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Ahead of the ward congresses of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), governors have commenced a covert move to take total control of the party’s structures nationwide.

The move, it was gathered, is aimed at laying a solid foundation for the control of the party machinery preparatory to the installation of the chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, as the next President of the 11th Senate of the Federal Republic.

Their objective, it was gathered, is the control of the 11th Senate upon its inauguration in June 2027.

Uzodimma, who was elected to a second term in office in November 2023, it was learnt, plans to pick the senatorial nomination form as a sitting governor, since the law does not bar him from contesting any position while in office.

The source, who said deliberations on the plan were still unfolding, stated that the option available to the governor is to resign as governor and focus on securing the Senate presidency with the backing of his colleagues if he wins the senatorial race.

The source, however, noted that the plan will depend largely on the president’s endorsement and on allowing the governors to determine the leadership of the next National Assembly.

But Uzodimma, in response to inquiries from LEADERSHIP, said that although he was not aware of the moves by his colleagues, he received the prophecy of becoming the next Senate President with an open mind.

Reacting through the Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser on Media, Hon. Oguwike Nwachuku, the Imo governor said the move by his colleagues shows the cordial relationship that exists within their fold.

Recall that Uzodimma, on return to the Senate, would be regarded as a ranking senator, having served from 2011 to 2019 before contesting and winning the governorship seat.

Since 2007, the Senate has become the next political destination of governors who have served out their constitutionally required eight-year tenure.

However, a credible presidential source confided in LEADERSHIP that the move was “a way of having a subtle inroad to prepare the ground for their chairman. Most outgoing governors who are serving their second and final terms have secured an understanding with the national leadership of the party and even Mr President to go to the Senate.”

However, as of the time of going to press, it could not be independently confirmed whether President Bola Tinubu had okayed the APC governors’ move to largely decide the National Assembly candidates that will emerge from their states.

The source continued, “For the Imo governor, he is not the one bent on getting there, but his colleagues are the ones encouraging him to do so and they are not relenting; they are pressing hard and using proxies to mount pressure on Mr President and even the national leadership of the party to allow them (governors) to have an unfettered privilege to handpick their preferred choices for both Senate and House of Representatives leadership.

“For now, no one is sure of the exact direction, but it appears they have some issues along the line because they have been told that National Assembly members will work directly with Mr President and that they should focus on their State Assemblies.

“It’s not as if Mr President does not have a good working relationship with them, but you know that in politics, there is no finality on any issue because we had a terrible experience during the Tax Reforms Bills where governors, especially many from a section of the country, dictated to their National Assembly members where to stand. So taking such a risk of handing over the National Assembly tickets to the governors to decide is out of it,” the source said.

I received the Senate President’s prophecy – Uzodimma

Reacting through his media adviser, Nwachuku, the governor said he was not aware that APC governors were rooting for him to be Senate President after his tenure as governor ended.

He said, “You have just informed me; however, I receive this prophecy with an open mind. This is good tidings. If my colleagues are thinking about me in this respect, this goes to show the level of cordial relationship among us, and I commend their sense of reasoning.”

The governor added, “The feelings are relative; everyone feels elated when mentioned in a good light.”

Reacting to claims by governors that they are hijacking the party, Uzodimma said the APC is about to kick-start the process of party congresses and primaries, stressing that the focus is on conducting credible and transparent exercises.

The governor said he is not aware that the process has been hijacked by governors, adding that the APC is a disciplined party with rules and regulations.

“We are working assiduously for credible and transparent primaries and congresses. When we get to the bridge, we will cross it,” he said.

Leadership

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A former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has asked the Office of the National Security Adviser to clarify what he described as information available to opposition figures regarding the alleged procurement of a toxic chemical substance.

In a letter dated January 30, 2026, and addressed to the National Security Adviser in Abuja, El-Rufai said he was seeking “clarification and reassurance” over reports that the office planned to obtain thallium sulphate from abroad.

He posted a copy of the letter on his official X handle on Sunday.

The Presidency, however, tackled the former governor, adding that he knew there was no government procurement or importation of Thallium Sulphate into Nigeria from Poland through the office of the National Security Adviser.

