The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

  • Kano Deputy Gov under pressure to resign

    Kano Deputy Gov under pressure to resign

    The fate of Kano Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo is hanging in the balance after Governor Abba Yusuf defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Gwarzo has refused to follow him to the ruling party. 

    Following the defection, many political appointees loyal to the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, resigned their positions, including Kwankwaso’s son, Mustapha, who was Commissioner of Youth and Sports Development.

    Their decision to quit the cabinet follows the disagreement between Yusuf and his benefactor Kwankwaso.

    The Governor moved to APC against Kwankwaso’s approval, insisting it was in a “broader interest of Kano state.”

    The Deputy Governor however, refused to defect to the APC, choosing instead to remain loyal to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the NNPP.

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    This decision has led to mounting pressure on Gwarzo to resign with Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, urging him to step down, citing a lack of trust and loyalty.

    But Gwarzo’s position is that he was elected on a joint ticket with Governor Yusuf and is constitutionally entitled to remain in office.

    The NNPP has condemned calls for his resignation, insisting he remains a bona fide member of NNPP and a key component of the Yusuf administration.

    The are rumours the State Government may be considering impeachment proceedings against Gwarzo if he refuses to resign and continues absconding functions presided over by the Governor.

    With 22 lawmakers defecting to the APC

    alongside Governor Yusuf, the ruling party has a comfortable two-third majority in the House of Assembly, making it easier to push through legislative actions, including impeachment.

  • APC e-registration hits 7 million, reschedules congresses

    APC e-registration hits 7 million, reschedules congresses

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has registered over 7 million members in its ongoing nationwide electronic membership registration exercise.

    The party also extended the exercise scheduled to round off on Saturday, January 31 to February 8 to accommodate the high demand and enthusiastic response from potential and existing members.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, disclosed these to newsmen after the 183rd meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on Friday in Abuja 

    He said the extension of the registration exercise was a direct response to widespread clamor from party stakeholders.

    According to Morka: “With respect to the e-registration, there’s no complicated explanation. We just want more members to register,” adding that, “the extension was in response to the clamor by enthusiastic members who are hoping to register, to afford them more time. 

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    “As of now, we have crossed the mark of 7 million… By the grace of God, by the time we are closing on the 8th of February, we should have crossed the mark of 12.5 million.”

    Reaffirming the primary aim of the e-registration was part of the party’s push to digitalise its records, ensure data integrity, promote financial inclusion and align with national legal standards. 

    He noted the APC has become the first major political party in Nigeria to fully digitalise its membership register, setting a precedent for internal democracy and modernisation.

    Applauding the registration exercise as “tremendously successful”,  APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, maintained that the requests for extension of the exercise came from various stakeholders, including state-level leaders and the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).

    Basiru said: “The e-registration has been tremendously successful. We have received requests from many states that there are so many members that are still eager to register… Based on that request, particularly by the body of the Governors Forum at the meeting we held with them the day before yesterday, that was why the National Working Committee decided to extend.”

    Morka also announced that ward congresses will hold on Wednesday, February 18 while the National Convention is scheduled for 27–28, March 2026. 

    He added that Osun and Ekiti States as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are excluded from scheduled congresses due to upcoming elections while Rivers State is excluded due to the subsisting tenure the current executive committees of the party in the State.  

    The party spokesman further said that details on the adjusted Congress and National Convention timetable and schedule of activities and composition of the National Convention Planning Committee will be announced on Monday

  • Minister charges information officers to align messaging with Renewed Hope Agenda

    Minister charges information officers to align messaging with Renewed Hope Agenda

    Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called on information officers to ensure that government communication is unified, credible, and aligned with the administration’s agenda.

    Speaking at an interactive session with Directors of Information and Resident Information Officers (RIOs) across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), the minister emphasised that coordinated communication is essential for advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    The session, themed “Aligning Public Information with the Renewed Hope Agenda: Rebuilding Trust through Effective, Transparent Communication,” focused on strengthening public trust through professionalism and consistency.

    “Public trust is our most important capital. Once credibility is lost, no amount of messaging can fix it,” Idris said, stressing that honesty, credibility, and consistency must guide the work of all information officers. He warned that fragmented messaging and parallel communication channels weaken government credibility and create confusion, insisting that the government must communicate with a single, clear voice.

