Hours after former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, speculations are strong that former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, are planning to pitch their tent with the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
It was also gathered that former Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Adamu and some aggrieved members (of APC) as well as some former Ministers who served during the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari are in talks to join the SDP.
The development is coming amidst talks of a coalition among opposition parties to present a common front capable of challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 election.
Some Opposition parties are reportedly planning on joining forces under an existing registered party.
However, if they are unable to agree on a shared platform within the party they intend to join, they will opt to align with the SDP instead, according to sources.
It would be recalled that the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, has said merger talks from opposition politicians has been gaining success.
Ologbodiyan, who spoke on AIT Focus programme, on Monday, stated that the opposition politicians would come out with what would give Nigerians hope.
Ologbondiyan had stated that defeating the current government would be easy with what the opposition political leaders would be bringing out.
The duo of Dr Ngozi Unaogu, the Acting Chief Medical Director, CMD, of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, and the Director, Clinical Services of the Nigeria Correctional Centre, will remain in jail until they purge themselves of contempt of Court, an Enugu High Court has ruled.
Justice Ngozi Orji in her verdict on Monday, March 10, 2025 ordered the two medical officials to be remanded until there is a complete compliance with the terms of the judgement delivered by Hon. Justice E.M. Egumgbe, in the matter between the hospital and one Afam Ndu, the suspended Principal of the School of Basic Psychiatric Nursing of the same hospital.
The Source reports that Justice Egumgbe had on December 10, 2021, while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by Ndu granted a perpetual order restraining the Hospital Management (respondent) from scrutinizing or subjecting to any verification exercise the credentials of the applicant ( Ndum) .
However, the trial Judge, Justice Orji, observed that both the Acting CMD and the Director of Clinical Services of the Nigeria Correctional Centre flouted the earlier restraining Court order.
According to the Court, the CMD, in flagrant disobedience of the subsisting Court order constituted a commit3tee which she, also, headed to verify the applicant’s NYSC discharge certificate.
The CMD had claimed that the directive for the scrutinization of the certificate was from the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
But the Court in its ruling held that the constitution of the probe committee was in breach of the earlier restraining Court order as granted by Justice Egumgbe.
The Court consequently ordered the two public officials to be remanded in Custodial Centre until there is a total obedience of the restraining order as issued on December 10, 2021.
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have disagree on the money laundering accusation against the immediate past go Ernie of the state, Adegboyega Oyetola.
While the APC see the accusation as being politically motivated, the PDP insisted that the present administration has done its homework before dragging the former governor to the antigraft agency.
Governor Ademola Adeleke had last week announced that his administration had petitioned the Economic, Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) after it uncovered some illegal dealings by his predecessor.
The APC dismissed the accusation of a $20 million fraud against former Governor Oyetola.
Reacting to the allegation, the APC’s Media Director in Osun, Kola Olabisi, described it as a politically motivated attack meant to damage Oyetola’s reputation.
He accused Adeleke of making the claims to cover up his own administration’s struggles, especially his inability to gain control over the state’s local government councils.
Olabisi alleged that after Adeleke’s attempt to take over the councils failed, he resorted to using fraud allegations as a way to discredit Oyetola.
Olabisi challenged Adeleke’s government to provide proof by revealing the names of contractors and contract award dates.
He also compared Oyetola’s transparency record to the current administration’s, noting that the former governor made details of over 100 contracts public, while Adeleke’s government had only published a few.
In response, the Osun State Government insisted that the petition to the EFCC was based on thorough investigations and had nothing to do with politics.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, stated that a Contract Review Committee had been set up in early 2023 to examine the previous government’s financial records.
According to him, the committee uncovered widespread corruption, financial mismanagement, and violations of due process under Oyetola’s administration.
He stressed that those involved should be prepared to defend themselves instead of trying to discredit the findings.
The festering political crisis rocking Rivers state ,on Monday March 10,2025 took a turn for the worse .
