₦airaland Forum

..... on Gov Yusuf’s defectionP


The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has described the defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, as a political betrayal.

DAILY POST reports that the governor on Monday joined the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, despite warnings from his estranged political godfather, Kwankwaso.

The governor’s decision to quit the NNPP for the APC has triggered a serious political crisis in Kano State.

Some cabinet members of Yusuf’s administration who are loyal to Kwankwaso are reportedly preparing to resign in the coming days.

Addressing his supporters in a viral video on Wednesday, Kwankwaso lamented that the mandate handed over to the APC was hard-fought by his support organisation, known as the Kwankwasiyya movement.

According to him, handing over the mandate to his perceived political enemy, former National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, was a sin against the people of the state.

He said, “Handing over Kwankwasiyya’s hard-fought mandate to Ganduje and the APC is nothing short of political betrayal and a grave sin against the people.”

Former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused the Kano State Government of pressuring political officeholders to publicly declare loyalty to either Kwankwasiyya or the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kwankwaso made the allegation in a video message shared on Tuesday evening by his media aide, Saifullahi Hassan. He claimed that local government chairmen, councillors and some lawmakers were being compelled to sign loyalty registers amid growing speculations over possible defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to APC.

However, Kwankwaso said those affected should not fear offending him if they were pressured to take such actions “The Kano State Government is pressuring political officeholders to declare their loyalty either to Kwankwasiyya or to Ganduje’s camp. This is not something anyone who truly loves us would be happy with,” he said. He recalled that the movement had faced betrayals in the past, with supporters enduring years of political hardship before reclaiming power in 2023.

The former Governor said the pressure on loyalists had intensified since defection talks began, describing the situation as distressing for many officeholders.

“Since this defection speculation to Ganduje and Tinubu’s camps started, there have been many crises. Chairmen, councillors and assembly members have been calling me in distress. Some cannot sleep, and some have even been hospitalised,” he said.

He explained that advising them to sign any loyalty register presented to them was intended to ease tension, stressing that the struggle for the 2027 general election had not yet begun.

Kwankwaso also reflected on the process through which the current local government chairmen were selected, expressing confidence in their ability to continue delivering dividends of democracy. He said the selection was carried out collectively by himself and other party leaders and local government caucuses.

“We selected these chairmen in a joyful mood back then, I was the chairman of the commitee along with the deputy governor, the Speaker Folgore, Dr Kofarmata, AVM Ibrahim Umar, party chairman Dungurawa, Sanusi Sirajo and Danzaki, along with all the local government caucuses, we chose the right people and we hope they will continue the good work,” he stated.

He further alleged that some caucus members were being followed to their homes with promises aimed at luring them away, a development he described as unhealthy for the state’s political climate.

“I have heard that for the first time in three years now they are being followed to there houses and promises are being made but when the time come we know our loyalists will rise but now is not the time to begin the struggle for the 2027 election,” he added.

Kwankwaso concluded by thanking Governor Yusuf for recently commending his administration while criticising the immediate-past government of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, in a speech he made during the graduation of students from various entrepreneurship programmes.

“I am grateful to the Kano State Governor for what he said in his speech, where he commended our government and unmasked the previous administration that stopped the progress of Kano State.”

He also expressed appreciation to his supporters for their continued loyalty amid the unfolding political uncertainty in the State

dapadawee:
Tinubu is a course to study in European and world university.

If tinubu was a white guy he would be immortalized

I know most of you have headache

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest and detention of students of Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma, describing the action as a sign of growing intolerance under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.


In a statement posted on his official X page on Tuesday, Atiku expressed concern over what he termed the “high-handedness” of the Federal Government in responding to students’ protests against insecurity in the Ekpoma area of Edo State.

According to him, it is unacceptable that authorities would respond to peaceful protests by arresting and detaining dozens of students, noting that the right to protest is guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and upheld by the courts.


Atiku reminded the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress, APC, administration that the primary responsibility of government is the security and welfare of citizens, stressing that students should not be punished for raising legitimate concerns about their safety.

He further argued that if the same level of energy used in arresting protesters were applied to tackling terrorism and banditry, rather than negotiating with criminals, communities across the country would be safer.

The former Vice President called for the immediate and unconditional release of all those he described as unjustly detained for exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest.

Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has issued a stern warning to those who provide support to terrorists, bandits, insurgents and other criminal elements to desist immediately.

Speaking at the Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day 2026 in Abuja, General Musa declared that the Federal Government has given security agencies a clear mandate to act decisively against them.

He appeared to Nigerians to keep supporting the military and other security agencies in their efforts to restore peace and stability across the country.

“I call on all Nigerians to continue to support the Armed Forces and security agencies and work for peace. Those who are still supporting bandits, criminals, insurgents and terrorists should stop forthwith.

“As the saying goes, the friend of a thief is a thief. If we get to the battlefield and you are among them, whatever happens to them happens to you. It is therefore important for good Nigerians to provide necessary information to security agencies,” he warned.

The former Chief of Defense Staff, notes that the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration was not only to honour fallen heroes but also to appreciate serving personnel and their families for their sacrifices to the nation.

According to him, the event was also meant to encourage serving personnel and reassure them of the nation’s support, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently demonstrated commitment to the welfare and operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces.

Thedon22:
A president eager for results. No time to check time with Tinubu. Once you are not meeting up to target he asks you to step down no matter how close you are to him. It's all about performance. Unlike Buhari that retained his ministers for 8 years.

The Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has narrated what he described as a brief but unsettling encounter with operatives of the Department of State Services, saying it was a “mild Nollywood drama.”

He said his encounter with DSS officers made him feel sorry for the country.

Baba-Ahmed, who also doubles as the founder and chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, made the disclosure while speaking with Saturday PUNCH.

The 2027 presidential aspirant also denied being invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, saying the anti-graft agency had no reason to summon him.


“The EFCC did not invite me, and it is very unlikely they will anytime soon. However, there was a mild Nollywood drama between some gentlemen of the DSS and myself on November 28, 2025. It lasted just two hours and 15 minutes,” he said.

Recounting the encounter with the DSS, Baba-Ahmed said he voluntarily honoured the agency’s request, curious about the motive behind it.

“To sum it all up, I walked into their national headquarters very curious, wondering: Why are you looking for me? I’m not a criminal. The criminals are in your offices and in your corridors of power.


“But anyway, here I am. Talk to me. What do you want? I came out feeling very sorry for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. If these are who you call our leaders, then I understand why the United States of America will have to come and attack terrorists on behalf of Nigerian forces. I feel sorry for us.”

According to him, the interaction left him deeply concerned about the state of leadership and governance in the country.

“But yes, a Nollywood drama played out. They pleaded with me that, please, you know, this government is very weak. And the way you’re punching, it can crash. Now listen, these are what we call paper tigers,” Baba-Ahmed added.

Dismissing any sense of intimidation, the LP chieftain urged Nigerians not to succumb to fear, insisting that democratic accountability must not be silenced.

“The wind is blowing and they’re scaring people. Do not be afraid. Trust in God and believe in yourselves. They will add up to nothing.”

The former lawmaker was reportedly invited by the Department of State Services over comments considered inciting against the Nigerian state.

Sources within the service said the invitation followed concerns about the former vice-presidential candidate’s recent public remarks.


One of the officers disclosed, “A few days ago, Baba-Ahmed was on national television blaming the judiciary and the military for allowing the swearing-in of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

“He even went to the length of inciting the military, saying it was President Tinubu’s swearing-in that made it possible for them to look you in the face and call you ‘bloody fools.’

“His comments carry undertones capable of heightening national tension, particularly given the sensitivity of Nigeria’s current political climate. It has nothing to do with politics, but the corporate existence of our nation could be threatened if such rhetoric is allowed to fester.”

Another insider said the DSS invitation was preventive and aimed solely at clarifying intent, not persecution.

Isaac Fayose, a social commentator and brother of former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, has claimed that neither the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, nor Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, can win Rivers State for the All Progressives Congress (APC) or President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election without electoral manipulation.

Fayose made the assertion in a video posted on his Facebook page on Saturday, where he spoke in a mix of English and Pidgin languages while reacting to the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State.

“Make we no deceive ourselves,” Fayose said.

“Both Wike and Fubara, none of them can win Rivers election for APC or Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 without rigging. The only person that can win Rivers State for Tinubu is INEC and the Police, not Fubara and not Wike.”

According to him, the ongoing rift between the former governor and his successor was not driven by public interest but by a struggle over control of the state’s resources.