    The minister urged RIOs to act as active partners within their host MDAs, engaging proactively with Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, and agency leadership. He highlighted professionalism, relevance, and initiative as key to earning trust and influence.

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    Addressing the challenges posed by misinformation and rapid digital media, Idris noted the importance of timely and accurate communication, stressing that delays often create space for false narratives.

    While reaffirming the government’s commitment to freedom of expression, he emphasized that it must be exercised responsibly.

    Idris also outlined steps to strengthen the professionalism of the information cadre, including mandatory reporting, improved deployment processes, continuous training, and enhanced institutional support.

    He disclosed that the government has begun restoring the National Institute of Public Information to boost capacity-building for public communicators.

    He concluded by calling for teamwork and mutual respect, reminding participants that they play a central role in projecting government policies and achievements, and must align their efforts with the priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    The event was attended by the SSA to the President on Media and Special Duties, Tunde Rahman; the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Ogbodo Chinansa Nnam; the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali Mohammed-Ali, represented by Editor-in-Chief Mufutau Ojo; the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and Malam Jibrin Ndace, Director General of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Malam Salihu Dembos, amongst others.

  • Pass special seat bill for women, group appeals to NASS

    Pass special seat bill for women, group appeals to NASS

    A pro-gender equality group, Male Feminists Network (MFN),  has appealed to the National Assembly to pass the special seat bill for women in the legislative arm ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

    Project Director for the network, Dr. Otive Igbuzor made the appeal in Abuja during a two-day capacity-building programme for women’s rights organisations on engaging male allies.

    The human development expert lamented that the country has one of the global worst records of women participation in politics, stressing that the lawmakers have a patriotic role to play in changing the narratives.

    Igbuzor noted that African countries with increased women participation in politics did it through constitutional provisions. 

    He advised the National Assembly to do the needful and pass the bill.

    According to the Male Feminist enthusiast: “The 10th National Assembly would be writing its name in gold if they pass the special seat bill for women in order to boost women participation in politics and in decision making.”

    Highlighting the efforts of the network at curbing gender-based violence (GBV) and promote gender equality across the country, Igbuzor said no fewer than 3,200 Nigerian men have been trained and certified as feminist allies under the MFN project.

    He said the two-year national project (2025–2027) implemented by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD) has been executed through six zonal partners covering Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

    He added that the initiative was created to address a long-standing gap in gender justice advocacy—mobilising men to take responsibility for dismantling patriarchy rather than remaining silent beneficiaries of unequal systems.

    According to him: “Patriarchy is produced, enforced, and defended within male-dominated systems. It cannot be dismantled without men changing their beliefs, behaviours, and use of power,” he said.

    To actualise the initiative, Igbuzor said 52 master trainers nationwide were trained, adding that they cascaded the training to over 500 additional trainers across the six geopolitical zones of the country

    He added that the project has also the launch of the world’s first online course dedicated exclusively to Male Feminism and GBV prevention. 

    According to him: “Since its introduction, the platform has attracted 8,552 participants, with 3,150 Nigerians successfully completing the course and earning certification.

    “These men are not just learning; they are taking action—leading conversations in their communities, challenging harmful gender norms, and supporting women’s rights initiatives,” Igbuzor noted.

  • How realignment will benefit Plateau, by Mutfwang

    How realignment will benefit Plateau, by Mutfwang

    Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang spoke with reporters in Jos, the state capital, shortly after the rally marking his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), on the gains of realignment of forces. Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reports

    What motivated you to join the All Progressives Congress (APC)?

    To be honest with you, in July to be precise, the President reached out to me and asked me to consider coming over to the APC. I politely declined because my assessment then of the political dynamics of the Plateau.

    There was no need for me to contemplate leaving the PDP at that point in time. But you will also recall that from September thereabout, the PDP began to wobble seriously. It got to the point where, as an insider, I became aware, as one of our elders said, that the PDP had fallen into the hands of undertakers.

