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Former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai, has said that he sought the permission of former President Muhammadu Buhari before he left the All Progressives Congress, APC, and joined the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
He spoke in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, monitored by our correspondent in Kaduna, yesterday.
According to him, there was nothing he does without seeking the consent and advice of Buhari.
He said: “The APC has derailed, the party is no longer abiding by its founding principles. Everyone is working for himself, looking for money. The government is commercialised, everything has a price tag.
Justice has been kept at bay, those who worked for the party were ignored instead of being compensated. If there is any position or appointment, they give it to a Lagos boy, etc.
“That is why we’ve been speaking, we spoke, we said this is not the party we know. The party is dead. I said the only option is for me to meet Pastor Tunde Bakare, because he dragged me into APC. He took me to Buhari. I did not join the APC because of Buhari, it was Pastor Bakare, who dragged me to APC and courtesy demands I should let him know.
“Buhari too, I told him I was leaving the party, I sought his blessings and prayers. He said he has given me his blessings and prayers. We are the ones in politics, he (Buhari) is now father of the land and has been praying for us, so what remains?
“I’ve publicly denounced my membership of the party, they can go and hold on to the party, they can eat the party alone like food,we’ve given up.”
Asked if he decided to leave the party to avoid being expelled, El-Rufa’i said it would have been much better for him to be expelled from the APC.
“That would’ve been much easier for me, but look at it, as I kept on saying, I did not leave the party, it’s the party that dumped me. Why did it left me? First of all, I was marginalized, not involved in all party activities. Not that I was invited and refused to honour the invite, I was completely sidelined.
“Secondly, what we had planned to implement when we form government, it’s not what’s being implemented,” he alleged.
On the widespread assertion that he left the party because he was not considered for the ministerial appointment, El-Rufa’i said that was just a popular view.
“But did I even look for the ministerial position? I know those who even paid money to be appointed as ministers.
“Yes, I was at the screening because the President begged me. It was in the public glare, not the two of us for him to say he had never begged me. It was in Kaduna where he begged me to come and work with him. Even then, I did not agree until when we sat down and he told me what he wanted. That the problem of electricity had refused to allow the country to progress. He said he would like to be the President that would finally resolve the power problem and he begged me to come and help him achieve that. I told him that I would look at the challenge he gave me and would consider working with him. I thought he meant it.”
[Vanguard]
Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna, says security operatives have arrested Jafaru Sani, the education commissioner under his administration.
El-Rufai was the governor of Kaduna from 29 May 2015 to 29 May 2023.
In a post published via X on Thursday, El-Rufai alleged that the ex-commissioner was abducted by a group he described as a “police kidnapping gang” linked to Uba Sani, the governor of Kaduna.
The former governor claimed that Jafaru was “remanded in prison custody by a magistrate without any police first information report or charges by the state ministry of justice”.
“Our colleague and versatile former commissioner during the El-Rufai Administration, Mallam Jafaru Sani, has been abducted in Kaduna by Uba Sani’s kidnapping gang claiming to be the police this afternoon,” the post reads.
“Jafaru was remanded in prison custody by a magistrate without any police first information report or charges by the State Ministry of Justice.
“On inquiry, we have learned that Jafaru is being charged with money laundering—a federal offense that neither the State Judiciary nor even the Police have jurisdiction to adjudicate or investigate.
“Jafaru’s real crime is his resignation from the APC and joining the SDP—and having been proposed by me as the replacement ministerial nominee representing Kaduna State in August 2023.
“The tactics are similar to those used against another colleague of ours – Bashir Saidu when he was abducted on the 31st of December 2024 and kept in captivity for 50 days before he was released on bail!
“The ignominious role of some henpecked and compromised magistrates and high court judges in the Kaduna State judiciary remains a source of great concern to us.
“We are watching and waiting as no condition is permanent, and there will be accountability for all decisions and actions, one day, soon.”
Mansir Hassan, the police spokesperson in Kaduna, was not immediately available for comments when contacted by TheCable.
On March 10, El-Rufai announced his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Before leaving the APC, the relationship between El-Rufai and his successor, Uba Sani, had gone sour.
The former Kaduna governor supported Sani’s governorship ambition in the build-up to the 2023 elections. However, the duo fell out months after Sani assumed office.
