Former PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, and ex-Sokoto governor Aminu Tambuwal met with former President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday. The meeting took place at Buhari’s residence in Kaduna State. El-Rufai’s close ally, Imran Wakili, revealed this in a post on X. He wrote: “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, together with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Aminu Tambuwal, and other dignitaries, visited former President Muhammadu Buhari at his Kaduna residence. “El-Rufai’s endless respect for Buhari is priceless, even with the best effort of Garba Shehu.” Meanwhile, Atiku, El-Rufai, and Tambuwal had stormed Kaduna State to meet with opposition leaders in the state. Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi have reportedly formed a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. Atiku revealed the coalition during a press conference organized by a group called Concerned Leaders and Political Stakeholders in Nigeria. Following this, former Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Adewale Adebayo, disclosed that Atiku and Obi were in talks to join the SDP. He stated that if Atiku, Obi, and other influential politicians commit to the party’s values, they could defeat and retire Tinubu and the APC. Meanwhile, NNPP chieftain Buba Galadima claimed that El-Rufai was serving as Atiku’s backup within the SDP in case the PDP denies him its presidential ticket.

On Friday, a large group of women stormed the Aba Road area in Port Harcourt, calling for the reinstatement of suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. The protest, which began on the busy roadway and moved toward the Rivers State Government House, featured placards with messages like “Bring back Fubara,” “Save our democracy,” “Is the law different for Rivers State?” and “God of justice, arise for Rivers State.” Chanting solidarity songs, the women—identifying themselves as mothers and wives—made a direct appeal to President Bola Tinubu to lift Governor Fubara’s suspension and restore all democratic structures in the state. They decried what they referred to as “unconstitutional military rule masked as a state of emergency,” insisting that Rivers people deserve better than what they termed an undemocratic arrangement. Speaking to Journalists, some of the protesters and leaders expressed their frustration over the ongoing political crisis in the state. They noted that despite the situation, Governor Fubara has continued to work, delivering the dividends of democracy. “We are a peaceful people and do not deserve this kind of injustice. The governor has been doing his job despite the distractions. What is happening now is not democracy,” one of the protesters said. The demonstration remained peaceful, with women of all ages joining the march. Protest leaders emphasized that their movement was not about politics but about protecting the democratic values of the state. “We are here to defend our votes and the sanctity of our democracy. This is beyond Fubara; it’s about justice and the future of Rivers State,” one of the leaders noted. Before marching along Aba Road, the women had gathered for prayers at Isaac Boro Park. Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were suspended amid a prolonged political crisis in the oil-rich state. Following the suspension, President Bola Tinubu appointed a sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, to oversee the state's affairs.

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olabode George, has warned the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), against recent appointments and board reconstitutions in the state, calling them illegal and potentially regrettable. In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, George urged Ibas to uphold the Constitution and adhere to the rule of law. He condemned the appointment of officials to oversee the 23 local government areas and the restructuring of state boards, despite an existing court order prohibiting such actions. Justice Adamu Turaki Muhammed of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had earlier restrained Ibas from appointing sole administrators for the local councils, but the administrator reportedly proceeded with the appointments and board reconstitutions across agencies, commissions, and parastatals. Reacting to the development, George stated: “I want to warn Admiral Ibas: if you act against the spirit of the Constitution, you will be held responsible. Your appointment is for just six months. Even if the President extends it, you will still leave one day, because nobody elected you. Your position as Sole Administrator is not legally recognized.” George emphasized that Siminalayi Fubara remains the duly elected governor of Rivers State, questioning Ibas’ authority to make far-reaching political appointments. “What happens to those appointments when you leave office on September 18? Why are you flouting a valid court order? Did you receive approval from the National Assembly to reconstitute the boards? Do you now wield both executive and legislative powers in Rivers State?” he asked. The PDP chieftain warned that Ibas risks being abandoned by those currently backing him. “You have no legal right to appoint anyone. This is not a military regime. The Constitution is still in force. Those using you now will throw you under the bus once you leave office,” he said. Speaking as a fellow military veteran, George appealed to Ibas’ sense of duty and legacy. “You behaved honorably as a Naval officer. Don’t let unconstitutional actions stain your record. You did not drown in the Navy—don’t let politics drown you legally and politically. Now is the time to apply the brakes.”

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has urged leaders to prioritize the welfare of citizens over personal interests. He stated that he left office with the same physical assets he had before his presidency. Receiving governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his Kaduna residence, Buhari encouraged them to embrace a citizen-focused leadership style, emphasizing that leadership is both a challenge and an opportunity, and striking a balance is vital for national development. He expressed confidence in the efforts of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and called for continued commitment to national growth. Buhari also appreciated the Bola Tinubu administration for renovating his Kaduna home, noting that while the exterior remains unchanged, significant improvements were made inside. He thanked the governors for their visit, acknowledging that while he had worked with many of them, some were new faces.

