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  • Why Senator Abu Ibrahim is ideal choice for APC interim chairman

    Why Senator Abu Ibrahim is ideal choice for APC interim chairman

    • By Gbenga Ashaolu

    As the All Progressives Congress (APC) navigates a critical juncture following the recent resignation of Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman, the party stands at a crossroads. With the Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori, stepping in as an acting replacement, pending the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to appoint a substantive Chairman, the need for a unifying and experienced leader has never been more pressing. Among the potential candidates, Senator Abu Ibrahim emerges as a compelling choice to steer the APC forward, particularly as the party prepares for its December 2025 Annual Convention and the 2027 General Elections.

    Senator Abu Ibrahim’s deep-rooted commitment to Nigeria’s political landscape is evident in his decades-long service. A key figure in the merger talks that birthed the APC in 2013, he played a pivotal role in bringing together leaders like General Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, laying the foundation for the party’s rise as a dominant political force.

    His ability to foster collaboration across party lines was honed during his tenure in the Senate of the Third Republic (1992-1993), where he forged a lasting friendship with Senator Bola Tinubu despite their affiliations with different parties—the National Republican Convention and the Social Democratic Party, respectively. This detribalized approach and willingness to work beyond partisan divides mark him as a natural bridgebuilder.

    His political journey further underscores his resilience and dedication. Serving as an elected Senator for Katsina South Senatorial District (Funtua Zone) across multiple terms—1992-1993, 2003-2007 (under ANPP), 2011-2015 (under CPC), and 2015-2019 (under APC)—he has consistently demonstrated loyalty to his constituents and the broader Nigerian populace. During his tenures, he held influential roles, including Deputy Minority Chief Whip, showcasing his leadership and strategic acumen.

    His activism in 1993-1998 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha, where he joined forces with like-minded senators to advocate for the restoration of democracy and the recognition of Chief Moshood Abiola’s June 12, 1993, election victory, further highlights his courage and commitment to national interest.

    The recent conferment of the prestigious “Commander of the Federal Republic” (CFR) National Honours Award by President Bola Tinubu on June 12, 2025, reflects the widespread recognition of Senator Ibrahim’s contributions to Nigeria’s socio-political development. This honor, following his earlier “Commander of the Order of the Niger” (CON) award in 2022 under President  Buhari, underscores his stature as an elder statesman respected across party lines and regions—North to South, East to West.

    Senator Ibrahim’s close and loyal relationship with President Tinubu over the years, is a defining aspect of his profile. Their bond, forged during the Third Republic Senate (1992-1993) and solidified through their shared vision in building the APC, has grown into a partnership marked by mutual respect and trust. President Tinubu has consistently spoken highly of Senator Ibrahim in public forums, praising his integrity, dedication, and role as a stabilizing force within the party. This public endorsement underscores Senator Ibrahim’s alignment with Tinubu’s leadership and his reliability as a confidant who prioritizes the President’s vision for Nigeria.

    Read Also: NLC opposes plan to remove minimum wage from Exclusive List – Ajaero

    As the APC looks to the future, Senator Ibrahim’s profile aligns seamlessly with the party’s needs. His reputation as a team player with a listening ear and his extensive network among APC chieftains, power blocs, and stakeholders in both public and private sectors position him to foster unity and progress in Nigeria. Unlike candidates driven by overt ambition, he is perceived as a humble, dependable leader who prioritizes the party and President Tinubu’s agenda—encompassing economic reform, national security, agriculture, infrastructure, and governance—over personal gain.

    With the 2027 elections on the horizon, the APC needs a proactive, reliable helmsman to ensure stability and cohesion. Senator Ibrahim’s track record as a bridgebuilder, his loyalty to the party and its leadership, and his ability to speak truth to power make him a round peg in a round hole. His close alliance with President Bola Tinubu, reinforced by the President’s public admiration, ensures he will champion the administration’s goals with dedication.

    As a family man and a respected figure within and beyond the APC, he is well-placed to guide the party through this transitional phase, building on the foundations laid by its founding fathers and ensuring a sense of belonging for all members. The NEC’s decision on the next Chairman will be pivotal, and Senator Abu Ibrahim stands out as the leader Nigeria’s ruling party needs at this moment.

    •Ashaolu is a Public Affairs Analyst and Media Management practitioner.

  • Senate Presidency: Ndume, Goje risk expulsion from APC

    If the All Progressives Congress (APC) adopts the suggestion of Senator Abu Ibrahim, Senators Mohammed Ali Ndume and Mohammed Danjuma Goje, may be expelled from the party if they go against the decision of the party on the election of Senate president.

