The New Nigeria Peoples Party and the All Progressives Congress have conducted their primary elections for the forthcoming by-election for the House of Representatives, representing Garki/Babura Federal Constituency in Jigawa State.
PUNCH Online reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission scheduled August 16, 2025, for the by-election for the constituency following the death of Isa Dogon Yaro, the constituency member, on May 9, 2024.
The NNPP primary election was held on Saturday at the party’s local government secretariat in Babura, while the APC primary took place at the Duplex in Babura.
Declaring the results shortly after all the delegates completed casting their votes, the Chief Returning Officer for the NNPP primary election sent by the party, Muhammad Gako, declared Salisu Sabo the winner, saying he scored a total of 114 votes cast during the election.
“Salisu Sabo emerged as the NNPP flag bearer after winning unopposed with 114 votes,” the Chief Returning Officer said.
In his acceptance speech, Sabo promised to work with all party members and the good people of Garki/Babura constituency to enhance secondary education.
He also encouraged voters to prioritise merit and the quality of candidates who will effectively address their needs.
On the other hand, the APC primary election, held at the Duplex in Babura saw Rabiu Garki emerging as the party’s flag bearer.
Announcing the winner shortly after the primary election, the chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee, Ismaila Gadaka, declared the election peaceful, free, and fair.
He declared that Garki emerged as the party’s flag bearer as he received all 110 votes cast by delegates from the 22 wards of the constituency.
Garki, while speaking after announcing him as the flag bearer, commended Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, party leaders, and members for placing their trust in him.
He pledged to prioritise youth employment and job creation to improve the livelihoods of his constituents, if elected.
In his remark at the occasion, the APC state chairman, Aminu Gumel, expressed satisfaction with the election’s process and conduct.
He noted that despite their confidence in winning, the APC will campaign across all 22 political wards in the constituency, assuring the people that their candidate will work in line with the APC manifesto and the administration of Governor Umar Namadi.
PUNCH Online reports that both parties in the state have emphasised the importance of working with the people and representing their interests in the National Assembly, as the by-election is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both parties vying for the support of the electorate.
The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has cleared aspirants for its July 21, 2025, party primaries ahead of the August 16, 2025, National Assembly bye elections for Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency.
According to a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the state caretaker committee, Chris Nehikhare, on Sunday, those cleared for the Edo Central Senatorial ticket include John Yakubu, Friday Itulah, and Joe Okojie.
He noted that for the Ovia Federal Constituency seat, only one aspirant, Johnny Aikpitanyi, was cleared as the party’s sole candidate.
Festus Edogun was, however, not cleared by the party to contest for the Edo Central Senatorial District ticket.
Edogun was said to have bought the form from PDP headquarters in Abuja, and he was asked to bring the proof of purchase of the form to the appeal committee.
The aspirants were screened on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the state party secretariat in Benin by a five-man panel appointed by the PDP National Working Committee.
The committee is chaired by Prof. Okumoko Tubo Pearce, with Chinomso Odoemelan as secretary.
Other members include Inemo Dede, Evelyn Promise, and David Omare.
Members of the committee presented the certificates of clearance to the aspirants on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Edo PDP Secretariat.
Speaking on behalf of other aspirants, Aikpitanyi, after receiving his clearance certificate, commended members of the committee for their professionalism, diligence and fairness in the discharge of their duties.
He noted, “I want to sincerely thank members of the screening committee for their professionalism, fairness, and diligence in discharging their duties. With this clearance, we are set for the task ahead.
“I’m fully prepared to carry the PDP flag in Ovia, and with the overwhelming support of our people, we will secure victory and ensure the delivery of quality, purposeful representation to our constituents.
“I am confident of winning. Together, with the support of my people, we will make Ovia shine again, and shine even brighter.
“We will focus on grassroots development and Ovia the envy of all.”
Political activist, Omoyele Sowore, speaks with ISMAEEL UTHMAN on the claim that the late former President Muhammadu Buhari left behind a legacy of integrity
The late former President Buhari was said to have left a legacy of integrity. Do you agree with that?
Absolutely not. The myth of Buhari’s integrity was one of the most dangerous propaganda projects ever sold to the people. For decades, a carefully curated image of a disciplined, incorruptible soldier-statesman was peddled, essentially to justify his return to power in 2015. But the reality, as Nigerians experienced it, was entirely different. Buhari didn’t just fail the integrity test; he also shattered it.
