The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said the 2027 general elections may be his final shot at the presidency.

Obi, who confirmed he would contest in 2027 on the LP’s platform, hinted at a possible exit from active politics after that.

He spoke in a seven-minute, 16-second video clip that went viral on the party’s WhatsApp platform during an informal address to young Nigerians.

The former Anambra State governor noted that he would be 65 in 2027 and might not be willing to pursue public office beyond that age.

“I believe we should have a retirement age for politicians. By 2027, I will be 65. If the presidency goes back to the North in 2031, it may not return to the South until 2039 — by then, I will be 77. I wouldn’t want to run for office at that age. It would make a mess of everything,” he said.

Despite suggesting that he may not return to the ballot beyond 2027, Obi assured his audience of continued support for young Nigerians who are serious about national transformation.

“Even if I’m not contesting, I will always support those of you who are committed to real change, with whatever resources I can provide,” he stated.

Although Sunday PUNCH could not verify when the video was recorded, Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, confirmed it was recent. 

“It’s a recent video, around last week, yes. But I can’t remember the exact day that it held,” Ibrahim said.

Addressing internal crises in opposition parties, Obi blamed the ruling government for fuelling the turmoil in both the LP and Peoples Democratic Party.

“What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government. Quote me anywhere,” he declared, adding that interference in party affairs was a calculated effort to weaken the opposition.

He recalled how former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua once intervened in a similar situation to ensure internal stability within political parties.

Obi said, “Back then, I went to President Yar’Adua. He called the INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, and said he didn’t want any issues in any political party. The problems were fixed. But today, every party is facing one crisis or another — and it is deliberate.”

He stated Nigeria’s democracy couldn’t thrive without strong opposition parties, expressing his determination to fix such structural challenges if elected.

The former Anambra governor also urged Nigerians to take personal responsibility for defending the integrity of their votes, warning that any meaningful reform would be met with resistance from those benefitting from the current system.

A former House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency in Osun State, Gideon Aloba, has called for a strategic alliance and genuine power-sharing arrangement between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Anambra State governor, Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement shared with Sunday PUNCH, Aloba said only a united front between the opposition leaders could unseat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“To defeat Tinubu in 2027, there must be a handshake between Atiku and Obi. One of them must be ready to shelve personal ambition and offer strategic support,” he said.

Aloba called for a coalition modelled after the 2010 UK Conservative–Liberal Democrat government, where clear roles and responsibilities were outlined in a formal agreement.

He warned that without a binding framework, any merger could collapse under political pressure. 

The LP chieftain said, “To effectively manage the merger and protect the interests of both parties, a bipartisan coalition agreement must be signed. This document should clearly outline the roles, responsibilities, and oversight mechanisms for each side.

“The coalition should not be a mere president-and-spare-tyre arrangement. It must reflect true power-sharing where, for instance, one leader manages the economy and the other handles security and anti-corruption.

“The merger is not only inevitable; it is necessary. Though such alliances are always delicate, especially in Nigeria’s political space, a well-negotiated, clearly documented, and mutually respected agreement remains the best possible safeguard for the success of both parties, and more importantly, for the future of Nigeria.”

He stressed that managing ticket dynamics would be crucial in maintaining the support base of both parties, urging a display of political maturity and national interest above personal ambition.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed the immediate-past Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, as director-general of the National Institute for Sports (NIS).

Naija News reports that the NIS, which was established in 1974, is a research and training Institute and a parastatal under the National Sports Commission (NSC).

The Institute is responsible for producing top-rated coaches, sports managers, and sports scientists, conducting sports research and aiming to improve Nigeria’s performance in international sporting competitions.

According to Leadership, Shaibu is expected to initiate reforms in the Institute to reposition it.

Meanwhile, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a ₦50 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, against ex-Governor Godwin Obaseki and four others.

Naija News gathered that the case was struck out on Monday after Shaibu’s legal team applied to withdraw the suit, citing an amicable settlement of the dispute.

Shaibu’s counsel, Anita Oteh, told the court that the matter had been resolved among the parties, thus prompting the decision to discontinue the proceedings.

However, Aliyu Abdulkadir, representing the Attorney General of the Federation (the fourth defendant), expressed surprise at the claim of settlement, saying his client had not been informed. While he raised no objection to the withdrawal, Abdulkadir asked the court to dismiss the case outright.

Oteh opposed the request for dismissal, urging the court to grant a simple withdrawal instead.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that since pleadings had already been joined in the case, a dismissal was the appropriate order.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has poured cold water on the emerging coalition of opposition political parties, declaring on Saturday that he will run for president again in the 2027 general elections under the Labour Party.

He made the declaration while speaking to a group of young supporters in a video that is in circulation.

Obi, in the 7-minute, 16-second video, addressed concerns about the perceived internal crises within both the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), attributing these issues to external influences from the current government.

“What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government; quote me anywhere.

