Marafa, who served in the Senate between 2011 and 2019, was formally received in Abuja on Tuesday by top NDC leaders, including former Bayelsa State Governor and party figure Seriake Dickson, NDC Chairman Moses Cleopas, and National Women Leader Dudu Manuga. He arrived with a group of his supporters.

His defection comes just weeks after he joined the ADC on April 8, 2026, following his exit from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in August 2025, making it his second party switch within a short period.

Explaining his decision, Marafa cited concerns over ongoing legal disputes involving the ADC, as well as limited time before key electoral deadlines. He said the uncertainty created by court cases made it difficult to plan effectively for upcoming elections.

He noted that aspirants must align with a stable and legally secure political platform ahead of the close of party registration, warning that prolonged litigation could leave him and his supporters without a viable structure.

Marafa added that the decision was reached after careful consultations with his supporters and legal advisers, whose input influenced the final move to the NDC.

He also stated that he and his group would support the party’s eventual decision on its presidential candidate.

Welcoming him, Seriake Dickson described Marafa’s defection as a significant gain for the NDC, particularly in Zamfara State and the wider North-West, expressing confidence that his experience would strengthen the party’s presence and contribute to addressing insecurity in the region.

NDC Chairman Moses Cleopas said the party remains committed to inclusivity and is opening its platform to young people, women, and persons with disabilities as political activities intensify ahead of the next election cycle.

The encounter exploded into life at the Parc des Princes, with Harry Kane putting Bayern ahead from the penalty spot. Kvaratskhelia quickly restored parity with a fine finish before João Neves headed PSG into the lead. Michael Olise then brought Bayern level again in a frantic opening half.

PSG went back in front just before half-time when Dembélé converted from the spot after a handball by Alphonso Davies. After the restart, the French champions extended their advantage as Kvaratskhelia completed a flowing team move, before Dembélé added another with a low strike that beat Manuel Neuer to make it 5–2.

Bayern refused to back down. Dayot Upamecano scored with a header from a Joshua Kimmich free-kick, while Luis Díaz added another to reduce the deficit and keep the tie alive.

The result sets up a decisive second leg at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, May 6, with a place in the final in Budapest still up for grabs. PSG coach Luis Enrique will take a narrow lead into the return fixture, where his side previously triumphed in last season’s final against Inter Milan.

Olukoyede made the appeal on Tuesday in Kano while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State Universities in Nigeria.

He described AI as a “necessary defence,” warning that Nigeria’s university system risks being left behind in the global shift toward technology-driven governance if it fails to adapt.

According to him, universities manage huge financial resources, including tuition fees, TETFund allocations, and research grants, yet continue to face serious accountability challenges.

He revealed that the EFCC has investigated several corruption cases within tertiary institutions across the country.

“The EFCC has investigated cases involving inflated contracts, ghost workers, and diverted students’ fees in tertiary institutions across the federation,” he said.

He added that such cases represent not only financial loss but also a breach of public trust in the education system.

Olukoyede stressed that weak financial integrity undermines the universities’ responsibility to train ethical professionals, noting that institutional credibility is directly linked to national development and security.

He said AI could play a key role in improving fraud detection, auditing systems, payroll management, procurement monitoring, and academic integrity processes.

The EFCC boss also cited the agency’s use of AI in recent operations, including “Operation Eagle Flush” in December 2024, which led to the arrest of 792 suspects involved in cyber-related fraud across multiple countries.

He urged university governing councils to establish dedicated AI and digital governance structures to drive responsible technology adoption, alongside investment in cybersecurity, broadband infrastructure, and cloud systems.

Olukoyede further called for closer collaboration between universities and the EFCC through training programmes and intelligence sharing, as well as the adoption of an AI Code of Ethics to protect privacy and academic integrity.

However, he cautioned that technology alone is not enough to solve corruption issues.

“No matter how sophisticated the technology might be, its effectiveness ultimately depends on the integrity of the human beings who will utilise the tools,” he said.

He warned against overdependence on AI, highlighting risks such as poor judgement, cybersecurity threats, and weakened institutional autonomy.

Reaffirming the commission’s commitment to supporting the education sector, Olukoyede stressed that the fight against corruption requires collective responsibility.

“The fight against corruption is a national project that depends on the integrity of every institution, especially our universities,” he said.