The Kano State Government has denied allegations that it made moves to prevent former governor and senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from entering the state, describing the claim as false and politically motivated.

The allegation was earlier raised by Kwankwaso’s associate, Buba Galadima, who claimed that the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had written to the Federal Government of Nigeria seeking to restrict the senator’s movement into Kano.

Reacting in a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, dismissed the claim as reckless and unfounded, insisting that the state government had never attempted to stop any citizen from entering Kano.

He stressed that the administration remains committed to upholding constitutional rights, including freedom of movement and association, and is focused on governance and service delivery rather than political distractions.

The government also cautioned against spreading unverified claims capable of heightening tension in the state, urging those making such allegations to provide evidence or withdraw their statements in the interest of peace.

It reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining stability, unity and democratic freedoms, noting that no political provocation would derail its mandate to serve residents of the state.

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in multiple appeals arising from the leadership dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party over its controversial national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The appellate panel fixed a date to be communicated later after parties adopted their written briefs in the nine appeals challenging earlier rulings of the Federal High Court that halted the party’s November 15 and 16 convention.

The convention had produced Tanimu Turaki as national chairman alongside other party officers, but the process was contested by rival factions.

In one of the appeals, the PDP, its National Working Committee and National Executive Committee are seeking to overturn an October 2025 judgment that stopped the convention.

Counsel to the appellants argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction and urged the appellate court to set aside the ruling.

However, lawyers representing opposing factions maintained that the appeal lacked merit, insisting that disputes over party leadership fall outside the competence of the Federal High Court.

The legal battle stems from separate judgments delivered by different Federal High Court judges, including Justice James Omotosho, who ruled that the PDP failed to comply with statutory provisions guiding party conventions and electoral processes.

The court had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising any outcome of a convention conducted without adherence to due process, including mandatory notice requirements and compliance with the Electoral Act.

Other rulings similarly barred the party from proceeding with the convention and directed INEC not to supervise or publish its results, citing alleged breaches such as failure to conduct congresses in some states and irregular notification procedures.

With arguments now concluded, attention shifts to the Appeal Court’s final decision, which is expected to determine the legitimacy of the convention and shape the party’s future.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed February 20, 2027, for the conduct of Nigeria’s next presidential and National Assembly elections.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, unveiled the timetable on Friday during a press briefing in Abuja, confirming that governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will follow on March 6, 2027.

The announcement comes amid ongoing debate over the delayed passage of amendments to the Electoral Act currently before the National Assembly.

Earlier this month, the commission indicated that it had concluded work on the election timetable and schedule of activities despite uncertainties surrounding the legislative process.

INEC said it had already submitted the schedule to lawmakers but warned that certain aspects could be adjusted depending on when the amended Electoral Act is finalised.

The commission’s disclosure is expected to shape preparations by political parties, candidates and stakeholders as the country begins early planning for the 2027 general elections.

Stay tuned…

The presidency has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will make a careful decision on whether electronic transmission of election results should be fully implemented, taking into account the country’s present realities.

Presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare explained that the president would be guided by national interest and practical considerations, especially infrastructure limitations, before assenting to any amendment on the matter.

The Senate recently passed an amendment to the Electoral Act approving electronic transmission of results from polling units to the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, with provisions allowing manual transmission where network challenges occur.

The move followed sustained pressure from civil society groups calling for mandatory real-time electronic transmission.

Speaking during a television interview, Dare described Tinubu as a committed democrat who would act responsibly, stressing that no country operates a flawless electronic system.
Opposition parties react

The Peoples Democratic Party criticised the stance, arguing that the administration appears reluctant to guarantee real-time electronic transmission.

The party said the All Progressives Congress had previously supported electronic voting before assuming power and questioned why it now appears hesitant.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress accused the federal government of making excuses for the electoral body, suggesting that resistance to electronic transmission reflects fears about transparency and the credibility of elections.

Political analyst Jide Ojo maintained that the fate of electronic transmission should not depend solely on the president, noting that electoral laws fall under the authority of the National Assembly.

He argued that the legislative provision allowing electronic transmission as a backup remains a practical compromise.

Samson Itodo of Yiaga Africa said opposition to electronic transmission often stems from concerns about transparency, adding that both manual and electronic systems are vulnerable if not managed with integrity.

He also clarified that once the National Assembly passes an amendment, it is forwarded to the president for assent, and lawmakers retain the constitutional power to override a refusal.

Addressing infrastructure concerns, Itodo referenced findings from a joint committee of INEC and the Nigerian Communications Commission which indicated that most polling units already have some level of network coverage.

He added that electronic transmission was deployed in parts of the 2023 general elections, suggesting the current debate is more political than technical.

Lawmakers at the National Assembly are set to begin harmonisation of the Electoral Amendment Bill on Monday as efforts intensify to forward a unified version of the legislation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.

Members of the joint conference committee drawn from the Senate and the House of Representatives have been given a one-week window to resolve differences in the versions earlier passed by both chambers.

Central to the deliberations are provisions relating to the electronic transmission of election results and the broader role of technology in collation.

The reconciliation process follows legislative procedure, which requires both chambers to produce a single agreed text when separate versions of a bill are adopted before it is transmitted to the president.

Public interest in the amendment has grown since controversies surrounding the 2023 general elections, particularly the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission to upload presidential election results to its Result Viewing Portal in real time.

The Senate had earlier passed the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026 after reviewing all 155 clauses, making adjustments to several sections while retaining the bulk of the original provisions.

One of the notable changes was the reduction of the timeframe for INEC to issue a notice of election from 360 days to 180 days.

The proposal was championed by Senator Tahir Monguno, who argued that the earlier timeline had become impractical and could hinder preparations for future elections.

The ongoing amendment process comes amid mounting pressure on lawmakers to finalise the legal framework guiding Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of upcoming polls, with debates continuing over transparency, credibility and public trust in the process.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, accusing the agency of acting in a partisan manner after what he described as a failed attempt to arrest former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai at an airport.

In a statement shared on social media, Atiku said he visited El-Rufai in solidarity following the incident, which reportedly occurred when the former governor returned to Nigeria.

He described El-Rufai as a key figure within the African Democratic Congress and condemned what he termed an unjustified move against him.

Photos posted online showed Atiku meeting privately with El-Rufai at his residence after the development.

The anti-corruption agency has yet to issue an official response to the allegation.
Rising political tension

The incident comes amid heightened political activity surrounding El-Rufai’s recent alignment with the ADC and his public criticism of federal authorities.

In recent weeks, the former governor had expressed concerns about possible actions by security agencies, citing his growing involvement in opposition politics.

Reports indicated that operatives attempted to stop him at the airport upon arrival, though no arrest was eventually made.

His aides claimed the officials did not present a warrant during the encounter, leading to a brief confrontation before he was allowed to leave the terminal.

As of the time of reporting, neither the ICPC nor any other security agency has formally confirmed the incident.