    At that point, the question was whether I was still going on with 2027 or not. I likened it to having a very serious appointment, like a wedding, ahead of you, and the vehicle you are travelling in breaks down very irreparably. You are forced at that point either to look for a mechanic or to look for another vehicle.

    Going into 2027, I needed a platform. When I looked at it and saw that the PDP was not likely going to become a viable platform for 2027, I had to think of an option. The options were either to look for a new political party or to accept the invitation by the President.

    When I did my own intelligence gathering about the state of parties in Nigeria, I found that it was least dangerous for me to respond to the President than to think of a new platform. I have never believed in the gladiators in the ADC, for example, and I didn’t think that was an option for me.

    Earlier in the year, the circumstances were entirely different. After that, events began to emerge that I never contemplated, which forced me to have a rethink. It is that rethink that has brought me to this point now, where, after much consultation, I thought it was safer to go with the APC.

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    You’ve had so much development in terms of education, agriculture and other sectors when you were with the PDP. Now that you have aligned with the centre, what do we expect in terms of more development for the state?

    For me, it is to expect more collaboration, more enhancement and more support to continue what we have started doing. I must be honest, we haven’t witnessed too much hostility from the Federal Government. At least, in the last one year plus, I think I’ve enjoyed considerable collaboration with the Federal Government.

    Now that I’m part of the family, I expect even more enhanced collaboration in the future. What is emerging is that Plateau State is becoming like the jewel of the crown in the North Central. I believe that all the potential to harvest votes on the Plateau will be nurtured so that we can deliver on the potential and produce that we hold.

    Your Excellency, let’s rewind events of the past for replay. You were at Ibadan, at Adamashigua Stadium, and there were expulsion of your colleagues. You later objected to. Why?

    I objected out of principle because it was done surreptitiously. There was no conversation around it that I was privy to, and I felt that a decision of such magnitude should not just be taken by a few people. Moreover, I didn’t see the purpose it was going to achieve. It was only going to deepen the divide, and as you can see, the situation has worsened since then.

    If you followed the trend last week, there was a particular fiasco in court, which is like walking into a trap. Before you get out of such entanglement, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. I thought it was a wrong strategy to take control of the party.

     When a new governor comes into the APC, there is a problem of harmonising structures. How are you going to go about it to foster peace and harmony?

    For us on the Plateau, we are lucky. The key gladiators we would have had issues with have demonstrated sufficient understanding. Former Governor Lalong, who is my predecessor, publicly told the world that I am now the new leader. Once you have a leadership structure, it is not difficult to harmonise positions.

    On my own part, I know it is not a winner-takes-all situation. You have to have a likeness of hearts to ensure that all and sundry are accommodated under the same roof.

    How was your leadership able to achieve the relative peace in the state?

    As you rightly observed, December was one of the most peaceful in the recent history of the Plateau. If you came here on the 31st of December, I was there. That is a reflection of the relative peace we are talking about. It didn’t just take place in Jos; virtually all local governments experienced relative peace.

    It is the result of concerted efforts. It is not happenstance. We have been lucky to stumble upon credible, actionable intelligence that helps us nip potential threats in the bud. You don’t get intelligence without cultivating friendships and relationships. Where you cultivate the right relationships, people volunteer information. This is what we have been doing over the last two years.

    In the last three months particularly, the body language of the President has changed. It has given more clarity to the security agencies to deal with the situation. They now feel empowered by the political leadership to do the needful, and I think that has changed a lot.

    Plateau is historically a PDP state, coming from the works of people like the late Chief Solomon Lar. Now that you are taking PDP strength into the APC, are the grassroots part of this?

    Plateau people are rational voters. They know when to trust the judgement of their leader. Many people may not necessarily be current members of the APC, but they have shown commitment that wherever we go, they are with us. At the end of the day, it is not party membership but voter support that matters.

    Since we made the decision to cross over, we have been engaging the grassroots. Many of them only wanted to be spoken to and to hear the reasoning behind our decision. Leaders across faith and ethnicity have come to appreciate the rationale.

    We are continuing the engagement. I am a grassroots politician. Energising your base is critical, and we will intensify that in the days ahead.

