The 2026 Appropriation Act contained N1.3bn for the “Presidential Economic Advisory Council/PFIPC”.
The problem, however, is that PFIPC has no legal backing and was never established by the Federal Government.

Top sources in the National Assembly claim the allocation entered “through a backdoor arrangement” without budget defence. For whatever his statement is worth, Adeyemi, in his interview with social media influencer, VeryDarkMan, from his hideout, said he was detained for 23 days while the budget was being prepared. “I did not prepare or defend any budget, and nobody went to defend it on my behalf,” he said. That means the appropriation to the fake agency bypassed the committees that should have asked probing questions such as: “Which agency is this?” What is its mandate? Who are its staff members?

Since the rebirth of democracy over 27 years ago, Nigeria’s budget process has been criticised for “insertions” and “undue inflation”. PFIPC is now the clearest example of why that matters. A ghost agency should not be able to get real money. If the Budget Office, House of Representatives, and Senate all missed this, our first line of fiscal defence needs a long, hard look.

There is also the issue of appointment and office verification. Adeyemi allegedly used a forged appointment letter bearing Gbajabiamila’s purported signature and counterfeit presidential letterhead to present himself as DG. Gbajabiamila’s lawyers insist he has “never had any contact whatsoever with Adeyemi”. Yet somehow, that letter was “accepted at the civil service headquarters without adequate verification”. It secured him an office in the Federal Secretariat for over a year. Up until this month, a sign for PFIPC was still up, directing visitors to the “council’s purported office” inside the Ministry of Health wing.

Just think about that. The administrative hub of the Federal Civil Service could not detect a fake appointment. If letterheads and signatures of top government functionaries are that easy to forge and accept, then no MDA is safe. Tomorrow, it could be a fake NCC or NDDC director. And next week, possibly a fake university VC.

The third system failure is about banking and due diligence. Adeyemi allegedly opened an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria for the non-existent agency. Adeyemi himself asked the most damning question in a viral video: “The same acclaimed non-existent agency has a domiciliary account, a pounds sterling account and a Treasury Single Account, all domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria. Is it even possible to open an account with fictitious documents in a commercial bank in Nigeria today, let alone at the CBN?”

He also allegedly operated 34 bank accounts linked to fictitious agencies. Banks and government revenue platforms are required by law to conduct a KYC (know your customer) check. How did 34 accounts get opened? Who approved the TSA linkage? The EFCC has recovered items and made arrests, but the institutions that enabled the financial plumbing have not been named.

But how does the Chief of Staff come into all of this? Where does he fit into, for the life of me? Adeyemi alleged that Gbajabiamila demanded 48% of a N27.4bn take-off grant and collected N400m through proxies.
Gbajabiamila says he has never met Adeyemi in his life and no proxy has acted on his behalf. His lawyers call the allegations “false and gravely defamatory” and have slammed a N10bn suit on Adeyemi. Adeyemi himself admitted in the VDM interview that he never met Gbajabiamila.

Truth is, Gbajabiamila’s office does not issue appointments. Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga had pointed out that much in a statement. The matter of appointment is the prerogative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which is the clearing house for all appointments made by the President. Even then, the CoS’s letterhead and signature were also found to have been forged.

It was the Office of the CoS that first “blew the whistle” about the fake agency after the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council flagged it. Gbajabiamila caused a disclaimer to be placed on Adeyemi following which he was arrested by the police and arraigned in court.

It is instructive that President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission to investigate the entire scandal. That is a commendable step. The President also did not leave the duration of the investigation open-ended; he ordered that the probe be concluded within a month. It was also gathered that KPMG may be brought in if there are larger accounting issues to untangle.
Also, whereas the House of Representatives has elected to launch its own investigations into the matter, the Senate has suspended its own probe, rightfully backing the President’s action.

