Category Nigeria News

2027 Polls: Tinubu Is APC Candidate, Says Farouk Aliyu

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, a former lawmaker, Honourable Farouk Aliyu, says President Bola Tinubu is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Aliyu, a former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

“In our own party, we have our candidate in the President. There is no qualm about it. We know our candidate and will work for him by the grace of God,” he stated.

Ministerial Appointment

He also weighed in on the recent resignation of Nasir El-Rufai from the ruling APC, recalling how the former Kaduna State governor galvanised support for President Bola Tinubu in 2023.

Aliyu explained that El-Rufai, once a close ally of President Tinubu and a key figure in the APC’s electoral victories in 2015, 2019 and 2023, led his then northern governors to secure Tinubu’s electoral victory.

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“My friend Nasir El-Rufai came out when Bola Tinubu wanted to be President. He led the governors of the North, he insulted everybody.

“He said he would go with Tinubu so all of us went with Tinubu. Tinubu won the election, he was promised ministerial election, something happened and he didn’t get it,” he stated.

El-Rufai: Tinubu’s Ally-Turned-Outsider

El-Rufai was one of the northern powerbrokers who insisted that the APC presidential ticket for the 2023 general elections be given to a southern candidate in line with the unwritten principle of rotation of power between the southern and the northern regions in Nigeria. This was after the eight-year tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari, from the North-West geopolitical zone.

El-Rufai, who was Kaduna governor between May 2015 and May 2023, was vocal in his choice of ex-Lagos governor Bola Tinubu as the flag bearer of the party in the last general elections.

The then Kaduna governor, alongside his northern colleagues, backed Tinubu against two other northern juggernauts who were also aspirants – – then Senate President Ahmad Lawan and ex-Jigawa governor, Mohammed Badaru.

Tinubu later clinched the APC ticket and was elected Nigeria’s president during the February 2023 presidential poll.

In Nigeria’s political turf where compensation politics has become almost a norm, Tinubu nominated El-Rufai as one of his ministers three months after his inauguration.

However, El-Rufai fell out with the movers and shakers in the current government and was rejected by the Senate during the ministerial screening process. The upper legislative chamber cited security reasons from the Department of State Services as one of the reasons for his rejection.

El-Rufai, once a close ally of President Tinubu and a key figure in the APC’s electoral victories in 2015, 2019 and 2023, now presents himself as one of the fiercest critics of the administration, alleging that what the APC has become is a far cry from what its founders envisioned.

Since the August 2023 incident, El-Rufai has not been seen in a gathering of APC chieftains. The former governor has also not been seen around the Aso Villa, the seat of power, or near the president whom he vigorously campaigned for in the last poll.

Conversely, El-Rufai was previously spotted with SDP chieftains fuelling defection rumours, which he initially dismissed before the final admission on Monday, March 10, 2025.

Fashola Asks Youths To Reject Agents Of Division

The Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has called on youths to reject agents of division and exclusion, and focus on shared values in an era increasingly defined by identity politics.

Fashola stated this while speaking at the Lagos Leadership Summit 2025 on Wednesday, organised by the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, themed: “Transformative Leadership: Development-Responsive, Adaptive and Inclusive Models”.

The former Lagos State governor, who spoke on the topic: “The Inclusion Imperative: Why No One Wins When Leadership Leaves People Behind”, emphasised the importance of unity and inclusiveness.

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He noted that the 1999 Nigerian Constitution already contains strong provisions that promote national cohesion and inclusion.

He stressed the need for leaders across all levels to collaborate in giving practical meaning to the constitutional imperatives.

According to him, true leadership lies in ensuring that no one is left behind, regardless of ethnic, religious or political affiliations.

The chief host of the event, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his address, reiterated his administration’s dedication to good governance and pledged to use creative leadership, culture and the THEMES PLUS Agenda for the benefit of the people as well as the society in a bid to achieve the aims and vision of moving Lagos forward.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who spoke on the topic: “From Leadership to Legacy: Designing Systems That Work Without You”, said he had been lucky to take forward the aggressive leadership of past leaders and had been able to innovate, urging people to get good education and do well in whatever assignment and level they find themselves.

The Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade said Governor Sanwo-Olu had the vision of Lateef Jakande leadership academy and the academy had graduated 60 fellows and 30 others underway.

Police Reject ₦1m Bribe, Arrest Suspected Car Thieves In Katsina

Officers of the Katsina State Police Command have arrested two suspected car thieves and rejected one million naira bribe offered to them by the suspects.

