The African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership in the South-West has dismissed reports of an internal leadership crisis in the region, reaffirming its support for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The zonal leadership also denied reports that it held a virtual meeting with Atiku on September 5, 2026, to resolve an alleged disagreement within the party, describing the claims as false and fabricated.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the South-West National Vice Chairman, Akin Omole, alongside the six state chairmen, the party maintained that there was no division or leadership disagreement within its regional structure.

“There is no rift, division or leadership crisis within ADC South-West,” the statement declared.

The leaders said the zonal leadership and state chairmen remained united and committed to strengthening the party’s structures and securing electoral victories across the region.

They also expressed confidence in Atiku’s leadership and political experience, pledging to work with the party’s national leadership to ensure victory in the 2027 elections.

“We fully support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate. We recognise his leadership, political experience and national vision, and remain committed to working closely with him, the National Working Committee, National Chairman Senator David Mark, National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and other stakeholders to deliver a historic victory in 2027,” the statement partly read.

The South-West leadership further reaffirmed its confidence in Aregbesola’s political coordination in the region, stressing that consultations among party stakeholders should not be mistaken for signs of internal disagreement.

Explaining the circumstances surrounding the reported crisis, the party said a meeting held in Ibadan on September 4, 2026, was organised to develop strategies for strengthening its structures and improving its electoral chances across the South-West.

According to the statement, discussions at the meeting centred on political strategy, grassroots mobilisation, stakeholder engagement and organisational coordination.

The leaders insisted that the gathering was neither organised against Atiku nor intended to undermine the national leadership or any individual within the party.

“It was not a meeting against the presidential candidate, the national leadership or any individual within the party,” they said.

The party also categorically rejected reports that a virtual meeting with Atiku took place the following day to address an alleged leadership crisis.

“The ADC South-West leadership categorically states that there was no virtual meeting with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on 5th September 2026.

Any claim that such a meeting took place, or that it was held to resolve an alleged internal crisis, is false and fabricated,” the statement added.

Describing the reports as an attempt by political opponents to create divisions within its ranks, the leadership urged party members and supporters to disregard what it termed misleading and divisive narratives.

It maintained that there was no disagreement, hostility or division between the South-West leadership and the party’s presidential candidate.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we stand solidly with our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. There is no disagreement, hostility or division between the South-West leadership and our presidential candidate,” it stated.

The zonal leadership explained that political consultations and strategic meetings were normal activities within a growing political party and should be regarded as efforts to strengthen the ADC ahead of the 2027 elections.

It added that the zonal leadership, state chairmen, candidates and other stakeholders remained united in their commitment to the party’s electoral success.

The statement further disclosed that the ADC was intensifying grassroots mobilisation, voter engagement, membership expansion and the consolidation of its political structures across the six South-West states.

The party said its objective was to secure victories for its candidates in the presidential, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly elections in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states.

It urged members, supporters and the general public not to be distracted by reports allegedly designed to create suspicion and weaken the party’s unity.

The renewed declaration of support comes as political parties intensify efforts to consolidate their structures, build alliances and manage internal alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The ADC has increasingly positioned itself as a platform for opposition political consultations, with its national leadership and presidential campaign structure expected to coordinate mobilisation efforts across the country.

The South-West remains a politically significant region in Nigeria’s electoral contest, with its six states considered important to the prospects of political parties seeking national power.

Reiterating its commitment to the party’s presidential candidate, the South-West leadership declared that it remained united and determined to deliver electoral victories for Atiku and other ADC candidates in 2027.

“ADC is united. There is no rift. There is no division. We are working together to deliver the South-West for Atiku Abubakar and all ADC candidates in 2027. One party. One family. One mission. Victory in 2027,” the statement concluded.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has retained his deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu, as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election, as the Labour Party officially flagged off its re-election campaign in Umuahia on Sunday.

Otti announced the decision at the campaign flag-off, where he called on Abians to renew his mandate for another four years to consolidate the achievements of his administration.

The governor said his administration, if re-elected, would focus on expanding development through policies and investment decisions aimed at positioning Abia State to take advantage of opportunities in the emerging economic order.

According to him, the next four years would be dedicated to consolidating the gains recorded across various sectors of the state’s economy and pursuing further development.

Reflecting on his political journey, Otti said his administration’s ambition had always been to restore hope and rebuild governance institutions in the state.

“At inception twelve years ago, we came to you with a message of hope, a commitment to lead the democratic crusade for the souls of our dear state. We never deterred in our commitment because, like us, you have also borne the shame and frustration of governance failure, institutional collapse, and the misery of living like a conquered population,” he said.

