The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has solidified its control over the Nigerian Senate following the defection of Senator Ahmed Wadada from the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West, rejoined the APC, boosting the party’s presence to 72 out of the 109 Senate seats.

This development further diminishes the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which now holds only 28 senators.

Other parties include the Labour Party with five senators, the All Progressives Grand Alliance with two and the New Nigeria Peoples Party and SDP with one each.

Senator Wadada, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, had left the APC in 2022 to run under the SDP banner and won his seat in the 2023 elections.

His official return was communicated in a letter dated September 2, addressed to the APC chairman in his ward, in which he expressed his desire to contribute to the party’s progress and success.

This recent defection follows a wave of PDP senators who have also switched allegiance to the APC.

Just two months ago, four senators; Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East) and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South)—crossed over, citing internal divisions and crisis within the PDP.

In their resignation letters, read aloud by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the senators described their decisions as well-considered and necessary due to fractured party structures and shifting political realities in their states.

Senator Bassey invoked constitutional provisions in explaining his defection, while Senator Ekong pointed to a realignment of key political players within Akwa Ibom State favoring the APC.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele welcomed the defectors warmly, hinting that more senators may soon join the APC.

Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and former presidential candidate, has declared he will not take down a post on X (formerly Twitter) in which he criticised President Bola Tinubu despite a formal request by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) to the social media platform demanding its removal.

On Sunday, Sowore disclosed via his X account that the platform had notified him of the DSS’s complaint.

The controversial post, shared on August 25, referred to President Tinubu as a “criminal” and accused him of lying during a state visit to Brazil, where the president claimed that corruption no longer exists in Nigeria.

Sowore wrote:

“This morning, X (formerly Twitter) officially contacted me about the despicable threat letter they received from the lawless DSS over my tweet on Tinubu. One option I will NOT be taking is deleting that tweet. Thank you, @X.”

He also shared a message from X, which confirmed that it had received a takedown request from the DSS on the grounds that the tweet allegedly violated Nigerian laws.

However, X stated it had not taken any action and would notify the user in line with its transparency policy.

The message from X included a link to its legal and transparency policies, encouraging Sowore to evaluate the situation and consider legal counsel if necessary.

The DSS had earlier claimed the tweet posed a threat to national security and could incite unrest.

It cited provisions of the Criminal Code, the Cyber Crimes Act 2025, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 as legal grounds for its request to delete the post.

Sowore, known for his pro-democracy activism and as the publisher of Sahara Reporters, has long been a vocal critic of the Nigerian government.

He previously faced arrest and prolonged detention by the DSS in 2019 over his “RevolutionNow” movement.

President Tinubu

The Department of State Services (DSS) has written to X Corp (formerly Twitter), demanding the immediate removal of a post by activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over comments deemed offensive to President Bola Tinubu and a threat to national security.

The controversial post was shared by Sowore on August 25 via his verified X handle, @YeleSowore. In the post, he criticised President Tinubu’s remark during a state visit to Brazil, where Tinubu claimed that corruption had been eradicated in Nigeria.

Sowore called the president a “criminal” and accused him of lying, referencing Tinubu’s official handle, @officialABAT.

In a letter dated September 6 and signed by B. Bamigboye on behalf of the Director-General of the DSS, the agency described the tweet as false, inflammatory and a violation of both national security and online conduct standards.

The DSS warned that the post had the potential to incite public unrest, particularly among Tinubu’s supporters, some of whom had already staged protests.

Part of the letter read:

“The said tweet is still in circulation and has attracted widespread condemnation by majority of Nigerians, some of whom may resort to unwholesome activities… thereby creating political tension and threatening the country’s national security.”

The DSS also raised concerns about the tweet’s impact on the President’s reputation internationally, stating that it could undermine Nigeria’s standing before the “comity of nations.”

Citing Nigerian laws, the agency said Sowore’s post breached provisions of the Criminal Code Act, the Cyber Crimes Act 2025, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.

Specifically, the letter referenced sections dealing with spreading false information, online harassment, incitement, and hate speech.

The DSS insisted that the post violated Sections 19, 22, and 24 of the Cyber Crimes Act, which criminalise the publication of content intended to embarrass, provoke hatred, or cause public disorder, both online and offline.

It claimed Sowore’s tweet amounted to “domestic terrorism.”

“The words employed by Mr. Omoyele Sowore,” the letter said, “are misleading information, online harassment and abuse, and a willful attempt to spread an ideology capable of serious harm to national unity.”

X Corp was given a 24-hour ultimatum to take down the tweet and any re-posts or related content.

The DSS also warned that failure to comply could lead to severe action from the Federal Government.

“If your corporation fails to comply with the command, the Federal Government will be compelled to take far-reaching, sweeping and across-the-board measures,” the agency said.

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has disowned the purported expulsion of Abdulmumin Jibrin, member representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in Kano State, calling the move illegal and baseless.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the party’s National Secretary, Oginni Sunday, described the expulsion as a “joke taken too far,” insisting that it was orchestrated by individuals who no longer have any legal standing within the party.

According to Sunday, the announcement was made by Hashim Dungurawa, a former NNPP Kano State chairman who himself had been expelled and, therefore, lacked the authority to speak on behalf of the party.

“The expulsion announced by Dungurawa is null and void. He is not a member of the NNPP and has no locus standi to act on party matters,” Sunday stated.

Citing a Federal Capital Territory High Court ruling dated April 2, 2025, as well as a judgment from an Abia State High Court, Sunday explained that Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso alongside Dungurawa and others was legally expelled from the party and cannot make decisions on its behalf.

He alleged that Jibrin’s refusal to align with the Kwankwasiyya faction angered loyalists of Kwankwaso, who are now working to undermine him.

Sunday also warned that the strong influence of Governor Abba Yusuf’s loyalty to Kwankwaso could jeopardize the NNPP’s control of Kano in the 2027 elections.

“One of the smartest ways for Governor Yusuf to secure victory in 2027 is to travel to Lagos and tender an apology to the party’s founder and national leadership,” he said.

In his own reaction on Saturday, Abdulmumin Jibrin described the expulsion as “a rude shock,” adding that the claims against him stemmed from a media interview he granted in both English and Hausa.

“I strongly believe the contents of the interview should not warrant such a heavy penalty,” Jibrin said.
“No invitation was extended to me to defend myself before any organ of the party. Even under a military dictatorship, an accused is subjected to a court-martial.”

Jibrin also pushed back on claims of non-payment of party dues, stating that he had not defaulted and was ready to settle any outstanding amounts upon receipt of an invoice.

“If the party sends me an invoice, I will pay it promptly,” he said.

He further criticised the NNPP for its perceived lack of appreciation for members’ contributions.

“The party does not believe anybody has political value or deserves respect at various levels,” he added.

Jibrin, a former Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group, is widely regarded as a key political player in Kano and was instrumental in building bridges between the NNPP and APC during the last election cycle.