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Independent Report indicts Zamfara, Kano Governors as major sponsors of recent nationwide protests
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A recent independent report has indicted Governors Dauda Lawal and Abba Kabir Yusuf of Zamfara and Kano states as major sponsors of the recently held nationwide protests.
The report condemned the roles played by the two governors in escalating the protests into violent and destructive actions.
The report was released at a press briefing on Monday in Abuja, by the Independent Coalition for Democratic Governance in Nigeria, led by its convener, Dr Ben Omale Amodu.
According to the report, the governors of Zamfara and Kano states, both from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), mobilised hoodlums to target political rivals, wreak havoc on public and private property, and loot valuables.
The report specifically highlights the destruction of the APC secretariat in Zamfara State, the vandalism and arson of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Industrial Park in Kano State, and the attempted arson of the residence of the immediate past governor of Zamfara State.
The report’s findings suggest that the protests, which began as a peaceful expression of discontent with the government’s economic policies, were hijacked by anti-democratic forces and opposition elements seeking to destabilize the government.
The actions of the Zamfara and Kano state governors have been widely condemned as a blatant attempt to exploit public unrest for personal and political gain.
The Independent Coalition for Democratic Governance in Nigeria called on the Federal Government to take decisive action to address the demands of the protesters, prevent future occurrences of such destructive protests, and hold accountable those responsible for the violence and destruction.
“It was noted that a significant number of the states with high incidences of hijacked protests were under the governance of opposition parties, notably the PDP and NNPP. Conversely, states with APC governors exhibited minimal to no records of violence, instead witnessing peaceful protest demonstrations as compared to the former,” the report said.
“In the case of Zamfara state, where insecurity has reached alarming levels, with numerous youths succumbing to violence, and banditry and kidnapping being perpetrated in broad daylight, it was expected that grievances and protests would be directed towards the governor’s state house. However, this was not the case, as APC leaders, secretariats, and businesses were targeted, suggesting the involvement of the state government in exploiting the protests as a covert means of targeting political rivals and opposition.
“On the fourth day of the protests, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed the nation, expressing empathy and solidarity with the citizens, while assuring the nation of his commitment to implementing effective policies to address the economic downturn. He reiterated his dedication to working tirelessly to meet the needs of all, prioritizing the greater good.
“Furthermore, it was observed that the original objectives of the protests had been hijacked, with the movement now appearing to be driven by an agenda to undermine the government and plunge the country into chaos.
“This stark transformation in the protests’ narrative raises concerns about the presence of external influences and political machinations aimed at destabilizing the government. The initial grievances and demands of the protesters appear to have been supplanted by a more sinister agenda, one that seeks to exploit the unrest for political gain.
“As the situation continues to unfold, it becomes increasingly evident that the protests have devolved into a political tool, wielded by opposition forces to discredit the government and create an atmosphere of instability. The President’s assurances and commitments to addressing the nation’s challenges seem to have fallen on deaf ears, as the protests persist in their altered form.
“There exists compelling evidence to unequivocally suggest that the ongoing protest has been commandeered by nefarious elements, who have exploited the situation to perpetrate attacks on political opposition, engage in rampant looting, and wreak havoc on both private and public property,” the report said.
“This bad turn of events serves as a stark testament to the fact that nationwide protests are often hijacked by anti-democratic forces and opposition elements, whose ultimate goal is to destabilize and destroy the very fabric of a united nation.”
President Bola Tinubu has signed a new executive order establishing a coordinated regulatory framework for virtual assets in Nigeria, with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) taking the lead in overseeing the sector.
The Presidency announced on Friday that the Presidential Executive Order on Virtual Assets Coordination, 2026, takes immediate effect.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the government said the directive is aimed at harmonising the regulation of virtual assets, strengthening collaboration among financial regulators, protecting Nigerians from fraud and encouraging responsible innovation.
According to the statement, the executive order became necessary because the rapid evolution of virtual assets has blurred “the traditional boundaries between currencies, money, commodities and securities”, creating regulatory overlaps and gaps.
The Presidency noted that weak coordination among regulatory agencies has left the country vulnerable to money laundering, terrorism financing, cybercrime, fraud and revenue leakages.
“Too often, unregistered and fraudulent operators have exploited these gaps to prey on unsuspecting Nigerians, costing families their savings,” the statement said.
To address these concerns, the executive order establishes a Virtual Asset Council chaired by the CBN, while the NRS and SEC will serve as vice-chairs.
Other members of the council include the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Onanuga said the council will provide policy direction, strengthen cooperation among participating agencies and work with the Attorney-General of the Federation to develop a harmonised legal and institutional framework for regulating virtual assets.
The order also creates a Virtual Asset Office, which will be domiciled at the CBN to coordinate information sharing, applications and reporting among relevant agencies.
The presidential spokesman stressed that the new framework does not create another regulator or diminish the statutory responsibilities of existing institutions.
“Significantly, the Order does not create a new regulator or transfer powers between agencies. Each institution retains its full statutory mandate and independence, and the framework coordinates their work rather than replacing it,” the statement added.
Under the new framework, the SEC will continue to regulate virtual assets classified as securities, while the CBN will supervise payment, settlement, custody and other services involving non-security virtual assets. Where regulatory jurisdiction is unclear, the Virtual Asset Council will determine the appropriate supervising agency.
The Presidency also disclosed that the CBN is moving ahead with plans to establish a regulatory sandbox for the virtual assets industry.
According to Onanuga, the sandbox will enable qualified operators to test virtual asset products, blockchain-based services and other innovations under regulatory supervision before they are introduced to the wider market.
“It will help ensure that innovations that reach Nigerians have been properly examined and supervised,” the spokesperson said.
Further details of the sandbox are expected to be announced by the apex bank.
The statement added that the Nigeria Revenue Service will also introduce a tax policy specifically for the virtual assets sector to clarify how existing tax laws apply and improve voluntary compliance.
In addition, the Federal Government is finalising a Virtual Assets White Paper that will outline Nigeria’s long-term policy direction for the industry.
The newly established Virtual Asset Council has also been directed to develop a harmonised implementation framework within 30 days to facilitate the execution of the presidential order.
The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it will appeal the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which struck out the suit filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking recognition for them.
The suit was filed by the Senator Adolphus Wabara-led Board of Trustees, asking the Court to interpret the Supreme Court’s judgement and direct INEC to list the names of the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee on its website as the party’s genuine leadership.
National Publicity Secretary of the group, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said in a statement that while they respect the court’s judgement, they have briefed their legal team to appeal it.
The judgement is a setback for the faction, which was hoping to present former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The statement read, “Today, the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, presided over by Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim, upheld the Preliminary Objection of the defendants and struck out the case filed by the Board of Trustees and some founding leaders of the Party, seeking, among other reliefs, the recognition of the Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee.
“The court held that the subject matter of the suit is the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and is an internal affair of the party- a matter over which the court’s jurisdiction has been ousted.
“While we respect the judgment of the trial court, we respectfully consider that it is against the extant judgments of the Appeal and apex courts, leaving the plaintiffs with no option but to appeal the judgment and the rulings therein.”
“The plaintiffs have accordingly instructed their lawyers to take immediate steps to appeal the rulings and the judgment.
“We are hopeful that as we climb the ladder of the law, the victory of truth over lies, principles over compromise, and the survival of true opposition and multi-party democracy will be assured.
“The politics of power, money and greed may last for a while, but we are certain that though our victory may be postponed, as the struggle continues, we will eventually attain it.”
A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise and publish the names of the Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Justice Salim Ibrahim, in a judgement delivered on Friday, held that the plaintiffs, led by the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, lacked the legal standing to institute the suit and consequently struck it out for want of jurisdiction.
The court upheld the preliminary objection filed by INEC and sustained similar objections raised by parties seeking to be joined in the suit, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to establish that INEC had recognised the purported Interim National Working Committee or that they had the authority to sue on behalf of the PDP.
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