Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has reacted to the position of the presidency on the unending battle between the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The Presidency on Thursday, affirmed that Governor Fubara is the leader of the party in Rivers.

DAILY POST reported on Thursday that through his Special Adviser on Policy and Communication, Daniel Bwala, President Tinubu affirmed his support for Fubara, stressing that the governor must be allowed to carry out his duties without undue interference.

Bwala said this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday.

Bwala also acknowledged the role of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing him as instrumental to the Tinubu administration.

However, he clarified that Wike is not a member of the APC, adding that Fubara should be given the space to govern the State.

Reacting to the development through a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, the Rivers APC said, “We are grateful to the President and Commander-in-Chief His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, leader of the APC party in Nigeria for sticking to our party constitution/convention by reaffirming the position of the Governor through his SA on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala Esq.

“This Presidential clarification has once again vindicated our uncompromising stand on this matter and aligns with the policy thrust of our national party leadership under Prof Nentawe Yilwatda and Senator (Dr) Ajibola Basiru.

“We therefore commend the sincerity of Mr President and Commander-in-Chief to stick to party management direction which allows APC Governors to lead the party at the state level to engineer mobilization, cohesion and efficiency.

“This timely reaffirmation justifies the position of Rivers State APC on the position of the state Governor, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara as leader of our party in Rivers State and should correct any false or misleading narrative being peddled by political jobbers.

“Flowing from the above, we once more condemn in totality, the opinion offered by Mr Felix Morka on the impeachment process against the Governor of Rivers State and his Deputy as his opinion and suggestion contradict the core essence of party membership.

“We hope that Mr Morka elects to display his democratic credentials by stepping down from his role as National Publicity Secretary of our great party for failing to protect organizational objectives as an image maker.

“We further remind the National Working Committee of our great party of subsisting court decisions over Rivers APC leadership (please see Suit No. PHC/3592/CS/2023 & Suit No. PHC/3859/CS/2024) and request that congresses to elect new sets of leadership for the party at the Ward, LGA and State levels be scheduled immediately in order to harmonize all contending interests.

“Finally, we request that the Governor and leader of our party to immediately convoke a stakeholders’ meeting to give our party a direction going forward.”

The planned defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf to the All Progressives Congress, APC, has reignited anxieties around one of Nigeria’s most sensitive traditional disputes – the lingering tussle between Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.

There are indications that the rumoured move threatens to reopen old wounds in the northwest state where power, tradition and politics are tightly intertwined.

This is even as the defection speculation has also reportedly deepened political tension within Kano State, triggering strains between supporters of the Kano Governor and loyalists of his political mentor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a key figure in the NNPP.

DAILY POST reports that the defection move was one of the reasons the governor met with President Bola Tinubu behind closed-doors on Tuesday.

DAILY POST learnt that Yusuf has fixed another date for defection from the NNPP to the ruling APC after a series of postponements.

Recall that the Kano emirate crisis dates back to 2020, when then Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress dethroned Sanusi and later installed Ado Bayero following the passage of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024.

The move was widely criticised as politically motivated and deepened divisions within Kano.

DAILY POST reported that when Gov Yusuf assumed office in 2023 under the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, his administration repealed the emirate law, restored the single Kano Emirate and reinstated Sanusi, while Ado Bayero was asked to vacate the palace.

The decision, hailed by Sanusi’s supporters as corrective justice, was condemned by others as executive overreach, with tensions within the Kano Emirate remaining high since then.

However, Bayero, refusing to relinquish his claim to the throne, returned and took up residence at the Nassarawa mini palace in Kano under heavy security protection, while legally challenging his removal by the state government.

Since March when the Court of Appeal in Abuja directed all parties in the Emirship tussle, to exercise caution pending the hearing of their appeals at the Supreme Court, nothing has been heard about the matter.

DAILY POST reports that it is against this fragile backdrop that Governor Yusuf’s alleged plan to join the APC has triggered fresh concern.