Sani had accused the el-Rufai administration of leaving a huge debt and liabilities, which he said hindered governance in Kaduna.
Subsequently, the Kaduna house of assembly commenced a probe of the former governor over the allegation of public funds diversion and money laundering.
El-Rufai has also criticised Sani’s administration, recently accusing him of being a sycophant to President Bola Tinubu.
The ex-Kaduna governor had said Sani’s support for the president was because of the N150 billion reimbursements to Kaduna by the federal government in the past 18 months.
[TheCable]
A senior officer of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), DSP Kenneth Ndu, slumped and died on Thursday while eating beans and plantains with colleagues at the command headquarters in Abia State.
Ndu had reportedly returned from an investigative operation with his team hours before he collapsed. He was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, where doctors confirmed his death.
Speaking with THE WHISTLER, a top officer, who requested anonymity, clarified that Ndu was a team leader of the Swift Response Squad, Zone 9 Umuahia, not the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), as some reports had suggested.
The report had read, “Tragedy struck at the Abia State Police Command on Thursday as the Commander of the DSP, Kenneth Ndu, slumped and died while eating with fellow officers.”
Confirming his death while clarifying, the source said, “Ndu was said to have died of cardiac arrest; the man is not a commander but a team leader at the Abia state command headquarters.”
THE WHISTLER also learnt that DSP Ndu was set to retire from the Nigerian Police Force in March 2025.
Alice Walton, the world’s richest woman, along with her brothers Jim and Rob Walton, saw their combined net worth decline by $6.2bn in a single day, according to Forbes estimates.
Each Walton sibling lost an average of $2bn, with Jim and Rob Walton alone seeing a $2.1bn drop in their fortunes.
The losses were compounded by a sharp decline in Walmart’s stock price, which has fallen 9.53 per cent over the past five days.
Shares of Walmart Inc. have been on a downward spiral, closing at $84.68 on March 13, down from $87.70 on March 10—a decline of $8.92 per share in just five days.
The retailer’s stock opened at $85.12 with a high of $85.35 and a low of $84.81, reflecting ongoing market jitters.
The company’s market capitalisation now stands at $684.04bn, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 35.28 and a dividend yield of 1.11 per cent.
The downturn in Walmart’s stock comes as China issues a stern warning to the retail giant over its handling of U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports.
Beijing recently summoned Walmart executives for discussions, following reports that the company was pressuring Chinese suppliers to cut wholesale prices to offset higher U.S. tariffs.
China’s Ministry of Commerce has expressed concerns that Walmart’s move could disrupt supply chains and violate commercial contracts, warning that if the retailer insists on shifting tariff-related costs onto Chinese manufacturers, the consequences could extend beyond just a meeting.
The escalating trade dispute between the U.S. and China is adding further uncertainty to Walmart’s stock performance.
The Trump administration recently doubled blanket tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to 20 per cent, intensifying the economic standoff between the world’s two largest economies.
Unlike her brothers Rob and Jim Walton, who serve on Walmart’s board, Alice Walton has taken a different path, dedicating herself to art and philanthropy.
She is the only daughter of Sam Walton and has focused on curating art rather than retail operations.
In 2011, she founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, featuring works by Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, and Mark Rothko.
More recently, she has turned her attention to healthcare innovation, launching a holistic health institute in 2021, which was later renamed the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in 2022.
With Walmart shares continuing their downward trajectory, the Walton family’s wealth remains vulnerable to ongoing economic and trade tensions.
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced its 2025 disbursement guidelines, allocating billions of naira to universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, revealed that universities will receive N2,860,562,362.66 each, comprising N2,560,562,352.66 as normal allocation and N300,000,000.00 as zonal allocation.
Echono disclosed this at a Strategic Workshop with Heads of Institutions on the 2025 Disbursement Guideline on Thursday.
Polytechnics will get N1,994,335,731.71 each, consisting of N1,794,335,731.71 as normal allocation and N200,000,000.00 as zonal allocation.
Colleges of Education will receive N2,178,428,260.79 each, made up of N1,978,428,260.79 as normal allocation and N200,000,000.00 as zonal allocation.
Echonon noted that in line with the Federal Government’s directives, all physical infrastructure development allocations for 2025 shall be directed toward the upgrading, rehabilitation and renovation of dilapidated infrastructure in our beneficiary institutions.
