The Kebbi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has cautioned Senator Garba Musa Maidoki against what it described as attempts to incite the public over his political grievances.
The party issued the warning following remarks allegedly made by the senator during a rally in Zuru, where he reportedly criticised the state government and the Zuru Emirate Council.
In a statement signed by the APC State Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Kana Zuru, the party described Maidoki’s comments against Governor Nasir Idris and the Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi Mika’ilu Sami Gomo III, as irresponsible and politically motivated.
The APC said the senator’s recent actions stemmed from frustration linked to his political situation and rejected allegations suggesting the party was facing internal crisis in the state.
The party chairman maintained that the APC in Kebbi State remained united under the leadership of Governor Idris, stressing that there was no division within the party.
According to the statement, Maidoki’s resignation from the APC was based on what the party termed “unfounded claims” of internal disagreements.
The party also defended the Emir of Zuru against allegations of partisanship, describing him as a respected traditional ruler whose leadership transcends political and religious affiliations.
The APC further urged the senator to take responsibility for his political challenges instead of blaming the party, the governor or the emirate council.
It added that the people of Kebbi South have the right to choose leaders they believe can effectively represent their interests.
It would be recalled that Maidoki announced his resignation from the APC in a letter dated May 14, 2026, addressed to the party’s Ward Chairman in Rafin Zuru Ward, Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State, barely a day before the party’s senatorial primaries in the state.
The senator had cited alleged internal crises within the party as the reason for his resignation, claiming that the situation negatively affected his political aspirations.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured travellers and aviation stakeholders that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola virus disease in the country, despite heightened concerns following reported outbreaks in parts of Central Africa.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, FAAN said it had intensified preventive measures at international airports nationwide to guard against any possible importation of the virus into Nigeria.
The Authority disclosed that “robust health surveillance and monitoring systems” have already been activated across all international airports to ensure early detection and prompt response to any suspected case.
FAAN explained that it is working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Port Health Services and other relevant agencies to strengthen passenger screening procedures, especially for travellers arriving from high-risk regions.
According to the Authority, passengers are currently being screened for symptoms associated with Ebola, while any suspected case is “immediately isolated and subjected to secondary medical evaluation in line with national and international health protocols.”
The agency further stated that it has intensified staff sensitisation programmes, reinforced emergency response procedures and improved coordination with airport stakeholders to ensure swift action if required.
While reiterating that Nigeria remains free of any confirmed Ebola infection, FAAN urged passengers to remain calm and cooperate fully with health officials during screening exercises at airports.
Travellers were also advised to promptly report any symptoms or health concerns to relevant authorities as part of efforts to protect public health and maintain safe airport operations across the country.
The Kano State Internal Revenue Service has increased its revenue target for the Compliance and Enforcement Department to N68bn, citing improved operational capacity and efficiency.
Executive Chairman of the agency, Dr Zaid Abubakar, disclosed this during the commissioning of a new office facility for the department in Sabon Gari, Kano.
He said the department was initially given a target of N35bn but expressed confidence that the upgraded work environment and enhanced tools would significantly boost revenue generation.
“With the improved working conditions and facilities now in place, we expect to generate as much as N68bn,” Abubakar said.
The chairman explained that the department plays a central role in revenue mobilisation through tax audits, enforcement, debt recovery, and investigation activities.
He noted that previous operational challenges had limited performance, but the new infrastructure and resources are expected to drive higher output and strengthen the agency’s overall revenue base.
Abubakar also acknowledged the support of Abba Kabir Yusuf in improving staff welfare and backing reforms aimed at boosting internally generated revenue in the state.
Kano State Government has alleged that the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, may be indirectly working to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Director General, Media and Publicity at the Kano Government House, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, made […]
An aspirant in last week’s House of Representatives primary election for the Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency of Abia State, Obinna Randy Ukanwoko, has described the results released by the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee as a sham and a disgrace to democracy.
Ukanwoko also lamented that it was because of his membership of the APC that his hotel in Umuahia was demolished by the Abia State Government in November 2025.
Ukanwoko, while speaking to journalists in Umuahia, alleged that a primary election that did not hold in most parts of the federal constituency still produced a winner.
The aspirant, who denied claims that he withdrew for a preferred candidate prior to the exercise, said his insistence was that the election must be held formally to allow all aspirants prove their popularity before the constituents.
