By Ibrahim Ammani

Kaduna State Commissioner of Information, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki has reacted to the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s victory in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency describing it as “proof of Governor Uba Sani’s inclusive governance and people-centered policies.”

Maiyaki was responding to questions from newsmen as after the announcement of election results of the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency as well as Zaria Kewaye and Basawa State Assembly Constituencies.

He said the result reflects the trust communities in Kaduna now repose in the leadership of Gov Uba Sani and the ruling party, noting that the triumph was both “historic and symbolic,” representing the breaking of a long-standing jinx in a constituency that had consistently resisted APC’s advances.

He explained that with this breakthrough, the party has consolidated its hold on Kaduna State, stretching its dominance into territories once seen as opposition fortresses.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC polled 34,580 votes to decisively defeat its rivals. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), once regarded as thunrivaleded force in Chikun and Kajuru, managed only 11,491 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 3,477 votes. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) trailed far behind with just 142 votes.

Maiyaki attributed the landslide victories to Governor Uba Sani’s grassroots-focused leadership, which has delivered tangible results through road infrastructure, healthcare renewal, education reforms, and security interventions — policies that resonated strongly with voters and paved the way for the sweeping victory.

“The people of Chikun and Kajuru as well as Zaria Kewaye and Basawa State Assembly Constituencies have spoken loud and clear — they want progressive leadership, not recycled promises. They trust Gov Uba Sani’s leadership style of inclusivity” Maiyaki declared amid widespread jubilations following the announcement of results.

With 34,580 votes in Chikun and Kajuru standing far ahead of the opposition’s combined tally, Maiyaki stressed that the APC has not only broken new ground but also cemented its status as the dominant political force in Kaduna State. He added that the momentum from this landmark victory positions the party on a solid pedestal ahead of 2027.

For the APC family, Maiyaki concluded, the message is unmistakable: Chikun and Kajuru are no longer opposition enclaves, but part of the consolidated strongholds of a party whose grip on Kaduna’s future is growing firmer by the day.

The coalition of civil society organizations working on governance accountability (Good Governance Advocates) from Jigawa Northeast claims that the interpretation of the video circulating in the social media and national dailies was erroneously misinterpreted and condemned the action by various media.

The group leader, Comrade Ahmed Ilallah, said, “We studied the video. The member representing Hadejia, Auyo, and K/Hausa, Hon. Usman Kamfani, was referring to the amount a member can spend for drafting a bill if he can do it himself or the people or consultant that do the draft work.”

But not money given as a corruption or otherwise to his colleagues or the House.

The way and the manner this information has been twisted and misrepresented has not only slandered the image of the Honourable Member but also the entire constituency.

The action can also trim the image of the Nigerian National Assembly and the Nigerian democracy.

By Ibrahim Ammani

Ahead of the August 16, 2025 bye-election and the Federal Capital Territory council election, a High Court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to accord exclusive recognition to Barrister Julius Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim as the authentic leadership of the Labour Party. 

The court presided over by Hon. Justice Mustapha A. Ramat of the Nasarawa state division had on July 23, 2025 in a SUIT NO. NSD/LF.84/2024  in an interlocutory order directed INEC to also grant Access Code to Julius Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim to upload the names and particulars of their nominated candidates for the bye elections and the FCT Area Council elections as scheduled by the INEC.

INEC has refused to publish the names of the nominated candidates by the Labour Party in a bye-election scheduled to hold on Saturday as well as the FCT council elections scheduled for early 2026. 

Extract of the court Order of the Court reads; 1. AN ORDER OF INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTION OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT directing the Defendant (Independent National Electoral Commission) to accord exclusive recognition to only the officers of Labour Party including the 2nd and 3rd Plaintiffs Julius (Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim) as the National Chairman and National Secretary, who emerged from the convention held at Nnewi, Anambra State on the 27” day of March, 2024 as the authentic officers of the 1st Plaintiff (Labour Party) pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

 2. AN ORDER of Interim Injunction restraining the Defendant from dealing in any way-or manner or otherwise according any recognition whatsoever to any person (s) claiming to be officers of the 1st Plaintiff, except the officers who emerged from the convention held at Nnewi, Anambra State on the 27th day of March, 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. 

3. AN INTERLOCUTORY ORDER directing the Defendant to grant access Code to the Plaintiffs to upload the names and particulars of their nominated candidates for the bye elections of FCT Area Council Elections scheduled by the Defendant. 
4. AN ORDER of this Honourable Court granting accelerated hearing of this suit. 
5. AND for such further order or other orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

AND AFTER HEARING the submissions of Idris Yakubu, MCI Arb. UK (Esq.) Counsel for Plaintiffs and none appearance of the Defendant after dully served with the Motion on Notice (M1/2025) dated 17th day of July, 2025.

