By Amina Samuel, Kaduna

Local government chairmen in Kaduna State have reaffirmed their commitment to Governor Uba Sani, pledging political support ahead of the 2027 elections.

The chairman of the state’s chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Jamilu Albani, made the declaration on Wednesday night after an Iftar dinner hosted by Governor Sani for all 23 council chairmen and their deputies.

Albani, who also chairs Sabon Gari Local Government, said the council leaders were committed to reciprocating the governor’s political goodwill, which contributed to their electoral victories.

“By the grace of Almighty Allah, and through the support of His Excellency, we were elected as chairmen of our various local governments,” he said.

He commended Governor Sani for granting local governments autonomy and assisting them politically, including funding party officials and distributing palliatives at the grassroots. According to Albani, the previous administration neglected party officials at the local level, giving them only 9,000 naira throughout its tenure.

“So, come 2027, we will reciprocate the governor’s kind gesture by ensuring our people vote massively for him. Political opponents who think they can defeat him will suffer the worst defeat of their lives,” he vowed.

Governor Sani, in his address, underscored the role of local government in governance and grassroots development.

“Local government is the foundation of politics,” he said. “I advise you to execute developmental projects, attend to people’s needs, and share the little you have with them.”

He assured the council chairmen of continued state government support, emphasizing that all interventions would be channeled through them. However, he urged them to serve all constituents equally, cautioning against favoritism.

The reaffirmation of loyalty by ALGON chairmen comes as Kaduna’s political landscape takes shape ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Daniel Bwala, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and policy, has claimed that Peter Obi, Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, will soon leave the party.

Speaking in an interview on TVC on Wednesday, Bwala said the former governor of Anambra state will join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Do you know we are emptying the Labour Party? Not because we are asking them to come. Valentine Ozigbo has joined us, Balami has joined us, even Peter Obi will join us,” Bwala said.

“Peter Obi will not run in the Labour Party. For Valentine Ozigbo to come to our party — Valentine Ozigbo is actually the custodian of Peter Obi — then I know for a fact that Peter Obi will join us.”

Bwala described the defection of Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna state, from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as “insignificant”.

He accused the SDP of orchestrating weekly announcements to dominate news headlines.

“You see, after one or two weeks of this mini-dramatic activity — because the way they scheme these things is that every week, you will hear a breaking news story that ‘a gladiator has joined SDP’ — so they will dominate the media space,” he said.

“By the time the two weeks is over and they are able to enjoy this momentary coverage, when they sit down they’ll start fighting over who will be president or vice-president.

“The reason El-Rufai did not go to the PDP is because he can’t dictate things there, but he told the world that the chairman of SDP is his friend. So they went there because they want to dictate.”

El-Rufai announced his departure from the APC on Monday, citing “conflicting values” with the ruling party.

Lawmakers blocked me from presenting Budget– Fubara

… Insists on representing fiscal year bill

…You can’t show up uninvited – Lawmakers
By Abubakar Yunusa

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers state, should face impeachment if he violates the constitution.

Speaking at the media chat in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike said politics should not be taken lightly and that removing the governor would not be a criminal offence.

“Politics is not play. If you have committed an offence to be impeached, what’s wrong? Is it a criminal offence? It’s provided in the constitution. Am I a member of the assembly?” Wike asked.

“If you have committed an infraction of the constitution, and the assembly deems it fit to say you should be impeached.

“I have heard people say, ‘Oh, if they impeach him, there will be a breakdown of law and order.’ Rubbish! Nothing will happen.”

While defending his commitment to legal procedures and fairness, Wike questioned how a handful of legislators could pass laws and expect them to be recognised as valid.

“I cannot believe that in this country, we are now at the point where Nigerians are talking about where three members of the house will sit and make a law, and they are talking about going to the supreme court,” he said.

“Speakers and assembly members are not our children; they were elected; they are not your boys or your girls.

“You sit with them and play with them. I travelled with my speakers, and I created relationships. It’s not a master-servant thing.”

On Monday, Tony Okocha, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, asked Fubara to resign or face impeachment proceedings.

Okocha said that the recent supreme court ruling on the state’s political crisis is final, describing Fubara’s invitation to the Martin Amaewhule-led assembly faction for a meeting as a “Greek gift”.

BACKGROUND

Rivers has been enmeshed in political crisis following the conflict between Fubara and Wike.

On February 28, the supreme court affirmed the judgment of a federal high court that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the accountant-general of the federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers state.

The supreme court also nullified the local government election held in Rivers state on October 5, 2024.

Fubara had promised to comply with the judgment of the apex court.

On Sunday, the Rivers governor invited the Amaewhule-led house of assembly members to a meeting scheduled for Monday.

Fubara’s invitation was viewed as a step towards resolving the Rivers assembly crisis that began in 2023.

The FCT minister, however, criticised Fubara for writing to the state house of assembly, stating that he should have called Amaewhule and his team to arrange a meeting. He also described the letter from Fubara as “useless”.