Eleven governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have approached the Supreme Court to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s authority to suspend the elected Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara. The governors also questioned the legality of the President’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. Although earlier media reports suggested the case had already been filed, the suit was officially submitted to the apex court on Tuesday. The suing states include Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa. Filed through their respective Attorneys General, the governors raised eight legal points, asking the Supreme Court to rule on whether the President has the constitutional power to suspend an elected state government. They also want the court to decide whether President Tinubu’s approach to declaring a state of emergency in Rivers aligns with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. They further prayed the court to determine the following: “Whether upon a proper construction and interpretation of the provisions of Sections 1(2), 5(2), 176, 180, 188 and 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can lawfully suspend or in any manner whatsoever interfere with the offices of a Governor and the Deputy Governor of any of the component 36 States of the Federation of Nigeria and replace same with his own unelected nominee as a Sole Administrator, under the guise of, or pursuant to, a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in any of the State of the Federation, particularly in any of the Plaintiffs States? “Whether upon a proper construction and interpretation of the provisions of Sections 1(2), 4(6), 11(4) & (5), 90, 105 and 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can lawfully suspend the House of Assembly of any of the component 36 States of the Federation of Nigeria, under the guise of, or pursuant to, a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in any of such States, particularly in any of the Plaintiffs States? “Whether the consequent threat by the first Defendant acting on behalf of the President to the States of the Federation, including the Plaintiffs’ States, to the effect that the offices of the Governor and Deputy Governor of the States can be suspended by the President by virtue of a Proclamation of a State of Emergency, is not in contravention of the provisions of Sections 1(2), 4(6), 5(2), 11(2) and (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and inconsistent with the principles of constitutional federalism?” Meanwhile, the respondents are required to enter an appearance within 14 days of being served the Summons, including the day the service was effected.

The National Vice Chairman (North West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Garba Muhammad, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai to proceed with caution as the 2027 general election approaches. In an open letter, Muhammad—who hails from Kaduna State and served 16 years in the House of Representatives representing Sabon Gari federal constituency—advised Atiku to abandon any plans for another presidential bid, urging him instead to uphold his role as a respected statesman, having pursued the presidency since 1993. Muhammad said: “As we approach the next general elections, you are at it again. However, this time around, having sensed that your party, the PDP, may not cede the presidential ticket to you, you are now considering joining forces with some aggrieved politicians to form a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027. “For you, Alhaji Atiku, our former vice president, my free-hearted advice is, in your best interest and the interest of Nigerians, it is better you drop the idea of contesting for president in 2027, by which time you would have already turned 80 years. “The Wazirin Adamawa, you should rather remain the elder statesman that you currently are. Methinks you shouldn’t waste your time and resources. At least, you should take your cue from another former Vice President, Arc. Muhammad Namadi Sambo, who has been operating in the background and remains an elder statesman since he left office in 2015.” Muhammad said Atiku should not listen to some politicians, such as former Kaduna governor, El-rufai who “are dangling the carrot of a coalition” to him ahead of 2027. “In truth, even if you contest, you have nothing new to offer. Remember, you are also a proponent of subsidy removal. It is on record that, as vice president, you spearheaded the privatisation of some key national assets when you chaired the committee on privatisation during Obasanjo’s administration, while former Governor El-rufai was the Director General of the Bureau for Public Privatization, BPP.” Addressing Nasir el-Rufai, the APC chieftain and Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) urged the former Kaduna State governor to reconcile with the party, reminding him of his foundational role in the APC and his efforts toward its growth. The former lawmaker stated: “You are on record as one of the founding members of the APC. Having labored for the party and served two terms as governor under its banner, it is concerning that you chose to part ways with the APC at such a crucial time.” “While still serving as governor in 2022, during one of your media chats, you averred that “the moment I leave APC, then I have quit politics altogether.” At this critical point, you should ponder and reconcile with the APC or quit politics altogether. “The world knows that it was you who announced that you were not interested in any position in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. Why should you turn to a critic overnight just because you perceived things were not going your way when you had unfettered access to the leadership of the party and the president?” “As someone who was once close to you, I want to advise you to refrain from using emotions, sentiments and unsubstantiated claims/allegations in politics. “I would like to tell you for free that no PDP governor will join the SDP because their party already has a structure on ground. Who will leave certainty to uncertainty? You may end up committing a serious political miscalculation. “Frankly speaking, I think you should reflect deeply. One would expect that as a leading figure who supported the presidency to go to the South in 2023, you would support the zone to finish its eight years before canvassing for the rotation of the position to the north.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Monday hosted a group of suspended lawmakers from the Rivers State House of Assembly in the United Kingdom. According to a statement by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the lawmakers—who are in the UK for a “legislative capacity building” programme—were honoured with a dinner by the minister. “Yesterday, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, hosted Rivers State House of Assembly members who are in the United Kingdom for Legislative Capacity Building, to a dinner,” Olayinka shared on X.com. Wike departed Nigeria on Sunday after holding a meeting with his political allies in Port Harcourt. The suspended lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, are currently in the UK on a legislative tour. Amaewhule reportedly flagged off the 10th Rivers Assembly Legislative Tour last Friday, explaining that the trip is aimed at exposing members to international legislative practices and boosting their performance. This comes in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18. The president also announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly. To oversee the state’s affairs, former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), was appointed as sole administrator for an initial term of six months. The crisis in Rivers State is rooted in an ongoing power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for allegedly disregarding the federal character principle in his political appointments. During an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Monday, Ndume accused the President of breaching the constitutional mandate for equitable representation in government roles. He cited Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires political appointments to mirror the nation’s diversity. “The figures are there. You can look at the figures. I sent you one. I sent you figures. It’s not that I’m just making accusations. And it’s not that I’m saying, well, the president has no right to do that kind of thing. “But it’s a constitutional provision. Section 13, I mean, Section 14 (3) of the constitution is very, very clear,” he said. The senator added that the current appointments fail to align with the federal character principle as outlined by law. “When you look at it vis-a-vis the appointments made so far, and there are political appointments, the constitution is very clear. “It is because of avoiding such infractions that the constitution clearly states that appointments, especially political appointments, should reflect the federal character, and that is not the case here. “And all I am saying is to call the attention of Mr President to such infractions so that it can be corrected; otherwise, you know, these things can boomerang at a certain period of time”, Ndume stated. Ndume, a senior member of the National Assembly, clarified that his comments were not meant as a personal attack on the President but rather a duty tied to his role as a lawmaker. “I know, as you rightly say, people look at me as somebody that is critical of the government. I have the right to do that in the first place. And in fact, that’s why I’m in the National Assembly in the first place. “Collectively, we are supposed to oversight the acts of Mr President and point out some of these irregularities. That is what we swore to do. It’s not personal”, he added. Addressing potential backlash for his remarks, Ndume remained resolute. “Each one of us will stand before God, and God will ask him to account for what he is responsible for. Besides, we are all in this government. What will we tell our people? When you have these figures out, it is already viral, it is already in circulation. “But you know what, after this interview, those attack dogs or maga-dogs will start attacking Ndume, not the message. “It is not about Ndume or me being a senator. As a Nigerian, I have the right to voice out all these things. Not only that, I have the right to even protest. I have the right. That is guaranteed by the constitution. But from tomorrow, those so-called Tinubu boys or people will start attacking Ndume. These are the facts”, the lawmaker said.