This follows the call on embattled Governor Siminalayi Fubara by the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the State to either resign within 48 hours, or be impeached.
At an interactive session with the Media at his residence, factional Chairman of the APC Chief Tony Okocha, towed the path which many had envisaged since the Supreme Court judgment of February 28, 2025, which shockingly affirmed the 27 pro-Wike Lawmakers as authentic members of the State House of Assembly.
The Speaker Martin Amaewfule-led legislature, since mounting the saddle after the Supreme court ruling, has not pretended about its intentions to uproot Governor Fubara.
Since their first plenary post-Supreme court verdict on Monday March 3, 2025, the State Legislators have issued no fewer than three ultimatums to the Governor, his Commissioners, other political appointees, as well as the Chairman and members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.
In one of the ultimatums, the Lawmakers demanded the Governor to represent the 2025 appropriation bill within 48 hours.
But an attempt by Governor Fubara to engage the combative Legislators on the modalities for the representation process was on Monday rebuffed by the Lawmakers who cited abnormal communication as a major reason.
Instructively, the factional APC Chairman’s outburst, came on the very day the meeting between the Governor and the House Members was scheduled.
According to Okocha, Governor Fubara has already committed many impeachable offences as has been affirmed by the country’s apex court in its verdict.
The APC Chairman noted that there is no longer the need for the observance of constitutional demands in impeaching the Governor, as according to him, the Supreme Court has already established all the grounds for an impeachment.
“The Supreme Court has already exposed those allegations against the Governor.
“There are two options left for Sir Siminalayi Fubara. He should either resign honourably or face impeachment”, Okocha stated.
The Source reports that in its ruling, the Supreme court apart from recognizing the defected 27 law makers as authentic members of the House, also, criticized Governor Fubara for taking some steps to paralyze the Legislative arm of Government in the State.
The court likened some of the measures he took to those that were carried out during Military Regimes in undermining the Legislature as an arm of Government.
A former Governor of kaduna state has stated the reason for leaving the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. He said the party treated him shabbily despite the fact that he played a major role in the party’s ascension to power three consecutive times at the national level.
The former Minister of the FCT made this remark in a statement on Monday, few hours after he announced his departure from the party, thus bringing an end to moths of speculations about his future in the party he played a major role as one of the founding leaders.
The magazine reported that the former governor had for months been at logger heads with his party after he failed to scale the Senate ministerial hurdles in 2023, amid suggestions that he was planning to dump it, his recent comment that he no longer believe in the party had also fueled rumour that his days were already numbered in the APC.
On Monday, El Rufai did not prove critics wrong as he finally joined the Social Democratic Party, SDP. He said he had sent his resignation letter to his ward in Kaduna that he’s no longer a member of the APC. His resignation from APC, he said, is effective today, March 10, 2025.
Citing why he left, the former minister said he was not treated with respect by the party after he played a critical role in the party’s presidential win in 2015, 2029 and 2023, saying he had no choice to seek validation in another party.
He stressed his first task as a member of the opposition is to unite other key leaders in the opposition to wrest power from the APC in 2027
“Without prejudice to this decision, as a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and unite under a single democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and bye-elections between now and 2027, by the Grace of God,” he said.
He added, “I, therefore, call on all our supporters and concerned Nigerians to join us in the SDP as we work towards making Nigeria a beacon of pride for Africans and the Black Race.”
He slammed the APC for the shabby treatment that was meted out to him despite being instrumental to its success in three successive elections, a development that left him disappointed but was no longer ‘acceptable’ to him.
According to him, “Founders naturally feel attached to institutions they helped build, but pragmatism demands recognition when differences become irreconcilable. I have diligently served the APC and contributed to its growth, but the party has since deviated, leaving me stuck in the vision of its well-meaning founders.