Under his watch, corruption was not only tolerated but institutionalised. Individuals under investigation or with established records of theft and abuse of office found refuge within his cabinet. His government protected some of the most corrupt figures in Nigerian history. Buhari’s so-called “integrity” never translated into accountability, transparency, or moral leadership.
How well did the former President rule the country?
Buhari ruled with a combination of detachment, arrogance, an iron hand and incompetence. He was never really present—physically or mentally—for the job. When he wasn’t abroad receiving medical treatment on public funds, he was absent from decision-making that affected millions. His regime was marked by economic collapse, growing insecurity, rising debt, and unprecedented suffering.
His idea of governance was nepotism, placing unqualified loyalists in key positions based on ethnic and religious identity. The result was paralysis across all sectors. Buhari ruled as if the nation were a military barracks, not a democracy. He failed to modernise Nigerian institutions, was unable to secure lives, and failed to provide any economic direction. The people bore the brunt of his cluelessness.
The former President respected the rule of law, according to his aide. Do you agree with this?
That statement is not just false, it is insulting. Buhari was one of the worst violators of the rule of law and human rights in the country’s democratic history. Under his watch, court orders were routinely disobeyed. Journalists, activists, and political opponents were jailed without trial. His regime criminalised dissent and weaponised security agencies against the people.
Let’s not forget his infamous statement that “national security is superior to the rule of law.” That alone tells you everything. The Department of State Services became his private Gestapo. Judges were assaulted in the middle of the night. I was also abducted first from my hotel room and also from a courtroom in 2019, after being granted bail. So, if Buhari respected the rule of law, it was only the law he made for himself.
The naira redesign was said to be done to guarantee a free and fair election. How do you react to this?
The naira redesign was never about free and fair elections; it was an economic disaster masquerading as electoral pretence. Beyond that, it was a corruption conduit for Buhari’s Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele. It plunged millions into hardship, destroyed small businesses, and created a chaotic cash crisis that didn’t stop vote-buying. It only changed the players.
If the policy was meant to stop rigging, then why did the same rigged system produce a deeply flawed 2023 general election?
Buhari’s regime weaponised that policy not to protect democracy but to manipulate political outcomes. It was a cynical, ill-thought-out move that brought untold suffering to ordinary Nigerians who couldn’t access their own money. And in the end, the people who had access to the new naira notes were still the ruling elites. So, what exactly was achieved?
Do you agree that Buhari achieved success in his anti-corruption war?
There was no war. There was no battle, just propaganda. Buhari’s so-called anti-corruption campaign was selective, vindictive, and deeply hypocritical. His friends and cronies were protected. His political enemies were hunted. That’s not a fight against corruption; it was a weaponisation of anti-graft rhetoric.
Even the Economic and Financial Crime Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission lost credibility under him. Major scandals like the Maina pension case, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company contracts, and his Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, were openly and brazenly accused of corruption. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s opaque operations under Godwin Emefiele were swept under the rug until Buhari left office. He enabled corruption on a scale so vast that it will take generations to fully trace.
So no, he didn’t fight corruption. He fertilised it.
You have been criticising the former President even in death. Do you think that is fair to the dead?
Fairness is owed first to the living. Nigeria is filled with mass graves dug by Buhari’s failures and wickedness for victims of extrajudicial killings, banditry, hunger, poverty, terrorism, and neglect. Are we to pretend that the man who supervised so much suffering deserves silence now that he is dead? That would be a greater injustice. History doesn’t stop when a person dies. Memory doesn’t take a break. Those who hold public office, especially at the highest level, must know that their legacy belongs to the people, not their family or fan base or the graveyard.
Buhari betrayed the trust of a nation, and no amount of funeral diplomacy can change that.
I have no personal hatred for Buhari, but I do have a deep responsibility to speak the truth. We must stop canonising failed leaders simply because they are no longer here to defend themselves. Let their actions speak for them. Buhari’s own record is enough indictment.
Buhari came to power on the wings of hope and left on the wings of despair. His tenure was not marked by transformation, but by regression. He used Nigeria to prolong his own life while shortening the lives of millions. He ran a government where empathy died, where dreams were crushed, and where mediocrity reigned supreme.
Now that he is gone, Nigeria must have the courage to tell the truth, if not for the dead, then for the living and the unborn. We owe it to ourselves to stop recycling false legacies. Let Buhari’s story be a warning, not a model.
The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Saturday backed the position of Governor Monday Okpebholo warning Peter Obi from coming into the state without security clearance.