    Although Ibrahim did not mention Ndume and Goje, the Katsina South senator told reporters in Abuja that any member of the APC who dares the party’s decision and connives with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to truncate the decision of the party on who becomes Senate President will be expelled from the party.

    While Ndume has declared his intention to contest the position of Senate President in defiance of APC’s endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan as the preferred candidate of the party, Goje is yet to publicly declare his intention.

    The Gombe Central Senator’s body language however gives him out as nursing the ambition to throw his hat into the ring for the exalted position.

    Ibrahim who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity noted that in democracy, once any one chooses a party, “you must abide by the rules of that party at all times or else you leave.”

    For him, there will be no need for individuals who disobey the party decision to remain in the party because “that is an act of indiscipline which no party should condone.”

    He noted that as a matter of fact, if the party gives a ticket to an individual and he is assisted with resources to contest and win election, the person must naturally obey the rules of the party at all times.

    Ibrahim said, “First of all, we have to remind ourselves that it is a political party which gives an individual the ticket to participate in an election. Once such a ticket is given, it is the caucus of the party in the National Assembly that will determine the emergence of candidate that eventually becomes the leader of the Senate through voting.  “

    “Specifically, the party decides which zone should produce candidate for the position and when such decision is taken every member must abide by that decision. No one can come out of caucus meeting’s voting to say he would not accept the decision of the party on such election process.

    “As a loyal party member anyone who dares the party’s decision and come out to connive with PDP to truncate the decision of the party will be expelled from the party.

    Read Also: Senate presidency: Youths march for Goje

    “As a matter of fact, if the party gives a ticket to an individual and he/she is assisted with resources to contest and win election, the person must naturally obey the rules of the party at all times.

    “In democracy, once you choose a party, you must abide by the rules of that party at all times or else you leave. There will be no need for individuals who disobey the party decision and remain in such a party.   That is an act of indiscipline which no party should condone.”

    Asked if APC can reach out to PDP Senators to seek support for its candidate he said: “You see, there is no need to reach out to the opposition minority members because APC, as a party, has a clear majority to decide straight away who should become Senate President.

    “PDP, as a party, played this game for the whole sixteen years when it was in power between 1999 and 2015.  All the PDP members, who are now talking today, including Senators Abaribe, James Manager, Ekweremadu and the likes, know the rules of this game.

    “It is sheer mischief, greed and a great insult for any PDP member to now claim that every member in the National Assembly has a right to contest. This is not done anywhere in the world. Not in U.K, U.S.A or anywhere else.

    “David Mark was Senate President between 2007 and 2015 when his party was in power and the majority party in Senate, nobody from the opposition parties contested along with him. “Now he thinks numerical strength does not matter again but it did when he was the Senate President. What an absurdity.

    “The leadership of the National Assembly now belongs exclusively to APC in the two chambers because the party has a clear majority and does not have to consult the opposition members in order to pick its principal officers. It is never done anywhere in the world and it will not be done this time around.

    “The minority leadership in the National Assembly is there for the PDP to choose their leaders. No one is interfering with them in choosing their leadership.

    “No one from APC will go there and contest to be a member, so why should anyone from PDP want to contest for majority leadership position?   Well, it happened the last time in 2015 when Senator Ekweremadu contested the position of the deputy Senate President. He clearly undermined the APC in that exercise but this time around no one can try that and succeed.

     

  • Saraki should leave as Senate President immediately, says Senator Ibrahim

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity, Senator Abu Ibrahim, on Tuesday said the humiliating defeat Senate President Bukola Saraki suffered in the Saturday Presidential and National Assembly elections was an indication that he should vacate the Senate Presidency immediately.

    Ibrahim, who represents Katsina South in the Upper Chamber, told reporters in Abuja that Saraki should vacate the Senate Presidency seat immediately to save the little good will left for him.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain also declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) completely dead in Katsina State.

    He said if Saraki failed to heed the damning defeat handed him by his people to vacate the seat of the Senate President, he would be a lame duck head “because his over bloated image has been completely destroyed.”

    He said the prediction that APC would retire Saraki from politics has become a reality.

    Read Also: Saraki wins polling unit

    Ibrahim said the greatest undoing of Saraki in Kwara State politics was self- centeredness.

    According to him: “Some of us predicted that APC will retire Saraki. It has come to pass. It was obvious that Saraki was not going to win the election.

    “Saraki was always for himself. Selfishness does not serve any politician well. That was Saraki’s greatest undoing.

    “Kwara people showed clearly that they were tired of Saraki and his antics. His image mostly over bloated has been destroyed completely.

    “If I were Saraki I will throw in the towel immediately. He should not wait until the end of the Eight Senate.

