Former Adamawa State Governor and ex-Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna, has debunked reports claiming he is set to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on April 20, 2025, alongside other politicians from the state.

In a statement issued from his Abuja office and personally signed by him, Haruna dismissed the report as false and misleading, reaffirming his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“For the avoidance of doubt, I have never discussed joining SDP with anyone. I remain a committed member of the PDP,” he stated.

He condemned those behind the spread of what he described as “mischievous fabrications” and urged the public to disregard the claim as fake news.

“Some individuals have made it their business to circulate falsehoods and outright fabrications in the media space. I call on the public to ignore such baseless rumors,” Haruna added.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed deep regret over his support for President Bola Tinubu, citing what he describes as the president’s failure to meet expectations despite a controversial past marred by allegations of drug-related offenses and certificate forgery.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, El-Rufai admitted that he and others backed Tinubu despite being aware of his legal and ethical controversies, particularly his alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking and the disputed authenticity of his academic credentials.

“What pains me the most is that we supported and had confidence in this government, believing it would deliver results,” El-Rufai stated.

“We saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges, and we thought if he could replicate that at the national level, it would be worth it. But, unfortunately, he has failed.”

Referencing Tinubu’s past legal troubles in the United States, El-Rufai acknowledged that supporters were aware of the accusations but hoped his performance as Lagos State governor would translate into national development.

“We all knew about his issues in Chicago, but we overlooked them, thinking his governance experience in Lagos would benefit Nigeria,” he said.

The controversy over Tinubu’s past resurfaced in 2022 when newly unsealed court documents from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois detailed his alleged connection to narcotics trafficking and money laundering, leading to a forfeiture of $460,000 to the U.S. government in 1993.

Additionally, his academic records came under scrutiny after opposition leader, Atiku Abubakar, petitioned the courts to compel Chicago State University (CSU) to release details of Tinubu’s educational history, alleging certificate forgery.

Despite these controversies, El-Rufai and other political allies stood by Tinubu, hoping he would deliver on his campaign promises.

However, the former governor now laments that their expectations have not been met, marking a turning point in his public stance on the Tinubu administration.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced work on its Election Project Plan (EPP) for the 2027 general elections, incorporating lessons learned from the 2023 polls to improve efficiency and transparency.

A senior INEC official to DAILY GAZETTE confirmed that the commission is updating its election templates and refining strategies to enhance the credibility of future elections.

Part of this effort includes developing a 2027–2031 Strategic Plan, which will replace the current 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan set to expire in December 2026.

Additionally, INEC is working on a transitional document to bridge the gap between 2026 and the 2027 election year, ensuring continuity in election planning.

“The previous strategic plan focused on institutionalizing INEC’s processes, capacity building, and resource management, while the EPP is a more focused document designed specifically for the conduct of a general election,” the official explained.

The Election Project Plan was first introduced for the 2015 general election and has since been a key part of INEC’s preparations for the 2019 and 2023 elections.

Following logistical and technical challenges in the 2023 general election, INEC is reviewing its operational framework to enhance efficiency.

The last election involved 93,469,008 registered voters across 176,846 polling units, requiring the deployment of over 1.5 million personnel and 182,491 vehicles to facilitate the process nationwide.

One of the major setbacks in 2023 was the delay in uploading presidential election results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, despite successfully managing uploads for National Assembly elections.

A configuration issue in the system caused delays in processing nationwide presidential results.

INEC later resolved the issue through a software update, allowing the first presidential election result sheet to be uploaded later on election day.

Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu, has raised concerns over Nigeria’s growing unemployment crisis, urging the federal and state governments, as well as the private sector, to take immediate and decisive action.

In a statement released on Friday, the senator representing Enugu West described the situation as alarming, stressing that urgent measures were needed to prevent further economic and social distress.

Ngwu pointed out that Nigerian universities and polytechnics produce around 600,000 graduates annually, yet job creation has not kept pace, leading to a significant gap between the labor market’s supply and demand.

“Unemployment in Nigeria has remained an unresolved issue since the Second Republic. With approximately 2 million students admitted into tertiary institutions annually and about 600,000 graduates entering the job market each year, the country faces a widening gap between job seekers and available employment opportunities,” he said.

While acknowledging President Bola Tinubu’s economic initiatives aimed at job creation, food security, and poverty reduction, Ngwu emphasized that declaring a state of emergency on unemployment would accelerate these efforts.

“I commend President Tinubu’s commitment to remodeling Nigeria’s economy, but we need urgent action. Declaring a state of emergency on unemployment will fast-track policies aimed at job creation, stimulate economic growth, and reduce poverty,” he added.

Ngwu announced his intention to present a motion in the Senate, urging the Federal Government to formally declare a state of emergency on the country’s unemployment crisis.

“In the coming days, I will bring a motion before the Senate calling for immediate government intervention. We cannot afford to ignore the plight of our unemployed youths. Governments at all levels and the private sector must collaborate to create jobs and opportunities. We owe this to our people and the future of our nation,” he stated.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has adjourned its sittings indefinitely.

The decision was taken during Friday’s plenary session, which was presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule.

The adjournment comes in response to a letter from Governor Siminalayi Fubara, proposing Wednesday as the date for the re-presentation of the 2025 budget, in line with a recent Supreme Court judgment.

More details shortly…