NIGERIA NEWS
Peter Obi and the ADC: Is the honeymoon already over?
By Bayo Wahab
Peter Obi’s political fraternity with opposition leaders in the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC) may be going awry at a time the coalition needs every hand on deck to strengthen its base ahead of the 2027 general election.
When the ADC launched in July, with former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, former Senate President David Mark, and former governors Rauf Aregbesola, Rotimi Amaechi, and Nasir El-Rufai as its leaders, the coalition signified a major shift in opposition politics.
Consolidating the euphoria, the former governor of Anambra State, with his Obidient followers, joined his fellow ex-governors in the coalition to promote the ADC as the best alternative to the existing opposition parties, including his ‘estranged’ Labour Party.
Given his unprecedented performance in the 2023 presidential election, and his Obidient community at his beck and call, Obi — despite his membership of the Labour Party — was the first ADC stakeholder to run narratives to declare his presidential ambition in the coalition.
Notwithstanding his campaign against the political ‘structure of criminality’ and Nigerians’ perception of the politicians who formed the leadership of the ADC, the former governor was hopeful that the party could serve as a platform to actualise his goal of birthing a new Nigeria.
Dismissing what any Nigerian may think about the founding fathers of the coalition, Obi, seeing himself in the party’s driver’s seat, said he needed all ADC members to support him in fixing the country, including party leaders Nigerians perceived as ‘old and failed’.
“You need the experience of those who have failed and those who have succeeded to move on, and I need everyone. It is a critical experience because they know what can fail a system and they know what was wrong with the system,” he said in a TV interview.
In the interview, Obi emphasised that his ‘membership’ of the ADC is to contest for president and not to run as Atiku’s running mate.
“I’m going to contest for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I believe I am qualified for it,” he declared.
To further strengthen his agenda, Obi urged the North to trust him and vote for him, promising that his government would address the ‘criminality’ in the region if he got the chance to lead the country through the ADC platform.
“The criminality we face in the North today, I will deal with it. If I am president, the North will celebrate me. I have an idea of the problem in the North,” he claimed.
Taking a step further to endear himself to the North and its political class, Obi, considering the North-South zoning arrangement, pushed a single-term narrative, promising that his government doesn’t need eight years to fix the country.
All the while, Obi remains a card-carrying LP member, weighing his chances with the ADC. However, while popularising their principal’s one-term agenda, the Obidient Movement launched the ‘Obi-or-Nothing’ narrative, pre-empting other ADC presidential hopefuls.
The Obi-or-Nothing agenda implies that the ADC leadership must hand its presidential ticket to the ex-governor unopposed, because he’s the ‘most qualified aspirant’ and, going by zoning arrangement, the 2023–2031 presidency belongs to the Southern region.
So, whoever must emerge as the party’s presidential candidate must be a southerner, and, in the estimation of the Obidient, the candidate must be their principal.
Obi enjoyed the momentum that came with the launch of the ADC as a viable opposition party. He seizes every opportunity to promote his ‘A new Nigeria is Possible’ slogan with every comment about the APC government, always going for the jugular of the ruling party, while presenting himself as the unblemished presidential aspirant no party should miss out on.
Interestingly, Obi has started singing a new song, which somehow unsettles the coalition. The current disposition of the ex-governor to the ADC gives an impression that there’s a handwriting on the wall of the party, and the inscription from the invisible hand is at odds with his agenda.
In his recent interview, the former governor of Anambra believes the ADC is faltering because its leadership has yet to settle some ‘unsigned agreements’.
“Today, we have what we can say are unsigned agreements about the presidency, unsigned agreements about rotation of offices, which is why if you say this person will come from here and this person will come from there, all those things need to be organised,” he stated.
This ‘unsigned agreement’ is what destroyed the PDP with Atiku at the centre of the crisis during the build-up to the 2023 poll.
Ahead of the 2027 election, Obi, who is still an LP member, is already letting the ADC leadership know that the ‘unsigned agreement’ must be respected; otherwise, things won’t remain ‘organised’ within the coalition.
Ostensibly, Obi’s remark did not go down well with the ADC. In an interview with a national daily, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s spokesperson, urged the presidential aspirant to ‘calm down’, saying the coalition had not reached the stage where zoning should be considered.
‘Zoning or no zoning is not on the table now. If that is the condition for Obi to join us, maybe he should wait till that time,” Abdullahi said.
Abdullahi also expressed disappointment with the choice of words Obi used to describe the ADC’s situation.
