Month: March 2026

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, which commenced in 1999, introduced a distinctive political culture that has since become entrenched in the nation’s democratic practice. Governors automatically emerge as leaders of their political parties in their respective states.

Although this arrangement is not expressly written into the 1999 Constitution or party constitutions as a rigid rule, it has evolved into an accepted political convention. In practical terms, once a governor belongs to a political party, he becomes the undisputed leader of that party in the state.

This “default” leadership status flows from the enormous constitutional powers, financial control, and political influence vested in state governors. Under the 1999 Constitution, governors are the chief executives of their states, control significant public resources, influence appointments, and play central roles in policy direction. These powers naturally position them as dominant actors within the political structure of their states. Political parties, being vehicles for acquiring and exercising power, inevitably gravitate toward the governor as their rallying point.

Critics often argue that this arrangement departs from earlier republican experiences. During Nigeria’s First, Second, and even Third Republics, governors and presidents were not automatically regarded as the formal leaders of their parties at the state or national levels. Party structures were often more independent, with clearer institutional separation between party leadership and executive office holders. However, Nigeria’s political system has evolved significantly since then. The current democratic framework places far greater burden, administrative authority, fiscal control, and political leverage in the hands of governors than was previously the case. It’s about the position!

The emergence of governors as de facto party leaders is not accidental but a result of political evolution shaped by key realities. The 1999 Constitution centralises executive authority in governors, making them the most powerful figures in their states. They also control critical political resources, finances, networks, appointments, and patronage, which are essential for party survival and electoral success. In a competitive electoral environment, incumbency provides structure, visibility, and mobilisation strength that few others can match.

Above all, political parties require unified command; without clear leadership at the state level, factionalism and instability can easily arise.

Imagine the chaos and unhealthy rivalry that could engulf a political party if a sitting governor chose to remain indifferent to party affairs. Competing factions would struggle for supremacy. Conflicting directives could weaken party cohesion. Such fragmentation could easily cost the party elections and governance effectiveness.

Furthermore, when it comes to interfacing between the executive arm at the federal level and party structures within the states, particularly in matters relating to appointments, political negotiations, federal-state collaboration, and reward systems, the governor’s role becomes indispensable. Governors serve as the bridge between national party leadership and grassroots political actors. In fact, Presidents often rely on Governors to win a state 

Just as the President functions as the leader of his party at the national level, governors serving as party leaders in their states create symmetry within the political order. This structure promotes stability, clarity of authority, strategic coordination, and internal discipline.

It is therefore not surprising that across Nigeria’s 21 registered political parties, this practice is widely accepted. Once a governor joins a party, he naturally assumes leadership of that party in the state, not necessarily by proclamation, but by political reality.

While debates may continue about whether this system strengthens internal party democracy or concentrates excessive influence in one individual, its practical utility in maintaining order, direction, and electoral viability cannot be ignored.

The emergence of governors as party leaders in their states reflects the reality on the ground, political necessity, and democratic evolution in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja via zaymohd@yahoo.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

United States First Lady Melania Trump is set to preside over a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday, marking a historic moment at the global body.

Her appearance was announced last week before the United States launched military operations against Iran. According to her office, Melania will “make history at the United Nations, taking the gavel as the United States assumes the Security Council Presidency to emphasise education’s role in advancing tolerance and world peace.”

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, confirmed that the event represents the first occasion a first lady or first gentleman has chaired a Security Council session.

The United States holds the rotating presidency of the Council for the month of March.

The development comes at a time of strained relations between Washington and the United Nations. Political and financial disagreements have increased in recent years, with the US expressing frustration over its status as the largest contributor to the organisation’s budget.

Since returning to office last year, President Donald Trump has withdrawn American support from several major UN agencies, including the World Health Organization.

The UN recently introduced a reform initiative. Washington paid $160 million into the body’s regular budget a few days ago, after making no contribution in 2025. Despite that payment, the United States still owes about $4 billion in outstanding contributions to the UN’s regular and peacekeeping budgets. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the organisation faces a serious financial crisis.

Melania Trump’s Security Council appearance takes place amid intensifying conflict in the Middle East. A joint US-Israeli military campaign began on Saturday with strikes in Tehran that killed Iran’s supreme leader. Iran has since carried out missile and drone attacks across several countries in the region.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, and warned that any vessel attempting to pass through the waterway will face attack.

According to Iranian media reports cited by Reuters on Monday, Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the commander-in-chief of the IRGC, confirmed the decision and issued a direct warning to maritime traffic.

“The strait (of Hormuz) is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze,” Jabari said in remarks carried by state media.

If enforced, the measure would stop commercial vessels from moving through one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. The Strait of Hormuz serves as the narrow entrance to the Gulf. Roughly one-fifth of global oil exports pass through the channel.

Oil tankers that navigate the route transport crude and gas supplies from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Iran. The northern coastline of the strait lies along Iranian territory.

Any interruption along the Strait of Hormuz has serious consequences for international energy markets. A prolonged closure would disrupt oil shipments and could drive up prices worldwide.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United States has urged its citizens to leave more than a dozen countries across the Middle East as fighting between US-Israeli forces and Iran intensifies.

