Author: Hamza Rufai

A CHIEFTAIN of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has poured cold water on speculations that former Kano State governor and NNPP leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, may align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday monitored by News Point Nigeria, Galadima accused the Tinubu-led Federal Government of working against Kwankwaso’s political base in Kano by backing the contested Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, despite his removal by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the NNPP. “How can a Kwankwaso be a friend of the APC with…

PRESIDENT of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has returned to the country after a short vacation in London, dismissing widespread rumours that he had been hospitalised in the United Kingdom. Akpabio, who arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in the early hours of Monday at about 4:00am, was received at the presidential wing by a crowd of senators, aides, associates, and supporters who trooped out to welcome him back. The Senate President had earlier participated in the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland, between July 29 and 31, 2025, before…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Kaura-Namoda South Constituency bye-election in Zamfara State inconclusive. The Returning Officer, Professor Lawal Sa’adu of the Federal University, Gusau, announced the decision, explaining that the margin between the leading party and the runner-up was less than the total number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected in polling units where the election was cancelled. He noted that elections were cancelled in two registration areas in Sakajiki and Kyambarawa wards. In Sakajiki with code 06, two polling units with 1,357 registered voters and 1,298 collected PVCs were affected, while in Kyambarawa with code…

NIGERIA has retained its position as the world’s third-largest debtor to the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), with its total obligations climbing to $18.2bn as of June 30, 2025. The figure, contained in the IDA’s latest financial statements, represents a $1.7bn or 10.3 per cent jump from $16.5bn recorded in June 2024. The IDA, which serves as the concessional lending arm of the World Bank, provides low-interest or interest-free loans and grants to low-income countries. Although its loans typically carry long maturities and grace periods, Nigeria’s rising balance underscores both the scale of its financing needs and its heavy…

PROMINENT business tycoon, elder statesman, and political figure, Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim, has died at the age of 88. He passed away in the early hours of Saturday at a private hospital in Abuja. Born in Mangar, Farin Ruwa Area Administrative Council of Wamba Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Ibrahim rose to national prominence as a wealthy businessman, sports investor, and influential politician. Ibrahim was a close associate of late President Shehu Shagari and played a key role in the formation of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), which ruled during the Second Republic. He was widely regarded as a principled…

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to fully confront the economic challenges facing Nigerians instead of “cherry-picking” comments made by World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to score political points. The party said the Federal Government was wrong to focus solely on Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s observation that Nigeria’s economy had “stabilized,” while ignoring her equally crucial warning that stabilization alone is insufficient without growth, job creation, and social safety nets for struggling citizens. In a statement on Saturday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC accused the Tinubu administration of…

THE House of Representatives has strongly refuted allegations made by one of its members, Hon. Ibrahim Auyo, that lawmakers are required to pay between ₦1 million and ₦3 million to present bills, motions, or petitions on the floor of the chamber. Auyo, who represents Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency in Jigawa State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the claim during a meeting with his constituents. He cited the alleged fees as the reason he has not sponsored any bill or motion since joining the 10th Assembly. However, in a statement issued late Friday, the House leadership dismissed the remarks…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied claims that it deliberately targeted the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a sting operation that led to the arrest of 93 suspected internet fraudsters earlier this week. The clarification came after the OOPL management on Wednesday condemned the late-night raid and arrest of guests lodged within its premises, describing the action as a “calculated attack” on former President Olusegun Obasanjo and a blatant violation of guests’ rights. The OOPL demanded ₦3.5 billion in damages and a public apology within seven days, threatening legal action if the…

THE House of Representatives has opened a high-profile investigation into the ₦1.06 trillion Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme, amid growing public concern that the government’s massive palliative spending has failed to reach intended beneficiaries. The probe, initiated by the House Committee on NG-CARES, was announced on Wednesday by its Chairman, Abubakar Kusada, after a closed-door committee meeting in Abuja. Kusada said the investigation became unavoidable after widespread complaints that vulnerable Nigerians were yet to feel the impact of the intervention despite the Federal Government’s release of $696 million (₦1.06 trillion) to states and the FCT,…

JUSTICE Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court has struck out the N60 billion criminal case filed against the former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Ahmed Kuru. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Kuru on February 11, 2025, on a six-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, and unlawful transfer of property derived from an illegal act. He had pleaded not guilty to all the counts charged. Kuru was arraigned alongside Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited. While Kuru denied the charges, Sigma Golf entered a guilty plea after…

