By Sabiu Abdullahi

Yusuf Tuggar, former minister of foreign affairs, has failed in his bid to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket for the 2027 general election in Bauchi State.

The primary election, held on Saturday, produced Mohammed Abubakar, a former governor of the state, as the party’s candidate after he defeated Tuggar and five other aspirants.

John Abang, who chaired the APC governorship and house of assembly primary committee in Bauchi, announced that Abubakar emerged winner with a total of 57,517 votes.

Tuggar came second with 26,001 votes. Nura Manu Soro polled 13,638 votes, while Bala Wunti scored 13,648 votes. Kabir Ma’aji recorded 8,157 votes.

Abang said the votes were collated after the exercise conducted across the state and confirmed Abubakar as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 election.

On March 30, Tuggar stepped down from his ministerial position following a directive from President Bola Tinubu, which required political appointees seeking elective offices in 2027 to resign.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s claim that he was solely responsible for the emergence of late former President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.

Tinubu had repeatedly maintained that Buhari’s earlier failed attempts at the presidency ended only after he persuaded him to contest again and helped build the political coalition that secured victory in 2015. He also stated that Buhari would not have won without his intervention and support.

Amaechi, however, insisted that several key figures contributed to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the eventual defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 election.

Speaking in an interview with AriseTV on Friday, Amaechi said he played a leading role in the campaign structure and political mobilisation that produced Buhari as president.

“When we decided to form the APC, while I was a minister, President Tinubu was claiming he made Buhari president, and I couldn’t respond because I was the minister under President Buhari,” Amaechi said in an interview with AriseTV on Friday.

He explained that his position at the time limited his response to public political disagreements.

“That will be suicidal because Buhari could fire you. So I couldn’t have said no then. He wasn’t the president. I couldn’t tell him, ‘You are wrong. You didn’t make President Buhari president’.

”Not only was I the DG of the campaign, but everybody will bear witness that I did all the battle.”

Amaechi further stated that he coordinated nationwide political engagements in his capacity as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and as director-general of Buhari’s presidential campaign.

“I led the governors’ forum. I crisscrossed the country fighting here and there,” he said.

He also reflected on the performance of the APC-led administration after it came into power under the “change” slogan in 2015, noting that the results were mixed across different sectors.

“Did we achieve the change? Here and there. In some areas, well, we did. In some areas, we did not,” he said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, have repelled a cross-border attack launched by suspected ISWAP/Boko Haram fighters along the Kirawa axis in Borno State.

Security sources said the incident occurred around eleven o’clock at night on Thursday during Operation Desert Sanity V and Siege Operations. The attackers were said to have attempted to move in from the Cameroon axis but were detected while advancing toward the troops’ location.

A gun battle followed, during which the troops overpowered the attackers. Twelve of the insurgents were killed, while others fled back across the border into Cameroon. Several of the fleeing fighters also sustained gunshot injuries.

Military sources explained that the operation drew support from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, air support, and coordination with partner forces.

“The sources added that the operation was supported by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets as well as air component strikes and partner coordination,” the report reads.

“Preliminary battle damage assessment indicated that 12 terrorists were neutralised, while an unspecified number sustained injuries during the encounter. One soldier was reported wounded in action.

“No equipment losses were recorded on the side of the troops, while several items were recovered from the terrorists, including AK-47 rifles, RPG components, rounds of ammunition, and a packet of assorted materials.

“Military authorities said troops have maintained their positions and continue to conduct exploitation operations in the general area to prevent regrouping by fleeing elements.

“They added that the security situation in the axis remains calm but unpredictable, urging continued vigilance and sustained operational pressure across all fronts.”

Authorities said troops have remained in control of the area and are carrying out follow-up operations to stop regrouping attempts by fleeing fighters. The security situation in the axis was described as calm but unpredictable.

By Anwar Usman

Nigerian cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has dissociated himself from alleged statements and materials circulating online linking him with support for banditry in Nigeria.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued in Kaduna on Saturday, where the cleric described the reports as fake, manipulated and doctored by individuals and groups pursuing ethnic and sectional interests.

He stated that some of his media interviews, public lectures and comments on insecurity had been deliberately misrepresented by certain internet content creators seeking sensational headlines and online traffic.

The statement in part reads, “I hereby state unequivocally that any video clip, written statement, or message attributed to me, whether directly or by innuendo suggesting support for, justification of, protection of, or advocacy for banditry in Nigeria or anywhere else, does not emanate from me,” he said.

The Islamic cleric reaffirmed his loyalty to Nigeria, describing the country as a nation with unmatched potential.

Gumi urged the public, media organisations and government authorities to disregard any misleading materials being circulated in his name.

Gumi further warned that individuals or groups perpetuating the spread of falsehoods against him from the date of the statement would face legal action.

The cleric expressed hope that Nigeria would overcome its security challenges and that victims of violence across the country would find comfort in the collective resolve of Nigerians and the international community to end insecurity.

He attributed the persistence of insecurity to factors such as ignorance, poverty and widespread social injustice, while calling for lasting solutions to the crisis.