IT 1S HEREBY ORDERED that: 

The application/reliefs sought as herein contained are hereby granted as prayed. 

Case is accordingly adjournment to 22nd September, 2025 for hearing of the main case. 

Reacting to this development, the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Umar Farouk, applauded the intervention of the court describing it as a welcome development and an order which will right the many wrongs meted to the authentic leadership of the party.

According to Umar Farouk, “We received this intervention with a heart full of gratitude. We are however hoping that INEC as a law abiding institution,  will do the needful by formally publishing the names of our nominees for the bye election and the FCT council elections without further delay”.

He however reiterated that they are not happy that their candidates and party have not been given equal opportunity and time to campaign like other political parties. This he added is clearly a systemic route orchestrated by INEC to perpetually prevent Labour Party and its candidates from favourably participating in elections.

“Recall that in Ondo state, INEC granted Labour Party’s governorship candidate access code barely 24 hour to the election. This has become a norm and we will not take such treatment any longer.

“Finally, we urge our candidates not to be undaunted or dismayed by these glaring limitations. Labour Party is a household name. We expect nothing but victory in all these contested offices. We also call on members of the party in the affected states to once more show their indomitable and ‘never die spirit’ to return our candidates.”

By Ibrahim Ammani

The Advance Democratic Congress (ADC) National Vice Chairman North, Hon. Jafar Sani has said, the Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has perfected plans to rig the Saturday bye elections in Chuikun, Kajuru and Sabon Gari local government areas.

Sani further said the Governor has compelled the 23 LG chairmen to contribute 30 million naira each, while the APC National leadership has sent in 1.5billion naira, all in order to sabotage and rig the forthcoming Bye-elections in favour the APC, which they said, it unacceptable and must be condemned and rejected by all.

Sani also alleged that already the Uba Sani administration has hired gangsters and thugs from many LGAs to the effect, as well as plans to use security agents to manipulate, intimidate and rig the potentials voters in the said elections.

Sani who came to the venue together with Former Governor Nasiru Elrufai, State ADC chairman, other executive members and teeming supporters made the allegations at a press briefings, held at Correspondents’ Chapel, Mogadishu layout Kaduna today, Thursday.

The ADC National vice Chairman North who is also former Commissioner during El-Rufai administration, Sani said the APC administration under Uba Sani has hired thousands of thugs to disrupt the elections, thus makes desperate and highly intimidated by the popular support of opposition parties especially the ADC in the state and nation at large.

He said, ADC as a nightmare to the excesses of the APC at both state and national levels due to bad leadership is poised to defend it’s votes, within the ambit of the law, and ensure electorates are allowed.

The ADC chieftain then charged the security agents to shun all inducements from the Gov Uba Sani APC administration in this electoral matter and other political issues, and remain neutral and unbiased in providing security and safety of the electorates.

Responding to the allegations, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Information, Hon.Ahmed Maiyaƙi and that of Local government Affairs, Hon Sadiq Mamman Legas have debunked the ADC allegations as a charade and crying wolf where there is none, saying that they will use appropriate legal avenues to seek redress.

Commissioner Maiyaki said, the ADC’s allegations are just saving face because they have seen the handwriting on the wall they are being rejected by the electorates whom were oppressed by the Elrufai administration, hence they booed and almost stoned them during campaigns in some parts of Chuikun LG.

“How could the Kaduna electorates trust Elrufai and his men once again, when their administration has unleashed a reign of terror on their lives when they held sway,” Maiyaƙi asked.

He further said, it’s what the former Governor Elrufai administration was doing during such bye election, which they are now alleging could happen to them.

Maiyaki said, Governor Sani is a democratic person whose history is replete with struggles for the entrenchemnt of democracy, hence he is committed to electoral sanity and will not and never indulges in such acts.

He then said, they have contacted their counsels and would certainly take legal actions against such damning allegations, which are false, malicious and intended to create chaos, in an 3l3ction they knows they are not going to win.

In his submission, the Commissioner for LG Affairs, Hon. Sadiq Mamman Legas said, the ADC/Elrufai claims of using LG funds to execute the forthcoming elections is a blatant lie and exactly what they were doing when they were in power.

He said, the Uba Sani administration as a democratic and people-centred one has many legitimate ways of fundings it’s elections to achieve victory, certainly not through the use of government funds.