The state chairman of the party, Jarrett Tenebe, stated this on Saturday shortly after Joseph Ikpea and Omosede Igbinedion were announced as the senatorial candidate and the House of Representatives candidate for the Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency.
Tenebe said also said that the party would campaign “rigorously to prove to all that we actively won the 2024 governorship election.”
“The party also believes that the governor was right warning Peter Obi to get security clearance before coming into the state because of the opinion people have about Obi in the state especially when the last time he came here, three people were killed,” he added.
On the election, he said, “Now that we have our candidates, we will hit the ground running, we are going to campaign as if we have never won elections in this state. We want to let the people know that we actually won the last governorship election.”
Earlier, the Chairman and Chief Returning Officer of the APC Edo Central Primary Election Committee, Ugboaja Stanley, said election was conducted in the 51 wards in the five local government areas in Edo Central and Ikpea emerged the winner with the 255 delegates from the zone affirming the outcome.
His counterpart for the Ovia Federal Constituency, Lucky Ajokperiniovo said Igbinedion emerged the candidate of the party for Ovia Federal Constituency after other aspirants stepped down for her.
The National Coordinator of Obidient Movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, has said the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, is open to working with available political forces to rescue the country from crisis.
Tanko, who is a former spokesperson for Obi’s presidential campaign, said salvaging Nigeria required a collective and inclusive effort that transcends party lines.
He stated this in an interview with our correspondent on Friday.
“We want a unifying force that will work together as a team. So, we are ready to work with anyone or group that beckon on us to rescue Nigeria and return it to the right path.
“That has always been the message of Peter Obi. Nigeria is in dire need of rescue. It is a decision that everybody must be involved in, not a singular decision for Obi to take.
“Any means that can get Nigeria on the right path is what Peter Obi will do. The target is to rescue Nigeria,” he said.
Tanko’s comments were in reaction to a renewed push by PDP leaders to bring the former Anambra State governor back to the party ahead of the 2027 polls.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, described Obi as a major political force whose return would strengthen the party’s electoral chances.
“Peter Obi is our product. We want to get him back, indeed, because he is a great asset for any political party.
He acknowledged that Obi’s defection from the PDP to the Labour Party was a major blow during the 2023 election, but emphasised that the former governor still enjoys immense goodwill within the PDP.
The Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide has called for fairness in key elective and appointive leadership positions in the ongoing constitutional review exercise by the 10th National Assembly.
The group made the call at the South East Zonal Public hearing for Imo and Abia states which was held in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Saturday.
In a submission by its National Executive Committee, presented by Chizoba Iheka, the group commended the Benjamin Kalu-led Committee for its ongoing effort to birth a reviewed constitution for the country.
Ohaneze stated, “We advocate a deliberate service in this constitution to ensure that the key federal positions including the presidency, the Senate president, the Speaker, and other major offices of the country reflect the six geo-political zones.
“This will promote inclusiveness, a sense of brotherhood, and fairness in the distribution of leadership roles.
“It will be recalled that since the inception of the present democratic dispensation in the country, nobody from South-East geo-political zone has ever held the position of a leader.
“Nobody from South-East geo-political zone has ever held the position of Attorney General of the Federation, Head of Civil Defense, Immigration, Customs, and Minister of Internal Affairs and Agriculture, among others.”
The group noted that the proposal will contribute to a more equitable and inclusive federal structure, addressing the historical marginalisation of South-East and promoting national cohesion and development.
The All Progressives Congress has condemned the African Democratic Congress for its criticism of President Bola Tinubu regarding the state burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, calling it both insensitive and unacceptable.
In a statement released on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC criticised the ADC for politicising what should be a solemn period of national mourning, describing the party’s remarks as senseless and ill-timed.
On Thursday, President Tinubu paid tribute to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a “good, decent, and honourable man” whose values of discipline, patriotism, and integrity will be remembered.
At a Special Federal Executive Council session held in Buhari’s honour at the State House, Tinubu noted that despite his flaws, Buhari’s unwavering commitment to national service set him apart.
However, in a statement on Friday, ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, criticised the tribute, calling it a “deliberate publicity stunt” by what he described as an unpopular administration.
In response, the APC said the ADC’s outrage over the late President’s state burial only highlights the party’s hypocrisy and lack of sensitivity.
The statement read in part, “The party’s criticism of the dignified state burial accorded the late President is as spooky as it is unconscionable.
