Reports indicate that following his withdrawal, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has endorsed former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Faruk Yabo, as its consensus candidate for the seat.

Similarly, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, who previously served as Deputy Governor under Tambuwal during his tenure as Sokoto State Governor, has emerged as the ADC’s consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 elections in the state.

It would be recalled that ahead of the 2023 general elections, Tambuwal, who was then a presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stepped down in favour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Meanwhile, Atiku Abubakar recently downplayed the political influence of some prominent Northern politicians, including Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal, and Nasir El-Rufai.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ programme, Atiku described himself as the most politically influential figure in Northern Nigeria.

He maintained that none of the current or emerging northern political figures matches his reach or electoral influence across the region.

According to the ADC chieftain, while some of these politicians remain popular, their support base is limited compared to his wider national influence.

He further argued that Kwankwaso’s political strength is largely concentrated in Kano State, adding that even within the state, influence is now shared between him and Governor Abba Yusuf.

Reports indicate that she was arraigned on Friday by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of ₦36,000,000 (Thirty-six Million Naira).

During the proceedings, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that part of the disputed funds had already been refunded to the complainant, stating that ₦24 million had been returned out of the ₦36 million. He also requested a short adjournment to allow parties resolve the outstanding balance, noting that discussions were ongoing to possibly settle the matter.

However, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, argued that the EFCC was not part of any settlement discussions and insisted that the defendant should take her plea, stressing that the Federal Government remains the complainant in the matter.

In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu held that while parties are free to negotiate settlement even during trial, such discussions do not affect court proceedings, and ordered the defendant to enter her plea.

Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution thereafter urged the court to fix a trial date and remand her in a correctional facility pending trial.

Her counsel, however, informed the court that she had only been served with the charge a day earlier and that a bail application was being prepared. He therefore requested that she be kept in EFCC custody pending the conclusion of bail arrangements.

Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered that she be remanded in EFCC custody. The case was adjourned till June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.

Reports indicate that she made this known while speaking at the Global Citizen NOW event held in New York, where she reflected on her childhood experiences.

According to her, many Nigerian children grow up dealing with constant power shortages, and she was no exception.

She explained that her grandmother was a trader who sold tomatoes and pepper, but they often had to sell quickly because there was no electricity to preserve the goods, a situation that affected the family’s income and daily routine.

Ayra Starr also noted that the lack of steady electricity made studying at home difficult, especially during hot weather when basic comforts like fans were unavailable.

In her view, access to reliable power would have greatly improved her learning environment and overall upbringing.

She used the platform to call on African leaders to address electricity challenges across the continent, stressing that children need basic infrastructure like stable power to thrive.

She said: “Every Nigerian child has faced some type of electricity issues. My grandma used to sell tomatoes and pepper and I used to assist her. We had to sell it quickly because we didn’t have electricity to store them.

“The harsh experience made me who I am today. Because I had to find ways to do what I had to do without the comfort of electricity.

“Growing up, having electricity would have made a big difference. If I came back from school and I had AC or even a fan in the heat while doing my assignments, that would have made a big difference.”