Author: Daily Post Nigeria

Sumner Sambo, Director of News, Arise News, has noted that the best political alliances Nigeria has always had is between the North and Southeast.

He said that from the first republic with Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa and in the second republic with Alex Ekwueme, alongside Shehu Shagari, Nigeria had its best political alliances.

Sambo was particularly commenting on Peter Obi alliance with Rabiu Kwankwaso and the coming together of their support groups to work in synergy ahead of the general elections.

He also spoke about the significance of Peter Obi’s recent visit to Bauchi State, which according to him, was massive.

“I was in that company of Obi when we went around the country in 2022. The very first place we went was Bauchi, where we had to even visit the Abubakar Tafa Balewa Mausoleum and some of the visuals about Obi, whenever I take a look at them, I’ll see that very first act that we took going around there, and then see him going there today again, but this time around, not going alone, not going with a few people.

“I mean, when we went there in 2022 Obi was relatively unknown, though the Governor hosted him then, but now Obi was going to the same state, and this time around, going with huge political weight and then very strong politicians. I mean, some very top leaders from the South East. You will see that that delegation was actually very, very strong.

“And I’m thinking that the rhetoric that will come out of that meeting will be something that will help to forge an alliance between the North and the South, especially the South East, build bridges more and then help to reduce this tension that we’ve always had.

“Look, the best political alliances that we’ve always had in the country between the North and south have always been between the North and the South East. That is from the First Republic. There has always been that arrangement. Those are the kind of mature politics that we should be seeing at this moment, not the kind of rhetoric that comes out, and it looks like Nigeria is going to war. And then some people are saying that, look, the south east will never be given opportunity.

“When I saw Peter Obi at the Government House in Bauchi I was really happy, because he was received wholeheartedly.”

North, South-East best political alliance ever – Sambo

England international, Jadon Sancho, has informed Borussia Dortmund that he is ready to rejoin the Bundesliga club once he leaves Manchester United as a free agent this summer.

Sancho had joined the Red Devils from Dortmund back in 2021 for £73 million, but he failed to excel at Old Trafford.

The 26-year-old has spent this season on loan at Premier League side Aston Villa, and United decided earlier this campaign that they would let him leave the club as a free agent at the end of the season.

Man United are desperate to get Sancho’s £300,000-a-week wages off the books, so they won’t be triggering the option to extend his contract by another year just to try and get a fee for him.

However, according to Sky Germany, Sancho has already been in talks with Dortmund, and during their most recent chat, he made it clear he’d love to return to the German club.

The winger also has plenty of offers from clubs around the world, but now the ball’s in Dortmund’s court to decide if they want to push ahead to bring him to Germany.

Dortmund manager, Niko Kovac, has also given the green light for Sancho’s return this summer.

Sancho decides next club to join when he leaves Man Utd this summer

 

President William Ruto has criticised Nigeria’s economic conditions and English usage, pushing back against comments by President Bola Tinubu that Nigerians are better off than citizens of other African countries.

The exchange followed remarks by Tinubu during a visit to Bayelsa State, where he inaugurated key infrastructure projects and defended his administration’s economic policies despite rising fuel prices.

“It is very important that we are honest with our people. Yes, I hear you from various angles of the economy. The fuel price is biting hard, but look around, let us thank God together, that you are better off. Listen to them in Kenya and other African countries and what they are going through. We will not look back. We will continue to fine way to ameliorate the sufferings of the vulnerable,” Tinubu had said.

In a now-viral video response, Ruto dismissed the comparison, pointing to Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges, particularly its persistent power supply issues, and taking a swipe at its English usage.

“Our education is good. Our English is good. We speak the best English in the world. If you listen to a Nigerian speak English, you’ll need a translator. We’ve the best human capital anywhere in the world,” Ruto said, using humour to defend his country’s standing.

The remarks come amid broader economic pressures across Africa, including rising fuel prices linked to global supply disruptions, partly driven by tensions in the Middle East and concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route.

The exchange has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many users criticising both the comparison and the tone of the remarks

On X (formerly Twitter), a user, Bureau-39, wrote, “Let’s not drag the whole country into this shit between two incompetent mad corrupt politicians. Both the countries speak good English, Kenya leans toward a clearer, more British-influenced style, while Nigeria mixes it with rich local flair and pidgin that can sound like its own dialect.”

Another commenter, Frank Bryant, questioned the basis of the debate, saying, “Why should Africans be competing over who speaks the colonial masters language very well?”

Xave added, “and you think they would listen to you the only thing Africans are good at is fighting amongst themselves.”

Obiridike commented, “They will do that Ghanaians and South Africans say all Nigerians are thieves and drug peddlers.”

Similarly, Michael James echoed, “They will do that Ghanaians and South Africans say all Nigerians are thieves and drug peddlers.”

While Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest do oil producers, it continues to grapple with inflation, currency instability and erratic electricity supply.

Kenya, on the other hand, has positioned itself as a regional hub for finance and technology, though it also faces economic challenges, including rising debt and cost-of-living pressures.

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has shifted its presidential primary election to Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Durosinmi Meseko, disclosed this after the 186th meeting of the party’s National Working Committee NWC on Thursday in Abuja. 

Meseko, who was accompanied to the briefing by the party’s National Leader of Persons with Disabilities, Tolu Bankole, said the new schedule supersedes an earlier timetable published only days ago and has been formally communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in line with extant regulations.

Under the revised calendar, the sale of nomination forms begins this Saturday, April 25, and runs until Saturday, May 2, 2026. Completed forms and accompanying documents must be submitted no later than Monday, May 4.

Screening of aspirants for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and Governorship will hold between Wednesday, May 6 and Friday, May 8, while Presidential aspirants will face their screening panel on Saturday, May 9. Screening results across all categories will be published on Monday, May 11, with appeals to be heard on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 12 and 13.

Primary elections will then roll out in sequence: House of Representatives on Friday, May 15; Senate on Monday, May 18; State House of Assembly on Wednesday, May 20; Governorship on Thursday, May 21; and the Presidential primary on Saturday, May 23. Post-primary appeal committees will sit in the days immediately following each primary.

The NWC also adopted a dual-mode primary system — direct and consensus — as provided in the Electoral Act, with a significant condition attached.

Aspirants are free to indicate their preference, but where any single aspirant in a consensus arrangement withholds agreement, the process automatically reverts to direct primaries.

Meseko moved to put to rest what he described as a rumour that nomination forms would be restricted to certain individuals. “Nomination forms for all aspirants seeking offices under the All Progressives Congress are open,” he declared. “Nomination forms are open for all members of the All Progressives Congress contesting elections.”

On party membership, he said the updated list of all newly registered APC members has been transmitted to INEC, bringing the party into full conformity with established rules.

Separately, the NWC approved a timetable for ward, local government area, and state congresses in Zamfara State, kicking off Tuesday, April 28, with screening of aspirants for ward executive positions. Ward congresses hold on Thursday, April 30, with LGA and state congresses following in the days after, and all resulting appeals to be resolved by Sunday, May 3.

Meseko said the APC “is now fully ready for the upcoming primary elections.”

 

Justice Lawu Lawan of the Yobe State High Court, Damaturu on Thursday 23, April 2026 convicted and sentenced one Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar to 37 years imprisonment. 

The defendant was arraigned by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a four- count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation, forgery and used forged documents as genuine to the tune of N29,175,000. (Twenty Nine Million, One Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Naira).

Count one reads: “That you, Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar, sometimes in 2023, at Potiskum, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud did obtain the gross sum of N29,175,000 (Twenty Nine Million, One Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Naira) from one Ibrahim Zakari Waziri, Shittu Ali Firi and Afreebak Nigeria Limited a company registered in Nigeria under the pretence that the said amount represent payment for the supply of 38.9 metric tons of white sorghum when you represented yourself as a Procurement Officer of Bua Food Plc which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act,2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Count three reads: ” That you, Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar, sometimes in 2023, at Potiskum, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did fraudulently make a false documents to wit: (1) a BUA Food Plc supply agreement dated 10th December, 2024, in the name of Afreebak Nigeria Limited, Potiskum, Yobe State purportedly issued by BUA Food Plc for the supply of 38.9 metric tons of white Sorghum (2) as official statement purported to emanate from BUA Food Plc dated 7th October, 2014 (3) and acknowledgement of receipt of 38.9 metric tons of white sorghum purported to emanate from BUA Food Plc knowing all to be forged and handed same to Ibrahim Zakari Waziri, Shittu Ali Firi and Afreebak Nigeria Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 364 and punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Law Cap 102 Laws of Yobe State.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him by the court, prompting the EFCC to put him to trial.  

In the course of trial, prosecution counsel Mukhtar Ali Ahmed presented five witnesses and tendered several documents as exhibits before the court.

Justice Lawan thereafter, convicted and sentenced Abubakar on count one with an option of fine to the tune of N100,000.00 or serve ten years imprisonment. While on count two the convict is to pay a fine of N5,000 or serve two years imprisonment. 

On count three, the convict is to pay a fine of N100,000 or serve eight years imprisonment while on count four the judge ordered him to pay a fine of N60,000 or serve seven years jail term.

The judge further ordered the convict to pay the sum of N29,175,000 to the petitioner or serve additional ten years imprisonment. 

The convict’s journey to the prison started when he approached the petitioners and introduced himself as a procurement officer of BUA Foods Plc and issued fake receipts to them for the purchase of sorghum from the company. He collected the sum of N29,175,000 from his victims. He was thereafter arrested, prosecuted and convicted.

