The Kano State Task Force Committee on Voter Registration Mobilisation has intensified its campaign to encourage eligible residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) with an advocacy visit to Yan Lemo Market in Na’ibawa, the largest fruit market in Kano State. The outreach was carried out by the Sub-Committee on Engagement with the Business Community as part of efforts to ensure that no eligible voter is left out of the ongoing voter registration exercise.

Speaking during the visit, Chairman of Yan Lemo Market, Alhaji Muhammadu, welcomed the delegation and commended the committee for identifying the market as a strategic partner in the voter registration campaign. He expressed appreciation for the initiative and appealed to the Kano State Government to make voter registration more accessible to traders and business owners, noting that the nature of their commercial activities often makes it difficult for them to leave their businesses to register.

Addressing the traders, the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Engagement with the Business Community, Alhaji Tijjani Abdullahi Sarki, described the possession of a Permanent Voter Card as both a constitutional right and a civic responsibility. He urged eligible residents to take advantage of the ongoing registration exercise to secure their PVCs and participate in future elections.

According to Alhaji Sarki, the registration exercise is open to first-time registrants, Nigerians who have attained the age of 18 since the last voter registration exercise, individuals seeking to transfer their voting location following a change of residence, those requesting corrections to their personal information, as well as citizens whose voter cards have been lost or damaged.

He further assured the traders of the Kano State Government’s commitment to promoting wider voter participation across the state. He said the concerns and requests presented by the market leadership, particularly the need for easier access to registration centres for traders, would be forwarded to the main Task Force Committee for appropriate consideration and necessary action.

Also speaking during the engagement, the Secretary of the Sub-Committee, Alhaji Hassan Kofar Mata, thanked the market executives and traders for their warm reception and active participation throughout the sensitisation programme. He commended their interest in the exercise and encouraged them to mobilise other eligible members of the business community to register.

Responding to questions from traders, Alhaji Hassan explained the procedures for transferring voter registration from one Local Government Area to another, correcting personal records, replacing lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards, and other voter registration-related processes. He urged residents to take advantage of the ongoing exercise to regularise their voter information and ensure they are eligible to participate in future elections.

The advocacy visit forms part of the Kano State Task Force Committee’s broader campaign to increase voter registration and strengthen citizens’ participation in the democratic process through sustained engagement with critical stakeholders, including business communities across the state.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a four-day ultimatum to South African businesses in Nigeria to leave the country.

This is contained in a statement on Monday in Enugu, by Bestman Okereafor, NANS national executive director, corporate and private sectors engagement.

Mr Okereafor stated that after the expiration of the ultimatum, South African business interests would face the wrath of the more than 43.1 million Nigerian students across the country.

“The attention of the apex students governing body, NANS, has been drawn to continuous attacks, intimidation and subsequent chase of law-abiding, peaceful and hardworking Nigerians and other Africans from South Africa.

“As the biggest student body in Africa, we are giving South African business interests four days to evacuate our beloved country, Nigeria.

“The reason for this action is simple: South Africans cannot continue to oppress and chase our people from their country and expect their businesses to thrive on our soil,” he said.

He also stated that immediately after the expiration of the ultimatum, the student body would consider picketing South African businesses, while further actions follow.

He called on the federal government and the African Union to take more decisive actions against South Africa for its “inimical” acts towards other Africans.

“It is on record that Nigeria played a major role in support of South Africa during the apartheid struggle and should never be paid with disloyalty, disrespect and global embarrassment,” he added.

It will be recalled that xenophobic attacks by South Africans on other Africans for some months had led to Nigerians being physically assaulted, embarrassed, intimidated, injured and some allegedly gruesomely murdered.

Several businesses and premises owned by Nigerians in South Africa were either completely burnt down or destroyed by rampaging South Africans during the xenophobic attack.

The perpetrators of these crimes had earlier given Nigerians and other Africans an ultimatum of June 30 to leave South Africa.

The federal government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had in recent weeks airlifted hundreds of Nigerians from South Africa back to Nigeria.

Abbas Yushau Yusuf

In what appears like turn of events in Bauchi politics, the citizens of Bauchi state resident across the seven states of the North West zone, put their weight behind Bauchi Gubernatorial candidate under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mallam Usman Adamu Suphi in the forthcoming general election, 2027.

This was disclosed in a press release issued by the Suphi Campaign Coordinator, North West Zone, Bello A. Bello (Nalardi), in Kano, Sunday, after the meeting with stakeholders from the seven North West states.

