Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, including the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin, former governorship candidate Salihu Sagir Takai, and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Honourable Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, have reportedly thrown their weight behind Kabiru Alhassan Rurum as one of the leading contenders for the position of deputy governor of Kano State.

The endorsement followed a stakeholders’ meeting held on Sunday night, where three nominees were selected to fill the vacant deputy governorship seat following the resignation of Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo.

The meeting was convened in line with a directive reportedly issued by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, asking party stakeholders to forward three names for consideration.

The stakeholders, however, clarified that contrary to reports in circulation, some of the information about the meeting had been “fabricated,” insisting that the directive was strictly adhered to.

They said the governor directed that “three names be proposed and submitted to him, from which one may be considered as the next Deputy Governor.”

The three nominees are Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly and member of the House of Representatives; Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, former Secretary to the State Government and Managing Director of the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority; and Murtala Sule Garo, former local government chairman and commissioner.

Rurum’s nomination was moved by the immediate past APC state secretary, Ibrahim Zakari Sarina, and seconded by Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Mariya Mahmud Bunkure.

For Bichi, the motion was moved by the former APC chairman in the state, Abdullahi Abbas, and seconded by the deputy state chairman, Salisu Maje Ahmad Gwangwazo.

Garo was nominated by Alhassan Ado Doguwa and seconded by Labaran Abdul Madari.

During the meeting, Takai and former Secretary to the State Government, Usman Alhaji, argued that Kano South should be given consideration for the position, saying the zone has been excluded from both the governorship and deputy governorship slots since 1992.

They noted that Kano South, with 16 local government areas and over seven million population, “deserves consideration.”

The stakeholders also witnessed strong political alignments, with Rurum reportedly enjoying the backing of top figures including Barau Jibrin, Mariya Mahmud Bunkure, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Ibrahim Zakari Sarina, Sha’aban Sharada, Bashir Garba Lado, Yahuza Ado Yan Kaba, and other prominent stakeholders.

Similarly, Murtala Garo was said to have the support of Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Abubakar Bichi, Sani Bala, Hamisu Chidari, Abdullahi M. Gwarzo, Abdullahi Rogo, Yusuf Badau, Abdulsalam Zaura, and others.

The stakeholders said the list of nominees has been forwarded and now awaits the final decision of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Sir Victor Walsh Oluwafemi
Public Analyst and Development Consultant has called for due process and responsible public discourse over calls for the resignation of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC’s chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN.

In a statement he personally signed, Oluwafemi noted that:

“I am compelled, as a concerned citizen and a professional engaged in governance advisory and institutional systems, to address the growing calls for the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN.

“While accountability remains central to any functioning democracy, the manner, tone, and timing of these demands raise serious questions about intent and consequence.

“It is important to critically examine whether such calls are grounded in verifiable institutional breaches or whether they reflect political positioning and reactionary pressure.

Oluwafemi further stressed that: “The positions recently advanced by the African Democratic Congress and the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, if not exercised with caution, risk projecting a troubling precedent that leadership within critical national institutions can be influenced through public agitation rather than constitutional procedure.

“When institutions begin to respond to pressure instead of process, democracy itself becomes negotiable.”

“Nigeria’s constitutional framework is unambiguous. The removal of the INEC Chairman is not a matter for public sentiment or media campaigns, but one strictly governed by law. It is therefore both prudent and necessary to advise that all grievances, allegations, or concerns be subjected to judicial scrutiny.

At this stage, restraint is not only advisable but also essential.

“In every serious democracy, accusation must travel through the courts, not through microphones.”

“Equally concerning is the growing trend of unguarded and, in some instances, uncultured utterances across television, radio, and digital platforms.

“Public commentary on matters of national importance must be measured, responsible, and evidence-based. The consequences of careless rhetoric are neither theoretical nor distant.

“Recent electoral observations in Nigeria recorded over 200 incidents of election-related violence, with multiple fatalities.

“A significant driver of such tensions has consistently been inflammatory rhetoric and the premature delegitimisation of institutions.

“Words, when recklessly deployed in a fragile political climate, can become triggers rather than expressions.”

“It is therefore imperative to caution all stakeholders. Opposition actors must ensure that their engagements strengthen democratic confidence rather than weaken institutional trust.

“Socio-religious organisations must be mindful of the weight of their voice, particularly in matters that intersect with national governance.

“Those who appear on radio and television must understand that public platforms are not merely spaces for expression, but instruments that shape national mood and direction. Discipline in speech is not a limitation; it is a responsibility.

“Freedom of expression must never become a licence for institutional erosion.”

“This is not a defence of any individual. It is a defence of process, order, and democratic stability. Where there is credible evidence of wrongdoing, it must be tested through lawful and constitutional channels. Disputes must be resolved within the framework of the judiciary.

“Until such processes have run their course, calls for resignation remain premature and potentially destabilising.

“A nation does not strengthen its democracy by removing officials through pressure, but by upholding the systems designed to hold them accountable.”

“Nigeria must choose discipline over noise, process over pressure, and stability over sentiment.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has formally rejected the takeover of the party’s national secretariat by a rival group aligned with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The dispute over the control of Wadata Plaza, the party’s headquarters, escalated after police sealed the facility on November 18, 2025, following clashes between the two factions.

On Saturday, the Wike-aligned group announced that the police had unsealed the secretariat, allowing them to take control of the premises. However, the Turaki faction quickly dismissed the development, accusing law enforcement of partisanship and noting that the ownership dispute remains before the courts.

In a statement, Ini Ememobong, spokesperson for the Turaki faction, alleged that the police had unlawfully aided the Wike camp, describing its members as “agents of the federal government and APC apologists, masquerading as PDP members, despite a pending appeal.”

Ememobong said the court ruling the police claim to be acting upon has already been appealed. He added that the police force, as a party to the case, has been formally served with the appeal and is fully aware of the legal status.

“By their action, they have tampered with the res which could render the judgment of the Court of Appeal nugatory when it is eventually given,” Ememobong said. “It is most shameful that those entrusted with protecting the law are those disobeying the law.”

He further criticized the conduct of the police throughout the crisis, saying, “While it is not surprising that the police is acting in a clearly partisan manner, we were hopeful that they would act differently under the command of the new Inspector General of Police. From the inception of this imbroglio, the officers of the police force have consistently acted in a manner that leaves no one in doubt as to their support for the Wike-backed APC apologists.”

Despite the tensions, Ememobong urged members of his faction to remain peaceful and avoid any actions that could disrupt public order.

“As law-abiding citizens, we admonish our members to continue to maintain peace and not undertake any activity capable of breaching public peace, while we promise to take all necessary steps within the ambit of the law to protect the rights and privileges of the genuine members of the Peoples Democratic Party,” he said.

The faction assured the public that what it called “state-sponsored persecution” would not last, expressing hope for a return to genuine democratic practice in the interest of preserving the republic.