    “If he refuses to go immediately, he will be a lame duck Senate President because nothing is left for him to cling on.”

    Asked why the APC failed to stop Saraki’s loyalist, Senator Dino Melaye from returning to the Senate, Ibrahim said since the party had dealt with the root, the branches were not important.

  • Resignation: No personal issue with Saraki, says Senator Ibrahim

    The Senator representing Katsina South, Abu Ibrahim, on Monday said that there is nothing personal over his insistence that Senate President, Bukola Saraki, should resign his position following his defection to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ibrahim noted that his resolve to ask Saraki to throw in the towel was a matter of principle which had no colouration whatsoever.

    The senator, who is also chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party has taken over the push for Saraki to resign his position.

    He noted that since the APC has taken over the issue of Saraki, he would align with the party’s position on the matter at all times.

    The APC, he said, is bigger than all the members and should therefore spear head all issues affecting the party and its members.

    He said,”Our great party, the APC, is speaking for everybody on the issue of Saraki because the party is supreme. Since the party has taken over the matter of Saraki’s resignation, I have decided to align myself with the party’s position. There is nothing personal about the matter. There is no score to settle. It is just a matter of principle. Nobody is fighting Saraki, all the party is saying is that the right thing should be done at all times. Nothing personal whatsoever, it is rather a matter of principle.

    Read Also: Saraki: APC accuses PDP of falsehood

    “I align completely with the position of the party. The party is bigger than me. The party has effectively taken over the matter.”

    On the Senatorial by-elections in Katsina and Bauchi States which APC won, Ibrahim expressed happiness over the outcome of the elections.

    He described the results of the elections as a pointer to what will happen in 2019 general elections.

    The Katsina south lawmaker was particularly happy about the result of the Bauchi South election in a state where two senators recently defected from the APC to PDP.

    Senator Ibrahim is one of the senators who insisted that Saraki must resign his position when the Senate President defected from the APC to PDP.

     

  • Senator to Saraki, Dogara: Resign from APC now or risk expulsion

    Says plot to impeach Buhari slated to commence Thursday

     

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abu Ibrahim, on Wednesday asked Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to resign from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in their own interest.

    Ibrahim, a strong ally of President Muhammadu Buhari in the upper chamber, said that the failure of Saraki and Dogara to leave the party would lead to their immediate expulsion.

    The Senator who represents Katsina South Senatorial District also said that they have it on good authority that the plot to impeach President Buhari would have commenced today (Thursday).

    Ibrahim who appeared to have spoken the minds of other APC senators said that developments in and around the National Assembly have clearly shown that Saraki and Dogara could no longer be trusted in the fold of APC members.

    The lawmaker, also chairman of Buhari Support Group, spoke in Abuja.

    Speaking specifically about the defection of 13 senators and 37 House of Representative members from the APC, Ibrahim said that the defections were not only expected but did not come to him as a shock.

    Read Also: Police: we were not at Saraki’s home

    He said that he made the calculation and came to the conclusion that at least 13 senators will leave the APC.

    He noted that the only defection he did not anticipate was the Sokoto State senator, Abdullahi Danbaba.

    He said, “I know that those who take Saraki like god will go. This is because wherever Saraki goes they will go. But the mistake they have made is to realize that politics is local.

    “Nobody will say Isa Misau and Suleiman Nazif (two Bauchi State senators) were voted because of Saraki. They were voted because of Buhari. They will lose their seats. Saraki will not save them. They can’t even go to their constituencies.”

    On the speculation that some APC senators were quartered in a high profile hotel in Abuja on the night preceding Tuesdays Senate plenary to plot change of leadership in the Senate, Ibrahim said he was not quartered anywhere.

    He said, “I slept in my house. I was here in my office and left by 2pm. I was not quartered anywhere.”

    He was categorical that the alleged plot to impeach President Buhari “would have started on Thursday” (today)

    He said, “The impeachment of the president should have started Thursday. Everybody was planning. We know they were planning.

    “They realized and learnt that we know. They knew that if they had remained up till today (Wednesday) a lot of things would have happened.

    “We were planning. This is the National Assembly the only place political parties meet. We were planning.

    “Saraki and Dogara should resign today or the APC should send them away. They are no longer APC members.

    “The only reason why Saraki and Dogara have not left the APC is that they know that if they leave they will lose their seats. But we will force them to leave.

    ‘Left to me, I will recommend to APC to expel them. They are no longer needed in the party. We will be cured of cancer if they leave.

    “Me as Abu Ibrahim, I am asking Saraki and Dogara to leave APC today. I will meet Oshiomhole (Adams) to expel them. Let them leave APC, Saraki and Dogara should leave APC today.”