“This was communicated to you earlier to enable you to consult widely and prepare your projects ahead of time. You were also advised to employ the services of your consultancy units and or physical planning units in the preparation.
“The 2025 Disbursement allocation is structured as follows: the total Direct Disbursement of (91.08 percent), is made up of (48.90 percent) as Annual Direct Disbursement and (42.18 percent) as Special Direct Disbursement. Designated Projects account for (8.72 percent l), while Stabilization funds are (0.20 percent ),” he said.
Echono emphasised that the 2025 disbursement guidelines prioritize infrastructure development, research and innovation, academic staff training, and student support services.
He highlighted key initiatives under the Special Direct Disbursement category, including increased funding for the Special High Impact Programme (SHIP), completion of the National Library building in Abuja, establishment of mechanized farms in some universities, and accelerated provision of student hostels through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and direct construction.
Other priority areas include expanding infrastructure to enhance student intake for medical courses, adopting medical simulation and technology to improve curriculum delivery and patient care, and providing alternative power to selected beneficiary institutions.
“Other key focus areas in the 2025 Disbursement Guidelines include expanding Infrastructure to enhance student’s intake for Doctors, Nurses, pharmacist and Dentist in our universities and colleges of medicine, adopted of medical simulation and technology to improve curriculum delivery and patient care, provision of alternative power to selected beneficiary institutions to obscure current difficulties in coping with energy costs. other priority include addressing campus security, enabling disaster recovery and completing previously distressed projects. Research and innovation support will continue with provision for the National Research Fund, institutionalization of R&D, existing an expanding partnerships, Research meets Industry (Triple Helix initiative), and commercialization of research outcomes,” he said.
The TETFund Executive Secretary also announced plans to establish 12 new Entrepreneurship for Innovation Hubs in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, promote the adoption and utilization of digital resources, and enforce the full utilization of the TERAS platform.
Echono urged Heads of Beneficiary Institutions to ensure the full utilization of their 2024 and previous allocations, while fast-tracking the procurement process to access their 2025 allocations.
Law Mandating Govt Officials To Prioritize Local Airlines For Official Trips Coming - Keyamo
AFOLABI
A new law that would mandate government officials to prioritise local airlines for official trips would soon be sent to the National Assembly for legislative scrutiny, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, has said.
The new law, to be known as the ‘Fly Nigeria Act’, would soon be sent to the National Assembly. It would help to boost the country’s aviation industry by requiring that all government-funded official trips be taken using Nigerian airlines.
This is just as Keyamo said that a previously strained relationship with the UAE has been mended, which led to the resumption of flight operations on October 1, 2024.
He added that the welfare of local airlines has been prioritised through negotiations with international partners to support their development.
Keyamo said, “We are in the process of pushing the Fly Nigeria Act to the National Assembly. There is a Fly America Act, and I believe there is also a Fly India Act. Most major countries have their own ‘Fly Act’ to promote their national airlines.
“Only when a local airline does not operate on a particular route can an international airline be used.”
According to Keyamo, the Fly Nigeria Act is not just an aviation policy but also a strategic move to strengthen Nigeria’s economy.
“This will be enacted as a law. We are unsure how nationalism will influence its reception, but it is a key policy push from us,” he added.
Speaking further, the Minister said this administration is the first to make the support of local airlines a primary objective.
“Across Africa, governments typically sponsor or support their national carriers, but in Nigeria, aviation has been entirely driven by private participation.
“It is essential to focus on private airlines that serve our domestic and regional airspace, creating policies that foster their growth and development while ensuring active government support for the sector.
“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has made remarkable improvements, particularly in revamping Hajj terminals across the country. Several terminals were reopened last year, and more are set to be rehabilitated this year.
“We have also taken decisive action against the misuse of private chartered planes for illegal activities, which has resulted in revenue losses for the federal government.”
Mr Keyamo noted that over the past decade, approximately ₦120bn has been lost due to unauthorised charter operations.
To address this, a task force was established dedicated to curbing illegal airline operations.
Additionally, African and Aerospace University, which is now fully operational and open to international students, was engaged.
The minister encouraged prospective applicants to take advantage of this opportunity.
