The Federal Government has filed charges against the alleged plotters of a coup to oust President Bola Tinubu.

The charges were filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by Rotimi Oyedepo, director of public prosecutions of the federation.

Recall that the federal government had in October 2025, announced the cancellation of a parade earlier scheduled to celebrate the country’s 65th independence anniversary on October 1.

Consequently reports surfaced linking the cancellation of the independence anniversary to an alleged coup attempt to remove President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from office.

However, the DHQ dismissed the reports, insisting that the cancellation had no links to the alleged coup attempt.

But months later, details of the plot were made public, with the identities of those behind it made known.

The accused include a retired Major General, a retired Naval Captain, a serving Police Inspector and three others.

They are being accused of waging a war against Nigeria, treason and terrorism.

Following the arrest of the 16 military officers linked to the alleged coup attempt, in January 2026, the defence headquarters (DHQ) confirmed that there was a plot to overthrow Tinubu.

The alleged coup plotters are expected to be arraigned before Joyce Abdulmalik, a judge at the Federal High Vourt in Abuja, on April 22.

According to the charge sheet, the Federal Government accused the defendants of treason and terrorism and failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.

The federal government alleged that the defendants conspired with one another to “levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”

The All Progressives Congress has fixed May 16 and May 23, 2026 for the conduct of its presidential and governorship primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, who made this public on Monday, disclosed that in the ruling party’s timetable signed by the National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, presidential aspirants will pay N100 million for expression of interest and nomination forms, governorship aspirants N50 million, Senate aspirants N20 million, and House of Representatives aspirants N10 million.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027.

The Commission also stated that party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them, will take place between April 23, 2026 and May 30, 2026.

According to INEC, campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will commence on September 9, 2026.

As stated in the APC timetable, the sale of forms will run from April 25 to May 2 at the party’s National Headquarters in Wuse II, Abuja, while May 4 is the deadline for the submission of completed forms.

The timetable also shows that screening for presidential aspirants is scheduled for May 9, while other aspirants will be screened between May 6 and May 8, with further screening activities slated for May 12 and May 13.

Primary elections are scheduled for May 18 for the House of Representatives, May 20 for the Senate, and May 21 for State House of Assembly candidates.

It further stated that State House of Assembly aspirants will pay N6 million for both expression of interest and nomination forms.

Female aspirants, youths, and persons with disabilities are required to pay only for the expression of interest form and 50 per cent of the nomination fees for their respective positions.

Morka assured APC members that the ruling party remains committed to conducting credible and transparent primary elections.

The statement read in pary, “The APC reassures members, stakeholders, and Nigerians of its commitment to conducting a credible and transparent primary election that will further strengthen the Party’s internal democracy and consolidate its progressive ideals.”

PDP, ADC

Meanwhile, the National Executive Committee of the Nyesom Wike-backed Peoples Democratic Party, on Monday, adopted a timetable for its 2027 general election activities, setting the stage for nationwide primaries.

The PDP has been engulfed in a prolonged internal crisis marked by factional divisions. One bloc led by Tanimu Turaki is supported by Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, while the opposing group under Mohammed has the backing of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Both factions have filed multiple court cases that are still pending as they seek legal resolution over control of the party.

However, the party’s spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed Jungudo, said full details of the timetable would be released by the National Working Committee after concluding administrative processes.

At its 108th NEC meeting held at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, the PDP declared that it had emerged from its recent internal crisis, stating that the “era of uncertainty is over.” The party maintained that it remains “strong, united and formidable,” dismissing speculations of internal disarray.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by Jungudo, the NEC expressed confidence in the newly elected NWC led by National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed.

Reaffirming party cohesion, the committee emphasised the need for reconciliation among aggrieved members and stakeholders, insisting that disputes must be resolved through dialogue and in line with established party structures and democratic principles.

As part of preparations for the 2027 elections, the NEC approved a comprehensive timetable for party primaries, including the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms. It directed all party organs to strictly adhere to the schedule to ensure a transparent and credible nomination process.

The NEC also stressed full compliance with guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, particularly on membership register submissions, conduct of primaries, and dispute resolution.

Party leaders and stakeholders across all levels were urged to begin immediate preparations for state primaries, with an emphasis on strict adherence to statutory provisions and internal regulations to guarantee a smooth and inclusive process.

On internal reforms, the NEC endorsed the ongoing electronic membership registration (e-registration), describing it as a key step toward modernising the party’s database, enhancing transparency, and strengthening grassroots participation.

In his remarks, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, stating that he has no intention of leaving the party after more than two decades of membership.

He commended the NWC for reclaiming the party’s National Secretariat, describing the move as a demonstration of legitimacy, and urged the leadership to intensify reconciliation efforts by reaching out to members who defected during the crisis.

Wike also called for greater transparency and openness in party affairs, noting that such measures would encourage returning members and rebuild internal confidence.

