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EXTRA: I know junction where madman who advised Peter Obi stayed in Anambra, says Bwala

Daniel Bwala, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on policy communication, has mocked Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, describing him as a “character-in-chief”.

Speaking in an interview on The Clarity Zone Podcast anchored by Chinedu Emmanuel, popularly known as Nedu, Bwala said Obi was engaging in theatrics.

He was responding to a claim that the former governor of Anambra described him as a ‘character’.

“In the movie, the actor is a character. He is actually the character-in-chief, because what he’s playing is what we call theatrics,” Bwala said.

“You are demonstrating a fictitious picture of a reality that will never exist. I think that is the hope he sold to his people.

“So, after the election when they saw reality dawn and he lost the election, they couldn’t manage the picture of the fantasy that was painted in their mind, and they ran berserk.”

“They are all over the media now… they don’t have a particular platform where they stay. They migrate and abuse people. And that is because leadership is not easy.

“Leadership is a sacrifice. All these politicians you see, from President Bola Tinubu, and some other politicians who are not up to him, do a lot of sacrifice to build a base; a base that can resonate with them.”

Bwala also responded to Obi’s claim that he has never been to Anambra, saying he could even describe the road leading to the former LP presidential candidate’s house in the state.

The presidential aide further joked that he knew where the mentally unstable man whom Obi said gave him advice while he was governor of the state stayed.

Bwala’s remarks followed a statement Obi made in the build-up to the 2023 elections, in which he recounted how a piece of advice from a mentally unstable man helped him resolve a major security challenge during his tenure as governor of Anambra.

“And he also said I have never been to Anambra; I can tell you the road that leads to his house. Peter Obi is from Agulu,” he said.

“From Nnewi, you have Umudim, Nnewichi, Uruagu, and Otolo. I can take you to places in the east. I even know the junction where the madman that used to advise him used to stay, very close to Upper Iweka.

“How can he say I have never been to Anambra?”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said the presence of Mr. Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) has strengthened the party’s confidence nationwide.

Prof. Festus Arunaye, the ADC national member, Membership Revalidation, Mobilization and Registration Committee (MRMRC), stated this during the inauguration of the 10-member Delta State committee on membership registration on Friday in Asaba.

Arunaye said Peter Obi brought integrity, discipline, and strong economic understanding to the coalition, asserting that the former Anambra State governor had brought excellence to the ADC.

The party chieftain stated: “Peter Obi is a man of integrity. He is a man that knows the running of an economy that is above average. Therefore, such a personality joining the coalition has given us, as a Mathematician, I don’t easily give people A, an A, Excellent position.

Some people are panicky now, they are sick now because Obi has joined us. He also stated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar supports a free, fair, and credible primary process and believes in collective victory, making the ADC a party to beat in the coming general elections.

Peter Obi Is The Only Opposition In Nigeria, People Don't Listen To Atiku, Others Anymore - Fayose
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has claimed that the Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is the only living person in the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

According to Fayose, other chieftains of the ADC and political figures in the party are old forces and no longer exist.

He said, “Obi is the only life in ADC; all other people in ADC are semi-existent. If Obi had gone to remain in Labour Party or has gone to Accord Party, he is the only life there. All the other people there, they are not existing. They are old-forces.

Fayose also stated that he has no regret supporting President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election but will never join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He stressed, “Openly, I supported Tinubu in 2023. I didn’t hide it. Till now I’m still there. I don’t jump. I have said it to you I’m not a member of APC and I will never be.

Speaking further, the former Governor said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is technically no more, adding that it is dead.

The former Governor equally said that Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, should not be dragged into the woes of the PDP.

The Director-General of Big TENT Nigeria, Ibrahim Abdulkareem, has stated why former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is seeking the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Speaking during an interview on ‘Prime Time’, a programme on Arise Television monitored by DAILY POST on Wednesday, Abdulkareem said Obi is not asking for the ADC ticket on a platter.

He said Obi wants to unite Nigeria and wants the ADC to be the option for the people of Nigeria who clearly do not want a one-party state.

Peter Obi didn’t just come out and join the ADC. He was part of the ADC from the first day and he made it very clear for everybody that wants to hear.