In a notice issued on Monday, the US Department of State advised Americans to depart several countries in the region, which include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The advisory follows recent updates to travel guidance that cautioned against travel to parts of the Middle East.

According to Aljazeera, the directive applies to Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Mora Namdar, the State Department’s assistant secretary for consular affairs, announced the guidance on social media. She instructed US citizens to “DEPART NOW” from the listed countries using available commercial transport “due to serious safety risks”.

Earlier on Monday, the US Embassy in Amman said its staff had left the diplomatic compound “due to a threat”.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Washington, Patty Culhane, described the method of the announcement as unusual. She noted that the message came through a post by a senior official rather than through a traditional formal channel.

“The fact that the State Department is referring us to a tweet from an assistant secretary of state, and this isn’t necessarily official policy – but perhaps they are saying it is official policy – this is not at all how it is usually done,” Culhane said.

“This is really, truly bizarre. I can’t say that I have seen anything like this in my very long time covering Washington,” she said.

“This is not how this is done. The State Department has very complex processes to notify Americans in these places that they need to leave. That hasn’t happened. It’s not official government policy, at least it doesn’t appear to be yet, because this isn’t how they announce official government policy,” she added.

Culhane also questioned how Americans would be able to leave, given the security situation. “It’s not quite clear what this means, and exactly how Americans could leave the entire Middle East since commercial traffic has been interrupted so much because of all of the missiles,” she said.

“This is going to be a very big question, especially for all of the Americans in the Middle East”.

The advisory comes after US and Israeli forces launched heavy strikes on Iran on Saturday. Iranian authorities confirmed the deaths of several senior figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran responded with attacks across the region.

President Donald Trump said on Monday that the military campaign was expected to continue for four to five weeks, although he indicated that it could extend beyond that timeframe.

United States Marines opened fire during last weekend’s assault on the US consulate in Karachi, according to a report by Reuters that cited two American officials.

The report represents the first confirmation that Marines discharged weapons as protesters forced their way into the diplomatic compound.

The officials told Reuters that it remains uncertain whether any of the rounds fired by the Marines hit or killed members of the crowd. They also said they could not confirm if additional shots were fired by other personnel assigned to guard the facility, including private security contractors and local police officers.

At least 10 people lost their lives during the unrest, after demonstrators broke through the outer wall of the consulate complex.

A spokesman for the provincial government, Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani, stated that “security” personnel had opened fire. He did not clarify which security force was responsible.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Spain has announced that the United States is neither using nor expected to use joint military facilities on Spanish soil for operations linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares made the position clear during an interview with Spanish public television on Monday. “Based on all the information I have, the bases are not being used for this military operation,” he said.

The statement follows criticism from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who denounced the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that began on Saturday. He described the action as an “unjustified” and “dangerous military intervention” that falls outside international law.

Albares stressed that Madrid would not permit any activity beyond the scope of existing agreements. “The Spanish government will not authorise the use of the bases for anything beyond the agreement or inconsistent with the United Nations,” he stated. He referred specifically to the Rota naval base and the Moron airbase, facilities operated jointly by Spain and the US but which remain under Spanish sovereignty.

Defence Minister Margarita Robles also addressed the issue. She said the bases “will not provide support, except if, in a given case, it were necessary from a humanitarian perspective”.

Spain further criticised Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Gulf states, even as it maintained opposition to the initial US and Israeli attacks.

Flight data published on Monday by tracking service FlightRadar24 indicated that 15 US aircraft departed from bases in southern Spain after the launch of military operations against Iran. At least seven of the planes later arrived at Ramstein airbase in Germany, according to the same source.

Madrid’s stance differs from that of several other leading European nations. The United Kingdom had earlier declined to allow the use of its bases for strikes on Iran. However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer reversed that decision on Sunday. He authorised their use for “collective self-defence” following Iranian counterattacks aimed at US assets in the Middle East and energy facilities in the Gulf.

France and Germany have signalled readiness to take a similar approach.

In a joint statement issued on Sunday, the leaders of the three countries said they were “appalled by the indiscriminate and disproportionate missile attacks launched by Iran against countries in the region, including those who were not involved in initial US and Israeli military operations”.

They added, “We have agreed to work together with the US and allies in the region on this matter.”

By Muhammad Sulaiman

The Alumni of the Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship have called for the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, describing his continued detention as unlawful and a violation of his fundamental human rights.

In a press statement issued on Monday, the group expressed “deep concern” over what it termed the illegal detention of El-Rufai, arguing that it contravenes constitutional guarantees of personal liberty, dignity and due process under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The alumni further criticised the Department of State Services (DSS) for failing to produce the former governor before the Federal High Court on February 25, 2026, stating that this action infringes his right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time as provided under Section 36 of the Constitution.

According to the statement, the right to be brought promptly before a court is “not discretionary but an essential safeguard of personal liberty and justice.” The group urged all relevant authorities to ensure strict adherence to constitutional provisions and uphold the rule of law.

The fellowship alumni also highlighted El-Rufai’s record in public service, particularly his tenure as governor of Kaduna State, where they said he implemented institutional reforms and socio-economic development programmes with measurable impact. They noted that the establishment of the Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship was among his initiatives to encourage youth participation in governance and leadership.

