Independent National Electoral Commission has released a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections, bringing the voting dates forward after objections that the earlier schedule clashed with Ramadan. Under the new plan, presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on 16 January 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls are set for 6 February 2027. The commission published the timetable on its official X account on Thursday. The previous dates fixed the federal polls for 20 February and state elections for 6 March 2027. Some Muslim groups criticised that timetable, warning it overlapped with the fasting period and could affect…
Author: Zainab Haruna
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the federal government will be held responsible if anything happens to Nasir el‑Rufai, who has been in custody for over a week amid corruption investigations. Atiku Abubakar Warns FG: ‘If Anything Happens to Nasir el-Rufai, You’ll Answer’ El-Rufai first reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on 16 February after an invitation. Two days later, he was taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission following his release. Both agencies are probing alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023. https://www.fellowpress.com/atiku-abubakar-warns-fg-if-anything-happens-to-nasir-el-rufai-youll-answer/ His…
Sanusi Lafiagi, Chief Imam of Al-Hikmah University, says Ramadan stands apart as a season of mercy, discipline, and moral reform for Muslims. He explained that the holy month creates a rare spiritual climate that makes it easier for believers to avoid wrongdoing and focus on worship, reflection, and charity. He said fasting is only one part of Ramadan’s purpose, noting that the period trains Muslims in self-control, time management, and compassion. According to him, the daily routine of prayer, Qur’an recitation, and acts of kindness helps many worshippers reassess their lives and abandon harmful habits. He added that night lectures…
African industrialist Aliko Dangote has appointed his three daughters to senior leadership roles at the Dangote Group, signalling a clear succession plan as the company targets a $100 billion valuation by 2030. The new structure places Halima, Fatima and Mariya Dangote as Group Executive Directors, each overseeing key divisions central to the conglomerate’s growth strategy. Halima Dangote will lead the newly formed Dangote Family Office and International Offices. She will supervise operations in Dubai and London and coordinate governance across the group’s global network. Fatima Dangote takes charge of Commercial Operations for Oil and Gas, one of the firm’s most…
Saudi Arabia has confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon, signalling that Ramadan will begin on Wednesday, 18 February 2026. Officials announced the decision on Tuesday after moon observers verified the Hilal. Muslims across the kingdom will begin fasting at dawn, while special nightly Taraweeh prayers will start after the evening prayer. Several countries, including Nigeria, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, are also set to begin fasting on Wednesday in line with the confirmed sighting. In contrast, authorities in Japan said Ramadan will start on Thursday after the Hilal Vision Committee reported no sighting of the crescent. Oman, Singapore…
Bello El‑Rufai has dismissed claims he may leave the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections, saying his mandate comes from voters, not social media pressure. The lawmaker, who represents Kaduna North, responded after an online user urged him to defect to the African Democratic Congress. He said his political decisions would not be shaped by online commentary and pointed to his election result as proof of public support. He recalled winning the seat with 51,052 votes against the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, who polled 34,808. He also said he won all 12 wards in the constituency, calling the…
The All Progressives Congress has opposed a United States bill proposing visa bans and asset freezes against former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and others over alleged religious freedom violations. The bill, introduced in the US House of Representatives, recommends sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against individuals and groups accused of abuses. It also calls for possible terrorist designations for certain armed groups in Nigeria. APC spokesman Bala Ibrahim said sanctions based on allegations alone would breach democratic principles. He warned that restricting a person’s movement without proof or trial would violate the right to fair hearing. The proposed…
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the Senate’s latest electoral reform does not meet public expectations, warning that anything short of real-time electronic transmission may fuel confusion. He said past elections showed that mixed systems of manual and electronic processes created disputes. He urged opposition parties to keep pushing for a single-tier digital system that uploads results instantly. The Senate’s approved text allows electronic transmission but keeps a manual fallback if communication fails. Meanwhile, political reactions are divided after the Senate backed electronic transmission of results without mandating real-time uploads. The African Democratic Congress praised the move as proof that public…
Rabiu Kwankwaso and the All Progressives Congress have exchanged sharp words following the defection of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, as both sides lay claim to political dominance ahead of 2027. Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and founder of the NNPP, said Yusuf’s decision to align with the APC would cost him any chance of re-election. Speaking to BBC Hausa, he argued that public support in Kano does not favour the Ganduje political camp now backing the governor. “When I saw Ganduje raise Abba’s hand, I knew he would not win again,” Kwankwaso said, pointing to past election…
The New Nigerian Peoples Party has lost control of Kano State after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf defected to the All Progressives Congress, dealing a major blow to the party ahead of the 2027 elections. Yusuf’s move leaves the NNPP without a single state under its control, barely three years after the party rose to national prominence on the back of the Kwankwasiyya movement led by Rabiu Kwankwaso. In his resignation letter, Yusuf blamed persistent internal crises within the NNPP, citing unresolved leadership disputes, prolonged court cases and deep divisions at both state and national levels. He said the problems had…
