Politics
Defection: El-Rufai Has Gone To Wilderness – Shehu Sani
Senator Shehu Sani has downplayed ex-governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the move won’t impact the ruling party’s fortune in the coming elections billed for 2027.
El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State on Monday left the APC, a party he was a founding member, and pitched his tent with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in a move pundits believe will change the political texture of the country.
But Sani, who is also from Kaduna like El-Rufai, believes the former Minister of the FCT holds no political relevance.
“Well, first of all, for those of us from Kaduna State, it [his defection] is a good riddance because he stands as a liability to the party in the state,” the former Kaduna Central senator said on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, citing the APC’s losses under El-Rufai.
“I can back this with facts. In 2015, APC had two senators. By 2023, all the senatorial zones were taken over by PDP. Out of the 14 House of Representatives seats in Kaduna State, by the time he left [office as governor], almost nine of the seats were won by PDP, two by the Labour Party, and then three by APC. With him as a governor, the APC also lost the presidential election in Kaduna State.”
El-Rufai had cited the party’s departure from progressive ideals as his reason for defection.
“At this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish,” the former governor said.
The former FCT minister was a founding member of the ruling party. He was instrumental to APC’s victory in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 presidential elections. His relationship with the party, however, soured after he was not screened for a ministerial role.
But Sani, who recently returned to the APC, accused El-Rufai of destabilizing the party and believes his defection offers an opportunity for the APC to rebuild and come out stronger.
“So, you can see that by the time he left, already the party was an unpopular platform in the state. So his exit now is an opportunity,” the APC chieftain said.
“For the governor and party leaders of the state to embrace the people of the state and to reconfigure and reset the party towards the next election.”
A former national chairman of the defunct Alliance National Party, Asiwaju Moshood Shittu, has urged opposition parties considering a merger to back former Kano State governor and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as their presidential candidate in the 2027 election.
Speaking at a press conference, Shittu, who previously served as the Director-General (North) of Kwankwaso’s presidential campaign council, emphasised that the opposition’s best chance of defeating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lies in uniting behind Kwankwaso.
He described him as the only aspirant with the experience, credibility, and political reach necessary to lead the coalition to victory.
“Kwankwaso has the pedigree to carry the merger’s presidential flag to success,” Shittu said. “With his vast experience in governance, clean record, and strong political followership, he stands out as the best candidate.”
He highlighted Kwankwaso’s extensive public service record, including his roles as a former defence minister, special envoy to Darfur and Somalia, and a member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board.
Additionally, he recalled Kwankwaso’s tenure as deputy speaker during the short-lived Third Republic, his two terms as Kano State governor, and his leadership in national security and legislative affairs.
Shittu warned that failure to rally behind Kwankwaso could spell doom for the opposition’s merger efforts.
He dismissed other opposition candidates, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, as lacking the necessary moral and qualitative competence to defeat Tinubu in 2027.
“This is the time to act in order to save our nation,” he declared. “The opposition must prioritise credibility, competence, and proven leadership if it truly seeks to unseat the incumbent president.”
Kwankwaso, who placed fourth in the 2023 presidential election, remains a key figure in Nigeria’s political landscape. However, it is unclear whether he will accept the call to lead a potential opposition coalition.
The Conference of Progressive Nigerians (CPN) has strongly condemned the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) decision to suspend the naira-for-crude oil swap deal with domestic refiners.
This move, according to the CPN, is a blatant attempt to undermine the economic goals of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and sabotage the growth of local refineries.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, convener Dr. Emmanuel Agabi described the NNPCL’s action as a “treacherous move” and an “unforgivable betrayal” of Nigeria’s economic sovereignty.
Agabi questioned the timing and implications of the decision, citing reports that Nigeria’s crude output has increased since the inception of the deal.
He also demanded to know who benefits from the forward contracts that the NNPCL claims justify the suspension of the naira-for-crude deal.
The CPN warned that the suspension of the deal would have far-reaching consequences, including plunging Nigeria’s forex reserves into further distress, exacerbating the precarious state of the naira, and forcing local refineries to purchase crude oil from international suppliers in dollars.
This, they argued, would lead to skyrocketing petroleum prices and inflict severe hardship on Nigerian citizens.
The group accused the NNPCL of prioritizing its selfish interests over the collective good of the nation and of acting in cahoots with external forces to destabilize the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
They demanded that the Federal Government initiate a full-scale probe into the activities of the NNPCL and hold those responsible for the suspension of the naira-for-crude deal accountable for their actions.
The CPN emphasised that Nigeria’s local refineries are competent and capable of meeting domestic demands if given the necessary support.
They urged the Federal Government to investigate allegations of corruption and collusion within the NNPCL and to take immediate action to reverse the suspension of the naira-for-crude deal.
“We therefore issue a stern warning to the leadership of the NNPCL: The days of impunity are over. The people of Nigeria are watching, and we will not hesitate to take all necessary actions to hold you accountable for your actions,” Agabi said.
“Therefore, we urge you to retrace your steps and prioritize the interests of the nation over your selfish gains. Failure to do so will undoubtedly lead to dire consequences.
“Finally, the NNPCL must understand that it is a national institution, not a private cartel. Its duty is to serve Nigeria, not to sabotage it. The time for accountability is now!
“We demand transparency, we demand justice, and we demand the immediate reinstatement of the naira-for-crude deal. Together, we can ensure that our local refineries thrive, our economy prospers, and our nation achieves the greatness it deserves. “
The Senate has formally declared the senatorial seats for Edo Central and Anambra South as vacant, prompting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise by-elections to fill these positions.
During a plenary session on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement, revealing that the Edo Central seat has been unoccupied since Monday Okpebholo was sworn in as the Governor of Edo State in December 2024. Okpebholo, elected as governor, was required to relinquish his Senate seat, leaving the district without representation.
In a similar vein, the Anambra South Senatorial seat has been vacant since the unfortunate passing of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in July 2024. Since his demise, the district has lacked a representative in the Senate.
In January 2025, INEC indicated that it could not initiate a by-election for Anambra South until it received an official request from the Senate. This was reiterated by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra, Elizabeth Agu, during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the International Press Centre (IPC) in Awka, the state capital.
With both senatorial districts currently lacking representation in the upper legislative chamber, Akpabio emphasised the urgency for INEC to proceed with the elections without any further delays. He highlighted that the affected constituencies deserve to have their voices heard in the Senate, and that these vacancies should be filled at the earliest opportunity.