Former senators Rufai Sani Hanga and Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, as well as Senator Masud El-Jibrin Doguwa, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.
The trio joined the party alongside 136,038 other defectors during the unveiling of President Bola Tinubu’s campaign groups in Kano ahead of the 2027 elections.
Other politicians who joined the APC include the Kano State Deputy Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ali Datti Yako, and some members of the party’s state executive committee.
Former Ungogo Local Government Chairman, Badaru Umar, also defected alongside members of the political group of former Kano APC governorship candidate, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna.
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Former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Isyaku Ali Danja, joined the APC with his supporters.
Also joining the ruling party were former PDP deputy governorship candidate Yusuf Bello Danbatta and his supporters, as well as former Special Adviser to the President, Senator Baraka Sani.
The NNPP chairman of the “Book Faction”, Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya, was also among the defectors.
Former NNPP senatorial candidate, Abdulmajid Dauda Dandawaki, joined the APC with his supporters, while NDC State House of Assembly candidate Kabiru also defected to the ruling party.
The APC has attracted several opposition politicians in recent months, particularly from the NNPP, following Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s move to the ruling party.
The governor’s defection has also been followed by the movement of lawmakers and political appointees into the APC.
The latest defectors include politicians who have served in the Senate, House of Representatives, state legislature, local government and political parties.
The Kwankwassiyya Movement has revealed its next line of action following the omission of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, deputy governorship candidate in Kano State, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the final list of candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Kwankwaso and his principal, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, were omitted from the list published by INEC.
The NDC has since described the omission as an error, saying it is seeking a correction.
Speaking on Arise Television, Habibu Mohammed, spokesperson for the Kwankwassiyya Movement, said there was no apparent reason for the omission, adding that the movement would engage INEC to resolve the issue.
“It came as a shock because there had been no issue with INEC. Kwankwas, a former deputy governor, is registered with the NDC and met the stipulated deadline.
“Electoral provisions give candidates 14 days to seek redress if their names are omitted from the list. We will explore that opportunity and engage with INEC,” he said.
He added: “Actually, we believe there is no particular reason for the omission. INEC itself has not advanced any reason. We believe it may be an administrative error or something else because we do not have any pending judgment or court order.
“This is a man who has already served as a deputy governor, so we cannot even question his qualification. We also believe he was duly registered with the NDC within the stipulated period.
“Therefore, the omission came as a shock. However, in politics, we have seen many things, and we believe there are always ways to resolve issues. There is also a provision in the Electoral Act.
“If he is not on INEC’s list, I believe the Kwankwassiyya Movement, being law-abiding and committed to doing things the right way, will explore that opportunity and engage INEC. We are confident that the matter will be resolved because we see no reason why it should be otherwise.”
Suspected bandits have killed a 28-year-old vigilante member, Goyok Jamok, in Magi Mbar village, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 7:30 a.m. on October 10, prompting troops of Sector 5, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), deployed in Mbar, to respond to the attack.
According to the sources, the troops arrived at the scene and found Jamok dead from gunshot wounds.
“The troops discovered that Jamok had been shot dead by the suspected kidnappers,” the sources said.
The assailants reportedly fled the scene after sighting the approaching troops, abandoning their mission.
The victim’s relatives later evacuated his remains for burial.
The sources said security personnel had launched efforts to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
“The troops are making efforts to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects,” they added.
No further details were provided about the circumstances surrounding the killing or the identities of the suspected assailants.