All Progressives Congress (APC) bigwigs in the North and South are reportedly not happy with President Bola Tinubu, and there are strong indications that some former ministers of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, former Governors and Senators will move en masse to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Naija News reports that the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday, defected to the SDP, citing a growing misalignment between his values and the current direction of the APC as the primary reason for his decision.

 

El-Rufai, a vocal critic of Tinubu’s administration, disclosed on Wednesday that he sought Buhari’s approval before leaving the APC, and it has opened a floodgate of defections as some other members of the APC in the North, especially those of Congress for Progress Change (CPC) extraction, have also been dumping the party.

 

Following El-Rufai’s defection, a chieftain of the APC and former member of the House of Representatives from Katsina, Ahmad Kaita, also joined the SDP.

Similarly, former Kaduna State commissioners for Agriculture, Ibrahim Hussaini; Justice, Aisha Dikko; Health, Amina Baloni, and Education, Halima Lawal, as well as former Head of Service, Hajiya Bari’atu Mohammed, also dumped the APC for the SDP.

Also, the Campaign Secretary of the APC in Gombe State during the 2015 general elections, Adamu Modibbo, has left the party and is currently the chairman of the state SDP.

A senator in the ninth Assembly, who spoke to PUNCH on the condition of anonymity, said at least 10 former members of the Buhari cabinet were moving to the SDP.

According to the source, leading Buhari’s loyalists in the defections are the former National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu; ex-Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; and former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.

The source said, “What they’re waiting for is the finalisation of the party structure in their respective states.” 

Similarly, one of Malami’s closest aides has confirmed his involvement in the coalition move.

The aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “It is not about ousting Tinubu in 2027 but about our conviction that we have better and more credible constitutional alternatives to offer Nigerians in governance, particularly with regard to institutionalising a human-centred approach to governance.

“We collectively abhor the prevailing order in which governance is commercialised to the detriment of Nigerians and their welfare. It seems to be a marriage of tendencies that cut across the existing political parties with high-profile politicians from PDP, defunct CPC, ACN and APC, among others.

 

“In personality sense, those involved across the geographical zones include serving and former governors and senators, former ministers, and past and present party officials.”

Other Politicians Leaving

A highly credible source has mentioned former governors of Rivers, Imo, Cross Rivers, Sokoto and Osun states, Rotimi Amaechi, Emeka Ihedioha, Liyel Imoke, Aminu Tambuwal and Rauf Aregbesola, respectively, as part of the stakeholders in the coalition movement.

A former Senate President, David Mark; ex-national chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; a former Buhari’s Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, and the senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, among others, were also involved in the coalition.

In an interview with the aforementioned, a chieftain of the APC in Imo State confirmed that the CPC extraction in the party had concluded plans to leave for a coalition.

He said no fewer than 10 ministers and many senators in the ninth National Assembly were leaving the APC.

He said, “That some ministers who served under Buhari are leaving or will leave the APC is confirmed. However, they may not join the SDP, but I know they are part of the coalition movement.

“President Tinubu has mismanaged the success of our party, and it is painful that things are going awry every day. APC bigwigs, both in the North and South, are not happy, and the President doesn’t care. You don’t grow by reducing in size. The APC is reducing in size.

 

“The CPC bloc of the party has also been leaving. You will agree with me that the CPC is a strong bloc in the APC, and if it is gone, I doubt if the APC will remain the same.”

Nollywood actress Dayo Amusa has finally silenced the swirling rumors about her alleged romance with Fuji music icon King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, better known as K1 De Ultimate (KWAM 1).

Speaking on Oyinmomo TV, she dismissed the rumors, made it clear that what they share is far from romance.

She described their connection as one built on deep respect and unwavering support, a bond that has nothing to do with the assumptions people make when they see a man and a woman close.

Amusa spoke of K1 not just as a friend, but as a father figure, a guiding force, and an unwavering pillar in her life..

The movie star revealed how he became her silent anchor in ways she never saw coming, wiped her tears, and pushed her forward when everything seemed to be working against her especially in her movie career, where his influence and support gave her the strength to rise beyond limitations.

For Amusa, a man like that is a presence to be cherished, no matter how many times the world tries to twist the narrative.