He said, Elrufai is a frustrated person whose power drunkenness has driven him to near-insanity because he cannot survive without power.
“These so-called Coalition is just intimidated and frustrated that they knows they are loosing because of the Elrufai’s tyrannical rule in the last eight years.

He then called on the good people of Kaduna state especially the electorates to disregard the allegations and continue to support the Uba Sani APC administration that are making their lives better across the whole state, regardless of all sentiments and the APC candidates in the said elections.

By Ibrahim Ammani

achieve victory, certainly not through the use of government funds.

He said, Elrufai is a frustrated person whose power drunkenness has driven him to near-insanity because he cannot survive without power.
“These so-called Coalition is just intimidated and frustrated that they knows they are loosing because of the Elrufai’s tyrannical rule in the last eight years.

He then called on the good people of Kaduna state especially the electorates to disregard the allegations and continue to support the Uba Sani APC administration that are making their lives better across the whole state, regardless of all sentiments and the APC candidates in the said elections.

By Musa Mohammed

Following his discharge by the court of the rape allegation by a lady, Hadiza Baffa, the former Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has opened up to clarify the matter, saying this “has become necessary both for the record and for posterity to set the facts straight, as silence is no longer golden.”

Already, after admitting to have lied against Turaki and apologised, Hadiza Baffa withdrew her petition with the police, paving the way for the court to strike out the matter and discharge the former minister of the false allegations and charges.

Also, the lady’s father, Musa Bashir Baffa, has written a formal letter of apology to Turaki, pleading forgiveness for his family while also accusing his daughter, Hadiza Baffa and her mother, who he described in his letter as his former wife, of being used by the former Minister’s political adversaries to tarnish his image.

Recall that Hadiza Baffa had last year claimed that the former minister took advantage of her, violated her and harvested eight pregnancies for alleged ritual purposes and was also after her life.

Following the allegations and petition by Hadiza Baffa, the former Minister, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was charged to court. But the matter was eventually struck out by the court after Hadiza Baffa admitted lying against Turaki, apologised and withdrew her petition with the police.

Turaki, in turn, in September 2024, sued Hadiza Baffa, the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police and others over the matter.

According to Turaki in a statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Lawal Umar, “In light of these facts, it is both fair and just to acknowledge that the allegations were unfounded and as Mr. Turaki has consistently maintained, were orchestrated by political adversaries using her as part of a smear campaign. He has refused to succumb to such tactics and remains committed to upholding his integrity, the rule of law, and the principles of justice.”

The statement however noted that Turaki, being a former minister and a SAN, refrained from commenting on the matter during police investigation to avoid being accused of interference and contempt for judicial processes.

This stance of the former Minister, the statement added, however, gave room for unverified narratives to trend on social media while Turaki “allowed the authorities to conduct their work without interference.”

Turaki, however, stated that despite the court striking out the case after discharging him, and since “the matter has continued to trend with different narratives tailored to suit various sponsors,” he has found it imperative, for record purposes and posterity, to speak out.

Therefore, revealing the background of the lady’s false allegations against the former minister, the statement explained, “Hadiza Baffa was entrusted to Mr. Turaki’s care by her mother when she relocated to Abuja, as she was new to the city. In the spirit of longstanding friendship with her family, he accepted this responsibility and treated her in a manner befitting that of a guardian. However, following her repeated involvement in financial scams and subsequent detentions where Mr. Turaki was frequently called upon to intervene and settle matters he reported her conduct to her mother and withdrew his guardianship. Aggrieved by this decision, Hadiza Baffa petitioned the police, making spurious allegations against him, including claims of rape, unlawful termination of pregnancy, and threats to life, which she also published on various social media platforms.

“Following a thorough police investigation, Hadiza Baffa was unable to substantiate her allegations. Despite the lack of evidence, a charge was filed against Mr. Turaki. However, she later wrote to the police and the court to withdraw her petition, leading to the striking out of the charge and Mr. Turaki’s subsequent discharge.”

It further stated, “Significantly, her father who had initially supported his daughter later reviewed the circumstances in full and wrote a letter of apology to Mr. Turaki, expressing appreciation for his care towards his daughter and regret over the entire episode. Subsequently, Ms. Baffa herself sent a written WhatsApp message from her verified number (0806 795 7035), stating: “Salaam, ya ibada? Allah ya karba mana. Seeing you yesterday in the witness box was heart-wrenching and it saddens me a lot, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I never wished for all this to happen but unfortunately, we are here already. I want to withdraw my police case and for the sake of this holy month please forgive me, bygones be bygones. May Allah ease our affairs.””

The statement further noted, “Regarding the DNA aspect of the matter, Mr. Turaki only became aware of the purported result through certain social media platforms and has challenged its authenticity in court. The Court has, in fact, restrained parties from relying on it pending the determination of the suit.”

