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Badaru’s defection plan to PDP intensified as loyalists destroy Tinubu billboards in Dutse
Amid defection rumours, a few supporters of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), allegedly loyal to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru were been observed vandalizing billboards bearing images of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governor Umar Namadi and Jigawa state APC Chairman, Aminu Gumel in Dutse, Jigawa state.
The incidents have sparked concerns, particularly in light of growing speculation that the Defence Minister, Badaru may be preparing to switch political allegiance by defecting to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 elections.
The billboards, located in key areas of the city, were seen slashed, defaced and in some cases, completely destroyed by youths allegedly acting on the signalled defection notice of their boss or a script to portray the Governor bad.
Speaking to our correspondent, one of the aggrieved youths who gave his name as Bala Sule Babura, voiced his disappointment in the government, citing that Governor Umar Namadi has being running the state the way he likes without recourse to Badaru.
“The Governor here has refused to follow the instructions of the former Governor. Those of us loyal to the party can hardly access government house because of the sharp divide between the Governor and his predecessor. The promises made to us haven’t materialized and it feels like we’re worse off now”, Babura expressed.
Political analysts have noted that Governor Namadi has taken full charge of the entire leadership structure in the state against the wishes of the former Governor and now Minister who fought tirelessly against the emergence of Namadi as Governor of Jigawa state, thereby rendering Minister Badaru almost politically impotent in the state as key stakeholders earlier loyal to Badaru have all switched their full loyalty to the governor, a practice Badaru is not finding funny at all.
It is worthy of note that the people of the state voted massively for Umar Namadi as their governor against the directives of Former Governor Abubakar Badaru who didn’t want his deputy to succeed him.
An indigene of Dutse, Baba Mohammad who granted an interview noted that paying a few group of boys money to destroy the President’s billboards will not change the love and trust the people of Jigawa state have on Umar Namadi.
“Badaru may have thought that to align with the PDP will help him regain political relevance in the state, but truth be told, it will further signal a total collapse of his already weak political structure in Jigawa state which is evident to even the blind particularly as the country moves closer to another general election. I was Badaru’s Coordinator for the Artisans here but I had to leave him like others did before the election when he ordered us to vote against Umar Namadi”, Mohammad stated.
The actions of his alleged supporters have further fueled these rumours of defection.
More suspicion is abound as Badaru is yet to release any official statement on his indictment of trying to force the current Governor to release a certain percentage of the state’s monthly allocation sums to him which the Governor refused vehemently.
Some party members have expressed concern over the discontent within their ranks noting that the Governor is the leader of the Party in the state and should be allowed to rebuild the party from the total mess Badaru left it.
Governor Namadi has countless times stated that the monthly allocations are mainly for the development of the state and not for political hijackers.
Meanwhile, opposition members have taken note of the events as a potential indication of rising dissatisfaction among APC loyalists, possibly providing the PDP with new alliances as they strategize for the upcoming elections.
The public too remains watchful. The remaining few around the Minister are already feeling the impact of their principal’s loss of the people’s trust as they are now left with questioning the political future of Badaru which seems to be in its diminishing phase.
This incident marks yet another chapter in Nigeria’s dynamic political landscape, illustrating the challenges of leadership and the complexities of political loyalty and home base political redundancy which Badaru is being faced with
Some opinion moulders have noted that Badaru is holding a position he doesn’t deserve following the low number of votes he was able to garnear for President Tinubu in the last Presidential election.
“In Jigawa state today, Badaru has no significant influence even as Minister of Defence as no one cares to take him serious, so his defection to PDP will be of no negative consequence to APC Jigawa state”, Mohammad concluded
Members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Dutse, Jigawa State.
They are demanding that INEC formally recognise the party’s national leadership led by David Mark.
The protest comes amid growing political tension in the state, as internal party disputes and defections intensify ahead of party primaries and the next general elections.
According to reports, the protesters marched to the INEC office in the state capital without incident and submitted a petition to the commission.
Speaking after the protest, the Jigawa ADC Youth Leader, Manniru Aminu, accused INEC of overstepping its authority and said the commission cannot determine legal disputes involving court rulings.
“INEC does not have the constitutional power to interpret court rulings. That responsibility lies with the judiciary,” he said.
The group also claimed that INEC is not acting neutrally in handling internal party issues, which they described as a threat to democratic fairness.
They insisted that the leadership of the ADC under David Mark remains the only legitimate and constitutionally recognised structure of the party.
