More than 1,000 members of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the Kwankwasiyya Movement have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.

The development was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by Ismail Mudashir, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin.

According to the statement, the defectors were formally received into the APC during a ceremony held at the Fine Time Events Centre in Kano.

Explaining their reasons for leaving the NNPP, the defectors said their decision was motivated by what they described as the “numerous interventions and leadership qualities” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Barau Jibrin.

The leader of the defectors, Aminu Minjibir, said they had been instrumental in building the Kwankwasiyya Movement but were disappointed with the NNPP’s inability to meet the expectations of Kano residents.

“We worked hard for the success of the movement, but the NNPP has failed to deliver meaningful change to the people,” Minjibir stated.

In his remarks, Senator Jibrin welcomed the new members, describing their decision to join the APC as a “wise and forward-looking move.”

He emphasized that the APC remains the largest political party in Africa and is committed to improving the welfare of Nigerians.

“The APC is the party that truly represents progress and development. I urge others to join hands with us to move Kano and Nigeria forward,” he added.

The member representing Enugu East/Isi Uzo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Professor Paul Sunday Nnamchi, has said that the recent defection of lawmakers from the Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is driven by a collective desire to enhance development, unity, and progress across the state.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Professor Nnamchi explained that lawmakers are primarily focused on delivering meaningful change and improving the welfare of their constituents.

“Our goal as lawmakers is to make tangible impact in the lives of our people and attract development to our constituencies,” he said.

Addressing questions about collaboration among politicians from different political backgrounds, the federal lawmaker revealed that there is now a shared commitment among Enugu leaders to prioritize governance over partisan divides.

“We have had discussions with our Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubisi Mbah, and there is a common understanding that we must unite for the progress of Enugu State, the Southeast, and Nigeria at large,” Nnamchi stated.

“Ideological differences are now behind us. What matters most is the progress and transformation of Enugu State.”

Highlighting recent achievements, Professor Nnamchi pointed to the gazetting of the Federal University of Agriculture, Akor-Nike, Enugu State, which he presented to Governor Mbah during the governor’s visit to the National Assembly.

He expressed confidence that with the governor’s support, the university would take off soon.

The lawmaker also noted that aligning with the ruling party at the federal level would help bridge the developmental gap in the Southeast and attract more federal projects to Enugu State.

“Being in the same party with our Governor, rather than working in fragmented opposition, gives us a stronger voice and greater influence,” he said.

“This alignment will strengthen our bargaining power and help us secure more dividends of democracy for our people.”

Professor Nnamchi reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Governor Mbah’s developmental agenda, adding that the synergy between the state and federal lawmakers in the APC will ensure faster growth and visible impact across Enugu State.

A major protest broke out on Monday at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, following an attempt by the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to take over the party’s secretariat.

Supporters of Mohammed Abdulrahman, who was recently announced as the factional acting National Chairman, stormed the PDP’s Wadata Plaza headquarters, chanting solidarity songs and demanding that the current National Working Committee (NWC), led by Umar Damagum, vacate the building immediately.

The development marks a new phase in the PDP’s deepening leadership crisis. Last week, Abdulrahman’s emergence as acting chairman coincided with the one-month suspension of the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, a move that further split the party’s hierarchy.

In a parallel meeting held elsewhere in Abuja, the Wike-backed group had announced the suspension of the Damagum-led NWC, accusing it of incompetence and mismanagement of party affairs.

On Monday, protesters gathered at the secretariat vowed to reclaim the party’s headquarters for the Abdulrahman-led faction, insisting that the current leadership had “lost control” of the PDP’s direction.

Security operatives were deployed to Wadata Plaza to prevent clashes and maintain order as tensions rose between the rival groups.

Amid the chaos, the Abdulrahman faction successfully gained access to the National Chairman’s office. Speaking to journalists from the office, Abdulrahman pledged to restore unity within the PDP and reposition it for future elections.

“We are ready to work in the interest of our great party. Our focus is on reconciliation, progress, and victory,” he said.

Abdulrahman added that his leadership would prioritise rebuilding trust and strengthening internal democracy within the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has disowned a viral social media post attributed to him that appeared to mock United States President Donald Trump over his recent comments about alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio described the circulating post as “completely fabricated, malicious, and reckless.”

The post, published by a social media platform identified as Rant HQ, claimed that Akpabio had said:

“The killing is taking place in Nigeria, not in the USA. Trump should focus on the U.S. Nigerians are not complaining about the killings; we are fully satisfied with the condition of Nigeria.”

The purported statement quickly went viral, sparking public outrage and debates amid heightened diplomatic tensions following Trump’s warning that the United States could take military action against Nigeria over alleged religious persecution.

Eyiboh, however, dismissed the claim as entirely false.

“The post is a total falsehood, a product of mischief, and a desperate attempt to incite misunderstanding between Senator Godswill Akpabio and U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as between Nigeria and its international partners,” he said.

He added that the photo attached to the post, which showed Akpabio at an unrelated official event, was “deceptively used to lend false credibility to a fabricated statement that was never made.”

According to Eyiboh, Akpabio remains a statesman committed to diplomacy, mutual respect, and international cooperation.

“He holds President Donald Trump in high esteem as a historic figure and leader of a great nation,” he noted.

The Senate President’s media office stressed that Akpabio would never comment on internal affairs of the United States or make statements that fall within the purview of Nigeria’s executive arm or foreign policy establishment.

“The viral post is a clear act of digital recklessness and a deliberate attempt to sow confusion, tarnish reputations, and inflame diplomatic tensions,” Eyiboh added.

He urged Nigerians to disregard the false report and warned purveyors of misinformation to stop spreading unverified claims for online engagement.

“Freedom of expression is not freedom to lie,” he cautioned.

The rebuttal follows Trump’s recent remarks on his Truth Social platform, where he threatened possible U.S military intervention in Nigeria, claiming his administration “may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists.”

Trump’s comments, which came after he listed Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious persecution, have drawn mixed reactions globally.

Akpabio’s office reiterated that the Senate remains focused on its legislative duties and on strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“The Office of the President of the Senate remains committed to transparency, truth, and responsible communication, both at home and internationally,” the statement concluded.

The lawmaker representing Enugu East/Isi Uzo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Professor Paul Sunday Nnamchi, has condemned in strong terms the recent communal clash in Umuchigbo-Nike, Enugu East Local Government Area, which resulted in the loss of several lives.

Describing the incident as tragic and deeply painful, Professor Nnamchi said the violence was a betrayal of the values and spirit of the Nike people.

“The spilling of blood on our own soil is a tragedy that wounds the very soul of our beloved Nike Land. We cannot build our future on the ashes of hatred or the tears of our brothers,” he lamented.

The lawmaker urged residents to reject division and embrace dialogue as the only path toward sustainable peace.

“This is not who we are. Such senseless bloodshed has no place in the Nike Clan. We must rise above anger and resentment, and work together to restore peace, justice, and mutual respect,” he said.

Professor Nnamchi also emphasized that the time had come for all stakeholders to prioritize reconciliation and healing.

“Now is the time to choose peace over vengeance, dialogue over division, and humanity over hostility. This unfortunate incident does not reflect our culture or our traditions,” he stated.

He commended the security agencies for their prompt response in containing the situation and urged them to intensify efforts to prevent further violence.

The lawmaker further called on community leaders, traditional rulers, and youth groups to embrace dialogue and work collectively to ensure lasting peace returns to Umuchigbo and the wider Nike community.