    On tangible benefits, the road project is now with the legal department of the Ministry of Works. Contracts are being tidied up, and mobilisation should begin soon. The President has assured me it is a legacy project.

    Investments in livestock development are also coming. We are determined to recover the Wase Grazing Reserve. Livestock development has the capacity to bring prosperity. We are developing the entire value chain, from feed to milk production. We are also building a new abattoir capable of slaughtering 500 cows a day.

    The Vice President also mentioned recruitment into the forest service. Plateau has been allocated 1,000 slots, which will help in returning IDPs to their communities.

    Any guarantee for second term ticket?

    On guarantees, tradition in Nigeria ensures first-term governors get second-term tickets. I am confident the President is a man of his word. Beyond that, we will bring value to the APC. Plateau State has the potential to influence Middle Belt voting blocs significantly.

    Given past hostility between parties, how do you translate conflict energy into development?

    At a point, maturity sets in. We choose collaboration over conflict. The endorsement by the National Chairman was reassuring and energising. It put fears to rest and strengthened commitment.

    We must take our political destiny into our hands and ensure our votes count in national politics post-2027.

  • Six aspirants eye Edo South APC ticket

    Six aspirants eye Edo South APC ticket

    Senator Neda Imasuen is eyeing another term at the Senate to represent Edo South, but some APC leaders are bent on stopping him. Correspondent OSAGIE OTABOR reports

    The race for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to contest the Edo South senatorial seat has begun. Senator Neda Imasuen currently occupies the seat. Those interested have started setting up political structures across the seven local government areas that make up Edo South. They are doing all they can within their political means to secure the support of Governor Monday Okpebholo, the leader of Edo APC.

    Interestingly, the race for the APC ticket is crowded with political warlords who are serial contestants. They are incumbent Senator Neda Imasuen, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Valentine Asuen, Lucky Imasuen, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama. Aspirants in opposition political parties are yet to declare their interest.

    Past senators who have represented Edo South are Daisy Danjuma, Roland Owie, Ehigie Uzamere, and Matthew Urhoghide. Senator Uzamere was the first Edo South senator to return for a second term after he defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    His successor, Matthew Urhoghide, also got a second term, but previous senators from Edo South lost their seats after serving four years.

    It appears there is a gang-up against the return of Senator Imaseun to the Senate. Political observers believed that it would be a herculean task for Senator Imasuen to win the APC ticket. He won the election riding on the 2023 Labour Party (LP) tsunami with Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate.

    He recently defected to the APC and has since become a rallying force for the party. Imasuen served as a Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Urhoghide from 2015 to 2023. Urhoghide’s attempt to secure a third term failed when he lost the PDP primary. Senator Imasuen joined the LP and won the election against all odds.

    Some APC leaders backing Imasuen said he remained the best to pick the party’s ticket, having empowered over 10,000 women, youths, and artisans under various support schemes. They argued that he spent two years in the Senate as an opposition LP member and needed more time there for Edo South to rank among the top senators, rather than having a neophyte in 2027.

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    A chieftain of the Edo APC, who pleaded anonymity, cautioned Edo South electorates against promoting a politics of cultural consideration and instead to support a process that would produce effective legislators, public servants, and political actors with strong relationships with their different constituents and underdeveloped communities.

    He said it was time to embrace positive trajectories and to promote people with character and capacity to meet their expectations.

    The chieftain cautioned that the concentration of power in the hands of those who see political office as an industry to promote their self-interest would be a drawback to Edo South, blessed with natural and human resources.

    According to him, “The Benins must play more interest in the political process that will produce those to be saddled with the responsibility of overseeing their interest.

    “They must take a closer look at anyone who had the opportunity in the past but wasted it on the altar of selfish interest, nepotism, and outright plundering of resources. This nepotic practice of favouring family members, and cronyism by Benins, which makes them favour friends or long-term associates, even when such persons are not qualified, has hindered good governance, promoted corruption, and led to inefficient public service in Edo South.

    “Edo South people must look inward and stop raising dust where there is none. Placing unqualified individuals in key positions will continue to hinder their progress.”

    Osagie Ize-Iyamu

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu has been a relevant player in Edo South politics and the state at large over the past 24 years. Pastor Ize-Iyamu has reportedly met with his supporters and informed them about his ambition. His shot at the governorship slot in 2016 and 2020 failed.

