₦airaland Forum

LordviccoDaGuru:
You are confused even in looking

the resurfacing of the affidavit has sparked renewed debate across legal, political and civic circles.

jmoore:
Reno Omokri doesn't know what is naira devaluation.
Banks holding dollars will definitely benefit from naira devaluation.

While the masses will be shouting ebinpawa.

Christmyhope:
I want the National Assembly to invite the head of telco to come and make clarification on possibility of ensuring real-time transmission of results. I don't know how possible this can be in Nigeria because there are many times I have gone to bank to withdraw but I disappointed because there was no network, here in Lagos state. And I have gone to some places in Ondo, ekiti, osun and Edo, where I could not make phone calls for several days. How is real time transmission possible in that areas?

avalancheMedia:
Something happened in Nigeria in 2025 that should have been on the front page of every newspaper. The federal government appropriated N218 billion for the health ministry. By the end of the year, only N36 million was actually released. That is not a typo. That is 0.0165% of the total budget. In a country of over 200 million people, the government released thirty six million naira for healthcare in an entire year.

But here is the part that should make every Nigerian stop and think. Peter Obi, a private citizen and former presidential candidate, donated N280 million from his personal funds to hospitals, nursing schools, midwifery colleges and specialist health facilities within the same period. One man. No oil revenue. No tax collection powers. No international loans. Just his personal account. And he spent nearly eight times more on Nigerian healthcare than the entire federal government did.

sultanodudua:
Reason why one clown Umo denied Obi entry in Akwa Ibom

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed February 24, 2026, to hear a suit seeking to compel the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress and other political parties over alleged constitutional breaches.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/25, was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and five political parties — African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party, and Action Alliance.

The matter, which was initially slated for mention on Monday before Justice Peter Lifu, was not heard. The court subsequently adjourned proceedings to February 24.

Speaking with journalists after the stalled hearing, counsel for the plaintiff, Yakubu Ruba (SAN), said the action seeks a judicial interpretation of constitutional and statutory provisions governing the registration and continued recognition of political parties in Nigeria.

“We are before the court purely for constitutional interpretation. Some parties, in our view, have acted in breach of the Constitution, and we seek the court’s guidance on the relevant provisions,” Ruba said.

Court documents show that the suit was commenced by originating summons pursuant to Section 225(A) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Section 75(4) of the Electoral Act, 2022, and relevant provisions of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.

At the centre of the dispute is whether INEC is constitutionally bound to deregister political parties that failed to meet minimum electoral performance thresholds prescribed by law.

The thresholds include securing at least 25 per cent of votes cast in one state in a presidential election, winning a local government area in a governorship election, or clinching at least one seat in elections ranging from councillorship to the National Assembly.

The plaintiff is asking the court to determine whether INEC is empowered, or obligated, to enforce these benchmarks against the affected parties, which it alleged failed to win any ward, legislative seat or elective office in previous elections.

Other issues for determination include whether the parties are still eligible to be recognised as legally registered political parties and whether INEC can lawfully acknowledge or give effect to their political activities, including congresses, primaries, campaigns and participation in the 2027 general elections, without strict compliance with Section 225(A) of the Constitution.

Among the reliefs sought are declaratory orders affirming that INEC is duty-bound to enforce constitutional benchmarks as a precondition for party registration and participation in elections.
The plaintiffs are also seeking orders compelling the electoral body to deregister the affected parties.

They further asked for mandatory and perpetual injunctions restraining INEC from recognising, accepting or giving effect to any political activities or correspondence from the parties unless and until they comply fully with constitutional and statutory requirements.

In an affidavit in support of the originating summons, deposed to by Hon. Igbokwe Nnanna, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and National Coordinator of the NFFL, the group accused INEC of neglecting its constitutional duty by continuing to recognise political parties that allegedly failed to meet minimum performance thresholds.

According to the affidavit, the affected parties have, since their registration, failed to win a single elective seat at any level of government, including presidential, governorship, National Assembly, state assembly, chairmanship or councillorship elections.