 
 

This follows her fiery social media outburst in November 2024, where she fiercely shut down relentless speculations and invasive questions about her newborn’s father.

What began as a wave of congratulatory messages quickly spiraled into a frenzy of gossip, fueled by none other than the notorious blogger Auto Bola. The actress soon found herself at the center of a paternity storm, her joy overshadowed by whispers and relentless online probing.

Auto Bola, with her never-ending videos, refused to back down, hammering Dayo with demands to unveil her child’s father.

In her relentless pursuit of a scandal, she dragged King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, assumed he is Amusa’s baby daddy.

 

WATCH HER SPEAK IN CLIP BELOW

Media

The United Nations (UN) has promised to take into account a petition filed by supporters of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, demanding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduagha, to provide evidence of sexual harassment.

The Representative of the UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, Adwoa Kufuor, gave the assurance when supporters of the former Akwa Ibom State governor visited the UN building on Friday, in Abuja.

 

Kufuor said: “Thank you for bringing to us this petition. We will take note of it.”

Earlier, Coordinator of Women For Change Vanguard, Irene Imoh who spoke on behalf of the protesters, said the motive of the protest was for Akpoti-Uduagha to present evidence of sexual harassment, adding that it was not enough for her to allege.

 

According to Imoh, if the embattled lawmaker could present concrete evidence, it would help more women to speak up and be taken seriously, whenever they raise the alarm of molestation or sexual harassment.

Imoh said: “We gather here today at the esteemed UN House to express our support for His Excellency, the President of the 10th Senate, Senator Godswill Obong Akpabio.

“Over the past few weeks, he has faced significant reputational damage due to unsubstantiated allegations of sexual harassment made by his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“As we stand at a critical juncture in our fight against sexual, the issue of accountability in discussions surrounding sexual misconduct, the allegations made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senator Akpabio raise serious concerns that necessitate thorough scrutiny.

“It is important to remember that in any allegation of misconduct, the burden of proof lies with the accuser. If Senator Natasha claims to have been a victim of sexual harassment, we urge her to come forth with credible evidence to support her accusations. The gravity of such claims demands accountability.

“We are particularly troubled by the growing trend of misusing the #BelieveAllWomen mantra, which can inadvertently shield unfounded accusations against men.

This is not the first time Senator Natasha has made serious allegations against a prominent figure. Such actions risk becoming a weapon she wields against men in power, undermining the core principles of our fight against sexual violence.

“As mothers and members of the Women for Change Vanguard, we are acutely aware of the implications of false accusations. Such claims not only harm the accused but also diminish the experiences of genuine survivors.

 

“We call on Senator Natasha to provide concrete evidence of her claims against Senator Godswill Akpabio. Should credible evidence be presented, we will stand our commitment to ensuring that justice is served. 

“Our peaceful protest today is not merely about demanding justice; it is also about holding both parties accountable. Senator Akpabio must have the opportunity to clear his name, while Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan must evidence that she was sexually abused.”

 
 

Nigerian singer Ahmed Ololade, better known as Asake has broken his silence concerning a trending video of a man who claims to be his father.

The man, Fatai Odunsi in a video cried out for financial assistance after suffering from stroke.

He also accused Asake of neglect, noting that the last time he saw him was when the sickness started in March 2022.

While calling on Nigerians to render him financial help for his medical treatment, he said:

“Good day everyone, I’m the one that gave birth to Ahmed Asake the singer.

“The last time I set my eyes on him was March 2022 when my sickness started. If I called Asake, he won’t pick. Please help me, it is your help that I need”.

Taking to social media to address the situation of things, Asake in a video sang his response. The singer who reportedly exited Olamide’s YBNL record label accused his father of trying to manipulate him, despite spending a lot of money. Singing in Yoruba language, Asake said:

“You can’t please everyone, you can’t please the world, anything you are doing just do it for God. My own father wants to cajole me even though I am a big spender who shares a lot of money. If you distract me, I’ll move on. I have struggled for so many years but they want to make life hard & tiring for me.”

Watch Asake speak in the video below:

The former Deputy Commissioner of Police and head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abba Kyari, has described reports alleging he operated 10 bank accounts with ₦200 million as false and sponsored.

Naija News reports that the rebuttal follows the allegations that emerged during the resumed hearing of an asset declaration case on March 13, 2025.