“It’s unfortunate that he used a word like unstable, because instability is not contingent on whether we are able to make certain decisions on zoning at this point, he said.
Part of Abdullahi’s response played into the narrative against Obi by Atiku supporters, who claimed he was desperate to secure the party’s ticket without working for it.
In one breath, the ADC mouthpiece asked Obi “to make up his mind if he wants to be part of the coalition or not,” and in another, he advised him to contribute more actively to party-building efforts, especially in Anambra, “like other leaders have done in their respective states.”
Obi may have done much by playing the opposition figure and making moves to endear himself to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 election, but, as far as the coalition is concerned, he hasn’t done well in preparing the South-East for the party.
As things stand, the ADC is largely non-existent in the South-East. This is evident in the last governorship election in Anambra State, where the ADC candidate came fifth with a paltry 8,208 votes.
Moreso, despite Obi’s open support for Donald Amamgbo in the Anambra bye-election, the ADC candidate was distant third with 2,889 votes.
In essence, the ADC is asking Obi to show workings for the party in his region and leave the party’s presidential candidacy to be determined at the primary.
Meanwhile, Atiku has officially joined the ADC. The former Vice has been holding meetings with political stakeholders in the North. He’s presenting the workings in a way that suggests the ADC presidential ticket has no one else to take it but Waziri himself.
As for Obi, his dilly-dally with the ADC and the LP will have to end at some point. Will he get the ADC ticket or run with Atiku? Will the ex-governor abandon his ‘elder brother’ once again and return to the LP? We’ll wait to see. The song may seem to have changed, but the party is not yet over.
Vanguard News
The post Peter Obi and the ADC: Is the honeymoon already over? appeared first on Vanguard News.
- Gunmen attacked St. Andrews Anglican Church in Isiokwe, Lilu community, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing the wife of the church priest and one other person.
- The assault occurred in the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 2025, as congregants prepared for worship. Eyewitness accounts reported indiscriminate gunfire, multiple injuries, and extensive property damage, including the burning of vehicles, parts of the church building, and the priest’s residence.
- The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident on Monday, with Commissioner of Police Ikioye Orutugu condemning the attack as a “heinous and abominable act” against innocent worshippers and the community’s values.
A group of armed men launched a brutal attack on St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe, in the Lilu community of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, resulting in two fatalities, including the wife of the church priest.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 2025, as worshippers were preparing for the start of Sunday service. The attackers opened fire indiscriminately, also burning vehicles and partially setting fire to the church building, including the cleric’s apartment.
An eyewitness detailed the attack to Punch:
“A brutal attack occurred at the St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe in Lilu community of Ihiala LGA in the early hours of Sunday… Unfortunately, they brutally murd£red the wife of the church priest and one other person. They also injured many others, razed down the priest’s house to ashes, burnt down some church vehicles and other church properties, including a part of the main church building.”
Police Condemn “Heinous Act”
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the attack on Monday, December 8, with the spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, relaying a statement from the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu.
The CP strongly condemned the actions:
“The CP states that this heinous and abominable act, committed against innocent worshippers, is not only an assault on the community, but a grave affront to our shared values of peace, sanctity of life, and freedom of worship.”
The Police Command extended sympathies to the families and assured the public that the Joint Security Team has been deployed and intelligence-driven operations intensified to relentlessly hunt down the perpetrators, promising that “no resource will be spared” in the investigation.
NIGERIA NEWS
“He must pay”- Man who claims to be Harrison Gwamnishu’s friend calls him out over nearly 5‑year debt
The ongoing buzz surrounding human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu intensifies as a man who claims to be his friend calls him out over a nearly 5‑year debt.
Earlier, GistReel reported that Harrison Gwamnishu was arrested amid claims he diverted part of a ransom payment.
The arrest was confirmed by controversial commentator, VeryDarkMan, who claimed he involved security operatives.
Man Calls Out Harrison Gwamnishu Over Debt
According to the man identified with the Facebook handle, Shine Onyebiga, Harrison Gwamnishu owed him 2 million naira, which remains unpaid after nearly five years.
In the now-viral post, he agreed that Harrison can repay the debt with a monthly payment of 100,000 naira.
Furthermore, he called for the fight against injustice regardless of the individual involved.
Read Post Below…..
If Harrison Gwamnishu asks to pay 100k monthly till he completes my 2m, I will accept it. But he must pay, not threatening or boasting to be invisible. We must stand against injustice no matter whose involved.