The governorship ambition of Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, received a boost on Thursday following backing from key figures within the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Among those who expressed support were the Lagos APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and Senator Ganiyu Solomon, alongside other party stakeholders.

This came during a series of consultation visits by Hamzat to party leaders across the state.

He first visited the APC secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, where he met with Ojelabi and members of the State Working Committee.

He also held separate consultations with Obasa and Solomon at their residences.

Speaking during the engagements, Hamzat outlined his vision for Lagos, emphasising the strategic importance of the state to national stability and development.

“The truth of the matter is that if Lagos fails, Nigeria will have problems and we must not fail.

“We must ensure what happened in 2023 should not happen again in 2027. We must ensure a resounding victory for our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the next election and ensure a similar victory for APC in Lagos.

“Our opponents are trying to de-market our election, simply because they cannot win. This is why they’re doing everything possible to disapprove of the good things that have been done by the Tinubu administration,” he said.

In his response, Ojelabi assured Hamzat of the party’s backing, expressing confidence in his leadership qualities.

“We will support you, we trust you and we are very confident of your competency and humility,” he stated.

At a separate meeting hosted by Obasa, former Minister Musiliu Obanikoro also commended Hamzat, describing him as capable of sustaining Lagos’ growth trajectory.

“Lagos must not decline, but must grow higher and higher. With Dr Hamzat at the helm, Lagos will continue to soar,” Obanikoro said.

Obasa, in his remarks, described Hamzat’s candidacy as settled, stating that his emergence had effectively been “sealed.”

Similarly, Solomon urged residents of Mushin to participate actively in the electoral process, stressing that voting remains the clearest demonstration of loyalty to the party and its leadership.

Lagos 2027: Hamzat’s governorship bid gains momentum as Ojelabi, Obasa, others declare support

The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, continued on Thursday, April 23, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness narrating how huge cash lodgments were converted to dollars and handed over to a key associate.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Bello on an alleged money laundering amounting to ₦80,246,470,088.88.

Testifying, the witness, Jamilu Abdullahi, a Bureau de Change operator and Prosecution Witness 12, PW12, while being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Kemi Pinheiro SAN, told the court that several cash deposits were made on different dates into the account of E-Traders International Limited by one Abba Adaudu.

“Yes, my lord, there are more cash deposit transactions on different days into E-Traders International Limited,” the witness stated when asked to confirm whether such deposits extended beyond previously identified dates.

Referring to Exhibit 33(6), Abdullahi confirmed that there were cash inflows on March 10 and 11, 2022, but clarified discrepancies in the names of depositors appearing on the transaction records.

“My lord, I need to explain that the names indicated in the cash deposits—Abdullahi Jamilu, Jamil Abdullahi, and Jamilu Abdullahi—were used as narration. However, I was not the one who made the cash deposits at the Lokoja branch,” he said.

The witness further identified Abba Adaudu as the depositor in transactions dated October 8 and 11, 2021, maintaining that all dealings were conducted directly with him.

“Abba Adaudu, my lord. In all these transactions, I dealt with Abba Adaudu,” he said.

Abdullahi disclosed that upon receiving the cash lodgment, he converted the naira sums into United States dollars and handed them over to Adaudu.

“I converted them into US dollars and handed them over to Abba Adaudu,” he said.

While examining Exhibit 37, relating to Kunfayakun Global Limited—his company—the witness confirmed receiving ₦100 million and ₦400 million on December 15 and 17, 2021 respectively, from a firm identified as Keyless Nature Limited, which he said belonged to Adaudu.

“The transfers were for dollar purchase. Upon receipt, we agreed on the rate, I converted the funds and handed the dollars over to Abba Adaudu,” he explained.

The witness further testified that on February 18, 2022, he received ₦600 million in six tranches into the account of Ejadams Essence Limited, also allegedly linked to Adaudu, for the purpose of purchasing dollars. Additionally, he confirmed receiving ₦325 million on February 21, 2022, via RTGS for the same purpose.

According to him, the physical handover of the dollars took place either at his office or that of Adaudu, located in Area 8, Abuja.

“What I can recall is that he always comes to my office to pick up the dollars, my lord,” he said.

Proceedings were, however, briefly stalled following an objection by defence counsel, J. B. Daudu SAN, who argued that the prosecution was attempting to contradict the witness without first declaring him hostile.

“If the witness wants to contradict himself, he should be declared a hostile witness,” Daudu submitted.

In response, Pinheiro maintained that the witness had been consistent in his testimony, noting that his recollection of events spanning several years could not be construed as contradiction.

