Burkina Faso’s junta announced Thursday that it plans to dissolve all political parties, whose activities have been suspended since the military rulers seized power in 2022.
Captain Ibrahim Traore took over in a September 2022 coup after toppling another junta, and has sharply muzzled dissenting voices since then.
Parties were previously banned from holding public gatherings but still allowed to operate internally.
“The government believes that the proliferation of political parties has led to abuses, fuelled divisions among citizens and weakened the social fabric,” the presidency said in a readout of a cabinet meeting.
A draft law dissolving political parties will now be “sent to the Transitional Legislative Assembly as soon as possible,” said territorial administration minister Emile Zerbo.
The assets of dissolved parties would be transferred to the state, he added.
The decision, he continued, aims to “preserve national unity, strengthen the coherence of government action and pave the way for reforming political governance”.
Traore’s 2022 coup ousted Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had taken power only nine months earlier.
READ ALSO: Akoko-Edo LG Chairman Oshionogue Impeached
After going into exile in Togo, Damiba was regularly accused by Burkina’s military rulers of planning coup plots and assassination attempts — the latest earlier this month.
Togo extradited him this month back to Burkina Faso.
The Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government Council, Hon Alabi Oshionogue, has been sacked by seven out of 10 councillors.
Oshionogue was impeached in a letter signed by the seven councillors.
Subsequently, the Vice Chairman of the local government, Hon Ayodele Fatimbi, has been sworn in as the new council boss.
The letter of impeachment reads, “We, the undersigned members of Akoko Edo Local Government Area Legislative Arm, hereby impeach you as the acting Local Government Council Chairman with effect from today, the 28th January, 2026.
“This decision is as a result of your abuse of office, high-handedness, embezzlement of Council funds, Anti-party activities, financial recklessness, forgery, and constant disobedience to constituted authorities”.
The councilors who signed the impeachment notice were from wards one, four, six, eight, nine, and ten.
Oshionogue, however, denied any wrongdoing, saying there are ongoing projects in each of the 10 wards of the local government area.
He was said to have been impeached, a few hours after lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly failed to hold a peace meeting with him and the seven aggrieved councillors.
READ ALSO: Edo Gov Okpebholo Reshuffles Cabinet
It was gathered that the Chairman was removed from office after a failed attempt by the other three councillors to suspend the seven councilors who signed the impeachment letter.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement has strongly condemned calls by the Kano State Government for the resignation of the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo, describing the move as “provocative, ungrateful, and unacceptable.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Hon. Habibu Mailemo, the movement said it was “deeply concerned” by reports attributed to the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, urging the Deputy Governor to step aside.
“This call is unwarranted, provocative, and deeply unfortunate,” the statement said. “It reinforces the growing suspicion among the people of Kano State that the present government is unwilling to sustain democratic peace, internal harmony, and political tolerance.”
The movement accused the state government of attempting to sideline loyal supporters of its leader, Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso, stressing that the administration in Kano was a product of Kwankwasiyya’s collective struggle.
“Even more troubling is the apparent attempt to sideline, humiliate, or forcibly remove loyal supporters of Jagora, Senator Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, who are legitimately serving within a government that Kwankwasiyya collectively struggled to establish,” Mailemo said.
Kwankwasiyya also criticised the role of the Information Commissioner, describing him as “a non-Kwankwasiyya member smuggled into the government,” and said his comments were “outright insulting.”
“The audacity of a non-Kwankwasiyya member calling for the resignation of a Deputy Governor elected on a joint ticket reflects political ingratitude and a blatant disregard for history, sacrifice, and loyalty,” the statement added.
READ ALSO: Edo Gov Okpebholo Approves ‘Minor’ Cabinet Reshuffle
The group recalled the political battles that led to the emergence of the current administration, insisting that both Governor Abba Yusuf and his deputy owed their victory to the movement’s efforts in the 2019 and 2023 elections.
“Jagora Kwankwaso and millions of Kwankwasiyya supporters fought relentlessly—politically, morally, and sacrificially—to secure the victory that brought this government into existence,” Mailemo said.
Quoting an Islamic teaching, the movement urged leaders in government to uphold gratitude and loyalty.
“Islam teaches gratitude,” the spokesperson stated, citing the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW): ‘Whoever does good to you, repay him with good.’ “Sadly, this moral compass appears to be lost on some individuals currently occupying sensitive positions.”
Kwankwasiyya further faulted the Commissioner for suggesting he would resign if he were in the Deputy Governor’s position.
“By the same logic, such misplaced morality should extend to the Governor himself and the Commissioner,” the statement said. “If the Governor believes he occupies office purely by personal merit, he should resign and return the mandate to Kwankwasiyya.”
The movement also warned that the Deputy Governor’s mandate was constitutionally protected.
“A Deputy Governor elected on a joint ticket derives his mandate from the people and the constitution, not from the whims or pleasure of any individual,” it said.
Concluding, Kwankwasiyya warned it would resist any attempt to undermine its members within the government.
Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has approved minor changes to his cabinet, aimed at strengthening governance and efficiency in the state administration.
A statement from the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, announcing the changes disclosed that the reshuffle involved three key appointments.
Vincent Osas Uwadiae has been redeployed from the Ministry of Oil and Gas Resources to the Ministry of Lands and Housing as Commissioner.
Yakubu Oshiorenua Musa, previously Commissioner for Lands and Housing, is now Chief of Staff to the Governor.
Also, Gani Audu, former Chief of Staff, has been nominated as Commissioner for Oil and Gas Resources, pending confirmation by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has dismissed suggestions that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is discouraging the defection of more state governors, insisting that the ruling party remains open to new entrants.