He described Abia as being ready for a new political system that prioritises the welfare and development of citizens above political interests.

The governor added that the state had moved beyond years of governance challenges following the Labour Party’s victory in the 2023 governorship election.

“After the man-made disappointments of 2015 and 2019, this siege was broken in 2023, and in a little over three years, thick clouds of despair have parted, a long nightmare has ended, and the light of renewal, restoration and prosperity has risen over our dear state,” Otti said.

Reviewing his administration’s performance, the governor expressed confidence that a fresh mandate in the February 6, 2027 governorship election would enable his government to deliver more development.

“With a fresh mandate in the February 6, 2027, governorship elections, we shall raise the bar even higher and set Abia on the path of irreversible progress through bold leadership, investments in factor assets, and multilevel partnership for prosperity,” he stated.

Otti also assured opposition political parties of access to public facilities for their campaign activities, insisting that his administration would not tolerate the restriction of legitimate political activities.

He said opposition parties could use public facilities, including the stadium, provided they applied, obtained the necessary approvals and complied with established regulations.

“The beauty of democracy is the plurality of options it offers all of us, which is why this administration made it clear that the rascality of years to years will have no place in Abia State anymore,” he said.

The governor further directed security agencies to arrest anyone attempting to disrupt or obstruct the legitimate campaign activities of political parties.

Addressing security operatives, he stressed that they had no instruction from him to attack individuals or prevent opposition parties from campaigning.

He, however, urged political parties to focus their campaigns on issues affecting residents rather than engaging in personal attacks.

Otti said Abia had moved beyond campaigns based solely on the payment of salaries and pensions, road construction and urban sanitation, urging political actors to present broader development plans to the electorate.

Explaining his decision to retain Emetu, the governor described the invitation to join him for another term as an effort to consolidate the administration’s achievements.

He said both men would contest under the Labour Party platform, with the objective of moving governance from the rescue phase to consolidation.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party State Chairman, Peter Azubuike, expressed confidence in the party’s chances in the 2027 elections, declaring that it was prepared to win all elective positions in Abia.

“LP is out to win and will clear all elections in Abia. It is LP all the way, as no opposition party is existing in the state,” Azubuike said.

Also speaking, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Nenadi Usman, represented by the Deputy National Chairman, Nuhu Mohammed, described the event as more than a campaign launch, saying it was an opportunity to strengthen support for the governor.

He urged Abians to support Otti, whom he described as a leader with impeccable integrity.
Earlier, during the church service preceding the campaign flag-off, the Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Chibuzo Opoko, and Emma Okorie of the Living Word Ministry offered prayers for the success of the forthcoming governorship election.

The Chairman of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Surah Animashaun, has pledged massive support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and other party candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Animashaun expressed confidence that the APC would receive substantial votes across Epe, attributing her optimism to projects and development initiatives being undertaken by the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government.

According to a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Saturday, the council chairman, who is also a member of the Lagos State Renewed Hope Ambassadors, made the remarks during an interaction with Hamzat shortly after his arrival for the unveiling of his governorship manifesto in Lagos.

She said the performance of the APC-led governments would feature prominently in the party’s campaign and influence its engagement with voters ahead of the elections.

“Indeed, our work will speak for us. Support Dr Hamzat, President Tinubu, and the APC-led government so that we can finish the jobs we have started, especially the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry.

Superhighway, Trans-Sahara Superhighway, electricity grid upgrades, and the modernisation of key commercial ports in Lagos as some of the deliverables from new loans,” Animashaun said.

She urged residents of Epe and neighbouring communities to support Hamzat, President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

Animashaun maintained that continuity in governance would allow the party to consolidate ongoing development projects and programmes in Lagos and other parts of the country.

She also described her interaction with Hamzat as a reflection of mutual respect and political cooperation among leaders committed to the development of Lagos State.

According to her, the exchange underscored the importance of unity, collaboration and inclusive leadership in advancing the state’s development.

Speaking at the event, Hamzat described the APC as a strong political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, adding that the economic reforms and policies of the Tinubu administration would form a significant part of the party’s campaign message.

He expressed confidence in the President’s leadership, noting that the administration’s policies and programmes were designed to reposition the Nigerian economy.

The governorship candidate also promised to work towards making Lagos more prosperous and economically viable if elected in 2027.

“We are going to campaign on the records that the President and his administration have laid a good record and massive economic recovery in the last three and a half years, as well as the incumbent governor of the state,” Hamzat said.

He added that the records of the Federal and Lagos State governments would feature prominently in the APC’s campaign as the party seeks to present its achievements to voters ahead of the elections.