“The witness was very unequivocal and unambiguous… His statement reflects his recollection of transactions that occurred about five years ago,” he argued, citing relevant provisions of the Evidence Act.

After listening to arguments from both parties, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter till April 24, 2026, for ruling on the objection and continuation of trial.

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, on Thursday, met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, to discuss security, economic developments and political issues in the state.

The governor’s spokesman, Sulaiman Idris, disclosed this in a statement, noting that the meeting focused largely on the security situation in Zamfara.

According to the statement, Lawal briefed the president on progress made in tackling insecurity and highlighted areas requiring further intervention to restore lasting peace.

Tinubu was said to have reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the state, including plans to increase troop deployment and provide necessary equipment to strengthen security operations.

The governor also updated the president on the state’s economic performance, particularly improvements in internally generated revenue, and sought additional federal support to boost local industries and create jobs.

The meeting came shortly after the president’s engagement with governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Gov Lawal meets Tinubu, seeks federal support on Zamfara security, economy

The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun state, has been thrown into mourning after a 400-level medical student identified as Adewole Emmanuel, d!ed after reportedly collapsing moments before his final session examination.

Emmanuel’s death was announced in a statement released by the Ife University Medical Students Association (IFUMSA)on Thursday, April 22. 

“Under the cover of dark clouds, we write to you with the heaviest of hearts to inform you of the passing of one of our own, an integral part of the association and a solid pillar of his class,” the statement reads.

The association described the deceased as “a colleague, friend, roommate, and a Part 4 medical student with an undeniably bright future until the time of his passing”.

“This incident is not only sad, but crucially painful as we lost a rising star and a loving member of the IFUMSA family. In honoring his dearest memories, we kindly ask the general public to do without speculations and respect the privacy of the family during this vulnerable period.”

A fellow medical student @to37867_toyyib who mourned the deceased on his X handle, alleged that the ambulance brought in when the deceased collapsed had no stretcher nor oxygen.

May his soul rest in peace, Amen.

Kano is fast shaping into one of Nigeria’s fiercest political battlegrounds ahead of the 2027 general elections, with an emerging clash pitting former governors and entrenched political structures against one another in what observers describe as a war of heavyweights.

At the centre of the unfolding contest is Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiyya Movement, now repositioning under the ADC, against a growing alignment within the APC involving Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, incumbent Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, and newly decamped Ibrahim Shekarau.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, former Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau dismissed criticism of his frequent political movements, arguing that his decisions are guided by principle rather than personal ambition.

“You see, my concern is that people think this is unprincipled, but it is the same principle that makes us move,” he said.

He explained that his decisions are never unilateral but are the product of consultations across party structures.

“If you check the records, we make it public. We consult widely. We have a structure of consultation at the state and local government levels,” he noted.

Shekarau stressed that his core concern remains internal democracy within political parties.

“A situation whereby people are denied their right to participate in free and fair internal democracy, and the leadership turns out to be very selfish and not attentive to such complaints is unacceptable,” he said.

His return to the APC has added a new layer to Kano’s political permutations, raising questions about whether his influence can strengthen the party’s chances.

Kwankwasiyya Movement Dismisses Growing APC Alliance in Kano

Despite the growing coalition against Kwankwaso, members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement remain defiant.

Mansur Umar Kurugu, Spokesperson II of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, who spoke exclusively to DAILY POST, downplayed the strength of the emerging APC alignment.

“I think the reality is that APC is not getting any stronger by bringing the likes of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and Abba Kabir Yusuf onto the same platform,” he said.

He argued that similar alliances had failed in the past and that his principal, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, remains as strong as ever and deeply rooted in Kano politics.

“This is not the first time. We saw it in 2019, we saw it in 2023, and Kwankwaso never disappointed the people in defeating this kind of coalition,” Kurugu added.

Projecting confidence ahead of 2027, he declared: “Kwankwaso is super ready, Kwankwasiyya is super ready, and we are going to defeat this group of self-centred politicians.”

APC Loyalists Back Yusuf, Question Kwankwaso’s Relevance

On the other side, APC supporters insist that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf remains a formidable force whose performance could secure victory for the party.

Kabir Dakata, a strong supporter of Yusuf and the chairperson of KASA, expressed optimism about the APC’s chances.

“We are the original Kwankwasiyya members, and we are sure to win the 2027 polls,” he said.

He also welcomed Kwankwaso’s move to the ADC, suggesting it validates claims of internal issues within his former camp.

Dakata further argued that Kwankwaso’s influence may be overstated.

With Ganduje’s political machinery, Shekarau’s grassroots network, and Yusuf’s incumbency on one side, and Kwankwaso’s “cult political followership” on the other hand, Kano’s 2027 race is increasingly being defined by competing legacies and political structures.

Kano 2027: Kwankwaso, Ganduje, Shekarau set stage for epic political showdown