With Nigeria’s 2027 general elections drawing closer, political developments in Kebbi State are generating significant buzz, as former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), is being positioned as a potential governorship candidate, possibly under the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

According to insiders, Malami is under mounting pressure to exit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and accept the SDP’s ticket.

The push is said to be coordinated by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is reportedly “building a northern political coalition” aimed at countering APC’s current dominance in the region.

A source close to Malami disclosed the former AGF’s current political dilemma: “Malami is watching closely. If Governor Idris defects from the APC, Malami might stay and fight from within. But if the governor remains, he may jump ship to the SDP.”

While Governor Nasir Idris has denied any intention of defecting, speculation persists that he may be considering aligning with an opposition bloc allegedly led by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

A senior official in the Kebbi State government refuted such claims, stating: “There is pressure from Atiku’s camp, but the governor has no plans to defect. He maintains a good relationship with the federal government. PDP and SDP are no threat in Kebbi.”

Despite these denials, sources confirm that El-Rufai has already held meetings with Malami and other northern leaders in Katsina to strategize for the 2027 polls.

“This isn’t just about Kebbi. It’s about reshaping northern political power,” one insider noted.

Supporters of the SDP believe Malami could make a strong showing if he capitalizes on public dissatisfaction with the current administration.

“The governor is under fire for rising insecurity and poor infrastructure. Malami, if strategic, can exploit this,” an SDP leader commented.

Still, some APC loyalists remain dismissive of Malami’s chances.

Kabir Mustapha, a former ANPP secretary and now APC stalwart, argued: “You don’t substitute your best player mid-game. Talk of defection is beer parlour gossip. Malami cannot match the governor’s political capital.”

While Malami does enjoy localized support in areas like Birnin Kebbi, Argungu, and Gwandu, his statewide appeal is yet to be proven.

Furthermore, some voters reportedly still recall his contentious tenure as AGF, which may influence their stance at the polls.

Stakeholders from the Enugu North Senatorial District (Nsukka Zone) have praised Governor Peter Mbah for promoting an inclusive style of governance and urged him to remain steadfast in his developmental approach.

At the inaugural “Dialogue Series 1” held at Adada House, Nsukka, and hosted by the Enugu State Coalition for Progress (Enugu North Branch), the forum served as a platform to evaluate the impact of Mbah’s administration within the zone over his first two years in office.

Themed “Dr. Peter Mbah administration, the journey so far (education, politics and security),” the dialogue also enabled community leaders to voice local concerns directly to the government.

Commending Mbah’s strides, former Economic Adviser to the President, Prof. Osita Ogbu, described the governor as a transformational leader steering Enugu from a civil service-dependent state to an entrepreneurial hub.

He noted: “We are among the three states in the country that can say bye-bye to Federal Allocation.”

Ogbu continued, “Mbah has put plans in motion to strengthen the state’s economic base so that it will not rely heavily on federal allocation.”

He further compared Mbah’s leadership model to that of transformational global figures from China, Malaysia, and Israel, adding that the governor’s “Tomorrow is Here” vision represents a bold break from the past.

Importantly, Ogbu emphasized Mbah’s non-partisan governance style: “In his developmental transformation of the state, Mbah does not discriminate against those that voted for him and those that did not because he saw Enugu State as his constituency.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Dr. Chinyere Onyeisi, the governor’s Special Adviser on Education Innovation and Director of Experiential Learning at Enugu Smart Green School, lauded the administration’s intervention in the education sector.

“Before now, Enugu had high rate of out of school children with alarming statistics. We also had the challenge of poor dearth of teachers and poor capacity building of the existing ones as well as lack of curriculum update.”

“The most essential of all the challenges was the inadequate infrastructure,” Onyeisi said.

Participants at the dialogue acknowledged that Mbah’s administration has made notable progress in all 102 wards of the senatorial district.

They encouraged him to maintain this momentum and continue addressing the zone’s unique needs.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has concluded its chairmanship primaries across Lagos State, producing candidates for the upcoming local government elections in all 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

The primaries, which were conducted under tight security, took place at the APC secretariat in ACME, Ikeja.

Police officers, men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) were stationed around the venue to maintain law and order.

Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) were also deployed to manage the heavy traffic around the area.

Vehicular movement along ACME Road and nearby streets was heavily restricted, leading to traffic congestion and forcing many motorists to seek alternative routes.

Over 1,500 accredited delegates from various council areas participated in the exercise, which was praised by the APC leadership for being peaceful and transparent.

So far, the party has confirmed the emergence of candidates in several councils.

Some of the key winners include:

• Ejigbo: Taoheed Taiwo
• Lagos Island-East: Muibi Alade
• Amuwo Odofin: Sanusi Ismail
• Ojo: Rufai Muibat
• Kosofe: Moyosore Ogunlewe
• Ifako-Ijaiye: Usman Hamzat
• Epe: Sura Olayemi Animashaun
• Badagry-West: Ibrahim Rauf
• Alimosho: Akinpelu Ibrahim
• Surulere: Yusuf Sule
• Mushin: Aruwe Tubosun
• Bariga: Bukola Omofe Adedeji
• Ikeja: Hakeem Dauda
• Coker-Aguda: Ogidan Azeez
• Ikorodu: Ladega Adedayo
• Ibeju-Lekki: Sesan Olowa
• Oshodi-Isolo: Oloyede Kehinde

The APC leadership has urged party members to remain united and committed as preparations intensify for the general council polls.

For a full list of candidates and further updates, stay tuned…..

Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stirred political chatter on Saturday following the release of a short TikTok video in which she was seen enjoying a song in praise of President Bola Tinubu.

In the 15-second clip shared on her official TikTok page, Akpoti-Uduaghan giggled as she repeatedly played a track by well-known Kano musician, Dauda Kahutu, popularly known as Rarara.

The song, rendered in Yoruba and titled “Asiwaju Omo Ologo” which means “Asiwaju, the glorious child” was earlier performed for the President during a state dinner in Katsina.

The video’s content has led to a wave of speculation among supporters and political observers, many of whom question whether the senator is planning to switch allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

As at the time of this report, DAILY GAZETTE could not independently determine whether Akpoti-Uduaghan’s video was a subtle nod toward defection or merely a satirical jab at the APC-led administration.

Repeated attempts to contact the senator for clarification proved unsuccessful.

Similarly, her media aide, Israel Arogbonlo, could not be reached by phone.

Akpoti-Uduaghan has been a subject of controversy since her suspension from the Senate on March 6, which followed a dispute over a new seating arrangement she claimed was orchestrated to marginalise her.

She later escalated the matter, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio on national television of imposing punitive actions after she rejected alleged sexual advances.

Speaking during a Women in Parliament session at the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting held at the United Nations in New York, the senator had appealed for international oversight.

She condemned what she described as excessive disciplinary measures, including salary cuts, withdrawal of security, and a six-month suspension, stating, “I also criticised the severe measures imposed on her, including the withdrawal of security, salary cuts, and a six-month suspension from the National Assembly.”

Following legal proceedings initiated by both parties, a court order was issued barring them from speaking to the press or commenting on the case until judgment is delivered.

In a new twist, just two days after Senate President Akpabio led a Federal Government delegation to the Vatican, Akpoti-Uduaghan published a satirical “Apology Letter” addressed to the office of the Senate President, further fueling debate on the nature of her recent actions.

In a strategic move ahead of the upcoming Local Government elections in Lagos State, the Labour Party (LP) has inaugurated a 24-member Caretaker Executive Committee to take charge of its operations within the state.

The inauguration, held on Friday, May 9, at Access Hotel in Ikeja, saw the formal introduction of an interim leadership tasked with guiding the party through a crucial transitional phase.

The committee is expected to oversee reconciliation efforts, electoral preparations, and internal restructuring.

Federal Representative for Ojo Federal Constituency in the 10th National Assembly, Seyi Sowunmi, announced the list of appointees before the official inauguration.

He emphasized that the new caretaker leadership, chaired by Rotimi Odunaike, is empowered to manage party affairs and coordinate its political agenda across Lagos.

According to Sowunmi, “The newly appointed exco in Lagos State, led by Rotimi Odunaike, the State Chairman, comprises 24 members.”

