Politics

Parties clash over El-Rufai’s probe for criminal conspiracy

Published

8 months ago

September 6, 2025

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress have accused the Federal Government of intimidation and witch-hunt following a police invitation to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and his allies over allegations of criminal conspiracy.

In a letter dated September 4, 2025, and signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, Uzairu Abdullahi, El-Rufai and six ADC leaders were summoned to appear before the State Criminal Investigation Department on September 8.

The allegations against them bordered on criminal conspiracy, incitement of public disturbance, mischief, and causing grievous hurt.

Those listed in the letter were El-Rufai’s former Chief of Staff, Bashir Sa’idu, Jafaru Sani, Ubaidullah Mohammed, Nasiru Maikano, Aminu Abita and Ahmed Hussaini, aka Mikiya.

The ADC state chairman was directed to produce the individuals for questioning.

El-Rufai vs Kaduna govt

El-Rufai and his successor, Governor Uba Sani, had been embroiled in political disputes.

Tension had been building between the duo after El-Rufai’s allies lost by-elections in the state.

Matters got to a head last Saturday when a meeting of the ADC to inaugurate a transition committee in Kaduna State was disrupted by political thugs.

The hoodlums reportedly attacked attendees with weapons, causing injuries and property damage.

The police had blamed El-Rufai for the affray, an allegation he denied.

A recent Channels Television interview in which the former governor also accused the government of “empowering bandits” led to rebuttals by both the federal and state governments.

The Kaduna State Government in particular accused El-Rufai of attempting to destabilise the state.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Suleiman Shuaibu, the state said the former governor’s recent actions amounted to “provocation, manipulation and incitement,” which posed a threat to peace and development.

The government further alleged that El-Rufai convened an “illegal and chaotic meeting” of his associates last Saturday, which degenerated into violence, including gunshots that endangered innocent citizens.

He was subsequently summoned by the police on Thursday.

Atiku, ADC slam govt

Reacting to the development on Friday, former Vice President Atiku said recent events in Kaduna, Katsina, and other areas highlighted “a troubling trend towards authoritarianism” under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Atiku described the police summons of El-Rufai and other ADC leaders, the alleged attack on former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, and the disruption of the Katsina Elders Forum security meeting as part of “a coordinated and dangerous assault on dissenting voices, civic freedoms, and the very essence of pluralistic democracy.”

He warned that criminalising opposition and undermining peaceful civic engagement could push Nigeria towards authoritarian rule, urging citizens and leaders alike to defend democracy.

Similarly, the ADC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the police of being used to harass opposition figures while neglecting the insecurity ravaging communities.

He condemned the Kaduna police invitation and the reported attack on Malami’s convoy in Kebbi, calling them assaults not only on individuals but on democracy itself.

Abdullahi alleged that police officers failed to act while ADC members were attacked in Kaduna.

He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the police invitation to El-Rufai and his allies, the reopening of the ADC office in Kaduna, and the prosecution of those behind political violence in the state.

APC, Middle-Belt knock El-Rufai

But the All Progressives Congress said El-Rufai was not above the law and should honour the police summons.

The party’s National Secretary, Dr Ajibola Basiru, said, “That you are a politician does not give you immunity from criminal investigations. Even if he is charged, it is the court that will decide if he is guilty or innocent. It is wrong to dismiss every police invitation as a witch-hunt.”

Also, the Middle Belt Forum cautioned political parties against aligning with El-Rufai ahead of the 2027 elections, saying such alliances risked alienating voters in the region.

The MBF’s National Publicity Secretary, Luka Binniyat, accused the former governor of making “degrading and divisive” remarks against Southern Kaduna when he appeared on Channels TV.

He described El-Rufai as a “political virus,” warning that any coalition involving him could face massive voter rejection across the Middle Belt.

According to Binniyat, Southern Kaduna’s size, population, and cultural relevance make it strategically important, and any insult to the area is an attack on the wider Middle Belt.

The group alleged that El-Rufai has long had a “toxic relationship” with the region, adding that embracing him politically would mean courting rejection from millions of Middle Belt voters.

‘El-Rufai reaping what he sowed’

Reacting to the development, the Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on Friday accused Governor Uba Sani of using security agencies to persecute perceived political opponents.

The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Maria Dogo, described the invitation as a “clear case of political witch-hunt” targeted at those who refused to align with the governor’s camp.

“Although I don’t want to react to it, let me tell you, El-Rufai is only reaping what he sowed,” Dogo said.

“He robbed us of our mandate during the 2023 governorship election and handed it over to Governor Uba Sani. Look closely at the composition of those invited by the police; they are mostly people who left the All Progressives Congress. This is witch-hunting, plain and simple.”

The PDP spokeswoman accused Governor Sani of hiding behind security agencies to clamp down on political rivals.

Efforts to reach the Kaduna State Government for comments proved abortive as calls and messages sent to the governor’s spokesperson were not returned as of the time of filing this report.

