Today’s Headlines: APC, NDC In Battle for Control Of Kano;Oshiomhole Tackles Umahi Over Road Project

Kano’s political map has changed so dramatically since the 2023 governorship election that some of the men who stood on opposite sides of that contest now occupy the same camp, while former allies are preparing to fight one another under different party flags. At the centre of the upheaval is Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who won the governorship on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with the backing of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, only to cross to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in January—less than three years into his mandate.

The switch has transformed what might otherwise have been a straightforward bid by an incumbent for a second term into a broader struggle over who controls Kano’s political machinery. The APC has gathered around Yusuf, former governors Abdullahi Ganduje and Ibrahim Shekarau, and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin. Opposing them is the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where Kwankwaso has placed his political weight behind former Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), with Ibrahim Ali Amin, popularly known as Little, as its candidate, is also in the race. Still, the contest has increasingly hardened into a two-bloc confrontation between the APC and the NDC.

That makes Kano more than another governorship election. It is a test of whether Kwankwasiyya can survive the loss of its most visible office holder, whether an incumbent can carry a movement across a party divide, and whether federal power can translate into votes in a state where local political identity has often proved stronger than party labels.

Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole has accused Works Minister, David Umahi of bias in how funds for federal road projects are shared, insisting that fixing bad existing roads should come before building new ones.

Oshiomhole spoke during a podcast interview circulating on social media, where he revisited his clash with Umahi over the ministry’s budget and handling of federal roads.

The senator said his criticism of the minister at a National Assembly budget defence was part of his job as a lawmaker to question government spending and ensure money goes to where it is most needed.

He said he asked why government was budgeting for new roads when many federal roads across the country were in bad shape and needed urgent repair.

According to him, the ministry should first make existing roads motorable before starting new projects.

“As a manager, you don’t keep building new houses when you can’t maintain the ones you have. It is common sense,” he said.

The former governor said his position was not political, even though he is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and an ally of President Bola Tinubu.

He accused Umahi of hiding behind the President’s name instead of answering the issues raised at the hearing.

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has urged candidates excluded from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, list for the 2027 elections to stop pursuing legal action and focus on future political opportunities.

Sani, via a post on his X handle on Saturday, said the Supreme Court ruling that enabled INEC to exclude some candidates was clear, warning them against wasting money, time and energy on what he described as a lost battle.

“The Supreme Court ruling that enabled INEC to exclude some names of candidates is very clear. Affected candidates should not waste their money, time and energy fighting a lost battle.

“I also wish to appeal to those Barristers and SANs to ‘pity’ those candidates and allow them to rest,and not mislead them into spending more money filing fresh suits.

“Four years will come and go; let them strategise for the future,” he said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been dragged before the Federal High Court in Abuja over its alleged failure to account for $6.23 million in missing election funds and more than N1.63 trillion in other public funds.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2450/2026, was filed by the Lagos-based rights group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), following revelations in Volume II of the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2023 Annual Report, published on 7 August 2026.

According to the Auditor-General’s report, which covers January to December 2023, the apex bank allegedly failed to account for several large sums of public funds, including $6.23 million allegedly disbursed for election funding based on a fraudulent request purportedly linked to former President Muhammadu Buhari; N1.25 trillion in unrecovered intervention loans granted to state governments; N116.18 billion in loans to distressed and liquidated banks; and N262.86 billion under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, which remains with programme anchors and has not been recovered from beneficiaries.

Through its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, Andrew Nwankwo and Kelechi Anwu, SERAP is asking the court to issue an order of mandamus compelling the CBN to account for and disclose details of the missing funds.

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