By Muhammad Abubakar

A rare albino water buffalo nicknamed “Donald Trump” has become an internet sensation and a massive crowd-puller in Bangladesh ahead of the upcoming Eid al-Adha festival.

The 700-kilogram (1,540 lb) animal went viral for a distinct tuft of golden-blonde hair on its forehead, prompting immediate comparisons to the former U.S. president. Raised at the Rabeya Agro Farm in Narayanganj, near the capital city of Dhaka, the buffalo features unique cream-coloured skin and pale eyes resulting from a rare genetic mutation.

The animal’s sudden fame drew thousands of visitors, with people travelling long distances by boat just to catch a glimpse or take a selfie. However, the overwhelming attention took a toll. The farm’s owner, Ziauddin Mridha, had to briefly restrict public viewing after the noise and crowds stressed the buffalo, causing it to lose its appetite.

To keep the celebrity livestock healthy, handlers pampered the animal with four baths and four high-nutrient meals a day.

Naming prized livestock after global celebrities and politicians has become a popular marketing trend among traders in Bangladesh to boost interest ahead of the Islamic “Feast of the Sacrifice”. The viral “Donald Trump” buffalo has already been sold to a buyer in Dhaka, where it will be sacrificed in accordance with Eid traditions.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of blocking access to former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, following the denial of a party delegation to visit him at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

A delegation comprising the ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; and Salihu Lukman, Secretary of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, was refused entry to see El-Rufai, who remains in ICPC custody.

According to the party, the situation escalated when at least three truckloads of armed police officers arrived at the facility, creating a tense atmosphere. The ADC described the heavy security deployment as disproportionate and unnecessary, given the peaceful nature of the delegation.

“The heavy deployment… created the unmistakable impression that the authorities feared that the mere presence of opposition leaders at the Commission could trigger public outrage,” the party said in a statement signed by Abdullahi.

The ADC noted that it had previously written to the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, requesting visitation rights for El-Rufai amid concerns raised by his family over alleged denial of access to doctors and food. The party recalled that Hajiya Asia El-Rufai had publicly alleged that her husband was refused access to his doctor and that she was prevented from delivering food to him.

While acknowledging that the ICPC has denied these allegations, the ADC insisted that the continued refusal to allow party leaders to see El-Rufai deepens suspicions about the nature of his detention.

“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is not a fugitive. He voluntarily submitted himself to the authorities. Under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is entitled to dignity, medical care, family access, and fair treatment under the law,” the statement read.

The ADC warned that “Nigeria and the world are watching” and demanded that the ICPC immediately grant unrestricted access to El-Rufai by his family, doctors, lawyers, and party leaders, threatening to mobilise party members nationwide if access continues to be denied.

By Muhammad Masud Yerima



From 2005 to 2025, the global electricity access story changed dramatically. Countries like India and Bangladesh moved from being among the countries with the highest populations without electricity access to largely exiting the list. Meanwhile, Nigeria moved in the opposite direction from third place in 2005 to leading the world in the number of people without access to electricity by 2025.

That should concern every policymaker, investor, planner, and citizen.

In 2005, India had over 360 million people without electricity access. Today, India is no longer on the list. Nigeria, on the other hand, increased from roughly 77 million people without access in 2005 to over 88 million in 2025. This is despite Nigeria being one of Africa’s largest economies and one of the world’s biggest oil and gas producers.

The question is simple:
What did India do right, and what is Nigeria still getting wrong?

India treated electricity not just as infrastructure, but as a national development priority. The country invested aggressively in grid expansion, rural electrification, generation capacity, transmission infrastructure, and policy reforms. Programs like village electrification schemes, renewable energy deployment, and public-private sector collaboration accelerated access across both urban and rural communities. More importantly, India planned long-term and executed at scale.

Nigeria’s challenge is more complex than simply “not enough power generation.” The issue is systemic.

First, population growth has outpaced infrastructure development. Nigeria’s population has expanded rapidly, but transmission networks, distribution systems, and generation capacity have not grown at the same pace. Even where generation exists, the grid often cannot evacuate or distribute the power efficiently.

Second, infrastructure investment has been inconsistent. Transmission bottlenecks, aging equipment, weak distribution networks, vandalism, and underinvestment continue to limit reliability and access. In many parts of the country, being connected to the grid does not even guarantee stable electricity.

Third, planning and execution remain fragmented. Energy policy changes frequently, projects are abandoned, and long-term continuity is weak. Electrification requires coordinated planning across generation, transmission, distribution, regulation, financing, and industrial development not isolated projects.

What makes this more worrying is the timing.

The world is entering a new economic era driven by artificial intelligence, cloud computing, automation, robotics, and digital infrastructure. Data centers are becoming the factories of the digital economy, and none of them can function without reliable electricity.

From the Agricultural Revolution to the Industrial Revolution, then the Information Age, and now the AI-driven digital economy, every major leap in civilization has been powered by energy.

Without reliable electricity:

* industries cannot scale,
* manufacturing becomes expensive,
* innovation slows,
* startups struggle,
* and Nigeria risks falling behind in the global digital economy.

The next global race will not only be about oil or population size. It will be about computational power, digital infrastructure, and energy resilience.

