El-Rufai given 48-hour ultimatum on NNPP crisis comment

The leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai over comments he made on the crisis rocking the party.

The NNPP condemned the former governor’s remark at the Social Democratic Party’s headquarters that the present government is responsible for the crisis rocking the opposition party.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the factional national chairman of the NNPP, Oginni Olaposi said El-Rufai lacks knowledge of the party workings and its challenges.

Also describing El-Rufai’s comment as unfounded, Olaposi urged the former governor to tender an unreserved apology to the NNPP or face legal action for such defamatory comment.

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He further asked the former governor to make efforts to find out from Rabiu Kwankwaso, the details of the crisis within the NNPP.

“We shall ask Mallam Nasir El Rufai to ask his friend (Kwankwaso) to answer the following questions before the allegations of interference or sponsorship by the federal government can be substantiated.

“Was it the federal government that asked Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to go to Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam in February 2022 to prostrate and beg for NNPP’s platform in the company of Buba Galadima, Senator Hunkuyi, and others?

“Was it the federal government that asked Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to insult the founder of NNPP, Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam?

“Was it the federal government that asked Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to institute a case against the leadership and founder of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) at the Kano State High Court to challenge his expulsion?

“Was it the federal government that stopped Kwankwaso and Governor Abba Yusuf from appearing before the disciplinary committee set up by the party for internal resolution of crisis within NNPP?” Olaposi queried.

El-Rufai given 48-hour ultimatum on NNPP crisis comment

Defection: Sack Ned Nwoko from Senate, PDP tells court

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sued the Senator representing the people of Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, over his recent defection to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the PDP prayed the court to declare vacant the Senator’s seat for leaving the party.

The PDP in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/454/2025, and filed through its Counsel, Dr. Ayo Asala, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urged the court to immediately order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant position.

The originating summons dated February 27, 2025, had Nwoko, the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Independent National Electoral Commission as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants.

PDP also prayed the Court to direct Nwoko to return all salaries, allowances and other emoluments he received as a Senator from the date he defected from the PDP to the APC.

In the originating summons, PDP is asking the court to determine if Nwoko ought to have vacated his seat, having defected to another party after being sponsored by the PDP at the polls.

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The plaintiff sought the following reliefs; “A declaration that the 1st Defendant, having defected from the plaintiff being the political party(People’s Democratic Party) that sponsored him and on whose platform he was elected as a Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly to another political party which is the All Progressives Congress (APC), ought to have vacated his seat in the said National Assembly with immediate effect by virtue of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999(As Amended).

“A declaration that the 2nd and 3rd Defendants are under constitution and legal duties by virtue of Section 68(1)(g) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999(As Amended) to declare the seat of the 1st Defendant as a Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly vacant , the 1st Defendant, having defected from the plaintiff being the political party that sponsored him and on whose platform he was elected as a Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly to another political party,being the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“An order declaring vacant the seat of Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly currently occupied by the 1st Defendant and directing the 1st Defendant to with immediate effect, vacate the said seat by Virtue of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999(As Amended). The 1st Defendant having defected from the plaintiff being the Political party(People’s Democratic Party)that sponsored him and on whose platform he was elected as a Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly to another political party namely, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“An order of this Honourable Court directing the 1st Defendant to immediately vacate his seat as a Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly,having defected from the plaintiff being the political party that sponsored him as a Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly to another political party to wit, All Progressives Congress (APC).

“An order of this Honourable Court directing the 4th Defendant to immediately conduct a by-election to fill the vacant seat of the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria upon declaring the seat vacant.

“An order this Honourable Court to directing the 1st Defendant to return all salaries, allowances and other emoluments received by him as a Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly from the date he defected from the plaintiff to another political party to wit,the All Progressives Congress (APC).” the PDP added.

Defection: Sack Ned Nwoko from Senate, PDP tells court

Obasa, Meranda, Lagos assembly members meet Tinubu in Villa

Reinstated Speaker of Lagos State Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Obasa, and ousted speaker, Mojisola Meranda, have arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja for a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

Others sighted at Villa for the meeting are members of the State House of Assembly.

Speaker Obasa, arrived at about 2:50pm, while his colleagues had earlier arrived with Miranda in two coaster buses.

The meeting, it was learnt, had to do with the recent leadership crisis in the State House of Assembly.

Obasa was impeached by some of his colleagues but was later reinstated after the intervention of the political leaders especially the Governing Advisory Council (GAC).

Despite the Speaker’s reinstatement, it was gathered that the bad blood arising from his impeachment still persists.