Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The interim national chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Senator David Mark, announced that the party's newly formed opposition coalition has no preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 election, asserting that prominent figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi are all equal stakeholders despite internal bias complaints from Dumebi Kachikwu. This announcement comes amid a massive wave of defections to the African Democratic Congress across states like Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, and Ondo, involving notable politicians such as Mohammed Kumalia, Sule Lamido, Eyitayo Jegede, and Agboola Ajayi. In response to this growing political momentum, President Bola Tinubu’s aides, including Bayo Onanuga, and the All Progressives Congress National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, dismissed the coalition as a desperate gathering of failed, ambitious politicians, while Information Minister Mohammed Idris insisted the administration remains fully focused on its economic reforms. Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, represented by figures like Kamorudeen Ajisafe, Abdulkadir Dukku, and Umar Damagum, downplayed the political threat, stating their party structures remain secure and that many high-profile defections lack formal resignation letters. Adding to the friction, the African Democratic Congress has mobilized a team of ninety-seven lawyers under the leadership of Mohammed Sheriff to fight a federal lawsuit filed by Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila to oust interim leaders like Senator Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Bolaji Abdullahi. The African Democratic Congress claims this legal challenge was deceptively sponsored by the ruling party using fraudulent plaintiffs who are not even registered members.

President Bola Tinubu requested approval from the National Assembly for twenty-four billion dollars in fresh foreign loans, alongside a two billion dollar local bond and a seven hundred and fifty-eight billion naira pension bond. If approved, Nigeria's national debt could exceed one hundred and eighty-two trillion naira by 2026. President Bola Tinubu explained the funds would support critical infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture. However, financial experts and opposition leaders sharply criticized the plan. Johnson Chukwu of Cowry Assets Management Limited and Muda Yusuf of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise warned that excessive debt servicing costs would overwhelm capital spending and called for private partnerships. Financial analyst Marcel Okeke, alongside civic advocates Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Debo Adeniran, Emmanuel Onwubiko, and Vahyala Kwaga, condemned the plan over poor transparency and risks of hitting debt thresholds. Politically, the Peoples Democratic Party, represented by Debo Ologunagba, alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his adviser Paul Ibe, slammed the request as irresponsible and called for its rejection. In contrast, economics professor Segun Ajibola supported the pension bond portion, noting that clearing outstanding liabilities for senior citizens is long overdue due to rising inflation.