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He added that Abuja and Lagos airports have been recognised for their excellence in safety and emergency management, winning prestigious awards and securing re-certification.
“We also visited Boeing at their invitation after they identified Nigeria as the next major hub for the airline business.
“This visit resulted in the signing of an MOU that has already begun yielding benefits. Last year, Boeing trained pilots for private airlines in Nigeria at no cost, marking the success of this partnership.
“The ministry aims to set up a policy called the Fly Nigeria Act, which will be presented to the National Assembly to promote local airlines,” Keyamo said.
The minister said, Nigeria’s inability to fully comply with the Cape Town Convention has affected its capacity to lease or acquire aircraft, as the country was not represented on the relevant committee.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has assured students that beneficiaries of the student loan scheme will not be restricted from travelling abroad after graduation.
Managing Director and Chief Executive of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, made this clarification during a sensitization programme at Edo University, Iyamho, while addressing students’ concerns about potential travel limitations.
Sawyerr emphasized that the law establishing NELFUND does not impose any travel restrictions on beneficiaries.
“The law that set up the Nigerian Education Loan Fund does not limit your ability to go and look for work wherever you want. You are not tied. It doesn’t say you cannot leave Nigeria because you have a loan with us. You can go wherever you want to go in the world. It is not possible for you to say that I can’t travel around the world,” Sawyerr stated.
However, he advised that students should take responsibility for repaying their loans, even if they secure jobs outside Nigeria.
“I think the right and proper thing to do, if you have a loan in Nigeria and you want to get a job somewhere else, is to pay the loan yourself back to your country,” he added.
Interest-free repayment structure
Sawyerr encouraged students to embrace the scheme, highlighting its unique benefits compared to other loan types.
“I want you to embrace it and I want you to act upon it because, if you miss this opportunity, it’s one that will affect generations… You know why? Because NELFUND is different from all other types of loans. It is the only loan you can take to acquire something that can never be taken away from you,” he explained.
- According to him, the repayment structure is interest-free, even if repayments extend over a decade.
- Sawyerr also provided updates on the disbursement process, revealing that NELFUND is prepared to distribute N135 billion once all applications are processed.
“We have received about 520,000 registrations and about 419,000 applications. We have processed and paid 261,000 students. Both upkeep and institutional fees. Our total exposure today, if we were to pay everybody that has applied, is somewhere in the region of N135 billion. But we have not processed all those people. We have got the money and we are ready in case all of them get processed. We can disburse N135 billion,” he disclosed.
University officials commend initiative
Acting Vice Chancellor of Edo University, Professor Dawood Egbefo, applauded the initiative, noting that 51 students from the institution had already benefited from N61.4 million in funding during the 2023/2024 academic session.
During an earlier sensitization visit to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, NELFUND expressed concern over low application numbers, revealing that only 102 students had applied, amounting to less than N20 million in disbursements.
Lami Suwaid, Director of Loan Allocation and Distribution at NELFUND, encouraged the university to take advantage of the new registration cycle to boost participation.
[Nairametrics]
Naija News understands that with the approval secured, the bills are now set for a third reading on the next legislative day before final passage.
According to Daily Trust, most of the contentious provisions that had previously sparked debate were resolved by the committee overseeing the reports, ensuring a smooth adoption process.
One of the key clauses considered and adopted was the Value Added Tax (VAT) distribution formula, which now follows a structure of 50% based on equality, 20% on population, and 30% on consumption—an approach initially suggested by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).
The House also dismissed the proposal for a gradual increase in VAT rates, opting instead to maintain the existing 7.5% rate.
Additionally, lawmakers voted to remove the term “ecclesiastical” from one of the clauses, replacing it with “religious” to avoid controversy.
Another critical decision was the approval of continuous funding for agencies such as TETFUND, NASENI, and NITDA through development levies.
The contentious clause on inheritance tax was also adjusted, clarifying that inheritance acquired before dissolution cannot be taxed.
The tax reform bills adopted by the House include:
1. A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Assessment, Collection, and Accounting of Revenue Accruing to the Federation, Federal, State, and Local Governments; Prescribing the Powers and Functions of Tax Authorities, and for Related Matters (HB.1756).
2. A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, No.13, 2007, and Enact the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill to Establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, Charged with Powers of Assessment, Collection, and Accounting for Revenue Accruable to the Government of the Federation, and for Related Matters (HB.1757).
