Politics
Kano APC crisis: Tinubu to meet Ganduje as feud threatens 2023 ‘ambition’
In a move to save his presidential ambition, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is set to meet Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje over the crisis rocking the party in Kano State.
Tinubu had on Sunday met with Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, whose camp has been having a running battle with Ganduje over the control of the party structures in the state.
The former Lagos State governor singled out the leaders of the warring factions in Kano for reconciliation at a time when the just concluded congresses of the party had triggered a crisis in 13 states.
The meeting between Tinubu and Shekarau had raised dust in Kano, regarded as the votes’ bank of the ruling party.
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The congresses had polarised APC in the state into two with the governor’s camp being chaired by Abdullahi Abbas while Shekarau’s faction has Ahmadu Haruna Danzago as chairman.
The crisis reached its crescendo last Tuesday when an FCT high court gave a judgement upholding the parallel congress held by the Shekarau-led faction and voided the Governor Ganduje faction.
The battle between the camps assumed a violent posture on Thursday when thugs torched the campaign office of Senator Jibrin I. Barau. A petition has since been written to the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, indicting top shots in the governor’s camp including its chairman.
The camp loyal to Governor Ganduje led by Abbas had denied sponsoring the attacks.
Why Tinubu wants Kano crisis resolved
A stalwart of the party told Daily Trust that Tinubu waded into the matter as part of plans to advance his yet to be declared presidential ambition. The former Lagos State governor has been romancing with Ganduje since after the 2019 general elections.
Tinubu had last month visited an elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, in Kano, where he sought for the northern leader’s support towards the actualisation of his presidential ambition. Previously, clerics in Kano State had endorsed Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
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The source said internal wrangling rocking the party in Kano State would affect Tinubu’s ambition, hence his intervention.
“Tinubu’s interest in all of these is the number of votes that can come from Kano. A good politician cannot play with the number of votes from the state. Lagos and Kano are central to any politician’s presidential ambition. Combined votes from the two states are over two million and that is why Kano was determinant of the 2015 and 2019 elections,” the source who is close to Ganduje and Shekarau said, pleading not to be named.
Another source said power brokers in the APC including a section at the centre and some governors who are allegedly averse to the Tinubu’s presidential ambition, are fuelling the feud.
“You know some powerful personalities in Abuja have reservations on Tinubu’s presidential ambition, thus they see this as an opportunity to advance their course by decimating the camp of Ganduje,” the source said.
The upcoming meeting between Asiwaju and Ganduje
Contacted, the Kano State Commissioner of Information, Muhammad Garba, said Governor Ganduje was also invited by the national leader of the party for the peace parley.
In a phone interview, he said; “Tinubu invited the two groups, both Malam Shekarau and Kano State governor to the reconciliation meeting. Asiwaju decided to hear from Malam first and subsequently hear from the governor and if there is any reason for reconciliation, then they take it from there.
“If you look at it politically and historically, there is always a contest or struggle for power after a second term. It happens during Shekarau and Kwankwaso.
“But at the end of the day, whether they are reconciled or not, the election will be conducted and Allah decides whoever emerges as governor, senator and what have you.”
Also Monday, the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Lawan Musa, told Daily Trust that a notice of appeal has been filed against last week’s judgment that recognised the ward congress of Shekarau’s faction.
He added that they have also filed a motion for stay of execution and other motions, which he said they believe will tilt the tide in their favour.
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Shekarau met Asiwaju without our consent – G-7 sources
Sources in the camp told our reporters that Shekarau went to the meeting without the blessing of other members of his camp.
Operating under the G-7, the Shekarau’s camp has Senator Barau (Kano North), Rep Shaaban Sharada, Nasiru Auduwa, Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe, Haruna Isa Dederi, among others as key members.
One of the sources said the former governor was yet to brief them on the outcome of his meeting with the APC national leader.
“As far as we are concerned, the meeting was personal and not for our group because he went there without our permission and since he returned, nobody has been briefed.
“What I can tell you is that nobody can handover Kano to anyone come 2023. The state is bigger than anybody,” one of the sources said.
He emphasized that the crisis rocking the APC in Kano was “to solely free the party and open it up to all in the state. As it is now, many people are being side-lined. They are practicing politics of exclusivity and it is not good for our democracy”.