My point is that the investigation and the legal process must run their course. The CoS should not be guillotined, literally. There should be a presumption of innocence until he is proven guilty.
But the more important point is this: even if every allegation against the CoS is false, as it appears to be, the fact that his name and signature could be forged, and used to access government property still suggests some vulnerability in the administrative controls.

All of that has made a reform of the system imperative.
Arresting Adeyemi so he can answer for his serious misdeeds is necessary. However, that would not be sufficient. Stopping there would be akin to treating malaria with paracetamol.

In my view, at least four immediate reforms are required at this point. One is the budget integrity law. No allocation should appear in the Appropriation Act without being scrutinised by the relevant committee and published with a sponsoring MDA, a legal instrument, and a staff list. A “ghost agency” clause should trigger an automatic audit by the Auditor-General.

Secondly, there is a need for appointment verification portal. Every federal appointment letter must be logged on a public, verifiable portal managed by the SGF. MDAs should not accept physical letters without a portal code. That way, forgery becomes instantly detectable.

Thirdly, the Federal Secretariat must have more access control. A forensic audit of all offices, signage, and allocations in the secretariat is desirable. Any office space given in the last three years without SGF/HoS approval should be revoked and investigated.

The fourth, and perhaps more importantly, is the need for financial institution accountability. The CBN and commercial banks must explain how accounts were allegedly opened for PFIPC and 34 other “agencies.” The Bank Verification Number and CAC database should be crosschecked before any government-linked account is activated.

In the final analysis, Prince Adeyemi allegedly gamed the system. But systems are gamed because they are weak. The PFIPC scandal is a stress test, and the system failed at three points: budget, appointment, and banking.

*Rahman is Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media & Special Duties.

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In a statement issued on Thursday by its Public Affairs Officer, Abbas Jimoh, the Council, led by its President-General, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, expressed outrage over the attack, during which a teacher was killed while several students and teachers were abducted.

The Council said the incident underscores the persistent threat posed by terrorism and called for an uncompromising national response to protect schools and vulnerable communities.

Daily Dates Nigeria reports that NSCIA describes the continued targeting of educational institutions as “a national disgrace that strikes at the very heart of Nigeria’s future” and must be brought to an immediate end.

The Council noted with concern that the latest attack occurred only weeks after the abduction of 42 pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in the same Askira Uba Local Government Area on May 15, as well as the kidnapping of 49 pupils and their teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on the same day. It observed that many of the victims remain in captivity.

The Islamic body further expressed concern that the attackers reportedly took advantage of Lassa Town’s market day to infiltrate the community before launching the assault, saying the development demonstrates the evolving tactics of terrorist groups and the need for stronger intelligence gathering, surveillance, inter-agency collaboration and community-based early warning systems.

The NSCIA also urged governments at all levels to adopt technology-driven security measures, citing the Enugu State Government’s recently introduced AI-powered security architecture, which features a Command and Control Centre, surveillance drones and AI-enabled patrol vehicles capable of identifying threats and tracking criminals in real time.

While commending the Armed Forces, particularly troops of Operation HADIN KAI, for their swift deployment of ground and air assets that led to the rescue of some abducted students and teachers, the Council insisted that security operations should continue until all those still in captivity are safely rescued and reunited with their families.

The Council also paid tribute to the soldier and the member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) who lost their lives during the rescue mission, describing their sacrifice as a demonstration of courage and patriotism in the fight against terrorism.

Reaffirming Islam’s position on violence, the NSCIA declared that terrorism has no place in the religion, stressing that Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are enemies of both Islam and humanity.

It stated that the activities of the terrorist groups violate the Islamic principles of justice, mercy, the sanctity of human life and the pursuit of knowledge, adding that those who kill innocent people, abduct children and destroy schools cannot claim to represent Islam or any recognised faith.

The Council extended its condolences to the Government and people of Borno State, the management of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, families of the victims and all those affected by the attack.