“Wike and Fubara are fighting for Rivers’ resources,” he alleged.

“Fubara has saved a lot of money, and Wike is looking at this money. That is what they are fighting for.”

Fayose further argued that both political camps lacked the grassroots support needed to secure an electoral victory for the APC in Rivers State, particularly if the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, remains on the ballot in 2027.

“If Peter Obi is on the ballot, neither Wike nor Fubara can get 25 per cent of the total votes cast for APC in Rivers State,” he claimed.

He also criticised recent political tours and outreach efforts by the rival camps, describing them as ineffective attempts to influence voters through financial inducements.

“All the tours they have been doing to grease people’s hands in poverty are not up to 30,000 people,” Fayose said.

He added, “The real voters in Rivers State are just looking at them.”

Former governor of Kano State and national leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has declared that he cannot be bought, insisting that he has no “price tag” in Nigerian politics.

Speaking on recent political developments in Kano State, Kwankwaso noted that while politics involves wins and losses, acts of betrayal often draw public resentment, especially as many Nigerians remained frustrated with insecurity and the state of the economy.

The former governor emphasised that the Kano electorate were politically aware and not easily swayed by inducements. “Kano politics is different. Where else in Nigeria would someone come to you with a bag of money expecting you to agree to their terms?” he asked.

Kwankwaso rejected the notion that all politicians have a price tag. “People often say that everyone in Nigerian politics has a price. If you want someone who cannot be bought, come to Rabiu Kwankwaso,” he stated, stressing that no one could purchase his conscience.

He also warned politicians and voters against being lured by short-term incentives during elections. “You endure hardship for four years, and then someone comes offering peanuts for a single day. And the cycle continues for another four years,” he said.

Urging political actors to uphold principles and prioritise the long-term interests of the people, Kwankwaso said leadership built on inducements and betrayal cannot achieve meaningful development.

LEADERSHIP reports that Kwankwaso spoke against the backdrop of reported moves by his protégé and Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusufu, to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

FACT-CHECK: How true is Wike’s claim that his administration never received more than N200bn in any year as Rivers governor?

A former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has claimed that his then administration in Rivers never received more than N200billion in any particular year from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) while he was governor for eight years.

“Money can make you not see well—the kind of money the governors have now, we never saw it. That’s why most of them make mistakes. They think everything is about money.


“In all my life as governor for eight years. I have never received from the federation account throughout one year. I have never received more than N200 billion,” Mr Wike, who is now the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, said while briefing some journalists on Monday in Port Harcourt, Rivers.

“Never! The records are there. And so most of them are blindfolded, and I tell people money has its own limitations. It is not everything that you think money would work. No,” he added.


The minister said that the post–fuel subsidy windfall under President Bola Tinubu’s administration was responsible for “fiscal recklessness” by some governors.

The context
Mr Wike’s comment came amid a renewed political rift with his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, whose reported second-term ambition he opposes.

The fallout between Messrs Fubara and Wike had pushed Rivers into one of Nigeria’s most complex political crises in recent history. It defied two presidential interventions, split the House of Assembly into rival factions, led to the burning of local government secretariats, and resulted in deaths, including that of a security operative.

Apparently, to shake off the minister’s overbearing influence in the Rivers chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Fubara defected from the PDP to the APC, a move that has reshaped the state’s power dynamics.

The facts
Available FAAC data compiled by BudgIT, a civic organisation, contradict Mr Wike’s claim of not receiving more than N200 billion in any particular year when he was Rivers governor.

According to the records, Rivers State received the following FAAC allocations under Mr Wike’s second term in office: 2019: N169 billion; 2020: N149 billion; 2021: N170 billion; 2022: N293 billion; 2023: N339 billion.


It is worthy to note that 2022 was Mr Wike’s last full year in office, and Rivers State received N293 billion from FAAC—far above the N200 billion ceiling he claimed was never crossed.

The Verdict – False
The BudgIT figures for Rivers clearly show that Mr Wike’s administration received well over N200 billion in at least one year. His categorical assertion that this never happened during his eight-year tenure is not supported by verifiable data.

Why this matters
Mr Wike’s comment came against the backdrop of an intense political battle with Governor Fubara, whom he accuses of poor judgement and political disloyalty. By downplaying the scale of funds available during his own tenure, Mr Wike appears to be framing a moral argument against current governors, while rewriting fiscal history.