Omoyele Sowore, convener of the Take-It-Back Movement, has firmly ruled out joining any planned coalition between former presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. Sowore also made it clear that he has no intention of joining the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Speaking on Arise TV’s Politics Today, Sowore said he would not align with Atiku and Obi, emphasizing that his only interest lies in forming a coalition of the oppressed. He said: “I’m not joining any coalition, the coalition that they joined in 2013 and 2015 is what brought about the APC, so joining another coalition in 2025 is doing the same thing all over again without thinking of achieving the same set of results. “The coalition that needs to be built is that of the oppressed, joining another coalition that is made up of the same people who were the ones that created the coalition that ruined Nigeria, it’s an injustice and an injury to the people of Nigeria. “So you can never see me in their coalition and I will never be part of it, I’m not joining the SDP, I’m not part of those playing chess with the destiny of Nigerians.” Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have formed a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. Atiku made this known during a press conference held by Concerned Leaders and Political Stakeholders in Nigeria.

President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, described the nation as undergoing a "popular, progressive revolution" rather than functioning under a democratic system. He further stated that it's hard to identify any country that has achieved development through democratic governance. Traoré made these remarks during a flag-raising ceremony at the Koulouba Palace last week. He said, “If we have to say it loud and clear here, we are not in a democracy, we are in a popular, progressive revolution. “We must necessarily go through a revolution, and we are indeed in a revolution. So this question of democracy or libertinism of action or expression has no place. As much as you think you are free to speak and act, the other is also free to speak and act, and there we end up with a society of disorder.” He criticised the notion that democracy is a prerequisite for development, saying it is “false” to believe any country has developed under a democratic system. “It is impossible to name a country that has developed in democracy. Democracy is only the result,” Burkina24 quoted him. He affirmed that his administration would persist in engaging the public, educating them, and fostering a clear understanding of the revolution. Since assuming leadership, Traoré has drawn attention for his bold and unconventional decisions as President of the West African nation. The 37-year-old, who came to power in September 2022 through a coup that removed interim President Paul-Henri Damiba, recently declined an offer from Saudi Arabia to construct 200 mosques in Burkina Faso. Instead, he called on the Gulf nation to channel its support towards vital infrastructure projects that would have a direct impact on the lives of his people.