“As a loyal party member, I worked to secure the APC’s victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023. My tenure as governor of Kaduna State focused on progressive policies in education, healthcare, infrastructure, job creation, and investment promotion. However, in the last two years, the APC has sidelined its structures and treated its members with contempt. This is no longer acceptable.”
The magazine reported that the former governor met with former vice president Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 presidential candidate of the PDP whose future in the party have also been rumoured not to be certain.
But Abubakar said at the weekend that he remained a member of the PDP dismissing he plan to dump the party.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is tracking some passengers that boarded a plane with a medical doctor from the United Kingdom. The Doctor, on return, later died of Lassa fever.
NCDC has confirmed that 31-year-old doctor died of Lassa fever.
In a public advisory issued on Monday, the NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris said the doctor, who worked at a private health facility in Ondo State, had recently traveled to the United Kingdom, (UK) and returned home before succumbing to the illness.
‘’The patient departed Nigeria 19/02/2025 and returned 27/02/2025. Samples were taken late on Friday, 28/02/2025 on a suspicion of Lassa fever, but the patient unfortunately passed away in the early hours of Saturday, 01/03/2025.
“The laboratory investigation returned result was Lassa Fever positive on PCR on Tuesday 04/03/2025. The patient was said to have visited his fiancée in Edo state, as well as family and friends before travelling.”
Dr Idris stated that authorities are now tracking people who were in contact with him, including passengers on his flight, in order to prevent further spread of the disease.
Providing the latest statistics on Lassa Fever, the NCDC Director-General, reports that 535 cases of Lassa fever have been confirmed out of 2,728 suspected cases this year, resulting in 98 deaths.
Most cases are found in Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi states.
Dr. Idris advises the public to keep the environment clean, store food in sealed containers, cover dustbins, and block holes in their house to prevent rats from entering.
He also emphasized that people should avoid drying food in open spaces where rats can contaminate it, wash their hands regularly and keep good hygiene to help reduce the risk.
The NCDC officer urged those who experience symptoms such as fever, sore throat, or unusual bleeding to seek medical attention immediately, instead of self-medicating.
“Suspected cases should be reported via the NCDC toll-free number (6232) or the state health hotline.”
Dr Idris also reminded healthcare workers to follow safety protocols to prevent infections, warning citizens about the dangers of living in rat-infested areas or handling food carelessly.
Lassa fever, caused by the Lassa virus, spreads through contact with infected rats or through body fluids of infected individuals.
Early detection and treatment significantly improve survival rates, even though initial symptoms may mimic malaria.
The immediate past Governor of Kaduna state , Nasir El Rufai has resigned from the All Progressives Congress, APC., the party under which he served as a two time governor.
The former Minister of the FCT has now joined the Social Democratic Party, SDP, months after analysts contended that his political future in the ruling party was no longer guaranteed.
Indication that the governor governor was considering leaving the party came recently after he decalred that he no longer believe in his former party.
He has been in a feud with the APC for months after he failed to push through the Senate screening for minister. He recently blamed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the set back, saying the president could have fought hard for him, to ensure that he scaled the hurdle of ministerial screening after the Nigerian Senate rejected his nomination.
The former minister, the magazine reported had recently been hobnobbing with the opposition leaders, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar, whom he met just hours before he dumped the APC.
Sources informed the magazine that opposition leaders in the country are planning to form a coalition to oust the ruling APC and President Tinubu from power in 2027. “The SDP ‘may just be the rainbow party for all of them, to achieve this onerous task” a source said on Monday after reports of El Rufai’s defection broke.
Amidst the ongoing political tension occasioned by the February 28, 2025, Supreme court judgement on the festering crisis rocking Rivers State, a former Governor of the State, Chief Rufus Ada-George, has sued for restraint from all parties.
At an interactive session with the Media on Monday, March, 10, 2025, Chief George, who was Governor on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention, NRC, in 1991, cautioned against the issuance of ultimatums, threats and incendiary remarks.
