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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has disclosed reason behind his decision to pick the leader of Kwankwassiyya Movement, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as his running mate.

In an interview with Sun, Obi said he decided to settle for the former governor of Kano State because “Kwankwaso has the philosophy of pulling people out of poverty”.

Obi said himself and Kwankwaso have similar philosophy on reviving the country’s economy to better the lives of citizens.

“I have the same philosophy. Kwankwaso believes in education. You cannot change society without education.

“If you look at my X, formerly Twitter, I made it clear that I will emphasise on education. Education is going to change society.

“Nigeria must be seen to form its innermost human capital, which we need to develop. Kwankwaso believes in this. I do. We have synergy.”

Obi also dismissed speculation suggesting that there is disagreement between him and Kwankwaso, stating that they remain united in strategizing ahead of the January 2027 elections.

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The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has elected Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as its next president after she secured the highest number of votes in the association’s election, which officially concluded on Sunday morning.

Mrs Badejo-Okusanya, the only female among the three presidential candidates, polled 12,317 votes to emerge victorious in the election, which was conducted electronically over a 24-hour period.

She defeated her two challengers after securing 47.18 per cent of the 26,106 votes cast in the presidential election.

Her closest rival, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, secured 7,934 votes, while Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, polled 5,855 votes.

In this article, Nigerian Tribune takes a look at seven things to know about the incoming NBA president.

1. Education

Badejo-Okusanya holds degrees in both English and Law from the University of Lagos. She earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English between 1983 and 1987 before returning to study Law, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 2000. She later attended the Nigerian Law School, where she obtained her Barrister-at-Law (B.L.) qualification in 2002.

1. Legal career

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria has built a legal career spanning more than two decades in litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). She specialises in domestic and international dispute resolution and has represented both private and government clients in commercial matters before trial and appellate courts across Nigeria. She has also handled complex arbitration in the utilities sector and international investment disputes.

1. Public service

Before returning to private practice, Badejo-Okusanya served in the Lagos State Government. She was Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Justice Sector Reform and Policy between 2007 and 2011 before serving as General Counsel to the Governor from 2011 to 2015. During her time in government, she worked on public-private partnerships, arbitration legislation, consumer protection and justice sector reforms.

1. Law firm leadership

Since May 2017, Badejo-Okusanya has been a partner at ALP NG & Co. Her practice covers litigation, arbitration, mediation, public policy and government relations. She is also recognised for her expertise in regulatory compliance and dispute resolution.

1. Arbitration and professional memberships

Badejo-Okusanya has played active roles in arbitration and legal organisations. She previously served on the Executive Committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Nigeria Branch, and currently serves on the Board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration. She is also a member of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration, ArbitralWomen, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association.

1. Mediation and dispute resolution expertise

An accredited Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) mediator, Badejo-Okusanya is recognised for her expertise in arbitration and ADR. She is frequently consulted on international arbitration matters and regulatory compliance, with experience across both domestic and international dispute resolution frameworks.

1. Historic victory

With her victory, Badejo-Okusanya became the 33rd President of the NBA and only the second woman to lead the association, after Priscilla Kuye, who served as NBA president from 1991 to 1992. She will serve a two-year term from 2026 to 2028.
(TRIBUNE)

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Senator Rufai Hanga, a prominent leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State, has openly declared that the presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso stands no chance of winning the 2027 election, even as he holds high-level talks with top All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders.

The statement comes amid intense political realignments in Kano State and growing speculation that Hanga may be on his way to the ruling APC.On Sunday, the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, hosted a closed-door meeting with Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, and Senator Rufai Hanga.Famous Quotations Yilwatda confirmed the meeting on his verified X account, describing Hanga as “one of the foremost leaders of the NDC in Kano State.”

According to the APC chairman, the discussions centred on unity, peace, and the continued progress of Kano State. “I had the pleasure of meeting with the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, alongside Senator Rufai Hanga… Our engagement was marked by frank, constructive, and cordial discussions centred on the unity and continued progress of Kano State,” Yilwatda stated.Campaigns & Elections He added that political leaders have a responsibility to foster dialogue and place the interest of citizens above partisan considerations. Neither Yilwatda nor the two senators revealed the full details of the meeting, but the timing has raised eyebrows given the fluid political situation in Kano ahead of the 2027 general elections.Senator Hanga, the only NDC senator from Kano, recently lost the party’s ticket for the Kano Central Senatorial District to former Deputy Governor Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna.

His dissatisfaction with what he termed his marginalisation within the NDC has further fuelled speculation of an imminent defection.Hanga had remained with the faction loyal to Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso after Governor Abba Yusuf defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the APC. That bloc later moved to the African Democratic Congress before adopting the NDC platform.

Executive Branch The NDC has since named former Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo as its governorship candidate for 2027, with Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate.Political observers note that Hanga’s recent moves and comments signal a significant shift that could further weaken the opposition structure in Kano, one of Nigeria’s most politically strategic states.

His declaration that the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket cannot succeed is seen by many as the clearest indication yet of his drifting away from the current NDC arrangement.As political permutations continue across the country, all eyes remain on Kano, where loyalty shifts and strategic alliances could play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the 2027 polls.