    His supporters have taken to social media to drum up support for him. He knows how to play the game and is very calculative. Ize-Iyamu is the greatest threat to Senator Imaseun, as his structure has remained intact. He served as Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government to Governor Lucky Igbinedion between 1999 and 2007.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu was the brain behind the formation of the Grace Group, under whose platform Adams Oshiomhole rode to power in 2008. He is believed to have the backing of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

    Valentine Asuen

    Asuen was the APC State Youth Leader. He was also the APC candidate for Edo South in the 2023 general elections, but was defeated by Senator Imaseun. Asuen banks on the support of Oshiomhole and Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa. He is currently the Chairman of the Edo State Forestry Commission. He is currently suspended from the APC for his alleged ambition to run for the Senate.

    Matthew Urhoghide

    Senator Urhoghide won election to the Senate twice under the PDP. He has reportedly informed Senator Imaseun of his ambition to return to the Senate. Urhoghide lost his bid for a third time to Matthew Iduoriyekemwen for a shot at the Senate.

    Urhoghide is banking on Governor Okpebholo’s endorsement.

    Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama

    Ogbeide-Ihama served in the House of Representatives between 2015 and 2023. He is an ally of the Minister of FCT, Abuja, Nyesom Wike. He is said to be campaigning on a political arrangement between Governor Okpebholo and the legacy PDP group.

    Lucky Imasuen

    Lucky Imasuen was Deputy Governor of Edo State under Osarhiemen Osunbor. He was also Chief of Staff to Igbinedion. Imaseun lost at the APC primary to Asuen.

  • What next after Yusuf’s defection?

    What next after Yusuf’s defection?

    The defection of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and other chieftains of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a major blow to the Kwakwansiyya Movement leader, Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso. Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the implications of the allegiance shift for 2027 polls

    Kano State is electorally sought-after state. Its population, both in quality and quantity, is huge and intimidating. In the Northwest, it is a poll-confident state reputed for swinging the pendulum of victory in any presidential election.

    Until two weeks ago, the leader of the Kwakwansiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, held the ace. The former governor was the undisputed leader of the state and arrowhead of the small but mighty state chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), on which platform Abba Yusuf became governor in 2023.

    Today, the party is decimated, following the defection of the governor, nine federal legislators, commissioners, special advisers and local government chairmen to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Yusuf bade farewell to Kwankwaso, his father-inlaw, to become the state leader of APC and commander of the 2027 battle against the former governor and other followers. Incidentally, Kwankwaso, who was about opening discussion with APC, foot-dragged before his former protege took the initiative.

    A source said the governor and his benefactor parted ways a long time ago, and there were speculations that Yusuf complained about highhandedness. Feelers also suggested that Kwankwaso may not be thinking about upholding Yusuf’s ambition for second term. As the source disclosed, the deputy governor seems to enjoy a higher rating.

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    The governor is smart. He is conscious of the fact that APC needs Kano just as he too needs a second term. The alugnment of interests was a factor in his decision to jump ship.

    However, there are still hurdles to cross. The governor’s influence would still be moderated in APC by his two predecessors – Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who has embraced him, and Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, who is also expected in the fold.

    Despite becoming the state party leader, the governor has to grapple with the challenge of harmonisation of structures. He is new in the party that has been continuously nurtured by his arch-rivals, particularly Senate President Jibrin Barau, who has been mobilising the party and state for the second term ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Eyes have also been on the senator as a potential governorship candidate of the ruling party before the defection. Through his mobilisation activities, empowerment programmes  scholarship schemes and financial oiling of the party structures in Kano, Barau has built a solid reputation as a loyal and dependable ally of the president.

     Since 2023, the senator has put his hand on the plough without looking back. He had vowed to reclaim Kano from NNPP.  Therefore, he embarked on a membership drive in Kano, with a view to solidifying APC’s political base ahead of the 2027 elections.

    Before Yusuf’s decision to defect, Barau has attracted many opposition figures to Kano APC.