It called on the Federal Government and security agencies to sustain efforts to defeat terrorism, rescue all abductees and ensure that those responsible for attacks on innocent citizens are apprehended and brought to justice.

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The President’s light-hearted remark drew laughter and applause from guests, including senior government officials, media executives and members of the State House Press Corps.

The nickname follows the widespread public debate generated by the First Lady’s recent remarks encouraging Nigerians to consider small-scale businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli as viable means of livelihood that require relatively little start-up capital.

Speaking after the second-quarter meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with the wives of state governors at the Presidential Villa, Senator Tinubu explained that her office provides grants—not loans—to support petty traders and entrepreneurs as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We’re trying to give hope, and to start akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli-kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” the First Lady had said.

Her comments sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some Nigerians criticising the remarks amid prevailing economic challenges, while others argued that she was highlighting entrepreneurship and the importance of supporting the informal sector through grants.

Following the controversy, the First Lady clarified that the empowerment programme extends beyond akara sellers to include traders dealing in tomatoes, peppers, vegetables, roasted plantain (bole) and other small-scale businesses, stressing that the intervention is designed to strengthen livelihoods across the informal economy.

President Tinubu’s jocular reference to his wife as “Iya Alakara” appeared to acknowledge the public conversation surrounding the remarks while injecting humour into the evening’s proceedings at the maiden Presidential Press Corps Dinner.

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In a statement signed by its Project Coordinator, Hon. Muttaka Ahmed Ibrahim, the group said the successful conduct of the Ekiti State Governorship Election and the National Assembly and State Assembly by-elections held on June 20, 2026, reflected the administration’s dedication to credible elections and democratic consolidation.

The elections were conducted in the Ekiti State governorship poll, Nasarawa North Senatorial District in Nasarawa State, Ondo South Senatorial District in Ondo State, Enugu North Senatorial District in Enugu State, Rivers South East Senatorial District in Rivers State, Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, and Zuru State Constituency in Kebbi State.

According to the group, the elections demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the independence of democratic institutions under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Arewa Revival Project also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for organizing what it described as peaceful, transparent, credible, and professionally conducted elections across the affected states and constituencies.

It noted that the conduct of the polls had further strengthened public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and reaffirmed the capacity of democratic institutions to deliver outcomes that reflect the will of the people.

The group specifically highlighted the peaceful conduct and broad acceptance of the Ekiti and Benue by-elections, describing them as a practical response to critics who had questioned the commission’s ability to conduct credible elections.

“Rather than responding to allegations with words, INEC has demonstrated through its actions that professionalism, transparency, and strict adherence to the Electoral Act remain the foundation of its operations,” the statement said.

The organization also applauded Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio for his leadership of the National Assembly, citing his role in promoting legislative oversight, institutional stability, and democratic governance.

It said Akpabio’s support for reforms aimed at strengthening democratic institutions had contributed significantly to Nigeria’s democratic development.

The group further commended electoral officials, security agencies, election observers, political parties, civil society organizations, and members of the media for their roles in ensuring the credibility and peaceful conduct of the elections.

While expressing satisfaction with the conduct of the polls, the Arewa Revival Project urged INEC to sustain the momentum by strengthening transparency, embracing technological innovations, expanding voter education, and ensuring future elections meet both national and international best practices.

Reaffirming its support for the Tinubu administration, the group also lauded the collaboration between the Executive and the National Assembly under the leadership of Senate President Akpabio, saying their commitment to institutional reforms and national development continues to inspire confidence in Nigeria’s democratic future.

The organization concluded that the successful conduct of the elections represents another milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey and demonstrates that credible elections are achievable when institutions are allowed to perform their constitutional responsibilities with independence, integrity, accountability, and patriotism.

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Speaking on Thursday at a public lecture held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, to commemorate the 2026 Democracy Day celebration, Senator Akume urged Nigerians to play active roles in strengthening democratic institutions and safeguarding the country’s hard-earned civil rule.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey since the return to civilian governance in 1999, the SGF described the past 27 years as a period marked by resilience, determination and significant progress.

