Politics
Gani Fawehinmi Fought to Open Nigeria’s Political Space — Uba Sani
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has described the late human rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, as one of the key figures whose struggles helped widen Nigeria’s political space and strengthen democratic participation.
Sani spoke on Saturday at the public presentation of a book titled Gani Fawehinmi and Uba Sani: A Tale of Mentor and Mentee, held in Kaduna.
The governor recalled Fawehinmi’s legal battle against stringent conditions imposed by the Independent National Electoral Commission on political associations seeking registration, describing the struggle as an important chapter in Nigeria’s democratic history.
According to Sani, many human rights and pro-democracy activists became frustrated during the period, but Fawehinmi remained committed to the struggle and refused to allow disappointment to become despair.
He said the late activist consistently encouraged his colleagues to trust in the judiciary, the rule of law and democratic processes as tools for defending democracy.
Sani recalled that Fawehinmi, alongside former Kaduna State Governor, Balarabe Musa, approached the courts to challenge INEC’s position.
He said the legal battle lasted for more than two years before the Court of Appeal ruled in their favour in 2002.
INEC subsequently appealed the judgment at the Supreme Court, which also ruled in favour of Fawehinmi and his colleagues in January 2003.
Sani said the landmark verdict helped to open up Nigeria’s political space and paved the way for the emergence of more political parties.
He urged Nigerians to remember the sacrifices made by individuals who fought for political plurality whenever new political parties emerge and citizens exercise their constitutional right to political association.
“Democracy has a history, and every freedom has a cost,” Sani said.
The governor noted that many Nigerians enjoying political freedoms today might not fully appreciate the difficult struggles through which such rights were secured.
He urged activists, politicians and academics to periodically remember Nigerians who contributed to the country’s democratic development.
Sani also described Fawehinmi as a committed pan-Nigerian who believed strongly in the development of all parts of the country.
According to him, the late activist advocated the empowerment of Nigerians irrespective of their region, ethnicity, religion or social status.
The governor particularly highlighted Fawehinmi’s commitment to education, which he said led to the establishment of the Gani Fawehinmi Scholarship Foundation.
Sani recalled that he was entrusted with coordinating the foundation’s scholarship programme in Northern Nigeria.
He said he persuaded Fawehinmi to establish a major scholarship programme for brilliant but indigent university students across the region at a time when educational deprivation was particularly severe.
According to Sani, the programme eventually awarded scholarships to more than 1,000 indigent students studying in universities across Northern Nigeria.
He recalled travelling to universities across the region with other members of the programme to identify deserving beneficiaries.
Sani said many of the beneficiaries had gone on to become medical doctors, lawyers, academics, engineers and other professionals contributing to national development.
The governor also recalled that during the flag-off of the scholarship programme 26 years ago at Arewa House, Fawehinmi challenged Northern leaders to confront the region’s educational backwardness.
He said the late activist warned that failure to address the problem could turn educational backwardness into a “monster.”
Sani noted that the warning remained relevant, arguing that several challenges confronting Northern Nigeria could be linked directly or in directly to inadequate investment in human capital.
He described Fawehinmi as one of the most formidable Nigerians of his generation, saying the activist consistently placed principle above comfort and justice above personal convenience.
“He used the law as an instrument of liberation and defended ordinary citizens against arbitrary power,” Sani said.
He added that Fawehinmi made significant contributions to Nigeria’s struggles for democracy, accountability and human dignity.
Sani congratulated the author of the book, Mrs Basirat Fawehinmi Biobaku, for preserving a mentorship relationship that, according to him, carries wider national significance.
The governor said the book went beyond the relationship between a mentor and mentee, describing it as a reflection on courage, democratic struggle, social justice, education and leadership.
He added that it also underscored the responsibility of one generation to prepare the next for meaningful service to the nation.
Politics
Ogoni Youths Demand Bori State, Urge Tinubu to Implement Dialogue Report
A coalition of Ogoni youth groups has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, insisting that the creation of Bori State must be given priority in the process.
The Coalition of Ogoni Youth Groups (COYOG) made the demand in a statement jointly signed by 17 youth leaders, including Chief Kpakol Kpakol of the Ogoni National Youth Congress and Gen. Ikeh Albert Jnr of the Khana Youth Assembly, on Saturday.
The coalition warned against attempts by politicians and other vested interests to hijack the dialogue process for personal or political gains, stressing that its outcomes must reflect the collective aspirations of the Ogoni people.
It described the dialogue as a collective struggle for justice, environmental restoration, political inclusion, resource control and sustainable development.
On the leadership of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, COYOG clarified that Professor Don Baridam remains its substantive leader, warning against attempts by individuals to assume authority outside the established structure.
Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful advocacy, the coalition insisted that the dialogue process must remain inclusive and accountable, adding that its recommendations should translate into measurable benefits for the Ogoni people.
“The Ogoni dialogue belongs to the Ogoni people. Its outcomes must serve the Ogoni people. Its implementation must be transparent, inclusive and measurable,” the statement added.
Politics
Dachung Bagos Wins APC Rerun Primary for Plateau Federal Constituency
Former member of the House of Representatives, Dachung Bagos, has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) rerun primary election for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau State.
