Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on Nigerians to maintain hope and persist in prayer for the nation, emphasizing the urgent need to identify and expose those responsible for terrorism and violent crimes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Akpabio made this plea during an inter-denominational church service held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja, commemorating Nigeria’s 2026 Democracy Day. The service, themed “God of Hope, Actualise Our Dreams,” was attended by senior government officials, church leaders, and worshippers.

Divine Intervention Against Insecurity In a statement from his media office, Akpabio reflected on his tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State. He recounted how he initiated monthly prayer meetings to combat rising cases of kidnapping, militancy, and violence. He stressed that prayer was crucial during that period and remains essential as Nigeria continues to navigate significant security challenges.

The Senate President urged citizens to seek divine intervention to uncover those sponsoring terrorism and other criminal activities, insisting that they must be brought to light regardless of their social standing or political affiliation.

Reflecting on National Resilience Akpabio noted that Nigeria has a history of overcoming difficult periods, including political crises, health emergencies, and insurgency. He argued that the nation’s ability to remain united despite these challenges demonstrates its strength and resolve.

Reaffirming the power of prayer, Akpabio said: “When I had the opportunity to serve as governor about 19 years ago, I started monthly prayer. I used to ask myself a question whenever there was militancy, kidnapping and killing. I would say, what if we were not praying?“

He continued, “Today I want you to ask the same question, the things happening around us, what if we were not praying. We must continue praying so that the evil doers and their sponsors shall be exposed… If they are in government, they shall be exposed. If they are outside government, they shall be exposed… Those sponsoring it, whether it is politically motivated or not, may they never have peace until they are defeated.“

The Democracy Day service was part of events marking 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule in Nigeria.

Datti Baba-Ahmed, the former vice-presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP), has firmly rejected rumors suggesting a fallout between him and his former principal, Peter Obi. During a recent interview on Channels Television’s Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, Baba-Ahmed emphasized that their relationship remains intact, stating that no one could drive a wedge between them.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Mutual Respect Persists Despite Political Divergence Although the pair have moved to different political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, Baba-Ahmed maintains a high level of respect for the former Anambra State governor.

• Baba-Ahmed, who is now with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), noted that regardless of their current party affiliations, he still holds Obi in high regard for his past governance and personal integrity.

• He explicitly declared, “Nobody will cause a problem between me and my boss, Peter Obi,” affirming the mutual respect they still share.

• While Baba-Ahmed joined the PRP, Peter Obi has since defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where he has been named the party’s presidential candidate.

Reflections on Atiku Abubakar and 2027 In the same interview, Baba-Ahmed offered his perspective on the political future of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

• Baba-Ahmed suggested that Atiku would have been in a much stronger position for the 2027 presidency had he opted to support Peter Obi during the 2023 elections.

• He further noted that had Atiku exercised patience and adopted a political strategy similar to President Bola Tinubu—by providing a platform for others to contest—he would have been willing to step aside in 2027 and encourage Obi to do the same.

The Kano State branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is currently grappling with an internal crisis following allegations that former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso is attempting to seize total control of the party’s local structure. The accusations were formally lodged in a petition to NDC National Leader Seriake Dickson by the party’s North-West Vice Chairman, Mohammed Serina, and Kano State Chairman, Hussaini Mariga.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to the petitioners, although the party initially welcomed Kwankwaso and his followers with the instruction to foster a collaborative working relationship, the former governor has since allegedly sought to sideline any members not affiliated with the “Kwankwasiyya” movement. Serina noted that while a previous dispute regarding control was seemingly resolved through a 60/40 power-sharing agreement, tensions reignited during the party’s recent nomination process.

The party leaders claim that Kwankwaso effectively monopolized the nomination forms, refusing to distribute them to any aspirants outside his movement. The petition details a total exclusion of non-Kwankwasiyya members from all tiers of candidacy, including state House of Assembly, House of Representatives, senatorial, and gubernatorial spots. Furthermore, the leaders alleged that Kwankwaso has threatened to exit the party entirely unless he is granted absolute control of the Kano State chapter.

“No individual possesses an exclusive monopoly over political wisdom or electoral viability in Kano State,” Serina asserted, emphasizing that the party cannot function if membership in a specific faction is the only path to political participation. The dispute reportedly involves other prominent figures as well, such as former House member Nasiru Ahmed and former Governor Kabiru Gaya.

The Defense: Kwankwasiyya Denies Claims In response to these allegations, the Kwankwasiyya Movement has labeled the claims as baseless. Speaking to Punch, movement spokesman Habibu Muhammed maintained that the party—not his movement—was responsible for the sale of nomination forms, insisting that no candidate was barred from the process.

Muhammed suggested that the grievances might be coming from individuals attempting to bypass standard procedures. An anonymous loyalist to Kwankwaso echoed these sentiments, alleging that the petitioners are merely creating a “false alarm” to deflect from their own controversial activities regarding the handling of nomination forms prior to the primaries.