“Again, the ADC has showcased itself to be without any understanding of customary state practice, and lacking empathy and essential humanity. It has cut its own portrait as a party of mindless political dregs, a dump of Nigeria’s internally displaced politicians, ready to do or say anything in chase of attention but sinking itself deeper in quicks and ignominy.
“That the ADC is blowing up over the state burial of the late President only reflects the party’s duplicity and insensitivity. What would the ADC have had President Tinubu do? Deny the late President Buhari the honour of a befitting state burial? Withhold empathy and support for the bereaved former first family? As a party that can begrudge the dead, the ADC must surely disdain the living.
“It is unacceptable for the ADC to politicize a solemn moment of national grief, more so, as its senseless statement was issued during the week of national mourning for the late President. The party’s reference to heartfelt gestures and activities of the government in honour of the late President as “exploitation” is beyond the pale.
“It falls far outside the widest and wildest stretch of justifiable opposition politics. Clearly, the party and its villainous leaders have allowed their humanity to be corroded by desperation for inordinate and self-serving power.”
APC warns Nigerians to beware of ADC’s deceitful politics and baseless attacks on a hardworking President.
The statement read in part, “The late President Buhari lived a life of illustrious service to country as a soldier, military Head of State, a two-term democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was also just a human being, a father, survived by a loving but grieving family worthy of our collective empathy and support at this difficult time.
“President Bola Tinubu showed compassion and a deep sense of loss of a friend, close political associate and predecessor. He demonstrated patriotism and leadership by overseeing and participating in honouring the late President who gave so much to our dear nation.
“Nigerians must remain wary of the ADC and its band of political marauders prowling for power with nothing to offer Nigerians except peddling falsehood and vilifying a President who is hard at work for the transformation and progress of our nation.”
The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party and former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Saturday, paid a condolence visit to the family of the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State.
Kwankwaso also visited the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar, where he extended his sympathies to the Daura Emirate Council over the death of the former Nigerian leader.
During the visit, Kwankwaso met with Alhaji Mamman Daura, a close confidant and nephew of the late President, to personally express his condolences.
“May the Almighty Allah grant him eternal rest,” Kwankwaso prayed during the visit.
The death of Buhari, who led Nigeria from 2015 to 2023, has drawn an outpouring of grief and tributes from political figures and citizens across the country.
Kwankwaso’s visit is part of a wave of condolence visits to Buhari’s hometown of Daura, as Nigerians continue to mourn the passing of the former military and civilian leader.
The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has said that the five states that make up the South-East geo-political zone have clear expectations regarding the proposals in the ongoing 1999 Constitution review by the National Assembly.
He stated this in his remarks at the South East Zonal public hearing for Imo and Abia on the Constitution Review held in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Saturday.
According to the governor, the South-East remains the only zone with five states, underscoring the need for at least, two additional states in the region.
He said, “Every other zone has six or more. This imbalance has led to underrepresentation in critical national institutions, from the National Assembly to the Federal Executive Council. It has shrunk our voice and abridged our inclusivity. “Therefore, it’s only fair and just that we ask for the creation of at least two additional states in the South East.
“It is my well considered submission that Anim State should be one of the new states to be created. This is one state that will have an oil-producing status upon creation.
“This makes it commercially viable, with sufficient revenue base to self sustain.
“This should naturally go hand-in-hand with the creation of new local government areas for the zone.”
The governor noted that “Until a few years ago, Owerri served as the capital of us all. Today, we have Umuahia and Abakaliki as capitals of new states.
“Through our collective efforts, perhaps, we shall soon have more state capitals like Orlu, Aba, Nsukka, and more.
“I believe that this is the prayer of the entire South-East, and it shall come to pass by the grace of God”.
On indigineship, Uzodimma noted that though the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to live and work in any part of the country, he regretted that those born and raised in places where their grandparents may not have originated from are still regarded and treated as non-indigenes.
“We should not be seen to be speaking from two sides of our mouth. We need to legally define indigeneship by birth or long-term residence – say 10 years.
“Anyone born in a state or has lived in a state for upwards of 10 years should be a legitimate indigene of that state. This is common practice in advanced democracies.
“It was also becoming the norm in our pre-first Republic years, until that Republic was cut short. How else did Mallam Umaru Altine become the Mayor of Enugu in 1952 if not because he was accepted as an indigene of Enugu?
“That tells us something profound about our potential for unity if only the constitution can catch up with our history.
“I therefore urge this committee to seriously consider this matter as part of the proposed constitutional amendments.”