Reaffirming their solidarity, the group called on well-meaning Nigerians to support their demand for justice and due process. They insisted that every citizen is entitled to protection from unlawful detention and urged authorities to grant El-Rufai full rights to defend himself without prejudice.

The statement concluded with a renewed demand for his immediate release, emphasising that adherence to democratic principles and the rule of law is critical to strengthening public trust in national institutions.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United States has announced new sanctions against the Rwandan Defense Force (RDF) and four of its top officers over claims that they provided assistance to the March 23 Movement (M23) operating in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The decision was made public on Monday in a statement from the U.S. State Department. Principal Deputy Spokesperson Thomas “Tommy” Pigott said the action followed allegations that Rwanda offered “direct operational support” to the rebel group. He linked the move to the recent takeover of the Congolese city of Uvira by M23 fighters.

The statement noted that the fall of Uvira came “just days after President Trump presided over the December 4, 2025 signing of the historic Joint Declaration of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity” together with DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

Washington described the rebel offensive as a “clear violation of the Washington Accords,” which were introduced as a peace framework for the troubled Great Lakes region.

U.S. officials stressed that M23 is already under sanctions from both the United States and the United Nations. The group faces accusations of carrying out serious abuses in eastern Congo.

“M23, a U.S.- and UN-sanctioned entity, is responsible for horrific human rights abuses, including summary executions and violence against civilians, including women and children,” the statement said.

The State Department also alleged that backing from the RDF and its senior commanders made it possible for M23 to take control of territory in the DRC and maintain its campaign.

“The continued backing from the RDF and its senior leadership has enabled M23 to capture DRC sovereign territory and continue these grave abuses,” the statement added.

The sanctions were issued under Executive Order 13413, as amended. The order authorises the U.S. government to penalise individuals and organisations accused of contributing to unrest in the DRC.

Pigott said the United States remains committed to the peace agreement and regional stability.

“The United States stands firm in its support for peace and stability in eastern DRC and the wider region,” he said.

“The Washington Accords mark a decisive turning point for the Great Lakes region, setting a new course for peace, cooperation, and prosperity among neighbors.”

The statement said the latest measures reflect Washington’s determination to see that the agreement is respected.

“As President Trump has made clear, the United States is prepared to use all available tools to ensure the DRC and Rwanda deliver on the promises of this historic agreement,” it said.

Eastern Congo has experienced prolonged conflict involving several armed groups. Rwanda has repeatedly faced accusations of backing M23. Kigali has denied those claims in the past.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Riyadh has become a major departure point for wealthy individuals and top executives seeking to leave the Middle East amid rising regional tensions.

A report by Semafor indicated that private security companies have arranged fleets of sport utility vehicles to move clients from Dubai to Riyadh. From the Saudi capital, chartered private aircraft then transport them out of the region.

Those leaving reportedly include senior executives of global financial institutions as well as high-net-worth individuals who were in the region for business engagements or leisure activities.

Ameerh Naran, chief executive of Vimana Private, a private jet brokerage firm, said the cost of chartering flights has surged sharply.

“Saudi Arabia is the only real option for people who want to get out of the region right now. Private jets from Riyadh to Europe now cost up to $350,000,” he said.

Ian McCaul, operations and future plans director at Alma Risk, a United Kingdom-based security company, also confirmed increased demand for evacuation support.

“We’ve been approached by a mixture of clients including families, individuals, and corporations that want to get out of the region either because their fear for their safety, or for business reasons they just need to be able to travel,” McCaul said.

Tensions escalated on Saturday morning after Iran carried out retaliatory strikes on United States military bases across the Middle East. Explosions were reported in Abu Dhabi, Manama, Doha, Kuwait, and Riyadh.

The development followed a joint missile attack on Iran by the United States and Israel.

The conflict has disrupted commercial activities across the region. The United Arab Emirates closed its airspace. Qatar Airways suspended all flights. Airports in Dubai halted operations indefinitely. Several international airlines also paused flights to and from Middle Eastern destinations.

By Anwar Usman

The National Police Council has unanimously endorsed the appointment of Olatunji Disu as the 23rd substantive Inspector-General of Police.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this after the council’s meeting at the State House, Abuja, which lasted about 40 minutes.

The meeting is in compliance with the provisions of the Police Act 2020, which requires the Police Council to consider the appointment.

The statement in parts reds “In compliance with the provisions of the Police Act 2020, President Tinubu will convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council shortly to formally consider the appointment of AIG Disu as substantive Inspector-General of Police, after which his name will be transmitted to the Senate for confirmation.”

The Police Council is chaired by the President and comprises all 36 state governors, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, and the Inspector-General of Police.

Those in attendance were the meeting are Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Head of Civil Service, Didi Walson-Jack, and Governors of Enugu, Nasarawa, Ogun, Kwara, Plateau, Ondo and Lagos.

Others were the Deputy Governor of Kogi State also attended alongside the Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, Police Affairs and Interior.

Disu, 59, has been serving in an acting capacity since his appointment on Wednesday following Egbetokun’s resignation.