Politics
NANCY PELOSI ANNOUNCES SHE WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION, ENDING HISTORIC CAREER
Rep. Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday she will not run for reelection next year, concluding a nearly four-decade congressional career that made her the first woman Speaker of the House and one of the most powerful figures in American politics. “I will not be seeking reelection to Congress. With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your representative,” Pelosi, 85, said in a video released to her constituents in San Francisco.
Pelosi, who has served in Congress for 36 years, encouraged her city to continue its leadership. “My message to the city I love is this: San Francisco, know your power,” she said. “We have made history. We have made progress. We have always led the way.” She added, “And now we must continue to do so by remaining full participants in our democracy and fighting for the American ideals we hold dear.”
Her decision ricocheted across Washington as a seasoned generation of political leaders steps aside. Pelosi remains a political powerhouse and her departure triggers a succession battle in her district and leaves questions about who will fill her behind-the-scenes leadership role. She noted that her first campaign slogan was “a voice that will be heard,” a promise she fulfilled by becoming a speaker “whose voice would certainly be heard.”
Pelosi’s legacy is marked by landmark legislative achievements. During her first term as Speaker, she steered the passage of the Affordable Care Act, Dodd-Frank financial reforms, and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” After Democrats regained control in the 2018 midterms, she became the first speaker in 50 years to reclaim the gavel, leading the House through two impeachments of President Donald Trump.
Her tenure was also defined by personal challenges. Her husband, Paul Pelosi, was gravely injured in a hammer attack by an intruder at their home three years ago. Last year, she sustained a hip fracture during a congressional visit to Europe but was noted for her grit, appearing in a group photo smiling on her stiletto heels before surgery.
The decision comes as Pelosi quietly helped orchestrate Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, and as she faced a potential primary challenge from left-wing newcomers in her district. Ahead of the 2026 elections, figures like Saikat Chakrabarti and state Sen. Scott Wiener were reportedly considering runs.
After Democrats lost the House in the 2022 midterm elections, Pelosi announced she would not seek another term as party leader, instead taking on the title of Speaker Emerita. An architect of major policy and an unmatched fundraiser for her party, Pelosi’s nearly 40-year career in public office leaves an indelible mark on the Capitol.
Politics
2027 Shake-Up: Kogi Governor Allegedly Double-Dealing, Campaigns for Opposition in Mopamuro
In a development sending shockwaves through Kogi State politics, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has been accused of orchestrating support for opposition candidates, raising fresh questions about his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to an APC chieftain in Mopamuro Local Government Area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the governor directed his political appointees led by the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo to campaign for ADC’s Hon. Leke Abejide in his bid for a third term in the House of Representatives.
Eyewitnesses said the rally saw appointees don T-shirts and caps celebrating APC achievements but without any party logos, creating confusion about their political stance.
Many APC faithful reportedly resisted participating, with some sustaining minor injuries after falling off vehicles during the walk.
Following the event, appointees from Mopamuro were allegedly summoned to a meeting where they were given an ultimatum: support the ADC candidate or resign.
The insider claimed this move undermines the rotational arrangement in Yagba Federal Constituency, where Mopamuro is expected to produce the next representative.
“It is astonishing that a sitting governor would order his own appointees to campaign for a candidate of another party,” the source said. “It smacks of double-dealing and raises serious questions about his political intentions.”
Attempts to reach Governor Ododo and Commissioner Fanwo for comment were unsuccessful.
Political analysts warn that if these claims are substantiated, they could spark internal crises within APC and reshape the electoral landscape in Kogi State ahead of 2027.
The Lagos State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has distanced itself from a lawsuit currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja, stating that it neither authorised nor endorsed the legal action.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the party’s state leadership clarified that the suit, reportedly filed on behalf of ADC state chairmen and executive committees nationwide, does not represent the position of the Lagos chapter.
State Chairman Gbenga Asiru said the chapter was not consulted prior to the filing of the case and did not grant approval to any individual or group to act on its behalf.
“The action represents the personal position of the named plaintiffs and does not reflect the stance of ADC Lagos State,” the statement read.
The chapter reaffirmed its commitment to internal democracy, the rule of law, and unity within the party, stressing that while individuals have the right to seek judicial interpretation, such actions must not be portrayed as collective decisions.
ADC Lagos added that it remains focused on strengthening its internal structures and advancing the interests of its members and supporters.
The Labour Party (LP) has scheduled May 23, 2026, for its presidential primaries as part of early preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The decision was announced in a communiqué issued after the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, which was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to the timetable approved by NEC, the party will submit its membership register on April 15, while primaries for governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly positions are slated for May 15.
The council also ratified actions taken by the party’s leadership under Senators Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwochocha. These include the conduct of ward, local government, and state congresses scheduled for March 26, 28, and 31, respectively, as well as the national convention fixed for April 11.
NEC reviewed recent developments within the party, particularly the invasion of its national secretariat by suspected hoodlums, allegedly backed by “rogue elements,” describing the incident as a grave violation of party order.
“Following a detailed review of the report and recommendations of the Peace, Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committee,” the communiqué stated, “NEC exercised its disciplinary authority and approved the suspension of members involved in acts of indiscipline, anti-party activities, and complicity in the desecration of the party’s national secretariat.”
The party further disclosed plans to expand its membership register through a hybrid system that combines digital and manual processes. It noted that the initiative is aimed at modernising its database, strengthening internal democracy, and improving transparency and efficiency in line with the Electoral Act 2026.
To maintain continuity, NEC resolved that all existing vacancies within party structures would be filled through interim appointments. It added that such positions would be occupied in an acting capacity pending the conduct of substantive congresses.
The council also urged members to adopt internal dispute resolution mechanisms to safeguard unity as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections.