State chairmen of the Social Democratic Party have cautioned political opportunists and impostors against spreading false claims about a recent Supreme Court judgment, insisting that the ruling has no bearing on the party’s national leadership.

The warning was issued by the Forum of SDP State Chairmen in a statement signed by the Nasarawa State Chairman and Secretary of the forum, Musa Danlami, and released in Abuja.

Danlami said it had become necessary to counter misleading narratives being circulated to create confusion and instability within the party.

He explained that the Supreme Court decision in question arose solely from previously concluded by-elections and merely affirmed an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal.

According to him, the apex court did not deliberate on, recognise or validate any issue relating to the SDP’s national leadership or authority.

“The judgment had nothing whatsoever to do with leadership of the SDP. Any attempt to portray it as an endorsement of any individual or group’s leadership claim is a deliberate falsehood aimed at deceiving party members and the public,” Danlami said.

He also condemned what he described as the forceful and theatrical invasion of the party’s national secretariat by a self-styled group, alleging that the action was politically motivated and encouraged by external interests.

Danlami stressed that legitimacy within the SDP is derived strictly from the party’s constitution, urging members nationwide to remain calm, vigilant and united in the face of provocations.

He warned party faithful not to be distracted by individuals seeking to hijack the party through misinformation and intimidation, adding that such attempts would not succeed.

Reaffirming the party’s values, Danlami said the SDP remains committed to internal democracy, the rule of law and institutional integrity, noting that unity and constitutional order are central to its survival and growth.

The forum maintained that the recent Supreme Court ruling did not alter the party’s leadership structure in any way and warned that all attempts to destabilise the party would be resisted.

“The SDP is a party founded on law, order and internal democracy. We will continue to defend its unity and integrity against every form of sabotage,” Danlami said.

Former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has warned President Bola Tinubu against repeating what she described as a major shortcoming of the Muhammadu Buhari administration: the failure to remove underperforming officials in good time.

Her views are contained in a new book, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, written by Dr Charles Omole and presented at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

In the book, Aisha Buhari offers a candid assessment of her late husband’s leadership style, identifying emotional restraint and fear of public backlash as key factors that limited decisive action against non-performing appointees.

According to her, President Buhari often hesitated to dismiss officials who failed to deliver because of sympathy linked to age and declining capacity, as well as concern about being labelled authoritarian.

She recalls him saying that removing certain appointees would revive accusations of dictatorship, a fear she believes gradually enabled mediocrity within government.

Aisha Buhari argues that the popular notion of “the devil you know” became an excuse for retaining ineffective officials even when governance suffered.

She said her own standard was straightforward: if an official benefitted personally from office but delivered at least half of expected results, tolerance was possible; but where there was neither performance nor value, removal was necessary.

She noted that within the family, there was a shared understanding that Buhari’s reluctance to sack non-performers became a structural weakness of his administration.

This, she said, was compounded by close aides and relatives who used emotional appeals, flattery and delay tactics to shield loyalists from accountability.

The former First Lady also recounted a tense episode involving security agencies, who allegedly suggested she temporarily relocate from Abuja to allow investigations into some associates to proceed unhindered.

She said she rejected the proposal, after which Buhari became noticeably withdrawn.

Even after leaving office, she claimed Buhari privately appealed to President Tinubu not to probe certain relatives, citing personal dependence on them.

For Aisha Buhari, the episode illustrated the danger of emotional dependence at the highest level of power.

She also revisited Buhari’s widely criticised Berlin remark about her “belonging to the kitchen and the other room,” describing it as misplaced barracks humour that failed on the global stage.

She maintained that the issue was not the joke itself, but its delivery in a formal international setting alongside then German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Aisha Buhari dismissed rumours of remarriage, saying she has no intention of marrying again.

Her current focus, she said, is philanthropy, particularly the cardiac and metabolic centre in Kano, which she noted has carried out over 200 procedures as part of efforts to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on medical tourism.

She framed her reflections as lessons for President Tinubu and future leaders, urging them to set firm boundaries early, separate family interests from state affairs, confront incompetence promptly and resist governing by fear of public opinion.

To underscore her point, she recalled an incident shortly after Buhari’s victory in 2015, when part of her security convoy was reassigned to a powerful relative.

She said she demanded an immediate reversal, which was carried out within minutes.

Aisha Buhari stressed that her comments were not driven by bitterness or blame but by a desire for Nigeria’s leadership to learn from past errors.

She warned that unchecked loyalty, emotional restraint and prolonged silence could weaken governance.

Her message to President Tinubu, she said, is simple: decisiveness is not dictatorship, and delay in confronting failure carries a national price.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has trained 1,300 ward agents ahead of its planned electronic membership registration exercise, scheduled to begin in January 2026.

