A supporter of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has dismissed recent allegations against the former Zamfara State governor as false and defamatory, describing them as a calculated attempt to damage his reputation, according to a press statement issued on April 26, 2026, and signed by Alhaji Fahad Ogan Boye.

The statement said the claims being circulated about Matawalle were “baseless and misleading,” alleging they were motivated by envy and hostility toward the minister, and warned that those responsible for spreading what it described as falsehoods could face legal action, according to Boye.

Boye also referenced earlier accusations that linked Matawalle to banditry, stating that such claims had previously been raised and “proven to be entirely false and without merit,” according to the press release.

He argued that Matawalle’s continued appointment in the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu reflects confidence in his integrity and dedication to public service, adding that his role in government serves as evidence of his credibility, according to the statement.

Citing the role of Nigeria’s security institutions, Boye said the absence of any official findings against Matawalle indicates there is no substance to the allegations, noting that relevant authorities would have taken action if evidence existed, according to the press release.

The statement further expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for what it described as his support for “patriotic Nigerians,” including Matawalle, and commended the broader security leadership for efforts to maintain stability, specifically mentioning Christopher Musa and Nuhu Ribadu, according to Boye.

Boye call on Nigerians to continue supporting the Tinubu administration, stating that such backing is necessary for national unity, progress, and security, according to the statement.

The Garko Stakeholders Consultative Congress (GSCC) has called on political parties to prioritize competence, integrity, and proven track records in selecting candidates for state and federal elective positions, as part of efforts to ensure credible representation for the people of Garko Local Government Area.

The call was made during a high-level stakeholders’ brainstorming session held in Kano, where the Chairman of the forum, Hamisu Sule Garko, stressed that the era of mediocre leadership must come to an end.

He noted that the forum, which comprises technocrats, public office holders, business leaders, and retired civil servants, is committed to promoting a new standard of political engagement.

“The Garko Stakeholders Consultative Congress is committed to a new dawn of political engagement. We are appealing to all political parties to look inward and field candidates from Garko who possess the requisite competence and a verifiable history of service. Competence is the only prerequisite for credible leadership,” he said.

According to the forum, its position is anchored on the belief that sustainable development is directly tied to the quality of leadership, adding that Garko has a pool of capable individuals who can effectively represent the area at both the state and national levels.

The group further emphasized its resolve to identify and support individuals of unquestionable character, noting that credible leadership remains essential for attracting meaningful development to the area.

“Our goal is to brainstorm and identify people of proven integrity. We believe that only competent leadership at all levels can attract the necessary development to our community. Moving forward, the GSCC will work across party lines to ensure that Garko is no longer sidelined but represented by leaders who understand the pains and aspirations of its people,” the chairman added.

The forum reaffirmed its commitment to advocacy that promotes good governance and socio-economic development, not only within Garko Local Government Area but across Kano State as a whole.

Pulse Nigeria has issued a public apology and clarification following widespread backlash over its earlier report suggesting that the Kano State Government distributed underwear to women as empowerment materials.

The media platform had initially published a post with the headline implying that the state government was responsible for distributing branded underwear, a report that quickly sparked criticism, mockery, and political controversy across social media.
In response, the Kano Development Forum, in a correspondence issued by Nworisa Michael, General secretary of the forum formally engaged Pulse Nigeria, demanding the immediate removal of the report and a public clarification to correct what it described as a misleading and damaging narrative against the Government and people of Kano State.

Following the intervention, Pulse Nigeria first deleted the original post and later released an official clarification acknowledging that the publication was made without sufficient verification and lacked the necessary context.
In its statement, Pulse Nigeria admitted that the report failed to clarify that the Kano State Government was not responsible for the incident and that the images in circulation were largely linked to the actions of political supporters rather than any official government initiative.

The platform further stated that the framing of the report may have led to misinterpretation and unintended reputational damage to both the people of Kano and the Kano State Government.
“We recognize that the framing of our post may have led to misinterpretation and unintended reputational implications for the people of Kano and the Kano State Government. For this, we take full responsibility,” the statement read.

Pulse Nigeria also extended what it described as its “unreserved apologies” to the people of Kano, the Kano State Government, and all those affected by the misrepresentation.
Reacting to the development, Kano Development Forum described the clarification as a necessary step toward responsible journalism and accountability, while emphasizing that the rush to break news without proper verification continues to damage media credibility.

The controversy had stemmed from images of women displaying red underwear during the APC outing to welcome the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Kano. The images were later weaponized politically, with edited versions falsely suggesting that the state government had distributed the items as an empowerment initiative.

Residebts noted that the issue was more rooted in political symbolism and supporter actions than any formal government programme.

The Forum maintained that while public criticism of the display itself may be valid, falsely attributing it to official government policy was misleading and required correction.