    He also sensitised the people and impressed it on them the need to support the president to attact more democratic dividends to the state.  Success had attended his mobilisation of the people. Many followers of Kwankwaso had defected to the APC and joined him in the campaign to solidify the party structures. The defectors were given a sense of belonging.

    A source said: “Within the short time, the growing influence of the Deputy Senate President put the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement on edge, ahead of 2027 elections. Despite the influence of the NNPP as the ruling party in Kano, Barau has refused to be intimidated. Although NNPP won the governorship and presidential elections, he fought a good fight in Kano North, winning his senatorial seat and delivering the district to President Tinubu.

    “Due to its defeat, APC was boxed into the opposition in Kano. Undeterred by the blow of fate, Barau decided to stay in the gap and he has been the leading figure in maintaining the APC machineries in the state since then.

    “Apart from keeping the party’s soul together with the support of Ganduje, the state chairman, and other leaders, Barau has succeeded in wooing hundreds of NNPP and Kwankwsiyya Movement top figures to the APC, to the surprise of their leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso.”

    The source added: “To observers, the foundation laid by Barau, paved the way for the defection of Senator Kawu Sumaila, two other members of the House of Representatives, Kabiru Rurum (Rano/Kibiya/Bunkure) and Abdullahi Sani Rogo (Karaye/Rogo), and former Secretary to Kano State Government, Dr. Baffa Bichi.

    “Other defectors are: former members of House of Representatives, Badamasi Ayuba (Danbatta/Makoda) and Sha’aban Sharada (Kano Municipal); former state lawmaker, Zubairu Hamza Masu, and two former commissioners in the NNPP government, Muhammad Diggol and Abbas Sani Abbas,” the source said, adding that “If Barau had not made the strategic interventions, Kano APC’s chance of survival would have remained slim in the state it governed for eight years.”

    Barau has expanded his intervention programmes to the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano, just as beneficiaries of his foreign scholarship scheme are selected from the three senatorial districts. Similarly, another hundreds of graduates were recently selected from the three senatorial zones for domestic postgraduate scholarships.

    Speaking during one of the empowerment events, the state chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, highlighted Barau’s role in sustaining the party since it was displaced by the NNPP.

    “Barau is the senator for all in Kano State. He represents Kano North, but he is for the people of Kano Central, Kano South and everybody. Let me tell you that today, this man is the one sponsoring the party ever since we lost the election in Kano.”

    Echoing his submissions, Abdulmajid Danbilki, a chieftain of APC, said Barau has succeeded in taming the NNPP in Kano, adding that it explains why its leaders are desirous to switch camps to the APC.

    He added: “Senator Barau is the only politician from the North capable of challenging Kwankwaso and the NNPP. He has consistently confronted them through various interventions and policies. If anyone picks a candidate for the Kano governorship seat in 2027 other than Barau, we will not win.

    “No one can deliver Kano like Senator Barau. He is a grassroots politician who understands the intricacies of politics at all levels. The entire northern Nigeria is proud of him.”

    Recently, gladiators in the state endorsed Barau for governor. His Chief of Staff, Muhammad Ibn Abdullahi, who spoke during the endorsement, said it underscored the people’s confidence in his leadershio ability.

    He added: “This is the first time in the history of this state that people from every corner have come together to ask one person to run for governor. Representatives from all 44 local governments, NGOs, civic organisations, former political office holders, and countless support groups are united in one voice — asking His Excellency Senator Barau Jibrin to answer their call.

    “His generosity and development initiatives cut across party lines. Even those outside the APC are beneficiaries of his scholarships, hospital projects, and employment opportunities.”

    The Chairman of NorthwestDevelopmentCommission,, Prof. Abdullahi Iben Maji, was in the same frame of mind. Lauding his role in the creation of the commission, he described the Deputy Senate President as a visionary leader whose contributions to development is beyond Kano.

    He said: “Barau initiated the idea of the Northwest Development Commission in 2019. It took years of persistent effort, but through his leadership and with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support, the Act was finally signed into law. Today, the North-West and other regions are beneficiaries of his foresight.