He used to be my friend and I have nothing against him. Matter of fact I wish him well. But as for my money he must pay it.
As for his gullible followers I have one word for you; IF E REACH YOUR TURN FORGET YOUR MONEY WITH YOUR DEBTORS.
See post below…..
NIGERIA NEWS
Johnvents Group marks strong global expansion as Ondo Government reaffirms support at 2025 End-of-Year Celebration
- JohnventsGroup hosted its 2025 End-of-Year Celebration in Akure, highlighting its growth trajectory, global partnerships, and Ondo State’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for enterprise and inclusive prosperity.
- The Governor of Ondo State commended Johnvents as a model of homegrown success, citing its impact through over ten factories, 1,500 direct jobs, thousands of benefiting households, and an ecosystem of 5,000 farmers, while reaffirming policies to attract investment and industrial growth.
- Johnvents reiterated its mission to deepen partnerships, invest in capacity, and drive sustainable agribusiness and manufacturing across Africa, positioning itself as a catalyst for Nigeria’s economic transformation and global competitiveness.
Johnvents Group, a global agribusiness and manufacturing conglomerate, hosted industry leaders, international partners, government officials, traditional rulers including the Deji of Akure, and key stakeholders at its 2025 End-of-Year Celebration held at The Dome, Akure.
The evening served as a reflection on a transformative year for the Group and a renewed affirmation of Ondo State’s commitment to enabling enterprise and inclusive prosperity.
Delivering the welcome address, Tarun Chawla, Group Executive Director of Johnvents Group, highlighted the organisation’s growth trajectory, strengthened market relevance and expanding global footprint.
He expressed profound gratitude to the Government of Ondo State for providing a stable, structured business environment that enables companies like Johnvents to thrive.
“This year reshaped us as a business,” he said. “We strengthened our operations, expanded our relevance, and demonstrated what a committed team can achieve when purpose and discipline align. The stability and clarity your administration provides form the foundation on which organisations like ours continue to grow and innovate.”
Chawla also appreciated the Group’s partners, including British International Investment (BII), International Finance Corporation, AFRIEXIM Bank, and other financial institutions, for their confidence in the company’s long-term vision. He reaffirmed Johnvents commitment to nourishing Africa and the world, noting that the company is now a global value-chain participant with investments and collaborations spanning Africa, the UAE, Asia and Europe.
The Executive Governor of Ondo State delivered the keynote address. His Excellency, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, commended Johnvents Group as a model of how homegrown enterprises can evolve into global powerhouses while remaining deeply rooted in their host communities.
“Johnvents stands today as a monument to what focused investment and structured institutional support can achieve,” he said. “With over ten factories, more than 1,500 direct employees, thousands of benefiting households and an ecosystem of over 5,000 farmers, Johnvents is living proof that prosperity becomes inevitable when ingenuity meets institutional support.”
The Governor outlined his administration’s deliberate policies to position Ondo State as a competitive hub for agribusiness, manufacturing, technology and energy. He cited reforms in ease of doing business, digitisation of government processes, infrastructure expansion, improved security and the work of ONDIPA as foundations for long-term private-sector growth.
He further emphasised that the success of companies like Johnvents reflects the broader vision of an inclusive, opportunity-driven economy:
“The Johnvents story assures every investor here and across the world that Ondo State is ready for investment, ready for expansion and ready for global competitiveness.”
The evening celebrated the achievements, resilience and commitment of the Johnvents workforce, as well as the organisation’s expanding impact across communities through education, youth development and agribusiness empowerment.
Johnvents Group reaffirmed its commitment to deepening partnerships, investing in capacity and building industries that contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic transformation and Africa’s global competitiveness.
About Johnvents Group
Johnvents Group is an indigenous agribusiness and manufacturing group committed to driving sustainable growth across the entire agricultural value chain from production, processing, manufacturing and distribution. The Company is at the intersection of everything agriculture, unlocking immense values and ensuring food supply and premium export value for Africa.
Johnvents operates a group structure, with seven businesses: Johnvents Cocoa Factory, Johnvents Trading, Johnvents Foods, Johnvents Industries DMCC, Johnvents Farms, Premium Cocoa Product (Ile-Oluji) and Haven Hauling), committed to driving sustainable growth across the agricultural value chain, including production, processing, manufacturing and trade of commodity and food products in Nigeria and the rest of the world.
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The Police Command in Anambra has condemned the attack on a Church carried out by armed criminals which resulted in the death of one person and leaving several others injured.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday in Awka.