According to him, the country has successfully conducted eight consecutive general elections and witnessed peaceful transfers of power across political parties and regions, including a historic transition from a ruling party to the opposition.

While acknowledging the gains of democratic governance, Akume said Nigeria must confront lingering challenges threatening the credibility of its democratic process.

He identified electoral integrity as a major concern, stressing that allegations of corruption within the electoral system continue to undermine public confidence. “Democracy is not merely the act of voting; it is the guarantee that every vote counts equally,” he stated.

The SGF highlighted achievements recorded under democratic rule, including economic expansion, improved financial inclusion and investments in critical infrastructure such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.

He also pointed to reforms in the power sector and expanded access to education and healthcare through initiatives such as the Universal Basic Education programme, the National Health Insurance Scheme and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Akume, however, cautioned against allowing ethnic, religious and regional divisions to weaken the country’s democratic foundations, even as he called for a sincere assessment of Nigeria’s democratic experience, urging citizens and institutions to interrogate their performance in meeting the aspirations of the people.

Describing the theme of the lecture, “27 Years of Democratic Governance: Achievements, Challenges and the Road Ahead,” as an opportunity for national reflection, the SGF challenged Nigerians to envision the kind of democracy they desire over the next 27 years.

“Nigeria is worth all our sacrifices and our democracy is worth defending,” Akume said.

“The present and upcoming generations are standing on the shoulders of those who struggled for civil rule, and they have both the responsibility and the opportunity to build the nation our founding fathers envisioned and which our children deserve to inherit”, Akume noted.

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Senator Akume made the clarification on Tuesday while responding to questions during the World Press Conference held in Abuja as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 27th Democracy Day Anniversary.

The SGF recalled that the annulment of the June 12 election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history and won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, necessitated far-reaching political decisions aimed at preserving national unity and strengthening the country’s democratic foundation.

According to him, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met in Kaduna under the leadership of the late Chief Solomon Lar and Alhaji Adamu Ciroma to deliberate on the way forward, with power shift and the party’s presidential candidature featuring prominently on the agenda.

“It was a tough argument before the issue of rotational presidency was agreed on. At the end, we had to concede. We must do this. June 12 annulment had complicated the whole thing. It was finally agreed that we’ll be alternating between North and South.

“Atiku was one of the leaders at that meeting, which was convened by Chief Solomon Lar. He was part of that agreement,” Senator Akume stated.

The SGF explained that the decision to alternate presidential power between the North and the South emerged from the need to address the political consequences of the June 12 annulment and to promote inclusiveness and national cohesion.

Reflecting on the significance of June 12, Senator Akume described the annulment as a painful setback to the democratic aspirations of Nigerians, noting that the election was adjudged free, fair and credible.

“Abiola won that election round and square. That election was annulled by the military government. It was very painful because the people spoke and they spoke freely. They made their own choice,” he said.

He added that one of the most enduring lessons from the June 12 experience is the supremacy of the people’s will in a democratic society.

“The first lesson is that the voice of the people must always be supreme; it must be sacrosanct. That’s the beauty of democracy. We prefer the ballot to bullets,” he said.

Senator Akume expressed confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the country has learnt valuable lessons from the events of 1993 and would never allow a repeat of such an annulment.

“If an election is conducted very fairly, and one wins no problem. The actors at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are not young people, they were adults when this thing happened. If we were to take a poll at that time, over two thirds of Nigerians would have condemned that act of annulment.

“Fortunately, for us, those at INEC are men of honour and integrity, they are well read that patriotic Nigerians, and they’re determined to also make a difference. Never again would such happen in this country.
You win, you win. When you lose, go back and prepare for another election. Look at the American example. President Trump lost to Joe Biden. He didn’t bring America down.
He went back prepared and came back and won. That’s the beauty of democracy.