In a statement posted on X by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, the Presidency claimed that El-Rufai certainly got a reply to his letter from the NSA’s office, asking him to be honourable enough to release it, just as he mischievously released his letter.

“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is playing games and, in his typical fashion, also playing to the gallery. He knew there was no government procurement or importation of Thallium sulphate into Nigeria from Poland through the office of the National Security Adviser.

“El-Rufai certainly got a reply to his letter from the NSA’s office, and he should be honourable enough to release it just as he mischievously released his own letter.

“The truth is: Mallam El-Rufai has two clear intentions behind his recent actions and tantrums. One, to create political tension in the country, create an atmosphere of fear and unrest, and then damage the government through deliberate misinformation.

“Two, to divert attention from his domestic problems in Kaduna State, where he is facing massive corruption allegations. To draw attention to himself and project himself as a victim of persecution, he wants to nationalise his personal problems with his home state government, knowing that Nigerians will not be on his side over corruption charges,” Ajayi wrote.

He added that the problem was not President Bola Tinubu and Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser.

“The question should be asked: how did El-Rufai lose almost everyone in the state he governed for eight years? He lost the support of the state’s critical stakeholders. He lost the governor, who had once been his political soulmate, a man he had supported to become a Senator of the Federal Republic and, later, the governor after him, even if half-heartedly.

“El-Rufai lost the entire 28 members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, who unanimously endorsed a petition to both the ICPC and the EFCC to probe him over N432bn corruption allegations, for which both agencies have invited him.

“Instead of behaving like a drowning man holding on to a straw to stay afloat, Mallam El-Rufai should brace up to face his corruption allegations and make peace with himself and his own people,” the statement added.

The development comes as the former governor is set to honour the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by 10:00 a.m. on Monday.

His counsel, Ubong Esop Akpan, while reacting to the attempt to arrest the former governor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly after his arrival from Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday, said El-Rufai would be at the EFCC office on Monday.

The former governor also wrote on his X account on Friday that he got an invitation letter from the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, adding that he had asked his lawyer to confirm that he would come to their office on Wednesday, February 18.

El-Rufai returned to Nigeria from Egypt on Thursday and has since dominated headlines.

Aside from his invitation to the EFCC and ICPC and allegations against the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the former governor, on Sunday, in a letter, demanded clarification over a plan to obtain Thallium Sulphate from Poland.

El-Rufai noted that the substance is highly dangerous and tightly regulated, stressing the need for transparency.

“I am writing as a concerned citizen to seek clarification and reassurance regarding information available to the political opposition leadership about a procurement of approximately 10 kilograms of Thallium Sulphate by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), reportedly from a supplier in Poland.

“Given that thallium salts are highly toxic and tightly controlled substances, I believe it is important, for public safety, democratic accountability and for maintaining public trust, to confirm the following details,” the letter read.

He outlined six areas where he seeks explanations, including “the intended purpose and end-use of the imported thallium sulphate, the identity of the supplier and whether the importation followed due authorisation, the quantity and concentration involved, storage arrangements, and the regulatory oversight and coordination in place with NAFDAC, NCDC, and relevant public-health and environmental agencies.”

El-Rufai also asked, “whether any public-health risk assessments or hazard-mitigation plans have been developed, given the compound’s extreme toxicity.”

While emphasising that the request was made in good faith, he argued that openness would strengthen public trust in institutions.

“I want to stress that this inquiry is made in good faith, solely to ensure that due processes, safety standards, and transparency are observed.

“Public confidence in the integrity of national institutions is strengthened when potential risks are openly addressed and managed.

“If possible, I would appreciate a response or a point of contact within your office for further engagement to reassure those of us who are Nigerian citizens in opposition,” he added.

For completeness, El-Rufai said copies of the correspondence were sent to other relevant authorities.

“For completeness, I am copying this correspondence to NAFDAC and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), both of which play essential roles in chemical safety and public-health preparedness,” he said.

The development comes amid a recent attempt by security operatives to arrest him at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his return from Cairo, Egypt.

El-Rufai claimed in an interview on Arise TV on Friday that he learned of an alleged plan to arrest him upon his return on Thursday through a leaked conversation from the NSA’s phone.

