Court Blocks Ondo Governor's Second Term Bid as APC Secures Zamfara Defection
Nigeria's Court of Appeal ruled Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa ineligible to seek another term in office, while the ruling APC gains momentum with Governor Dauda Lawal's defection from PDP ahead of 2027 polls.
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The Court of Appeal has dismissed Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa's suit seeking clarification on his eligibility to contest another gubernatorial term, dealing a significant blow to his political ambitions. The three-member panel unanimously ruled the appeal lacked merit and imposed N2 million in costs against the governor, according to Premium Times.
The ruling comes as Nigeria's political landscape shifts ahead of the 2027 elections, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) consolidating its position through high-profile defections and aggressive mobilization strategies.
APC Gains Ground Through Defections
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal's defection from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC has been welcomed as a strategic victory by party chieftains. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, a former governorship candidate and APC stalwart, described the move as "a significant boost to the party's momentum ahead of the 2027 elections," according to The Nation Newspaper.
The defection follows a pattern of reconciliation within APC ranks. National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda has publicly called for unity with Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, urging supporters to "drop the animosity" against the governor despite their political differences, Naija News reported. Yilwatda emphasized collaboration to move Plateau State forward.
2027 Election Mobilization Intensifies
The APC has set ambitious targets for the 2027 presidential election, with Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele announcing plans to deliver at least 10 million votes for President Bola Tinubu from the South-west region alone. "As a party of conviction and vision, we have already set a target ahead of the 2027 elections. We have designed a mobilisation plan," Bamidele stated, according to Premium Times.
In Osun State, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola has intensified political consultations ahead of the August 15 gubernatorial election, meeting with APC elders and conducting grassroots mobilization, Vanguard News reported.
However, political tensions persist. The APC in Abia State has accused Governor Alex Otti's administration of sponsoring a smear campaign against Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu ahead of the 2027 polls, according to Legit.ng.
Violence Concerns and Opposition Crisis
Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dakuku Peterside, has warned of escalating political violence, citing recent attacks on political rallies and party offices. "Political violence never truly arrives unannounced. Before it explodes, it rehearses itself in smaller scenes: a rally disrupted, a convoy attacked, a party office torched at dawn," Peterside wrote in an opinion piece published by Premium Times.
The opposition PDP faces its own internal turmoil. Party chieftain Chief Sunday Olaifa has called on the Board of Trustees, led by Adolphus Wabara, to urgently resolve the party's leadership crisis following recent court rulings, Vanguard News reported.