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Police Reform Project III: Kano commits to citizen-led security approach

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Kano State Government says it has renewed its commitment to a citizen-led security approach as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen community policing and improve public safety across the state.

Mrs Maimuna Sherif, Special Adviser on Community Policing to Gov. Abba Yusuf, stated this at the stakeholders meeting on improving police community relations organised by the Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI) on Friday in Kano.

Sherif said the administration was deepening its engagement with community structures to boost intelligence gathering and enhance collaboration between residents and security agencies.

She said Kano’s large population and social diversity require a policing model that empowers citizens as active partners in the state’s security architecture.

“Our communities know the environment, they know the people, and their support provides critical information that helps security agencies identify criminal hideouts,” Sherif said.

The special adviser also disclosed that the government was finalising arrangements to establish a Security Trust Fund to mobilise resources from the public and private sectors to support security operations.

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Speaking earlier, the Executive Director of VAI, Mr Musa Aboki, said the Police Reform Project builds on earlier phases implemented in Bauchi and Zamfara, with similar interventions underway in two South-East states.

Aboki explained that Phase III features community scorecard assessments, intra-dialogue sessions and follow-up engagements aimed at addressing gaps in trust between the police and the public.

He said previous assessments revealed concerns such as bribery, slow police response, confidentiality issues, traffic indiscipline among some officers and reluctance by residents to volunteer intelligence.

According to him, many of the challenges undermining community policing are shared responsibilities between citizens and the police.

He added that gaps in early warning and early response systems remained key concerns, stressing the need for timely reporting of threats of violence or criminal activity.

Speaking also, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Kano State Police Command, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, said that the Police would partner with the Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI) to strengthen police-community relations and promote mutual accountability across the state.

He said the collaboration was part of the Police Reform Initiative Project aimed at enhancing trust and cooperation between security agencies and the public.

Represented by ASP , Muhammad Jawad, explained that the initiative involved a series of meetings and engagements with communities in Rano and Gwale Local Government Areas, focusing on improving understanding and collaboration between the police and residents.

The Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Dorayi Babba community of Gwale Local Government Area, Alhaji Auwal Garba, stated that fewer than 500,000 police officers were responsible for securing more than 220 million Nigerians.

He said the disparity highlighted the importance of community involvement in maintaining law and order.

“Community policing enables citizens to participate in the security structure. Through vigilantes and early reporting of suspicious activities, the community becomes a partner in sustaining peace,” he said.

Garba reaffirmed commitment of the PCRC to work with the government, security agencies and civil society groups to strengthen community policing initiatives across the state

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APC Extends Membership Registration, Reschedules Congresses and Convention

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced a revised timetable for its internal activities, extending its electronic membership registration and rescheduling upcoming congresses and its national convention.

The decisions were reached during the 183rd meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) held on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja. In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party outlined the key changes.

The electronic membership registration exercise has been extended from January 31 to February 8, 2026. According to the statement, the extension follows requests from party stakeholders and is intended to allow more supporters and members to register or validate their membership.

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Furthermore, the schedule for party congresses has been adjusted. Ward congresses are now set to hold on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, while the National Convention has been rescheduled for March 27–28, 2026.

The statement also clarified that some states would be excluded from the forthcoming state congresses. Osun State, Ekiti State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are exempted due to upcoming elections, while Rivers State is excluded because of the subsisting tenure of the current party executive committees in the state.

Additionally, the NWC confirmed the constitution of a National Convention Planning Committee. The party noted that further details regarding the adjusted timetable and the composition of the planning committee would be communicated in due course.

These changes mark a significant recalibration of the APC’s internal electoral calendar as it prepares for its national convention and subsequent political engagements.

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Turaki-Led PDP Faction to Appeal Court Ruling, Affirms Legitimacy

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced it will appeal a Federal High Court ruling in Ibadan that refused to grant its request for an order of mandamus. The court, in its Friday judgment, stated that granting the order would amount to reviewing decisions of courts of equal jurisdiction—a ruling the faction described as “not unexpected.”

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, and posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, the faction confirmed it has directed its legal team to file an appeal immediately and take all necessary legal steps to defend its standing.

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Despite the legal setback, the faction asserted that its leadership, which emerged from the PDP’s Ibadan convention, remains legally intact and unaffected. The statement called on members to stay calm and resolute, assuring them there is “absolutely no cause for alarm” and that the party’s “rebirth movement remains firmly on course.”

The development is part of an ongoing internal dispute over leadership and legitimacy within the PDP, with rival factions seeking judicial affirmation. All eyes are now on the appellate courts, whose decisions could significantly influence the party’s structure and direction ahead of future political activities.

The faction expressed confidence that higher courts would ultimately uphold its position, stating it “awaits the authoritative pronouncement of the appellate courts.”

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Fayemi Denies Alleged Closed-Door Meeting with Kwankwaso

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has denied reports claiming that he held a closed-door meeting with former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, at his Abuja residence.

Fayemi, immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, dismissed the report in a statement issued by the Head of his Media Office, Ahmad Sajoh, on Thursday, describing the claim as false and urging the public to disregard it.

The report, which circulated on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, was shared by several social media handles alongside an old video clip showing Fayemi greeting Kwankwaso at his residence.

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According to the statement, the former Ekiti governor had met Kwankwaso only once in the past year and not in any private political setting.

“Dr Fayemi has only met Senator Kwankwaso once in the last year, and that occasion was at the public book launch of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN,” the statement said.

It added that, “At no time has Dr Fayemi held, or is he holding, any closed-door political meeting with Senator Kwankwaso as suggested by the post.”

The former governor acknowledged that he and Kwankwaso have been friends since their time as governors, but stressed that their relationship is personal and non-partisan.

He noted that the friendship is “based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to the progress of Nigeria, rather than on any political alignment.”

Fayemi also cautioned against attempts by political actors to attach partisan interpretations to private relationships, noting that many of his friends and associates are either not involved in partisan politics or belong to different political persuasions.

The statement added that Fayemi’s associates “span the entire spectrum of Nigeria’s political terrain.”

It, therefore, reaffirmed the former governor’s commitment to national unity, principled engagement, and responsible public discourse.

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