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Why I Am The Best Candidate To Be Anambra Next Governor – Andy Uba Reveals

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Senator Andy Uba, has declared that his antecedents among his people as a problem solver and human resources developer, positioned him as the best candidate to deliver on the job if voted into office.

Uba said his edge over all the other contestants is that he understood the gravity of the challenges on the ground, the solutions they require and people’s expectations as his structure across all the wards in the state has been in constant engagement with the people since the 2007 election that he won. He vacated the office when the Supreme Court ruled that Peter Obi had not completed his term.

He said this in Lagos where he addressed reporters on his candidacy, as he stated that it was ironic that people he once assisted one way or the other including All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Prof. Charles Soludo, are in the race with him, but he is confident of winning as he said; “I know my people. I know what they want. I know what they are going through.”
He promised to establish industrial parks to drive industrialisation across the state and harness all the available resources of the residents towards the development of the state.

Uba said: “Industrial parks encourage rapid industrialisation through Foreign Direct Investment, expertise that we are reputed for, as well as the production of quality goods and services.

“That way, more and better jobs are created; more people are gainfully employed and can spend a part of their earnings in the marketplace, which boosts the economy, creates a bigger tax base for the government, and reduces the crime rate in the state.

“My government will work with the Federal Government to construct the Onitsha-Awka-Nnewi gas pipeline, which will become a boost to manufacturing in the state, especially the industrial parks we intend to set up.”

He declared that with the level of defections to the APC and the people wanting to belong to the center, the party was confident of winning the election.

Uba stated that Anambra would benefit a lot from joining the ruling party at the centre, saying, “The centre is key. For 16 years, we don’t know what the centre means. You must open your arm and make sure you work with the Central Government. Once you do so, you will get a lot of things. Look at other states, look at Anambra.
“You can’t compare Anambra to Imo and Ebonyi States that have gone back to the centre. Second Niger Bridge is coming, look at other projects.”
He said the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari in the South East are being concealed by the governors as the APC government has done a lot not only for the people of the South East but the entire country but their achievements are not well-publicized.
He said people cannot complain of marginalisation under APC when the same government is building the Second Niger Bridge and other major infrastructural projects in the region.

“When people are talking of marginalisation, how? Is it by building Second Niger Bridge? Is it by building all these infrastructures? The APC government is working but the governors are hiding whatever APC is doing. They can’t cover it this time around because once I get there, it is over. Nigerians and the world will see what APC has been doing,” he said.
Uba decried the worsening insecurity in Anambra State, and according to him, a proactive state government ought to have found a solution to the problem, as he recalled that he rose swiftly in 2007 to solve the same problem by visiting Ralph Uwazuruike of MASSOB while in detention, five times, to dialogue with him and his men.

He regretted that Governor Willy Obiano lacked the wisdom and skills of engagement and capacity to reduce youth restiveness through job creation and in the absence of such engagements, people have resorted to listening to non-state actors.
He said one of the ways to boost employment is to partner with the private sector through the provision of an enabling environment. This is why he said infrastructural development, environmental upgrade, security, job creation, youth empowerment, among others would be part of his priorities.
Uba promised that if elected, he would conduct local government elections and pave the way for council autonomy. He said it’s distressing that while N220 million was due to each of the 21 local government areas, the state government only releases a meagre N5 million as monthly allocation to them, though they are made to sign for the N220 million.
He asserts that this is why the state is so decrepit that even the governor does not stay in the government house.
Uba said he has the church’s backing, as he and his deputy, Emeka Okafor, belong to the Anglican and the Catholic denominations.

He urged the people to disregard the notion that the Uba brothers -himself, Ogochukwu, and Chris – were working at cross-purpose, as he stated that they were on the same page about his ambition to govern the state and make it a pride for the residents.

Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact [email protected]

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Ogun Central To Host Final Zonal Townhall Meeting for Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, April 30

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Ogun Central To Host Final Zonal Townhall Meeting for Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, April 30

-.Removes Hon.Olugbenga Lekuti as Deputy Director General,Ogun East

One of the leading Political Groups, Ogun Visionaries is set to host the final zonal edition of the Sen. Solomon Adeola Yayi town hall meetings in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital. The Ogun Central Edition, scheduled for April 30, 2026, aims to engage the electorate and push for Senator Yayi’s Governorship bid in 2027.

The event is themed ‘Ogun 2027: Yayi For All,’ marking the finale of the zonal town hall meetings.

