The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reaffirmed its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dismissing claims that the party has withdrawn backing for his second-term bid.

In a statement dated April 17, 2026 and signed by Auwalu Abdullahi Soja, APC State Publicity Secretary, the party described as false a statement allegedly issued by a group known as the Arewa APC Forum, Kano State Chapter, which claimed the party has withdrawn its support from the President.

The statement said the claim was false, misleading, and a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the party.

According to the party, no recognised or constitutionally backed organ within the APC in Kano has taken such a decision, stressing that the state chapter remains fully committed to President Tinubu and his administration.

“The APC in Kano is aware of attempts by certain individuals and faceless groups to create confusion and disunity within the party,” the statement said.

It added, “We wish to state categorically that this so-called forum is not known to the party structure and does not represent the views of APC members in Kano State.”

The party also reaffirmed its confidence in the leadership of President Tinubu, noting that his administration is focused on delivering good governance, implementing economic reforms, and promoting national development.

APC in Kano, under the leadership of Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa, urged party members and the general public to disregard the statement entirely, describing it as the work of mischief-makers trying to create unnecessary tension.

“The so-called signatory of the purported withdrawal is faceless and not a stakeholder of the party at any level in Kano,” the statement added.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has said that former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, does not have the capacity to deliver Rivers State to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

Wike said this on Friday while interacting with reporters in Abuja, the nation’s capital city.

He referenced past elections in which Amaechi, despite his influence and roles within the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, failed to secure electoral victories in Rivers state.

The minister equally recalled the 2015 and 2019 elections, pointing out that even with federal backing as Director-General of the presidential campaign of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC did not perform strongly in the state.

According to him, despite what he described as “federal might” deployed during past elections, he still won the governorship elections in the state, insisting that the state remains politically resistant to such projections.

“Are we saying today, if an election is conducted in Rivers state today, that Rotimi Amaechi will deliver Rivers state to ADC?

“Remember, he was a governor. When I came to run as governor, he was in the APC. Who defeated him? And he was the DG of the campaign then.

“Remember, in 2019, when I was running for my second term, he was the minister of transportation and was the DG of Buhari’s campaign,” he said

Wike further questioned ADC’s prospects nationally, adding that former Senate President David Mark, who is the national chairman of the party, cannot deliver Benue, his home state.

“Take, for example, Benue, where the former senate president, their so-called chairman of the party, his daughter won under APC, and he was in PDP,” he said.

 

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated the former Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Musiliu Smith (rtd), on his 80th birthday, describing him as a visionary and respected elder statesman.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a congratulatory statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described the former IGP, who clocks 80 on Friday, April 29, as an epitome of dedication and selflessness in public service.

The Governor commended Alhaji Smith’s contribution to the security of lives and properties across the country during his tenure as the Inspector-General of Police of Nigeria.

He said: “On behalf of my family, the government, and the people of Lagos State, I congratulate the former Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, on the occasion of his 80th birthday. It is with great delight that I join Alhaji Smith’s family, friends and associates to celebrate his 80th birthday.

“Alhaji Smith is worthy ambassador, a patriots and an extraordinary Nigerian who deserves to be celebrate as he reaches the advanced age of 80 for the impactful and purposeful life that he has lived.

“As Inspector-General of Police, he discharged his duties with the utmost professionalism, competence and dedication, leaving the Nigerian Police with impeccable track records. He is an epitome of dedication and selflessness in public service.

“As Alhaji Musiliu Smith joins the Octogenarian Club, it is my prayer that the Almighty God will continue to bestow on him good health, wisdom and knowledge. He will witness many more fruitful years to render continuous service to humanity, Lagos and our dear country, Nigeria.”

Nine Ijebu Ode kingmakers have again been invited to appear at the Ogun State Police Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta, next week Monday and Tuesday over allegations of bribery and financial inducement during the selection process of the new Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu land.

Recall that the Ogun State government in January through a statement signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, halted the selection process of the new Awujale due to petitions received from security agencies and other stakeholders

The kingmakers were earlier invited by the Ogun State Police Command in February over accusations of cash inducement in the selection of the new Awujale.

It was learnt that after some superior authorities intervened, the probe was eventually dropped.