“We have decided to embrace democracy. That is why, for 27 broken years, we are enjoying this freedom in a democratic setting. We love the values and the morals of democracy, and there is no system that is as beautiful as democracy.

“It is under a democratic system that you can insult your president and to insult anybody and still go to bed, and you don’t receive a midnight knock on your door. Try it under a totalitarian regime.” Akume stated.

He urged political actors to embrace democratic principles, respect electoral outcomes and continue to strengthen the nation’s democratic culture.

The SGF further noted that Nigeria’s 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule underscore the country’s commitment to democratic values, freedom of expression, the rule of law and peaceful political participation.

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The rally attracted APC stakeholders, party loyalists, traditional rulers, youth and women groups, as well as community members from different parts of the state.

Speaking at the event, the Coordinator of ISIWO FOR YAYI 2027, Chief David Adeoye, said the rally was organised to acknowledge the achievements recorded under Tinubu’s administration, the infrastructural and social development initiatives of Abiodun in Ogun State, and Adeola’s representation of Ogun West Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

He said, “Today, we are here to appreciate our leaders who have continued to deliver dividends of democracy to the people. This rally is also aimed at promoting unity and strengthening grassroots mobilisation ahead of future political engagements.”

Traditional prayers and goodwill messages were also offered during the programme, with participants commending the collaboration among the federal, state and legislative leadership.

The Director-General of Caucus 7202, Hon. Olaseni Koiki, lauded the ISIWO FOR YAYI 2027 group for sustaining community engagement and urged members to continue sensitising residents to government programmes and policies.

Koiki reaffirmed the commitment of Caucus 7202 to working with support groups across Ijebu and Ogun State to further strengthen the APC’s grassroots structure.

Also speaking, the Director/Convener of the YAYI Info Media Unit, Adediran J. Obaniyi, said the recently Corporate Affairs Commission-registered media unit would intensify efforts to publicise developmental projects and governance milestones to keep citizens informed and engaged.

The rally ended with prayers for Tinubu, Abiodun and Adeola, as well as for continued peace and prosperity in Ogun State and the country at large.

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Mrs. Warrens, who represents Bayelsa State among the newly appointed Federal Permanent Secretaries, has been deployed to the Political and Economic Affairs Office under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

Speaking at the event, the Special Guest of Honour and Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande Wisdom, described Mrs. Warrens as a diligent, hardworking, and peace-loving administrator whose contributions significantly impacted youth development initiatives across Nigeria.

According to the minister, Mrs. Warrens played key roles in several youth-focused programmes that positively affected young people nationwide during her time as a Director in the ministry.

Also speaking, Shamsedeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, the Accountant General of the Federation, expressed delight that Mrs. Warrens emerged from the Treasury House system, describing her appointment as a testament to professionalism and dedication in public service.

In her remarks, Mrs. Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens described her appointment as a call to greater service, responsibility, and accountability, especially in her new role within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, formally received Mrs. Warrens into the OSGF. He urged her to work closely with the management team and relevant stakeholders, stressing that collaboration remains critical to achieving the statutory mandates and policy objectives of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He further charged her to bring her wealth of experience to bear in advancing effective governance and service delivery in her new office.

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Akume said faith-based and traditional institutions must take the lead in fostering understanding among citizens and preventing manipulation capable of triggering violence before, during and after the polls.

The SGF made the call in Abuja while speaking at the first triannual meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) held at Rockview Hotel under the theme, “Religious Literacy for National Cohesion.”

He said with the nation approaching the end of the current political and electoral cycle, religious and traditional leaders have a moral responsibility to strengthen collaboration, youth education and peace-building efforts in their communities.

Akume said, “The 2027 general elections are fast approaching and NIREC, through our traditional and religious leaders, faith-based organisations and youth associations, has the moral responsibility for strengthening the network of collaboration, grassroots mobilisation, youth education, peaceful co-existence, tolerance, security and protection of lives and property in our communities.”