Governor Sule made the remarks on Thursday in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he addressed growing concerns over the recent wave of defections to the APC.
Responding to questions about why the party [APC] appears eager to attract more governors and whether additional defections are imminent, Sule questioned the anxiety such movements generate within opposition parties.
“Why are they refusing them if they want to join? Why does the party [opposition] get panicked when another governor is leaving if the governor’s leaving doesn’t mean anything? Why will the governor’s leaving become a betrayal? Why will a governor leaving become a big problem if the governors will not make any impact?” Sule asked.
READ ALSO: [Fubara] APC Govs Not ‘Worried’ Over Impeachment Process, Actions Are Being Taken — Sule
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule speaks on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He argued that the decision of any governor to defect should not be exaggerated, particularly if such a move does not significantly affect governance or political stability.
Sule disclosed that the APC recently “welcomed its 29th serving governor,” noting that Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang had attended a party meeting following his defection.
The Nasarawa governor added that this came after the party earlier received the Governor of Taraba State, who is expected to be formally welcomed in the coming days.
“As of yesterday, we welcomed the 29th governor—that is, the governor of Plateau State, to our meeting. It was the 28th after welcoming the governor of Taraba, who will be received officially in the next two days.
“These governors are actually going to be those who are selling the party, who are also selling themselves, and who are selling Mr. President. Most likely, a few more governors will join,” he said.
APC governors in Bayelsa welcomed Douye Diri officially to the party on November 3, 2025.
The Nasarawa governor, however, dismissed fears that the growing number of APC governors could turn Nigeria into a one-party state, describing such concerns as unfounded.
“There is no way all 36 governors will belong to one party. And even if that were to happen, Nigeria would still not become a one-party state. From all indications, that scenario is not even going to occur,” the governor said.
Looking ahead to the next general election, Sule expressed confidence in the APC’s electoral prospects, stating that the party’s chances in 2027 are significantly better than they were in 2023.
He argued that the 2027 election will not be a contest between the APC and the people but will be a contest between candidates.”
Wave Of Defections
Tinubu, Eno, Oborevwori and Mbah
Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, the APC has recorded an influx of serving governors from opposition parties, with the trend gaining momentum in 2025 and also recently.
Governor Fubara and President Tinubu’
Among those who have defected to the ruling party are Abba Yusuf of Kano State from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, and Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, all from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Deputy Senate President Barau Jubrin and Ex-APC Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje raise Gov Yusuf’s hands as he formerly defected to the APC on Monday, Januray 26, 2026. X/@Noble_Hassan
Most recently, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang formally defected from the PDP to the APC on Tuesday, bringing the number of APC governors to 29.
The defections have largely been linked to “internal crises” within opposition parties. However, these political shifts have intensified debate over the shape of the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State defected to the All Progressives Congress on October 14, 2025
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has said governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are not overly concerned about the ongoing impeachment process involving Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, describing it as a matter already before the courts.
Sule made the remarks while appearing as a guest on Thursday’s edition of Politics Today, a current affairs programme aired on Channels Television.
Responding to questions on whether APC governors were worried that one of their colleagues might be impeached and whether any steps were being taken to avert such an outcome, the Nasarawa governor said the process was governed strictly by law and due process.
“I’m not worried because I think it’s an issue of the court. I am not worried about anybody impeaching anyone. You don’t just wake up and impeach somebody without going through the due process,” Sule said.
He added that while governors were naturally concerned about developments affecting their colleagues, there was no cause for alarm.
“Of course, whatever happens to any of our colleagues, we are worried, but we are not so worried to the point of saying he [Fubara] is going to be impeached.
“From all indications, actions are being taken. Courts are taking decisions. The Chief Judge is taking a position on that. So, for that reason, we are not worried,” Sule stated.
Impeachment Process
A photo combo of Fubara and the RSHA.
Meanwhile, the latest attempt to impeach Governor Fubara has stalled due to legal and procedural hurdles.
On January 23, 2026, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyigbo adjourned the impeachment case indefinitely, ruling that the Court of Appeal must first determine pending appeals filed by the Speaker and other lawmakers.
The decision effectively halted immediate impeachment proceedings.
Similarly, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, declined to constitute an investigative panel, citing existing court orders and the principle that courts should not act on matters already under judicial consideration.
This marks the third impeachment attempt against Fubara in less than three years.
The most recent effort commenced on January 8, 2026, led by the Martin Amaewhule faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The lawmakers accused the governor of gross misconduct, including failure to present appropriation bills, alleged unauthorised expenditure of public funds, withholding lawmakers’ allocations, and the demolition of the Assembly complex in 2023.
Photo combo of Nyesom Wike (L) and Siminalayi Fubara (R)
The impeachment move was widely seen as part of the lingering political rivalry between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, despite earlier reconciliation efforts by President Bola Tinubu.
Governor Fubara has repeatedly urged calm, expressing confidence in divine intervention while maintaining his focus on governance.
APC’s Internal Matters, Rivers Crisis
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule speaks on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The Nasarawa governor was also asked about the recent wave of defections, the integration of new members into the APC, and the internal tensions within the party, particularly in Rivers State.
On party congresses and membership integration, Sule said APC’s tradition ensured inclusiveness, noting that no member was “excluded” from participating in party activities.
Addressing the Rivers State crisis and the role of party stakeholders, including the State Assembly and APC stalwarts loyal to former governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Sule stressed that the issue remained a party matter rather than one for the Progressive Governors’ Forum.
“We have asked the party to go and study the situation [in Rivers] and brief us if they need anything from the Progressive Governors’ Forum, because it’s purely a party affair for another state,” he said.
He disclosed that members of the APC National Working Committee were present during discussions and had been mandated to investigate developments in the state.