Beyond politics, this is a conversation Nigerian youths and every citizen must begin to take seriously. The future of Nigeria cannot depend only on election cycles and political debates. We need long-term systemic thinking about infrastructure, industrialization, energy security, education, and technology.

Nigeria is our country.

And if we truly want to compete globally in the modern economy, then stable and accessible electricity can no longer be treated as a secondary issue. It is the foundation upon which modern nations are built.

Muhammad Masud Yerima Mohayerima@gmail.com

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has provided support to pupils of Kondawa Nomadic School in Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State through the distribution of school uniforms and learning materials.

The organisation also recruited three teachers to address the shortage of teaching staff at the school, which serves several neighbouring communities.

The intervention took place on Thursday as part of efforts to improve access to education in remote communities, especially among nomadic Fulani families.

Executive Director of CITAD, Y. Z. Ya’u, explained that educational support remains important for increasing school attendance in underserved areas.

Ya’u, who was represented by Isah Garba at the event, said, “We supported the pupils with 100 uniforms today.”

He expressed concern over the growing number of children without access to education. According to him, poor access to learning opportunities contributes to insecurity in parts of the country because many young people become vulnerable to criminal influence.

The CITAD boss stated that the intervention in Jama’are was part of similar projects the organisation has carried out across northern Nigeria.

He recalled that the organisation earlier intervened in Shara community in Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State after residents complained about the absence of a primary school. He said advocacy efforts later contributed to government action that led to the establishment of the school.

Ya’u also mentioned another intervention at Bakin Kamanda Nomadic School in Danshoshiya community of Kiru Local Government Area, where pupils received uniforms and other learning materials.

Speaking during the event, the Education Secretary of Jama’are Local Government, Malam Shuaibu Umar, praised the intervention and advised the newly employed teachers to remain committed to their responsibilities.

“We task the newly recruited teachers to uphold their obligations and discharge their duties effectively,” he said.

Umar noted that the support came at the right time and would encourage better enrolment and improve learning among children in nomadic communities.

The Emir of Jama’are, Alhaji Nuhu Ahmad Wabi, MNI, also commended CITAD for supporting nomadic education in the region.

The monarch, who spoke through the District Head of Gilar and Gongo, Alhaji Wada, urged other local and international non-governmental organisations to collaborate with CITAD on similar educational and humanitarian programmes.

CITAD had previously raised concerns about the poor condition of Kondawa Nomadic School, which caters for pupils from Kwandawa, Digawa, Yangamai Ayas, Kundi, Dolede, Talba and Gundumi communities.

The school was established about eight years ago by the National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE) for over 100 pupils. However, it currently operates below capacity because only one teacher handles all classes.

The school facilities have also deteriorated over the years. Several walls have collapsed, roofs are damaged, classrooms have been vandalised and the compound has become overgrown. The situation has affected regular attendance because many children now engage in grazing and farming activities.

By Uzair Adam

The member representing Gwale Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulmajid Isa Umar Mai Rigar Fata, has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mai Rigar Fata represents Gwale Local Government Area, the hometown of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The lawmaker was officially received into the NDC on Thursday by former Kano State governor and party leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, at his residence in Maitama, Abuja.

Kwankwaso described the defection as a major boost for the party’s grassroots structure in Kano State, saying the new entrants would strengthen the NDC ahead of future political activities.

Mai Rigar Fata was first elected into the Assembly in 2023 under the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) before later moving to the APC alongside Governor Yusuf.

His latest defection followed his failure to secure the APC ticket to contest for another term in the Assembly.

Others who also joined the NDC include former Gwale Local Government Vice Chairman, Hon. Kabiru Sani Auwal Obi, and Malam Mahadi Isa Umar.

The development came shortly after a Federal High Court ruling on Thursday which reportedly created fresh openings for political defections previously restricted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Reacting to the court decision, the spokesman of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ruling could trigger mass defections from the APC.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has constituted a 13-member committee to coordinate activities marking the third anniversary of the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the Director General of Media and Publicity, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, who said the committee was approved by the governor to organise programmes that will highlight the achievements of the “Gida Gida” administration.

According to the statement, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, will head the committee as chairman, while key members include commissioners and top government officials drawn from different ministries and agencies.

Those appointed include the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Marwan Ahmad; Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf; Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahir Muhammad Jashim; Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Danjuma Mahmoud; and Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gwani Ali Haruna Abubakar Makoda.

Others are the Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Abduljabbar Umar Garko; Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Abdulkadir Abdussalam; Special Adviser, Cabinet Office, Adda’u Lawan Kutama; Director General, Media and Publicity, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa; Director General, Protocol, Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo; and Director General, Research and Documentation, Hajiya Nana Asma’u Jibrin.

The Permanent Secretary, Research, Evaluation and Political Affairs (REPA), Alhaji Muhammad Jalo, will serve as secretary of the committee.

The statement noted that the committee has been tasked with organising a “befitting programme” to commemorate the anniversary and showcase what it described as key achievements of the current administration.

Governor Yusuf is expected to formally inaugurate the committee at 3:00 p.m. on Friday at the Cabinet Office conference hall in Kano.