The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State is facing significant challenges as high-ranking members continue to decamp to the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The APC has witnessed a major shift, with prominent members leaving the party to join the ADC. Among the notable figures who defected on Monday is Senator Sabo Nakudu, who is expected to contest the governorship in 2027.

His move signals a growing shift in allegiance ahead of key political activities.
His defection marks a significant wave of departures in the state, raising eyebrows and sparking discussions about the changing power dynamics within Jigawa politics.

Analysts believe this realignment could reshape the political landscape in the region as the ADC continues to gain momentum.

Growing discontent between Governor Umar Namadi and his predecessor, Badaru Abubakar, is widely attributed to allegations of poor party management and the marginalisation of influential stakeholders by Governor Namadi, whose leadership style has come under increasing scrutiny within the party.

Political observers trace the roots of the crisis to a strained relationship between Mr Namadi and his political benefactor, former governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, as well as his financial backer, Isa Gerawa.

An ally of the former Defence Minister, who requested anonymity, said this development comes at a time when Mohammed Badaru Abubakar was actively working to secure victory for President Tinubu in the state and beyond.

He added that former Governor Badaru Abubakar had been meeting with members of other political parties in efforts not only to secure votes for Tinubu but also to ensure that the APC achieved broad-based victories from the grassroots upwards.

All efforts to speak with the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Hamisu, or the Secretary to the State Government, Bala Mamsa, to provide a balanced perspective proved unsuccessful.

Political activist, Aisha Yesufu, has said that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were bribed to remove the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Yesufu said this on Monday during a live interview programme on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

The co-convener of BringBackOurGirls Movement also said that there are alleged reports that the INEC Chairman was threatened into his action.

Recall that INEC recently stripped former Senate President David Mark as national chairman of the party.

Airing her own opinion, Yesufu said, “There are reports that INEC officials were allegedly bribed with monies up to $50,000, and lands were given. Where is the EFCC and ICPC in all of this?

“The judiciary has turned itself into the plate of corrupt politicians. And that’s not what it should be. You’re having places where houses are being built for them, where all sorts of meetings are going on and stuff like that. Then that’s what worries every one of us.

“My thinking is that one institution should be independent, and if you have institutions that are independent, not the one that you’re hearing people being threatened.

“If there is independence, if there’s accountability, transparency, we don’t have all of these shenanigans going on.

“Let’s all go to court and have whatever it is there, but when you see the institutions, and also the judiciary, have turned themselves into weapon of oppression, willing tool of oppression against opposition parties, then that’s something that worries us, and the democracy of our country.

“This democracy, by the way, many people died for it for us to have what we have today, and we cannot have a few people come and destroy it just because they want to hang on to power that they are not deserving of,” Yesufu stated.

Troops of the 17 Brigade have thwarted an attempted mob attack and prevented the burning of a police outpost in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Zagazola Makama reports that the incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on April 5, 2026, when troops stationed at Combat Team 1 in Danali village responded to a distress call from a Nigerian Police outpost in the area.

The alert followed reports that a large, angry crowd had gathered at the station, attempting to lynch a suspected terrorist in custody and set the facility ablaze.

Troops were swiftly deployed to the scene, where they intervened and brought the situation under control, preventing further escalation and restoring order.

A security source familiar with the operation said the timely response averted significant damage.
“The mob had already become violent and was attempting to burn down the police station. The quick intervention by troops helped to stabilise the situation and protect both the suspect and security personnel,” the source said.

During the operation, police officers reportedly fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
“Minimal force was used to disperse the crowd, but unfortunately one individual was injured. The victim has since been taken to a medical facility and is receiving treatment,” another source disclosed.

Authorities confirmed that calm has been restored in the area.

“Troops are still on ground to ensure the situation remains under control and to reassure residents of their safety,” the source added.

Electricity consumers and experts have picked holes with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent N3.3 trillion settlement plan for the country’s decade-old legacy power sector debt.

This comes after Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga stated on Sunday that President Tinubu finally approved N3.3 trillion to settle legacy debt owed to Gencos.

The announcement has generated mixed reactions in the past 48 hours.

While the Association of Generation Companies of Nigeria questioned the approved N3.3 trillion, stakeholders have also raised concerns on how the decision would halt the electricity supply challenge in Nigeria.

DAILY POST reports that the Chief Executive Officer of APGC, Joy Ogaji, raised alarm over the parameter used by Tinubu’s presidency to arrive at N3.3 trillion verified legacy debt.

She faulted the move, saying that GenCos were not carried along.

In another criticism, Arise Television anchor, Oseni Rufai, in a post on X, described the N3.3 trillion as ‘propaganda,’ comparing the announcement to an earlier statement made by the minister of power, Adebayo Adelabu, in March 2024.

However, Onanuga, in a post on X, disagreed with Rufai.

The confusion comes amid the recent N501 billion power sector debt resettlement bond announced by the Nigerian government.

While the confusion persists, the majority of Nigerians have continued to suffer from epileptic electricity supply with only 3,345 megawatts allocated to electricity distribution companies as of April 3rd, 2026.

Like other celebrations in Nigeria, Easter was marred by darkness in parts of Nigeria.

Tinubu’s approved N3.3 won’t end Nigeria’s power crisis- Olubiyo

Speaking exclusively to DAILY POST on the power sector crisis, Kunle Olubiyo, the President of Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, raised concerns over the Federal Government’s plan to settle N3.3 trillion in legacy debts, stating that the move will not resolve the deep-rooted problems facing the industry.

He said while the payment may appear significant, it fails to address the fundamental issues undermining the sector’s performance.