3. A Bill for an Act to Establish the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and the Office of the Tax Ombud for the Harmonisation, Coordination, and Settlement of Disputes Arising from Revenue Administration in Nigeria, and for Related Matters (HB.1758).
4. A Bill for an Act to Repeal Certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks Relating to Taxation, Enacting the Nigeria Tax Act to Provide for Taxation of Income, Transactions, and Instruments, and for Related Matters (HB.1759).
[NaijaNews]
The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has said he was ready to work with the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to achieve a working country.
Governor Bala stated this on Thursday when he hosted Obi at the State’s Presidential Lodge.
He explained that he discussed challenges facing the nation. He commended Obi’s dedicated efforts in leading the opposition voices.
He stressed that the opposition parties and politicians need to come together to give the country good governance.
“We discussed state by state challenges and I feel highly appreciative of what he is doing as the leader of the opposition because whether we like it or not, he is the leader of the opposition now in Nigeria. I want to say at this level not to make some of those doubting Thomases and mischievous minds to pre-empt what we are doing, that I’m ready to work with Peter Obi. We will make sure we come together, close ranks, bring good governance to the country, give vibrant opposition with knowledge, timelines, visions in such a manner that we will rescue and recover our country. Our coming together is a message and the message is going to resonate because all our colleagues, the PDP governors are behind this kind of journey because it is a transcendental one. We are coming together to work together irrespective of party, region, religion or any other thing,” he said.
In his remarks, the former Labour Party presidential candidate said his visit to the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum was to discuss issues happening in the North.
He emphasized that leaders have it as a duty to address the poverty and hardship in the country.
“It’s just a consultation and discussion meeting that will continue to go on as we talk about the future of this country. We have to discuss issues happening in the North. I have told the governor today that the North is a critical component if we are going to get it right in this country. There is poverty in Nigeria. We have to deal with the issue of poverty and until you solve poverty, then you can talk about criminality,” Obi said.
Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, has insisted that the zonal congress conducted by some members of the party in the South South cannot stand.
Members loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, led by Chief Dan Orbih, had conducted the congress in Cross River State, with Wike saying that would be the only Congress of the zone.
But speaking at the inauguration of the South South Zonal Caretaker Committee at the party headquarters at Wadata Plaza, on Thursday, Damagum said the tenure of the outgone committee hadexpired and a Caretaker Committee was necessary before congress could be conducted.
He also asked Nigerians not to take the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) seriously, claiming that the PDP remains the party to beat.
Damagum said, “This is a very important occasion and I think I want to use this opportunity to tell us that there was no election as far as this party is concerned, in the South-South. I have to make this clear, because the tenure of the Zonal Committee has expired and we still have a few weeks or a month or so to do the Zonal Congresses. So we find it necessary to come up with this caretaker committee.
“I believe from your choices, some of you I have known and related with, I have no doubt that you will be diligent in your responsibility and usher in the new, soon-to-be-elected Executive Committee of the Zone.
“So, I enjoin you to be devoid of any partisanship or taking sides, to be diligent in the execution of your duties and come up with an all-inclusive Executive Committee in the Zone.”
Damagum said the PDP is still the party to beat.
“A party that has been tested for 27 years, one of the oldest parties. All these shenanigans you see around, the APC, the others, have not been more than 10 years old and if you’ve grown up to be up to 27 years and still standing, still counting, then there is no guarantee more than that.
“The PDP is the guarantee for Nigerians to change the course of what is happening today in our country. I also want to use this opportunity to caution our leaders, don’t fear them.
“Nobody is going to change your destiny for you other than yourself. I’ve noticed maybe because of fears, you find sometimes leaders encouraging this present administration at the center. I find it really very disgusting. Let’s tell ourselves the truth.
“So please let’s be up and doing. Don’t fear anyone. Nigerians belong to all of us. So there’s nobody who is a better Nigerian than you are. It’s all an opportunity, but if you put your act together, the path is very bright, we will reach the destination.”
[DailyTrust]
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The Rivers State House of Assembly has set plans in motion to investigate the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, over alleged falsification of age.
The development comes amid the ongoing political crisis in the state.