The plaintiff further claimed that the parties did not secure the constitutionally required 25 per cent of votes in at least one state in presidential elections, nor any representation across the country’s 8,809 wards, 774 local government areas, 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Nnanna averred that despite what he described as “total electoral failures,” INEC has continued to accord the parties full recognition, an action the group said was unconstitutional and contrary to the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022.

The forum warned that unless restrained by the court, INEC may permit the affected parties to participate in the 2027 general elections, thereby “clogging the ballot papers, overstretching administrative resources and misleading voters.”

Describing the action as a public interest suit, the group urged the court to compel INEC to enforce constitutional compliance by deregistering political parties that have allegedly failed to meet stipulated thresholds, in a bid to deepen democracy and uphold the rule of law ahead of future elections.

Justice Lifu adjourned the matter to February 24, 2026, for further proceedings.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly on
Monday reaffirmed its resolve to uphold transparency and accountability as hundreds of citizens staged a protest over the ongoing probe of the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

The protesters, led by Ambassador Yerima Shettima of the Northern Stakeholders Consultative Initiative and Aliyu Muhammad of the Coalition of Kaduna Stakeholders Forum, submitted a formal letter to the Speaker, Hon. Yusuf Dahiru Liman, seeking updates on the legislative investigation.

Speaking after receiving the protesters at the Assembly, Speaker Liman assured them that the House had already taken concrete steps.

He disclosed that a committee set up in June 2024 to investigate alleged misappropriation of N432 billion had completed its assignment and submitted its findings to the appropriate authorities.

According to him, the Assembly would not be distracted from its constitutional mandate.

“There are those who may not fully understand the role of the legislature, but we stand by our documented findings. Anybody found wanting will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

The Speaker emphasised that peaceful protest remains a constitutional right and reiterated that no individual is above the law.

In his remarks, Shettima described the action as a civic engagement aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring that due process runs its full course.

“This matter concerns the future of Kaduna State and the integrity of our democratic system. Citizens have the right to demand transparency and accountability,” he said.

The coalition urged the Assembly to provide clear information on the status of the probe and to consider creating an open platform for affected citizens to present their concerns.

greatiyk4u:
Noise maker
Tinubu cannot jail any Northern bigwigs

HugoBoss10:
That's why I always doff my cap for the man Peter Obi.
This evil government of the day have done everything possible but couldn't find any crime to hang on his neck.
HE Obi is whiter than snow

greatiyk4u:
Finally Tinubu entered the trap set for him

Congratulations ADC

sonssyo:
This guy's self,why padding the inflation rate,AC is now 365k ,house rent self don enter 700k from 400k,where are they getting these statistics from, abi food stuffs alone that dropped a bit,is it now a yardstick to measure inflation...

The Chinese government has rejected allegations by five US Congressmen of sponsoring illegal mining in Nigeria, describing the claims as “completely baseless.”

The Chinese embassy also rejected the claim that it was funding radical Islamic groups and ethnic militias to protect its mining interests by “paying protection money to specific militias.”

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Chinese embassy in Nigeria said it was deeply dissatisfied with the “false accusations” made by the lawmakers regarding mining activities in Nigeria.

“We express our firm opposition and strong dissatisfaction, and request that the relevant media immediately cease spreading such false information,” the statement read in part.

The Embassy noted that China requires all its nationals to abide by the Nigerian mining regulations, adding that the country has “zero tolerance for mining companies involved in any illegal activities.

“The overwhelming majority of Chinese mining companies in Nigeria have set an exemplary record of compliance with Nigerian laws and regulations.

“They actively give back to local communities, fulfill their social responsibilities, protect the natural environment, and have made positive contributions to deepening bilateral mining cooperation, supporting local economic development, and creating employment opportunities,” it declared.

PREMIUM TIMES reports China was responding to allegations of illegal mining in a bill presented to the US Congress by five Republican lawmakers.