However the kingmakers have been re-invited via a letter dated April 17th, 2026, signed by Gbenga Adeoye, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department.

One of the kingmakers, the Kakanfo of Ijebu land, Chief Abimbola Okenla, confirmed the police invite, saying four of them are to appear on Monday while the other five are scheduled for Tuesday.

The kingmaker described the frequent invitations as a distraction, noting that the allegations were unfounded.

“It’s true that the Ogun State Police Command has invited the kingmakers to the command’s headquarters in Abeokuta. Four of us are to be there on Monday while the remaining five will be there on Tuesday.

“None of us is happy with this frequent invite by the security agencies over unfounded allegations. The people of Ijebu land are equally not happy about it because it is more of distraction,” the monarch said.

He appealed Governor Dapo Abiodun to allow the kingmakers do their job in picking the next Awujale of Ijebu land without any further delay.

“We are only pleading with Governor Dapo Abiodun to allow the kingmakers to do their job and complete the assignment of picking the next Awujale of Ijebu land without any further delay,” he said.

Parts of the latest police invitation letter read: “In continuation of the aforementioned case under investigation, you are kindly requested to report at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Tuesday 21 April, 2026 at 1000hrs for an interview with the Commissioner of Police, through the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department.

“This is a fact finding invitation pursuant to the investigative powers conferred on the Nigeria Police by the combined provisions of Section 214 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and Section 4(a) of the Police Act 2020.

“Your presence is therefore required to assist in advancing the course of Criminal Justice delivery and fairness. Should you require any clarification kindly contact 08038455857. Please take note that you are at liberty to come along with your lawyer”

The Chief Executive Officer of Aviation Africa, Toni Ukachukwu has said that there is a manipulation going on in the Nigerian petroleum industry.

Speaking on Arise News, Ukachukwu said that Nigerian should not suffer the adverse effects of the US-Iran war, as currently the case.

He noted that the country refines and produces crude locally, admitting that the disruptions could have effects, but not up to 300%.

DAILY POST reported that domestic and foreign airlines operating in Nigeria may begin shutting down services from April 20 as the cost of aviation fuel, JetA1, increased to about N3,000 per liter.

Reacting, Ukachukwu said, “I think by and large, there is some kind of manipulation going on with the marketers.

“Ordinarily, Nigeria should be insulated from whatever has happened from the issues of the Iran US war, because we have a refinery…Dangote refinery locally.

“We refine locally and produce crude locally. But having said that, I mean, we are part of the geopolitics.

“The disruption should have had some effect on the Nigerian market, but not to 300%, so it’s not acceptable.

“And I think there are some manipulations going on.”

A fresh leadership dispute has emerged within the Zamfara State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as two rival groups lay claim to the party’s structure following a contested congress.

One camp, led by Malam Mohammed Mainasara, maintains that it was officially authorised by the party’s national leadership to organise and supervise the congress in the state. Mainasara said he headed the committee assigned for the exercise, with Ambassador Zubairu Yalwa serving as secretary, alongside other members.

He noted that the committee carried out its assignment and facilitated the emergence of a new State Executive Committee (EXCO) through consensus backed by party stakeholders.

According to Mainasara, the exercise produced Malam Shehu Gulubba as State Chairman and Dr Ahmad Hashim as Secretary. Jafafar Aliyu was named Youth Leader, while Maryam Abdullahi emerged as Women Leader, among other positions.

But the development has been rejected by another faction led by Kabiru Garba Gusau, who insists he remains the duly recognised state chairman.

Gusau described the process that produced the new leadership as invalid, alleging that it was driven by individuals seeking to create division within the party for political purposes. He argued that any legitimate congress must involve broad consultation and agreement among all stakeholders.

He added that his faction has reported the matter to security agencies, including the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), and warned that it would not accept the outcome of the disputed exercise.

Gusau also announced disciplinary action against those who took part in the congress, stating that, as chairman, he retains the authority to suspend or dismiss party members.

The Osun State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party-aligned Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, has criticised a recent protest staged by council chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the PDP-backed ALGON leadership rejected allegations by the APC chairmen that the state judiciary had flouted court orders in matters concerning local government administration.