    Ibrahim insisted that the departure of Saraki and Dogara will not affect the electoral chances of APC.

    He noted that if Saraki leaves APC, the party may lose Kwara and Kogi States and no more.

    He continued, “My position is that Saraki and Dogara should leave the APC. We can no longer trust or discuss APC issues with them again. We cannot afford to continue to habour moles in our mist.

    “Let people be courageous enough and be honest to themselves. We will not miss them.”

     

  • NASS faces sanitary challenge over water shortage

    Sanitary challenge engulfed the National Assembly complex on Monday as its conveniences appeared overstretched and filled the air with foul smell owing to water shortage in the premises.

    The conveniences were messed up by staff members and visitors to the complex, answering the call of nature.

    The floors of the conveniences were littered with toilet rolls and faeces, and combined with urination on the floor, emitted heavy stench around the premises.

    Some members of staff expressed frustration over the development, disclosing, though anonymously, that the situation had persisted since Thursday.

    One of them said, “I was discussing the situation with my colleagues; the situation actually started on Thursday.

    “I had to use water from dispenser to perform ablution, but little did I know that it will persist till today.’’

    Another respondent said, “We do not know what the cause is, because we were not told. Maybe it is from Water Board.

    “It is terrible. It a very bad experience but I believe by tomorrow (Tuesday) when the lawmakers sit, they will do something about it.

    “I am not comfortable with the situation but what do you expect me to do.”

    Another stated that there was a pipe that burst in the House of Representatives arm of the complex, but said, “they are working on it; so, I am sure that is why they stopped the water.”

    The source described the development as “terrible’’ and said that there should have been an alternative arrangement “since people can answer the call of nature any time.

    “I have been pressed since morning but I have to endure till I close all, but what about people who may have diarrhoea or other health concerns that would not allow them hold on for long.

    Efforts to reach national assembly management failed as neither the Clerk of the Assembly nor the Director, Estate and Works Department, took calls put to their telephones or responded to short messages.

    But, reacting to the development, Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Sen. Abu Ibrahim, told our reporters that the situation was unfortunate.

    He said, “I concur with you 100 per cent. The place is messed up.

    “Go and ask Gobir, he is Chairman, Senate Committee on Services.”

    There were several power outages in the complex during the day, particularly in the Senate wing, some lasting over an hour.

    The situation caused people to resort to the use of torch for illumination.

    NAN

  • Senate: mace theft a positive development

    Sen. Abu Ibrahim (APC-Katsina South) has described the Wednesday’s invasion of the Senate Chamber by hoodlums as a “positive development’’.

    He stated this on Friday while he fielded questions from State House correspondents in Abuja.

    Some hoodlums had on Wednesday entered the Senate chamber during plenary, attacked some persons and made away with the mace.

    The legislator, however, observed that the attack was a blessing in disguise as the incident had revealed the security lapse at the assembly.

    “Obviously, what has happened is a concern to every Nigerian politician. But, at the same time, we have to accept in Nigeria or all over the world politics sometimes can create a situation of this kind of what happened.

    “But this has given us two opportunities; one, to look at the security of the National Assembly itself whereby I think Nigerian National Assembly is the most insecure assembly I have seen in my life.

    “Wherever I went to there was good security, you can’t just go in, you cannot access, you cannot go to officers.

    “But now if you go to our offices, like my office yesterday there were over 50 people waiting for me and I didn’t give anybody appointment.

    “So, this has probably influenced us in the leadership to sit down and critically examine the security of the National Assembly itself. So, it is a positive development.’’

    He said the second `benefit’ of the Mace saga was that members of the senate became more united, and they renewed their pledge to abide by the constitution and rules of the national assembly.

    According to the senator, the incident has also afforded the senators opportunity to ask themselves questions on what happened and why it happened.

    He said: “Secondly we sat at executive session as senators, we asked ourselves what happened and why. And we told ourselves the truth.

    “We even pin-pointed culprits in what led to this and we came out with a promise that everyone of us will support and abide by the provision of the constitution.

    “Our rules in the national assembly in the senate and obviously we accepted that we are all senators, the same rank, elected by our people and we have the same right and privileges.

    “Therefore, this is the second benefit if we can call it benefit of what has happened what we saw two days ago.’’

    On the activities of the Buhari Support Group, Ibrahim disclosed that the group would be inaugurating its offices in Edo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States on Monday.

    He added that the group’s campaign buses would also be inaugurated at the same time.

    NAN

     

  • State police will only address local issues – Abu Ibrahim

    State police will only address local issues – Abu Ibrahim

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abu Ibrahim, said on State Police would only work for local issues like arrest of local thieves and local control of security.

