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Factions Emerged in the Senate Over Reno’s Ambassadorial Appointment

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Mounting tension within the Nigerian Senate has followed the nomination of former presidential aide and social media commentator Reno Omokri as an ambassadorial nominee. His inclusion among the 32 names forwarded for confirmation has triggered immediate factional battles, even leading to the shutdown of the lawmakers’ official WhatsApp group.

The controversy stems primarily from Omokri’s past as a vocal critic of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Opponents within the Senate have specifically cited a previous remark in which Omokri labelled the President a “drug baron,” arguing that such history renders him unfit for a diplomatic role.

According to multiple parliamentary sources who spoke to SaharaReporters, Senate President Godswill Akpabio was instrumental in forwarding Omokri’s nomination, reportedly as a reward for political support.

However, in an unexpected twist, the same sources indicate that Akpabio is now mobilizing his loyalists to oppose the nominee he initially championed.

“The senate president had nominated Omokri as a reward for the hatchet job he did for him,” one source disclosed.

“However, Akpabio is rallying some of his clique to screen Omokri out on the claim that he once attacked Tinubu and called him a drug baron.”

Another source revealed that Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu West has taken a lead role in mobilising resistance against Omokri.

Ngwu has allegedly been reaching out to colleagues, urging them to reject the nominee on grounds of impropriety, arguing that anyone who made such serious allegations against a sitting President cannot credibly represent Nigeria on the global stage.

Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, is reported to be rallying senators to reject Omokri with sources revealing that Ngwu has been attacking colleagues against the move.

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“Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, is reported to be rallying senators to reject Omokri,” an insider noted.

“Ngwu has been attacking colleagues against the move.”

The disagreements reportedly spiralled into a larger internal crisis when a Senate WhatsApp group, used for routine communication among lawmakers, was abruptly locked after arguments over Omokri’s nomination intensified.

Senator Ngwu, said to be one of the administrators of the group, allegedly disabled responses to prevent further confrontations. This angered several senators who insisted they had been silenced.

But Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a vocal figure in the Senate, through her social media page, confronted Senator Ngwu over the group shutdown and demanded that he reopen the platform and restore comments that had been deleted during the altercation.

“Dear Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu Enugu West Senatorial District, you will open responses in the Senators WhatsApp forum and repost my deleted comments,” she posted.

“Else I’ll bring the discussion to the public domain.”

Ngwu insisted anyone who had called the president a drug baron cannot represent the president and country.

He said, “Someone who called the President of Nigeria a drug baron and who has not retracted the statement should not represent Nigeria and Nigerians in the international and diplomatic society.

“It’s about the office of the President not about an individual.

“Meanwhile, bring it up…”

His defiance further inflamed tension among senators already divided over the nomination.

Despite the uproar, the Senate is expected to begin screening the ambassadorial nominees on Tuesday.

Nigerian Tracker News learnt that the former presidential aide to Goodluck Jonathan, Omokri, once swore never to accept any appointment or work with President Bola Tinubu.

 

Reno made the remarks during an appearance on the Mic On podcast, hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye, where Omokri was asked directly if he would accept an offer from Tinubu.

“It will never happen,” he said.

Pressed further on whether any scenario could make him reconsider, he added:

“Oh my gosh, I don’t want to betray privilege. Somebody from Bola Tinubu’s camp has already reached out to me, and I told the person that, look, it cannot happen.

“I can’t do it. It’s just against my principles. Some people can do that. It’s not in my DNA. I can’t do it.

“It’s never going to happen,” Omokri said.

Reno Omokri, a prominent social commentator, was among the most vocal critics of Bola Tinubu in the lead-up to the 2023 presidential election. He publicly contested Tinubu’s record, qualifications, and personal integrity.

However, Omokri’s stance shifted notably following his independent verification that Tinubu did indeed attend Chicago State University. This confirmation prompted a discernible softening of his previous criticism.

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Group warns Kwankwaso Against Using Social Media Handlers To undermine security and public order in Kano .

