A former loyalist of ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has launched a scathing attack on him for accepting a political appointment from the same government he once publicly opposed during the 2023 election cycle.

Maigida Yakubu, in an 11-page open letter released Friday, denounced Dogara’s recent political alignment, accusing him of hypocrisy and betrayal, particularly for accepting an offer from the Bola Tinubu administration despite having fiercely criticized the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Describing Dogara as “a master manipulator who has replaced honour with deceit, unity with chaos, trust with betrayal, and drives the community to the edge of fracture,” Yakubu painted the former Speaker as a divisive figure responsible for disunity in Zaar land.

Yakubu revisited Dogara’s role in the 2023 elections, slamming him for portraying himself as a moral crusader while allegedly seeking political favors behind the scenes.

“Your trademark, deceit, and legendary blunders finally got the spotlight they deserved. If there were awards for political self-sabotage, you’d have swept the night,” he wrote.

“You made a grand show of denouncing the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, parading yourself as some moral crusader.”

“Yet, for the past two years, you have shamelessly been groveling at the feet of the same political group, begging for political appointments without a shred of dignity.”

He further accused Dogara of manufacturing public dissent for personal gain, citing his orchestration of protests during the APC primaries.

“To crown the hypocrisy, you went to the extent of importing a rented Christian crowd mostly from the Middle Belt just to help you act out your public yet staged disapproval. Not even a shred of kunya (shame) in your conduct.”

“Since when did you become the grand coordinator of Christian political mobilization? Oh, as usual, the moment it serves your selfish interest, you’re suddenly all in, full of energy and commitment, like we saw in 2023.”

Taking a jab at Dogara’s recent appointment, Yakubu mocked its perceived insignificance, calling it a political muzzle rather than recognition.

“Truly, a masterclass in double standards! Let’s remind you that the Tinubu government knows exactly who you are, that’s why the government handed you a token chairmanship of a new agency, not as a mark of honour, but as a convenient muzzle. Nothing more, nothing less.”

He added sarcastically, “Well, these days, you are not busy haunting the offices and homes of power brokers like a political housefly, buzzing around without purpose but making sure everyone notices you.”

Yakubu also criticized Dogara’s track record in his constituency, accusing him of exploiting youth and failing to deliver lasting empowerment.

“Remind us again, just for laughs, is there one Basayi son or daughter who can say he or she was genuinely economically or politically empowered from your celebrated reign as Member and Speaker of the House of Representatives?”

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has addressed public speculation surrounding his absence during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Kano State.

President Tinubu was in Kano on Friday, marking his first visit to the state since assuming office.

The trip was primarily to extend condolences to the family of the late business tycoon, Alhaji Aminu Dantata.

Ganduje’s absence at such a high-profile event raised questions, with observers linking it to possible internal party tensions following his resignation as APC National Chairman.

Despite this, President Tinubu was warmly received by several top APC figures, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibril, APC Kano Chairman Prince Abdullahi Abbas, former Deputy Governor Nasiru Gawuna, and State Ministers Dr. Mariya Bunkure (FCT) and Abdullahi Ata (Housing), among others.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Ganduje’s aide, Malam Muhammad Garba, clarified the reason behind his absence, stating the former governor had traveled to London for a personal engagement shortly after stepping down from party leadership.

Garba explained, “The visit by President Tinubu was communicated to Ganduje, but unfortunately, despite frantic efforts to reschedule his flight and itinerary, the logistics made it impossible for him to return in time.”

He dismissed rumors suggesting Ganduje was either avoiding the event or facing health issues, saying the former governor was abroad well before the president’s visit.

Garba also noted that Ganduje remained actively involved behind the scenes to support the President’s visit: “Despite being abroad, Ganduje remained in constant communication, virtually every hour or two, with key party leaders, including the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, and the APC Kano State Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, to ensure smooth coordination for the President’s visit.”

He further emphasized that Ganduje’s resignation as National Chairman does not signal any rift with President Tinubu.