Ikenga said that the incident happened in the early hours of Sunday in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, had condemned the heinous and abominable act.
“This abominable act, committed against innocent worshippers, was not only an assault on the community but a grave affront to our shared values of peace, sanctity of life, and freedom of worship.
“The Command extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to the entire Lilu community and assures the public that the Police shall relentlessly hunt down the perpetrators of this crime.
“Our community should not be subjected to such brutality as the command will not allow criminals to instill fear or destabilize the peace we are working tirelessly to maintain”, the commissioner said.
Orutugu urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with the joint security team investigating the matter by providing useful information that can assist ongoing investigations for justice to be served.
He said that the command remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting lives and property across Ihiala and the entire state.
Former presidential aspirant and publisher, Dele Momodu, says a last-minute disruption to his planned road trip to Cotonou may have spared him from being caught in the Benin Republic’s failed coup attempt.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Momodu explained that he was originally scheduled to be inside the Benin Republic at the exact period soldiers attempted to announce a takeover of power.
He said the unexpected setback that halted his planned 5 a.m. departure “was what saved us.”
Momodu described the entire experience as surreal, noting that he had already mapped out a familiar cross-border travel route.
“Yesterday, to me, was very surreal. I was going to wake up in the morning at 5 a.m. to head straight to Cotonou, have a quick breakfast, and then head out to Lome, and then from Lome head out to Ghana. I had done that trip too many times, and it’s something I love to do, especially on Sundays, because there would be no traffic,” he said.
Trouble, however, started the night before the trip when he discovered that his driver had only a photocopy of the vehicle particulars, a detail he considered too risky for a border journey. The missing original documents triggered a frantic late-night search.
“Unfortunately, the night before I had all my international but then I asked my driver for the vehicle particulars, and he only had the photocopy. I wasn’t comfortable with that. I searched everywhere, my two offices in Lagos. I searched in the night, and maybe around 11 or thereabout, I decided that look, we must have botched the trip,” Momodu said.
He immediately called his travel partners to cancel. “I called my friend Rotimi whom we were travelling together with, along with another friend. I called everybody in the middle of the night and said I’m sorry we won’t be able to make the trip, and that was what saved us,” he added.
Momodu linked the near-miss to divine intervention, saying his upbringing in an Aladura church has shaped his belief in spirituality.
“Somehow God must have intervened because we would have been right inside the Benin Republic at the time this melodrama was ongoing,” he said, adding that their Nigerian-registered vehicle could have easily drawn attention.
Momodu expressed relief that the attempted coup was thwarted but voiced concern over what he described as democratic backsliding in West Africa.
“I thought democracy had taken root in Africa, but it seems we are going backwards, which is very unfortunate. Let’s thank God it was quickly aborted,” he said.
Benin’s government on Sunday announced that it had foiled a coup attempt after a group of soldiers appeared on state television claiming to have removed President Patrice Talon.
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The Abia State Government, in partnership with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), has commenced the construction of a 7.5MVA, 33/11kV Injection Substation in Umuahia.
A statement on Monday also explained that the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, who performed the groundbreaking ceremony, described the project as a transformative initiative that will significantly boost power supply and enhance distribution reliability across the state.
He noted that the new infrastructure marks the beginning of a broader effort to modernise Abia’s power network and a major step toward strengthening electricity supply in Abia State.
Governor Otti commended the Federal Government and NDPHC for prioritising Abia in this strategic intervention. He also applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing reforms in the power sector, which he said have expanded the national electricity framework to encourage stronger state participation, private sector investment, and global partnerships.
The governor further revealed that the state government has budgeted for an additional 7.5MVA Injection Substation in the 2026 fiscal year, which will raise the combined capacity in the Ogurube Layout area of Umuahia to 15MVA once completed.
According to the statement, the project is being executed by NDPHC under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP). It added that its scope includes the construction of a 1km 33kV line, 1.2km of 11kV line, installation of two 300kVA distribution substations, and the provision of 2km of low-tension line.
NDPHC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, represented at the event by the Executive Director, Networks, NDPHC, Engr. Bello Babayo Bello reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding access to reliable and sustainable electricity nationwide. She said the Umuahia project reflects NDPHC’s mandate to empower communities and drive economic development.
The statement explained that the collaboration between the Federal Government, NDPHC, and the Abia State Government, stakeholders said, highlights the power of strategic partnerships in delivering critical infrastructure.
