The Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, has said the eight lawmakers who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress were already under suspension before announcing their change of political affiliation.

Moriki, in a statement on Sunday, said the lawmakers were suspended on February 26, 2024, following allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the House and violation of the Assembly’s Standing Orders.

According to him, the allegations against the lawmakers included forceful entry into offices of the Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms, destruction of public property and the convening of an unauthorised sitting of the House.

He said the alleged misconduct was serious enough to prompt the filing of a criminal complaint against the affected lawmakers before a competent court.

Reacting to their recent defection, the Speaker described it as an attempt to divert public attention from the disciplinary proceedings against them and create the impression that the Assembly was engulfed in crisis.

Moriki insisted that the Zamfara Assembly remained stable and fully functional, stressing that the political decision of the suspended lawmakers had no bearing on the disciplinary action taken against them.

“Their suspension was therefore not a consequence of their present political decision. It substantially predates their purported defection and arose from disciplinary matters within the Assembly,” he said.

The Speaker further disclosed that the House, on May 13, 2026, approved the extension of the lawmakers’ suspension for another legislative session because the disciplinary issues remained unresolved.

He noted that two other lawmakers who had previously been suspended were later reinstated after tendering apologies to the House, arguing that the disciplinary measures were therefore not politically motivated or targeted at any particular political affiliation.

Moriki also dismissed claims that the Assembly was unable to discharge its legislative responsibilities, saying the House currently had 16 active members and continued to conduct its affairs in line with the Constitution and its Standing Orders.

“The House held its plenary last Tuesday and is scheduled to reconvene tomorrow, Monday. There is therefore no basis whatsoever for portraying the Zamfara State House of Assembly as being in disarray,” he said.

He urged the public to distinguish between the lawmakers’ political choices and the disciplinary proceedings arising from their alleged misconduct.

According to him, changing political parties does not automatically terminate legislative disciplinary proceedings or pending legal cases connected to alleged offences.

The Speaker reaffirmed the commitment of the Assembly’s leadership and members to upholding the rule of law, protecting legislative integrity and safeguarding public institutions and property.

The Anambra State Government has called on voters in the state to reject the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, in the 2027 general election.

The state government made the call on Monday through its official X account, managed by the New Media Office of Governor Charles Soludo.

In a strongly worded message directed at members and supporters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the government accused Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, of working against the party that brought him to power.

The government alleged that Obi had, since 2014, pursued an agenda to undermine APGA, urging Ndi Anambra and APGA supporters not to be deceived by him.

“A betrayal alert for Ndi APGA. Since 2014, Obi has had one mission: to destroy the party that made him,” the statement read.

It further alleged that while President Bola Tinubu supported APGA in 2015, Obi backed opposition forces against the party.

The government therefore urged APGA supporters to “defend your home” and resist Obi and the NDC in the 2027 election.

The latest development comes amid the increasingly strained political relationship between Obi and Soludo, as well as the governor’s declared support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Soludo had, in 2025, declared his support for Tinubu, citing their 22-year friendship and what he described as the President’s bold economic reforms.

Speaking after meeting Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Soludo said he remained impressed by the President’s economic and structural reforms and believed the country should stay the course.

Meanwhile, APGA, the governor’s party, endorsed Tinubu as its preferred candidate for the 2027 presidential election in July.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ejimofor Opara, said the decision followed extensive consultations within the party and was subsequently endorsed by its National Executive Committee.

The latest attack on Obi also comes against the backdrop of a recent dispute between the former governor and the Soludo administration over financial obligations linked to projects implemented during Obi’s tenure.

Obi had rejected claims that he left the state with a $123.77 million debt, arguing that the figures cited by the state government conflated approved amounts, funds actually drawn and outstanding balances.

He maintained that the facilities in question were largely World Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development programmes negotiated by the Federal Government and accessed by participating states through subsidiary arrangements.

Obi also said he did not personally obtain loans from financial institutions or issue bonds on behalf of Anambra State.

As of Monday, neither Obi nor members of his campaign team had publicly responded to the state government’s latest allegation that he betrayed APGA.

A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Buba Galadima, has accused President Bola Tinubu and his associates of being ungrateful to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, despite what he described as the former governor’s contributions to Tinubu’s emergence as president in the 2023 election.

Galadima made the remarks during an interview on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, where he said he had previously warned El-Rufai about the worsening relationship between him and the President.

According to him, he advised the former Kaduna governor to consider staying outside the country because of what he perceived as potential danger following the breakdown in his relationship with Tinubu.

“Tinubu and his people are ingrates as far as El-Rufai is concerned. I’m not the best friend of El-Rufai. In fact, I advised him that he should be careful of the way he carries himself, that he either goes on exile or they will jail him,” Galadima said.

He said he had raised concerns about El-Rufai’s situation in interviews with the BBC and other Nigerian television stations.

Galadima further disclosed that he approached former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to persuade El-Rufai against returning to Nigeria after learning that the former Kaduna governor was planning to return from Egypt.