He said I would be part of this coalition if it’s not just for us to grab power and give to somebody but if it’s for us to come together and create a system that would work for Nigeria because Nigerians have been longing for good and genuine leadership.

And he has done what none of these people, including president Bola Tinubu himself has done because what he did is that before fully declaring for the ADC, he talked to the Obidients.

Nobody at all his meetings, there’s no fora anywhere that Peter Obi is asking somebody to give him this ADC ticket on a platter of gold.

What he said is that what he has done in his previous engagement with people, what Nigerians have said and also putting something that would unite us together, most especially giving the young Nigerians who want to see a new Nigeria that hope of a better nation,” Abdulkareem said.

A report has indicated that former president Olusegun Obasanjo is spearheading efforts to bring former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso together for a joint presidential ticket.

According to Daily Trust, Obasanjo believes that a joint ticket involving the duo would create a better chance of defeating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Obi and Kwankwaso are expected to challenge former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the presidential ticket of the coalition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC), amid renewed efforts to unify the opposition.

Multiple sources who spoke to the aforementioned publication said Obasanjo has been able to tentatively persuade Kwankwaso to accept being Obi’s running mate.

According to sources, the first plan is to clinch the ADC presidential ticket by confronting Atiku directly at the party’s primaries.

Kwankwaso went to Abeokuta to meet Baba Obasanjo last week, and Baba told him to join the ADC and accept to be Obi’s vice. This is similar to what General Ibrahim Babangida told him weeks earlier, although IBB did not go as far as discussing the vice-presidential slot. He only advised him to join the ADC,” one of the sources said.

The thinking is that the political momentum and current dynamics, both local and international, favour an Obi presidency. Baba Obasanjo is a key promoter of Obi’s ambition. Even Atiku has acknowledged in the past that it was Baba who recommended Obi to him as vice-presidential candidate in 2019.

“The goal is to get Obi and Kwankwaso to work together in order to challenge Atiku for the ADC ticket. They know Atiku will not back down easily, and that the internal dynamics of party politics favour him. There is hardly a chance that either Obi or Kwankwaso, acting alone, can defeat Atiku at the primaries. But with both of them pulling their weight together, they believe they may stand a chance,” the source added.

Kwankwaso had also, through one of his close aides, confirmed to the publication that “high-level discussions with key stakeholders across the political spectrum” were ongoing.

While our party has not yet finalised its position or reached a full consensus on our path forward, we can confirm that we are engaged in high-level discussions with key stakeholders across the political spectrum, including political parties and individuals.

Our position will very soon be known to the public. We firmly believe that Nigeria urgently requires a departure from the current environment characterised by rampant insecurity and the widespread collapse of essential systems.

We kindly urge the public to remain patient and to continue supporting our movement as we work tirelessly towards building a better Nigeria for all citizens,” the aide said.

The aide was responding to enquiries on a meeting Kwankwaso reportedly held last week with Obasanjo and Obi. While the former Kano governor neither confirmed nor denied the meeting, sources reported that two strategic options were being pursued to ensure that an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket features prominently in the 2027 race.

Thousands of politicians from various parties in Abia State have joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The move by the politicians follows the recent defection of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the ADC.

Recall that Obi, who had adopted the platform as the coalition party, joined the ADC less than a week ago alongside some of his supporters across the state.

Speaking on Sunday during the mass defection in Abia, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Emeka Nwankpa said the defectors decided to join Obi in ADC to support his 2027 presidential ambition.

Nwankpa, at the event venue in his country home, Umuaku, Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state the defectors left their parties alongside their leaders in Abia as a result of the strong conviction they have in Obi and the vision of the ADC.

According to him, ADC and Obi’s manifesto is docked on people-oriented governance, social justice, and sustainable development.

Describing the ADC as a progressive and credible political platform, Nwankpa said Obi through the party will deliver the kind of people-centred governance Nigerians desire.

He also noted that, it is crystal clear that the ADC offers a fresh opportunity for leaders and the people to work together in rebuilding trust in politics.

Welcomed to the party by the chairman of ADC in Abia State, Norman Obinna, the new defectors assured that the political direction of Nigeria is heading towards ADC.