“The APC in Kano,” Garba said, “remains fully united, loyal, and committed to the vision and leadership of President Tinubu.”

He concluded by reaffirming the strong bond between Ganduje and the president, describing it as “a relationship built over years of mutual respect and political alignment.”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu of manipulating the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari for a political publicity stunt.

In a statement on Friday, Interim National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi slammed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) tribute to Buhari as “a deliberate publicity stunt by an unpopular administration.”

Earlier, Tinubu had led a special FEC session at the State House in Abuja, offering warm tributes to Buhari, whom he described as “a good, decent, and honourable man” whose values of discipline, patriotism, and integrity would be remembered.

While acknowledging Buhari’s flaws, the president praised his “steadfast dedication to national service.”

The ADC, however, criticized the tribute as insincere, noting that Tinubu’s administration had spent over a year blaming Buhari for the nation’s economic challenges before pivoting to public mourning.

The party charged that the government had “distanced itself from Buhari’s policies, especially on fuel subsidy, the economy, and public sector management, only to now attempt to cloak itself in the very legacy it once denounced.”

In the statement, the ADC asserted:

“The African Democratic Congress condemns the Tinubu administration’s sudden and cynical attempt to wrap itself in the memory of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, a man this same government spent over a year blaming, sidelining, and scapegoating for every major challenge confronting the nation.”

They further described the tribute as “a choreographed Federal Executive Council (FEC) tribute … not a demonstration of genuine respect.

“It was a calculated public relations stunt by an unpopular government, carefully stage‑managed to distract Nigerians from the administration’s deepening failures and to rewrite history while the nation mourns.”

The ADC also criticized the inclusion of Yusuf Buhari, the former president’s son, in the FEC ritual:

“The unfolding stage‑managed displays of grief and the exploitation of a mourning son who was compelled to perform gratitude in front of the cameras is unconscionable and must be condemned by all decent people.”

Questioning the ethics of the timing, they countered:

“Nigerians remember that since taking office, the Tinubu administration … have blamed Buhari for everything … But now that it suits their political agenda, they seek to recast themselves as defenders of the late President’s legacy, pretending to give him in death, the honour they denied him while he was alive.”

Despite the ADC’s condemnation, they expressed confidence in Nigerians’ discernment:

“Nevertheless, we are confident that Nigerians can see through their grand deceit. No public relations stunt can save a government that has behaved in the last two years like an army of occupation.”

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has concluded arrangements to arraign the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Sani Lawan Malumfashi, over his alleged involvement in a ₦1.02 billion money laundering scheme.

Also named in the charge are the Commission’s Secretary, Mr. Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and the Deputy Director of the Accounts Department, Mr. Ado Garba.

The trio will appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, July 21, 2025.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, who revealed that the commission’s investigation uncovered a conspiracy by the accused to carry out large-scale illegal cash transactions between November and December 2024.

According to the charge sheet, KANSIEC under Malumfashi’s leadership transferred ₦1.02 billion from its Unity Bank account to a private firm, SLM Agro Global Farm, which reportedly had no contractual relationship with the Commission.

The accused officials claimed the funds were meant to raise cash for paying ad hoc staff used during local government elections.

They further claimed that the full amount was returned to KANSIEC in cash by the company.

However, the ICPC stated that the investigation contradicted this explanation.

“ICPC further revealed that while the defendants in the statements they volunteered argued that the transfers made to SLM AgroGlobal were made with the intention to raise cash needed to pay the adhoc-staff that participated in the local government election in the state, and that the firm returned all such transfers to KANSIEC in cash,” the statement noted.

Bakare said that evidence obtained during the investigation showed otherwise.

One such document was a letter from KANSIEC addressed to the Manager of Unity Bank, Zoo Road, Kano, requesting a payment of ₦59.4 million via cheque, along with a list of 468 Electoral Officers and 42 Assistant Electoral Officers, complete with their bank details for payment.

