50,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano have petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, opposing the nomination of Yusuf Abdullahi Ata as a ministerial candidate.

The group revealed to newsmen that they have compiled signatures from members across Kano, which will be submitted to the President and the Senate on Monday.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Barrister Abubakar stated that they would be taking their grievances directly to the National Assembly and the APC headquarters to formally submit the petition.

“We are mobilizing 50,000 APC members from Kano who have signed this petition against Ata’s nomination as a minister,” he said.

The group’s chairman argued that Ata lacks the qualifications to represent Kano State in the Federal Executive Council, pointing to what he described as “anti-party activities” during the 2023 elections and alleged incompetence.

“It would be recalled that Ata was impeached as the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly over incompetence,” he said. “During the presidential election, he failed to deliver his polling unit to the APC, and his relationships with APC stakeholders in the state, as well as his constituents, have been strained—there was even an attempt to recall him from the State Assembly.”

The chairman further noted, “It took the intervention of then-Governor Ganduje and Alhaji Aminu Dantata to halt the recall process.”

He concluded, “The President could consider replacing Abdullahi Gwarzo with a more politically influential figure who has served the party, such as Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, Bashir Garba Lado, or the State Party Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas. Ata does not adequately represent our party or the good people of Kano State.”

The Kano state government’s sudden withdrawal of accreditation for 14 journalists covering the Government House has raised questions about its commitment to media freedom and sparked speculation about the reasons behind this decision.

Investigation by the Nigerian Tracker revealed that the relationship between the Government House press crew and state officials has been strained since the coming of Abba Kabir Yusuf as the governor of Kano state, with challenges ranging from poor working conditions, lack of welfare, motivation and ongoing tensions with security personnel.

Journalists reported several incidents where government officials, including the governor’s aides and security team, limited their access to governor’s activities.

Two incidents that occurred recently are seen as the reason behind the journalists withdrawal.

First incident was during the governor’s recent visit to Jigawa State.

Journalists accompanying him were denied entry to the venue where governor Yusuf was meeting with the Jigawa governor, with security citing limited space as the reason.

Although they were assured they would be allowed in to cover his speech, the meeting concluded without them covering the event.

The journalists voiced out their worry immediately.

When they returned to Kano, they sought to address the issue with the governor. As he briefly gave them audience, but no solution was provided immediately.

Nigerian Tracker gathered that another incident involving the journalists reportedly took place during an official visit by the Bauchi State Governor to Kano. Aliyu Yusuf, the Director of Public Enlightenment at the Government House led the journalists to meet the Bauchi state governor at his lodge in Kano.

Upon arrival, they learned that Kano state deputy governor Aminu Abdussalam, was there with his team. Deputy Governor’s Press Crew expressed displeasure with the presence of the media team covering the governor’s office. Knowing that the governor himself was not there.

Tensions escalated when the Deputy Governor’s Aide called the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Shehu Wada Sagagi and informed him.

The Chief of Staff sent a Governor’s Aide who had reportedly clashed with the press on multiple occasions to the scene, and he reported back to the Chief of Staff, to the hearing of the Governor eventually.

The internal political power dynamics may have influenced the decision to revoke the journalists’ accreditation.

The struggle reportedly involves the Chief of Staff to the Governor, the Commissioner for Information Baba Halilu Dantiye, and the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.

The DG Media, close to Governor Yusuf, has held significant sway over government publicity, often sidelining the Commissioner for Information.

The Chief of Staff, meanwhile, has been a vocal critic of the DG’s handling of the press and accused the Government House journalists of lacking competence.

Some insiders believe the decision to remove these journalists may be an attempt to diminish the DG Media’s influence by targeting his loyal media representatives.

Observers note that the move could signal an ongoing effort to reassign responsibilities within the governor’s communication team.

As journalists now face an uncertain future in covering Government House, questions asked are about the impact of these developments on transparency and media relations within Kano state’s political landscape.

The New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) has wins all the chairmanship and councillors in all the 44 local government areas in Kano state.

The chairman of Kano state independent Electoral Commission KANSIEC Professor Sani Lawan Malumfashi disclosed this while briefing journalist at the KANSIEC headquarters in Kano on Saturday night.

According to him, of all the six political parties that participated in the election, NNPP win all the 44 local government chairmen and 484 councilors in the just concluded local government elections.

The parties are AA, AAC, Accord, ADC, APM, and NNPP

The New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) has wins all the chairmanship and councillors in all the 44 local government areas in Kano state.

The chairman of Kano state independent Electoral Commission KANSIEC Professor Sani Lawan Malumfashi disclosed this while briefing journalist at the KANSIEC headquarters in Kano on Saturday night.

According to him, of all the six political parties that participated in the election, NNPP win all the 44 local government chairmen and 484 councilors in the just concluded local government elections.

The parties are AA, AAC, Accord, ADC, APM, and NNPP