Another source said they would meet today. “There is the possibility of asking Shekarau to tell the world that he went to Lagos on his own,” he said.
A member of the Governor Ganduje faction, Engineer Ramat Ungogo, said the meeting was a sign that the governor’s side is winning in the ongoing crisis.
Ungogo, who is the Chairman of Ungogo LGA, said if Tinubu had invited Ganduje, it would have been interpreted as though “father and son are combining to deal with Shekarau”.
Tinubu’s media aide, Mr Tunde Rahman, pledged to call our correspondent when his comment was sought on why his boss was interested in Kano.
He was yet to call up till the time of going to press last night.
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Ganduje’s faction authentic – APC
The national leadership of the APC yesterday insisted that the congresses attended by its delegation were authentic. The party also said it was yet to receive and study the recent High Court judgment recognising Shekarau’s faction as legitimate in the state.
Speaking with newsmen on Monday in Abuja, Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, said the party did not send parallel state congress committees to the state.
“We are responsible leaders of the party and we won’t like to comment on a judgment that we haven’t seen.
“All I can tell you now is that we are going to apply for a certified true copy of the judgment. We haven’t seen it. We need to study the judgement.
“We didn’t give letters to two committees! How could we have done that? We won’t put fire in our own house. We know the people we gave the official letter to go to Kano and conduct the official assignment. That is the team we will accord recognition to,” he said.
In a separate interview, Barrister Auwal Ibrahim, who led the team that conducted the congress which produced the displaced Abdullahi Abass as chairman, told newsmen that the congress attended by Governor Ganduje was the authentic congresses.
There was no comment from Shekarau’s camp as the number of his media aide, Dr Sule Ya’u Sule was not going through.
Daily Trust
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Politics
Oshiomhole Challenges Obi to Bible Oath Over Private Jet Controversy
Oshiomhole Challenges Obi to Bible Oath Over Private Jet Controversy
Former Edo Governor insists he witnessed Obi’s private jet use, calls for religious test to settle dispute
BENIN CITY — A fresh political controversy has erupted following claims by former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, that Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi frequently uses private jets despite public claims to the contrary.
Speaking in a recent interview on SYMFONI TV, Oshiomhole challenged Obi to a public oath-taking, proposing that both men place their hands on a Bible to settle the dispute.
“Obi is a Christian; I’m a Christian. Please bring a priest, bring your Bible, and I’ll put my hand on it, and let Obi put his hand on it,” Oshiomhole said, emphasizing their shared faith as the basis for the challenge.
The former governor alleged that he personally encountered Obi at the Executive Jet Wing in Lagos on at least two occasions. According to him, on one instance Obi was alone, while on another he was accompanied by his wife. Oshiomhole further claimed that he himself had flown a private jet from Benin and landed at the same time as Obi.
The remarks come amid a broader political exchange regarding Obi’s travel arrangements, which have been a subject of public debate. Obi’s media adviser, Dr. Valentine Obienyem, has since disputed Oshiomhole’s claims, pointing to a long history between the two politicians, including instances where Oshiomhole had previously praised Obi and invited him to campaign in Edo State.
The proposal for a Bible oath has sparked mixed reactions among political observers, with some describing it as an unusual but telling escalation of the ongoing verbal duel between the two prominent figures.
As of press time, neither Peter Obi nor his media team had responded directly to the specific challenge issued by Oshiomhole.
Oshiomhole Challenges Obi to Bible Oath Over Private Jet Controversy
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Politics
Obi Positioning for SGF Role Under Atiku’s ADC Ticket – Sowore
Obi Positioning for SGF Role Under Atiku’s ADC Ticket – Sowore
LAGOS — The political landscape ahead of the upcoming general elections was thrown into fresh turmoil yesterday following explosive allegations by the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who claims that his Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) counterpart, Peter Obi, is secretly working to install Atiku Abubakar as president. In a statement made available to journalists, Sowore alleged that Obi is not genuinely pursuing the presidency but is instead positioning himself for the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in an Atiku-led administration.