The leadership team includes six Deputy State Chairmen, Adegboyega Adeniji, Comrade Rasheed Bamishe, Barr. Affiong L. Affiong, Barr. Solomon Agbafor, Dr. Adefolaseye Adebayo, and Opeyemi Oluwaseun, as well as Hon. Dorcas Irhoghama Omorodion as State Secretary.

Other members of the committee include Mr. Eze Akpiri Ejotorishede (Assistant State Secretary), Comrade Onafowokan Gbenga (Assistant State Secretary), Adesegbe Ehigiator (State Treasurer), Mr. Oladele Egbayelo (Financial Secretary), Mrs. Titi Oworu (Women Leader), and three Deputy Women Leaders; Mrs. Olayemi Aboyewa, Mrs. Ijeoma Okafor, and Basirat Owoiya.

Also appointed were Justin C. Ijeh (Publicity Secretary), Femi Ferguson (Organising Secretary), Barr. Femi Kehinde (State Legal Adviser), Samuel Ajayi Crowther (Auditor), Damilare Akinlere (Youth Leader), and three Assistant Youth Leaders—Ebije Elliot Chukunalu, Isiaq Taofeek Kayode, and Precious Ofulue.

Sowunmi reiterated the committee’s mission, stating that it is “tasked with fostering unity among members by promoting a cohesive and inclusive environment to reconcile all factions and aggrieved individuals within the party.”

He added that the team is to commence preparations for the Lagos LG elections without delay and handle any emerging electoral issues.

A key part of the committee’s assignment is to organize and conduct congresses at the ward, local government, and state levels, an important step in reestablishing the party’s democratically elected leadership.

Hon. Afam Ogene, Federal Representative for Ogbaru constituency in Anambra and leader of the LP caucus in the House of Representatives, also addressed members at the event.

Speaking on the recent wave of defections from the Labour Party, Ogene described the situation as temporary.

“For anybody who is a student of Nigerian politics, defection is nothing,” he said.

“By the time primaries of the various political parties begin next year, people who are denied tickets in some of the parties they are going to would also look for platforms to run elections. Some of them would run coming back, so we are not bothered.”

He continued, “There are several people waiting to run on our platforms. But in politics, 24 hours is a long time. All the dynamics and indices will change because by early next year people will defect to other political parties.”

Ogene dismissed concerns about the party’s future, asserting that the LP remains prepared and has the capacity to fill vacated roles with new aspirants ready to serve.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has lauded President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its transformation of Abuja’s infrastructure, declaring that only the “visually impaired” would fail to acknowledge the visible progress made in the city.

Speaking during an inspection of several ongoing and completed projects across the FCT on Saturday, Wike praised Tinubu for delivering what he described as “first-class infrastructure” to the nation’s capital.

“Mr President has given first-class infrastructure to Abuja. All of you can attest to the fact that, indeed, Abuja has really changed. So, we are happy for it,” the Minister said.

Wike further expressed gratitude for what he described as effective leadership and fulfillment of electoral promises.

“I want to thank God Almighty for providing the right leadership to Mr President to provide the dividends of democracy to the residents of Abuja. I don’t see why anybody would say that Mr President has not done well, except you are just blind.”

“Except, you don’t want to admit something that you know that is good. We are happy that we have fulfilled the promises that we have made,” he added.

The Minister disclosed that numerous projects are scheduled for commissioning as part of events marking Tinubu’s second anniversary in office.

According to him, the inauguration exercises will span a two-week period.

“I think by next week, we will be able to provide all the projects that will be inaugurated during Mr President’s second anniversary but this Gishiri interchange is one of them, the OSEX to Wassa Junction is also one of them, the International Conference Centre is another one. The N5 is also another one,” Wike enumerated.

He continued, “We have so many roads, both in the satellite towns and in the city. Even the Abuja Greater Water will also be inaugurated. So, we have a lot of projects.”

“It will take us about two weeks to inaugurate most of our projects.”

Wike emphasized the importance of leadership in delivering developmental gains.

“What makes us happy is when people are happy, because at the end of the day, we are working for the people. I have said it before, leadership is a major issue. When you have the right leadership, people will benefit from it,” he stated.