“We had a problem at our party before, in the past. I went to him then; he called the INEC Chairman and told him he didn’t want any problems in any party. We were forced to fix it,” he explained.

“Today, all parties are experiencing issues that are deliberately created by the system. These are some of the matters I aim to address if given the opportunity.”

When asked which party he intended to contest in the 2027 elections, Obi stated that “I will continue to run in the Labour Party, as I am still a member.”

Obi urged Nigerians to take ownership of their electoral power, stressing that while political parties may hire agents to safeguard their interests, it is ultimately the voters who hold the key to ensuring their votes are counted.

He encouraged the youth and the electorate to remain hopeful, reminding them that resistance to positive change often comes from those benefiting from the status quo.

The Anambra State former governor expressed his views on political longevity, suggesting that there should be a retirement age for politicians seeking public office, noting that by the time the 2027 elections occur, he will be 65 years old, indicating he does not wish to be campaigning in his 70s.

Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, has settled all outstanding debts owed to examination bodies by previous administrations in the State, a development that has led to the release of withheld results of students who sat for SSCE spanning five years.

The previous Zamfara State governments failed to pay exam fees to the National Examinations Council (NECO) from 2014 to 2018 and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) from 2018 to 2022.

However, a statement by the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, on Saturday, revealed that the incumbent Governor Lawal has settled the debts and consequently the examination bodies have released all results withheld by them from 2018 to 2022.

The statement added that the present government’s effort to settle the outstanding debts was part of a broader strategy in line with Governor Lawal’s declaration of a state of emergency on education.

The statement read in part: “In his commitment to overhauling the educational sector of Zamfara State, Governor Dauda Lawal has settled all backlog of payments owed by previous administrations in the state.

“The nonpayment of fees for WAEC and NECO has caused a significant setback for public schools throughout Zamfara State, continually placing Zamfara at the bottom of educational indices across Nigeria.

“Recognising the issues within the education system, Governor Lawal declared a state of emergency in education in November 2023, a decision producing positive results for the educational sector in Zamfara State.

“More than 500 schools have been renovated and equipped since the emergency declaration. Public teachers have been trained and are undergoing retraining.

“The swift payment of the outstanding debt to WAEC and NECO has relieved the stranded Zamfara students, who completed their final exams but could not proceed due to the examination bodies withholding their results.

“For the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Governor Dauda Lawal has paid the outstanding of one billion four hundred million naira that the previous administrations owed from 2018 to 2022.

“The immediate past government could not pay for the 2023 WAEC; therefore, no public school in Zamfara State participated in the examination. However, payment was made for 2024, and students took the exams.

“On the part of the National Examination Council (NECO), Governor Lawal has paid N320, 699, 850.00 to settle a debt owed the council from 2020 to 2021.

“The previous administrations from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 failed to pay the National Examination Council (NECO) the sum of one billion and twenty-two million naira, a reason why the council decided to withhold the results of Zamfara students who sat during that period.

“Governor Dauda Lawal has also approved the payment of the withheld results from 2014 to 2018, and an agreement has been reached with NECO to release the results immediately after receiving the first batch of the payment.”

Former Senate Leader and Senator representing Borno South, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his appointment of individuals from the three geopolitical zones in the North to key federal government parastatals and agencies.

The announcement made on Friday revealed that approximately 12 individuals from the North have been appointed to strategic national positions. 

The list includes Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani (Zamfara) as Managing Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC); Alhaji Hamza Ibrahim Baba (Kano) as Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP); Alhaji Abubakar Umar Jarengol (Adamawa) as Executive Director of Operations at NAIC; Barrister Sama’ila Audu (Katsina) as Executive Director of Administration at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF); Professor Musa Garba Mai Tafsiri (Kebbi) as Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, and Comrade Isa Aremu (Kwara) as Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), among others.

In a statement he personally signed and issued to the press on Saturday, the ranking lawmaker described the appointments as a reflection of President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance.

It is worth noting that Senator Ndume had previously expressed concerns about what he called imbalances in the appointments made by Tinubu, which he deemed a violation of the Federal Character principle enshrined in the Constitution. 

Citing Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, he argued that such imbalances could deepen political discontent and fuel opposition coalitions against the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, in his latest statement, the vocal Senator expressed satisfaction with the President’s actions, noting that they demonstrated Tinubu’s willingness to listen to constructive criticism.

He remarked, “President Tinubu is someone who is open to constructive feedback. I recognise him as a fair-minded and cosmopolitan individual. While we are all prone to errors, no one is infallible.”

He continued, “I recall that leaders in the North, including myself, were genuinely concerned about the recent appointments to key federal positions, voicing our discontent over the perceived imbalances. The hallmark of a good leader and statesman is the ability to adjust when decisions or policies are met with widespread disapproval.”

Senator Ndume asserted, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently shown himself to be a responsive leader. This recent appointment of Northerners into significant positions within federal parastatals and agencies was intended to rectify the imbalances created by prior appointments that left the North feeling neglected.”

