Rotimi Amaechi, the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for 2027, says former President Muhammadu Buhari promised to back him as his preferred candidate at the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary.

What he said

Speaking in a radio interview in Lagos on Friday, 6 November 2026, Amaechi said Buhari had given him the assurance in writing. Because of it, he said, he held back from campaigning, lobbying delegates or making political deals before the primary, which he now considers his biggest mistake. He said his refusal to promise positions such as the vice-presidency and the post of Secretary to the Government of the Federation to governors cost him support.

Claims about religion

Amaechi also accused President Bola Tinubu's camp of appealing to religious identity to win Northern delegates, alleging that a delegation of Muslim politicians from the South-West urged governors in the North-West to back Tinubu on religious grounds. He said he would never use religion to win an election. Tinubu's camp had not responded to the claims at the time of writing.

Background

Tinubu won the June 2022 APC primary at Eagle Square in Abuja with 1,271 votes to Amaechi's 316, and went on to win the 2023 presidential election. Amaechi, a former Rivers governor, directed Buhari's successful 2015 campaign and served as his Minister of Transportation. Buhari, who died in 2025, did not publicly endorse any aspirant at the primary. Amaechi is now Atiku Abubakar's running mate, though a recent court judgment voided Atiku's nomination, a ruling the ADC has appealed.

President Bola Tinubu has defended his removal of the fuel subsidy, saying the naira would have become worthless if his government had kept it.

What he said

Speaking at a state reception in his honour in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, 6 November 2026, after an APC rally at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Tinubu said 27 of the 36 state governors could not pay salaries when he took office, let alone pensions and gratuities. He argued that his reforms had moved the country away from the risk of bankruptcy, and said that without them Nigerians would by now need wheelbarrows to carry their money. He put the exchange rate at about ₦1,300 to the US dollar and said Nigeria would never go back to the subsidy.

The visit

The reception followed a day in which the President inaugurated several projects in Akwa Ibom, including a new terminal at Victor Attah International Airport, and approved a request by Governor Umo Eno for the Ibom Deep Seaport. Vice-President Kashim Shettima used the same visit to criticise NDC candidate Peter Obi.

Background

Tinubu announced the end of the petrol subsidy in his inauguration speech in May 2023, and his government also unified the exchange rate. The reforms led to sharp rises in fuel and food prices. Opposition candidates, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, have criticised the way the reforms were carried out, while the government says they were needed to save the economy and has introduced relief measures such as the ₦50,000 monthly grant to selected households.

Why it matters

The cost of living is expected to be one of the main issues in the January 2027 election.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has once again spoken boldly about his political influence in Rivers State, dismissing the chances of former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and insisting he remains a major force in the state.

"You cannot wish me away"

According to Wike, he would only have reason to worry if Amaechi stood a realistic chance of a significant political comeback in Rivers State.

The former Rivers governor made it clear that leaving Government House in Port Harcourt has not reduced his influence or weakened the structures he built over the years.

"I am not a governor, I am a minister, but you cannot wish me away in Rivers State, because the people know what I stand for and because of the people I have raised," Wike said.

His statement appears to be a direct message to those who believe his appointment as FCT Minister has taken him away from the centre of Rivers politics.

Claims about the APC

Wike also claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had little political strength in Rivers State before he decided to support the party.

"Before I decided to support the APC, the party did not exist in Rivers State," he said.

That is a bold claim, given the long rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, who both served as governors of Rivers State at different times.

"I have killed the Obi wave"

Wike did not limit his remarks to Rivers. He also turned his attention to the movement around NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, claiming he had already weakened its influence in the FCT.

"As for the NDC, I have killed the Obi wave in the FCT," he said.

The remarks reflect Wike's confidence in his political strength, although his claims about the APC and about Obi's support remain his own assessment.

The road to 2027

With the 2027 general elections approaching, the political battle in Rivers State is expected to draw even more attention. Wike, Amaechi and other influential figures may once again find themselves on opposing sides as parties prepare for another contest.

For now, Wike is making one thing clear to his opponents: he may no longer be governor, but he has no intention of surrendering his influence in Rivers State.

Over to you

Is Wike still as politically powerful in Rivers State as he believes, or will the 2027 elections reveal a different picture?

DNA samples have been collected from the remains of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad, and from his young son, Liam, as the long-running dispute over the child's paternity moves towards a resolution.

What happened

According to reports on Saturday, 7 November 2026, the exercise took place on Saturday, 31 October, under the supervision of a Lagos court. The court had approved an application by Mohbad's widow, Omowunmi (Wunmi) Aloba, for a DNA test to establish Liam's paternity, and appointed a welfare officer to oversee the process. Samples were first taken from the singer's remains at the Mainland General Hospital in Yaba, then escorted under tight security to the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, where Liam's samples were also collected.

Who was present

The exercise was reportedly carried out with heavy security because of concerns about possible crowds. Mohbad's mother, his younger brother and his widow were present. The results have not been made public.

Background

Mohbad died in Lagos in September 2023 at the age of 27. His death led to protests, a police investigation and a coroner's inquest. Since then, his father, Joseph Aloba, has repeatedly called for a DNA test on Liam, which led to a bitter public dispute with Wunmi and divided the singer's fans. The singer's death has also been at the centre of this week's public feud between VeryDarkMan and Davido.

What happens next

The results are expected once the forensic analysis is complete.