In a polity where public trust is fragile, precision with facts matters—especially when numbers are deployed as political weapons. On this claim, the record is clear: the numbers do not agree with Mr Wike’s claim.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Presidency over what he described as misplaced priorities, accusing it of focusing on defending photographs of President Bola Tinubu’s meals in Paris at a time Nigeria was battling hunger, insecurity and economic hardship.

In a statement by Phrank Shaibu, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, the former vice president faulted the Presidency’s latest ‘stop press’ and questioned its sense of urgency amid worsening national conditions.

He said: “The Presidency’s latest ‘stop press’ is a textbook case of misplaced priorities and official shamelessness. That is not leadership. It is tone-deafness in power.

“While communities in Niger State and other parts of the country are under attack and families can no longer afford basic food, the Presidency is busy explaining camera phones, image quality and photo editing.

Atiku also dismissed the Presidency’s outrage over claims that the images were generated by Artificial Intelligence or forged, saying such reactions lacked moral force, given past controversies.

He said: “On the claim of AI or forgery, the outrage is unconvincing. When credibility is eroded, doubt follows naturally. The real falsehood is not a photograph. It is the daily distortion of leadership priorities.

“Nigeria is burning. The Presidency is editing pictures. It is time for the Presidency to abandon public relations theatrics, return home, and confront the emergencies facing Nigerians – hunger, insecurity, and economic collapse with urgency, humility, and action. That is the minimum Nigerians expect

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has condemned the Nigerian government, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of embarrassment and moral cowardice over the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by the United States.

The statement was released on Monday by ADC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

The party criticized Nigeria’s lack of response more than 48 hours after the US operation, describing the government’s silence as “reeking of fear” and “a further indication that Nigeria has lost both voice and standing on the international stage.”

In addition, the statement highlighted the widely condemned 2024 Venezuelan elections as evidence that regimes surviving on fraud and repression cannot rely on international doctrines of sovereignty for protection.

“Let’s be clear,” the statement said, “the Nigerian government’s silence has nothing to do with neutrality. It reveals a government that lacks confidence simply because it lacks integrity.”

ADC also drew a direct parallel to Nigeria, asserting that the Venezuelan crisis should serve as a cautionary tale to dictators and election riggers everywhere.

The party further implied that leaders who manipulate elections and deny citizens’ rights will eventually face accountability.

It went on to call out the Tinubu administration for failing to take a principled stand on global matters, suggesting that Nigeria risks losing credibility as Africa’s largest democracy while turning a blind eye to crises that offer broader lessons about legitimacy and governance.

The statement concluded that democracy must mean more than “ballots and electoralism” and that governments prioritizing survival over the will of the people are increasingly exposed on the world stage

Burob:
U must be speaking from a reflection of your life?

Go & help yourself and free yourself from self entitlement & mental laziness, it is this same nonsense u said under President Buhari for 8 years, now u have continued same other president Tinubu.

The sooner u realize no one is going to do anything for u in the overpopulated country of 220 million people, u will get into the jungle & seek your spoil for survival, both intellectually & physically.

No food for lazy man.

Burob:
I believe like Gringory Obi u have recovered from your 2023 general election anguish & heartbreak?, like your oga u have started deceiving yourself again.

At least u cannot deny that I warned u in 2022/23 not to keep chasing the wind, that your Oga was going to lose to Tinubu.

Burob:
Roberto, I see that u have resumed your wailing?

Welcome back 😃.

richmond500:
chai, u no talk quick, I just pass where them deh sell bread

richmond500:
I left the village this morning after Xmas break but later got a call that there is a meeting today for SIMplified movement by 1pm.
Quickly I rushed back to my village. Lo and behold it was registration for APC.
I rush go collect form, fill, submit and I am going back to portharcourt.
The meeting was impromptu yet people still came out enmass

Suspected political thugs, on Friday night, attacked Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, an ally of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, during a live television interview at an undisclosed hotel in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State.

Nwibubasa, who is also the convener of a socio-political pressure group, the Rivers Liberation Movement (RLM), in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday, alleged that his attackers claimed that they were loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.

He stated that it took the coordinated intervention of operatives of the Rivers State Police Command to ensure his escape from the scene of the attack.

