President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, as Renewed Hope Ambassador and Deputy Director-General for party outreach, engagement and mobilisation, with immediate effect.

The appointment is expected to place the Kaduna governor at the centre of grassroots engagement and strategic mobilisation efforts of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) across the country.

According to the President, the decision was informed by Sani’s leadership credentials and organisational strength, which are considered vital to strengthening the party’s communication framework and expanding its mobilisation structures nationwide.

In his new role, Sani will work closely with the leadership of the Renewed Hope Ambassador programme, the Director-General, and the party hierarchy, including the APC National Chairman, to drive inclusive engagement and coordinated political outreach.

The assignment is also aimed at reinforcing the party’s grassroots presence, promoting policy awareness, and consolidating public confidence in the administration’s programmes and achievements.

Tinubu noted that the Renewed Hope Ambassador structure is designed to deepen public understanding of government initiatives, highlight milestones, and strengthen national acceptance of the party ahead of future electoral contests.

He added that early planning and structured mobilisation would be critical to the party’s success, expressing confidence that Sani would provide strategic direction in galvanising support and expanding the Renewed Hope message at community, state and national levels.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, remains in its custody as investigations continue into allegations of financial misconduct amounting to N432 billion.

Sources within the anti-graft agency said El-Rufai honoured an invitation from the commission on Monday and is currently undergoing interrogation.

Although he reportedly presented himself voluntarily, he had yet to be granted bail as of Tuesday while questioning and investigations were ongoing.

The probe is said to be linked to a 2024 report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which accused the former governor’s administration between 2015 and 2023 of allegedly diverting public funds through multiple state channels.

Investigators are reportedly reviewing contracts and financial transactions executed during his eight-year tenure in office as part of the ongoing inquiry.

In a related development, the Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The charges reportedly relate to the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is on the verge of recording a historic political breakthrough as it prepares to welcome its first sitting state governor into its ranks, a development that could alter Nigeria’s party alignment ahead of the 2027 election, DAILY GAZETTE reports.

Multiple party sources confirmed that advanced negotiations have been concluded with Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State.

If finalised, the move would mark a turning point for the party, which has long operated on the margins of Nigeria’s major political blocs.

Securing a sitting governor would not only strengthen its legitimacy but also provide access to an established grassroots political structure, lawmakers and local government networks.

Sources within the party further told DAILY GAZETTE that discussions focused on building a broader coalition platform, expanding the ADC’s electoral viability and positioning it as a credible alternative to the dominant parties.

Within the Peoples Democratic Party where Makinde remains a leading figure, the development is already generating anxiety as party members are worried about the potential erosion of influence in Oyo and its ripple effects nationally.

A sitting governor joining the ADC could catalyse further defections, reshape opposition calculations and inject fresh competition into Nigeria’s evolving multiparty terrain.

Stay tuned for more…

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following a tense session marked by disagreements over Clause 60(3) concerning electronic transmission of election results.

Proceedings in the Senate were momentarily stalled as lawmakers began clause-by-clause consideration of the bill. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe raised a demand for a division over Clause 60(3), prompting a rowdy session in the upper chamber.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio noted that he believed the demand had been previously withdrawn, but several opposition senators immediately objected.

Citing Order 52(6), Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin argued that revisiting a provision on which the Senate President had already ruled would be out of order.

The submission sparked further uproar in the chamber, during which Senator Sunday Karimi had a brief face-off with Abaribe.

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, reminded lawmakers that he had sponsored the motion for rescission, emphasizing that decisions previously taken by the Senate were no longer valid, and that Senator Abaribe’s demand was consistent with that motion.

Akpabio suggested that the call for division was largely an attempt by Abaribe to demonstrate his position publicly.

The Senate President sustained the point of order, after which Abaribe rose in protest and was urged to formally move his motion.

Rising under Order 72(1), Abaribe called for a division on Clause 60(3), specifically concerning the provision that if electronic transmission of results fails, Form EC8A should not serve as the sole basis, and he advocated for the removal of the proviso that allows for manual transmission in case of network failure.

During the division, Akpabio asked senators supporting the caveat to stand, followed by those opposed.

Fifteen opposition senators stood in opposition.

When the votes were counted, 55 senators supported the proviso while 15 opposed it.
Clause-By-Clause Consideration

Earlier, proceedings were momentarily paused as lawmakers began clause-by-clause deliberation of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following a motion to rescind the earlier amendment.

The motion was formally seconded on Tuesday, paving the way for the upper chamber to dissolve into the Committee of the Whole for detailed reconsideration and reenactment of the legislation.

During this session, Senate President Akpabio presented the clauses one by one for debate. The process briefly stalled when at Clause 60, Senator Abaribe raised a point of order, drawing immediate attention on the floor.

Following his intervention, murmurs spread across the chamber as lawmakers spoke in small groups and consulted the Senate President’s desk. The session moved into a closed-door consultation.

Election Timetable
Before rescinding the Electoral Act, the Senate raised concerns about the timing of the 2027 general elections and technical inconsistencies within the legislation.

Rising under Order 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved to reverse the earlier passage of the bill and return it to the Committee of the Whole for fresh deliberation.

He explained that this followed the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission of a timetable setting the 2027 general elections for February 2027 after consultations with the leadership of the National Assembly.

Bamidele stated that stakeholders had raised concerns that the proposed date conflicted with the law’s provision requiring elections to be scheduled no later than 360 days before the expiration of tenure.

He further noted that the 360-day notice requirement in Clause 28 could place the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections during Ramadan, potentially affecting voter turnout, logistics, stakeholder participation, and the inclusiveness and credibility of the electoral process.

The motion also highlighted discrepancies in the Long Title and multiple clauses, including Clauses 6, 9, 10, 22, 23, 28, 29, 32, 42, 47, 51, 60, 62, 64, 65, 73, 77, 86, 87, 89, 93, and 143, which affected cross-referencing, serial numbering, and internal consistency within the legislation.

Despite the tensions and technical concerns, the Senate proceeded to pass the amended Electoral Act, reinforcing the legal framework for future elections while addressing procedural and legislative inconsistencies raised during debate.