4th Republic

On today's despatch, we break down the news around the Budget padding allegations leveled against the Senate, the opening of the Nigeria-Niger borders, and the reported withdrawal of Ruby Onwudiwe to the Nigerian Senate.

On today's despatch, we break down the news around the Code of Conduct Bureau's (CCB) inquiry of Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Shell's partial divestment from the Nigerian market, the Ibadan explosion and more.

On today's despatch, we break down the news around the suspension of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Betta Edu, the sacking of Babtunde Irukera of the Federal Competition and Consum­er Protection Commission (FCCPC), and Alex Okoh of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the Central Bank's regulatory measures against the boards of Titan Trust, Polaris, Union and Keystone banks and more.

On today's despatch, we break down the news around Nigeria's delegation to COP28t, the battle in Edo state to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki and the state of affairs in Ondo.

On today's despatch, we break down the news around President Tinubu's supplementary budget, the godfather-godson battle between Nyesom Wike and Sim Fubara, the first son being on the receiving end of a presidential call out and the forthcoming off cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi.

In this week's audio briefing, we take a look at the Supreme Court's affirmation of President Tinubu's election and the big dollar bill the Federal Government dodged with its success in the P&ID case.

The audio briefing is back!!!!!!

This week;

• President Tinubu's academic certificates and their authenticity have been a talking point in the wake of the PDP's Atiku Abubakar beckoning a US court.
• The President's Tax Reform Committee Chair has made a case for the sale of the country's moribund refineries.

Get the breakdown of this and more.

Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour shot to national prominence in 2017 when he contested the Ikeja Local Government Area chairmanship under the KOWA party. Two years later, he sought the Lagos West senatorial seat under the PDP. This year, he's running for Governor of Lagos under the Labour Party. Gbadebo joined 'Mayowa to talk about his journey into Politics- from campaigning against the Jonathan administration's policy on Genetically Modified Foods to seeking an end to the APC dynasty in Lagos. He talks about learning how to build political momentum as a young participant, the importance of Peter Obi's once-in-a-generation campaign, and why his architectural background makes him the right candidate for this cycle. 

Later this week, Nigerians will head to the polls to elect a new President. To ease the decision-making process, we have been digging into the three main candidates to help voters get a better sense of who they are. What do we know about their childhood(s)? What do their pre-political days tell us about their candidacies? How did they get into Politics? What is the case for or against their candidacies? What are their chances?

For Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), this is potentially his last shot at an office he first sought about 30 years ago. Oluwamayowa Idowu and Kunle Adewumi make sense of the man from old Gongola whose breakout into public life came through the Nigerian Customs Service. 

In what should be the last briefing before Nigeria's presidential elections, we take a look at some of the most prominent storylines of the last week; 

The friction between President Buhari and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress party took a new dimension this week with members of the party advising Nigerians to defy the President’s directives around the Naira redesign policy. 

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has given the campaign of Labour Party’s (LP) Peter Obi a filip by publicly endorsing him for President.

Get the breakdown of all this and more.

Peter Obi's Lagos rally and the boost from the released polls underline his popularity going into the final stretch. 

PDP's Chimaroke Nnamani has been explled from the party highlighting the disunity within the party. 

Get the breakdown of all this and more.

There's rancor in the ranks of the All Progressives Congress with the party's presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu seeking to delink himself from the government of the day while relying on President Buhari's support. 

Labour Party's Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is seeking to end the APC's hold on Lagos while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has seen its mock accreditation exercise receive mixed results.

Get the breakdown of all this and more.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu delivered an outburst underlining his displeasure with the government of the day last week. 

The Election Petition Tribunal tasked with judging the Osun state elections delivered a judgment which changed the political calculations. 

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Abia passed away. 

The US announced a visa ban on election manipulators. 

Get the breakdown of all this and more.

In less than a month, Nigerians will head to the polls to elect a new President. To ease the decision-making process, we will be digging into the three main candidates to help voters get a better sense of who they are. What do we know about their childhood(s)? What do their pre-political days tell us about their candidacies? How did they get into Politics? What is the case for or against their candidacies? What are their chances? 

The Labour Party's candidate, Peter Obi has defined this political cycle with a credible third-force bid. In this episode, Oluwamayowa Idowu and Kunle Adewumi help make sense of Obi's run. 

As the build up to the election winds down, speculation has been raised about the readiness of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the country's electoral management body. 

Big Brother Titans, a fusion of the South African and Nigerian versions of the Big Brother franchise, launched yesterday. As is now a tradition in Nigerian politics, it has earned the ire of the political class.

Get the breakdown of all this and more.

The Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele has found himself in heavy demand from Nigeria's secret police service leading to an obvious question as to who's after him. 

The Director General of the Peter Obi Campaign Council, Doyin Okupe announced his resignation from the role while President Jonathan's endorsement is being sought heavily. 

Get the breakdown of all this and more.

The Bola Tinubu campaign picked a fight with the Thisday and Arise proprietor, Nduka Obaigbena.

Is INEC prepared for the 2023 elections? Could we see a possible postponement? 

Anambra Governor, Charles Soludo opts to endorse Atiku over the two Peters from his state and party. 

Get the breakdown of all this and more.

Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gave his first interview of the election cycle to the British Broadcasting Corporation's Peter Okwoche after appearing at policy institute, Chatham House. 

Former President Goodluck Jonathan is emerging as a sought-after damsel in this cycle.

Get the breakdown of all this and more.

Anambra Governor, Charles Soludo reprises his historic rivalry with Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi with a written takedown. 

The PDP's G5 continue to needle their party's candidate, Atiku Abubakar while flirting with his rivals. 

Get the breakdown of all this and more.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu was in the news last week upon the release of an affidavit from a US court detailing his affiliation and alliance with drug traffickers raising obvious questions as to his character and credibility as a suitable President. 

The PDP G5 has also offered an indication that they might be prepared to offer a reprieve to the party's candidate, Atiku Abubakar. 

Get the breakdown of all this and more.

Last night, some of the leading presidential candidates took to the great political marketplace for their ideas- the debate stage. While the APC's Bola Tinubu opted to party, the PDP's Atiku Abubakar was represented by his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa. Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Kola Abiola also took to the stage. We explore the significance of this debate and the absence of some of the leading candidates. 

Bola Tinubu chilled with the big boys by organising an outreach session with Nigeria's business elite while Peter Obi's manifesto made it to the public but was quickly walked back. 

Get the breakdown of all this and more.

Political Rallies are a staple of the political process. They help the candidates and their parties to engage with their bases and also offer an indicator of public support. Based on recent changes to the political calendar, we weigh up the effectiveness of political rallies in the current election cycle. 

Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar have been caught in a public spat which once again highlights the failures of the PDP to get its house in order. 

Get the breakdown of all this and more. 

Finally, the APC's Bola Tinubu offers a policy document for us to chew through with the unveil of his manifesto which repurposes Abiola's 1993 campaign slogan. 

We also take a look at the recent anniversary of the #EndSARS massacre and how the candidates' attitudes to police reform and Nyesom Wike's continued dalliance with the APC. 

In the latest edition of our weekly briefing, we recap the last week in the Nigerian political sphere.

Last week, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar came under fire for a speech in which he appeared to argue that the north does not need an Igbo or Yoruba president, but rather "someone from the north."