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By-election: ADC in dicey test as 17 parties, 637 candidates battle for 68 seats
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, a party recently adopted by the coalition of opposition leaders plotting to sack the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2027 have vowed to claim many seats in the by-election scheduled to take place across the country today.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is conducting by-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states today.
During the election, two Senators are expected to be elected to represent Edo Central and Anambra South.
The election is also expected to hold in five federal constituencies in Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo States, as well as nine state constituencies in Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna (2), Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara States.
Similarly, INEC will be conducting elections in Enugu South I State Constituency of Enugu State and Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State following a court order for re-run.
The seats became vacant after the last elections due to deaths, loss of seats after litigation and resignation.
The Edo Central seat became vacant, following the resignation of Senator Monday Okpebholo who was elected governor.
ADC tests popularity
The by-election will mark the first election since the coalition of opposition leaders adopted the ADC as platform to contest the 2027 polls.
Interim National Chairman of the party, Senator David Mark, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, former governors of Anambra, Kaduna and Rivers States, Peter Obi, Nasir El-rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, among others, have all been campaigning for ADC ahead of the by-election.
According to political analysts, the outcome of the elections may determine the strength of the ADC in the next elections.
Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, who was scheduled to lead the campaign of the party’s candidate for the November 8 Anambra State governorship poll was recently spotted campaigning for the ADC’s candidate for Onitsha North 1 House of Assembly by-election.
Although Obi is one of the key opposition leaders targeting President Tinubu’s removal in 2027 via ADC, he had consistently said he remained committed to the Labour Party.
His move to jettison the LP for ADC candidate triggered confusion in the political space last week.
However, the Labour Party Chairman in Anambra State, Hon. Emeh Ugochukwu Emmanuel, in a chat blamed INEC for Obi’s decision.
According to him, “INEC deceived Peter Obi. INEC cunningly inserted our logo on ballot papers but refused to upload details of our candidates so Peter Obi saw that as something he could not condone and decided to campaign for the ADC
“The ADC candidate in Onitsha is our candidate, she would have contested under the Labour Party but because of what INEC did, we decided that she should run using ADC.
Whether it has been uploaded or not, the court has given an order and the order must be obeyed.
“Labour Party is contesting in Anambra South Senatorial District but we don’t have a candidate in Onitsha North 1 because we wanted the woman to take over the seat of her husband who was murdered some time ago.
“It is a kind of compensation for the family. Although she is not in our party, she is still one of us”.
President Bola Tinubu has assented to the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which provides for an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion.
He also signed the bill extending the implementation period for the 2025 budget from March 31, 2026, to June 30, 2026.
This was announced on Friday in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The ₦68.32 trillion budget for this year earmarks ₦4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and ₦15.8 trillion for debt service.
It allocates ₦15.4 trillion to recurrent expenditure and ₦32.2 trillion to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure.
“With capital expenditure accounting for about 50 per cent, the 2026 budget underscores the administration’s continued commitment to economic stability, national security, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth.
The allocations reflect a strategic balance between statutory obligations, debt servicing, recurrent expenditure, and capital investments critical to driving productivity and improving the quality of life for Nigerians,” the statement read in part.
The President also has assented to the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which extends the implementation period of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act from March 31, 2026, to June 30, 2026.
The extension, the statement revealed, would ensure the full and effective utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure and development projects that are at advanced stages of implementation across the country.
It will enable ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to consolidate ongoing works, enhance project completion rates, and maximise value for public expenditure. With the 2026 Appropriation Act coming into force on April 1, the Federal Government will commence full implementation in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” it added.
Additionally, President Tinubu directed MDAs to ensure disciplined, transparent, and efficient utilisation of allocated resources, with a strong emphasis on value for money and timely project delivery.
He commended the National Assembly for its diligence, cooperation, and patriotism in expeditiously considering and passing the budget.
The President reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government in advancing national development objectives.
Tinubu also assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms, enhance revenue generation, and prioritise investments that will stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen social protection mechanisms.
The budget is also expected to be partly financed through external borrowing, following the approval of a foreign loan plan exceeding $21 billion to bridge the fiscal gap.
₦9.85trn Increase
The 2026 budget represents an increase of ₦9.85 trillion over the initial proposal of ₦58.47 trillion that Tinubu submitted to the National Assembly, and ₦13.33 trillion higher than the 2025 budget.
The President had while presenting the 2025 budget proposal before federal lawmakers in December 2025, pegged the capital expenditure at ₦26.08 trillion and the crude oil benchmark at US$64.85 per barrel.
He disclosed that the expected total revenue was ₦34.33 trillion; ₦15.52 trillion for debt servicing.
The proposal was anchored on a crude oil production of 1.84 million barrels per day, and an exchange rate of ₦1,400 to the US Dollar for the 2026 fiscal year.
Amid the growing concerns over insecurity across the country, Tinubu said his administration would “invest in security with clear accountability for outcomes—because security spending must deliver security results”.
“We will take decisive steps to strengthen agricultural markets. Food security is national security.
“The 2026 budget prioritises input financing and mechanisation; irrigation and climate‑resilient agriculture; storage and processing; and agro‑value chains,” he told the National Assembly members.
Nigeria’s budgets in recent years have come under fire with experts critcising the poor implementation and release of funds for the execution of important national projects.
But the Tinubu administration said that the 2026 national budget was well-planned to solidify the gains of its reform agenda.
“Our ‘Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity’ is critical. It is a commitment to double down on what is working, to solidify gains, and to ensure that the shared prosperity we speak of becomes a lived reality for more Nigerians, faster,” Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said in a statement.
Popular sports broadcast journalist with Classic FM 97.3, Temisan Okomi, has died.
A journalist with News Central, Olawale Adigun, confirmed his death in a statement shared on X on Friday.
He wrote on X, “The worst way to go into the weekend is hearing about Temisan Okomi’s passing. I’m so gutted and, at the same time, terrified. This man meant so much to me.”
Recall that news of his death has since stirred reactions on X, with colleagues and fans expressing shock and grief.
The late journalist had worked with Lagos Television, HiTV, and other prominent media organizations in Nigeria.
His last post on X was on April 14, 2026, when he wrote, “The Champions League is hard, man.”
Ibrahim Abdulkarim, a political associate of ex-governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has claimed that the former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has agreed to deputize the Obi in the 2027 presidential race.
He spoke during an interview on Trust TV, said the Obidients and the Kwankwassiyya Movements are already aligning towards Obi/Kwankwaso ticket.
Asked if Obi and Kwankwaso had struck a deal, Abdulkarim said “yes, I can categorically tell you that they have agreed”.
We all know that. Both the Obidients and the Kwankwassiyya Movements are aware of the agreement”.
Recall that Kwankwaso recently decamped from the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP to the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
His move stirred suspicion that the two political gladiators may have agreed to run for the 2027 presidency on a single ticket.
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