Describing Suphi as a “… distinguished accountant, political strategist, grassroots mobilizer, philanthropist and public servant whose life has been defined by quality leadership, exposure, excellence and service to humanity…” Nalardi said they agreed to come together and support someone who could bring new Bauch on board.

Strong supporters came from all the seven North West states, after believing that, Bauchi now needs someone with vast experience across public and private engagements. Whose age could mean well for the development of the state across all ages irrespective of party affiliation.

According to the release, they put their weight behind Suphi bearing in mind that, his contributions towards the development of his people and the state long before now, earned him respect, reliability, enhanced trust and organizational independence among the citizens of Bauchi across Nigeria, as a whole.

According to Nalardi in the release, what Suphi represents, for being part of the gubernatorial candidates in the state, was hope, commitment, economic inclusion, equal opportunities for all, enhanced inter-dependence of multi-sectoral growth, good leadership style, humility and simplicity.

Without recourse to party differences, all the stakeholders from the North West believe that, his magnanimous relationship with all segments of the society and his patriotic love for the state, meant a lot in searching for the soul of Bauchi.

Referring back to some years before now, the press release acknowledges that, even outside politics and other professional feats he achieved, he is widely respected for his humanitarian contributions and commitment to uplifting ordinary citizens.

Part of the release reads, “Over the years he did well in the facilitation of employment opportunities for over 200 youth from Bauchi state in the federal institutions like FIRS, NCC, CBN, and other reputable organizations.”

Adding that he supported the recruitment of over 300 young people into security agencies like the Nigerian Police Force, Military, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Customs and Excise, and Nigeria Correctional Services. While sponsoring the marriage of numerous orphaned girls by covering wedding expenses, furniture, dowries and start-up support.

The signed release by Nalardi also appreciates Suphi’s unwavering dedication in the empowerment of multitudes of youth and women through business funding and entrepreneurial support worth hundreds of millions of Naira.

Adding that, he “… donated vehicles, motorcycles, and sponsored many individuals for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.
His philanthropy has impacted thousands of families across Bauchi state and beyond.”

“One of his most notable ongoing projects is the construction of a massive 850-capacity ICT/CBT Centre in Azare, valued at hundreds of millions of naira. The project is designed to expand access to digital education, technology training, and employment opportunities for young people in Bauchi State. This initiative reflects his belief that education, innovation, and technology are essential tools for future economic transformation,” release reads.

Apart from his professional calling where he attained nadir position, he is not a new entrant in politics, the release observed. His political sojourn spans over two decades from where he achieved remarkable experience across different political platforms, strategic campaigns, and grassroots mobilization structures.

The stakeholders recall that, his political relevance and leadership began in 2001. The time he served as the President of the Katagum Progressive Youth Movement. From where he kick-started deep interest in Bauchi youth in political participation.

He was a member of the PDP Governorship Swearing-In Committee, in 2003. Where he proved his mettle as a vibrant young politician. As his relevance and contributions became visible in the eyes of all.

His relevance and visibility became amplified in 2015, when he played a strategic role when the chips were down during the formation and consolidation of the All Progressives Congress (APC). As the country was transiting to more meaningful democratic era.

As years moved on, that was between 2016 and 2017, he was State Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). Where he subsequently emerged as their governorship candidate. That was when je declared in a louder tone, that his ambition was to serve his state at the higher level. That demonstrated his growing political influence, relevance and ambition.

The press release reflected back that, “From 2017 to 2019, he served as the Deputy National Chairman of NNPP, where he contributed significantly to party expansion, organizational growth, and policy direction at the national level.

In 2022, he served as Director of Mobilisation for the APC Gubernatorial Campaign, where he led extensive grassroots outreach and voter mobilization efforts.
He also served as Director of the Tinubu Support Group in 2022–2023, coordinating stakeholder engagement and campaign strategy in support of national political objectives.”

While in recent period, as noted by the release, between 2023 and 2025, he was the Deputy Chairman of AA Consolidation of APC Support Groups. As he became a unifying factor in gaining multiple support structures and strengthening of grassroot political inclusion and proper coordination.

So also in 2025, as the release noted, “… he returned to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and currently serves as a Member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP in Bauchi State, where he contributes to strategic party direction, conflict resolution, party unity, and policy guidance.”

The North West stakeholders meeting of Bauchi citizens further disclosed that, plan reached an advance stage, where each and every state of the North West would organize their support meeting before election period, to show their solidarity to the candidature of Suphi and his unmatched credentials for Bauchi Government House.

,Nalardi appreciated that from the time they started urging people on the current voter registration exercise, Bauchi citizens particularly, to go and register well with the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), there was a significant improvement in the number of people who registered and were set for election period, come 2027.