    “Every higher institution in Kano State has felt his impact. Just recently, he facilitated scholarships of N50,000 each for students across Kano North. His intervention in the health sector is equally remarkable, with the construction of a state-of-the-art cardiovascular centre and paediatrics facility at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital — the first of its kind in West Africa. He has donated 1,000 motorcycles to the police for community surveillance and continues to support party structures across 484 wards.”

    A source said the party has to compensate Barau, if the ticket has been kept for Yusuf.

    While Barau is a loyal party man who cannot rock the boat, Yusuf should definitely expect a fight from his former leader, Kwankwaso. The former governor has been a factor in Kano since 1999. But he is not unstoppable. In 2003, he lost to Shekarau,  who ran on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), majorly because the late President Muhammadu Buhari was the presidential candidate and many Northerners wanted power shift.

    But there is no durability of politics of affection in Kano State. Ahead of 2007, crisis had broken out between Shekarau and Buhari. But Shekarau survived, although he could not handover to a preferred successor.

    Before the 2011 general elections, the major opposition in the state was the PDP, which lost the state in 2003, not only because of the implementation of Sharia, which the defunct ANPP capitalised on, but owing largely to the in-fighting within the party.  Even in 2007, but for its internal wrangling, the party would have won the governorship, in spite of the fact that it fielded a relatively unknown politician in the state, Garba Bichi, as its candidate. In 2011,  Kwankwaso, a former Minister of Defence, returned to Kano Government House.

    From that time, the state came under his firm grip. He handed the batton to Ganduje in 2015. When he joined the APC, Shekarau left the party. Curiously, Kwankwaso and Ganduje also parted ways after the poll over the selection of commissioners and special advisers. The rift could not be resolved. Quarrel also broke out over Kwankwaso’s presidential bid, which Ganduje could not endorsed. Kwankwaso retraced his steps to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The battle was tough in 2019. Although APC won the presidential election decisively, 1,464, 768 to PDP’s 391, 593 votes, the governorship poll was tougher. The exercise was inconvlusive, warranting a rerun won by Ganduje.

    Kwankwaso later defected to the NNPP, field Yusuf in 2023 and sacked APC from Kano Government House in 2023.

    With Yusuf’s defection to the APC, a big fight is expected. Kwakwanso cannot let go easily. He depends on his fanatical supporters, despite the split.

    Yusuf is no more under his wings. He can now lean on the federal might as an added advantage. But the governor needs the cooperation of the gladiators in the party. He needs to forge unity and ensure cohesion.

  • ADC disowns planned southwest zonal exco inauguration

    ADC disowns planned southwest zonal exco inauguration

    Cracks have emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following the circulation of a notice announcing the inauguration of a new South West zonal executive, a move the party’s national leadership has dismissed as unauthorized.

    The controversy centres on a purported inauguration of the South West Chairman, Rahman Owokoniran, and other zonal executives, scheduled for January 31, 2026, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    An invitation for the event listed the Oyo State Chairman of the party, Yinka Olona, as host.

    However, the ADC national secretariat swiftly disowned the planned event, describing it as part of ongoing power play and internal manoeuvring within the opposition party.

    Reacting on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed the inauguration in a disclaimer issued via his official X platform, making it clear that the exercise did not have the approval or backing of the national leadership.

    Read Also: Hussein faults ADC leadership, berates Aregbesola over ‘undemocratic’ comments 

    “This is to inform the general public that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has not appointed any South West Chairman. Furthermore, the ADC is not inaugurating any South West Chairman at this time.

    “The public is therefore advised to take note of this information and exercise caution regarding any claims or activities suggesting otherwise,” the NPS tweeted.

    Party sources said the development reflects unresolved internal disagreements within the ADC over leadership structures and authority, particularly at the sub-national level.

    The ADC, which has attracted a coalition of politicians opposed to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has in recent months been working to consolidate its internal organs ahead of future political engagements.

    However, the latest episode suggests that internal coordination challenges persist in some regions.

    As of the time of filing this report, no further clarification had been issued by the organisers of the proposed inauguration, while the national leadership maintained that only activities sanctioned by the party’s recognised structures remain valid.

