By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Sadique Abubakar, former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi, has announced his resignation from active politics.

Abubakar served as Nigeria’s chief of air staff between 2015 and 2021 under the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

After his retirement, he was appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to Chad and, in 2022, secured the APC governorship ticket in Bauchi ahead of the 2023 elections.

He placed second in the poll with 432,272 votes behind Bala Mohammed, the incumbent and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who won with 525,280 votes.

The former air force chief was viewed as a potential ADC governorship hopeful for the 2027 elections following recent consultations with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

But in a terse statement on Sunday, Abubakar said he is stepping away from “the murky waters of Nigerian politics”.

“I say Good bye to the murky waters of Nigerian Politics,” he wrote on his official X account.

“I no longer belong to any political party and will therefore not vie for any office.

“However I will continue to support ordinary Nigerians to the best of my ability.”

Abubakar resigned from the APC and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in July 2025 after aligning with the opposition coalition leaders.

The People’s Redemption Party (PRP) has accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of undermining democratic institutions and steering Nigeria toward what it described as a “dominant party autocracy” ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The allegations were made during the PRP 2026 National Primaries and Convention held Saturday at the Kano Press Centre in Kano State, where party leaders and delegates gathered to elect representatives and outline the party’s political direction for the next electoral cycle.

Speaking at the convention, the National Chairman of PRP-Vanguard, Comrade Abdulmajid Yakubu Daudu, said Nigeria’s democracy was under serious threat due to what he termed increasing state-sponsored political manipulation, weakening opposition parties, and the erosion of institutional independence.

Addressing party members, Daudu described the convention as “a people-driven democratic process” aimed at strengthening internal democracy and reaffirming the PRP’s ideological roots as a socialist-oriented party committed to the interests of the masses.

“The PRP remains the authentic party of the talakawa,” he declared. “Politics must remain a vehicle for public service and not a private enterprise for political merchants and members of the ruling elite.”

Daudu noted that the PRP, which he described as Nigeria’s “oldest surviving socialist party,” had survived military suppression and political sabotage over the years, but was still facing attempts by “mercenary politicians” to hijack the party for personal and political gain.

He alleged that the ruling class had systematically infiltrated opposition parties in a bid to weaken resistance and establish one-party dominance in the country.

“Today nearly all non-regime political parties are battling with mercenaries acting as willing tools of government to subvert and weaken the collective opposition,” he said. “Nigeria has receded from democratic consolidation into the enthronement of autocracy under dominant party rule.”

The PRP chairman accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of placing itself above the law and reducing democratic institutions to extensions of executive power.

According to him, the legislature now functions “as an appendage of the executive,” while the judiciary is increasingly viewed as pliant to government interests.

He further warned that the weakening of democratic institutions posed a serious threat to national security and the survival of the Fourth Republic.

“The degeneration of governance is the biggest threat to the survival of the country,” Daudu stated. “Once public institutions collapse under political manipulation, democracy becomes a farce.”

The PRP also linked the country’s worsening insecurity and economic hardship to corruption, poor governance, and lack of accountability among political leaders.

Daudu criticized anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC, describing them as “toothless and impotent,” while alleging that public office holders continue to enrich themselves without consequences.

The party called on Nigerians to resist oppression and political injustice, invoking the slogan “We no go gree” and the Hausa phrase “Mun ki,” meaning “we refuse.”

As part of its resolutions, the PRP demanded:

– An end to what it called dominant party autocracy;
– Immediate registration of qualified political associations by INEC;
– A living wage for workers;
– Reduction in the rising cost of living;
– Fairer petroleum pricing;
– Re-nationalisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC);
– Greater transparency in Nigeria’s foreign security agreements; and
– Renewed regional security cooperation with Alliance of Sahel States (AES) countries.

The party also expressed doubts about the credibility of the 2027 general elections, alleging that the electoral process was already skewed in favour of the ruling party.

“By all indications, the 2027 elections are already rigged,” Daudu claimed. “An election cannot be credible where the process itself is manipulated to favour those in power.”

He accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of failing to demonstrate sufficient independence, while also criticizing mainstream opposition politicians for what he described as opportunistic political maneuvering ahead of the next election cycle.

Despite its concerns, the PRP said it would continue mobilising Nigerians around issues of social justice, economic equality, and democratic accountability.

The convention closes with the election of party representatives who, according to the leadership, would serve as “foot soldiers in the continued struggle for freedom, social justice, and development in Nigeria.”

Radio France Internationale (RFI) has urged journalists to broaden their coverage to include issues affecting women, children, and minors, as part of its Hausa Service programme Rayuwata. The head of RFI Hausa Service, Joe Penny, made this call while addressing journalists in Kano during preparations for the upcoming Rayuwata event. Penny emphasized that the programme this year will spotlight personal stories shared by women and children, underscoring the importance of amplifying their voices.

According to Penny, RFI, headquartered in France with 17 language services, operates its Hausa Service from Lagos. He noted that the station has successfully reached millions of people through social media, particularly Facebook, where it boasts 2.3 million followers. He explained that the decision to host the event in Kano was deliberate, given the city’s role as a cultural and economic hub in northern Nigeria.

Penny further stated that RFI’s outlets have traditionally focused on politics and security-related attacks, but the organisation is now expanding coverage to other aspects of life. “Last year, we partnered on sports and signed a memorandum of understanding with Kano pillars football club . This year, we are focusing on women and children,” he said. He added that the programme will feature videos designed to spark conversations and highlight pressing social issues.

The Hausa Service head also revealed that the event will celebrate achievements in Kannywood, the Hausa-language film industry. “We have a series on Kannywood where we interview actors. It provides a service beyond us and a larger one. This is the first time we are doing this event in Kano, and there are new ways of engaging our audience,” Penny explained.

He stressed that public feedback would be crucial in shaping the festival, which he described as being in the public interest.

Highlighting the programme’s history, Penny noted that Rayuwata has been running for five years, consistently focusing on children and minors. He reiterated that the initiative seeks to celebrate, encourage, and educate, while also drawing government attention to the needs of vulnerable groups.

On his part, veteran broadcaster and co-anchor of Rayuwata, Muhammad Musa Muhammad Inya, emphasized RFI’s global reach and its commitment to ensuring Kano is not left behind.

He disclosed that RFI will collaborate with five local radio stations this year to strengthen community engagement. “We are helping those that are not privileged, especially fatherless children. We come to educate the government on the importance of children and the less privileged,” Inya said.

The upcoming Rayuwata festival in Kano is expected to serve as a platform for dialogue, cultural celebration, and advocacy, reinforcing RFI’s mission to expand media coverage beyond politics and security to include the everyday realities of women, children, and minors.