Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar’s son, Adamu Abubakar has defected to the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

DAILY POST had reported that Adamu, a former commissioner in Adamawa State resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on Thursday.

A few hours after his resignation, Adamu completed his online registration with the ADC, a party where his father is aspiring to contest the 2027 election.

In an X post on Thursday night, Adamu called on “all my supporters and well wishers to join me by registering with the ADC as we work together to advance the cause of good governance and national development”.

A legal practitioner, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is now the leading opposition party in Nigeria, predicting that more politicians will soon defect to the party.

DAILY POST earlier reported that a total of nine senators have defected to the ADC, making it a leading minority in the National Assembly.

Reacting to this via Channels TV morning brief on Friday, Okonkwo stressed that the ADC does not rely on government power or resources to attract members.

According to him, the party’s growing appeal is driven by a coalition of opposition leaders seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“We’re not APC; we don’t have power to give and we don’t have resources to give. It’s not even within our reach because we are not the ruling power,” he said.

He, however, insisted that despite not controlling federal power, the ADC has emerged as the most viable opposition platform in the country.

“The truth is that ADC, the African Democratic Congress, is today the leading opposition party,” Okonkwo stated.

The lawyer noted that he had earlier advised opposition leaders from parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) to unite in order to effectively challenge the ruling party.

“I said this a long time ago that PDP, LP and other parties are not viable. The opposition leaders and parties should do themselves good to form a coalition,” he said.

According to him, the coalition eventually agreed to adopt the ADC as the political platform to pursue what he described as the aspiration for a new Nigeria.

“When they coalesced, they were able to deal with the APC that has constituted itself as an enemy of democracy and certainly an enemy of the welfare of the people,” Okonkwo added.

He further claimed that more politicians would soon join the party as the political landscape continues to shift ahead of future elections.

“You will see more politicians joining us soon, and APC will soon be history by the grace of God,” he said.

Kaduna state has recorded its first rain of the year. The rain touched the soil of the state at about 10pm on Thursday.

The rain which was accompanied by heavy wind sparked jubilation among residents who had grappled with a heat wave in the past weeks.

Recall that both Christians and Muslims have had to battle with high humidity amid ongoing fasting.

Many believe the change in weather has affected how members of both religions observe their fasting obligations, largely due to increased fluid intake.

A resident, Mallam Yusuf Dan Musa, told DAILY POST that the rain has now reduced the amount of water intake.

“We saw rain coming when we noticed the heat was much. Most of the time, excess heat brings instant rain.”

The rains came one week to the end of Muslim Ramadan fasting and more than two weeks before Easter that marks the end of Christian fasting.

The lingering crisis at the Taraba State University, TSU, which forced academic staff to embark on an indefinite industrial action, may soon be resolved following a major financial intervention by the Taraba State government.

This development, as noticed by DAILY POST became evident on Thursday when the state governor, Agbu Kefas, personally visited the university campus in Jalingo, the state capital, where he announced the approval of N3 billion to address outstanding entitlements owed to staff unions.

The intervention is widely seen as a decisive step toward ending the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, chapter of the institution.

While addressing members of the university community, the governor approved the immediate release of N200 million as part of the settlement. He also authorized monthly payments of N100 million beginning in April, which, according to him, will continue until the accumulated arrears are fully cleared.

In a symbolic show of commitment to the agreement, Kefa ,who serves as the Visitor to the university, was observed to have also signed documents authorizing the disbursement of the funds in the presence of the union leaders, including the ASUU Chairman, Dr. Mbave Joshua Garba.

Members of the university community have welcomed the intervention, describing it as a positive step toward restoring normal academic activities after months of disruption caused by the industrial action.

Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the university unions has scheduled a congress meeting to deliberate on the government’s offer.

Observers expect the unions to consider suspending the strike to allow lectures and other academic activities to resume.

However, some lecturers who spoke with DAILY POST noted that the final decision will depend on the outcome of the congress.

If the strike is eventually called off, the development is expected to stabilize the academic calendar at Taraba State University and bring relief to thousands of students whose studies have been stalled by the dispute.

The Nigerian Senate has urged the Federal Government to establish a military base in Kwande Local Government Area to improve security and help displaced residents safely return to their communities.

Lawmakers also called on security agencies to increase surveillance and carry out coordinated patrols and operations across affected communities to prevent further attacks.

In particular, the Senate recommended setting up a military base along the Ikyurav–Ya–Ukusu corridor to ensure a consistent security presence in the troubled area.

The chamber further appealed to telecommunications companies to install communication masts in the locality so residents can make distress calls during emergencies.

It also directed the National Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials and humanitarian assistance to families impacted by the attacks in Kwande and other parts of Benue State.

During the session, senators observed a one-minute silence in honour of those killed in recent attacks in Abande, Awu, Asinuba, Awapacho and neighbouring communities.

The resolutions followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Udende concerning the rising attacks in communities within Kwande Local Government Area.

While presenting the motion, Udende explained that recent coordinated attacks by armed assailants in the area had resulted in the deaths of more than 20 people and forced many residents to abandon their homes.

He recalled that on February 5, 2026, gunmen stormed a settlement in the area, killing several residents, injuring others and destroying houses and other property.

According to him, about 50 people were reportedly killed during the February attacks, while a number of others are still missing.

The senator further noted that another round of violence occurred in March, worsening the humanitarian crisis in the area.