  • PDP’s Gbenga Hashim slams ethnic rhetoric, warns against north–south divide

    PDP’s Gbenga Hashim slams ethnic rhetoric, warns against north–south divide

    Presidential hopeful of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has condemned what he described as attempts by aides of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stoke regional and ethnic divisions, warning that such actions undermine Nigeria’s unity.

    Hashim said the renewed push for a North–South narrative by elements within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is a political distraction aimed at deflecting attention from economic challenges and governance concerns under the Tinubu administration.

    Reacting to a statement attributed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Hashim described the approach as “reckless” and harmful to Nigeria’s national security interests.

    “Dividing Nigeria along regional lines in order to evade accountability for governance failures is dangerous and unacceptable. It amounts to a betrayal of the oath to uphold the unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

    Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the PDP chieftain dismissed arguments based on rotational presidency, insisting that Nigerians are more concerned about competence, accountability, and effective governance than symbolic power-sharing arrangements.

    “Nigerians are not asking for a Northern or Southern president. They are asking for a competent president, one who can revive the economy, secure lives and property, and unite the country around a shared future of Prosperity,” he stated.

    Hashim reminded the APC that both regions have had substantial opportunities to govern Nigeria since 1999, noting that the South has produced presidents for approximately 17 years, while the North has governed for about 10 years within the same democratic period.

    Read Also: 2027: North Central PDP chairmen back Gbenga Hashim

    “Leadership failure cannot be blamed on geography. Both regions have governed. What matters now is performance, not origin,” he said.

    He warned that resurrecting ethnic narratives at a time of deep economic distress, rising insecurity, and social fragmentation only exposes the ruling party’s lack of credible solutions.

    “Using ethnicity and region to mask incompetence is not only lazy politics, it is also a direct insult to Nigerians who are struggling to survive,” Hashim added.

    Calling on citizens across the country to reject divisive politics, Hashim stressed that the APC would not be able to hide behind regional sentiment in the next election cycle.

    “Come 2027, Nigerians will vote for leadership, not tribal loyalty. The era of emotional blackmail is over,” he concluded.

  • Hussein faults ADC leadership, berates Aregbesola over ‘undemocratic’ comments 

    Hussein faults ADC leadership, berates Aregbesola over ‘undemocratic’ comments 

    A former senator who represented Osun West at the Senate, Mudashiru Hussein, has criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the party as lacking cohesive leadership, a clear structure, a defined ideology, and a long-term political organisation.

    Hussein also berated the ADC’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, over his recent assertion that the defection of governors would not influence President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election prospects or the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s chances in the 2027 general elections.

    Aregbesola had earlier referenced the APC’s performance in Lagos State during the 2023 elections, projecting a similar outcome nationwide in 2027.

    Reacting in a statement, Hussein, a former ally of Aregbesola in Lagos and Osun states, described the former governor’s remarks as an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.

    He said, “The claim by the ADC National scribe is selective in interpretation and detached from the historical and practical realities of Nigeria’s political evolution. The sanctity of the people’s vote remains non-negotiable; it is intellectually dishonest to strip elections of the roles played by leadership, structure, ideology, and long-term political organisation, which ADC lacks.

    “Democracy thrives on the will of the people, but that will is shaped, mobilised, and protected by credible political leadership. To suggest otherwise is to oversimplify a complex democratic process.”

    Read Also: ADC tasks Oyegun, Utomi, Lukman with policy, manifesto

    He noted that the progressive movement was never built on spontaneous popularity but on years of grassroots engagement, policy-driven governance, and disciplined party organisation.

    “These elements were central to electoral successes recorded across different levels of government over the years. National elections are decided by aggregate national confidence, not by fragmented local outcomes. Leadership at the centre is earned through vision, experience, and the ability to build broad coalitions across the country, like our mentor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had led the tendency which produced us.”

    Husain further argued that governors and political leaders do not merely control votes, but play strategic roles in stabilising party systems, mobilising citizens, and sustaining democratic institutions, which are roles that cannot be dismissed without undermining the very system that produced past electoral victories.

    The erstwhile NPC federal commissioner concluded by urging political leaders and commentators to avoid revisionist narratives and instead focus on deepening democratic culture through constructive engagement, institutional respect, and commitment to the collective political journey that has shaped modern governance in Nigeria.