News
JUST IN: El-Rufai resigns from APC, joins SDP
Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna state, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The development lays to rest months of speculation regarding el-Rufai’s immediate political plans.
The former minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) has paid visits to political party chieftains, including Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday.
In January, el-Rufai met with Hamza Al-Mustapha, ex-aide to late Sani Abacha; Shehu Gabam, national chairman of the SDP; and other politicians in the nation’s capital.
Segun Sowunmi, a former spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar campaign organisation, said the meeting was to strategise ahead of the 2027 elections.
In February, el-Rufai said the distance between himself and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had “widened”.
He also criticised the party for not holding meetings regularly, adding that the leadership is running the APC like a “one-man show”.
El-Rufai has been critical of President Bola Tinubu’s administration since the senate declined to confirm him as minister.
In February, el-Rufai said Nigerians should not believe the narrative that the national assembly rejected him as a ministerial nominee, noting that Tinubu did not want him in his cabinet.
“The president publicly appealed to me to put my plans on hold, and through two months of negotiation, we finally agreed that he would nominate me as minister,” he said.
“Please don’t believe the story that the national assembly rejected me. The president did not want me in his cabinet. He changed his mind.”
El-Rufai was governor of Kaduna from 2015 to 2023.
More to follow…
Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Ogundipe Olukayode, has dismissed claims that 25 lawmakers are planning to defect from the All Progressives Congress to an unnamed party.
According to Leadership, Olukayode described in a Tuesday statement that the report is “entirely false and without merit.”
“We categorically state that this claim is entirely false and without merit.“
During the recent leadership dispute within the Assembly, a similar report surfaced, suggesting that twenty-seven (27) members were preparing to leave the APC for the Labour Party.
“That claim was also unequivocally refuted, with members affirming their commitment to the party and confidence in resolving internal disagreements through established mechanisms,” he stated.
He emphasized that no APC lawmaker in the Assembly was contemplating defection, reiterating that as progressives, any challenges faced are resolved through democratic and lawful means.
Olukayode further assured that the APC leadership is actively addressing all internal concerns and outstanding issues will be resolved amicably.
He urged those spreading the rumours to desist from misleading the public, stressing that the Lagos Assembly remains focused on its legislative duties of enacting laws and motions that drive the state’s development.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has attending to a Fire resulting from a tanker accident outward Otedola bridge, Omole, Lagos at about 20:00 hours yesterday.
The 30 tonnes DAF Gas Truck with an unknown registration number is on it way navigating the Lagos-Ibadan expressway before an accident resulting in an ensuing explosion accompany with Fire balls in front of a Reedem Church.
The resultant Fire quickly spread to the church and adjoining bungalow building as well as four different brands of vehicles as it being mitigated from causing further damage.
According to Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, there has been no record of casualty with further update to follow.
A Civil Society Organisation, Gender Mobile Initiative and the Speaker of the House of Representatives have highlighted the urgent need for gender-responsive legislative reforms.
The call was made at the Women’s Policy Action Lab as part of activities marking International Women’s Day 2025 in Abuja, according to a statement by the Communication Officer, Gender Mobile Initiative, Abubakar Abdullahi.
The meeting further reinforced the need for commitment by stakeholders to advance gender equality in Nigeria.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Youth, Olamujuwonlo Alao Akala, in his remark, assured that the House would activate recommendations made at the lab for necessary legislative action.
The lab, guided by legal experts and policymakers, analyzed and proposed amendments to key policies affecting women’s rights, including the VAPP Act, National Gender Policy, Child Rights Act and the Nigerian Labour Laws.
Stakeholders also emphasized accountability, inclusivity and effective implementation of government policies as they affect women.
JUST IN: Lagos APC lawmakers deny defection rumours
Fire Alert update: Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service Contains Tanker Fire on Otedola Bridge
CSO, Reps seek gender-responsive legislative reforms
Tech Expert, Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander
Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
SAINT OBI: Between his marriage and his death
-
Business2 days agoMAN Raises Concerns About Astronomical Charges Imposed By Financial Reporting Council on Private Companies
-
News2 days agoJUST IN: FG extends civil service recruitment deadline to March 17
-
News2 days agoNatasha’s beauty a problem to her, says ex-works minister, Ogunlewe
-
News2 days agoJUST IN: Kogi Gov’t Mourns As Ex-Deputy Gov Adaba Dies at 79
-
Health2 days agoBREAKING: Lassa fever: UK visitor tests positive as death toll hits 98 in 2 months
-
News2 days agoJUST IN: Fire guts building at Geometric Power premises, Aba Power Plant
-
News2 days ago2027: Tinubu’s re-election campaign kicks off in North
-
News2 days agoSGF Akume, Where’re our Appointments Letters, Please?