The bill titled “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026” linked Chinese illegal mining to terrorism funding in Nigeria.

The lawmakers are: Riley Moore of West Virginia, Chris Smith (New Jersey), Bill Huizenga (Michigan), Brian Mast (Florida), and Mario Diaz-Balart (Florida).

According to the lawmakers, the bill aimed at addressing what they described as ongoing religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.

They argued that Chinese nationals involved in “illegal mining” operations are paying terrorists for protection.

“The Secretary of State should work with the Government of Nigeria to counteract the hostile foreign exploitation of Chinese illegal mining operations and their destabilising practice of paying protection money to Fulani militias,” the five lawmakers stated in their bill.

Chinese Illegal Mining

Two of the lawmakers, Mr Moore and Mr Smith, have repeatedly pushed the Christian genocide narrative against Nigeria, and have applauded President Donald Trump for designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

The bill states that militant groups have been engaged in organised attacks on civilian communities, particularly in the Middle Belt region.

Chinese illegal mining operations, it said, are fueling religious violence and have resulted in the death of thousands of Christians in the country.

“These militias have conducted attacks involving targeted killings, hostage-taking, hijackings, armed assaults, massacres of civilians, destruction of property, and forced displacement of the local population.”

However, in its response, China declared that the majority of Chinese mining companies in the country set an “exemplary record of compliance with Nigerian laws and regulations.”

The embassy also said that “mining companies actively give back to local communities, and fulfill their social responsibilities, protect the natural environment, and have made positive contributions to deepening bilateral mining cooperation, supporting local economic development, and creating employment opportunities.”

The embassy also said, “The Chinese side has always respected Nigeria’s sovereignty and supports Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen mining governance in accordance with law and regulations.

“The Chinese Embassy maintains close communication and cooperation with relevant Nigerian authorities at all times. It must be emphasised that Chinese mining enterprises in Nigeria are victims of terrorist activities.

They have consistently supported and are willing to cooperate with the Nigerian government’s efforts to safeguard national security.

“The Chinese side stands ready to work together with Nigeria to strengthen mining cooperation and governance further, promote the healthy, orderly, and sustainable development of China-Nigeria mining cooperation, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises from both sides, and bring benefits to the peoples of both countries.”

Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that this is not the first time Chinese nationals have been accused of paying money to terrorists for protection and access to mining sites

A study conducted by SBM Intelligence, a research consultancy and strategic intelligence firm in Lagos, revealed how Chinese companies bribed terrorist groups in some parts of the country to access mining sites.

The firm shared its findings with The Times, a British newspaper, revealing videos of militant leaders boasting how powerful they had become, so that Chinese miners working in their strongholds had to pay “rent”.

Additionally, an investigation by WikkiTimes, a grassroots newspaper in Bauchi State, revealed how Chinese-affiliated miners bribed the terror faction of Dogo Gide to gain access to mining sites in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

An old tweet by Bashir El-Rufai has resurfaced to challenge former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s claim that Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata was not a critic of his administration.

In an interview on Arise Television on Friday, February 13, 2026, El-Rufai denied any link to Dadiyata’s disappearance, insisting the social media activist was a critic of the Kano State government under former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, not Kaduna.

He said: “Dadiyata is a critic of the Kano government. He was a fierce critic of the Kano state government. He’s from Kano. He lives in Kaduna and lectures at a university in Katsina State. It was Ganduje that was his problem. I don’t even know him. We only got a report of Dadiyata’s existence after his family reported to the police that he was abducted. That is the only thing I know, but it was not a problem for Kaduna State.”

However, a December 23, 2019, tweet from Bashir El-Rufai (@BashirElRufai) posted about four and a half months after Dadiyata vanished, appeared to mock those campaigning for justice under the hashtag #WhereIsDadiyata.

Bashir wrote: “The same clowns who encouraged him when he was creating false stories and capitalizing on lies that could endanger lives solely for political ends are the same individuals trending hashtags asking #WhereisDadiyata. Dangerous lies in the public space have consequences.”