“Investigation however revealed otherwise as a letter from the defendant addressed to the Manager, Unity Bank, Zoo Road, Kano detailed where in they requested transfer payment of the sum of N59, 400, 000.00 attached with a cheque of same amount and a list of 468 Electoral Officers and 42 Assistance Electoral Officers’ bank details for payment through the banking system.

“This request, according to ICPC, was honoured by the bank, and the beneficiaries, one and all, got their payments.”

He added that the suspects’ justification that bank transfers would be too slow to facilitate timely payments was unconvincing and merely a cover-up.

“Their claim that the banking system or transfers would have been too slow to accommodate their requests in the case of ad hoc staff was found to be a mere conjecture, a screen to hide corruption and a lame excuse to justify the offence of money laundering,” the statement read.

ICPC also questioned a ₦20 million expenditure allegedly allocated for candidate verification during the 2024 local government elections.

According to the agency, the Commission’s official budget (erroneously titled “Operation Budget 2025 Elections”) indicated that ₦20 million was set aside for screening candidates across Kano’s 484 wards and 44 local government areas.

However, investigations showed that all candidate screenings were conducted at the Commission’s headquarters in Kano, and candidates bore the cost of travel.

“The Commission added that its investigation further revealed that though the budget for the 2024 Election presented to the investigating officers (wrongly headed ‘Operation Budget 2025 Elections’) has the amount of N20, 000, 000.00 budgeted for the Team to conduct screening/verification of the candidates across 484 Wards and 44 Local Governments of Kano State, However, all the candidates were screened/verified in the Commission’s office in Kano.

“The Team did not travel out of Kano and the candidates made it to KANSIEC office in Kano at their own expense, yet the 3rd Defendant in his statement to the ICPC investigating officers stated that the entire budget of N20 million was given in cash to the KANSIEC Members who constitute the screening/verification team,” the statement added.

The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has distanced itself from the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Friday, describing the gathering as “illegal, unconstitutional, and of no consequence.”

In a statement titled “Illegal NEC: Otti advised not to use Abia State resources on trivialities,” issued in Abuja, the factional National Secretary, Umar Farouk, insisted that only the National Chairman and National Secretary are constitutionally empowered to convene such a meeting.

“The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to yet another illegal gathering of some suspended members of the party parading themselves as members of the party’s National Executive Committee.

Ordinarily, we didn’t think we should make any comment as regards this perennial jamboree since the meeting and its outcome are inconsequential, null and void,” the statement read in part.

Farouk was reacting to recent comments by Abia State Governor Alex Otti, who called for a formal apology from Abure, Lamidi Apapa, and other factional leaders as a condition for their reintegration into the party.

The demand was made during the inauguration of Senators Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha as interim National Chairman and National Secretary of the party, respectively.

However, citing the Labour Party’s constitution, specifically Articles 14(4)(b) and 13(B)(xii), Farouk stressed that the NEC meeting held in Umuahia was not legitimate.

“By the above provisions, every meeting convened by the suspended Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, and the Caretaker Committee, being the product of the illegal Umuahia meeting, is unconstitutional and of no effect.

It is important to note that there has never been any vacancy in the leadership of the Labour Party and there will not be any until 2028,” he said.

Farouk also referenced the April 4, 2025, Supreme Court ruling, which advised political parties to resolve internal conflicts in line with their constitutions.

He criticized Otti’s role in the leadership crisis, suggesting the governor is disconnected from recent developments within the party and has lost the support of key allies.

“Dr. Otti and his co-travellers must know by now that the train of the party has moved on and the party is focused ahead of the 2027 general election with or without them.

Governor Otti is probably not aware that his flanks have been exposed as the majority of his combatants and leaders have deserted him and moved on.

He is probably living in ignorance and in the past,” Farouk added.

The faction urged Labour Party members to disregard the resolutions from the Umuahia NEC meeting and advised Governor Otti to redirect his efforts toward governance in Abia State.

“We also urge the governor to channel the Abia State resources to providing basic infrastructure for the good people of the state rather than wasting resources chasing shadows,” the statement concluded.