The Eastern Union (EU), a political pressure group for the people of Old Eastern Region, has expressed support for Peter Obi for finally defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC)

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party who had been part of the ADC coalition, officially joined the party on December 31, 2025, sealing every hope of those who thought he could still be the flag bearer of the Labour Party, which already has a splinter group.

The Eastern Union, in a statement signed by Hon. Charles Anike, National President, Eastern Union (EU), hailed Mr. Obi for taking the bold step by defecting to the ADC.

He said the decision to defect to ADC before 2026, was necessary and timely as that would lead to adjustments by the party’s leadership.

Anike noted that the Labour Party has over the period been infiltrated by the APC like dangerous viruses, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s die-hard political allies had planted many political moles in Labour Party, just as they did in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially after the overwhelming performance of the Labour Party through the Obi candidacy.

Anike stressed that the unbelievable performance of the party through the Obi candidacy had kept the APC restless and sleepless, after the alleged connivance of INEC Chairman.

Anike stated that the only option left for the APC is to, at all costs and by all means, destroy the major opposition party.

According to him, as a major strategy, the APC believes that the only way forward in trying to sustain their stolen mandate is to create crises in the major opposition parties.

In this circumstance, the Nigerian masses have been waiting seriously for this move by the people’s candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and now by his defection, the people’s hope has been revived and rekindled.

The EU, by this courageous and well calculated move by Mr. Obi, will commence in earnest to mobilise and sensitise fellow Nigerians on the need to gear up once again and renew their resolve to reclaim their country from political desperados and bandits who has in the past 12 years grabbed power and enslaved the people in their father’s land.

The Obi’s defection is not only a welcome development but a multiplied encouragement to Nigerians and dead blow to the APC for the New Year.

Our energies have been revived and the political atmosphere will surely change soon. We had earlier advised Tinubu to start locating the exit doors out of the Presidential Villa, but he is still hoping and believing that it will be business as usual.

But, unknown to them, Nigerians, especially the wounded youths are warming up to shock Tinubu and the APC come 2027.

The defection of some state governors is nothing, but empty political threats and another APC political miscalculation, craftly plotted to bamboozle Nigerians for another round of server glitches, the EU boss stated.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has welcomed the official declaration of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, into the African Democratic Congress ADC, describing the development as a significant moment in the history of political coalitions in Nigeria.

Atiku made the remarks on Wednesday in a statement shared on his verified Facebook handle, where he expressed optimism that Obi’s entry into the ADC would strengthen opposition politics and lay the groundwork for a government capable of delivering prosperity and peace to Nigerians.

Today marks a significant moment in the history of political coalitions in our country, with the official declaration of my brother and associate, Peter Obi, into the African Democratic Congress (ADC),” Atiku said.

The former PDP presidential candidate said he was pleased to officially welcome the former LP presidential candidate Obi into the party, stressing that their collaboration would help foster a “virile opposition” that can effectively challenge the ruling party and offer Nigerians a credible alternative.

“It is my pleasure to welcome him officially, as we look forward to a robust working relationship that will foster a virile opposition, one that will ultimately form a government capable of bringing prosperity and peace to our people,” he added.

Atiku also referenced the symbolic take-off of what he described as the “ADC Coalition train” from Enugu, the capital of the South-East zone, noting that the choice of location underscored the coalition’s national outlook and inclusive agenda.

Peter Obi has formally defected to the ADC, alongside several prominent political leaders from the South-East geopolitical zone.

Obi said the move to the ADC was part of a broader effort to forge a united opposition platform capable of working with like-minded leaders across the country to “rescue Nigeria from the poor governance of the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

Dignitaries at the event included former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Senators Ben Obi, Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye and Gilbert Nnaji; Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Senator Sam Egwu, as well as several serving and former members of the National Assembly.

Also in attendance were leaders from other parts of the country, including former Senate President and national chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark; former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal; former governors from the South-East, and other political heavyweights.

Special Adviser on Public Communications to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, has dismissed claims by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, that a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Peter Obi, deceived his followers.

This was as Shaibu also dismissed Keyamo’s claim that Obi joined ADC because he wanted to be running mate and not President. Posting on X, Shaibu noted that ADC is not Atiku’s “property” as claimed by Keyamo.

