Headlines
Presidency: No One is More Qualified Than Me – Wike
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that he does not think anyone is more qualified than him to be president in 2023.
Wike said this on Tuesday in an interview with Channels Television.
With just months to the 2023 presidential election, there have been speculations and permutations on who will become Nigeria’s next president.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Rivers governor, while addressing a meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders, said politicians are taking the south for granted on zoning of the presidential ticket.
Wike also asked party supporters to disregard the recent comments made by Raymond Dokpesi, former chairman of Daar Communications, on the zoning of the presidential ticket to the south in 2027.
Reacting to issues on the 2023 presidential poll, the Rivers governor said he is not carried away by PDP members who are campaigning that a particular aspirant is the best aspirant for the party’s presidential ticket.
Wike said such party members should instead campaign about how the PDP will win the 2023 presidential election and not how a particular aspirant is the best among aspirants.
“I’m not carried away by people who are liabilities to the party when they go about to campaign, instead of them to campaign on what they are going to do for the party,” he said.
“Instead for them to campaign on how the party will be united. Instead of them to talk about how the party will win the election in 2023.
“They begin to tell you how that aspirant is the best aspirant as if they have put any exam for aspirants to be examined.
“I don’t even know if you want to talk about the presidency. For someone of my kind and my record as a governor and as a minister, I don’t see anybody who will tell me that he is much more qualified than me.
“I don’t think that is possible. It is not good for anybody to go and say my aspirant is the best of aspirants. I don’t think so.
“All I preach is that people should talk on issues. Nigeria has a problem. If they have given you the opportunity, what are you going to do?”
Asked about his opinion on the southern governors forum resolution on the 2023 presidency, Wike said as a member of the forum he supports the resolution that the 2023 presidency should come to the south.
Asked if he will join the presidential race, Wike did not respond in affirmation or denial, saying he will not announce any intention on national television but with his people.
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
