2027: Zugwai-Chukwu Emerges As YPP’s Sole Presidential Candidate

Anita Zugwai-Chukwu has emerged as the sole presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) for the 2027 general elections.

Mrs Zugwai-Chukwu emerged at the party’s national convention held on Saturday in Abuja, attended by party leaders, delegates and supporters from across the country.

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Speaking on the sidelines of the convention, the National Chairman of the YPP, Bishop Amakiri, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to its founding principles of service despite political challenges and realignments.

Mr Amakiri said the party had consistently produced credible candidates who had gone on to win elections, adding that the YPP remained focused on promoting competent leaders dedicated to serving the people.

According to him, public office holders elected on the party’s platform have remained faithful to its mantra of “Service to the People”.

He stressed that the slogan remained the party’s intellectual property and should not be appropriated by other political parties.

The chairman said the YPP had produced notable political office holders, including lawmakers and legislative leaders, who had distinguished themselves through effective representation and leadership.

Commenting on the death of former senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Mr Amakiri acknowledged that the loss had significantly affected the party.

“It would be unfair to say that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s death did not affect the party. He was a strong force and contributed immensely,” he said.

He, however, rejected suggestions that the party had lost relevance, noting that no general election had been conducted since Mr Ubah’s death.

Mr Amakiri said Mr Ubah’s electoral successes brought national visibility to the YPP and laid the foundation for its growth and recognition.

“If Senator Ubah had not won the election, perhaps many Nigerians would not have known about the Young Progressives Party,” he said.

He added that the party had consolidated on those gains and continued to make inroads into Nigeria’s political landscape.

“We miss him greatly, but we remain focused. Wherever he is, he will be proud of the contributions he made to the party,” Mr Amakiri added.

The chairman said the YPP was intensifying efforts to mobilise like-minded Nigerians and strengthen its structures ahead of the 2027 elections.

He also dismissed speculation that the party might collapse its structure into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the reports as unfounded.

“To my knowledge, no discussion of that nature has taken place. There is no reason for the YPP to surrender its structure to another party,” he said.

YPP

Mr Amakiri questioned the achievements of the APC that would warrant YPP members abandoning their platform to join the ruling party, adding that his focus remained on the party’s presidential candidate and preparations for the polls.

In her acceptance speech, Mrs Zugwai-Chukwu pledged transparent and responsible leadership and called on Nigerians, especially youths and women, to join her movement for justice, security and prosperity.
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Umo Eno Threatens To Terminate Non-Performing Contracts In Akwa Ibom

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, on Saturday, threatened to terminate all non-performing contracts.

Mr Eno stated this during a media briefing in Uyo, saying that contracts were meant to be implemented to deliver democracy dividends.

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He said it was deeply worrisome that some contractors handling state government projects were neither proactive nor patriotic.

The governor particularly stated that the contractors handling the Tabernacle Road in Uyo and Midim Atan-Etim Ekpo Road in Essien Udim Local Government Area had not lived up to expectations.

Mr Eno said that the Tabernacle Road project was re-awarded in February 2024 and wondered why it remained incomplete despite government mobilisation.

He further said that in the past three years, his administration had constructed more than 1,300 kilometres of roads and about 40 bridges.

According to him, the government has completed the 14.3km Ikot Ubo-Odot Road in Nsit Ubium/Nsit Atai, the Internal Roads at the Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, among others.

The governor stated that his administration had completed several projects that were inherited from his predecessor’s government.

“Some of them are the Ikot Esu-Otomo-Azumini Road in Ika, Pepsi Junction-Ukpom-Abak Road, Ikot Ekaide and Ikot Okoro Bridges, among others.

“We are currently implementing different strategic road projects across the state, including the dualisation of Ring Road III, reconstruction of Ikot Akpadem-Iko Road with bridges, among others,” he said.

Mr Eno promised to set up a committee comprising the media and civil society organisations to work with the government toward ridding the Uyo metropolis of potholes.

Umo Eno

He expressed his administration’s readiness to implement projects that would improve the well-being of Akwa Ibom people.

The governor urged Akwa Ibom people to be patient and support the government with inputs that would promote service delivery.
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NDC Adopts Peter Obi As Presidential Candidate

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has adopted Peter Obi as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

While accepting his nomination in Abuja on Saturday, Mr Obi pledged to increase Nigeria’s electricity generation and distribution by at least 10,000 megawatts within four years if elected president in 2027.

He also pledged to transform the economy, tackle insecurity, create jobs and end widespread hunger through targeted investments in key sectors.

The former Anambra State governor said his administration would prioritise transparency, productivity and national unity, stressing that Nigeria’s current challenges require urgent and decisive leadership.

Mr Obi noted that the country continued to face significant socio-economic challenges, including insecurity, poverty, unemployment, hunger, and limited access to healthcare and education.

He, however, expressed confidence that Nigeria could overcome its challenges through efficient resource management and visionary leadership.

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A key highlight of his address was his promise to overhaul the power sector, which he described as central to economic growth and industrial development.

“Nigeria today is the nation with the highest number of citizens lacking access to electricity globally,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria generates and distributes about 4,000 megawatts of electricity to a population of over 200 million, a figure he described as inadequate.

Comparing Nigeria with countries such as South Africa and Egypt, which generate over 40,000 megawatts despite smaller populations, Mr Obi said the gap reflected a major structural challenge.

“Over the next four years, I commit to ensuring a minimum of 10,000 megawatt increase in power generation and distribution,” he said.

On security, Mr Obi pledged to deploy intelligence-driven and technology-based approaches to tackle insecurity, while addressing root causes such as poverty, unemployment and social exclusion.

He also promised to strengthen the healthcare system, including increasing health insurance coverage from about 10 per cent to over 20 per cent within four years.

According to him, his administration would raise healthcare spending to at least 10 per cent of GDP and ensure that every one of Nigeria’s 8,809 political wards has a functional primary healthcare centre.

On education, Mr Obi pledged increased investment in schools, teacher training, technology and vocational skills development, saying human capital is the foundation of national transformation.

He expressed concern about rising food insecurity, noting that over 35 million Nigerians are projected to face acute hunger despite the country’s agricultural potential.

“We have absolutely no justification for being among the world’s hungriest nations,” he said, adding that his government would prioritise agricultural productivity to shift Nigeria from consumption to production.

Peter Obi

Mr Obi also promised targeted support for micro, small and medium enterprises through tax incentives, access to affordable credit and job-creation policies aimed at empowering young Nigerians.

Earlier, the NDC National Leader, Seriake Dickson, presented the party’s flag to Obi, describing it as “a symbol of victory for Nigerians”.

The National Chairman of the party, Moses Cleopas, said the NDC had recorded significant growth within three months of its registration and was positioned to offer Nigerians a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 polls. Eereporter.com