Also speaking, National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed said the PDP had successfully navigated its leadership challenges and is now firmly focused on electoral preparation and strategic consolidation.

Reacting, the Tanimu Turaki-led NWC National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, described the meeting as a gathering of APC apologists.

He stated, “The meeting, obviously, people have the right to meet under any guise they choose, but it is clear that if you scan through that gathering, you will see a group of APC apologists masquerading as PDP members. That was a branch of Tinubu supporters within the PDP, and their meeting was simply to consolidate the mandate they claim to support.

“The meeting, discussions, and even information should be disregarded. No Nigerian should take them or anything from them seriously. The PDP is an opposition party and will remain so until it becomes the party in government. There are several matters pending in court, yet these individuals continue to gather and make decisions. These are consequential issues that the court will ultimately address.

“Every member of the PDP who understands that the party is in opposition will not fall prey to such actions. These individuals have openly declared support for the President, and anyone found among them is essentially an APC member operating under the guise of the PDP. Anyone committed to the survival and sustenance of the PDP as an opposition party should not align with such activities.”

Also, the African Democratic Congress has said it is working towards adopting a consensus approach in selecting its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this during an appearance on Arise TV.

According to him, while the party still has provisions for direct primaries, it is prioritising consensus as its preferred option, noting that indirect primaries are no longer considered following amendments to the Electoral Act.

“We are trying as much as possible to adopt the consensus approach because that is the least costly for us. For us, the best case scenario is to be able to engineer consensus and that’s what we are working on,” he said.

“If you take power out of APC, APC is actually nothing. I know the party well,” he said, adding that the party could unravel after Tinubu’s tenure.

IJEBU-ODE — In politics, there are those who show up to do the work, and those who show up to be seen doing something. What played out at the gate of Adeola Odutola Hall during the APC stakeholders’ meeting in Ijebu-Ode was a textbook example of the latter.

By now, the viral videos are everywhere: a convoy halted at the gate, raised voices, a suggestion of exclusion. It is a compelling visual—carefully framed, emotionally charged, and entirely misleading.

Because the real story is far less dramatic, and far more instructive.

I was there.

I arrived before 10:00 a.m., well ahead of the scheduled 11:00 a.m. meeting. The rules were already clear and being enforced without exception: no vehicles inside the premises. Everyone—regardless of status—parked outside and walked in. Simple. Orderly. Respectful.

Then came the convoy of Gbenga Daniel.

What followed was not a denial of entry, but a refusal to comply.

Protocol officers did not bar the Senator. They did not exclude him. They offered a straightforward option: step out of the vehicle, walk in with a limited number of aides, and take your seat among other stakeholders. It was the same condition accepted without fuss by figures like Tokunbo Talabi, Senator Lekan Mustapha, and Senator Gbenga Kaka.

But compliance, it seemed, was not the objective.

The insistence was not just on entry—but on spectacle. A full convoy. A crowd. A moment.

And conveniently, cameras were already rolling.

This is where the incident shifts from misunderstanding to strategy. Because what unfolded at that gate bore all the hallmarks of political theatre: a pre-arranged audience, a predictable script, and a ready-made narrative of victimhood.

The timing alone raises questions. Why arrive more than an hour early with a large entourage for a stakeholders’ meeting? Why escalate a situation over a rule that everyone else had quietly obeyed? Why ensure that the cameras captured every second of the standoff?

The answer is as obvious as the videos now circulating online.

If you cannot control the outcome inside the room, you attempt to control the narrative outside it.

And inside that room, the outcome was decisive.

While the drama played out at the gate, stakeholders within the hall conducted their business—calmly, deliberately, and without distraction. When the issue of the 2027 Ogun East Senatorial seat arose, the response was not fragmented or contested. It was unanimous. Governor Dapo Abiodun received the collective endorsement of party leaders.

That is the story that truly matters.

Not the optics of a gate, but the substance of a consensus.

This is not even an isolated pattern. A similar episode reportedly occurred during the visit of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Ogun State—again involving early arrival, crowd pressure, and questions around protocol. When repetition becomes a pattern, it ceases to be coincidence.

It becomes method.

None of this diminishes the stature of Senator Daniel. But stature in politics is not measured by the length of a convoy or the volume of a crowd. It is measured by the ability to work within structures, build consensus, and command respect among peers.

On that count, the contrast in Ijebu-Ode was stark.

At the gate, there was noise.

Inside the hall, there was decision.

At the gate, there was performance.

Inside the hall, there was politics.

And in the end, it is not the loudest moment that defines the future—it is the quiet agreement that follows.

The next chapter of Ogun East politics was not written in front of cameras. It was written where it has always mattered most: among those willing to sit, engage, and decide.

Everything else was just a show.

Abiodeye is a member of Youth for Good Governance, Ogun State Branch.