Addressing Journalists on Tuesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital,the Director General of Ogun Visionaries, Hon. Leye Odunjo, said the meeting will draw key stakeholders from Ogun Central’s political power circle.

Hon.odunjo stated that the event will kick off with a health walk, ‘Ogun Visionaries For Yayi Unity Walk,’ in the morning of April 30, 2026.The walk is themed ‘Let’s Walk for A United and Prosperous Ogun State,’ aiming to rally support for Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Governorship aspiration.

“The town hall meeting is expected to feature prominent personalities, including Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi as the Special Guest of Honour. The event will provide a platform for interaction and engagement with the electorate”.

Ogun Visionaries has successfully held town hall meetings in Ogun West and Ogun East senatorial districts. The Ogun Central Edition is the final zonal meeting before moving to LGAs and wards.

The Director General while acknowledging the support received from various personalities since inception of the group,disclosed that distinguished individuals would be honoured with Award of Recognition during the event.

Odunjo, who is also a Senior Legislative Aide to the Deputy Senate President said “The political atmosphere in Ogun State is reportedly in tune with the people’s yearning for Yayi’s emergence. Ogun Visionaries is at the forefront of making this a reality.

“The event aims to unite stakeholders and push for a prosperous Ogun State. With Senator Yayi’s popularity growing, the meeting is expected to draw a large turnout.

“The Ogun Central Edition will provide a platform for stakeholders to interact and engage with the electorate. The event is seen as a crucial step towards achieving the group’s goals.

“Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi’s presence is expected to energize supporters and further boost his campaign for 2027” he added

Meanwhile, Ogun Visionaries has announced removal of Hon Olugbenga Lekuti as the Deputy Director General, DDG,Ogun East, of the group.

Announcing the removal in a brief statement made available to Journalists, Hon.Odunjo stated that Hon.Lekuti was relieved of the position as a result of his anti -group and anti -Yayi’s acts.

He added that a new Deputy Director General would be announced in due course.

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Political Earthquake in Kano: How, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Nasiru Gawuna’s Move to ADC Reshapes North-West Politics

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Political Earthquake in Kano: How, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Nasiru Gawuna’s Move to ADC Reshapes North-West Politics

 

 

The political atmosphere of Nigeria’s North-West was fundamentally altered on a sweltering afternoon in 2026 after Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso former Governor of Kano State and Former Minister for Defence who is also the “Grand Commander” of the Red-Cap revolution, finalized a move that many viewed as the ultimate masterstroke of his political career. By transitioning from the NNPP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kwankwaso did more than change platforms; he effectively reset the coordinates of the nation’s largest voting bloc.

 

Senator Kwankwaso’s pedigree is defined by a singular devotion to human capital development and an almost mythical grassroots loyalty preceded him. He turned a local movement, the Kwankwasiyya, into a disciplined, ideological army that transcends traditional party structures. His entry into the ADC instantly transformed a secondary party into a formidable fortress, signaling to the ruling elite that the North-West is no longer a monolith under their control.

 

The gravity of this shift is most profound in Kano, the heartbeat of Northern commerce. For years, the state was a polarized battlefield between the Kwankwasiyya and established conservative wings. However, the entry of Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna into the same ADC orbit has created a “Kano Super-Alliance” that was previously unthinkable. Kwankwaso, the visionary architect who sent thousands of Kano’s children to global universities, now finds his populist ideology merging with Gawuna’s administrative steadiness and deep-rooted institutional connections.

 

This synergy is a seismic departure from the politics of “zero-sum” rivalry; it is a calculated fusion of mass appeal and the strategic machinery required to protect and deliver votes.

This move reshuffles the entire North-West deck. As Kwankwaso plants the ADC flag across the region, he is attracting a wave of heavyweights from Kaduna to Sokoto who feel marginalized by the status quo. His political pedigree allows him to speak with a regional authority that others lack, positioning himself as a protector during a time of economic uncertainty. By bringing Gawuna into this fold, the dynamics of Kano politics have shifted from a war of attrition to a coalition of necessity. This alliance creates a “Third Way” that bypasses the failures of the old guard, promising a return to the rapid growth that defined the Kwankwaso years, but with a broader, more inclusive base that could dictate the occupant of Aso Rock in 2027.

 

Kwankwaso’s career has always been defined by a uniquely personal brand of power. From 1999 to 2015, he served two terms as Governor of Kano State, in addition to roles as Minister of Defence and Senator. While many were surprised by his recent maneuvers; especially following closed-door meetings with President Bola Tinubu, he chose the emerging ADC over the ruling APC.

