Politics

I am open to reconciling with Kano gov – Kwankwaso

Published

1 month ago

June 9, 2026

Former Kano State Governor and national leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, says he remains willing to forgive Governor Abba Yusuf and reconcile with him despite their political differences, insisting that his affection for his former protégé has not diminished.

Relationship between the two politicians soured after Yusuf defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party, under which he won the 2023 governorship election, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, a move that drew sharp criticism from members of the Kwankwasiyya movement.

Speaking in an interview in a video posted by BBC Hausa on Monday, Kwankwaso, who has also defected from NNPP to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, said the door to reconciliation remains open.

He stressed that Yusuf was the one who chose to leave their political fold and that he would not turn him away if he decided to return.

“I still love Abba and I didn’t reject him, he is the one that left. So not just Abba, if anyone who left comes back, I won’t be unforgiving. Look at Ganduje, in the many years we worked together, we fell out several times and got back together. That is how politics works,” he said.

Kwankwaso argued that Yusuf’s electoral victory was made possible by the strength of the movement.

“We picked Abba to contest under the NNPP and we won, but he left to join the people we defeated. Some say he did so because he feared losing his position, but he knows there was no way we would have been defeated in Kano. If that were the case, we would have lost when he contested under our party,” he stated.

The former governor further explained that the movement intentionally fielded Yusuf in 2023 to demonstrate its political influence.

“We did not choose him because he was the most senior or the most educated. We chose him because we wanted to test the strength and calibre of the Kwankwasiyya movement at that time,” he said.

Emphasising the importance of tolerance in leadership, Kwankwaso said leaders must accept differing opinions and embrace forgiveness.

“As a leader, you need to have an open heart. You cannot force people to think the way you do because we all come from different backgrounds and have different perspectives. Without forgiveness, we would not have come this far,” he added.

Post Views: 133

Politics

2027: PDP, APC upload gov candidates on INEC portal

Published

6 hours ago

July 20, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Peoples Democratic Party and the ruling All Progressives Congress have commenced the upload of names of their governorship and state Houses of Assembly candidates for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking exclusively with The PUNCH, the PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, disclosed that the party commenced the upload process on Saturday.

Also, a senior APC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, told our correspondent that the party would upload only the governorship and state Houses of Assembly candidates whose nominations had been cleared by the primary election appeal panel and the National Working Committee.

Earlier, in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s timetable, political parties submitted the nomination lists of their presidential and National Assembly candidates between June 27 and July 11, 2026.

The process also included the submission of Forms EC9 and EC9A to EC9E, as required under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

INEC also fixed the submission of nomination forms for governorship and state Houses of Assembly candidates to run from 9:00 a.m. on July 18 to 6:00 p.m. on August 8, 2026.

The timetable further indicates that the personal particulars of presidential and National Assembly candidates will be published on August 8, while those of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates will be displayed on August 29.

It also sets August 22 as the deadline for the withdrawal or substitution of presidential and National Assembly candidates, while governorship and state House of Assembly candidates have until September 19 to withdraw or be substituted.

When contacted, Bature disclosed that the PDP began uploading its candidates’ details on Saturday, adding that the exercise is ongoing and will be concluded before August 8.

He stated, “The Peoples Democratic Party commenced the upload of its governorship and state Houses of Assembly candidates’ details to INEC’s nomination portal on Saturday.

“The exercise has been progressing smoothly without any technical issues, and we are confident that the upload process will be completed well ahead of the deadline.”

Also, the APC source said the party has commenced the upload of its candidates on the INEC portal, with priority given to the 16 incumbent governors seeking re-election.

The 16 incumbent governors expected on the APC list are Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Abba Yusuf of Kano, Dikko Radda of Katsina, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, Umaru Bago of Niger, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto, Agbu Kefas of Taraba and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara.

The source also said the party’s governorship list would feature 12 first-time flagbearers, including Obafemi Hamzat (Lagos), Solomon Adeola (Ogun), Kingsley Chinda (Rivers), Eric Opah (Abia), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Mustapha Gubio (Borno), Jamilu Gwamna (Gombe), Ahmed Wadada (Nasarawa) and Baba Malam Wali (Yobe).

He stated, “I can confirm that the party commenced the upload process yesterday (Saturday), with priority given to the 16 governors seeking re-election.

“The party has also established a committee headed by Jibrin Bancir, the Principal Private Secretary to the APC National Chairman, to coordinate the smooth transmission of documents and materials required for upload to the INEC portal.

“The committee is responsible for receiving documents from state chairmen, verifying the details, ensuring all requirements are met, and forwarding them to the ICT department for upload.

“The arrangement is aimed at making the process seamless, efficient and timely.

“There could be slight changes to the initial list of candidates, as the primary election appeal committee had reviewed some petitions and submitted its recommendations to the National Working Committee.

“So, only candidates who passed the appeal committee’s review and received the approval of the NWC were uploaded to the INEC portal.

“We are confident that the exercise will be completed before the deadline.”

The PDP, APC and other political parties are expected to upload a total of 28 governorship candidates and 993 state Houses of Assembly candidates nationwide.

Governorship elections will not take place in the eight states of Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun due to off-cycle election schedules.

Earlier, political parties participating in the presidential and National Assembly elections had submitted and uploaded their candidates’ lists on the INEC portal.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 23

Politics

2027: ‘Nobody Can Decide If Amupitan Will Do The Right Or Wrong Thing’ – Peter Obi

Published

1 day ago

July 19, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Nigeria Democratic Congress (ADC) 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has stated that the decision on whether to do the right or wrong thing rests with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, ahead of the 2027 election.

It was reports that Peter Obi, during an interview in Germany, linked Ampupitan to a referee, noting that he has yet to have any personal encounter with him.

He said, “I have not met him yet and for me he’s a referee and you can’t decide if a referee will do the right thing or the wrong thing.

“We are telling the youths that it’s about their future, we want a better future because they have a right to a better future and that’s what I’m doing everyday.

“You cannot allow this process to continue, it’s a great country that can be turned around, a country that has the resources to be better.

“Again, if Nigeria is doing well today, it’s not only beneficial to Nigerians, it’s beneficial to Europe because you are the closest people to us . If Nigeria today is booming, then German companies will do more business in Nigeria.”

Peter Obi also noted that Nigerians can choose not to do the wrong thing during the 2027 elections.

He added, “In whatever role they play, the people can decide otherwise, If the people decide that they won’t do the wrong thing, they won’t do the wrong thing; it’s about the people.

“I have seen systems change from the time I became governor till today, I have seen people say that we can’t have this.”

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 23

Politics

Three Governors Told Me Not To Come To Their State – Peter Obi

Published

1 day ago

July 19, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has claimed that three state governors recently prevented him from visiting their states.

It was reports that the NDC flag bearer made the allegation while answering questions concerning an alleged threat to his life during an interview with The Sun, but failed to name the states.

He lamented that his freedom of movement is being violated by some state governors over his political ambition.

The NDC flag bearer questioned why anyone would stop him from visiting a state.

He said, “I have tried to go to about three states, but the governors would say that I shouldn’t come.

“The question is: don’t we have freedom of movement in Nigeria? Why would anybody tell me not to come to a state?

“I have been told that if I come, my life is in danger. What else do you want me to say? What I am saying is there for everybody to see”.

It was recalls that Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, in 2025, warned the former governor of Anambra State against coming to the state without security clearance.

Obi also raised an alarm in a recent podcast, alleging that every move he makes is being frustrated by those in authority.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 23