For some in Kano, Yusuf’s defection would represent not just a political realignment, but a potential reversal, or at least a weakening, of the forces that restored Sanusi to the throne.

This is even as supporters of Ado Bayero, who continue to regard him as the legitimate Emir of Kano, see the rumoured defection as an opening for renewed legal and political contestation.

On the other hand, Sanusi’s loyalists worry that the Emir, already a polarising figure, could once again become vulnerable to political headwinds if the balance of power shifts.

Some watchers also believe that any move that appears to blur Yusuf’s earlier alliance with NNPP leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso further complicates the equation, given Kwankwaso’s central role in Yusuf’s emergence and in the restoration of Sanusi.

Yusuf’s rumoured APC defection could expose Kano emirs, trigger security crisis — Sumner Sambo

Speaking about the matter recently, Sumner Sambo, Editor for Politics at Arise News, warned that the rumoured defection of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the All Progressives Congress, APC, could deepen the emirate crisis in the state and pose serious security risks.

Sambo made the remarks on Monday while speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he expressed concern over the position of both Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, amid shifting political alliances.

He stated that the ongoing situation had effectively created two power centres within the Kano emirate, with Ado Bayero being perceived by some as a “federal Emir,” while Sanusi is viewed as the “state Emir.”

According to Sambo, a defection by Governor Yusuf to the APC could further weaken Sanusi’s position, particularly in terms of security.

He noted that Sanusi currently lacks formal police protection and relies largely on local vigilantes for security, warning that this could become more dangerous if political dynamics change.

Sambo also cautioned that the development could create fresh challenges for the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, especially if the APC decides to revisit its earlier stance on the Kano emirship.

He said there were concerns that the APC might seek to reinstate Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano, a move he warned could trigger serious security challenges and political fallout in the state.

Sambo urged federal authorities to exercise caution in their political dealings in Kano, describing the state as politically volatile.

Sambo’s words: “And the major thing that is here in Kano is that I don’t envy the two Emirs who are there. Some people have been calling them the federal Emir, that’s Emir Ado Bayero; he’s being called the Federal emir, while Sanusi Lamido is called the state Emir.

“Now imagine if Governor Yusuf moves to the APC, and Sanusi Lamido is actually left bare naked, because he doesn’t have police protection, and all of that is, you know, it is vigilantes that have been guarding him.

“Now, if Kwankwaso sees what is going on there, there’s going to be a huge challenge to him. And you see, don’t forget, the APC may likely go back to what it intended to do previously, and which is to restore Aminu Bayero back to the Kano emirship. And if that happens, it will be a huge security challenge, including the, you know, fallout of the APC movement.

“And so let the federal authorities be careful of the sort of politics that they are playing in Kano, because Kano can be politically volatile, and let’s see how we don’t increase the political tempo of the country as we head into 2027.”

Emirs Sanusi’s fate hangs on balance — Analyst

On his part, a public affairs analyst and communication expert at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, said that the fate of the two rival Kano emirs could be determined by the political relationship between the state and federal governments, particularly if Governor Abba Yusuf defects to the All Progressives Congress, APC..

Speaking in an interview with DAILY POST on Thursday, Odo said a possible defection by Yusuf would further expose what he described as Nigeria’s systemic failure, where the survival and relevance of traditional institutions depend largely on political interests.

According to him, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II could either maintain his current relevance or be politically sidelined, depending on the alignment between the state and federal authorities.

He added that Emir Aminu Ado Bayero could also see his situation significantly improve under such political realignments.

Odo said the emir who eventually benefits would be the one able to make himself valuable to both the state and federal leaderships.

He criticised the judiciary for failing to conclusively resolve the lingering emirship crisis over the years, noting that the uncertainty has allowed political actors to influence the fate of revered traditional stools.

Odo said: “If Governor Yusuf defects to APC, it’ll confirm what I’ve said somewhere before: in this country, we have a system problem. The fate of the two emirs hinges on the relationship between leaders of the state and federal governments. Emir Sanusi could remain as relevant as he is now. He could be relegated.

“Emir Bayero, on the other hand, could see his fate turned around.