The Source reports that unease and heightened apprehension have engulfed the Rivers State political landscape following the Supreme Court’s verdict conferring legitimacy on the faction of the state House of Assembly led by Speaker Martins Amaewfule.
The Court, besides nullifying the October 5, 2024 Local Council Polls held in the State, also halted further remittance of Federal Allocations both to the State and Local Governments
While the State Government will have its funds restored after the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House presided over by Rt Hon Amaewfule, the Local Councils will start to receive theirs after the conduct of another Council Election.
The political temperature of the State has considerably boiled over amidst series of ultimatums from the Amaewfule- led state House of Assembly to both the Governor, his Commissioners, other political appointees, as well as the Chairman and Members of the State Independent Electoral Commission.
In return, perceived inflammatory and incendiary statements and open threats of hell on earth and the disruption of oil exploration activities have continued to emanate from the camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s sympathisers and fellow Ijaw citizens.
However, former Governor Ada-George appealed to all the warring factions to place the overall interests of Rivers State above all other considerations .
He specifically urged political actors in the ongoing crisis to refrain from any acts capable of further inflaming passions and disagreements.
“Although, the Supreme Court has rendered its verdict, there is still room for humane and pragmatic decisions that can help mitigate the adverse effects of the ruling on the people .
“Political disagreements of this kind in the State, if not properly handled, could spiral out of control with far reaching consequences.
“An example was the 1962 Western Regional crisis. So there is the urgent need for all parties to explore peaceful options through negotiations.
“Even in war-torn countries and regions, negotiations still remain veritable options, and vital tool for peace building”, chief Ada George stated.
The former Governor and Elder Statesman, also, called on his colleagues in the service of Rivers State – former Governors, their Deputies ,past Legislators, both State and Federal to join hands in finding a lasting solution to the festering crisis.
Particularly, Chief Ada-George appealed to the State Lawmakers to eschew a resort to aggression, and avoid the pursuit of personal interests in the performance of their functions.
He expressed the optimism that there will be light once more at the end of the dark period.
” As the oldest Civilian Governor of Rivers state, I remain optimistic about our future. Let us embrace compromise, unity and peace as we chart a new course for our dear State”, Ada-George appealed.
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Baba Muhammed Azare, has warned kidnappers and other criminal elements to steer clear of the State or face dire consequences.
The warning comes on the heels of the arrest of five members of a notorious abduction syndicate, responsible for a series of high profile abductions in Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim, and environs.
One of the arrested hoodlums, however, died at a medical facility, where they were being treated for injuries sustained during a grueling gun battle with Operatives.
A statement on Monday, March 10, 2025, from the State Police Command’s spokesperson, Timfon John, a DSP, informed that operatives from the joint tactical team stormed multiple criminal hideouts in Ikpe Annang, Ikpe Ikot Akpan and Ikot Inyang in Essien Udim Local Government Area of the State.
According to John, the operations were preceded by the receipt of credible intelligence on the criminal activities of the syndicate.
“Upon sighting the operatives, the suspects opened fire in a desperate bid to evade arrest.
“The gallant officers responded, decisively, engaging them in gun duel. At the end of the operation, all the five suspects sustained varying degrees of injuries and were taken to a hospital for medical treatment, where one of them died while receiving treatment”, the Police stated.
During the operation, the sum of three million, one hundred ,and thirty thousand ,six hundred Naira ( N3,130,600), strongly believed to be ransom proceeds was recovered from the hoodlums’ den.
Other items recovered, according to the police statement Recovered, three GSM button phones, One AK-47 riffle ,a G3 rifle, one Pump Action rifle, and a locally fabricated Dane gun.
Similarly, operatives recovered a bag of crayfish, one tambourine, an electric power amplifier and one conga drum.
The Family of Late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has pointed out that in the over 400-page autobiography of Miliary President, General Ibrahim Babangida, *A Journey In Service*, which was presented on Thursday February 20, there was nowhere Abacha’s photograph featured.
