The All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that any individual seeking to join its ranks including Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), must publicly apologise for past derogatory remarks directed at President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and other senior figures in the party.Nigerian cultural tours

This development comes amid growing speculation over Kwankwaso’s potential defection to the ruling party, with reports suggesting President Tinubu may be considering a role for him within his administration.

Speaking on the matter on Friday, Kano State APC Chairman Abdullahi Abbas stressed that while the party remains open to new members, certain conditions must be met. Chief among them, he said, is a apology for past statements.

“We unequivocally call on all those prospective decampees who have earlier made derogatory statements against our leaders, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his deputy Senator Kashim Shettima, to offer a public apology as a sign of remorse, and respect for future relationships,” Abbas stated.

He further explained that the APC is actively engaged in efforts to receive decampees from across the political spectrum, and that the party had taken note of the rumours surrounding Kwankwaso’s potential entry.

Abbas said the APC remains Kwankwaso’s last political refuge as he has destroyed his relationships with all other political groupings in the country.

He further said ward chapters had already been instructed to begin the registration of decampees, regardless of their status.

“We have already directed our ward chapters to open registers for new decampees irrespective of their political and social status, in line with our party’s constitution.

“We advise all those desirous of joining our esteemed party to go to their respective wards and register.

“For the purpose of seeking any future party or elective position, any old or new entrants, shall be free to exercise their constitutional rights of voting or being voted for without any special preference,” he added.

Abbas also issued a warning to politicians who may view the APC as a cleansing place from corruption allegations.

“We are fully aware that some people are desperate to join the APC because they have scuttled their political goodwill and have become political lepers in the national scheme of things and are looking to the APC for political relevance.

“We are also aware that some politicians are trying to run away from accounting for their corrupt misdeeds both in government and party administration, and seeking for refuge in the APC to escape from the fangs of anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC.

“However, joining APC as a political party is not a panacea for escaping from their past sins,” he said.

He also declared that the APC would not condone the formation of cult-like political groups under its umbrella.

“For the avoidance of doubt, let me emphasize that the APC as a political party does not and will not encourage or promote the existence of cult-like associations in the name of political activities or groupings,” Abbas stated

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has opened on the position of the Nigerian Bar Association over the State of Emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State.

Wike while speaking during his media chat with journalists at his residence said the NBA’s stance on the State of Emergency proclamation by Tinubu was influenced by the N300 million gift from the state to the association.

Recall that the NBA and the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas have been having a running battle over the relocation of the association’s annual conference from the state.

The association had announced that it relocated the conference as a protest against the declaration of a state emergency in Rivers.

In his reaction to this, Ibas urged the leadership of the NBA to refund the N300 million given to it by the state.

However, the NBA said it would not refund the money as it was a gift and support towards its 2025 conference and not a hosting fee as claimed by Ibas.

Reacting to the debacle, Wike asked, “Now you said NBA, it’s unfortunate, now how will NBA say when you collected gift?

Continuing, the former Rivers State governor said, “When the president declared a state of emergency, you said oh it’s not correct until everybody now knew why you were doing what you were doing because the state gave you a gift of N300 million.

“A gift that was not appropriated, there was no appropriation, you took,”

Wike further described the action of the NBA and the state government under the leadership of Siminalayi Fubara concerning the controversial N300 million gift as illegal.

He said, “In my budget, I put a grant. I am allowed by law, can be appropriated. In this case, there was no appropriation.

“For the NBA to take an illegal gift, assuming that this thing didn’t come up now, did you know that they took a gift?”

Nigerian stand-up comedian, Seyi Law has said that he will never support Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State in his ambition to become Nigeria’s president.Nigerian cultural tours

Speaking on Teju Babyface show, Law said he would not be part of any political contest or ambition of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate.

According to him, the mob activity of the Obidient Movement – the major supporters of Peter Obi – is the major reason he would not support the former governor.

Recall that in the 2023 presidential contest, Law was an avid supporter of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Law said that the attack on his family, his daughter and his wife, by some suspected members of the Obidient Movement is unforgivable.

“The moment you cross that boundary from me to my children, mother, and wife, there is no forgiveness. That is why there is nothing on earth that Peter Obi can do that will make me support him.