 

In the high-stakes theater of Nigerian politics, few events have jolted the region quite like the defection of Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna from the APC to the ADC on March 31, 2026. Coming just twenty-four hours after Kwankwaso’s move, Gawuna’s transition fundamentally has also altered the political calculus in Kano. What makes this moment remarkable is the sheer drama of the reversal. Gawuna’s political journey has been a steady, calculated ascent through Kano’s establishment. He first shot to prominence as Commissioner of Agriculture under Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, earning a reputation for hands-on management in a state where farming is the economic backbone. He eventually rose to Deputy Governor, serving for nearly six years and gaining invaluable executive experience. Beyond partisan politics, Gawuna distinguished himself as Chairman of the Governing Council of Bayero University and, most recently, as Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). He resigned from the FMBN on March 27, 2026, citing compliance with presidential directives regarding political appointees.

 

A look back at the 2023 gubernatorial election reveals just how significant Gawuna is. Running under the APC, he polled over 890,000 votes against the formidable Kwankwasiyya machine. This proved that he is one of the few politicians in Kano who can genuinely compete with Kwankwaso’s electoral machinery. His strength is threefold: he appeals to the youth, the religious establishment (Ulama), and the business community; he has the capacity to split the APC vote; and he has demonstrated he can deliver votes independently of a larger party wave. To understand the magnitude of this defection, one must appreciate the complete inversion of alliances since 2023. Back then, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf ran on the NNPP ticket with Kwankwaso’s backing, while Gawuna carried the APC banner with Ganduje’s support. By 2027, the roles will likely reverse: Governor Yusuf is positioned to run under the APC with Ganduje’s blessing, while Gawuna is poised to run under the ADC with Kwankwaso’s endorsement.

 

From the perspective of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Gawuna’s arrival is a “return” rather than a “recruitment,” as he was part of the movement’s pioneer cohort. This narrative neutralizes accusations of opportunism. For his part, Gawuna framed his move in terms of service and divine guidance, with sources indicating he felt marginalized within the APC after his 2023 defeat.

 

The reaction from within the APC has been one of worry and regret. President Tinubu, recognizing the stakes, reportedly directed party leaders to prevent Gawuna’s move, even offering him an automatic Senatorial ticket for 2027. The failure of this pressure campaign, Gawuna reportedly placed his phone on “Do Not Disturb” and traveled abroad to avoid lobbyists represents a significant defeat for the presidency’s political management. This crisis prompted emergency meetings between President Tinubu, Dr. Ganduje, and Badaru Abubakar at the Presidential Villa to reorganize their strategy.

 

The long-term implication is the potential break of the APC-PDP duopoly. The ADC is now positioning itself as a genuine “third force” in the North-West. The defection of high-profile figures like Senator Ahmed Babba-Kaita, Senator Aishatu “Binani” Ahmed, and former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami suggests a coordinated realignment. This competition could force more substantive policy debates and reduce the “zero-sum” intensity of regional elections.

 

The projected 2027 gubernatorial rematch between Gawuna (ADC) and Governor Yusuf (APC) will be a battle between two men with established records. Voters will have a genuine choice between performance and platform rather than just shifting loyalties. As Gawuna put it: “Allah gives power to whom He wants and when He wants.” While the 2027 elections will reveal where that power flows, it is already clear that the political landscape of the North-West will never look the same again.

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Governor Dauda Lawal Approves Gratuity Payment

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Governor Dauda Lawal Approves Gratuity Payment

The Zamfara State Government, under the visionary leadership of Governor Dauda Lawal, has approved the release of funds for the payment of Gratuity Batch 3 for the 2024/25 period. This decisive action underscores the administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of retired civil servants who dedicated years of service to the state’s development.

The Accountant General of the State is already working diligently to ensure that all eligible retirees receive their payments promptly and efficiently, reflecting the government’s resolve to uphold transparency and accountability in the disbursement process.

This timely gratuity payment is a testament to Governor Dauda Lawal’s people-centered leadership, which recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of retirees to the progress and stability of Zamfara State. It also reaffirms the government’s pledge to honor its financial obligations without unnecessary delays.

The Zamfara State Government calls on all retirees in the affected batch to exercise patience as the necessary administrative and financial processes are finalized. Every effort is being made to ensure smooth and uninterrupted payments.

This initiative is part of Governor Dauda Lawal’s broader vision to empower citizens and retirees, strengthen confidence in public service, and sustain the morale of those who have committed their lives to the growth of Zamfara State.

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