“The Emir who will benefit from the defection is the one who plays his cards well. Either who offers himself valuable to both leaders at federal and state levels.

“The court has been in the position to settle the dust over the years. Still, it didn’t. That’s why I said that it is a systemic problem. If we had functional systems, high placed traditional stools wouldn’t be thrown into chaos, and their existence would be dependent on the mood and caprice of political leaders. We need better functional systems that can guarantee everyone what rightfully belongs to them without the need to pander to political office holders.”

Blame judiciary – Rights Group

Similarly, the President of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), Olu Omotayo, blamed the prolonged Kano emirate crisis on what he described as the failure of the judiciary to act decisively on a matter affecting the state’s security and stability.

Speaking to DAILY POST, Omotayo said the dispute, which has lingered for nearly two years, reflects systemic weaknesses within Nigeria’s judicial system.

He questioned why courts have taken so long to resolve what he called a sensitive and urgent issue with direct implications for peace in Kano State.

According to him, the delay raises concerns about access to justice for ordinary citizens, noting that if a matter of such importance can be prolonged, it offers little hope for the common man seeking redress through the courts.

Omotayo also criticized the existence of two emirs in Kano, describing it as an abnormality that undermines governance.

He maintained that regardless of political developments, including any potential defection by the state governor, the courts have a responsibility to act.

Omotayo said: “This is a matter that has been going on for almost two years. It still boils down to the type of judiciary we have in this country.

“Why does it take so long to resolve such a sensitive matter? Why does it take the court so long to decide a matter that is of utmost importance in a particular state, particularly when it affects the security of the state. You cannot overlook the fact that the issue affects security and stability in Kano State.

“The problem is still with the judiciary we have. The matter has been unnecessarily prolonged. So what’s the hope for the common man, when such a matter that is of utmost importance is taking so long to decide.

“This shows that this country needs total reorganization, total reformation, because if we have a good judiciary this could have been resolved in one way or the other.

“How do you have two emirs in Kano? That’s why we have three arms of government. The judiciary should not be subservient to the federal government.

“Whether the governor defects or not, the judiciary has a role to play which I think they are afraid, and they have disappointed Kano people by not taking a decision.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken the Joint Unions Action Committee of the Federal Capital Territory Administration to court over the ongoing strike by FCTA workers, as the dispute heads for a hearing on Monday.

Workers of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority commenced an indefinite strike on Monday after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum, grounding activities across major government offices in Abuja.

The industrial action shut down operations at the FCTA Secretariat, prompting the deployment of operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police Force to restrict access to the complex.

Despite claims by the FCTA management that most of the workers’ demands had been met, the JUAC rejected the assertion and insisted that the issues at stake remained unresolved.

The lawsuit, sighted by our correspondent on Thursday, was filed at the Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

It bears suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026 and is being presided over by Justice E. D. Subilim.

The claimants are the FCT Minister and the FCTA, while the defendants are the President of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer, and the Secretary General, Abdullahi Saleh, sued in their representative capacities.

Court documents sighted by The PUNCH indicated that the minister and the FCTA are seeking an order restraining the unions and their agents from engaging in picketing, obstruction, lockouts or any action directed at the claimants, departmental heads and political appointees.

The unions were accused of blocking roads, shutting offices and disrupting the smooth running of the FCT administration.

At the hearing of the application, counsel for the claimants were present in court, while the defendants were absent.

The minister and the FCTA were represented by a team of senior lawyers, including Ogwu Onoja (SAN); M.A. Ebute (SAN); George Ibrahim (SAN); K.O. Mustapha and Esther Audu.

After reviewing the affidavits and written submissions, Justice Subilim held that the applicants had established sufficient grounds for the reliefs sought and granted leave for substituted service of court processes on the defendants.

In a ruling delivered on January 21, the court granted leave for substituted service of court processes on the defendants.

The judge ordered that service be effected through publication in Leadership Newspaper or any other national daily, as well as by pasting the processes at the JUAC office located at the FCTA Secretariat, No. 1 Kapital Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.