The APC council chairmen had on Wednesday organised a protest at the entrance of the Osun State High Court in Osogbo over the ongoing trial involving officials of a commercial bank linked to local government allocations.

During the demonstration, the protesters displayed placards bearing inscriptions such as “Say no to disobedience of court orders” and “Disrespect for court judgements is an invitation to anarchy.”

Speaking for the demonstrators, Ejigbo Local Council Development Authority chairman, Kolapo Olayanju, accused the state judiciary and Governor Ademola Adeleke of disregarding legal directives.

However, the PDP ALGON leadership described the protest as inappropriate and questioned the motive behind the action.

The statement, jointly signed by its chairman, Sarafa Awotunde, and secretary, Lukman Afolabi, labelled the protest “embarrassing and disgraceful.”

It alleged that the APC chairmen had remained in control of council administrations beyond their tenure.

According to the statement, “They have been occupying council offices for about 14 months after their tenure allegedly expired in October 2025 and have continued to collect funds meant for local governments.”

The PDP group also questioned the decision of the APC chairmen to protest at the court premises instead of allowing due legal processes.

“Do they want to stampede the judiciary? If they are certain of their claims, they should allow the court of law to determine the matter,” the statement read.

DAILY POST reports that the disagreement highlights the ongoing dispute between officials elected in the October 2022 local government elections and those elected in February 2025 over control of council areas in Osun State.

Women from the Mushere community of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, on Thursday, April 16, 2026, took an unprecedented step by staging a nude protest over the removal of the traditional ruler of Mushere Chiefdom, the Mishkakam Mushere, Julius K. Diblang, by the state government.

The removal of the monarch, announced by the Ministry for Chieftaincy Affairs, was linked to ongoing insecurity in the chiefdom and allegations of his involvement in some conflicts, as well as his failure to address violent attacks, leading to accusations that he was a sellout among residents.

However, many indigenes of the chiefdom have risen in defence of the dethroned traditional ruler, claiming that his removal was a witch-hunt, as he had worked hard to restore peace and return displaced people to their homes.

Supporters of the monarch also claim that the government’s action was a misplaced priority during an active security crisis.

Since his removal in early April, different groups have staged pockets of protests demanding his immediate reinstatement, but the mother of all the protests was the naked demonstration by community women who stormed the council secretariat carrying placards with different inscriptions such as “Bring Back Julius Our Chief,” calling on the government to immediately reinstate their monarch, insisting that his removal has destabilised the community.

In video footage of the protest that circulated widely on social media, a group of elderly women was seen completely naked and marching through the community, chanting solidarity songs and expressing their grievances.

One of the leaders of the protesters, who spoke to journalists on why they had to go naked during the protest, said they stripped naked to tell Governor Mutfwang that he had erred in removing the monarch, insisting that he had done a lot to restore peace in the chiefdom.

“We had to remove our clothes to protest and demand that our paramount ruler, Mishkakam Mushere, Julius K. Diblang, who was unjustly removed from office, be reinstated immediately.

“This is a message from us to Governor Caleb Mutfwang that he should return Mishkakam Julius Diblang immediately or a big calamity will befall him. The world has seen our nakedness, and those who understand these things will know that you don’t take a woman’s nakedness for granted.

“Governor Mutfwang should better listen to us and bring back Mishkakam Mushere before it’s too late,” she said.

There is a renewed call for the annulment of the audit report by Savannah Energy on Ibom Power Company, IPC, (Akwa Ibom State owned power company) and for the engagement of independent and qualified audit firms that would conduct a fresh audit of the company.

Governor Umo Eno shortly after assumption of office in 2023 had a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Savannah Energy- owners of Accugas, (the gas suppliers to Ibom Power Company) to conduct a technical audit of Ibom Power with the aim of identifying the operational challenges and reposition the plant for optimum performance.

The audit, which was done under the supervision of Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation (AKICORP) was eventually submitted to Gov Eno in April 2024 amid allegations of conflict of interest and non visitation of the facility during the exercise.

Open Forum, a Non governmental organisation in the State, was first to raise concerns about the ethical validity of the Akwa Ibom State Government appointing Savannah Energy, the gas suppliers to Ibom Power Company as auditors of Ibom Power.

