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.”

Oby Ezekwesili, former minister of education, has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to step aside until an investigation into Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims against him is concluded.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, had accused the senate president of sexually harassing her.

The allegation followed a heated argument between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan over seating arrangement.

Subsequently, the senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions for disciplinary review.

The senator was thereafter suspended for six months.

In a statement on Monday, Ezekwesili demanded that Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, should preside over a session tasked with conducting a swift and independent investigation into Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition.
The former minister said the senate should reverse the suspension of the senator and retract all punitive measures imposed on her.

“The senate president steps aside, and the deputy senate president immediately convenes a session that rescinds the unconstitutional and illegal suspension of senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and reverses all punitive measures imposed on her so she resumes her duties as a duly elected senator representing her Kogi central constituency and gets the fair hearing due her within senate processes,” Ezekwesili wrote on X.

“Resolve and announce that a prompt independent investigation into the resubmitted petition by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is imperative and swiftly request ICPC to designate the Independent Investigation consistent with the ICPC Act which designates sexual harassment as one of the corrupt practices it can investigate and prosecute.”

Ezekwesili urged the senate to restructure its ethics committee in response to the allegation, harping on the need to appoint an independent investigator to thoroughly examine the matter.

“Reconstitute the senate ethics and privileges committee under a new chairperson with the mandate to commence a public hearing on the resubmitted petition on sexual harassment by the senate president Akpabio,” she said.

“The committee receives informed recommendations from the Independent Investigation by ICPC-appointed investigator and appearances/oral and written testimonies and evidences from the two parties to the matter — Senators Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio respectively.”

She advised that the findings of the committee should be referred to the attorney-general of the federation for action.

“The senate in plenary receives the report findings and recommendations of the ethics committee, debates and refers the matter to the attorney general as may be appropriate,” she added.

“The senate and HoR partner with women in Nigeria groups and other relevant stakeholders like NBA and Nigeria police to launch a comprehensive diagnostic review of laws, regulations, policies and procedures that prevent SGBV and protect the rights of women in public and private spaces, identify existing barriers and gaps, develop and implement specific action plan on a fast track timeline.”

The Akwa Ibom police Command has arrested one Victor Okon, 42, for the alleged gruesome murder of his wife, Victoria Okoh, 38, at their residence in Oron.

The police public relations officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement in Uyo, the state capital, on Monday.

Ms John said the command’s operatives swiftly responded to a distress call from concerned residents at 05:20 p.m. about the incident.

“On arrival at the scene, the officers discovered the mutilated body of the deceased lying outside the house she shared with her husband,” Mr John said.

She said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had allegedly attacked his wife with a machete over accusations of infidelity.

Ms John said further reports indicated that the suspect hid in the ceiling of the house in an attempt to evade arrest.

The PPRO said the officers went into the building and apprehended the man.

“The machete used in committing the crime was recovered by the police, and photographs of the scene were taken for investigation purposes,” she said.

Mr John said the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the state’s General Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

She said the suspect would be charged to court soon.

Ms John quoted the commissioner of police, CP Baba Azare, to have condemned the act and assured the public that justice would take its full course.

Mr Azare warned against all forms of domestic violence and called on residents to seek lawful means of resolving disputes rather than resorting to violence.

He pledged the commitment of the command toward ensuring the safety of citizens.

Mr Azare also urged the members of the public to promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police formation.