Headlines
Presidency: New Survey Places Tinubu Ahead of Obi, Atiku
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has been predicted to win the February 25 election.
The prediction is captured in a the report of a four weeks’ opinion poll conducted by a group of data analysts and public relations experts, coordinated by FREDDAN Continental, after making the result of an opinion poll it conducted on the 2023 presidential election public.
The poll, which lasted from January 7 till February 11, pointed to Senator Bola Tinubu as a potential winner.
Tinubu, according to the poll, rated higher than other candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The group, in conducting the poll, deployed a group of seasoned data analysts, who utilised online and phone surveys to collect data about voters preferences. The online survey was conducted via a secure web platform that prevented multiple voting while phone survey was conducted by trained staff who are proficient in the three major Nigerian languages – Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa – and could, therefore, engage fully with respondents in their preferred languages.
The FREDDAN Election Net Favourability administered over 370,000 questionnaires over the four weeks’ duration and received a total of 287,033 responses across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
A national summary of the poll showed that the presidential candidate of the APC is favourite to win the 2023 presidential election, having been preferred by 106,764 respondents to the opinion poll, representing 37.2 per-cent of total population of respondents. The regional voting preference survey also showed that the candidate of the APC enjoys majority sup- port in 19 out of 36 states.
The presidential candidate of the LP came second in the poll with 92,127 respondents preferring him over the other candidates. This forms 32.1 percent of the total responses received. The regional voting preference showed that he enjoys majority support in eight out of 36 states of the Federation.
The candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar came a surprising third position as 88,109 respondents preferred him, forming 30.7 percent of total respondents. The regional voting pref- erence showed that he enjoys majority support in 10 of the 36 states of the federation.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) came a distant fourth, polling 693, translating to just 0.23 percent of total respondents.
According to the outcome of the poll, Tinubu of the APC is expected to win majority votes in the North-West, North-Central and South- West regions. The candidate of the PDP is expected to win majority votes in the FCT and the South-South region. Obi of the LP is expected to win majority votes in the South- East region, while the North-East region is expected to be divided between the candidates of the APC and the PDP.
This poll predicts victory for the candidate of the APC, in the February 25 presidential election and the regional voting preference suggests that a clear winner may emerge on the first ballot, against some other predictions that there may be a rerun.
Veteran journalist and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Dele Momodu, has declared that a joint presidential ticket between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi represents the strongest strategy for the opposition to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Momodu said the emerging ADC coalition is gaining momentum as a credible alternative to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which he accused of promoting “one-man rule” and weakening democratic institutions.
Momodu argued that an Atiku–Obi ticket offers both experience and electoral appeal, noting that both politicians already command significant national followings from previous elections. He recalled their collaboration in 2019, adding that Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election provides a ready base of supporters that can be consolidated.
According to him, the coalition is further strengthened by the involvement of political heavyweights such as Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi, making it a formidable opposition alliance.
“The candidates who placed second, third, and even fourth are aligning. That naturally builds a strong challenge,” Momodu said, suggesting that this development could unsettle the APC ahead of 2027.
He also accused the Tinubu administration of centralising power and undermining democratic processes, claiming that key institutions—including the legislature and electoral system—are increasingly influenced by the executive arm of government. He warned that such a trend poses risks to Nigeria’s democracy.
Momodu further alleged that opposition parties face systemic obstacles, including difficulties in accessing venues, legal pressures, and institutional interference. He argued that these challenges have made opposition unity not just strategic, but necessary.
Dismissing concerns about possible cracks within the ADC coalition, Momodu described such fears as speculative, insisting that current political realities have effectively forced major opposition figures to work together.
The Supreme Court has scheduled hearing for April 22 in the appeal filed by the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, in relation to the leadership dispute in the party.
Mark’s appeal is against the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his appeal against the September 4, 2025 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja refusing to grant some injunctive reliefs contained in an ex-parte application filed by a chieftain of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba chose the date on Tuesday after granting accelerated hearing in the appeal marked: SC/CV/180/2026.
The court ordered Mark’s lawyer, Jibril Okutepa (SAN) to file the appellant’s brief and serve on Wednesday.
It ordered the respondents to each file and serve on the appellant, a respondent’s brief within three days of being served with the appellant’s brief.
The appellant, according to the court, is to file a reply brief, if needs be, within one day of being served with the respondents’ briefs.
Headlines
Amid Denials, ADC Reportedly Secures Rainbow Event Centre As Venue for National Convention
Baring any last minute change, the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National chairman and National Secretary respectively will hold the party’s National convention at the National Rainbow Event Centre in Garki on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has being denied two venues without any cogent reasons despite early arrangements, according to sources.
First, it was alleged that the Abuja Transcorp Hilton Hotels, which was initially approached, turned down the ADC request to use it’s facility.
The ADC, having sensed sabotage, has kept the Rainbow Event Center under rap as it’s definite venue.
The last National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party was held at the same venue.
Located adjacent the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, the event centre will host the second NEC meeting of the ADC and it’s forthcoming national convention.
According to The Guardian’ report, the ADC leadership has communicated the venue to state chapters with the caveat not to escalate it.
The ADC is in a battle of survival against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and has approached the Supreme Court for intervention.
The INEC national chairman Prof Joash Amupitan has suspended recognition of the David Mark-led ADC rendering a leadership vacuum in the party.
INEC said it’s decision was on the basis of an Appeal Court pronouncement that ordered statusquo ante-bellum be maintained.
Reports say that why the venue is being quietly decorated moderately for the event, the ADC intends to fully move in the early hours of Tuesday.
The Guardian