He noted that discrepancies, as well as conflicting claims and counter-claims surrounding the debt figures, point to flaws in the data used to arrive at the estimates.

According to him, the data collection and generation processes lack scientifically verifiable standards.

Olubiyo further warned that such gaps make the debt figures vulnerable to manipulation by human factors and entrenched corruption within the system.

He stressed that without credible data and structural reforms, settling the debt alone would have limited impact on improving Nigeria’s power sector.

“As good as the payment may sound, it will not in any way address the myriad of challenges bedeviling the power sector.

“The fact that there exist discrepancies and conflicting claims and counterclaims further demonstrates that data collection and data generation that form the basis of the debts’ claims were not generated through Scientifically Verifiable Parameters.

“Hence the susceptibility of the data/debt claims to human elements and endemic individual corruption,” he told DAILY POST.

Tinubu’s presidency playing games with power sector crisis – Ewetumo

On his part, Ewetumo A. A., a retired staff member of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), has also criticized the Federal Government’s plan, alleging a lack of concrete action since the plan was first announced.

Ewetumo said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had continued to “romanticize” the payment plan without implementation.

According to him, the presidency had not demonstrated seriousness in addressing the mounting liabilities in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

“The presidency is playing games,” he said.

He further claimed that the total indebtedness in the sector is far higher than the proposed settlement figure, estimating it at about N12 trillion.

“Total indebtedness is around N12 trillion to the NESI. Sectional debts to GenCos are around N6 trillion,” he stated.

Ewetumo also raised concerns about transparency, noting that despite repeated announcements since 2024, there has been no clear payment framework or list to show how the N3.3 trillion would be disbursed.

“Since 2024, the federal government has been parroting payment of N3.3 trillion with no payment list,” he added.

The Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Hon. Muhammad Usman Ankwai, passed away last night.

Ankwai, who represented Zuru Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC), was elected Speaker at the inauguration of the 10th Assembly on June 8, 2023.

Details surrounding the circumstances of his death were not immediately disclosed at the time of filing this report.

His death has, however, triggered an outpouring of condolences from fellow lawmakers, political associates, and residents across Kebbi State, many of whom have described him as a dedicated public servant who contributed to legislative development in the state.

Further announcements regarding burial arrangements are expected to be made by his family soon.

The 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kebbi State, Aminu Bande, has formally resigned from the party.

Bande, a retired major general, disclosed this in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Nasarawa I, Birnin Kebbi.

He said his decision followed “deep consideration, reflection, and consultations” with associates and key stakeholders.

“I write to formally tender my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party effective from today, Sunday, 5th April, 2026,” the letter read.

Bande was the PDP’s flagbearer in the 2023 governorship election, where he contested against incumbent governor Nasir Idris of the All Progressives Congress.

Explaining his exit, Bande said the move was necessary to align with the wishes of his supporters and the broader interest of pursuing “a more stable platform” to advance good governance in Kebbi State and Nigeria.

While he did not disclose his next political destination, he hinted that further decisions regarding his political future would be announced soon.

However, there is speculation that he may be heading to the African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general election.

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Joemartins Uzodike, has lambasted the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, alleging that he has already failed Nigerians, even before the conduct of any election.

Uzodike asked Amupitan to resign.

He spoke in reaction to INEC’s withdrawal of recognition of the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC.

Uzodike, a lawyer, described Amupitan’s pronouncements on the matter as disgraceful and mischievous.

He added that the interpretation of a court order by INEC under Amupitan’s leadership, despite his status as a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, showed bias.

The ADC stalwart accused the electoral umpire of relying on an order submitted by an individual, thereby displaying what he described as deliberate ignorance of the law, particularly the meaning and application of status quo ante bellum.

According to him, the action of the INEC chairman had brought serious embarrassment to the legal system, accusing him of using a court order to create a leadership vacuum in an opposition political party.

He also faulted what he described as the recognition of an individual as a faction, arguing that Nafiu Bala neither has a secretary nor leads any known executive committee.

“You’ve failed Nigerians even before the election. I have been around in this country since independence and have actively participated in many elections. I make bold to say that an electoral umpire has never descended so brazenly and carelessly into the arena as we are witnessing now.

“The chairman is a Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. How can he not interpret the meaning of status quo ante bellum, which means to return to the position before the matter went to court?

“At what point was the ADC before Nafiu Bala went to court, and who was the chairman at that time?

“The court simply said whoever was in office should remain pending the determination of the matter, but Amupitan’s INEC is saying the ADC does not exist,” he said

Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to urgently investigate what it described as the reckless use of firearms by military personnel that led to the death of a 14-year-old girl in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The incident occurred on Saturday, April 4, when the secondary school student was struck by a stray bullet while inside her home.

Reports indicate that the bullet was fired by military personnel who were allegedly shooting into the air during a wedding celebration at a nearby event centre.

Reacting in a post on its official X handle on Sunday, Amnesty International said the killing was avoidable and must not go without accountability.

“The Nigerian authorities must investigate the reckless use of firearms by the military that killed a girl in Maiduguri, Borno State,” the organisation said.

A family friend of the victim explained that the teenager was not anywhere near the celebration when the tragedy occurred.

“She lived in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) quarters with her family and was inside her home when the tragedy occurred,” the source said. “She had just finished applying henna for her mother and herself, joyfully preparing for a family wedding scheduled for that same day.”

The girl was later buried on Sunday morning at the Maiduguri cemetery, as family members and friends struggled to come to terms with the sudden loss.

Amnesty International stressed that incidents like this illustrate the dangers of unlawful or careless use of weapons, particularly in civilian areas.

The group called for a transparent, impartial, and effective investigation into the shooting, adding that those found responsible must be held accountable.