He emphasised that he holds no personal grudges against President Tinubu and his administration, reaffirming his confidence in Tinubu’s ability to fulfil the expectations of Nigerians in delivering the dividends of democracy.

While congratulating the appointees, Senator Ndume urged them to not disappoint the nation, but to justify the trust placed in them through their respective assignments. He also reassured President Tinubu of his loyalty, affirming his commitment to fulfilling his duties as a lawmaker by highlighting any perceived excesses of the Executive arm of government.

The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) national central bureau in Abuja has extradited one Abubakar Aboki Muhammed from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the country over alleged multi-million dollar fraud.

Muhammed, a Nigerian, was arrested in Dubai, UAE, following an investigation over alleged fraud perpetrated against an Abuja-based businessman.

The case was reported to the police in July 2023.  

A statement by Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said Muhammed allegedly defrauded the businessman after posing as a shipping agent.

Adejobi said the suspect allegedly secured a “contract to facilitate payments and freight of ten high-end vehicles, valued at $307,500.00, from the UAE to Nigeria via designated registered shipping companies”.

“After establishing trust, Muhammed fraudulently received the full payment through a third-party account at FCMB belonging to Anas Usaini, a Kano resident, which was subsequently used for money laundering activities in Dubai,” the force spokesperson said. 

“Upon receipt of the payment, Muhammed provided the complainant with a forged bill of lading for the vehicles and subsequently became uncontactable.

“He was apprehended in Dubai on April 15, 2025, and has been extradited to Nigeria to face prosecution at the Federal High Court, marking a significant success in the ongoing fight against transnational financial crime.” 

Adejobi said Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, commended the Dubai Police, INTERPOL NCB Abu Dhabi, and the Nigerian Consulate General in Dubai for facilitating the suspect’s extradition.

Peter Okoye, the popular Nigerian singer, who is also known as Mr P of the P-Square duo, has spoken about his split from his twin brother, Paul Okoye, aka Rudeboy.

According to him, there is a joy that comes with a solo career.

Speaking in a recent interview with Cool FM, Lagos, Mr P urged fans to respect their decisions, stressing that they tried to remain as a duo, but it wasn’t working.

“There’s a joy that comes with going solo. Please respect our decisions. We’ve tried it, it’s not working,” he said.

Recall that Paul confirmed in August last year that P-Square had broken up again. The group first split in 2016 but reunited in 2021.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has assured his supporters that he will run again in the 2027 general election under the party’s banner.

He gave the assurance while speaking to a group of young supporters in a 7-minute, 16-second video circulating on the party’s WhatsApp platform on Saturday.

Obi explained to his audience that what appears to be an internal crisis in the two dominant opposition political parties – the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – has the government’s imprint written all over them.

In response to a question on which platform he intended to contest the 2027 elections, Obi said, “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.”

While answering another question from a youth who was apparently disturbed about what appears to be Obi’s aloofness towards the LP’s crisis, the former Anambra State Governor said, “What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government, quote me anywhere.

“We had a problem in our party before, in the past. Yar’Adua was the president. I went to him then; he called the INEC Chairman (Prof. Maurice Iwu) and told him I don’t want any problem in any party. We were forced to fix it.

“But today, in all the parties, there are problems; these are deliberate problems caused by the system. These are some of the things I want to clean up if I have the opportunity.

“Parties will function very well because you can’t have a system working without a strong opposition.”

He charged Nigerians to take responsibility for ensuring that their votes count because, even if agents are paid by political parties to look after their interests, the ultimate decision about the people’s votes counting rests with voters.

The LP standard bearer appealed to Nigerian youths and the electorate not to be discouraged because positive change will also be resisted by those who are beneficiaries of the old order.

He equally noted that, left to him, there should be a retirement age for politicians seeking public office.

Obi said that by the time the 2027 election holds, he would be 65 years old, adding that he would not want to be contesting for elections in his 70s

Omoyele Sowore, the Nigerian activist politician, has claimed that the outcome of the 2027 presidential election has already been determined by those in authority.

Sowore, who made the allegations in an interview with Vanguard, empathetically declared that the “2027 results are already written”.

The activist, however, said he would be in the presidential race, stating that he “never stopped running”.

According to Sowore, “whether it’s a campaign, a protest, a court battle—I’m always running for something.

“But if you’re asking about elections, I don’t believe in the current ballot system. The 2027 results are already written”.

He stated that only rebellion against the system can change the country and not the ballot.

On the current state of the nation, Sowore claimed that “Nigerians made a grave mistake voting Bola Tinubu into office”.

“I said it before, and I’ll say it again: when Tinubu is done with this country, Nigerians will be begging to return to Buhari’s era.

“He has done irreparable damage—economically, socially, politically. He has crippled institutions, education, and democracy. Buhari killed Nigeria in eight years; Tinubu came, in two years he is burying it” he added.