The statement read: “[b]At approximately 9:15 p.m. last night, while participating in a live television interview with Arise TV at a hotel premises in Port Harcourt, I was violently attacked by a group of men who identified themselves as being from Obio/Akpor local government area and who openly claimed loyalty to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike.

“The assailants disrupted the live broadcast, forcefully seized and carted away the Arise TV camera and other broadcast equipment, and threatened my life as well as that of the Arise TV correspondent. Although both the journalist and I narrowly escaped physical harm, the attackers went further to break into hotel rooms, vandalize property, and steal personal belongings of hotel staff while actively searching for us.

“Throughout this ordeal, the attackers loudly chanted that I would not leave the hotel alive for daring to speak against Barr. Nyesom Wike, whom they claimed is an indigene of the community where the interview was taking place. This was a clear, deliberate, and premeditated threat to life, as well as a brazen assault on press freedom and democratic expression.[/b]

“It took the coordinated intervention of multiple police response teams to extract us safely from the area. I wish to express my profound gratitude to the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, and his officers for their prompt response to our distress calls, which undoubtedly saved our lives. I also deeply appreciate the management of Arise TV, whose tireless efforts ensured that both their correspondent and I were brought to safety.”

Nwibubasa appealed to the Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, to ensure that all those involved in the attack were identified, arrested and prosecuted.

He said: “I hereby formally appeal to the Commissioner of Police to ensure that all those involved in this criminal attack are identified, arrested, and prosecuted, and that the stolen Arise TV camera and other properties are urgently recovered.

“Let me state unequivocally to the misguided and gullible followers of the FCT Minister: intimidation, violence, and threats will not deter us from pursuing the legitimate struggle for the liberation and good governance of Rivers State.

“What occurred last night was not just an attack on me—it was a direct assault on the constitutional right to free speech as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Rather than silence us, this act of barbarism will only amplify our voices.

“I call on the Governor of Rivers State to urgently and decisively address this dangerous trend of political violence before it plunges our state into avoidable crisis. I also call on civil society organizations, the media, and all lovers of democracy to unequivocally condemn this reprehensible act.

“Rivers State belongs to all its people. No individual, group, or ethnic nationality has a superior claim to it. We must not allow lawlessness, intimidation, and political thuggery to define our future.”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of the cancellation of legacy debts owed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) to the Federation Account.

The ADC described the action as unconstitutional and harmful to states and local governments.

The party said the President lacks the constitutional power to cancel revenues that belong to all tiers of government, warning that the move would reduce funds meant for states and local councils.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the decision amounted to a clear violation of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, which governs revenue paid into and shared from the Federation Account.

According to the party, official documents presented to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) showed that the President approved the removal of about $1.42 billion and N5.57 trillion in legacy NNPC debts from the Federation Account records after what was described as a reconciliation exercise with regulators.

The ADC noted that the debts covered obligations arising from production sharing contracts, domestic crude supply, royalty receivables and other outstanding balances accumulated up to December 31, 2024.

“The ADC is especially concerned that nearly 96 percent of the dollar denominated legacy obligations and 88 percent of the naira denominated legacy balances were written off by executive directive.

“This write off was done without legislative or parliamentary approval or clear constitutional authority. This purported justification of reconciliation cannot lawfully override the constitutional requirements for revenue sharing.

“The action effectively removes longstanding liabilities from public accounts, but at the cost of reducing the revenue base constitutionally distributable to States and Local Governments,” the statement reads in part.

According to ADC, it is important to stress that no executive decision can override the Constitution.

“Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) makes it clear that all revenues due to the Federation, including oil-related income and obligations, must be paid into the Federation Account and shared among the federal, state and local governments.

“The Federation Account is not under the control of the President, and no president has the power to cancel revenues that are constitutionally due. Any action that cuts the funds meant for states and local governments without approval from the legislature is therefore unconstitutional,” it added.

The party said it had made this point repeatedly, insisting that President Tinubu has continued to act in ways that violate the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It added that even more disturbing is what it described as the National Assembly’s apparent cooperation or failure to act in the face of these actions.

According to the party, such serious violations of the Constitution would normally be enough to trigger impeachment proceedings.

“As a nation of laws, and not of men, no President can override what the Constitution protects. The Federation Account belongs to all tiers of government, and cannot be subject to the discretion of the Federal Executive or the President.

press9jatv:
INEC has fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, February 20, 2027, while the Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, March 6, 2027.