Politics
2027: Nigerians Victims Of Desperate Politicians – Cleric
He also emphatically declared that Nigerians were victims of ambitious politicians, stressing the need for the people to start questioning the legitimacy and credibility of politicians who are seeking for power.
The cleric, who is not afraid to speak the truth to powers-that-be, said this at a press conference held on Saturday to kick off the WOCOM Triple Celebrations 2025.
The Triple Celebrations 2025 was to mark the ministry’s annual convention tagged “Power of Faith Convention”, 40th anniversary of WOCOM and the 70th birthday celebration of its President, Apostle Popoola.
The WOCOM President spoke in support of a recent statement credited to Most Rev’D Williams Aladekugbe, Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province and Bishop of the Ibadan North Diocese (Anglican Diocese).
Rev. Aladekugbe, speaking at the burial service for the late 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, on Friday, had reportedly carpeted politicians already angling for elective offices, saying desperation will not work in the 2027 elections.
He described the actions of the desperate politicians already campaigning and bargaining for power in elections that are still about two years away as “disgraceful.”
“It is very disturbing that, while our government needs to focus on the myriad of problems confronting the nation, some politicians are already talking about 2027.
“This is a disgrace to governance, an abuse of the people’s mandate, and a reckless disregard for their concerns,” Rev. Aladekugbe added.
Apostle Popoola, supporting the statement by the fiery Anglican cleric, said: “I subscribe to what the man of God said.
“This is because this is two years to 2027 and people have left the assignment they are supposed to be focusing on, but are now focusing on elections.
“This means the next two years of our lives will be wasted on politicians trying to win votes, while the job they are supposed to do to alleviate the sufferings of the people will be neglected.
“Unfortunately, some of them who are already right now spending their times, abandoning the works they are supposed to do, looking for how to get votes, have not really done much for the people.
“So, it is like we have just become a victim of ambitious politicians who, whenever elections are coming, pose as lovers of the people.
“They will come and offer worthless things like one congo of rice and stuffs like that, that will not last the people for under one day or two to get their votes, and to gratify their own whims for the next four years.
“It is like there is a spell over the people of this nation, that no matter how we are treated, we keep quiet. We have been bastardised. We are dehumanised. But we keep quiet.
“They [Nigerians] know that this is what politicians do when elections are coming; they come and offer you stupid rice and worthless things. They get your votes and you would not see them again until the next four years.
“Yet, we keep falling into this trap continually and, no matter what they [the politicians] do in office, we don’t call them to account,” the WOCOM President added
Apostle Popoola said the time had come for NIgerians to begin to demand accountability ensure that those who really and truly are visionary, Godly, performers and with credibility were voted into elective offices.
“The issue wherein somebody just come from the blue and we never know him, and there is no prove if anything he has done in life and then we vote for him, what do you expect from such people?
“It is an unfortunate trend in our nation. That is why I said it is like we Nigerians are under spell; that, no matter the bastardisation, the impunity, we keep doing same thing and then we are crying for a change.
“It is not going to happen. The change in our hands is our votes. We cannot keep casting our votes for some politicians who come every four years and play on our intelligence and take our votes but deliver nothing,” he added.
Apostle Popoola however said all hope was not lost as he declared that the Church would play a very critical role in the 2027 elections across the country.
“The Bible says if the righteous are in power, the people rejoice. If the wicked bears rule, the people mourn. That is a matter of if.
“It took years of speaking out for people to begin to believe that a Godly person can play politics. Today, we are beginning to see well-meaning Christians, born again Christians going into politics.
“We are not as we may ought to be, but, at least, we have been able to improve on what it was. Now, you see the Church taking interest in politics, speaking out.
“And, then, we are also involved in trying to raise Christians who have that calling in ways that when they get into government, they will be able to maintain their faith, walk in truth, in righteousness and lead in a way that will be a blessing to the people and in a way that will lead the nation in the path of progress.
“We are raising Christians that will walk in a way that will lead in the path of justice, fairplay, equity and inclusion. These are the things that will make a nation to move forward.
“We have been able to do that and I have even gone further to look for a way to look at those who are contesting elections, particularly in this state [Oyo].
“We want to look for the best and give them spiritual support and advice. And God has helped us in this respect,” the WOCOM President added.
Rt Hon. Abbas secured the party’s ticket through an affirmation exercise conducted across the 13 electoral wards in the constituency.
The wards involved include Kwarbai A, Kwarbai B, Limancin-Kona, Unguwar Fatika, Unguwar Juma, Dutsen Abba, Gyallesu, Kufena, Dambo, Wuchichiri, Tudun Wada, Tukur-Tukur, and Kaura.
The exercise, which began simultaneously in all wards at about 10 a.m., recorded large turnout of APC members who gathered at various party offices across the constituency.
At Kwarbai B Ward, the Speaker’s ward, the process was conducted peacefully under the supervision of the ward APC Returning Officer, Malam Iliyasu Muhammad Balarabe, in the presence of Rt Hon. Abbas.
According to the ward APC secretary, Nafiu Sabo, the ward has over 10,000 registered members, but 220 members were accredited for the exercise.
Before the affirmation, Mallam Balarabe informed members that Rt Hon Abbas was the only aspirant who purchased nomination forms, underwent screening, and was cleared by the APC national leadership to contest the Zaria Federal Constituency seat.
Following a voice vote by accredited members, the Speaker was affirmed as the party’s candidate in the ward, a process replicated across the remaining 12 wards.
