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.

Former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking a significant shift in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Rhodes-Vivour announced his defection during a declaration event held in Lagos on Saturday. His move comes amid efforts by opposition parties under the ADC banner to form a strong coalition capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election cycle.

Speaking at the event, Rhodes-Vivour emphasized that his decision was driven by the need for a united opposition and a shared vision to rebuild Nigeria.

“I am happy to become part of this family. I’m looking forward to the union and governance that this party will bring to Nigerians,” he said.

“My prayer is that God will grant our leaders and the party’s structure the wisdom to come together and define a new path for our beloved country.”

Rhodes-Vivour also stressed the importance of unity among opposition forces ahead of 2027:

“This is a coalition that is meant to rescue Nigeria. I have said since after the 2023 elections that we cannot afford to divide the opposition going into the next election. We must come together, united through a robust coalition that will stand a chance in 2027 to deliver this country.”

The former LP candidate revealed that attempts were made to frustrate the event, alleging that the Nigeria Police initially barred access to the original venue in Alimosho, Lagos.

In a statement issued by his aide, Olalekan Anjolaiya, organisers claimed they had properly informed the police about the event.

Despite this, security operatives reportedly prevented entry on Saturday morning, forcing the relocation of the event to another venue within the same local government area.

“I’m going to address the press later on the events that happened today and those that happened since yesterday,” Rhodes-Vivour stated.

“But with this speech, I just want to confirm that I am joining the ADC coalition.”

ADC Lagos State Chairman, George Ashiru, described Rhodes-Vivour’s entry as a major boost for the opposition coalition, calling it a historic moment in the party’s journey.

“Today we are having one of the most important affirmation programmes where our coalition partners from one of the key blocs in the Labour Party are joining this wonderful family of Nigerians, the African Democratic Congress,” Ashiru said.

“We are not affirming one man, we are affirming a movement. But every movement has a leader, and what brother Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour represents is the leadership of a movement that shook Lagos in the last election.”

Ashiru noted that the coalition was born out of sustained communication that began during the 2023 elections and has since evolved into a shared platform for political change.

Also present at the event was Professor Ola Olateju, representing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. He urged party members to believe in their collective ability to drive national transformation.

“We should not look at ourselves as if we are not able or not competent to rescue Nigeria. Anybody here could become anything,” Olateju said.

“ADC is not just a political party; it’s a movement, a movement of the people. It is an exodus. We are moving in order to rescue Nigeria.”

Member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has accepted his expulsion from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) but accused the party of unfair treatment and failure to follow due process.

Jibrin, who represents the Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in Kano State, was expelled over alleged anti-party activities and non-payment of party dues, charges he strongly denies.

In a statement issued on Saturday evening, Jibrin expressed disappointment over the party’s decision but said he would not challenge it, citing his respect for the party and its members.

“While I would have loved to stay in the NNPP and continue my service to our people and country despite differences on some issues (which I will address elaborately in due course to avoid people being misled), the party has made and announced a decision,” he said.

“I am therefore obliged to accept the decision of the party in good faith and without grudges.”

However, Jibrin criticized the NNPP for not giving him the opportunity to defend himself before the expulsion, suggesting that the process lacked fairness.

“But for the respect I have for the party, its members, and leaders, I would have viewed this action as null and void, as it failed to follow due process or came from a factional group of the party and test it in court,” he added.

“I will rather wish the party well and go in peace. I beg the party to allow me also go in peace.”

The lawmaker, a known ally of NNPP presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, dismissed claims that he failed to pay his party dues.

“I respectfully request that the party send me the invoice, and I will promptly pay,” he said.

He also linked the party’s action to his recent public interviews, noting that:

“For the purpose of emphasis, I stand by all the statements I made in the interviews.”

Despite the fallout, Jibrin emphasized that his relationships with NNPP members remain cordial and that he holds no resentment toward those who continue with the party.

“I welcome all my supporters who wish to join me in my new journey. But for those who chose to remain in NNPP, I hold no grudges against them, and I look forward to keeping a peaceful and harmonious relationship with them both at the local, state, and national levels.”

As for his next political move, Jibrin said he would take time to reflect before announcing his next step.

“I will carefully weigh all the options before me as I decide on my next political home,” he concluded.