“My hotel was demolished by the Abia State Government after an APC Renewed Hope Partners event was held there. I lost my 898 law books in the demolition as I was unable to rescue anything, and all these were because of APC.
“It is unfortunate that the same party that preached fairness and non-imposition of candidates still went against what it preached,” Ukanwoko said.
Ukanwoko further alleged that the APC Chairman for Ward 3, Dan Umeh, was beaten to a pulp by thugs for resisting result manipulation.
Responding to Ukanwoko’s outcry on Wednesday, the Publicity Secretary of Abia APC, Uche Aguoru, said the matter is already at the APC appeal committee stage, adding that neither he nor the APC would comment on the allegations.
…Judiciary Increasingly Deciding Electoral Outcomes, Says NBA President
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday warned that Nigeria’s democracy could face a deeper legitimacy crisis if the judiciary continues to determine electoral winners instead of the ballot.
According to him, politicians now head to court because they believe judges can overturn the will of the people.
Jonathan spoke at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abuja Law Week 2026 held at the NBA House, Abuja, with the theme: “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Democratic Process.”
The former president, who attended as Special Guest of Honour, said electoral integrity, judicial independence and institutional reforms were critical to preserving Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the increasing number of post-election litigations in Nigeria had become abnormal and dangerous to democratic stability.
“At the end of every round of elections, the number of cases that go to court is overwhelming.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan (5th Right), former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, SAN (4th Left) and President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, SAN (5th left) at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abuja Law Week 2026, on Wednesday.
“Some of the people go to court, even their family members don’t vote for them. But they go to court simply because we believe that the judiciary could be manipulated to declare people who ordinarily are supposed not to win the election as those who have won the election,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan recalled how a former South African deputy president was shocked that Nigerian politicians routinely challenge election outcomes in court.
“She asked me, ‘Why would somebody go to court after losing an election?’ In South Africa, going to court after losing an election is strange. While in Nigeria, not going to court is strange,” he said.
Jonathan argued that courts should not declare winners in disputed elections but should instead order fresh polls where irregularities are established.
“The judiciary will do their work, but they should not declare any candidate. If they are not satisfied with the process of the election, then they should go back to the field. Let the ballot decide who wins,” he stated.
The former President also questioned Nigeria’s multi-layered electoral litigation structure, describing it as inconsistent and cumbersome.
“Governorship election takes three levels — tribunal, Appeal Court and Supreme Court. Presidency takes two. Are you telling me electing a governor is more important than electing a President?” he queried.
Jonathan further lamented low voter turnout in Nigeria, describing it as the worst on the African continent despite the country’s population advantage.
“Nigeria has the least voter turnout in Africa. INEC needs to investigate why we have the least. I cannot just say it is voters’ apathy alone,” he said.
He blamed electoral violence and political thuggery for weakening public trust in elections, saying the country had normalised a dangerous culture where political thugs wield enormous influence.
He said, “Nigeria is the only country where thuggery is a profession.
“Some thugs, when they are travelling out of this country, fly first class while university professors struggle to buy economy tickets. That country is like a canoe turned upside down.”
The former President stressed that democracy was not sustained merely through periodic elections but through strong institutions, credible electoral processes, accountability and rule of law.
“The INEC must remain independent not only in name but in practice. Once citizens lose confidence in the electoral process, democracy itself becomes endangered,” he warned.
He also cautioned the judiciary against becoming an instrument for political manipulation.
“The courts must never become instruments for political manipulation or partisan interests. Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done fairly, courageously and without external influence,” he added.
Jonathan urged the NBA to work closely with the National Assembly in reviewing Nigeria’s electoral and judicial laws, including the possibility of creating a Constitutional Court to exclusively handle electoral disputes.
He also advocated a closer relationship between government and the NBA, suggesting that the NBA President should serve as an honorary adviser to the President to help avert constitutional and governance crises before they escalate.
Earlier in his keynote address, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, warned that Nigeria’s democracy was standing at a “precarious crossroads,” saying public confidence in elections had continued to erode.
Adoke said although Nigeria had sustained democratic rule since 1999, continuity alone did not amount to democratic credibility.
Adoke said, “A democracy is not measured merely by how often it holds elections, but by how deeply its people trust the outcome of those elections.