From Aminu Abubakar

Reports from Kaduna State indicate that the people of Kaduna Central have expressed their support for Alhaji Yerima Shettima as a candidate for Senator in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

According to reports by our correspondent in the Senatorial zone, the people of Kaduna Central, which includes seven local governments Kaduna North and South, Chikun, Igabi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and Kajuru—have portrayed Yerima Shettima as the only individual capable of lifting the region from its prolonged lack of representation in the Senate.

Yerima Shettima, who is the president of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), has accepted the call from the community for him to run for the Senate in the 2027 elections.

In an interview with newsmen in Kaduna, Alhaji Yerima Shettima stated that he made the decision to run for office in response to the public appeals urging him to do so. As a native of the area, he believes it is his duty to contribute to the advancement of the Constituency.

“I will focus on improving the lives of women and youth in the Kaduna Central region if I succeed in becoming a Senator. I will prioritize education to build a better community in the area. The people will feel represented once God grants me the opportunity to become a Senator in 2027,” he stated.

By Ibrahim Ammani

In a noteworthy statement from Kaduna State, Honorable Mahmud Danladi Liman, a prominent politician, has revealed that the northern region of Nigeria continues to face challenges in the field of education, remaining behind compared to other regions of the country. This statement was made during an interview with journalists.

Honorable Liman indicated that the educational challenges in the northern region have deep historical roots, originating from the past. He highlighted that the lack of support for educational initiatives at critical times has contributed to the region’s disadvantaged state. This lack of understanding concerning the importance of education continues to complicate progress for the region.

Liman called on governments, particularly the northern governors, to stand up and combat the issue of children not attending school. He emphasized that this necessitates implementing effective strategies that will lead to success in this area.

Finally, Honorable Liman urged parents to take responsibility for their children’s education, both in modern and religious education. He stated that providing education to their children is the most significant legacy they can leave behind, which will help equip them to build a better future.

By Ibrahim Ammani

Kogi State Government has reaffirmed its position as a frontrunner in human capital development, recording the lowest number of out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Hon. Ismaila Isah, at the at the 2025 Blueprint Impact Award Series in Abuja, where he represented Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, who was honoured as the Governor of the Year in Human Capital Development.

Hon. Isah described the award as a clear recognition of the strategic investments made by the administration in both education and health sectors within a short time.

He explained that the Ododo-led administration has spent over ₦1 billion on the payment of external examination fees for students in public primary and secondary schools across the state in just over a year.

According to him, this deliberate intervention has significantly boosted school enrolment and retention rates, resulting in Kogi now having the lowest number of out-of-school children in the northern region, a rating confirmed by relevant national statistics.

“Kogi State under Governor Ododo has demonstrated that meaningful investment in people yields measurable results. This award is a testament to that fact,” he stated.

He also noted that the administration is currently undertaking the revitalization of over 300 primary healthcare centres across the 21 local government areas of the state, further strengthening its commitment to human capital development.

“The Governor remains committed to building a knowledge-based and healthy population. We are proud of the strides we have made so far, and this recognition by Blueprint affirms that we are on the right path,” he added.

The Blueprint Impact Award Series is an annual event that honours individuals and institutions making significant contributions to national development, governance and innovation.

Government House Media Team

July 23, 2025

By Ahmed Ilallah

The recent announcement by the Revenue Office of Jigawa State regarding a revenue achievement of N23.8 billion over six months should not be viewed as commendable when considering the state budget of N698.3 billion.

It has been noted that revenue generation has risen by over 100% when compared to the previous year.

In the first half of 2025, from January to June, N23.8 billion was generated, whereas during the same timeframe in 2024, the revenue was only N9.175 billion.

However, all of these performances are underwhelming when compared to the state budget for 2025.

The overall budget for Jigawa State in 2025 amounts to N698.3 billion, marking the largest budget in the state’s history.

The IGR target is to generate N130.6 billion through internal revenue sources. 

Though, besides that, the budget will be funded by statutory allocations from the Federation Account, the state share of VAT, other federal transfers, and other capital receipts. 

But the IGR contribution is insufficient for a realistic budget.

In a realistic budget and in a good benchmark, the IGR should realistically cover a substantial portion of the state’s budget, ideally above 40-50%, while also accounting for revenue from the other sources.

But the half-year revenue performance in the state indicates the inability of the state to generate even 30% of the projected budget.

Studying the Jigawa State budget implementation, the shortcoming of the projected IGR will affect the budget performance.

alhajilallah@gmail.com