Then, some staff of Ibom Power lamented that Savannah Energy never visited the company before submitting its report.

Open forum was recalled to have said, “This represents a clear conflict of interest and violates international auditing standards, including the IFAC Code of Ethics and ISA 200/220. Awarding an audit to a company with vested commercial interests undermines credibility, transparency, and public confidence.”

The Convener of the Forum, Mathew Kofi Okono popularly known as MKO called for full independent audit of not just the Ibom Power Company but all other government owned investments under the supervision of AKICORP which according to him are in almost derelict states.

“The Forum calls for engagement of a fully independent and qualified audit firm for a credible, comprehensive, operational and technical audit of Ibom Power, Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation (AKICORP) and indeed all government-owned investments in the state with a view to repositioning them for optimum performance and improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

“It is common knowledge that virtually all government-owned investments in the state under the supervision of AKICORP are either dead or on life support,” he said.

Meanwhile, almost two years after the audit report was submitted, the power situation in the State has not gotten better. Much has not been heard about the company aside the reforms and the sack of its Managing Director, Dr. Mayen Etukudoh.

Etukudoh was booted out of Ibom Power Company after his chilling revelations at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly where he informed the House of non-funding from the state government despite reported annual appropriations since he assumed office in 2016 till his exit in 2025.

He also reported in one of the public hearings a missing $80m said to have been given to Ibom Power Company by the Federal Government of Nigeria but never found its way to the company’s account.

Etukudoh’s exit from the company and the replacement with another has not brought significant impact in power supply in the State as Akwa Ibom is still dependent on a perennially epileptic National Grid.

Worried by the state of power in Akwa Ibom, Gov Eno recently constituted a Power Reform Implementation Committee (to be managed by a consultant) to find lasting solutions to issues of power outages and blackouts.

However, some analysts and experts have described the committee as lacking professional expertise in electricity generation, transmission, and utility management.

Engr Emmanuel Eno, a London based Akwa Ibomite, in his post on Facebook kicked against the composition of the Akwa Ibom State Power Reform Committee on grounds of “professional negligence.”

According to him, “The committee lacks a track record and needed technical capacity. If the goal is efficiency, sustainability, or real reform, this committee is destined to fail before it even starts. Power reform is technical, complex, and affects millions of our Akwa Ibom people.”

Also speaking, the former Vice Chancellor University of Uyo, Prof. Akpan Ekpo in a radio programme anchored by MKO advocated strongly for the engagement of indigenous experts to revive and reposition the power company instead of “engaging in talk shows,” as power according to him is a technical matter.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued by Okono on Monday, he noted that Akwa Ibom State government should as a matter of urgency consider the establishment of Ibom Gas Company to facilitate a coordinated investment in the gas sector to ensure undisrupted supply of gas to Ibom Power and other investments and service other clients as a way of boosting the IGR of the state.

He also called for a diligent review of the 2009 MoU with Savannah Energy (Accugas) on the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement and other investments, like the 69km Gas Pipeline to the Gas Plant.

Going back to memory lane, MKO said with the supply of gas being projected as a potential major challenge to the operation of Ibom Power Company, the Akwa Ibom State in 2009 under the administration of former Gov Godswill Akpabio signed a $66m Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) with Seven Energy owners of Accugas, now known as Savannah Energy for Accugas to build and operate a gas infrastructure in the state that will supply gas to Ibom Power.

“The sum of $33m was paid upfront as a form of commitment with the balance structured for monthly deductions from the State Government account.

“Additionally, Akwa Ibom State Government built a 69km gas pipeline to assist the company in the establishment of their $350m gas processing plant in the State.

“But the 10-year agreement signed with the company saw the state paying $2 instead of 40 Cents as gas was selling for then. The price differentials later tilted in favour of the state, which meant revenue to the coffers of the government.”

He said such an agreement should be revisited to ascertain the position of the state government.

He expressed hope that with the decentralised national power policy, presence of Ibom Power plant, abundant gas and manpower in the state (experts), Akwa Ibom State would be a model in resolving the intractable power crisis in Nigeria.