According to Shaibu, this rant of yours is built on guesswork dressed up as certainty. First, PeterObi did not defect. He didn’t sneak anywhere and he didn’t deceive anyone. He has been part of the coalition from the start. His public statement is confirmation, not betrayal.

Second, branding the ADC coalition as the “property” of @atiku is either ignorance or deliberate mischief. Coalitions are built by agreement, not ownership. No candidate has been imposed.

Third, your fixation on a VP narrative exposes your fear, not Obi’s intentions. You claim knowledge of agreements you cannot prove and decisions that do not exist. That is not analysis, it is projection, or better still, political voodoo.

Fourth, spare Nigerians the sermon about moral high ground. What truly unsettles you is that the opposition is organising calmly and strategically, while your side relies on noise, insults, and intimidation.

Fifth, stop insulting Nigerians. People are hungry, unsafe, and struggling. They know their reality, and that reality is what frightens you.

What exists is simple: a coalition determined to remove a failed administration through the ballot. That inevitability explains this outburst.

Come 2027, Nigerians will speak, not because of your insults or threats, but because of their lived experience. The game has begun. But shouting is not strategy. And arrogance is not leadership. Nigeria is not a monarchy. Power is not inherited. And 2027 is not yours by entitlement.

Controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has reacted to Peter Obi’s defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying that no individual can hold Nigerians to ransom ahead of the 2027 general election.

Gumi urged politicians to listen to the cries of the people and act in the best interest of the country. His comments followed the defection of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, to ADC on Wednesday.

Politics Nigeria earlier reported that Obi officially announced his move to the ADC in Enugu, stating that his decision ahead of the 2027 election was driven by the desire to transform and rescue Nigeria.

Reacting to the development, Gumi shared a news report on Obi’s defection on his Facebook page, where he described the move as a sign of Nigeria’s growing democratic maturity.

“Nigerian democracy is maturing,” Gumi wrote.

Politicians should listen to the people’s cry and do the right thing. Time is fast approaching; no one can hold Nigerians to ransom.

While describing Obi as a bitter politician still smarking from his defeat at the polls in the last election, Onanuga said Obi’s appeal that he had learnt a lot and Nigeria should be entrusted to him, should not be taken seriously, adding that countries need homegrown ideas and policies to survive rather than copycats.

He said President Bola Tinubu has achieved so much in the last two years, saying Obi’s posturing should be taken with a pinch of salt, “coming from a politician who was an abysmal failure in a small state like Anambra, which he governed for 8 years.

Onanuga wrote, “I watched as Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate, formally joined the ADC after abandoning the party he had used to pursue his ill-fated presidential ambition.

About three years after the 2023 election, Obi, the wandering politician who moved from APGA to PDP to Labour and now ADC still sounded bitter about coming third.

Onanuga said, Obi continues to claim he was robbed of victory, even though empirical analyses of the poll showed he could not have won and was fortunate to even emerge third because of the anomalous polling figures recorded for him in his South East region.

At his event, Obi’s bitterness was evident. What concerned me most were his references to books, professors, and other nations to buttress his belief that he has learnt from the masters and that Nigeria should be entrusted to him because he claims to know the secrets of national development.

“This posturing should be taken with a pinch of salt, coming from a politician who was an abysmal failure in a small state like Anambra, which he governed for 8 years.

Because Obi sorely lacks the leadership pedigree, beyond being a successful importer, only the madman he consults in Onitsha would be comfortable handing over Nigeria to him,” he said.

The Presidential spokesman said, however, that Obi’s reasoning is flawed as “Nations are not identical, and what worked in Indonesia or the USA may not necessarily work in Nigeria. No leader can move a country forward by simply copying and pasting models from elsewhere. Nations require original thinkers, not copycats. Homegrown solutions are essential for proper development.”

He said this is precisely what President Bola Tinubu has been doing since May 29, 2023 a fact that Obi is too consumed by animosity and his small-mindedness to acknowledge.

According to him, “In less than three years, the Tinubu administration has restructured the economy, eliminated wasteful petrol subsidies, and reduced its dependence on the oil sector. The administration is focusing on gas development and has attracted both foreign and local investment to the industry. Foreign reserves have risen, and the exchange rate has stabilised. Inflation is decelerating.