 

However, Abba Kyari, in a statement through the Media Assistant to the Family, Daniel Okpotu, clarified that he has accounts in only four banks: UBA, GTB, Sterling, and Access, with a combined balance of less than ₦4 million.

The statement stated that Kyari’s dollar and euro accounts had been inactive for 12 years, with no transactions recorded.

 

The family accused certain parties of circulating similar false narratives three years ago, stressing that any banker in Nigeria can verify Kyari’s financial records.

The statement urged Nigerians to disregard misleading media reports, asserting Kyari has never held up to ₦5 million in any account in the past decade.

The statement reads, “Reports circulating that Abba Kyari operated 10 accounts with N200 million are false and sponsored to twist the narrative of the asset declaration case hearing on 13/03/2025. The truth, verifiable by any banker, is that Kyari has accounts in only four banks—UBA, GTB, Sterling, and Access—with less than four million naira combined. He also has one dollar and one Euro account, both inactive for 12 years, with no transactions recorded.

“It must be categorically stated that the total money in all 10 accounts is less than four million naira. Over 23 years, cumulative deposits and withdrawals, including salaries and legitimate expenses, amount to 200 million naira. During cross-examination, a prosecution witness testified that no funds in Kyari’s accounts were linked to crime.

“These are the same falsehoods circulated three years ago during the sponsored media trial. We were all in court on Wednesday; it was an open court. It is strange to read absolute falsehoods peddled without any truth. Abba Kyari has never had five million naira in any account for the past 10 years. Nigerians should not be misled by these false and misleading stories.”

 
 

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has claimed the All Progressives Congress (APC) government has concluded plans to file multiple criminal charges against former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
Naija News reports that this comes a few days after El-Rufai defected from the ruling APC to the SDP.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ambassador Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP said there is a plot from the APC government to suppress opposition figures to instill fear in political circles and prevent further defections.

The party also alleged a plot by the ruling party to prosecute El-Rufai and has instructed its agencies to stop the former Governor from leaving Nigeria.

SDP further claimed that the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, is following the strategy of the Federal Government, citing the arrest of a former Commissioner in the state, Jaafaru Sani.

Part of the statement reads: “The SDP has received reliable information that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is concerned about the momentum of our party.

“In response, the APC has leveraged its governmental control to fabricate criminal charges against our members.

“Our sources revealed that the persecution will commence with one of our prominent leaders, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

“The government is planning to file multiple charges against him in Abuja and Kaduna imminently.

“In preparation for this, we have also learned that the federal government has instructed its agencies to prevent Mallam Nasir El-Rufai from leaving the country.”

 

 
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Representative Byron Donalds will introduce legislation on Friday to codify an executive order that President Donald Trump signed earlier this month that establishes a strategic Bitcoin reserve and US digital asset stockpile.

 

Passing the bill would ensure that the reserve and stockpile could not be eliminated by executive action from a future president, protecting the crypto-friendly policy that Trump embraced both on the 2024 campaign trail and in his second administration.

While the bill would require 60 votes in the Senate and a majority in the House, cryptocurrency-friendly policies have gained bipartisan support in this Congress.

“For years, the Democrats waged war on crypto,” Donalds, a Florida Republican, said in a statement on Thursday evening. “Now is the time for Congressional Republicans to decisively end this war.”

Trump’s executive order called for the creation of a Bitcoin reserve within the Treasury Department for the roughly 200,000 Bitcoin the US government owns, which the administration believes will increase government holdings as the value of the assets grows.

The executive order also authorizes the Treasury and Commerce Departments to develop “budget-neutral strategies” for buying more Bitcoin for the reserve with no incremental costs to taxpayers and prohibits the sale of any Bitcoin in the reserve. It also established a stockpile for other digital assets currently owned by the Treasury Department and for any future assets acquired through criminal or civil asset forfeiture proceedings.

The effort to codify the executive order is the latest sign of interest among Washington lawmakers in the industry.

Donalds, in particular, has embraced cryptocurrency as he runs for governor of Florida in next year’s election, vowing to make his state the financial capital of the world with the help of digital assets.