Justice Subilim said, “Having listened to counsel for applicants and taking a close look at the reliefs, the affidavit and the written address thereto, I am of the view that the applicant has established a case to warrant the granting of the reliefs sought. “Accordingly, an order for leave is hereby granted to serve the originating processes and any or all subsequent process in this suit on the defendants by substituted means by advertising/publishing same in the Leadership Newspaper or any other National Newspaper or Daily in Nigeria and pasting same on the premises of Joint Union Action Committee at FCTA Secretariat No 1 Kapital Street, Area l1, Garki, Abuja.

“An order is hereby granted, deeming the said mode of service as good and proper service on the Defendants. This case is hereby adjourned to 26/01/2026 for Motion on Notion.”

Meanwhile, JUAC has vowed to continue the strike action despite the legal challenge.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Holina Adejoh, the union leadership commended workers for complying with its directive to stay away from work.

“We sincerely appreciate you for complying with the directive to stay at home. The strike action continues until our demands are met,” the statement said.

JUAC confirmed it was aware of the court action, stating, “The union wishes to bring to the notice of all staff that the Minister of the FCTA has taken us to court.”

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has told the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party, LP, to turn a new leaf, sheathe their sword and respect the judgement of the Federal High Court recognizing the Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party.

Otti, who was reacting to the judgement of the Federal High Court, promised to forgive and reintegrate the Abure faction if they ‘turn a new leaf  and become law-abiding.”

Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Otti described the judgement as sound, and thanked those he described as lovers of democracy for standing with LP during the troubling times.

The Governor called on those responsible for all the frivolous litigations against the party to sheathe their sword and respect the judgement, which he said is in tandem with the earlier judgement of the Supreme Court.

Otti charged the national leadership of the Labour Party to see the court victory as an opportunity to rejig the party by ensuring that peace, unity and justice reigned, in line with the party’s constitution and ideals.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has explored cutting-edge technologies to strengthen the Nigerian Navy fleet.

The CNS attended the ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026), held in Qatar, as part of efforts to further enhance the Nigerian Navy’s platform holdings and operational capabilities.

This was contained in a statement signed by Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Information.

DIMDEX 2026, hosted by the Qatar Armed Forces under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, is the largest maritime defence and security exhibition in the Middle East.

The event brings together global maritime stakeholders to showcase emerging technologies and innovations in naval warfare and maritime security.

During the four-day exhibition, Vice Admiral Abbas engaged extensively with leading solution providers in the maritime defence industry, focusing on modern naval platforms, precision-guided munitions, naval gunfire support systems, and opportunities for technology transfer.

These engagements are aimed at enhancing the Nigerian Navy’s indigenous shipbuilding capacity and aligning its fleet development with cutting-edge global standards.

The CNS recalled that the Nigerian Navy has made notable progress in local shipbuilding, having successfully constructed and commissioned five seagoing platforms: MV Sauka Lafia (2010), NNS Andoni (2012), NNS Karaduwa (2016), MV Tug Commander Ugwu (2016), and NNS Oji (2021).

He noted that sustained technology-transfer partnerships would further position the Nigerian Navy as a leading warship manufacturer on the African continent.

DIMDEX 2026 also provided an opportunity for the Nigerian Navy to assess equipment options suitable for maritime security operations within Nigerian waters and across the Gulf of Guinea.

In addition, discussions were held on equipment requirements for the recently established Nigerian Navy Marines, who are expected to be deployed in various ongoing joint operations nationwide.

These engagements align with the vision of developing “a modern, agile and professional naval force dedicated to securing Nigeria’s maritime interests and advancing national security objectives in synergy with other security agencies.”

Several visiting warships from partner nations were also berthed at Hamad Port during the exhibition, offering dignitaries and participants practical insights into contemporary naval capabilities and interoperability.

The Nigerian Navy said its participation in DIMDEX 2026 has opened new avenues for strategic partnerships, fleet modernisation, and enhanced maritime security capacity in line with emerging global trends.