“Ribadu made the call because we listened to their calls. The government thinks that they’re the only ones who listen to calls. But we also have our ways. He made the call. He gave the order that they should arrest me,” he said.

The inquiry also comes amid heightened debate about election cycles, national security management, and the role of oversight institutions, with opposition actors frequently demanding greater transparency from federal authorities on sensitive procurements.

As of the time of filing this report, the NSA’s office had not publicly responded to the letter.

Reacting to El-Rufai’s claim, Paul Ibe, one of the media advisers to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on his X account, described Thallium Sulphate as a highly toxic, odourless inorganic salt that had historically been used as a potent rodenticide and insecticide.

He stated that it was banned in many regions, including the United States, where there were allegations that it was used by the CIA.

Ibe writes, “Thallium Sulphate, which has been dubbed the ‘perfect poison’, has symptoms manifesting in hair loss (alopecia), severe stomach pain, and neurological damage (numbness, pain in extremities).

“It was formerly used as a pesticide, and in some medical treatments (e.g., ringworm), its use is now severely restricted or banned for consumer products.

“Because of the risks that Thallium Sulphate poses, it is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a US federal agency under the Department of Labour and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“I am constrained to jump the gun and ask what is the need for Thallium Sulphate to our national security?”

Meanwhile, a coalition of concerned Nigerians on Sunday faulted El-Rufai, describing the assertion as reckless and capable of triggering public panic.

The group, which addressed journalists in Kaduna, said the allegation involving the ONSA lacked credible evidence and risked eroding public trust in security institutions.

It insisted that Ribadu remained focused on safeguarding lives and stabilising the country amid persistent security challenges.

Spokesperson for the coalition, Victor Bobai, described El-Rufai’s claim as “misleading, inflammatory and dangerous to national cohesion.”

He said, “At a time when our security agencies are battling terrorism, banditry and organised crime, it is irresponsible for any public figure to circulate unverified claims capable of creating fear among citizens.”

Bobai maintained that allegations of such magnitude must be backed by verifiable intelligence and subjected to appropriate institutional scrutiny before being made public.

Also speaking, Hamisu Malumfashi said Ribadu had continued to coordinate inter-agency responses to security threats with professionalism and discipline.

“Those making sensational claims should understand the weight of their words. National security is not a platform for political theatre,” he said.

Another member of the coalition, Adeosun Olayinka, urged Nigerians to critically assess the records of political leaders before accepting their claims at face value.

He said, “Accountability must be holistic. No one should weaponise fear to gain political relevance or to undermine institutions working to keep the country safe.”

The coalition announced plans to mobilise civic volunteers to counter what it described as misinformation through fact-checking and public enlightenment campaigns.

While calling on El-Rufai to provide concrete evidence to support his allegation, the group urged security agencies to remain focused and avoid being drawn into political distractions.

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Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, on Sunday, paid a sympathy visit to the Singer Market in Fagge LGA of Kano State, where an inferno destroyed goods and properties worth over N5bn.

Senator Barau, who was received at the market by the Chairman, Alhaji Junaidu Zakari, alongside thousands of affected traders, donated N100m to the victims to cushion the effects of the inferno.

Addressing the traders, the Deputy President of the Senate expressed deep sorrow over the incident, saying it affects not only the traders but the entire people of Kano and the nation at large.

“This fire outbreak and the enormous losses recorded have affected all of us. In fact, it affects the entire Kano people and the country at large. Commerce is the mainstay of us in Kano, so we are deeply touched by this incident,” he said.

The Deputy President of the Senate, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, pledged to facilitate the provision of a modern fire control facility in the market.

Earlier in his remarks, the chairman of the market, Alhaji Junaidu Zakari, disclosed that the market had suffered two major fire outbreaks in recent times, resulting in the loss of goods and other property worth over N5bn.

He expressed profound appreciation to Senator Barau for the sympathy visit and continued support.

“We are proud to have you in Kano. We appreciate all the support you have been giving us. You have done a lot for us. Thank you very much,” he said.

Senator Barau was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, the Kano State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Malam Salisu Sagir Takai, members of the Kano State House of Assembly, Special Advisers, and other aides.