Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has expressed deep concern over the worsening conditions of Nigerians living abroad, revealing that many facing xenophobic attacks in South Africa would rather remain there than return home.

Obi, who recently returned from South Africa, made the remarks at a dinner organised for aspirants of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Abuja on Monday. The comments were contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the NDC media team.

“I just came back last night from South Africa. You know what Nigerians are going through in South Africa and so many other African countries,” Obi said.

He disclosed that despite efforts to facilitate the return of distressed Nigerians, many rejected the offer, citing worse conditions back home.

“We provided facilities for them to come back. But most of them told me they would rather die there than come back. They said things are even worse at home,” Obi stated.

The former governor said he used the opportunity to engage South African leaders, including former President Thabo Mbeki and three ministers, to plead for better relations between South Africans and other African nationals.

“I took time to sit down with three ministers who are leaders of their own parties to plead with them about how things can work between South Africans and other African nationals, and we had a very fruitful discussion,” he added.

Obi criticised the Federal Government for failing to adequately support Nigerians facing hardship abroad.

“It is not only in South Africa that Nigerians have problems… I have had cause to ask them if our government has visited and the answer is no. If your country is not there for you, who will care for you?” he queried.

He also lamented Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, noting the country’s past prominent role in global peacekeeping.

“Nigeria played a role in securing nations since the Second World War… But today, Nigeria cannot secure itself. This is unacceptable,” Obi said.

Meanwhile, NDC National Leader Seriake Dickson explained why the party could not deploy electronic voting for its primaries as earlier planned. He said the platform was ready but required further testing to avoid glitches.

“After now, any other primary in the NDC for the next three months upward, and certainly by the next round of elections, every registered voter will start using their phone to vote,” Dickson stated.

He added that the NDC is being built on ideology and service, not as “a special purpose vehicle for any human being.”

Also speaking at the event, former Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Buba Galadima, urged aspirants who fail to secure tickets to remain loyal to the party.

“The time pushed on us by the APC government through the National Assembly is not a friend of the NDC,” Galadima said, reminding aspirants that only one person can emerge as the candidate in each constituency.

Fresh legal hurdles have emerged in the political crisis rocking Rivers State as a group of lawyers has dragged the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to bar him from contesting the 2027 governorship election.

Chinda, who also serves as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, emerged as the APC’s candidate in the party’s governorship primary held on May 21, 2026, after running as the sole aspirant. Other notable contenders, including incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Tonye Cole, and Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly, had withdrawn at the last minute.

However, the Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners filed a suit on May 12, 2026, challenging Chinda’s eligibility. The plaintiffs argue that his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC violated provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 (as amended) and relevant Supreme Court judgments on legislative defection.

The group is asking the court to:
– Stop Chinda from participating in the 2027 Rivers governorship election.
– Order the Speaker of the House of Representatives to remove him as Minority Leader and declare his seat vacant.
– Direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a by-election to fill the vacancy, citing Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.
– Prevent INEC from recognizing his nomination as APC candidate.

The suit also initially targeted George-Kelly over his failure to resign as Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency before the March 30, 2026 deadline for presidential appointees seeking elective office. However, with George-Kelly’s withdrawal from the primary, focus has shifted primarily to Chinda.

In an affidavit supporting the suit, Jesse Amuga, Administrative Secretary of the plaintiff association, stated that Chinda’s continued occupation of his legislative seat while pursuing the APC governorship ticket is unlawful. The plaintiffs noted that Chinda was served a pre-action notice in October 2025 warning of a possible recall process if he defected, which he allegedly ignored.

Chinda’s emergence as APC candidate has added a new layer to the long-running political tensions in Rivers State, particularly involving his political ally, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and Governor Fubara.

The case is pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

A frontline aspirant for the Abia State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) 2027 governorship primary election, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu has hailed the party as the only party in Nigeria that is now intentional in introducing a leadership model where women and youths are accommodated.

Kalu, who was speaking during a radio programme at Magic 102.9 FM, which was monitored by this site, said that in addition to having very qualified aspirants for the governorship position, the PDP in Aba has taken the lead in women and youths being given opportunities.

He said that in the past, he often heard about what PDP did and did not do, but the people who played huge roles in that era are currently with the ruling party.

Kalu said that the era when women in Abia State and Abia State women were relegated to nothing is gone, stressing that the PDP will correct the gender inequality in the Abia State House of Assembly.

“We’re the first party that has positioned women in a way that they’ll be part of leadership. We have women with high-class qualifications that we’re presenting in various positions.

“In Aba Central we have Anastasia Odochi Uchenna, a well-recognised broadcaster in this city. We also have Graceline Okoh in Ohafia North. A well-recognised human resource person.

“They’re not just women; they’re very much qualified, just like their male counterparts, if not better than them. They’re equally young.

“So, we can comfortably say that we’re giving opportunities to women and youths to be part of leadership. I’ve also seen another lady’s name in Isuikwuato and Umunneochi.”

Kalu said that for a nation like Nigeria and a state like Abia that are in serious need of innovations and leaders with empathy, relegating the youths and women is tantamount to underdevelopment.

He stressed that he decided to join the race because he sees Abia State as a work in progress that needs the contributions of the best brains that know much about the foundation of the state and where to build from.

Kalu said that as commissioner that served in two ministries, the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Trade and Investment, he distinguished himself with remarkable records that can be seen in Ariaria International Market and other notable places.