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Kwankwaso

 

The Kano Peace Coalition Group, has uncovered a report on how the Leader of Kwankwasiyya Movement, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, allegedly manipulate Youth groups to create uncertainty and chaos in the ancient City of Kano.

The State Coordinator of the Group, Datti Datti Tukur, said in a release, Tuesday, that the Youth’s who are members of Kwankwasiyya Movement from the branches of the Social Media, have recently taken on their accounts attacking prominent political figures including the state Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, Abdullahi U GANDUJE and anyone that disagrees with his self serving political philosophy.
The group specifically singled out a case in which the Kwankwasiyya handlers degnirated the personality of Gov Yusuf depicting him in female attires wearing makeup.

Datti further added that, One of the characters involved in these atrocities was Abba Ibrahim Hussain aka Aiha, a notorious cyber stalker allegedly on the payroll of KWANKWASO.

“Available record shows that Hussain has been charged to a Magistrate Court 47 Zungeru Road, and reminded in Prison on 23 February 2026 for the offences of Cyber Bullying, Stalking and inciting public disturbances” by the DSS kano command.

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Similarly the Group also cited a case of one Abdulmajid Danbilki Kwamanda who was cautioned in the past by the security operatives for allegedly being used by Kwankwaso to denigrate the character of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and creat tension in the state.

The group further added that “Despite clear facts against him, Danbilki was neither detained nor harassed by the security Agency”.

They said, reports available to them, also identified one Samir Sani Hanga, Son of the Senator representing Kano Central, Sani Hanga, who was also accused of Cyber Bullying and Staking but cautioned by the security to desist from such criminal behavior in the presence of his father.

“Investigation also uncovered the involvement of one Abdullahi Aminu Warkal, another Kwankwasiyya social media handler who was alleged to have been harassed by the Security operatives.

“Report however indicated that Warkal was invited by the security agency to explain how he defrauded the government of N10 Million.

The Coordinator, appealed to Amnesty International who was said to have issued a statement alleging harassment of Political opponents in Kano to verify every claim with the spirit of fairness and professionalism before taking stand to avoid compromising the group’s reputation and credibility.

“That as a respected INGO, Amnesty International should not allow itself to be compromised by anybody but including KWANKWASO.”
The need to investigate and verify claims before rushing to the press is sacrosanct and complementary to the efforts of security agencies towards eradicating the menace of cyber bullying and disrespect for constituted authority.

He said, “Kano is a respected State with People of dignity, integrity and religious consciousness. No one will be happy to see some misguided individuals sponsored to disrespect elders and leaders. The Amnesty International should look at the issues of cyber bullying, stalking and incitement that clearly violates the law.

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President Tinubu Decorates Disu as New IGP

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has decorated the newly appointed Acting Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, with his new rank at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The decoration took place during the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday and attended by top government officials and some family members of the new acting IGP.

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With the swearing-in, the Acting IGP, Disu becomes Nigeria’s 23rd Inspector-General of Police.

His appointment follows the resignation of the former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

The Presidency linked Egbetokun’s resignation to pressing family considerations.

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BREAKING: DSS Stalls Own Case Against El-Rufai, Claims Ex-Governor Not in Their Custody

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the scheduled arraignment of Nasir el-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna State, until April 23.

Mr. el-Rufai is facing a three-count charge brought by the Department of State Services (DSS) related to the alleged unlawful interception of a telephone conversation. The charges stem from comments the former governor made during a television interview.

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The court had initially set Wednesday, February 25, for his arraignment. However, during Wednesday’s proceedings, Mr. el-Rufai was not produced in court.

Oluwole Aladedoyin, counsel for the prosecution, informed the court that the former governor is currently being detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in connection with a separate matter.

“Unfortunately, the defendant is with the ICPC, and I do not know how far the investigation with the ICPC has gone,” Mr. Aladedoyin explained to the court.

The charges against the former governor pertain to an alleged breach of the Cybercrimes Act.

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