    He said national elections and other issues would be beyond state police when created.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after observing jumaat prayer at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Asked if he was opposed to creation of state police, he said: “Yes and I have my reasons. I am Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs and I have made a lot of research on the issue of state police and regional police. It was on before, there was a Commission in 1954 which decided for fear of minorities not to allow regional police.

    “Of course, if you want to do state police, you may do it but it must be confined to specific aspect of law enforcement. You can take away things like national elections but probably local issues, arrest of local thieves and local control of security, but it must be lineated and limited.”

    On the declaration by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, that President Buhari will seek re-election in 1999, he said: “Well, SGF is SGF, so he has better ears of the President than me, so they might have discussed. But I think President Buhari has started a lot of good things for this country and he needs second term to continue to consolidate what he has achieved so far and I am in support.

     

     

     

  • Anambra election: Senate gives IGP 24-hrs to restore Obiano’s aides

    Anambra election: Senate gives IGP 24-hrs to restore Obiano’s aides

    The Senate on Wednesday directed the Inspector General of Police ( IGP ), Mr Ibrahim Idris to restore security aides of Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra within 24 hours.

    The directive was sequel to a Point of Order raised by Deputy Minority Leader, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha during plenary in Abuja.

    The Upper Chamber also directed the Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Sen. Abu Ibrahim to ensure that the order was carried out and report back to the Senate on Thursday, Nov. 16.

    It can be recalled that the IGP had on Tuesday withdrawn Obiano’s security aides on the excuse of providing level playing ground in Saturday’s governorship polls in the state.

    Bwacha described the withdrawal of the governor’s aides as unjust.

    “As a senator, I know that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. If we don’t arrest the matter the President may be made hostage unknown to him.

    “If we allow such cabal to grow and are not tamed, the Federal Government may be brought down to its knees.”

    He said as members of parliament they had a duty to ensure that “What happened in Anambra did not happen anywhere again.

    “Candidates should be allowed level playing ground but nobody should do a thing as crude and shrewd as what happened in Anambra. This was wrong.

    “I will make attempt to try and reach the President that some of his aides are been over zealous in discharging their constitutional duties; this is not good and it is uncalled for.”

    In his comment, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, described the development as unfortunate, but said the Senate would not debate on the matter as it was brought under an order not debatable.

    Rising under Order 45 and 52, Deputy Minority Whip, Sen. Biodun Olujimi said the whole idea of the Point of Order she raised was for the lawmakers to be allowed to make contributions on the matter.

    “The issue is very important to Nigerians and democracy. It is a nascent democracy and there is a need for us to nurture it, to ensure that we don’t truncate it easily.

    “The action of the IGP in taking over the aides of a sitting governor means that in 2019, even the Senate President will lose all his aides,’’ Olujimi said.

    She added: “every governor regardless of his political party is entitled to security and as chief security officers of their states they are entitled to security.

    “It is unimaginable that the IGP will say because he wants to provide level playing field because there is an election, he will withdraw the ADC of a governor so that he goes without his retinue of aides. That is wrong”.

    NAN

  • Senator drags ex-Majority Leader to court for alleged defamation

    Senator drags ex-Majority Leader to court for alleged defamation

    A Katsina State High Court has fixed Oct. 3, to hear a case filed by a former Majority Leader, Katsina State House of Assembly, Sani Liti-‘Yankwani, challenging his trial at an Upper Shari’ah Court for defamation.

    The former house leader was dragged to the Sharia court by Sen. Abu Ibrahim, who instituted direct criminal complaint against him.

    The senator had accused Liti-‘Yankwani of portraying him as a liar, thereby attempting to damage his political career and incite the people against him.

    Ibrahim had cited four newspaper publications in which the former majority leader allegedly made the remarks, which according to him, tantamount to defamation of his character.

    During the High Court’s sitting on Wednesday, counsel to Liti-‘Yankwani, Mr Alex Ajode, prayed for adjournment as the copies of the Upper Shari’ah Court proceedings were just served on the respondent’s counsel, Hauwa Wada.

    Wada did not challenge the application for adjournment, and the Judge, Justice Maikata Bako, adjourned the case till Oct. 3, 2017, for hearing.

    In the originating summon, the former majority leader had joined Sen. Ibrahim and the Sharia court judge as respondents.

    Liti-Yankwani is asking the high court to quash the entire proceedings of the Upper Shari’ah Court, and order the transfer of the case to a court of competent jurisdiction.

    He told the court that the proceeding before the second respondent in case number CFR1/394/2016 was irregular, a breach of the Constitution and established rules of practice and procedure in criminal trials.