At least 162 villagers have been killed in a deadly attack in Kwara State, raising fears that jihadist violence is pushing deeper into western Nigeria. The assault took place on Tuesday in Woro village, according to the Red Cross and local officials. Babaomo Ayodeji, the state secretary of the Red Cross, said the confirmed death toll reached 162 by Wednesday afternoon. A local politician told Reuters the figure could be closer to 170. Sa’idu Baba Ahmed, a politician from the Kaiama area, said the attackers rounded up residents, tied their hands and shot them. He said gunmen also burned homes…
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reshaped the political context of Kano’s long-running emirship crisis, reviving debate over whether the shift could resolve the dispute or deepen existing divisions. For almost two years, Kano has faced an unusual royal standoff, with two emirs laying claim to the same throne. Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II operates from the historic Gidan Rumfa Palace, while the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, remains based at the Nassarawa mini-palace. Each enjoys support from different political and institutional blocs. The crisis traces back to March 2020, when former governor…
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has ruled out any move to remove Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, dismissing speculation that his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) could reshape the long-running emirate crisis. The governor’s assurance follows renewed debate over the future of the Kano throne after his political realignment with the APC, a party closely linked to former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who backed the emergence of rival emir Aminu Ado Bayero. For nearly two years, Kano has operated under an unusual royal standoff. Sanusi has remained at the historic Gidan Rumfa palace following his reinstatement in May…
At least four people were killed on Thursday evening after armed bandits attacked Gwargwaba village in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The attackers stormed the community in the Nahuce District at about 6pm, according to a report shared on X by security analyst Bakatsine. Witness accounts said the assailants were heavily armed and moved from house to house, setting buildings on fire. Four residents were trapped inside their homes and died in the flames, the report said. Several houses were destroyed, while food supplies and livestock were also burned during the attack. Bakatsine said the assault was linked…
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has renewed its demand for the removal of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, warning that elections held under his leadership would lack credibility ahead of the 2027 general polls. The Council said Muslims would neither recognise nor legitimise any election conducted by INEC while Amupitan remains in office, citing concerns over his integrity and neutrality. The position was announced on Tuesday in Abuja by the SCSN President, Sheikh Bashir Umar, during the Council’s 2026 Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly, themed Nigeria’s Future: Faith, Justice, and Leadership. Umar…
Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, son of former presidential candidate and NNPP leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has resigned as Kano State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development. The resignation was announced on Monday in a statement posted on his official Facebook page, confirming his exit from the Kano State Executive Council. In the statement, Mustapha Kwankwaso thanked Governor Abba Yusuf for the opportunity to serve, describing his decision as difficult but necessary. “It is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation as Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and member of the Kano State Executive Council,” he said.…
Twenty-two members of the Kano State House of Assembly have defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the All Progressives Congress, deepening the political realignment triggered by Governor Abba Yusuf’s return to the ruling party. The lawmakers announced their defection during plenary on Monday, shortly after Yusuf formally resigned from the NNPP. The governor’s decision followed his recent visit to President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja and was communicated in a resignation letter addressed to his ward chairman in Gwale Local Government Area. In the letter, Yusuf cited deepening internal crises and prolonged leadership disputes within…
Six people have been confirmed dead after bandits attacked Baidi community in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, local security sources said. The attackers opened fire on residents, leaving several others injured, according to security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama. The incident has plunged the rural community into mourning. The attack took place on Wednesday, 21 January 2026. Families are still dealing with the loss of relatives killed during the assault. A video shared by Makama on Thursday showed residents carrying bodies to a cemetery for burial in line with Islamic rites. The exact number of those injured…
Everton manager David Moyes has described his side’s victory at Aston Villa as “magnificent” after they secured a vital result following a difficult week. While speaking to Sky Sports, Moyes said the performance showed resilience and preparation against a strong Aston Villa side on their own ground. Everton arrived without momentum but executed a clear plan to disrupt the hosts. “It was magnificent,” Moyes said. “It has been a difficult week, but they turned it around today.” The Everton boss stressed the challenge of the fixture, noting Villa’s home strength and recent form. He said his players understood the risks…
Despite repeated deaths and government bans, many young people in Plateau State say worsening economic conditions are pushing them into illegal mining, a trade they admit could kill them at any time. In recent months, several mine collapses have claimed lives across the state. Four youths died in Dura, Jos South, after a pit caved in, while other incidents have buried miners, including siblings, without accountability. Security sources also link illegal mining to deadly attacks, including a January assault in Bokkos Local Government Area that killed 12 miners. Official figures put mining-related deaths in 2025 at over 50, though miners…