They also recovered a suspected stolen motor vehicle, a cash sum of ₦1,000,000, three mobile phones, one power bank and a bunch of keys from the suspects as exhibits.

The police spokesman, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

He said that on April 11th, 2025, at about 1500 hrs, while on a routine patrol along Birnin Kuka village, Mashi LGA, Katsina State, officers attached to Border Patrol Zone 4, Katsina, flagged down a Toyota Corolla LE, green colour, driven by one (1) Mubarak Kabir, m, age 26, and (2) Adamu Hashim, m, age 27, all of Kurna quarters, Fagge LGA, Kano State.

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According to him, a preliminary investigation revealed that the said vehicle was reportedly stolen from FCT Abuja.

“The suspects then offered a bribe of one million naira (₦1,000,000) in cash to the patrol team with a view to evading justice, which the officers sternly rejected. Suspects are in custody,” he stated.

“Furthermore, the suspected stolen motor vehicle, cash sum of ₦1,000,000, three (3) mobile phones, one power bank and a bunch of keys were recovered from the suspects as exhibits.

“Investigations are ongoing to unravel the extent of the suspects’ involvement in criminal activities. Further developments will be communicated as the investigation proceeds.”

The State Commissioner of Police, Bello Shehu, commended the officers’ commitment to upholding the law and exhibiting a high level of integrity.

VIDEO: Customs Disrupt Bandits’ Supply Chain, Seize 12,880 Litres Of Petrol In Niger

The Nigeria Customs Service has made a significant seizure of 12,500 litres of petrol worth over ₦25 million which was intercepted from suppliers of bandits within the Babanna Border area of Niger State.

According to the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Finance, Administration, and Special Duties, and National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Hussein Ejibunu, the seizure was made possible through the collaboration of locals and sister security agencies.

During a press briefing in Minna, North Central Nigeria, Ejibunu highlighted the security threats posed by the Lakurawa terrorist group along the fringes of Kebbi State.

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He revealed that the group has claimed lives, including three officers lost in a recent attack in Bashaga village in Kebbi State.

The Comptroller Niger-Kogi command of the Customs, Pascal Chibuoke, commended the efforts of the locals and sister security agencies in making the seizure possible.

Return Six Detained Nigerian Tourists, NiDCOM Appeals To Cape Verde

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has called for the immediate release and safe return of six Nigerian tourists currently detained by immigration authorities in Cape Verde.

The Chairman of the Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa made the appeal in a statement signed by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the group—comprising young Nigerians aged between 25 and 31—had traveled from Senegal to Cape Verde for vacation but were detained upon arrival at the airport. The tourists were reportedly accused of not having sufficient funds and had their phones confiscated before being taken to an immigration deportation camp.

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NiDCOM expressed concern over the condition of the detainees, stating that they are facing severe distress and trauma. One of them is said to have a medical condition and has been denied access to vital medication.

“We appeal to the Immigration authorities in Cape Verde to please treat the tourists with respect and dignity and put them on the next immediate return flight to Dakar for onward connection back to Nigeria,” the Commission urged.

The affected individuals have been identified as David James Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo, and Jesutomi Aina. The trip was reportedly organized by Irin Travels, associated with the handles @irintravels and @theFARAWAY_.

The matter has been escalated to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reported to the Consular and Migration Directorate for urgent intervention.

Alleged Defamation: Bello Petitions IGP, Demands Natasha’s Arrest

Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over alleged defamatory statements made against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central District.

In the petition signed by his lawyer, N. A. Abubakar, to the IGP on Wednesday, Bello called on the police to invite Akpoti-Uduaghan to substantiate her allegations against him with credible evidence.

“Where she fails to do so, cause her to be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law for criminal defamation, inciting public disturbance, and spreading false information injurious to public peace”, the lawyer wrote.

The former governor also wrote to Akpoti-Uduaghan, through his lawyer, R. O. Balogun, demanding retraction and public apology over the alleged defamatory statements made against him or face legal consequences.

The former Kogi governor claimed the female lawmaker during a homecoming event on April 1, 2025, in the Okehi Local Government Area of the state “maliciously” defamed him and levelled assassination allegations against him.

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Bello said the said actions of the female senator contravened Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.

“By accusing our client of plotting an assassination and naming him as a co-conspirator in a purported murder plot (with an attempt to disguise the killing as mob or ethnic violence), Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan has:

” Gravely damaged our client’s reputation by portraying him as a violent and vengeful political actor and misled the public and tried to incite ethnic and political distrust, especially among clans of Ebiraland in particular and the people of Kogi Central in general.