DAILY POST reports that the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Similayi Fubara have been engaged in a political rivalry over control of the oil-rich state.
However, a new twist was added to the crisis on Thursday as the alleged age falsification by the Chief Judge became the subject of plenary at the Assembly.
This followed the presentation of some documents to the Speaker by the Leader of the House, Hon. Major Jack.
Afterward, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Dumle Maol, raised an allegation against the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, saying:
“These documents before me simply say that the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, falsified his age in service. Mr. Speaker, that is a very serious allegation, and I do hope that this House takes legislative notice.”
The House debated the issue and resolved to write a letter to the Director of the DSS to conduct an investigation and report its findings to the House.
“The documents are only suggesting a case of age falsification by the Honourable Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi. What it means is that there has to be an investigation to that effect,” the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, said.
It was later put to a vote, and the House eventually agreed to write to the DSS to investigate the age falsification allegation against the Chief Judge.
[DailyPost]
Actor Chinedu Ikedieze, popularly known as “Aki,” has opened up about the struggles with stunted growth and how it affected his mental health.
He revealed that at the age of nine, doctors diagnosed him with “stunted growth or growth retardant,” which led to intense mockery from peers.
Ikedieze, in an interview with Chude Jideonwo, shared that his mother’s words of encouragement helped him focus on education as a means to overcome his challenges.
However, the constant taunting and name-calling took a toll on his mental health, and he even had suicidal thoughts.
Despite facing adversity, he chose to focus on his education and eventually built a successful career in Nollywood.
He said: “I remember my mom taking me to the hospital when I was around nine years old. I think I was sick. The doctor told her, ‘Madam, stop worrying yourself. He has no problem. Just make sure he reads his books, goes to school, and is there for him.
“That hit me hard. I was born and brought up in the village, so hearing that kind of English from a doctor — it stuck with me. I remember the doctor saying, ‘Madam, what he has is stunted growth.’ Then he wrote something on a report, and I saw another word: growth retardation.
”I didn’t even know how to pronounce it. That was when I started hearing those words over and over again. My mom always told me, ‘You are small; you cannot start carrying cement or doing furniture work. The best thing for you is to go and study.’
“So I knew that the only weapon I had to conquer the world was education. But it was painful. People taunted me. I cried several times. They called me names. It got so bad that, at times, I thought of ending it all.”
[TheNation]
The presidential aspirant of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, on Thursday, arrived in Bauchi State for a meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed.
The purpose of the visit remains unclear as both politicians are currently holding a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Bauchi.
Mohammed, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, is expected to brief journalists alongside Obi after the meeting.
The 2023 presidential election saw former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, clinch victory after securing the highest number of votes across the country.
Tinubu won in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states and amassed a total of 8,794,726 votes, nearly two million more than his closest challenger, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 6,984,520 votes.
Labour Party’s Peter Obi, whose candidacy attracted an unprecedented wave of support, particularly among young voters, finished third with 6,101,533 votes.
Despite being a first-time presidential contender, Obi won in 11 states, including Lagos—Tinubu’s stronghold—and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Atiku, like Tinubu, secured victory in 12 states.
Following the election, opposition parties have intensified discussions about forming a coalition to challenge the APC in 2027.
Atiku has been seen in political meetings with Obi, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other key figures across the country as strategizing for the next presidential contest gains momentum.
[Punch]
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai has disclosed that he left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with the full knowledge and consent of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Vanguard had reported that El-Rufai announced his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa service on Wednesday, he revealed that he consulted Buhari before making the move, emphasising that he regularly sought the former president’s counsel on political matters.
He said, “There are certain people that before I do any major thing or make any decision, I consult, and anything they ask me not to do, I don’t do, and former President Muhammadu Buhari is among them.
“I consulted Buhari before leaving the APC. It was on a Friday when I went and met him. I hardly make any major decision without consulting him. I told him to pray for me and give me his blessings, which he did.”
El-Rufai recalled instances from his tenure as governor when he sought Buhari’s approval on key appointments, including submitting his commissioner nominees for review.
“Even when I was governor of Kaduna, before I appointed my commissioners, I took the list to Buhari for cross-checking to see if, from among them, someone ever insulted him.
“He laughed, thanked me and told me you can go ahead and appoint commissioners.”
[Vanguard]