The administration has also embarked on ambitious road projects, such as the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways, which Obi and his associates consider impossible.

With tax reforms beginning in January, the Tinubu administration is set to harmonise the historically fragmented tax regime, increase the tax-to-GDP ratio, enhance revenue, and boost prosperity. For the past two years and seven months, Tinubu has demonstrated effective leadership anchored in strategic policies and reforms.

Obi is so blind that he cannot see all these achievements, as he jumped from Labour to ADC, where he will play second fiddle and end up being Atiku’s running mate in 2027, like we witnessed in 2019.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is expected to formally leave the party this week, following months of unresolved leadership crises and deep internal divisions.

Obi’s anticipated exit is linked to the prolonged instability within the Labour Party, which has continued to struggle with factional leadership, court cases and lack of internal cohesion since the 2023 elections.

The development has fueled intense speculation over his next political destination, although no final decision has been publicly confirmed.

Findings by POLITICS NIGERIA indicate that while several opposition parties have reached out to the former Anambra State governor, discussions are still ongoing.

His next platform remains uncertain, with consultations said to be fluid and far from concluded.

There have been strong talks linking Obi to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). However, indications suggest that the party may not be his immediate destination. Internal arrangements and unresolved structural matters are believed to be key sticking points in the ongoing conversations.

Sources familiar with the situation say Obi has raised concerns about internal processes, leadership structure and long-term direction within parties courting him. These concerns, it was learnt, have slowed down any final agreement.

There are also emerging political alignments within the ADC that may affect Obi’s calculations. Some developments suggest the party may be leaning towards a different presidential option ahead of 2027, a situation that could complicate Obi’s own political ambition.

Against this backdrop, Obi is said to be considering an entirely new political platform. The option of joining an existing party with entrenched interests and prior agreements is reportedly being weighed carefully, as he seeks political space to operate freely.

The crisis rocking the Labour Party is largely rooted in leadership disputes that intensified after the 2023 elections. Central to the conflict is the controversy surrounding the tenure of former National Chairman, Julius Abure.

Obi and several party stakeholders have maintained that a Supreme Court ruling effectively brought Abure’s leadership to an end. However, the continued recognition of his faction by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has prolonged the impasse.

As a result, the party has operated with parallel executives and rival factions, each claiming legitimacy. This division has weakened internal discipline, stalled decision-making and slowed efforts to reposition the party nationally.

Those close to Obi say he believes his continued stay in the party has worsened the situation. His political influence and popularity, they argue, have been used by rival camps to strengthen their claims.

According to insiders, Obi feels that stepping away may give the party breathing space to resolve its internal issues without his name being dragged into the struggle for control.

The Labour Party rose to national relevance during the 2023 presidential election largely due to Obi’s candidacy. His campaign energized young voters, urban professionals and first-time participants, transforming the party from a fringe platform into a major political force.

However, that momentum has since waned. Several elected officials have left the party, citing confusion, lack of direction and the unresolved leadership crisis.

Obi is said to be increasingly concerned that remaining in a party plagued by endless disputes could hurt his reformist image and weaken his support base ahead of future elections.

Although he has not officially announced his next move, indications suggest he is inclined towards a platform that promotes internal democracy, clarity of leadership and minimal legal distractions.

His departure is expected to trigger fresh political realignments across the opposition space. Parties are already positioning themselves to attract supporters of the popular “Obidient” movement, which remains a significant political force.

When contacted, the spokesman of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, said he could not confirm whether Obi was set to join the party. He noted that the ADC would be open to welcoming Obi should he decide to come on board.

Attempts to get official reactions from the Labour Party were unsuccessful, as calls to party officials were not returned as of the time of filing this report.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State has described the reported directive by the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to Peter Obi over his 2027 presidential ambition as a failed political arrangement, labelling it a coalition without democracy, fairness or future.

The State Spokesman of the party, Seye Oladejo, in a statement on Tuesday, reacted to the ADC’s public call for Obi to clarify his political intentions.