According to Sowore, the former Anambra State governor has been surreptitiously directing his teeming supporters to work for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, rather than campaigning for his own party. “Obi is positioning himself to become Atiku’s SGF,” Sowore stated bluntly. “He is secretly directing his supporters to work for the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku. This is a betrayal of the movement that trusts him.” The allegation suggests a complex political realignment where the NDC and ADC are allegedly operating in a synergistic, if covert, manner. Sowore’s claims imply that the Obi movement is being used as a vehicle to siphon votes and energy toward Atiku’s bid, with the promise of a high-ranking position in the cabinet as the reward.
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The accusation, if proven, could have significant implications for the opposition’s unity. Sowore, a vocal activist and former presidential candidate, has historically positioned himself as a critic of the political establishment, often accusing major party candidates of engaging in backroom deals that undermine the will of the electorate. The claim that Obi is eyeing the SGF role—typically the highest administrative office in the presidency—suggests that he may not be confident in winning the top seat, or that a consensus power-sharing arrangement has been struck behind closed doors.
The statement, however, raises questions about the current state of party coalitions. The article identifies Obi as the “NDC presidential candidate” and Atiku as the “ADC presidential candidate,” party labels that differ from their traditional political affiliations (Labour Party and PDP, respectively). This suggests a major realignment of political platforms in this election cycle. Neither the Obi campaign nor the Atiku campaign has issued an official response to Sowore’s allegations at the time of filing this report.
The news has sparked immediate debate on social media, with supporters of both camps expressing confusion and anger. Sowore’s supporters have praised him for “exposing the truth,” while Obi’s loyalists have dismissed the claims as a desperate attempt to remain relevant in a crowded political space. Political analysts suggest that if Sowore’s claims hold any weight, it could lead to a massive voter apathy among the youth demographic that has largely backed Obi’s previous bids.
As the election date approaches, the political arithmetic appears to be shifting rapidly, with accusations of secret pacts and strategic positioning becoming the order of the day. Sowore has vowed to continue exposing what he describes as the “unholy alliances” shaping the future of the nation.
Obi Positioning for SGF Role Under Atiku’s ADC Ticket – Sowore
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Politics
Okonkwo Alleges Return of Subsidy, Accuses NNPC of Plotting Trillions in ‘Lost Profit’
Okonkwo Alleges Return of Subsidy, Accuses NNPC of Plotting Trillions in ‘Lost Profit’
Says FG’s 30-Day Fuel Discount Not Sourced from Dangote
The spokesman for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign, Kenneth Okonkwo, has raised an alarm over the Federal Government’s new 30-day fuel discount policy, describing it as a deceptive return to the previously abolished fuel subsidy regime.
In an interview with Channels TV on Sunday, October 11, 2026, Okonkwo criticized the policy for failing to source petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery. He argued that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) is poised to claim trillions of naira in alleged lost profits as a result of the scheme.
Okonkwo, a political commentator, stated that because the NNPC is not producing domestic refined fuel, the discount is essentially an “import-related subsidy” that benefits foreign refineries and shipping operations rather than local ones.
“The NNPC is not taking from Dangote at all, but they’ll claim trillions in lost profit,” Okonkwo said. “Since NNPC isn’t producing domestic refined fuel, this discount is essentially an import-related subsidy benefiting foreign refineries and shipping operations instead of local ones.”
He warned that the return to a subsidy system opens the door to financial fraud, particularly through the inflation of consumption figures.
“You could report 70 million liters when only 15 million liters were used,” he cautioned, noting the risk of opaque accounting in the sector.
As an alternative, Okonkwo advocated for supplying crude oil directly to the Dangote Refinery for domestic processing to reduce import costs. He stated that domestic refining is a central pillar of the ADC’s economic proposal.
The ADC chieftain’s comments come amid ongoing debate over the Federal Government’s new fuel price mechanism. The government, through Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele, has maintained that the 30-day discount is a “NNPC margin cut” and not a subsidy.
Under the arrangement, NNPC Retail is expected to forgo its profit margin on petrol rather than using public funds to stabilize prices. However, Okonkwo contends that this still constitutes a subsidy, as it artificially reduces consumer costs while masking the true financial burden on the state oil company.
Okonkwo Alleges Return of Subsidy, Accuses NNPC of Plotting Trillions in ‘Lost Profit’
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