The crypto industry has had a series of victories across Washington in recent weeks. Major industry executives convened with Trump and top US officials at the White House last week after he signed the executive order creating the stockpile and reserve. And a bill that outlines rules for issuing stablecoin payments and requirements to back stablecoin payments with US currency, Federal Reserve notes, Treasury bills and other assets is also moving through Congress.

[Bloomberg]

Ark Invest, led by Cathie Wood, has increased its Bitcoin holdings, purchasing 997 BTC worth $80 million through Coinbase on March 13.

According to Arkham Intelligence, the transaction was split into two — one for 498 BTC and another for 499 BTC. This move comes as institutional investors adjust their positions amid market fluctuations.

While Ark is adding Bitcoin, it has also sold around $9 million worth of Bitcoin ETFs, following a trend where over $1.1 billion has exited spot Bitcoin ETFs recently.

Bitcoin is currently struggling to break past $83,700, with fears of a potential drop to $75,000. However, Cathie Wood remains confident, having previously predicted that Bitcoin could hit $1 million by 2030.

Bitcoin’s 200-day moving average sits at $82K

In its monthly report, Ark Invest revealed that short-term Bitcoin bears are paying an average of $92,020 per BTC, while the 200-day moving average — a key support level — currently sits at $82,000.

The report also highlights that Bitcoin’s Fear & Greed Index has hit a two-year low, reflecting “extreme panic” not seen since 2017.

A potential bullish sign is that Bitcoin’s Spent Output Profit Ratio (SOPR) has reset to 1, meaning sellers are breaking even rather than taking losses. Historically, this metric has marked the turning point before price recoveries.

Ark’s ‘Bitcoin Reacts to Trump’ report attributes the market downturn to slowing Bitcoin circulation and declining consumer sentiment, particularly in the U.S. amid political uncertainty.

"Consumers and businesses seem to be more cautious amid uncertainty associated with the U.S. political transition," the report states.

 [TheStreet]

Ripple has become the first blockchain payments firm to secure a licence from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).

This is the firm’s first licence in the Middle East, and enables the firm to provide regulated cryptocurrency payments and services within the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC).

The approval allows Ripple to make its payment products accessible to businesses in the UAE.

In 2020, the company established its Middle East headquarters in DIFC in 2020 and now has over 20% of its global customer base operating in the region.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said: “We are entering an unprecedented period of growth for the crypto industry, driven by greater regulatory clarity around the world and increasing institutional adoption. Thanks to its early leadership in creating a supportive environment for tech and crypto innovation, the UAE is exceptionally well-placed to benefit.”

DIFC Authority CEO Arif Amiri stated: “We are thrilled that Ripple is deepening their commitment to Dubai by securing a DFSA licence that makes them the first blockchain-enabled payments provider in DIFC. This milestone not only highlights our commitment to fostering innovation, but also opens the door for Ripple to tap into new growth opportunities across the region and beyond.

Ripple's own RLUSD stablecoin, launched in December 2024 on global exchanges, has exceeded a market cap of $130m, the company stated.

The DFSA licence is the newest addition to Ripple's portfolio of over 60 regulatory approvals globally.

Last month, Ripple partnered with Portuguese currency exchange provider Unicâmbio to enable instant cross-border payments between Portugal and Brazil

"Ripple gains licence for crypto payments in UAE " was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.

[GlobalData]

 

The Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) chart has been a roller coaster ride recently.

The original and largest cryptocurrency rose to an all-time high of $106,182 per coin in January, then fell back as much as 25.8% over the next seven weeks. That's a sharp retreat from a long upswing -- Bitcoin has more than quadrupled in price over the last two years. To put the gains in context, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) market index showed a total return of 49% over the same period:

Bitcoin Price Chart
Bitcoin Price data by YCharts

So Bitcoin snapped a long winning streak, dipping below $80,000 per coin for the first time since last November. Can the cryptocurrency get back to robust gains or Is the bull run all done?

The bearish case

First and foremost, some investors see very little value in Bitcoin in the first place. Warren Buffett wouldn't buy all the Bitcoin in the world for $25, because "it isn't going to do anything." It isn't a business operation, or a valuable lot of real estate, or a patch of food-producing farmland. The value of this digital asset isn't based on anything real, so the only way to make money with it is to find a buyer willing to pay a higher price.

From that perspective, Bitcoin is long overdue for a price correction. The current market value of $1.62 trillion is a lot more than $25, after all.