At the constituency collation centre, the APC Returning Officer for the House of Representatives primary in Zaria Federal Constituency, Dr. Hamisu Ibrahim Kubau, announced that 1,376 APC members across the 13 wards endorsed Rt Hon. Abbas as the party’s flag bearer.
He explained that although thousands of party members participated in the exercise, only accredited delegates were allowed to vote.
Dr. Kubau declared: “There are 13 wards in Zaria Federal Constituency, and only one aspirant purchased a form, was screened, and cleared. He is Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. After due process, we conducted affirmations across all wards.”
He added that the process was peaceful and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party representatives.
Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Elections in Kaduna State, Senator Yakubu Oseni, described the outcome as a reflection of the Speaker’s popularity and acceptance among constituents.
He expressed confidence that Rt Hon Abbas would secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking after his declaration, Rt Hon. Abbas expressed appreciation to APC members for reaffirming their confidence in him.
The incumbent Reps including Emily Inyang and Godwin Offionio, in separate interviews
protested the handling of the primaries conducted by the leadership of the party in the state, saying it was skewed against them.
The aspirants further described the primaries as a charade and an embarrassment to the state.
According to them, the House of Representatives primaries fell short of the provisions of both the Electoral Act as amended in 2026 and the party’s constitution.
They accused the leadership of the party in the state, backed by Governor Bassey Otu, of violating the party’s constitution in the conduct of the House of Representatives primaries across the state on Saturday.
Hon. Godwin Offiono, representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, particularly expressed disappointment with the primary that allegedly disenfranchised registered members of the party in his constituency.
Hon. Offiono asserted that having failed to arrive at a consensus, the party leadership opted for a direct primary to decide the candidate for the 2027 election.
“But what I witnessed today was not only alarming, but quite disheartening that our electoral system have not shown any improvement, especially now that we have a man of God in the person of the governor as the leader of the party.
“How do you declare a result by 9:00am even when the electoral materials were yet to arrive at Yala.
“As an aspirant, I couldn’t even vote or see the materials for my own primary at my Okuku ward in Yala Local Government Area, where I come from. But no matter what happens I am still in the race and have not stepped down for anybody.
“The governor had all the time in the world to drive the process of consensus but he never did. As a representative, I cannot even see my governor. I called, no response. I sent text no reply. I am treated as an out cast,” he lamented.
In an emotion laden tone during a telephone interview, Hon. Offiono further said: “I could not believe that first term NASS members like me can be treated in this shoddy manner even when I don’t know my offence.
“I have been a loyal party man. I appeal to the governor to do the right thing, follow the Electoral Act and party constitution in electing representatives.”
Similarly, Hon. Emil Inyang of Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency said he still remained in the race and had not stepped down for anybody.
According to him, “If this shenanigan called primary is allowed to stand, it would affect the party’s fortune in the general elections.
“My appeal to the governor is to allow the people to decide. And if they so voted against me, I will rest and not fight over anything.
“There was no stakeholders meeting held to decide on anything before now, and someone can not be unilaterally imposed on us all in the name of compromised primary,” he stated.
A coalition of support groups within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has protested the disqualification of former presidential aspirant, Mr Tein Jack-Rich, from the Rivers West Senatorial race ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 general elections.
The groups, in a statement issued on Saturday morning in Abuja, described the action of the party’s screening committee as unjust and capable of worsening internal divisions within the APC in Rivers State.
The statement, signed by the coalition’s National Coordinator, Dr. Bilal Galadima, and General Secretary, Hon. James Ogenyi, accused the party leadership in Rivers State of favouring politicians loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, while sidelining long-standing members of the APC.
The coalition alleged that only aspirants aligned with Chief Wike were cleared to contest for elective positions in the state.
“How can our party allow only one man who is not a member of our party to make decisions or dictate the direction of our party?”, the group queried.
The coalition specifically faulted the exclusion of Mr Jack-Rich, describing him as a loyal party member who had supported the APC for more than 13 years and previously contested the party’s presidential ticket.
It also questioned the alleged clearance of Chief Felix Obua, whom it described as a recent entrant into the party and an ally of Chief Wike.
“How can our party disqualify Jack-Rich, a former presidential aspirant who has been loyal and supported our party for the last 13 years, only for our party to choose Felix Obua, a Wike loyalist who only joined the party three months ago?”, the statement read.
The group warned that failure by the APC leadership and National Working Committee (NWC) to address the matter as it could weaken the party’s structure in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
It called on party leaders to uphold internal democracy, reward loyalty and ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
INEC TO BEGIN MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION AS POLITICAL PARTIES SUBMIT REGISTER
All 22 registered political parties have successfully submitted their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the Commission has said.
In a statement issued on Friday, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Mohammed Haruna, said the submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections.
He said, “The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of 8th May 2026, two days before the extended deadline.”
He recalled that following a meeting with political parties, the Commission, in a statement issued on the 27th of March, 2026, adjusted the deadline for the submission of party registers from 21st April 2026 to 10th May 2026 to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates fixed by political parties for their primaries.
Mr Haruna noted that political parties were accordingly allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from 23rd April 2026 to 30th May 2026, while the register of party members was required to be submitted to the Commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.
He added, “INEC wishes to state that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and will subject the submitted registers to the necessary verification processes in line with the law.”
The Commission restated its commitment to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.
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