“They attacked my children and my wife. As long as Peter Obi does not call them to order and he keeps denying that they are doing that, he will never get my support. Let Peter Obi wear the garment of Jesus Christ today, he will never get my support.

“Hate or love me, my personal way of life is between me and God. Any organisation that does not support free thinking is a cult. I do not feel down at all because when you talk too much, I swear to you,” Law said.

While stating that he is one individual who does not allow his anger to linger, the comedian stated that one thing he cannot tolerate is an attack on his immediate family.

“One of the good things that God has done for me is that my anger does not last long. Personal anger for me does not last long. The only place it lasts long is when you leave me and attack my children, mother, and wife,” he added.

The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin has said that there would be a landslide victory for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Speaking at the party’s unity rally in Abuja on Thursday, April 18, Jibrin said he has confidence that Tinubu will be re-elected in the next presidential election of the country.

He said, “There will be a landslide victory for Tinubu in 2027. You can see the signs—many people are defecting to our party, and elections are a game of numbers. So there are clear signs that we will win a landslide, by the grace of God,” Jibrin stated.

He further called on party members and supporters of the APC to remain calm and patient with the policy implementation of the present administration.

Jibrin claiming that President Tinubu inherited numerous challenges upon assumption of office said there are better days ahead for Nigerians.Nigerian political art printsNigerian political art prints

While urging Nigerians to continue to support President Tinubu, the lawmaker assured that the APC would win the Federal Capital Territory.

He said, “We are going to win FCT landslide by the grace of God. We are going to make FCT proud, we are going to make APC proud, we are going to make Mr President happy, and we are going to make Nigerians happy.

“Let us continue to work together and give our full support to Mr President,” he added.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has alleged that a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and other political leaders are seeking coalition for their selfish interests.

Wike while speaking during his media chat with journalists in Abuja said several political leaders are only interested in becoming the president of Nigeria.Nigerian cultural tours

Citing the crisis rocking his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike said it is unfortunate that leaders have shied away from seeking solutions to ending the crisis and challenges experienced by the PDP as an opposition party.

Wike said, “On the other part of those who are looking for a coalition, is for selfish interests, the likes of Atiku and other people, which coalition, with whom?

“Why not come in to repair your party, Everybody wants to become president of the country, nobody wants to say, look, let me build our party so that at the end of the day, our party will be in a formidable position as an opposition party to take over power.

“You don’t do that, the only thing you want to do is, let me find a way; how I will be the one and if that does not happed; then it’s to your tent oh Israel,” the former Rivers State governor said.

Wike also lamented about the mistakes of party leaders and aspiring presidents who insist on making the same mistakes repeatedly.

He said PDP politicians cannot keep complaining of being rigged out without attempting to adopt workable political strategies.

“Who rigged you out, you already rigged yourself out by causing crisis and this is what I’ve always said but because people are not sincere to themselves and People like me would not accept that,” he added.

A leader of the Afenifere group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti has said that he is satisfied with the actions and policies implemented by President Bola Tinubu in Nigeria.

Fasoranti commended the president for what he described as great strides that have surpassed his expectations.

Speaking when the First Lady, Remi Tinubu paid him a visit at his residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said the president has done well since assuming office in 2023.

“I am satisfied with what he is doing in Nigeria. Well done,” Fasoranti said.

Also commending the First Lady, the leader of the Yoruba socio-political group offered prayers for God’s continued guidance and grace for the president and his team

Shehu Sani, a former senator representing Kaduna Central, says northern Nigerians remained silent during the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari because they benefitted from a culture of nepotism and favouritism.Nigerian political art prints

Sani made the remark during Politics Today, a Channels Television on Thursday.

He said Buhari’s government gave priority to appointments from Katsina, the former president’s home state.Politics-themed apparel

Sani listed several top positions that were filled by individuals from Katsina, including the director-general of the State Security Service (SSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

His words: “The DG of SSS, Daura was from Katsina state, the DG of NIA, Rufai was from Katsina state, the MPA, my sister Hadiza, she’s from Katsina state, Director of Federal Mortgage Bank, Katsina state, SMEDAN, Katsina state, FRCN Katsina state, NIMET Katsina state, NIMASA Katsina state, Railway Corporation, Katsina state.