And even if you see significant value in Bitcoin assets, you could still argue that it's overpriced. 2024 was packed with potentially game-changing price catalysts for Bitcoin. With the introduction of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on spot Bitcoin prices, the fourth halving of Bitcoin mining rewards, and the introduction of a more crypto-friendly U.S. government all in the rearview mirror, maybe there's no room for further gains in 2025.

Furthermore, many crypto investors are nervous about recent advances in quantum computing. The next-generation computing technology will probably make current encryption algorithms breakable and worthless in the long run -- including the popular SHA-256 hashing system at the heart of Bitcoin's encryption security. Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) have taken massive leaps forward in recent months, arguably accelerating the quantum computing progress by several years. The thinking is that criminals and fraudsters must be on the threshold of hacking Bitcoin's digital transaction ledger to pieces.

Where the Bitcoin bulls hang their hats

The Bitcoin whitepaper compares the cryptocurrency to physical gold. Instead of buying picks, shovels, mines, and ore refining equipment, Bitcoin miners invest in data centers and electric power. Either way, the two types of miner generate a scarce and therefore valuable resource. They are also useful in the real world: Gold is found in jewelry, medical devices, and electronics while Bitcoin offers a robust and flexible transaction ledger. Warren Buffett was never much of a gold investor, so his aversion to Bitcoin makes sense in this light.

The ETF catalyst delivered some of its value before the actual event. Bitcoin prices rose 72% from early October, 2023 to January 12, 2024. In this time span, the rumor mill chatter about spot Bitcoin ETFs turned into solid expectations, culminating in their approval and introduction. But that's not the end of their value creation. The most popular name on the list, the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ: IBIT) holds $47.4 billion of Bitcoin in a Coinbase Global (NASDAQ: COIN) custody service. This robust inflow of funds should be the start of a long-term trend. Deep-pocketed institutional investors aren't ready to open cryptocurrency brokerage accounts yet, but ETFs are easy to use in a standard stock portfolio. So the Bitcoin ETFs open the door to a larger (and richer) population of potential long-term investors.

As for the Trump administration's cryptocurrency policies, only time will tell how they are changing the Bitcoin market. The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve isn't shaping up to the Bitcoin-buying bonanza some crypto holders had expected, but more of a quiet alternative to gold reserves. A more laissez-faire approach to cryptocurrency regulation may indeed accelerate the widespread adoption of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but the final regulations are probably still many years away.

The quantum computing threat may sound terrifying. In reality, Bitcoin is very much under active development and should be immune to these attacks long before quantum computers are powerful enough to pose a real threat. There are math problems too difficult to solve with a mature quantum computer, and encryption systems are already adopting these stronger algorithms by the boatload. Meanwhile, even the most optimistic forecasts expect quantum computers to stay in the toys-and-experiment stage for at least five more years.

The long-term view

Finally, the shape of this halving cycle looks quite familiar.

Charts never tell the whole story, of course. Previous results are no guarantee of future gains. Still, the halvings make a significant difference to the economics of Bitcoin mining, effectively slashing the financial rewards in half while production expenses stay the same. In the long run, this production model only works if Bitcoin prices rise over time. Along the way, each halving shakes out underfunded or inefficient miners while the top producers continue to make a good living.

On that note, the current halving cycle is fairly close to former examples. The second and third halvings unleashed price jumps measured in thousands of percent -- about a year and a half after each halving of the mining rewards. If the ongoing halving's calendar stays on track, I'd expect peak prices in the fall of 2025, followed by another crypto winter. Things could be different this time, but that's what Bitcoin's pricing history looks like.

No, the Bitcoin bull run isn't over

So the Bitcoin bears have their arguments, but the bulls bring a stronger case to the table. With or without the halving effects, Bitcoin is becoming the digital gold standard for value storage. Even if I never use Bitcoin to pay for a candy bar, a car, or a house, this cryptocurrency and its digital ledger look poised to replace savings accounts over time. That's a multi-trillion-dollar market, ripe for modernization on a global scale.

That's why expect Bitcoin to keep building market value, perhaps accentuated by a temporary price spike later this year. In my eyes, Bitcoin is a great asset to own in the long term. The recent price drop is just another short-lived squiggle on the charts.

[The Motley Fool][