Oladejo stated that the development reflected deep confusion within the opposition, accusing the ADC of lacking ideology and clear direction. Nigeria woke up to yet another episode of opposition disarray and ideological bankruptcy as the African Democratic Congress publicly ordered Peter Obi to ‘make up his mind’ on his 2027 ambition, while simultaneously declaring that zoning is not on the table.

This is not a strategy. This is confusion on steroids. A political party that cannot decide its soul, direction or destination now wants to decide the fate of Nigeria. What Nigerians are witnessing is not opposition politics, but a public quarrel inside a hollow coalition of contradictions,” the statement read.

The ruling party also slammed what it termed inconsistent positions by the ADC, saying the party had moved from rejecting zoning to issuing ultimatums to the same aspirant it once projected as a leading figure.

According to the APC, the ADC had been structured to serve the personal ambition of a single individual, adding that Obi was now caught in the middle of internal contradictions. It added that the ADC’s declaration that zoning was on the table suggested that its presidential candidacy had already been decided internally, with other members merely recruited to create the appearance of inclusion.

The Labour Party has revealed that there will be no automatic tickets to any aspirant ahead of the 2027 general elections, adding that even its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will be put through competitive primaries.

LP National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh maintained that the party is open to reconciliation with Obi and other aggrieved stakeholders amid the rift between the former Anambra governor and the Julius Abure-led leadership.

However, Ifoh added that the party’s internal democratic processes would not be compromised. We have answered this question several times. The Labour Party has constantly said that the issue of tickets will be determined at the party’s convention. The NEC has spoken concerning our presidential candidacy.

Every candidate must emerge through a democratically convened convention. There is no automatic ticket for anyone, whether as presidential, governorship or chairmanship aspirants.

We have said that Obi’s position in Labour Party can only be answered by him. Nobody can speak for him. Whether he is in the ADC or Labour Party, he is the only one that can answer that question.

Hon. Muhammad Bello El-Rufai criticised the judicial system for giving IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu a life sentence while other Boko Haram members received only 20 years He warned that inconsistent justice delivery worsens insecurity, and stressed the need for proper execution of security plans and improved policing El-Rufai advocated for decentralised policing, state police, involvement of traditional leaders, and youth development to reduce crime and radicalisation in Northern Nigeria.

A member representing Kaduna North federal constituency, Hon. Muhammad Bello El-Rufai, has raised concerns over what he described as a glaring disparity in Nigeria’s judicial system. Speaking during plenary, El-Rufai questioned why the proscribed IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu was handed a life sentence while Boko Haram member Hussaini Ismail received only 20 years for the same crime.

The Kaduna lawmaker warned that inconsistencies in justice delivery risk worsening Nigeria’s fragile security climate. “I don’t understand why one terrorist gets 20 years and the other gets life. There’s this idea that justice is served differently, and it affects the problem,” El-Rufai said.

He argued that disparity in punishment feeds public perception that the judicial system treats groups and regions differently, an issue he said must be urgently addressed if the government hopes to win public trust in its fight against insecurity.

The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, accompanied by officials from the Sokoto State government, visited Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), at the Sokoto Correctional Centre on Sunday. Footage obtained shows a heavy security presence surrounding the prison facility during the visit.

On November 21, 2025, Kanu was convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges and sentenced to life imprisonment. Within hours, he was transferred from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja to the Sokoto Correctional Facility, a move that has generated controversy and concern.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered judgment in the long-running case against Kanu. The court found him guilty on seven terrorism-related counts brought by the Federal Government. Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment on four of the counts (1, 4, 5, and 6). He also received 20 years and 5 years imprisonment on two other counts (3 and 7).

The ruling concluded that the prosecution had successfully proven its case against him. Hours after the conviction, Kanu was moved from DSS custody in Abuja to the Sokoto Correctional Facility. Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, condemned the transfer, describing it as an attempt to isolate Kanu from his family, legal team, and supporters.

Kanu’s wife, Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, confirmed his arrival at Sokoto prison, expressing shock at the abrupt relocation. Also, Kanu’s personal physician, Prof. M. A. C. Aghaji, warned that the sudden transfer posed serious health risks, given his medical condition.

In a letter to President Bola Tinubu, the physician described the move as “abrupt, troubling, and medically dangerous,” raising fears that his health could deteriorate in Sokoto prison.