A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Buba Galadima, has said only God and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu know what will happen in the 2027 presidential election.
Galadima made the remark on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed the opposition party’s preparations for the 2027 election and the prospects of its presidential ticket involving Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
When asked whether he expected the 2027 election to be free and fair, Galadima expressed doubts, alleging that political developments ahead of the poll had given the opposition cause for concern.
“If you are dealing with criminals and fraudsters like these ones we have, you can’t be sure of anything,” he said.
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“Only God and Tinubu know what will happen to this election.”
Galadima also alleged that opposition politicians had come under coordinated attacks, citing incidents involving opposition supporters in Enugu, Peter Obi in Benue State and an ADC governorship candidate in Kaduna.
The NDC chieftain, however, expressed confidence in the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, saying the pair would win if the election were conducted freely, fairly and transparently.
“Obi and Kwankwaso will win this election if it is free, fair and transparent, unless somebody decides to use the machinery of government and take it away from them,” he said.
Galadima also disclosed that he is currently the chairman of the coordinating strategic committee for the presidential candidate and his running mate. He said the committee was working to harmonise the political blueprints of Obi and Kwankwaso, who contested the 2023 presidential election on different platforms.
According to him, the two politicians complement each other and are being presented as a single ticket for the country.
“It is a single ticket for Nigeria. We are not going to run a divided government, one belonging to Kwankwaso and one belonging to Peter. No, we are running a Nigerian government. That is why we call this ticket a healing ticket for Nigeria,” he said.
He identified national unity, public confidence in government and security as some of the issues the ticket would focus on if elected.
“We want to create public confidence in governance, in government, and in the people running our country,” Galadima said, adding that the proposed administration would pursue security measures that would allow Nigerians to conduct their daily activities without fear.
Galadima also questioned reported political engagements involving President Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, saying the opposition did not know what such interactions entailed.
“If they are doing the kind of politics that we see in Nigeria, he may announce himself having met the INEC chairman [and] some prominent Nigerians in France, and we don’t know what they are doing,” he said.
He further criticised the reported gathering of academics who publicly expressed support for Tinubu and argued that those individuals should not subsequently be recruited to serve in the election.
“We are saying, as a political party, that none of those 600 professors … should be recruited to serve in the elections, because they have already taken sides by declaring their support for a candidate in this election,” he said.
He also maintained that the NDC’s strategy would not necessarily depend on producing a single opposition candidate against Tinubu, arguing that the opposition had moved beyond the stage where legally distinct parties could field one joint candidate.
Yusuf Abdullahi Itas, a member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly representing Itas/Gadau State Constituency, has withdrawn from the 2027 general election. Itas, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), announced his decision in a letter dated October 5, 2026, addressed to the party’s state chairman.
In the letter titled, “Withdrawal of Candidature for the Itas/Gadau State Constituency Seat in the Bauchi State House of Assembly,” the lawmaker formally informed the party that he would no longer contest the seat in the 2027 election.
He described his decision as “entirely voluntary and personal”.
He thanked the APM leadership and its members for giving him the opportunity to represent the party.
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Itas also expressed appreciation to residents of the constituency for their encouragement and support during his time in office.
The lawmaker is the Chairman of the House Committee on Petitions and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
His withdrawal comes less than three weeks after the Bauchi Assembly Chief Whip, Musa Wakili Nakwada, also announced that he would not contest the 2027 elections.
Welcome to Jos Ghetto Stories — a new Jos Events series created to tell the stories that are often overlooked, but should never be forgotten.
From the narrow streets of Gangare, Nasarawa, Angwan Rogo, Jenta-Adamu, Congo-Russia, Tudun Wada, Katako, Dadin Kowa, Bukuru and other communities across Jos, there are children growing up surrounded by challenges many of us may never fully understand.
Some wake up without knowing where their next meal will come from.
Some go to school with torn shoes.
Some live in crowded homes, struggle to afford basic needs, or watch their parents battle every day just to keep the family going.
And some are already beginning to believe that because they were born into hardship, hardship is all life has to offer them.
But we are here to tell them something different.
YOU CAN STILL BECOME GREAT.
Your address does not determine your destiny.
The street you grew up on does not decide the height you can reach.
Poverty may be part of your story, but it does not have to be the final chapter.
Look at Jos.
This city has produced and nurtured people who have gone on to make their mark far beyond the streets where their journeys began.
John Obi Mikel and Ogenyi Onazi, Ahmed Musa went from Jos to becoming aome of Nigeria’s most recognisable footballers, they all grew up from the Ghetto streets of Jos and made it in life through football to the point of representing Nigeria at the highest level.
Jeremiah Gyang, M.I Abaga and Ice Prince carried the sound and creativity of Jos into the Nigerian music industry and beyond.
P-Square and 2Baba are among the major names whose stories are connected to Jos.
Saint Obi,Dayo Okeniyi took their journey from Jos into international acting, while filmmakers Dimbo Atiya and Kenneth Gyang, have used film to tell stories that travel far beyond home.
And there are many more whose names may not yet be famous—but whose stories prove that greatness can rise from ordinary beginnings. 
So when we walk through the streets of Jos and meet these children, we are not looking at “ghetto children.”
We are looking at future doctors, engineers, footballers, musicians, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, teachers, leaders, creatives and nation builders.
We are looking at potential.
We are looking at dreams waiting for an opportunity.
Because sometimes, all a child needs is somebody to look them in the eyes and say:
“I believe in you.”
That is what Jos Ghetto Stories is about.
We will tell the stories of the streets.
We will show the struggles.
We will celebrate the talent.
We will listen to the dreams.
And most importantly, we will remind every young person watching that you can become the best version of yourself, regardless of where you started.
Your parents may not have everything.
Your environment may not be perfect.
You may not have the opportunities others have.
But never allow your circumstances to convince you that you cannot become somebody.
The world may see a child from the slum.
We see a future star.
The world may see a difficult beginning.
We see a story waiting to become extraordinary.
This is Jos Ghetto Stories.
Stories from the streets.
Stories of struggle.
Stories of hope.
Stories of talent.
Stories of resilience.
Stories of people who refuse to let their circumstances define them.
Because from the streets of Jos, greatness can rise.
And perhaps, the next great story is the child standing beside you.