The Ekiti State House of Assembly has unanimously approved a proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution that would pave the way for the establishment of state police in Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Reports indicate that all 21 lawmakers present at Tuesday’s plenary session supported the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026. The bill passed its second and third readings on the same day.

The decision reflects the Assembly’s backing for decentralising policing and allowing states to play a greater role in addressing security challenges.

Following the vote, Speaker Adeoye Aribasoye directed the Clerk of the House to forward the bill, alongside the Assembly’s observations, to the National Assembly.

During deliberations, Aribasoye noted that discussions surrounding the establishment of state police had continued for more than two decades, adding that lawmakers now had an opportunity to make history.

He said Nigerians had consistently raised concerns about the country’s existing policing system, particularly its inability to respond promptly to security threats.

According to the Speaker, delays in responding to distress calls, limited operational reach and the distance between security agencies and the communities they serve have weakened the effectiveness of policing.

He also noted that inadequate and poorly coordinated local security arrangements in some parts of the country had contributed to insecurity, affecting livelihoods, education, business confidence and public trust in government.

Aribasoye maintained that a properly structured state police system, backed by constitutional safeguards, could improve accountability by bringing police leadership and oversight closer to residents and their elected representatives.

He described the establishment of state police as “a long-overdue practical necessity rather than a mere theoretical preference,” stressing the need for decisive action.

After examining the bill clause by clause, the Committee of the Whole House recommended that the Assembly approve the proposed amendment, subject to a minor adjustment.

The committee proposed inserting the phrase “an Act of the National Assembly or a Law of the State House of Assembly, as applicable” after the words “this Constitution” in the newly introduced Section 317A(5).

It explained that the amendment would clearly recognise the law-making powers of both the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly, within their respective constitutional limits, to authorise relevant security arrangements.

Eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have received vehicles from the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to support their political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Reports indicate that Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, directed the immediate release of the vehicles to enable the lawmakers to reach their constituencies and mobilise political support.

The donation reportedly followed a directive from President Bola Tinubu urging the lawmakers to return to Zamfara State and work towards unifying the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The move is also seen as part of ongoing efforts to resolve internal disagreements and reconcile aggrieved party members following months of political tension in the state.

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation, Yazid Danfulani, who presented the vehicles on Matawalle’s behalf, said the gesture was aimed at promoting unity and understanding within the party.

According to him, the donation reflects the minister’s determination to bring APC members together and strengthen the party ahead of the forthcoming elections.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Aliyu Ango Kagara thanked Matawalle for the support and pledged that he and the other lawmakers would work towards securing victory for President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

The development comes days after the lawmakers’ spokesman, Ibrahim Bakura, maintained that they had not returned to the APC following their meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

Bashir Saidu, a former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has claimed that several political associates played significant roles in helping the former governor rise to power.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Saidu argued that El-Rufai owes much to the individuals who helped build the political structure that supported his electoral victories, insisting that the former governor did not achieve his political success alone.

The former aide made the remarks during an interview with RFI Hausa, where he also dismissed allegations that he and other former associates had betrayed El-Rufai by withdrawing their political support.

According to Saidu, some members of their political circle had been actively involved in politics long before El-Rufai joined them and contributed substantially to the movement that eventually helped him secure power.

He maintained that those now accused of abandoning the former governor had made considerable sacrifices throughout their shared political journey.

“We begged him to join politics,” Saidu declared.

Reflecting on his political history, the former Chief of Staff said his involvement dated back to the era of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the political activities surrounding the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

He also cited Professor Ango Abdullahi and other prominent political figures as individuals familiar with the history of their political engagements.

Saidu further challenged the narrative that El-Rufai personally built and controlled the political structure responsible for his rise, insisting that the contributions of his associates should not be overlooked.

The former aide also rejected claims that he abandoned El-Rufai when the former governor faced difficulties, pointing to his own experiences with arrest and imprisonment.

He recalled being arrested on New Year’s Eve and spending 50 days in prison before his release. He said he subsequently faced several court proceedings, after which his bail was revoked, resulting in another 54 days behind bars.

Saidu added that he spent the most recent Eid-el-Adha celebration in prison.

“It is an outright lie to say we abandoned him,” he insisted.

Explaining the reasons behind the political fallout, Saidu said some former associates had become dissatisfied with what they perceived as a lack of appreciation for their loyalty and sacrifices.

He noted that his relationship with El-Rufai had extended beyond politics to a family-level bond, making the allegations of betrayal particularly troubling.

Saidu also identified disagreements over political succession as one of the factors that contributed to the collapse of their alliance.

According to him, members of their political camp had been supporting Malam Jaafaru as their preferred candidate in Kaduna State without knowing that El-Rufai had already chosen someone else.

He maintained that his decision to part ways with the former governor stemmed largely from his dissatisfaction with how El-Rufai treated the people who had supported his political journey.