A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Bashir Jamoh, has said the Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, remains a stakeholder in the ruling party. Jamoh made the declaration amid swirling speculations about the former Kaduna State governor’s political allegiance during a press conference with journalists in Kaduna on Thursday, where he addressed recent claims linking El-Rufai with opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. The former NIMASA boss acknowledged El-Rufai’s recent mention of other parties such as the Social Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress, but insisted the former governor has not left the APC in any official capacity. He said, “As far as I’m concerned, this is my opinion — Malam Nasir El-Rufai is still with us. Yes, he mentioned his membership of the SDP. Yes, he mentioned the ADC. But we are yet to get to the point of bidding him farewell. He’s someone we still consult. We still seek his expertise, his knowledge, and his advice. Forget the politics for a moment. This is about public service. Whenever we need his advice, he gives it. And if he refuses to give it when asked, I believe God will ask him why.” Jamoh described the former governor as a political institution whose impact on the development of Kaduna State and the APC could not be easily dismissed. “You cannot disown your child of eight years. He was Minister under the PDP. He joined CPC, which merged into APC, and governed this state for eight years. He’s a part of our political history,” he added. While admitting that El-Rufai has the right to make personal political decisions, Jamoh said the APC in Kaduna would remain open to him. “If Malam today says he’s no longer with ADC, we’ll still remain with him. If he goes to ADC, we’ll wait and see how far the ADC goes,” he said. According to him, the ADC in the state was still struggling to establish its structure and could not pose a serious challenge to the APC. “We don’t even know who is who in the ADC yet. Yes, we hear he is the North-West leader of the ADC, but as far as Kaduna is concerned, they are underperforming,” he said. Jamoh also addressed concerns over whether the APC could withstand the threat of the former governor aligning with an opposition party. He argued that since El-Rufai had exhausted his constitutional limit of two terms as governor, the focus should not be on him as an individual but on the strength of any party he associates with. “Are you talking about El-Rufai or the ADC? Nasir El-Rufai cannot contest for governorship again. That chapter is closed. So, the question is whether ADC or any opposition party can defeat the APC in this state — and I say no,” he said. Speaking metaphorically, Jamoh added, “In Hausa, there’s a proverb: when you grind your corn, you can’t throw the whole thing into a pot because it’ll be too heavy. APC is too heavy for any party here. “Maybe you don’t know Kaduna politics very well. Go and take an independent survey today. Who stands a chance of winning the gubernatorial election after Uba Sani? Check opposition parties. Who and who among them can challenge the APC? We have more than 10 capable candidates. I challenge you — do the research.” While conceding that the APC faces some internal challenges, Jamoh maintained that the party remained Kaduna’s dominant political force and was already taking steps to address concerns. “Yes, there are challenges. I agree. But we are addressing them. That’s why I’m speaking to you now. Don’t fall for the propaganda that people are leaving in droves. “Don’t throw away what you have because you think the opposition can beat APC. Remember where you invested. One day, you will reap the benefit of that investment,” he said.