Bagos defeated his challenger, Esther Simi Dusu, in the rerun exercise conducted across 11 wards on Wednesday, following a court order nullifying the previous primary election over alleged irregularities.
The Chairman of the APC Rerun Electoral Committee, Simon Elisha, announced the results on Thursday at the party’s state secretariat, Kalwa House, in Jos.
According to the results, Bagos polled 12,181 votes to defeat Dusu, who secured 2,495 votes.
Elisha said the rerun election was conducted in compliance with the court order and in accordance with the party’s guidelines.
“The rerun was conducted in compliance with the court order and in line with the party’s guidelines to ensure transparency and fairness,” he said.
The rerun followed a decision by the High Court in Jos to nullify the earlier primary election over alleged irregularities in 11 wards within the federal constituency.
The affected wards are Du, Shen, Zawan ‘B’, Turu, Fobur ‘A’, Fobur ‘B’, Jarawan Kogi, Maijuju/Doss, Federe, Shere East and Shere West.
The court-ordered exercise was organised to address the irregularities identified in the previous primary election and determine the party’s candidate for the constituency.
With his victory, Bagos is set to represent the APC in the contest for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general election.
Bagos previously represented the constituency in the House of Representatives.
His emergence as the party’s candidate places him in contention for another term in the Green Chamber, subject to the outcome of the 2027 general election.
Politics
Peter Obi Warns Those Terrorising Nigeria at Opening of NDC National Secretariat
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has warned individuals he accused of terrorising Nigerians, declaring that his party would confront insecurity and intimidation if elected in 2027.
“Those who think they can terrorize this country, wait, we’re coming,” Obi said during the opening of the NDC’s national secretariat in Jabi, Abuja, on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The remark came as the party formally opened its national headquarters and intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections. The event brought together Obi, his running mate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, NDC leaders and other party members.
Obi Puts Insecurity at the Centre of His Message
Obi’s statement signals that security is expected to feature prominently in the NDC’s campaign messaging ahead of the next presidential election.
Nigeria continues to face multiple security challenges, including insurgency, kidnapping, armed attacks and communal violence in different parts of the country. These problems have affected communities, disrupted economic activities and generated demands for stronger protection of lives and property.
At the Abuja event, Obi presented his political project as an effort to change how government responds to the country’s challenges. Reports of his remarks also highlighted commitments to address corruption, poverty, unemployment and insecurity.
However, the brief statement quoted above did not identify a particular group or individual as the target of his warning. It would therefore be premature to attribute the remark to a specific organisation or political opponent without further evidence.
NDC Opens National Headquarters Ahead of 2027
The secretariat opening marked another organisational step for the NDC as it builds its structures ahead of the elections.
The ceremony followed the party’s National Executive Committee meeting and formed part of a wider programme that included unveiling its National Campaign Council and presenting Certificates of Return to candidates contesting different offices.
Kwankwaso, the party’s vice-presidential candidate, attended alongside National Leader Seriake Dickson, National Chairman Moses Cleopas and other party figures.
The new facility is expected to serve as the party’s administrative headquarters and a centre for coordinating its national political activities.
Security and Accountability in the 2027 Campaign
Obi’s warning comes as political parties begin defining their messages for the 2027 election, with security, economic hardship and public accountability among the issues likely to feature prominently.
For voters, the significance of security promises will depend not only on campaign statements but also on the policies, resources and implementation plans candidates present.
Measures to improve security can involve intelligence gathering, police and military capacity, coordination between federal and state authorities, criminal investigations, justice delivery and support for communities affected by violence.
Obi’s statement did not set out specific measures in the quoted passage. Further policy details would be needed to assess how the NDC proposes to address the different forms of insecurity affecting the country.
The remark nevertheless makes clear that the party intends to present security and protection from intimidation as part of its campaign message.
As the 2027 election approaches, the challenge for all political parties will be to explain how their proposals would be implemented and how progress would be measured.
-
Security4 months agoNDLEA Declares Alleged Drug Kingpin, Three Associates Wanted, Freezes ₦9.8bn Linked to Syndicate
-
Business/Finance3 months agoHow to Apply for Tunde Onakoya’s ₦250 Million Scholarship Programme and Free Laptop Offer
-
National Affairs3 months agoICPC Uncovers 908 Suspected Ghost Workers Across 50 Federal MDAs, Recovers ₦942 Million
-
Judiciary | Public Safety3 months agoINEC Tells Court Voter Information Is Not Confidential in Emeka Ike’s ₦10bn Lawsuit
-
Politics3 months agoAtiku Challenges Tinubu to Reveal Details of ₦15.13bn SUV Procurement in 2026 Budget
-
Judiciary | Public Safety3 months agoCourt to Rule Friday on NDLEA’s Bid to Destroy ₦480bn Meth Lab in Ogun
-
Security3 months agoFamily Paid ₦50 Million Ransom to Secure Release of Abducted Kebbi Judge
-
News3 months ago2026 Budget: FG Earmarks ₦962.83bn for SUVs, Empowerment Projects Amid Debt Concerns