However, a senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, dismissed the PDP’s claims as “baseless and self-serving,” insisting that the police were merely doing their job.

“Nobody is above the law. If the police have credible evidence against anyone, whether a former governor or not, they have the right to invite them for questioning. The PDP is only crying foul because it suits their political narrative.”

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Politics

Wike-backed PDP fixes presidential form at N51m, gov N21m

Published

7 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has fixed its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms at ₦51m and governorship form at ₦21m ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The PDP National Organising Secretary of the faction, Umar Bature, disclosed this in a timetable made available to journalists on Wednesday.

According to the schedule, the faction will submit its register to the Independent National Electoral Commission on April 21, 2026, and notify the commission of its primaries on April 22.

The timetable shows that the expression of interest form for all positions costs ₦1m, while nomination fees vary across offices.

Aspirants for State Houses of Assembly are to pay ₦2m, House of Representatives ₦3m, Senate ₦5m, governorship ₦20m, and presidential aspirants ₦50m.

The sale of forms will begin on April 27 and close on May 4, while the deadline for submission of completed forms is May 9.

Screening of aspirants for State Houses of Assembly, National Assembly and governorship positions is scheduled for May 11, while that of presidential aspirants will hold on May 12.

The presidential primary has been fixed for May 18, while governorship primaries will be held on May 27.

House of Representatives primaries are scheduled for May 21 and Senate primaries for May 23, while State Houses of Assembly primaries will hold between May 21 and May 24. Appeals are expected to be concluded by May 30, 2026.

Bature added that female aspirants would only pay the expression of interest fee for their respective positions.

The PDP has been embroiled in an internal crisis, leading to a split into two factions—one led by Tanimu Turaki and supported by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and the other led by Abdulrahman Mohammed with the backing of Wike.

Several cases filed by both factions are pending in court.

At the Supreme Court on Wednesday, the justices said a date for judgment would be communicated to the parties.

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Politics

Supreme Court reserves judgment in PDP leadership dispute

Published

7 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday, reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, challenging the nullification of its 2025 national convention.

A five-member panel led by Justice Lawal Garba announced that a date for judgment would be communicated to all parties after counsel adopted their final written addresses.

The Turaki faction is seeking to overturn the March 9 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed earlier decisions invalidating the party’s Ibadan convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025.

At the apex court, the faction argued that the dispute falls within internal party affairs and is therefore not justiciable, insisting that due process was followed in organising the convention.

However, lower courts had consistently ruled against the group, nullifying the exercise, restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising its outcome, and issuing orders affecting access to the party’s national secretariat.

The appellate court had upheld two judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which barred the PDP from conducting the convention pending compliance with the Electoral Act and the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.

In one of the decisions, Justice James Omotosho held that the party failed to conduct valid state congresses as required by law and its constitution, thereby invalidating the planned convention.

Similarly, Justice Peter Lifu restrained the party from proceeding with the convention until it allowed former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, to participate in the national chairmanship race after finding he was unjustly excluded.

The suits leading to the rulings were instituted by aggrieved party members, including state executives from Imo, Abia, and the South-South zone, setting the stage for the protracted leadership crisis now before the apex court.

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Politics

Oyebanji re-election in Ekiti will validate Tinubu’s influence — APC chieftain

Published

16 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and House of Representatives aspirant, Henrich Akomolafe, has said the expected victory of Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, in the June 20, 2026, election would serve as a referendum on the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking with journalists during a political consultation meeting on Tuesday, Akomolafe framed the Ekiti poll as more than a state contest, arguing that it would also reflect public confidence in the broader direction of the APC-led Federal Government.

He described Oyebanji as a performer and bridge-builder whose administration has brought stability, development and renewed confidence in governance in Ekiti State.

According to him, the governor’s leadership style—anchored on service, humility and visible results—has strengthened public trust and positioned him for electoral success.

“Ekiti people are politically conscious and always assess performance before making electoral decisions. Governor Oyebanji has built trust through his record, and that trust will translate into votes,” he said.

Akomolafe added that Oyebanji’s policies prioritised the welfare of workers, youths, farmers and traditional institutions, noting that his inclusive governance approach had helped sustain peace and unity across the state.

The APC chieftain also linked the governor’s anticipated victory to growing acceptance of Tinubu’s economic reforms, which he described as bold but necessary steps toward long-term national stability.

“Transformational leadership requires courage. The support Oyebanji will receive will also reflect public understanding of the President’s vision,” he added.

While acknowledging the short-term hardships associated with ongoing reforms, Akomolafe maintained that many Nigerians were beginning to see their long-term benefits.

He further called for unity within the party, particularly in Ekiti South Federal Constituency I, urging intensified grassroots mobilisation to secure victory for the APC across all levels in the election.

Akomolafe also appealed to youths, women and community leaders to rally behind leaders committed to service delivery, stressing that the upcoming governorship poll would be pivotal to consolidating development gains and sustaining peace in Ekiti State.