“The real question before us is not whether Nigeria is democratic. It is far more serious than that. Are we safeguarding the democratic process or merely managing appearances?”
Citing the 2023 general elections, Adoke said the polls recorded only 27 per cent voter turnout, the lowest since 1999, while violence reportedly claimed 89 lives.
According to him, vote-buying, electoral violence, weak internal party democracy and poor enforcement of electoral laws had continued to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.
“Vote-buying has transformed elections into economic transactions rather than democratic choices,” he said.
The former AGF also criticised political parties for allegedly imposing candidates and circumventing democratic primaries contrary to provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
He warned that overreliance on the judiciary to resolve political disputes was gradually eroding the role of voters in determining electoral outcomes.
“The phrase ‘go to court’ has become a silent reminder that the electorate’s participation in determining leaders is gradually eroding,” he stated.
Adoke praised Jonathan’s conduct during the 2015 presidential transition, describing him as “a democratic legend” who respected the rule of law and prioritised national peace above personal ambition.
“In 2015, despite having enough room to challenge the electoral process, he opted to leave the scene without creating a crisis in the interest of the country,” he said.
Also speaking, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, said it was troubling that 27 years after Nigeria’s return to civil rule, concerns about safeguarding democracy still dominated national discourse.
“It speaks volumes about how far we need to go and about the worries Nigerians have concerning the democratic process,” Osigwe said.
He said there was an urgent need to deepen democracy, strengthen institutional independence and ensure that electoral outcomes genuinely reflected the will of the people.
According to him, Nigerians were increasingly worried that the democratic process had become excessively judicialised.
“The judiciary now plays a critical and increasing role in determining who represents us,” he said.
Osigwe condemned electoral violence, thuggery and manipulation, warning that power must never be obtained outside constitutional and democratic processes.
“Without people mounting a military coup, people through violence, thuggery and electoral manipulation come to power in Nigeria,” he stated.
The NBA President commended Jonathan for conceding defeat in 2015, recalling the former president’s famous declaration that “his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.”
“That should be the mantra of every democratic process,” Osigwe added.
He urged Nigerians and political actors to commit themselves to credible elections ahead of 2027.
“We need to enthrone a democratic process that will become a reference point,” he said.
Also in attendance at the event were the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Husseini Yusuf, who was represented, President of the African Bar Association, Ibrahim Maku, Chairman of NBA Abuja Branch (Unity Bar), Steve Emelieze, SAN, Chairman of the 2026 Law Week Planning Committee, Dr. Chinedu Obienu, and Onyeka Obiajulu, Secretary of the NBA Abuja Branch, among others.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has flagged off a landmark free health insurance enrolment and comprehensive medical outreach for inmates across correctional facilities in the FCT, with over 1,500 inmates expected to benefit from the programme. The exercise, which commenced at the Medium security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja, on Wednesday, marks the first time […]
A prominent broadcaster in Ibadan, Abdulrazaq Abdulganeey, has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Ibadan North Constituency 1 through affirmation as the sole aspirant for the party using a direct primary system. Abdulganeey, who is also the National President of the Association of Nigerian Broadcasters (ANBROAD), won affirmation votes in all […]
Blessing Agbebaku, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, has been elected as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Owan West Constituency in the State House of Assembly ahead of the 2027 general election.
DAILY POST reports that his deputy, Hon. Atu Osamwonyi, was not as lucky as he lost the chance of clinching the party’s ticket.
Atu was defeated by Ndidi Aghimien as the party’s candidate for Orhionmwon Constituency I.
Ndidi scored 2,777 votes, Atu polled 9 votes, Terry Igiebor secured 87 votes, while Nosakhare Eguagie got 57 votes.
Meanwhile, Speaker Agbebaku, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in January 2025, polled a total of 2,846 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr. Atafo Gold, who scored 60 votes.
Other aspirants, including Mr. Ohioma George, got 31 votes, while Frank Ilaboya, a former chairman of Owan West Local Government Council, and Mrs. Juliana Ikharo garnered zero votes respectively.
Hon. Maria Edeko, the former Deputy Speaker under the PDP-dominated House, also clinched the APC ticket to recontest for the Esan North-East II election.
Edeko, like Blessing Agbebaku, defected to the APC from the PDP and scored 1,549 votes to emerge as the party’s candidate.