The Peoples Democratic Party has launched its campaign for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency by-election with a bold declaration to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress, describing the contest as a people-driven movement for change. The campaign flag-off, held at a packed rally in the heart of the constituency, drew thousands of supporters, with party leaders hailing it as a “clear signal” that the PDP remains the party to beat in Kaduna. Speaking at the rally on Wednesday, the Kaduna State PDP Deputy Chairman, Nuhu Kayarda, declared that the party was poised to reclaim the seat with Barrister Esther Ashivelli Dawaki as its candidate, dismissing the power of incumbency as “no match for the will of the people.” “This is our time. You’ve seen the crowd, you’ve heard the voices. Our candidate is not only popular but deeply rooted in the grassroots. Esther knows the pains of our people, and she has the courage to speak and fight for them. This election is not about power; it is about the people—and the people are with us,” Kayarda told supporters. The PDP candidate, Esther Dawaki, a lawyer and youth advocate, electrified the gathering with a speech that combined passion, empathy, and a call to action. She pledged to provide responsible, inclusive representation anchored on education, youth development, and women’s empowerment. “As a woman and as a youth, I carry the aspirations of millions of people who feel forgotten. When you empower a woman, you uplift a household. When you support a youth, you are investing in the future. I am here to be the voice of our people in Abuja—not to be silent or sidelined,” she said. She criticised the APC’s handling of insecurity and poverty in the constituency, insisting that under its leadership, families in Chikun and Kajuru had suffered neglect. “Our families are tired of promises without progress. The insecurity, the poor roads, the joblessness—it must end. We are bringing new energy and fresh ideas to Abuja. This is the era of people-first representation,” she added. The PDP campaign team said its legislative agenda would focus on tackling security challenges in the area, expanding access to quality education, and securing federal attention for infrastructure projects long overdue in the constituency. Also addressing the crowd, a former member of the House of Representatives and chieftain of the party, Mark Jacob, warned that the people would resist any attempt to manipulate the electoral process. “This time, we are prepared. The votes will count. Esther represents competence, compassion, and commitment. The APC should be ready for a serious political battle,” he said. The by-election, which was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, has set the stage for a heated contest between the PDP and the APC, as both parties scramble to win the strategic federal seat ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Prominent Rivers indigenes from diverse walks of life, including former governor, Celestine Omehia, and former national chairman of the People Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, have written to President Bola Tinubu to express their reservations over the proposed conduct of local government elections in the state. The stakeholders under the aegis of ‘Major Stakeholders’ called on the president to lift the state of emergency imposed on the state and reinstate the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the State House of Assembly. They warned that if the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, as currently constituted under the leadership of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete (retd.), proceeds with the local government election scheduled for August 30, it could raise concerns about democratic integrity. The open letter, issued on Thursday, was titled “Rivers LG Election: A Serious Threat To Democracy and Repeated Violations of the Constitution—Urgent Warning From Major Stakeholders.” The stakeholders, including Atedo Peterside, Celestine Omehia, Prince Uche Secondus, Chief Abiye Sekibo, Senator Lee Maeba, Dr Dakuku Peterside, Senator Andrew Uchendu, and Engr Tele Ikuru, declared that “the proposed local government council elections in Rivers State are nothing short of an existential assault on our democracy and a brazen flouting of Nigeria’s Constitution.” They also voiced their concerns over the ongoing “violation of constitutional governance and due process in the unlawful attempt to hold Local Government Council elections in the state.” The letter reads, “These elections, orchestrated by a ‘Sole Administrator’ with no constitutional mandate and allegedly imposed by the Federal Government, threaten the very foundations of our federal system, the rule of law, and the peace of Rivers State. “First, there is currently no legally constituted Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) as mandated by Sections 2, 3, 5, and 12 of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2018. Consequently, any electoral activities undertaken by such an illegitimate body are null and void. “The combined interpretation of the specified sections of the RSIEC Law alongside Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) establishes that only the elected Governor, upon confirmation by the Rivers State House of Assembly, is empowered to appoint the Chairman and members of RESIEC. Any appointment process outside this constitutional procedure is invalid and unconstitutional. “Second, the illegitimate Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has flagrantly ignored the mandatory 90-day notice requirement before an election, as stipulated in Section 20 of the RSIEC Law. “With no formal notification for candidate nominations or polling timetables—and an election date of August 30, 2025, announced on short notice—this process bears a resemblance to the 2024 polls, which the Supreme Court annulled due to procedural failures. Ignoring these safeguards is not an oversight; it is a deliberate attack on the principle of due process.” It continued, “Third, courts across the land are actively adjudicating the legality of the Sole Administrator’s appointment and the very existence of a functioning RSIEC. “Yet, despite pending Supreme Court and Federal High Court actions—and multiple sub judice challenges by political parties—electoral machinery grinds on under a so-called “emergency” guise. “Fourth, Rivers State has been plunged into a constitutional crisis and a de facto state of emergency due to the federal suspension of its executive and legislative branches. If INEC deems by-elections untenable under such conditions, how can local government polls, unrelated to any genuine emergency justified? “Fifth, Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution vests exclusive responsibility for local council elections in state governments. A federally appointed agent—lacking any legal foundation—cannot lawfully step into this role. “The doctrine of agency, affirmed in landmark cases such as Adewumi v. Plastex Ltd. and Okafor v. Umeh, holds that an agent’s authority is strictly derivative; without a constitutional grant, the actions of the Sole Administrator are ultra vires and void.” While arguing that “the blatant usurpation of state autonomy desecrates our federal architecture and imperils democratic governance,” they called on President Tinubu, the National Assembly, the Nigerian Judiciary, civil society, the media, the international community, and all defenders of democracy to intervene decisively. “Rivers State stands at a crossroads: surrender to impunity or uphold the Constitution and the will of the people. The choice is ours—and the stakes could not be higher,” they declared. Other stakeholders that added their voices in the letter include Prince Fafaa Dan Princewill, Engr Dagogo Jack, Randolph Iwo Brown, Dr Austin Tam-George, Donu Kogbara, Dr Sokonte Davies, Dr Glory Emeh, George Feyii, Hon Asita, Surv Sam Agwor and Ann-Kio Briggs.