“All those things, you don’t talk of Chairman of federal civil service — about 30 of them — we don’t have time, I can state all of them. All from Katsina state.”

The former lawmaker said military and paramilitary appointments were also skewed in favour of the northern region.

He cited examples such as the comptroller general of immigration, comptroller general of customs, commandant general of civil defence, and chairman of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Sani said northern voices remained muted because the region was the primary beneficiary of the imbalance.

According to him, the same silence would not have occurred if the situation had been reversed.

He said many southerners are now vocal about perceived lopsidedness in President Bola Tinubu’s appointments, suggesting that northerners would have reacted similarly if roles were reversed

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he is dissatisfied with the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, stating that he had hoped for the outright removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Wike made the remarks during a media parley held in Abuja on Friday, where he addressed ongoing political developments in his home state as well as in the FCT and the country in general.

It can be recalled that President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, citing growing political instability and rising security concerns. As part of the emergency measures, the president suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months.

To oversee governance during the interim, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as the sole administrator, a move which is still being criticized by many

Speaking at the media session, Wike revealed that he had pushed for the complete removal of Fubara from office.

“As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers state. I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state,” Wike said.

He added, “The matter is in court but people must say the truth. The governor was gone. It is not in my place to make it good for the governor. As a politician, my business is not to make him comfortable and that is why there is power plane.”

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has credited President Bola Tinubu with playing a pivotal role in shaping his leadership journey, describing his first appointment in public service under Tinubu’s administration as the break that launched his career.

Speaking at the Lagos Leadership Summit on Wednesday, held at Konga Place, Lekki, Sanwo-Olu told a gathering of young Nigerians that competence in smaller roles often paves the way for greater leadership opportunities.Nigerian political art prints

“Your capacity to deliver on a set of simple tasks entrusted to you in smaller roles can serve as the foundation for greater leadership exploits,” he said.

Recounting his early days in public service, Sanwo-Olu explained how he was appointed Special Adviser on Economic Matters by then-Governor Tinubu in 2002 — a move that, according to him, unlocked several doors.

“That appointment was my first big break. I was given the chance to serve in key sectors like Transportation, Environment, Public Safety, and Education. Each role challenged me, and I gave it my all,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He described how the assignments exposed him to international engagements, strategic policy discussions, and leadership development under Tinubu’s watch.

“When I handled Transportation, I pushed the team to exceed expectations. In revenue generation, we improved figures and built staff capacity. Every role stretched me,” he noted.

Sanwo-Olu added that he never undertook those responsibilities with personal gain in mind but focused on impact.

He said those formative experiences equipped him to take on larger roles, eventually leading to his current position as Governor.

He also shared how he continued to serve under the succeeding administration of former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, who also spoke at the event.

Fashola, delivering his remarks on the summit’s theme, “Transformative Leadership: Developing Responsive, Adaptive and Inclusive Models,” emphasized the need for diversity and inclusion in governance.

He called for genuine efforts to build unity and ensure citizens feel heard and represented.

He said: “Leaders must build coalitions of unity and belonging. What matters is whether the majority perceive that their leader is making genuine efforts not to exclude or marginalise anyone.”

The Nigerian Presidency has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains fully in charge of the country’s governance, despite his current working visit abroad.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the president has been actively engaging in national affairs while away in Europe.

This reassurance comes amid growing concerns from opposition figures and citizens alike, who have urged the president to return to the country, particularly in light of the recent surge in insecurity and killings across parts of Nigeria.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains fully engaged in Nigeria’s governance even though he is away in Europe,” Onanuga stated.

“His absence remains temporary and in line with the communicated timeframe of approximately two weeks.”

“The President left Paris for London at the weekend and has maintained constant communication with key government officials, overseeing critical national matters, including directives to security chiefs to address emerging threats in some parts of the country.”

“His return to Abuja and the resumption of duties at Aso Villa will follow the conclusion of the Easter holiday,” the statement revealed.

The statement said Tinubu is committed to his duties and that the administration will continue to function effectively under his leadership.

“We appreciate the public’s concern and assure all Nigerians that governance proceeds without interruption,” the presidency added.

Tinubu left the country on Wednesday, April 2, to France.