The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, has dismissed suggestions that the President’s Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia was aimed at securing support from northern voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Oshodi made the clarification during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, arguing that the trip should be viewed from a religious and national perspective rather than through political considerations.

The presidential aide said Tinubu’s access to the Holy Kaaba was a significant development for Muslims across Nigeria and should not be regarded as an event involving only one region.

He said:

“You know public opinion is far from being monolithic. One section of the population cannot come and say, ‘This is for votes from the North’.

“I believe we should look at it from a different aspect. This is a huge significance for Nigeria. This is the first South-West leader to have been given that honour. How do the South-West Nigerians see that?

“So, it is not just a Northern or Southern thing. It is a Muslim thing. And the Muslims have cherished this opportunity.”

Oshodi also noted that Tinubu had performed both Umrah and Hajj several times in his lifetime, insisting that his latest pilgrimage was not politically motivated.

According to him, the President was granted the rare privilege because he leads Africa’s largest Muslim country.

“He was given this rare privilege because he is the leader of the largest Muslim country in Africa. It is just a great opportunity. I don’t think we should really get carried away with the timing,” he said.

The presidential aide added that Tinubu was seeking divine guidance to govern Nigeria and secure victory in the forthcoming election.

“We can’t continue to politicise everything,” he said.

Oshodi also urged other presidential candidates to seek divine assistance, suggesting that they could travel to religious destinations such as Jerusalem or Mecca.

“I suggest other presidential candidates should also go out to seek God. Whether they have to go to Jerusalem or to Mecca themselves. We should not overemphasise somebody seeking God,” he said.

Tinubu had announced the conclusion of his Saudi Arabian visit in a post on X on Monday. He disclosed that he and members of his delegation were granted access to the Holy Kaaba, where they offered prayers and performed the Umrah pilgrimage.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has directed his supporters to vote for candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) across all levels in the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The directive was disclosed by the party’s North-West Vice Chairman, Hafsat Baba, during a coalition meeting of support groups loyal to the former governor in Kaduna State.

Baba said El-Rufai’s instruction covered the presidential, governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections across Kaduna State’s 23 local government areas.

She explained that the meeting was organised to bring the various support groups together and coordinate their activities ahead of the general elections.

The ADC zonal vice chairman also revealed that the coalition planned to create a database of El-Rufai’s supporters across the state and maintain regular engagements to strengthen its political mobilisation efforts.

According to her, ADC supporters were committed to preserving the former governor’s legacy, particularly in the areas of education, healthcare and empowerment.

Baba also raised concerns about insecurity in parts of Kaduna State, specifically mentioning Birnin Gwari, Giwa and Millennium City.

She called on security agencies to intensify efforts to protect the lives and property of residents across the state.

The party official further alleged that security operatives had arrested more than 30 of El-Rufai’s supporters about two weeks before the meeting under questionable circumstances.

She urged security agencies to remain impartial and carry out their duties in accordance with the Constitution.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused some politicians of encouraging citizens and thugs to arm themselves and engage in violence under the guise of protecting their votes during the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Keyamo alleged that the politicians had already sent their own children abroad for safety while urging ordinary Nigerians to risk their lives.

He warned that security and law enforcement agencies would not allow anyone to create confusion or unleash violence under the pretext of protecting votes.

The minister urged those planning to engage in violence to reconsider their actions, warning that security operatives could lawfully neutralise individuals who wield dangerous weapons and attack others while claiming to defend their votes.

reports that Keyamo made the remarks in a statement posted on his X account on Monday.

He wrote:

“After safely ferrying their children abroad, some unscrupulous politicians are encouraging hapless citizens and thugs to take up weapons to kill one another under the pretext of ‘protecting their votes’. That’s fine.

“Let me reiterate what late President Buhari said pre-2019 election (which I supported and I still support): when you resort to self-help and you take up dangerous weapons in the guise of ‘protecting your votes’ and you attack anybody, it is lawful and legitimate for law enforcement agents to ‘neutralise’ you or simple ‘put you down’ in the course of their duty. And the children of the politicians will be watching your foolishness from their safe haven somewhere in the world.

“Having been forewarned, you can then go ahead and exercise your options. CHIKENA!!”