The former Minority Leader of the Assembly, Hon. Eric Okaka, under the APC minority, polled 4,213 votes to clinch the Owan East Constituency ticket.
He defeated Hon. Kayode Jeffrey, who got 46 votes, while Agbonkhan polled 47 votes.
In Etsako Central Constituency, Hon. Ahmed Waziri Oshomah got 3,304 votes to secure the party’s return ticket after defeating other aspirants, including Kenneth John, who scored 34 votes; Hon. Emma Momoh, 39 votes; Abdullahi Kassim Usman, 37 votes; Christopher Osi, 2 votes; and Mathew Aliu, who polled zero votes.
In Orhionmwon Constituency II, the incumbent lawmaker representing the constituency, Hon. Iyamu Bright, failed to clinch the party ticket.
Iyamu was defeated by Odiase Etinosa Endurance.
Victor Giwa was elected as the candidate for Esan South-East Constituency after defeating the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Sunday Ojiezele.
Hon. Kaycee Osamwonyi was returned as the party’s candidate for Uhunmwode Constituency.
In Oredo East, Hon. Edwin Osamuede defeated Hon. Frank Omosigho to emerge as the party’s flagbearer.
Omosigho defected to the APC from the PDP in 2025, while his Oredo West counterpart, Dr. Richard Edosa, was elected as the candidate.
Edosa, the only member elected on the platform of the Labour Party, also defected to the APC in 2025.
In Etsako East Constituency, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Imafidor defeated the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Kingsley Ugabi, to clinch the ticket.
In addition, Hon. Jonathan Ibhamawu, the Majority Leader of the House, and Hon. Abdulganiyu Akokhia were also elected as candidates for Esan West and Etsako West II constituencies respectively.
Others elected are Hon. Fada Eigbiremonlen for Esan Central, Hon. Andrew Uzamere for Ovia North-East II, and Hon. Donald Okogbe for Akoko-Edo II. The trio are among the PDP decampees.
Ms. Jennifer Iyamu clinched the Egor Constituency ticket.
Chairman of First HoldCo, Femi Otedola, has announced plans to invest $100m in the Dangote Refinery as the refinery accelerates preparations for its anticipated initial public offering (IPO).
Otedola disclosed the planned investment on Wednesday after leading senior executives of First HoldCo on a tour of the refinery complex owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.
The investment forms part of the refinery’s ongoing $2bn private placement targeted at strategic investors ahead of the proposed IPO, which is expected to attract both domestic and international participation. Although a listing date has yet to be announced, market analysts believe the offering could rank among the largest corporate listings in Africa.
Speaking during the visit, Otedola said he had secured an allocation of shares worth $100m in the private placement after several engagements with Dangote over the refinery project.
“On a personal note, I’ve appealed to him. I’ve been here with him 25 times, so my compensation is he’s going to allocate to me shares worth $100m in the private placement,” Otedola said.
He added that proceeds from the sale of his stake in Geregu Power Plc would be channelled into the refinery investment, underscoring his confidence in the long-term prospects of the project.
“That’s one of the reasons why I sold my stake in Geregu plant — to come and invest my proceeds in the IPO of Dangote refinery,” he stated.
The planned investment further strengthens ties between two of Nigeria’s most influential businessmen and signals growing investor confidence in the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery, which is expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products and conserve foreign exchange.
The refinery, located in Lagos, has been described as one of Africa’s largest industrial projects and is projected to reshape the continent’s energy and refining landscape.
Industry stakeholders believe the IPO could provide investors with a rare opportunity to participate in a strategic infrastructure asset with regional significance.
Dangote had earlier indicated that up to 10 per cent of the refinery could be offered to investors during the listing. According to estimates by Bloomberg in October 2025, the proposed stake sale could value the offering at approximately $5bn.
The businessman is also pursuing a cross-border listing strategy aimed at widening the investor base and attracting capital from both African and global markets. Dangote previously said the planned listing is intended to democratise wealth creation and allow Africans to participate directly in the continent’s industrial transformation story.
In a separate report published on May 12, Bloomberg said the refinery’s valuation could rise to as much as $50 billion ahead of the IPO, potentially making it one of the most valuable companies on the African continent.
Analysts say Otedola’s proposed investment could boost investor sentiment toward the offering and encourage broader institutional participation once the refinery opens its books to the public market.