This was revealed in the Family’s comprehensive response to Babangida’s claim that far from the belief of Nigerians that he was behind the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, the culprit was General Abacha.
In the Family’s strongly worded statement, it was pointed out that not only was Babangida fully responsible for the annulment, he failed to make history by not telling any truth in all of his narratives.
The Abacha Family pointed out that it does seem that the main purpose of the book “was driven by lingering ill feelings towards General Sani Abacha”
Proof: “Despite spanning over 400 pages, it does not contain a single picture of General Abacha – the same person General Babangida acknowledged as having saved his life and remained his ally, friend and colleague for over 30 years.”
Following the full text of the Abacha Family response.
“Our attention has been drawn to recent claims made by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, in his newly launched book , A Journey in Service, where he alleged that the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election was the responsibility of the late General Sani Abacha. These claims have sparked widespread controversy and necessitate a clear response from the immediate family of General Sani Abacha and the entire Abacha clan in the interest of historical accuracy and justice.
” It is important to state unequivocally that General Sani Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief at the time the June 12 election was annulled. The decision to annul the election was made under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, who, as the then Head of State, held absolute executive powers and was solely responsible for the actions of his government. Any attempt to shift this blame onto General Sani Abacha, who was a very senior military officer within the regime, is a deliberate distortion of historical facts.
Ibrahim Babangida.
“For years, various actors have attempted to rewrite the history of that critical period in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. However, the facts remain unchanged. We urge Nigerians to be wary of revisionist narratives that seek to manipulate public perception for personal or political reasons. The memory of our late father and leader, General Sani Abacha, must not be tarnished by baseless accusations meant to absolve those who were truly responsible.
“Furthermore, we wish to emphasize that despite this unfortunate attempt to shift blame, General Sani Abacha remained a true and loyal friend to General Ibrahim Babangida up to the time of his death. He was a man of unwavering commitment to his comrades. We also find it necessary to state that at the time General Babangida’s life was under threat, it was General Abacha who came to his rescue, ensuring his safety.
“We are also of the opinion that the book was written in bad faith. Ab initio, it appears to be driven by lingering ill feelings towards General Sani Abacha. Despite spanning over 400 pages, it does not contain a single picture of General Abacha—the same person General Babangida acknowledged as having saved his life and remained his ally, friend, and colleague for over 30 years. This is further underscored by the fact that no invitation was extended to the Abacha family for the book launch.
“It is clear that these bad feelings have weighed on him for years. We can only hope that after keeping them bottled up for so long, he has now found peace within himself.
“We take this opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation to the many Nigerians who have risen in defense of General Sani Abacha in an effort to set the record straight. Your unwavering commitment to truth and historical accuracy is deeply appreciated, and we acknowledge the outpouring of support from those who refuse to allow history to be distorted.
“While we recognize that history will continue to be debated, we believe that honesty and integrity must guide such discussions. We also call on all well-meaning Nigerians and historians to remain committed to the truth and reject any attempt to misrepresent the past for personal gain. Worthy of note also is the fact that it is tantamount to the celebration of deceit to gloss over the numerous achievements and contributions of late General Abacha to the overall development of Nigeria. No amount of lies and quantum of misinformation would erase the historical records that dot the length and breadth of this country, keeping the Abacha legacy of service delivery as a model.
“We do know for a fact that if General Abacha were alive, these accusations—deficient in truth and sincerity—would never have been mentioned. As the Hausa saying goes, Kura ma ta san gidan mai babban sanda (Even the hyena knows the house of the man who wields the big stick).
“As we reflect on Nigeria’s history, we acknowledge General Sani Abacha’s time in leadership and the role he played in the nation’s development. His contributions, like those of past leaders, remain part of our country’s history. We believe that history is best judged with fairness and objectivity.
“We regret that *A Journey in Service* missed the opportunity and failed to make history as a truthful and objective account of past events. As one public commentator aptly put it, honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author.
