Author: Gabby

Eight aspirants contesting the Kano Central Senatorial seat have made a significant political move by stepping aside from the race. Their decision, which paves the way for former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau to become the consensus candidate, is largely credited to the intervention of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. According to Usman Bala, who speaks for the group, the aspirants hold deep respect for Governor Yusuf, which is why they readily accepted his peace initiative.

In a recent development, the governor successfully mediated a long-standing dispute surrounding the ticket for Kano Central, widely acknowledged as Nigeria’s largest senatorial district. This area includes 15 local government areas and a population exceeding 10 million. The resolution came after a key reconciliation meeting in Abuja, where all parties agreed to prioritize unity over individual ambitions.

Usman Bala emphasized that every one of the eight aspirants supported the governor’s proposal wholeheartedly, viewing it as a wise and timely move that brought together competing interests. Their withdrawal was voluntary, aimed at strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 elections. Governor Yusuf praised the aspirants for their selflessness, calling their actions a model of maturity and sacrifice.

Shekarau, in his response, expressed gratitude to the governor for fostering peace and to the other contenders for their support. He reaffirmed his commitment to the APC’s success in the upcoming polls. The governor also reiterated his dedication to dialogue and consensus-building as essential tools for political stability and development, expressing confidence that the new understanding will enhance Kano’s national political influence.

Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, representing the Joint Security Watch of Kwara South, has vehemently denied that banditry and kidnapping have made large parts of the region uninhabitable or reduced its voter base. In a statement on Sunday, Oyin-Zubair argued that such narratives are false and are being used for political manipulation ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries.

He clarified that insecurity in Kwara is largely due to ungoverned forests and porous borders, and that perpetrators are not from Kwara South. The group stressed that these criminals do not reflect the community’s values. They noted that violence has mainly affected remote routes and poorly policed settlements, and that proactive security measures have successfully prevented attacks and allowed displaced families to return to farming.

Citing election data, Oyin-Zubair highlighted Kwara South’s political importance: the APC achieved a 68% success rate there in 2019 and 2023, compared to just 35% in Kwara Central, which is promoting the exclusion narrative. The group detailed ongoing security efforts, including community patrols, ward-level early warning systems, aerial surveillance, and joint operations with police, NSCDC, and local vigilantes across Irepodun, Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Isin, and Offa.

“Kwara South is protecting its territory, its people, and is restoring normalcy and economic life. We will not allow insecurity to be used as a tool for political marginalization,” Oyin-Zubair declared. He urged the public to rely on verified information and affirmed that Kwara South remains safe for living, farming, business, and voting.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Cross River State has announced that it is fully geared up to conduct its primaries for the 2027 general elections. This declaration comes from Dr. John Ogar, the newly elected chairman of the party in the state, who emphasized that the party is on schedule to sell nomination forms and urged interested aspirants to promptly visit the party secretariat.

Speaking in Calabar after the state congress, where a 37-member executive committee was unanimously elected through consensus, Ogar downplayed recent defections, noting that only one executive member has left. He criticized politicians who advocate for opposition and unity but later abandon coalitions, asserting that the sincere and committed members remain within the party.

Ogar vowed to elevate the party to greater achievements and dismissed reports of factionalization, insisting that the party is united. He further stressed that the congress adhered to the party’s constitution and was upheld by a court ruling affirming the state executive’s authority to organize such congresses.

A prominent figure within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ladan Salihu, has expressed that the withdrawal of former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso from the party significantly undermined aspirations for democratic rejuvenation in Nigeria.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Sunday, Salihu, who previously served as Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), noted that the alliance between Obi and Kwankwaso within the ADC could have forged a viable alternative for governance in the 2027 elections.

He lamented that the opposition landscape is now splintered due to conflicting political interests and personal ambitions. According to Salihu, the departure of these two leaders from the ADC dealt a severe blow to the faith Nigerians had in the party as a vehicle for political change.

“I remain a steadfast and irrevocable member of the ADC,” Salihu stated. “Nigerians placed great hope in the unity of opposition parties and movements. The Obidient movement and the Kwankwasiyya movement, along with millions of citizens, believed that our democracy would flourish only with a strong and vibrant opposition.”

He added, “When Obi and Kwankwaso were part of the ADC, the opposition was widely perceived as the platform that could restore confidence in democracy and offer a different path for the country in 2027. Unfortunately, that vision has been fractured by competing political forces and individual ambitions.”

Salihu further criticized the trend of shifting loyalties and political maneuvering, suggesting that some key players treat opposition parties as mere vehicles for personal advancement rather than instruments for collective good.

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former presidential contender, has strongly condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recently published schedule for the 2027 general elections. He argues that the timeline fails to reflect Nigeria’s actual political landscape and is frankly unworkable.

Speaking over the weekend, Olawepo-Hashim emphasized that the electoral calendar leaves political parties insufficient room to organize transparent primaries and internal democratic procedures. He warned that if left unchanged, the tight schedule could escalate political tensions and destabilize parties as the elections draw closer.

The Kwara-born politician also took aim at INEC for scheduling critical political events, such as party primaries, to coincide with major religious observances like the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage and the Ileya festival. “Aligning election primaries with Hajj and Ileya, which inherently come with security and mobility challenges, is completely unreasonable,” he stated.

According to Olawepo-Hashim, these periods already pose significant security and logistical hurdles. Combining them with political activities risks amplifying unrest and triggering avoidable disruptions, he cautioned. He urged INEC to reconsider the timetable to better accommodate Nigeria’s diverse realities.