By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned his appointment to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

Adelabu disclosed this in a resignation letter addressed to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday, and routed through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

In the letter titled “Resignation as Honourable Minister of Power”, Adelabu expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve in his administration.

He said it was a privilege to contribute to efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s power sector in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Adelabu added that his decision to step down was to enable him fully pursue his aspiration to contest for the office of Governor of Oyo State.

He noted that the move would allow him to dedicate his time and resources to the political ambition.

The former minister also conveyed his appreciation and respect to the President for the confidence reposed in him during his tenure.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government is mounting pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to interfere in the party’s leadership affairs, following the defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to its ranks.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ADC claimed that a coordinated effort is underway to compel INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), to invalidate party actions and alter its leadership structure before courts have ruled on pending disputes.

According to Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, a letter dated March 28, 2026, written by a team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, is being used to pressure the electoral commission. The letter reportedly seeks to enforce a particular interpretation of a Court of Appeal ruling regarding “status quo ante bellum” — a legal principle referring to the restoration of a prior state of affairs.

The ADC said the legal representatives went as far as threatening the INEC chairman with arrest should he fail to accede to their request within seven days.

“The authors of this vexatious letter are attempting to pressure INEC to take sides and grant them what no court in Nigeria has granted,” Abdullahi said in the statement.

The party dismissed claims by Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, whom it described as an expelled former member, asserting that he was never the party’s chairman and had previously resigned his position.

“What we are witnessing is a convergence of legal pressure and political intent by a ruling party that is unsettled by the growing appeal of the ADC,” Abdullahi added.

The ADC described itself as “the only viable opposition party left in the country” and vowed to resist what it called a “grand plan” to destabilise its leadership using all constitutional means.

Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general election, recently defected to the ADC — a move the party claims has unsettled ruling party officials.

The ADC called on INEC to remain guided by the constitution and resist pressure, stating that the matter “is bigger than the ADC” and concerns whether Nigerians can freely choose an alternative political path.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Nasiru Gawuna, the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, has formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Gawuna, a former deputy governor of the state, received his membership card on Tuesday at his ward in Gawuna, Nasarawa Local Government Area. The event drew a large gathering of supporters and notable political figures, including former Governor Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, immediate-past Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo, and the state ADC chairman, Musa Ungogo.

Speaking after the registration, Gawuna thanked his supporters and party leaders, pledging his commitment to strengthening the ADC in Kano State.

His defection follows a formal resignation from the APC, which he described as a personal and voluntary decision. In a letter dated March 29, 2026, addressed to his ward chairman, Gawuna expressed appreciation to the APC for the opportunity to serve.

The move also comes after his resignation as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, effective March 31, 2026. His departure from the role complied with a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu requiring political appointees to resign in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Gawuna thanked the president for the trust reposed in him, noting it was an honor to serve in various capacities, including as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano.

Political observers view Gawuna’s entry into the ADC as a significant boost for the party, given his political influence and strong showing in the 2023 governorship election, where he secured 890,705 votes.

The development is the latest in a series of political realignments in Kano State ahead of the 2027 general elections, signaling continued shifts in the state’s political landscape.