Politics

No fewer than 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly have officially defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmakers announced their decision on Monday, days after about 774 NNPP members reportedly crossed over to the APC in Rimin Gado Local Government Area of the state. The wave of defections follows the resignation of Governor Abba Yusuf from the NNPP, a move he attributed to prolonged internal conflicts and legal battles that, according to him, have undermined the party’s unity across the country. The governor is expected to formally join the APC on Monday. Among the defecting lawmakers are the Speaker of the Assembly, Jibril Ismail Falgore (Rogo); Deputy Speaker, Muhammad Bello Butu Butu (Tofa/Rimin Gado); Majori...

Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, said Sunday she has had “enough” of Washington’s orders, as she works to unite the country after the US capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez has been walking a tightrope since being backed by the US to lead the country in the interim, balancing the need to keep Maduro loyalists on board at home while trying to satisfy the White House. Now, almost a month into her new role, she has pushed back on the US amid ongoing pressure, including a series of demands for Venezuela to resume oil production. “Enough already of Washington’s orders over politicians in Venezuela,” she told a group of oil workers in Puerto La Cruz, in an event broadcast by state-run channel Venezolana de Televisión. “Let Venezuelan politics resolve our...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the defection of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has significantly boosted the party’s influence and acceptance across the state. The party made this known following the successful conduct of its delegate congresses and primary elections in Ahoada East State Constituency II and Khana State Constituency II, ahead of the February 21 House of Assembly bye-elections. Addressing journalists during a joint press briefing on Sunday, officials of the APC committees sent by the National Working Committee (NWC) described the exercises as peaceful and indicative of renewed public confidence in the party. Chairman of the Congress and Primary Committee for Ahoada East State Constituency II, Shehu Dange, commended Governor Fubara’s ent...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has held ward congresses in Ahoada East and Khana Local Government Areas of Rivers State to select delegates for the forthcoming House of Assembly bye-elections slated for February 21. The congresses took place across all wards in Ahoada East State Constituency II and Khana State Constituency II and were described by party officials as peaceful and well-organised. In Ahoada East Constituency II, the exercise was overseen by the APC Congress and Primary Committee led by Shehu Dange, with Smart Iheanazor serving as secretary. Members of the party’s appeal panel were also in attendance. Observers from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led by the Assistant Electoral Officer for Operations, Okogbule Emilia, monitored the process a...

The only member of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency in Borno State, Usman Midala Balami, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Balami’s move came as a surprise to many of his supporters after he was spotted at an APC stakeholders’ meeting held on Sunday at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Government House in Maiduguri. In a resignation letter dated January 24, 2026, addressed to the PDP chairman of Bwalahizhi Ward in Hawul Local Government Area and copied to the party’s local and state leadership, the lawmaker formally announced his exit from the PDP. He explained that the decision was reached after extensive consultations with political leaders across party line...

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, stating that the current federal government does not encourage open and honest engagement. Makinde made the remarks on Saturday at an event in Ibadan, where he compared the present administration with what he described as a more consultative approach under the late President Muhammadu Buhari. The event was attended by several prominent figures, including former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, whose leadership style Makinde openly commended. According to the governor, the handling of the federal government’s tax reform bills illustrates the challenge of offering constructive criticism under the current dispensation. “You cannot speak truth to power in this dispensation,” Makinde said, while ...

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned supporters of its presidential aspirants against adopting a rigid “my-candidate-or-nothing” stance, cautioning that such attitudes could hurt the party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 general election. Speaking during the party’s virtual ADC Coalition Hours on Saturday, the National Publicity Secretary, Bola Abdullahi, stressed the importance of unity and collective support for all aspirants seeking the party’s ticket. Abdullahi urged supporters to avoid divisive slogans, noting that internal discord only plays into the hands of the ruling APC and President Bola Tinubu. According to him, insisting on one candidate to the exclusion of others is counterproductive, as securing the party’s ticket alone does not guarantee electoral victory...

The Anambra State government has announced that it will begin pro‑rata salary payments for civil servants from February 2026, marking a major policy shift aimed at ending the long‑running Monday sit‑at‑home across the state. The Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, disclosed the decision during a briefing in Awka on Saturday, January 24. He explained that the policy was adopted at the end‑of‑tenure retreat of the Anambra State Executive Council, convened to review Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s first four years in office and set priorities for his new term beginning March 17, 2026. According to Mefor, public and civil servants in Anambra have routinely stayed away from work on Mondays for the past four years, citing insecurity and transportation challenges. He said the retrea...

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Foluke Stella Osafile, has dumped the Labour Party (LP) for the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Osafile, who represents Amuwo-Odofin Constituency I, is currently the only opposition lawmaker in the 40-member Assembly. The first-term legislator is expected to officially declare her defection to the ADC on the floor of the House during plenary in the coming days. Confirming the move, Osafile told Western Post, “Yes, it is true. I have defected to the ADC.” She, however, declined to give details on the reasons behind her decision. When asked about the timing of her formal announcement to fellow lawmakers, she said, “I will make the announcement during plenary soon.” Osafile is the Chairman of the House Committee on Wealth C...

Florence Ajimobi, ambassador-designate and widow of former Oyo State governor Abiola Ajimobi, has stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is determined to end the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) hold on power in the next general election. Ajimobi made the remarks in a viral video circulating on social media while speaking to journalists at a political event. The APC stalwart said the 2027 elections in Oyo State would be intensely contested, expressing confidence that her party is fully prepared to challenge the PDP at both state and federal levels. She also claimed that the APC enjoys strong federal backing, including financial and institutional support, which she said would neutralise any advantage currently held by the ruling party in the state. According to her, the...