The party said the exercise would be concluded before the January 30, 2026 deadline set by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.

Speaking in Enugu on Saturday, the APC e-registration coordinator in the state, Flavour Eze, said the agents were trained across four centres to ensure a smooth and error-free registration process.

According to him, five agents were trained in each of the state’s 260 wards.

Eze explained that the training was designed to equip the ward agents with the technical and organisational skills required for the exercise, stressing that accuracy and proper documentation were critical to the success of the registration.

He described the agents as the backbone of the party at the grassroots level and urged them to fully apply the knowledge acquired during the training to ensure effective delivery.

The coordinator also disclosed that the party planned to extend its mobilisation efforts to communities and villages by engaging canvassers to drive wider participation and attract new members into the party.

Eze further noted that the Enugu State Government was supportive of the registration exercise and would provide the necessary logistics to ensure its success.

He encouraged residents of the state to appreciate what he described as the government’s commitment to empowerment initiatives and inclusive political participation.

The APC said the e-registration exercise was part of broader efforts to strengthen its grassroots structure and expand its membership base across Enugu State.

The Nsukka Youth General Assembly (NYGA) has been at the centre of conflicting claims over a bye-election for the position of President.

While the Electoral Committee headed by Malachy Omeje announced Bonaventure Chigozie Omego as the winner of the exercise held on Sunday in Nsukka, the Executive Council of Nsukka Youth General Assembly has disowned the exercise, declaring it null, void, and of no effect.

According to the Electoral Committee, the bye-election was conducted in line with the provisions of the NYGA constitution, following due process, transparency and fairness.

Malachy Omeje said that out of 925 registered voters, 235 were accredited and voted, with Bonaventure Chigozie Omego polling 229 votes, while his opponents, Kenneth Nnamdi Eze and Ugonna Everestus Nwodo received 2 and 3 votes, respectively.

The Committee commended all aspirants for their sportsmanship and praised NYGA members for their peaceful conduct.

However, in a public disclaimer, the NYGA leadership stated that it neither authorised nor recognised any by-election conducted in its name.

The statement said the Executive Council did not approve, supervise or validate the electoral process, noting that all previously screened aspirants had been disqualified and the 2025 NYGA Bye-Election Electoral Committee dissolved due to non-compliance with established guidelines.

The Assembly warned that anyone claiming to have emerged from the alleged election or presenting themselves as elected officers is acting illegally and without NYGA’s backing.

Members of the public were advised to disregard any outcome or announcement linked to the purported by-election.

NYGA also reaffirmed its commitment to due process, transparency and credible leadership, and stated that a credible electoral committee will be reconstituted to conduct a free and fair by-election in due course.

The disclaimer obtained by DAILY GAZETTE, was jointly signed by the National Secretary of NYGA, Comrade Eze Ernest Uchenna; the Acting President, Comrade Eze Juliet Adaeze; the Board of Trustees Secretary, Hon. Dr. Sebastine I. Odo; and the Board of Trustees Chairman, Hon. Dr. Chika E. Obetta.

Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has intensified consultations across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections, with recent visits to key northern leaders in Kaduna and Niger states.

Obi began the round of engagements in Zaria, Kaduna State, where he met with Professor Ango Abdullahi, former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University and Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum.

The meeting, according to Obi, focused on the state of the nation, national unity and the responsibility of leadership to rise above ethnic and regional divisions in addressing Nigeria’s challenges.

In a post on his verified X handle, Obi said the discussion with Abdullahi was frank and far-reaching, centring on how Nigeria could be rebuilt through inclusive leadership and practical solutions.

He noted that the exchange reinforced the need for leaders to work for the collective good rather than narrow interests.

While in Zaria, Obi also interacted briefly with a group of graduating pilots at the airport.

He said he encouraged them to remain disciplined, professional and committed to excellence, stressing that Nigeria needs skilled and ethical young professionals to drive development.

From Kaduna, Obi proceeded to Minna, Niger State, where he met with former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.

He disclosed that the visit followed up on an earlier conversation about the book Growing Apart, which examines the divergent development paths of Nigeria and Indonesia, despite similar starting points.

Obi said he presented Babangida with an autographed copy of the book, as earlier requested, and that their discussion covered issues of national unity, security and improving the living conditions of Nigerians.

He described the engagement as part of his broader effort to consult widely and learn from diverse perspectives on how to move the country forward.

According to him, the series of meetings has strengthened his belief that Nigeria’s challenges can only be addressed through honest dialogue and collective responsibility across regions and generations.

“These engagements have reinforced my conviction that meaningful progress requires sincere conversations and shared commitment to our common future,” Obi said, adding that he remains committed to contributing to the realisation of a better Nigeria.