It added that when completed, the substation is expected to strengthen the electricity supply, support small businesses, promote industrial development, and ultimately improve the quality of life for residents of Umuahia and surrounding communities.
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Media entrepreneur and former Nigerian Senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, has applauded President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and the Nigerian Air Force for what he described as a swift and professional intervention in support of constitutional order in the Republic of Benin.
In a statement posted on X, Murray-Bruce said Nigeria had once again shown “principled leadership in Africa,” noting that the action reflected the country’s commitment to defending democracy on the continent.
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He added that the successful operation sends a clear signal to coup plotters across Africa that unconstitutional takeovers will not be tolerated.
According to him, the operation aligns with ECOWAS protocols and international law, reaffirming Nigeria’s resolve and capacity to uphold regional stability.
He praised the armed forces for their role in reinforcing democratic governance and commended the Tinubu administration for its decisive leadership.
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The Federal High Court in Abuja has denied an application filed by Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to a custodial facility within the Federal Capital Territory or the neighbouring Nasarawa State.
Kanu, represented by the Legal Aid Council, submitted an ex-parte application requesting an order that would direct the Federal Government or the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to transfer him from the Sokoto facility to either the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja or the Keffi Custodial Centre in Nasarawa.
He requested a transfer to any custodial facility within the court’s jurisdiction, such as Suleja or Keffi, to allow him to effectively pursue his appeal.
However, Justice James Omotosho denied the request on Monday, stating that such an order could not be granted without first hearing from the Federal Government.
The judge directed Kanu to convert the ex-parte application into a motion on notice and serve all parties to allow fair hearing.
The case was subsequently fixed January 27, 2026, for the hearing of the motion.
Details later…
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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has secured the conviction of one Hassan Abdullahi, a Superintendent of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, for offences bordering on certificate forgery and corrupt advantage.
Delivering judgement on the matter, Justice E. Okpe of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, found the defendant guilty on a two-count charge preferred against him by the Commission.
In the course of the trial, ICPC’s Prosecutor, Mr Hamza Sani had led evidence before the court on how the convict dishonestly presented a forged Nigeria Certificate in Education, NCE, of Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu, Kebbi State, to the NSCDC in December 2010 for the purpose of career advancement.
The offense contravenes Section 366 and is punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Act. The court accordingly sentenced the convict to two (2) years imprisonment or a fine of N2,000,000.
On Count Two, the court found that between December 2011 and October 2022, Hassan Abdullahi, while serving as a public officer, used his position to confer corrupt advantage on himself by receiving salaries and benefits applicable to the rank of Senior Inspector on the basis of the forged certificate earlier submitted.
This act violates Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. The court therefore sentenced him to five (5) years imprisonment without an option of fine.
In addition to the custodial sentences, the court, relying on Section 321 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, ordered the convict to refund all salaries, benefits, and emoluments received from the date he fraudulently upgraded his career until he ceased receiving salaries from the Federal Government.
The Commission welcomes this judgement as a reaffirmation of the judiciary’s support in the fight against corruption, particularly in the public service where acts such as certificate forgery and corrupt self-enrichment undermine professionalism, integrity, and public trust.
ICPC remains committed to the diligent investigation and prosecution of all forms of corruption and urges public institutions to strengthen their internal verification processes to prevent such abuses.
Security analyst, Brant Philip, has shared a video showing a Nigerian Air Force Super Tucano A29 attack aircraft flying over Cotonou, Benin Republic, amid heavy gunfire sounds, during Sunday’s attempted coup in the West African nation.
The footage, which surfaced on Monday, on Philip’s 𝕏 account captured the aircraft in action as part of Nigeria’s swift military response under the framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Confirming the presence of the Nigerian military in Benin, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) disclosed that it was involved in the regional security operation, but clarified that the deployment was in line with ECOWAS security protocols.
In a statement released late Sunday, NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame emphasised that the air operations were conducted strictly under ECOWAS directives.
Ejodame noted that the mission into Beninese airspace was executed in coordination with ECOWAS leadership and the host country’s authorities.
“The operation underscores Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining stability in West Africa and was executed in strict adherence to international standards and regional directives,” he said.
He further explained that the deployment formed part of Nigeria’s broader regional obligation to defend constitutional governance within the sub-region.
Ejodame reaffirmed that the action taken reflects Nigeria’s role in upholding ECOWAS’ mission to prevent the collapse of democratic structures in member states.
Watch the video below:
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