The protesters demanded that INEC immediately restore the Mark-led leadership on its official records and website.
They also called for a public apology from the commission and urged that those responsible for the alleged bias be held accountable.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Fatima Zuntu as the director-general and chief executive officer of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).
In a statement on Monday, Chris Ugwuegbulam, head of information and public relations at the office of the secretary to the government of the federation, said the appointment takes effect from April 16.
Ugwuegbulam said Zuntu will serve an initial term of four years, in line with section 5 of the National Biosafety Management Agency Act, 2015.
He said Zuntu is a public health professional and policy strategist with experience in implementing national programmes.
Ugwuegbulam said the president has tasked the new NBMA boss to deploy her expertise towards advancing the agency’s mandate.
Zuntu’s appointment comes amid ongoing scrutiny over leadership qualifications at the biosafety agency.
In December 2025, a non-governmental organisation filed a freedom of information (FOI) request seeking to verify the academic and professional credentials of Bello Bwari, the former NBMA director-general.
The group raised concerns that Bwari, a lawyer by training, may not have met the statutory requirements for the role, noting that section 5 of the NBMA Act stipulates that the agency’s head must possess at least a master’s degree in biological sciences or a related field.
The NGO’s request, submitted to the federal ministry of environment, asked the government to disclose documents relating to Bwari’s qualifications and the process leading to his appointment.
The organisation criticised the lack of transparency, warning that such issues could undermine public confidence in biosafety regulation and scientific governance in Nigeria.
The group said the outcome of the FOI request could set a precedent for accountability in regulatory agencies, particularly those overseeing public health, environmental protection, and biotechnology.
The Labour Party has released the list of chairmen and members of its electoral subcommittees ahead of its forthcoming nationwide congresses scheduled across the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Senior Special Adviser on Media to the Interim National Chairman, Ken Asogwa, the party announced the constitution of the committees to oversee the conduct of ward, local government, and state congresses.
According to the party, the ward congresses are scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026, while local government congresses will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026. The state congresses are fixed for Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The subcommittees, which the party said are composed of “experienced and respected party members”, have been mandated to ensure smooth conduct of the exercises in their respective states.
The appointed chairmen are, “Hon. Iheanacho Obioma (Abia); Francis Kim (Adamawa); Ekong Philip Solomon (Akwa Ibom); Chief Tony Asuoha (Anambra); Malam Mustapha Adamu (Bauchi); Beredugo Ebimonyo (Bayelsa); Chief John A. A. Ochoga (Benue); Comrade Buratai (Borno); Urom P. Iyang (Cross River); Hon. Chuks Onitsha (Delta); Chief Mitchell Nwabueze (Ebonyi); Comrade Dr. Saliu Edogiawerie (Edo); Comrade Usman Mohammed (Niger); Owolabi Ezekiel (Ogun); Charles Afolabi (Ondo); Balogun Ibrahim (Osun); Babatunde Yusuf (Oyo); Fakorede Matthew (Ekiti); Dr. David Ogba (Enugu); Comrade Adoga S. Knaabayi (Gombe); Hon. Chinagorom Nwankpa (Imo); Comrade Mustapha Garba (Jigawa); Dr. Emmanuel Barau (Kaduna); Comrade Kabiru Said (Kano); Pastor Ishaku Izang (Plateau); Hon. Amaobi Ogah (Rivers); Professor Muhamuda Muhammad (Sokoto); Barrister Jesse Williams (Taraba); Mukhtar Hassan (Yobe); Haila Ayuba Baja (Zamfara); Comrade Ismail Bello (Katsina); Comrade Muh’d H. Birnin (Kebbi); Hon. Samuel Ajare (Kogi); Bodunde David Adebayo (Kwara); Chukwuemeka Ogbanna (Lagos); Comrade Dr. Muttaqa Yushau (Nasarawa); and Comrade Rose Uba-Anarah (Federal Capital Territory).”
In her message to the subcommittee members, the National Chairman of the party, Senator Nenadi Usman, urged them to discharge their duties with fairness, transparency, and integrity, stressing the importance of the party’s core values.
She said they must remain guided by the principles of “equal opportunity and social justice”, adding that the credibility of the party must be upheld throughout the congress process.
The party also reaffirmed that its National Convention will hold on Tuesday, 28th April 2026, in Umuahia, Abia State, expressing confidence that all arrangements are in place to ensure a smooth and hitch-free exercise.
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