He stated that on March 10, gunmen reportedly killed about 11 people in fresh attacks, while an earlier assault on March 5 in Bachor community also caused casualties and destruction of property.

Udende told lawmakers that several of the bodies recovered after the attacks remain unidentified, while about 25 people are still unaccounted for.

He also cautioned that the arrest and harassment of local vigilantes by security operatives could weaken collaboration between community volunteers and formal security agencies.

According to him, poor road networks, limited communication infrastructure and the absence of permanent security formations continue to slow down response efforts to distress calls in the rural communities.

Seconding the motion, Senator Osita Izunaso described the security situation in Benue as a national emergency requiring swift government action.

Also speaking, Senator Ahmed Lawan emphasized the need to strengthen Nigeria’s overall security framework, stressing that security agencies must be properly funded and equipped with adequate logistics to effectively confront armed groups.

Former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Tambuwal, who currently represents Sokoto South in the Senate, conveyed his decision in a letter dated March 11, addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Tambuwal/Shinfiri ward.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives cited the lingering internal crisis and divisions within the party as the reason for his exit.

He announced in the early hours of Thursday that he had official registered to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying the move came after careful consideration and wide consultations.

“The leadership disagreements and divisions within the party at various levels have made it increasingly difficult for me to continue my active participation and commitment as a member.

“The ongoing conflicts have, unfortunately, weakened the unity and direction that once defined the party,” he wrote.

Tambuwal, however, expressed appreciation to the PDP for the opportunities it gave him to serve the country in different capacities.

He added that his decision was driven by his belief that Nigeria needs “a stronger political platform built on integrity, accountability, inclusiveness, and a clear commitment to national development.”

Mallam Sa’idu Umar, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Sokoto State, has officially resigned his membership from the party, citing unresolved leadership crises at the national level.

Umar announced his resignation in a letter dated March 10, 2026, and addressed to the chairman of the PDP in Sarkin Adar Kofar Atiku Ward, Sokoto South Local Government Area.

In the letter, the politician said his decision followed “careful reflection on the lingering legal challenges and the existence of parallel leadership within the party at the national level,” which he noted had remained unresolved and was hindering unity and effective political engagement within the party.

“This decision follows careful reflection on the lingering legal challenges and the existence of parallel leadership within the party at national level, which has unfortunately remained unresolved and continue to hinder unity, stability, and effective political engagement within the party structure,” he wrote.

Umar expressed gratitude to the PDP leadership and members for the opportunity to contest the 2023 governorship election in Sokoto State under the party’s platform.

“I remain sincerely grateful to the party for the confidence reposed in me through the opportunity to contest as its gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 General Elections in Sokoto State. I deeply appreciate the support of the leadership, members, and supporters who stood with us throughout the journey,” he stated.

Despite stepping down from the party, Umar reaffirmed his commitment to democratic ideals and the development of Sokoto State and Nigeria.

“While I step aside from the formal membership of the party, I remain committed to the pursuit of good governance, democratic values, and the continued development of our dear state and nation,” he added.

Copies of the resignation letter were also sent to the PDP chairmen in Sokoto South Local Government Area and Sokoto State.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said he had “no choice” but to sign the Electoral Act, explaining that the bill was passed with overwhelming support by the National Assembly of Nigeria.

According to Tinubu, he chose to respect the rule of law rather than plunge the country into political turmoil.

He made the remarks while addressing the All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja, where he reflected on the challenges of governance and the nature of politics in a democratic system.

Speaking on the Electoral Act, the president said he chose to respect the decision of the National Assembly of Nigeria, which passed the legislation with overwhelming support.

“I had no choice. I didn’t want to throw the country into turmoil of argument,” Tinubu said.

“There was an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly that passed the law. If I had serious questions or reservations, I would have raised them. But I submitted myself to the principle of the rule of law and democracy. I signed, and the rest is history.”

The president stressed that democracy requires compromise and mutual support among political actors, noting that political competition often feels rewarding only when one is victorious.

“The game of politics is sweet only when you’re winning,” he said.

Tinubu added that leaders and citizens alike must learn to accommodate and support one another in order to strengthen democratic institutions.

“We must accommodate one another. We must help one another. We must strengthen the platform. But in democracy, yes, there must be peace, stability, and commitment to the rule of law,” he said.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Abia State Command, has disclosed that about fifty persons, including graduates and undergraduates, are undergoing rehabilitation at its centre in Aba, Abia State.

According to the command, those undergoing rehabilitation were previously involved in drug addiction or abuse and were brought to the centre by their families and relatives for treatment by the NDLEA.

The disclosure was made by Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Bekwele Chukwu, in Umuahia when he delivered a lecture at a sensitisation programme organised by the Nigerian Army for the troops of 14 Brigade, Ohafia.

He noted that through the efforts of the NDLEA, youths and community leaders are being sensitised about the dangers of drug abuse and other harmful substances.

DCN Chukwu, who stood in for the Abia State NDLEA Commander, CN Chigbu Odoemelam Chilee, gave an in-depth presentation on the various categories of illicit and psychoactive substances, their psychological and physiological effects, and the grave consequences of substance abuse on operational efficiency, discipline, and national security.

He emphasized that drug abuse within the military undermines professionalism, compromises judgment, and endangers lives. He encouraged troops of 14 Brigade to remain vigilant, uphold integrity, and seek help where necessary, stressing that prevention remains the most effective approach.