He stressed the need to eliminate all forms of manipulation capable of creating division within communities, noting that peaceful elections begin with responsible leadership at the grassroots.

The SGF said Nigeria’s religious and cultural diversity makes tolerance and religious literacy essential for national cohesion, stressing that understanding one another’s beliefs and practices remains key to building trust and sustaining peace.

According to him, the role of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) has become increasingly important in promoting dialogue, mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence among Nigeria’s diverse religious communities.

Akume warned that the country, like many parts of the world, continues to face serious challenges fuelled by stereotypes, misinformation, insecurity and identity-based divisions.

He said such challenges have often become triggers for violence and hostility, worsened by political and economic manipulation.

“The world today continues to encounter formidable challenges that are capable of generating conflicts. These challenges are fuelled by lack of understanding, existence of stereotypes, ineffective communication and the weaponisation of identity,” he said.

Akume said government’s responsibility is not to politicise religion or encourage intolerance but to strengthen citizenship, understanding and responsibility among Nigerians.

He noted that while religious studies already form part of the school curriculum, the priority should be improving the quality of teaching through better teacher preparation, effective learning materials and classroom values that encourage empathy, respect and responsible citizenship.

The SGF also raised concerns over insecurity in the education sector, warning that attacks on schools and prolonged closures in unsafe areas continue to worsen Nigeria’s education crisis.

He said government policies on safe schools and violence-free learning environments must be strengthened to protect children and ensure uninterrupted learning.

“A child cannot learn fraternity in fear; a nation cannot preach literacy while schools are under threat,” he said.

Akume further stressed the need for religious literacy to go hand in hand with media and information literacy, especially in an era of widespread misinformation and hate speech.

He referenced the recent launch of the International Media and Information Literacy Institute by Nigeria and UNESCO, saying citizens must be equipped to verify information and reject falsehood designed to divide society.

“Religious literacy must therefore be accompanied by media and information literacy; the discipline to verify before sharing, to question before reacting, and to reject falsehood, hate speech and incendiary narratives,” he said.

He called on schools, faith communities, universities, media organisations and traditional institutions to work together in raising a new generation of Nigerians who embrace faith, patriotism, humility and peaceful coexistence.

Akume said religious leaders remain the conscience of society and must use their influence to resolve conflicts, minimise hatred and promote truth.

He warned against the misuse of religion to justify falsehood, discrimination, violence and bloodshed, insisting that such acts undermine both faith and national unity.

The SGF disclosed that the Federal Government had already put machinery in place to support religious and traditional institutions in ensuring peace and security across communities ahead of the elections.

He added that his office would engage further with stakeholders after receiving recommendations from the NIREC meeting.

Akume urged participants at the meeting to prioritise literacy in all forms, describing it as central to peace-building, institutional trust, stability and national unity.

He expressed optimism that the deliberations of the council would produce practical solutions for strengthening tolerance and national cohesion as the country moves towards the 2027 elections.

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The group took the decision at a national summit of opposition political parties held on Saturday, 25 April 2026, in the Oyo State capital.

The opposition political parties which participated in the summit included the PDP, ADC, PRP, NNPP, NDC, LP, APP, Accord, APM, AA, DLA, YP, ADP, and ZLP.

Reading the communiqué on behalf of the participating chairmen, the factional National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Taminu Turaki (SAN), declared that the move was an existential necessity to rescue Nigeria from the stranglehold of the APC.

“We shall work towards fielding one presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, which shall be agreed and supported by all participating opposition parties to rescue our nation and her long-suffering masses,” the communiqué stated.

The summit also slammed the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It passed a vote of no confidence on the INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, accusing him of blatant partisanship toward the ruling party.

The declaration warned that Amupitan’s continued stay in office is vexatious and could trigger a national crisis. The summit demanded that Amupitan be replaced by a neutral figure to guarantee a credible process.

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