South East Archives | Trendbrio.com

2027: Martha Agba South-South APC Stakeholders Endorse Tinubu for Second Term

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago02 mins

Prominent political leader Martha Agba joined key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benin City for a high-level South-South Stakeholders Meeting, where the region formally reaffirmed its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid ahead of the 2027 general elections. The strategic gathering brought together a formidable coalition of APC faithful, including Governors of Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo, and Cross River States, zonal party executives, and former governors—most notably Senator Ben Ayade of Cross River State. The President of the Senate led a robust delegation of National Assembly members from the region, underscoring growing internal unity and the APC’s preparedness to retain national leadership. Addressing the gathering, Martha Agba restated her unwavering support for President Tinubu and Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, pledging to continue mobilizing grassroots support for their re-election efforts. She also used the platform to encourage young women across the South-South to take active roles in politics, urging them to prepare for elective positions in 2027. “Inclusive participation is essential for a truly representative democracy,” she said. The meeting concluded with the Senate President delivering the closing remarks and reading a communiqué in which the APC South-South leaders unanimously endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as their candidate for a second term. With this endorsement, the APC aims to consolidate its base across the South-South, rallying support amid a tightening race as opposition forces also mobilize nationwide.

2027: ADC Coalition Leaders Begin Grassroots Mobilisation Nationwide

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago05 mins

Published: July 6, 2025 | By Kamal Yalwa As Nigeria’s 2027 general elections draw closer, the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition coalition has officially begun grassroots mobilisation efforts across the country. The coalition’s interim national chairman, Senator David Mark, and national secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, have returned to their respective states—Benue and Osun—to galvanise support from local political bases. According to sources within the party, each coalition leader has been assigned a geo-political zone for mobilisation. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will lead mobilisation efforts in the North East, Mark in the North Central, and former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai in the North West. In the southern regions, Peter Obi will coordinate activities in the South East, Rotimi Amaechi in the South-South, and Aregbesola in the South West. While Mark’s presence in Benue coincided with a family event, insiders say he is expected to meet local political stakeholders. Aregbesola, meanwhile, was welcomed by loyalists as he transited through Lagos to Osun State. Atiku reportedly met with ADC leaders from Gombe State in Abuja last Friday, indicating an intensifying momentum. Confirming the developments, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said coalition leaders had been directed to consult widely within their zones and would reconvene in Abuja in two weeks to assess progress. Other key politicians such as Maina Waziri in Yobe and Emeka Ihedioha in Imo have also begun rallying support in their respective states. The official unveiling of the ADC-led coalition in Abuja last Wednesday sent ripples across Nigeria’s political landscape, especially as the PDP and Labour Party remain entangled in internal leadership crises. Prominent political figures—including Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, Amaechi, Dino Melaye, Dele Momodu, and Senator David Mark—attended the coalition’s unveiling, signalling a serious opposition challenge to the ruling APC. While APC officials have downplayed the coalition, Senator Mark declared that the ADC alliance is committed to rescuing Nigeria from its current challenges. Political watchers are divided. While some believe the coalition’s political heavyweights still wield considerable influence, others warn the ruling party not to underestimate the opposition’s grassroots potential. Former APC Abuja chairman Sunny Moniedafe noted that widespread hardship could make the 2027 elections unpredictable, while Senator Abubakar Girei dismissed the coalition as a group of “disgruntled politicians” with no clear ideology. Still, groups like the Arewa Youths for the Sustenance of Democracy caution the APC against complacency, describing the coalition as politically savvy with nationwide reach. Responding to critics, Atiku’s aide Hon. Oladimeji Fabiyi maintained that the coalition has strong grassroots appeal and national credibility, backed by the political clout of its members. As mobilisation accelerates, one thing is clear—Nigeria’s political scene is heating up fast, and the ADC coalition is shaping up to be a formidable force in the 2027 race.

SEDC, REA Partner to End Power Outages in South East Communities with Renewable Energy

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

The South-East Development Commission (SEDC) has finalized plans with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to expand power supply to rural communities across the Southeast, utilizing the National Renewable Energy Project established under Section 127 of the 2023 Electricity Act. The announcement was made on Friday following a strategic meeting between the Managing Director/CEO of SEDC, Mark Okoye, and the Managing Director of REA, Abba Aliyu. Both agencies agreed to collaborate on extending electricity to underserved and unserved areas of the Southeast in a cost-effective manner, ensuring sustainable returns through appropriate tariffs designed to support the region’s social, industrial, and agricultural development. A key focus of the discussions was the deployment of renewable energy solutions, particularly Solar Mini-Grid projects, to power thousands of homes, especially in remote areas. Okoye emphasized the urgent need to attract private sector investment and engage key stakeholders to align with the Federal Government’s renewable energy drive. He also highlighted the significant power deficit in the Southeast, which continues to hinder the region’s economic growth and industrialization. Okoye urged the REA to support SEDC’s renewable energy initiatives, particularly those aimed at powering critical infrastructure projects set to launch soon. “Our discussions centered around deploying renewable energy solutions in unserved and underserved communities across the Southeast. We also explored how the REA can back alternative energy solutions for upcoming key infrastructure projects,” Okoye said. He reaffirmed the SEDC’s commitment to working with the REA to address the electricity shortages that are impeding the region’s development. In response, Abba Aliyu assured Okoye that the Southeast would fully benefit from the Federal Government’s energy initiatives. He reiterated the REA’s commitment to working closely with the SEDC to achieve its electrification goals. Aliyu also outlined several major projects under the REA, including the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES), and several other initiatives aimed at electrifying rural and underserved communities to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life for Nigerians.