He also made a case for constitutional amendment to pave the way for rotational presidency, not along the North–South divide, but along the six established geo-political zones.
He continued, “This is not about tokenism but national stability. “Already, zoning has helped calm nerves over federal appointments. If Nigerians know that the presidency will rotate among the six zones, it will remove the fear of domination and deepen the sense of inclusion in the country.
“In addition, the time has come for us to take decisive steps on state police. The current centralised policing structure is overstretched and often disconnected from local realities.
“As the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, I can confirm that we support the decentralisation of the police for greater responsiveness and effectiveness.
“The fear that governors will misuse such a force is unfounded and frankly outdated.
“We cannot allow the past to paralyse the future when our citizens are crying out for safety and order at the grassroots.”
He called on the committee to leverage the nation’s diversity, saying, “Our diversity is our strength, not our weakness. But that strength must be harnessed through law and equity. Therefore, our Constitution must reflect our shared values, not just our shared borders.
“Distinguished Honourable members, as you tour the country on this important assignment, may you be guided by the hope of millions who seek a Constitution that truly belongs to them: one that ensures fairness, equity, and a level playing field for all.
“As we all know, there are differing views across Nigeria about what our Constitution should reflect in order to fortify our young democracy. These perspectives mirror both the richness of our diversity and the inadequacies of a legal framework that often leaves many citizens feeling unprotected or unaccommodated in project Nigeria”.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu has urged Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing constitution review process to demand greater accountability and transparency from the 10th National Assembly.
Speaking on Saturday at the Constitution Review Public Hearing in Owerri, the centre serving Imo and Abia States, Kalu highlighted the importance of citizens’ participation in the process.
The public hearing is a part of the ongoing efforts to review and amend the 1999 Constitution, with stakeholders and citizens making submissions on the way forward for the Nigerian state.
Kalu, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, noted that the exercise is a process and not an event, stressing that citizens’ continued engagement is crucial for ensuring that reforms are implemented in both the letter and spirit.
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu quoted Kalu as saying, “I urge you to hold us accountable. Ask the tough questions. Demand transparency. Insist on fairness. The future of our democracy depends on it.
“Today, I make a heartfelt appeal to every son and daughter of Abia and Imo: this is your Constitution. This is your moment. You are not just observers; you are stakeholders and co-authors of Nigeria’s next constitutional chapter. Do not hold back your ideas, your criticisms, or your aspirations.
“Your memoranda, your petitions, your passionate speeches, your questions: they all matter. They will shape the amendments that will be presented to the National Assembly, to the President, and, ultimately, to the Nigerian people. Let me be clear: we are listening.
“The strength of our democracy lies not in the pronouncements of lawmakers alone, but in the active participation of the people. Your robust contributions will ensure that the Constitution we produce is not just a legal document, but a social contract: one that reflects the hopes and values of all Nigerians.
“As we look ahead, let us remember: constitutional reform is not an event, but a process. The bills we debate today will be debated in plenary, harmonised with the Senate, and transmitted to the State Houses of Assembly for final approval. Only with your continued engagement, your vigilance, and your advocacy can we ensure that these reforms are not just passed, but implemented in letter and spirit.
“Nigeria’s greatness lies in its ability to have difficult conversations, to listen, debate, and find common ground. Today, in Owerri, we continue that noble tradition. To the people of Abia and Imo: your ideas matter. Your voices matter. Your future matters.
“Let us rise above division, embrace our shared destiny, and build a Nigeria where justice, equity, and progress are not just ideals, but everyday realities.”
He reminded the people that the Committee is currently considering 87 prioritised constitutional amendment bills, stating “Each touching on the most pressing issues facing our nation. I urge you, the people of Abia and Imo, to engage robustly on all thematic areas, especially those close to your hearts,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker acknowledged the leadership of President Bola Tinubu in driving constitutional reform and institutional strengthening in Nigeria.
He expressed gratitude for the President’s support and commitment to working with the legislature to deliver a constitution that serves all Nigerians.
“I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, GCFR. Under his stewardship, Nigeria has embraced a reform-heavy agenda: one that recognizes the urgent need for constitutional renewal, institutional strengthening, and
inclusive growth.
“President Tinubu’s commitment to the rule of law, his respect for the legislature’s constitutional role, and his bold strides in
governance reform have created an enabling environment for this historic review. We are grateful for his support and leadership, and we remain committed to working with the executive to deliver a constitution that serves all Nigerians,” Kalu added.