The former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, has called for scrutiny of his Kaduna counterpart, Nasir El-Rufai, after the latter linked him to the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.

Mr Ganduje, in a statement signed by former Kano Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Muhammad Garba, described the allegation “as reckless, unfounded and a clear attempt to shift responsibility for an incident that occurred entirely within Kaduna State.”

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr El-Rufai claimed that Dadiyata was abducted from his Kaduna residence by police officers dispatched from Kano State, when Mr Ganduje was governor.

For several years, many Nigerians on social media accused Mr El-Rufai, who was Kaduna governor during the abduction, of being behind the incident.

Addressing the allegations on Arise Television on Friday, Mr El-Rufai said Dadiyata was not a critic of his administration, as widely speculated. Instead, he stated that the activist was a vocal critic of Mr Ganduje’s government.

“Three years after he was abducted, a policeman who was posted from Kano to Ekiti State confessed to someone that they were sent from Kano to abduct Dadiyata and that the officer was worried about that. That is all I know,” Mr El-Rufai stated.

Mr El-Rufai maintained that the disappearance is not a Kaduna State issue, despite the incident occurring within its borders. He argued that the state could not have provided specific protection because it was unaware of his friction with the Kano State Government.

Below is the full response by Mr Ganduje through his former commissioner

Former Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has firmly rejected allegations by his former Kaduna state counterpart, Nasir El-Rufai, linking him to the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.

In a measured but unequivocal response contained in a statement signed by former Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs in Kano state, Comrade Muhammad Garba, the former APC national chairman described the allegation as reckless, unfounded and a clear attempt to shift responsibility for an incident that occurred entirely within Kaduna State.

He emphasised that Dadiyata lived and operated in Kaduna, where he was widely known for directing his criticisms at the Kaduna state government. According to him, there is no credible record suggesting that the activist’s primary focus was the Kano state government or Dr. Ganduje.

“Everyone in Kaduna knew the nature of the criticism he made and who it was directed at,” he stated, noting that responsibility for security in Kaduna at the time rested with the state government and the relevant federal security agencies operating there.

The statement called for careful scrutiny of El-Rufai’s recent remarks, stressing that such serious allegations must be supported by verifiable evidence rather than political rhetoric. Dragging Ganduje into the matter without proof, Garba said, not only politicizes a painful and unresolved episode but also risks further confusing the public over an already sensitive case.

Contrasting the political climates of both states during the period in question, Garba maintained that Ganduje’s two-term administration in Kano was marked by tolerance for criticism, open media engagement and acceptance of opposition voices.

“Unlike many political leaders who maintained strained relationships with the media, we allowed scrutiny, accommodated critical voices and even learned from dissenting perspectives,” he said.
The former Commissioner added that there was no record of arrests, intimidation or harassment of journalists or critics in Kano during Ganduje’s tenure.

He further observed that public discourse surrounding Dadiyata’s disappearance has, over the years, centred largely on events within Kaduna state and noted further that former Senator Shehu Sani had openly remarked that many individuals within the state were reluctant to speak publicly about the case, while commentator Reno Omokri previously raised allegations questioning how the matter was handled at the time.

Garba also expressed concern over El-Rufai’s claim that a police officer allegedly confessed to being sent from Kano to abduct Dadiyata.

He questioned why such grave information, if credible, was not formally disclosed to investigative authorities or pursued transparently through appropriate security channels at the time.

“It is difficult to reconcile a claim of having no prior knowledge of the individual with simultaneously making detailed assertions about who was responsible,” he noted.

While reiterating sympathy for Dadiyata’s family, Garba stressed that the priority should remain on uncovering the truth through lawful and transparent investigative processes.

“The family deserves closure,” he said. “What they do not deserve is for this tragic matter to become an instrument of political blame-shifting.”

He concluded by urging anyone with credible information regarding the abduction to present it to the appropriate authorities, emphasising that accountability must rest on facts and due process, not speculation.

Comrade Muhamad Garba
Former Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Kano state