THE fragile coalition of opposition politicians under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform appears to be facing further cracks, as some of its top promoters begin to explore alternative political bases ahead of the 2027 general elections. Prominent among them are former Kano State governor and ex-Senator representing Kano Central, Ibrahim Shekarau, and political figure Dr. Umar Ardo, who are reportedly considering reviving the long-dormant Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP), a party with roots in Nigeria’s Second Republic. Sources in Kano disclosed that Shekarau has been quietly weighing the possibility of reactivating the PRP, which in recent decades has played only…

A COMBINED team of security operatives in Zamfara State has rescued three family members of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Malam Mohammed Abubakar Nakwada, nearly two weeks after they were abducted by suspected kidnappers, News Point Nigeria gathered. The victims, identified as Sadiya Nakwada, Aisha Nakwada, and Abubakar Dan Fulani were taken hostage on July 27, 2025 by armed men in Gusau, the state capital. Confirming the development, security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, said the rescue operation was the result of a coordinated effort between the Zamfara State Police Command’s tactical units and the Force Intelligence…

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has delayed plans to formally join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), fueling speculation about a brewing political showdown with former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is rumoured to be weighing a return to the 2027 presidential race. Atiku, who recently resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after prolonged disputes, had been scheduled to collect his ADC membership card in his hometown of Jada, Adamawa State, on August 6. The event, however, has been postponed indefinitely. According to ADC Adamawa chairman Shehu Yohana, Atiku indicated the ceremony might now take place in mid-August or later, potentially…

THE Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has appealed to a former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). News Point Nigeria reports that Governor Bala made the plea during a courtesy visit by Obi at the government house, Bauchi. “We want you to come back to PDP. Please come back, that is where you belong. Don’t go to where there is disarray,” the governor said. Earlier, Mohammed spoke about the need for a stronger united political front to challenge the current administration. “This ADC, PDP, NNPP, and the rest must…

THE National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday warned members of the party expressing support for President Bola Tinubu to retrace their steps or face stiffer sanctions. It criticised errant members for their actions, describing them as anti-party and against the opposition party’s constitution. “In the light of the foregoing and the instancy of protecting and preserving the existence of our Party and its electoral fortune, the NWC, pursuant to the provisions of Section 59 (1) of the PDP Constitution hereby issues a strong reprimand against such anti-party activities and cautions those involved to retrace…

AS Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, a fierce political rivalry is reportedly brewing within the opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, at the center of the unfolding power play. Multiple insider sources within the ADC allege that Atiku has quietly consolidated influence across the party’s structures, positioning himself for another run at the presidency, while Obi’s supporters complain of being sidelined from critical decision-making processes. The friction within the coalition, meant to serve as a united front against President Bola…

THE 16th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has issued a scathing rebuke of Nigeria’s prevailing value system, condemning the nation’s tendency to glorify corrupt individuals by rewarding them with prestigious public appointments and national recognition. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday monitored by News Point Nigeria, Sanusi lamented what he described as the total erosion of values in Nigerian society, pointing out that a nation which continues to celebrate material wealth, regardless of how it is acquired will inevitably perpetuate corruption and underdevelopment. “A society in which material wealth, no matter how you…

THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that at least 191 people have lost their lives, 94 remain missing, and over 134,000 individuals have been affected by the devastating floods sweeping across 20 Nigerian states in 2025. The agency’s latest Flood Impact Dashboard reveals that 239 persons sustained injuries, 48,056 have been displaced, and 9,499 homes have been damaged by floodwaters across 47 Local Government Areas (LGAs). According to NEMA, 9,450 farmlands have also been destroyed, with children and women accounting for the majority of those impacted. “Out of the total affected, 60,071 are children, 41,539 are women, 27,121…

MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Monday said the crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is over for now with the recent exit of some bigwigs. He stated this during a media parley in Abuja, while reacting to the exit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the party. Wike, however, said that there were some issues remaining for the party to properly address. “The crisis in PDP is over for now, because there are still some things remaining,” Wike said. The former Rivers State governor also gave conditions that will make lasting peace return…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission has announced the commencement of the 2025 nationwide Continuous Voter Registration exercise ahead of the upcoming elections. According to a statement by the Commission via its X handle on Friday, online pre-registration will open on Monday, August 18, 2025, through its official portal: cvr.inecnigeria.org. The Commission further disclosed that in-person registration will commence on Monday, August 25, 2025, at all INEC Local Government Area offices and designated registration centres nationwide. It stated that the exercise will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays. INEC urged eligible Nigerians who have not yet registered…