“I went and met Kwankwaso and told Kwankwaso that he should beg El-Rufai not to come back. These people do not mean well to him,” he said.

He explained that Kwankwaso subsequently contacted El-Rufai, who initially deferred his return before later announcing another date and eventually coming back to Nigeria.

Galadima described El-Rufai’s decision to return as courageous, considering what he portrayed as the determination of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to retain power.

He alleged that the APC could deploy extreme measures to remain in power because of the possible consequences its leaders could face should they lose control of government.

“The desperation with which the APC is going, they can do anything under the sun to come back to power, because they know what it entails if they lose power; what they have done to people will visit them,” Galadima said.

The Osun State Government has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to vacate an order restricting access to its bank accounts over a $13.9 million arbitration award in favour of Gamji Nigeria Company Limited.

The state, through its Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, said it filed the application on October 2, challenging both the account restriction and the underlying arbitration award.

The government alleged that Gamji failed to disclose material facts when it approached the Federal High Court for the restriction order, including the fact that Osun had already gone to the Lagos State High Court to challenge the arbitral award.

According to Alimi, the state filed a suit to set aside the award on September 1 and also sought to suspend its enforcement pending the determination of the case.

DAILY GAZETTE had reported that Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court ordered commercial banks to place a “Post No Debit” restriction on accounts operated by the Osun government to preserve the $13.9 million and N157.5 million awarded to Gamji.

The order followed Gamji’s application to preserve the funds pending determination of its substantive motion. The case has been adjourned until October 22.

The dispute stems from two water infrastructure contracts awarded to Gamji by the Osun State Government in 2017 during the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

Gamji said the projects, financed through an Islamic Development Bank loan facility, were substantially completed before disagreements over extensions of time, price adjustments and increased project costs led to arbitration.

An arbitral panel subsequently awarded Gamji $13.9 million and N157.5 million in reimbursable arbitration fees, with 20 per cent annual interest on any outstanding balance after the compliance deadline.

Osun, however, disputes the award, alleging irregularities in the arbitration process and a denial of fair hearing and full participation.

Alimi said the state would continue to challenge the award and the circumstances surrounding the order restricting its accounts.

The Senate has ruled out any amendment to the Electoral Act 2026 before the 2027 general elections, insisting that the law will remain the legal framework for the forthcoming polls.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said the National Assembly had concluded the electoral reform process and would not alter the law midway through preparations for the elections.

Adaramodu stated this in an interview with journalists while reacting to calls for a review of some provisions of the Act following a recent Supreme Court judgment.

According to him, the Electoral Act has already been assented to and is being used by political parties in the nomination of candidates for the 2027 elections.

“Are you now going to shift the goalposts in the middle of the game? Are you going to play a football match in reverse?” he asked.

The Senate position came days after the Supreme Court restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act, which had earlier been declared unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal.

The seven-member apex court panel unanimously held that the disputed provisions were not inconsistent with the Constitution.

Sections 77(5)-(7) concern party membership registers and participation in primaries, while Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus in the nomination of candidates.

The judgment has, however, sparked concerns over its possible implications for candidates whose party membership, waivers or nomination processes may be challenged.

Several political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, Allied People’s Movement and Labour Party, have maintained that the ruling does not invalidate their candidates.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress also dismissed concerns over the eligibility of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.

NDC National Publicity Secretary said the Supreme Court judgment should not be subjected to individual interpretations, adding that anyone challenging a candidate’s eligibility should seek judicial redress.

Adaramodu said any review of the Electoral Act, if considered necessary, would only be undertaken after the 2027 elections.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Enugu East Senatorial District, Chief Kingsley Nweke, has described the district as “bleeding”, calling for stronger media scrutiny of the challenges confronting its residents ahead of the 2027 elections.

Nweke made the call on Sunday after a novelty football match between the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, and Nollywood actors at Ngwo Park, Achara Layout, Enugu.

The PDP candidate urged journalists to remain courageous, professional and uncompromising in reporting issues affecting the people, saying the media had a crucial role to play in holding political leaders and public institutions accountable.

According to him, Enugu East requires a representative with the vision, capacity and preparedness to effectively serve the interests of the people.

“Enugu East is bleeding. We cannot continue to pretend that all is well when our people are facing serious challenges,” Nweke said.

He urged journalists to investigate and report issues affecting the welfare and development of residents, while maintaining professional ethics and providing fair and balanced coverage of political actors.

“The zone needs people with vision, capacity and integrity. I have been delivering good services to the people and wish to be there to accomplish what I have been doing,” he said.

Nweke also called on political leaders and stakeholders to place the interests of constituents above personal or partisan considerations.

He said the 2027 elections should give voters an opportunity to assess candidates on the basis of their character, competence, track record and capacity to effectively represent them.

The PDP candidate further urged journalists not to allow political or financial considerations to compromise their watchdog role, describing the media as a critical institution for strengthening democracy and amplifying the voices of citizens.