Thousands of telecom sites across Nigeria are at risk of shutting down after petroleum unions blocked diesel supplies in a dispute with infrastructure provider IHS Towers, telecom operators said on Thursday. Members of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria on Tuesday blocked access to key diesel depots in Lagos, Kaduna, and Koko in Delta State, disrupting fuel distribution to thousands of telecom sites operated by IHS Towers. The blockade followed allegations by IHS that two companies linked to NOGASA were involved in diesel theft. Although the matter is reportedly under investigation, union members have halted deliveries of diesel, a vital energy source for more than 16,000 telecom towers in a country where grid electricity remains unreliable at best. The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, said the group was gravely concerned about the broader implications of the blockade on national infrastructure and public safety. “While ALTON does not interfere in disputes between its members and third parties, we are gravely concerned about the wider implications of this action on national infrastructure and public safety,” he noted in a statement. The dispute has pinpointed the vulnerability of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, which relies heavily on diesel to power base stations in areas lacking stable grid electricity. A prolonged fuel disruption could trigger outages for mobile operators, including MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile, with potentially severe consequences for businesses and consumers in one of Africa’s largest economies. Under Nigerian law, telecom infrastructure is classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure. ALTON warned that intentional disruption could have legal consequences. IHS has not responded to queries from The PUNCH seeking comment on the matter. The telcos urged the leadership of NUPENG and NOGASA to call their members to order and resolve disputes within lawful frameworks, rather than actions that could endanger public services. “Disputes must be resolved within the framework of lawful contracts and applicable legal processes, without resorting to actions that endanger the operations of an entire industry and the lives and livelihoods that depend on it,” Adebayo stated. Aside from vandalism, a major bottleneck in the sector, telcos face rising energy costs as they rely heavily on diesel to power mobile towers. The industry consumes more than 40 million litres of diesel each month, with annual spending exceeding $350m, according to industry data. Energy expenses are even higher at rural and off-grid tower sites, where power costs are estimated to be about 37 per cent more than in urban areas. The reliance on diesel not only inflates capital and operating expenditures but also exposes telecom infrastructure to risks such as fuel theft and equipment vandalism. ALTON also called on government authorities, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Communications Commission, and other key stakeholders, to intervene swiftly to prevent the situation from escalating further. Despite the ongoing disruption, ALTON reaffirmed its members’ commitment to providing reliable, high-quality telecommunications services across the country. However, it cautioned that incidents like this severely undermine their ability to maintain network stability and meet service delivery expectations. “We extend our deep respect to NUPENG and NOGASA for their contributions to Nigeria’s energy sector and trust they will act responsibly to avoid further damage to critical national infrastructure,” the association concluded. To reduce energy bills and cut emissions, operators including Airtel and MTN are turning to hybrid solutions that combine solar power and lithium batteries. The NC C and GSMA estimate that shifting to renewable energy could lower operating costs by 30 per cent to 50 per cent, offering significant savings and environmental benefits.