By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the party’s deviation from its founding principles and lack of internal democracy.

In a statement released on Monday, March 10, 2025, El-Rufai explained that after extensive consultations, he had decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as a platform to continue pursuing his progressive political ideals.

Disillusionment with APC

El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, said he had hoped that the party’s core values would remain intact, but recent events had convinced him otherwise.

“Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party,” he stated.

He further noted that his contributions to the party’s successes, including the electoral victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023, had been disregarded by the current leadership.

“The APC has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt in the last two years. I find this no longer acceptable.”

Announcing his decision to join the SDP, El-Rufai described the party as a better platform for promoting democratic values, good governance, and national unity.

“I have now decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and adopt it as the platform for our future political engagements and activities.”

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Senate President, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, has queried the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to hear the suit that was brought before it by the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Senator Akpabio, through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, queried the powers of the court to meddle in the affairs of the Senate.

At the resumed proceeding in the matter on Monday, Ogunwumiju, SAN, noted that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had yet to effect proper service of the court processes to enable him to file the necessary application to challenge its competence.

Aside from Senator Akpabio who was cited as the 3rd defendant in the matter, equally joined in the suit are; the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate; and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

Meanwhile, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Michael Numa, SAN, maintained that all the parties were duly served, even he drew attention of the court to affidavits of service that are already in its record.

After going through the affidavits of service before court, Justice Obiora Egwatu confirmed that all the defendants were served.

At that juncture, Senator Akpabio’s prayed the court to grant a short adjournment for all the processes to be harmonised.

Following agreement of all the lawyers, Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter to March 25, even as he ordered the parties to file and exchange all the necessary processes before the date.

It will be recalled that the court had on March 4, issued an interim order that stopped the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions from going ahead with the disciplinary proceeding that was initiated against the Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

However, despite the orders of the court, the Committee held its sitting and slammed the plaintiff with a six months suspension.

The plaintiff is among other things, praying the court to declare any action the Committee took within the pendency of her suit, as, “null, void, and of no effect.”

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Recently, during an interview on Arise News, Adeseye Ogunlewe, former Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, weighed in on the contentious issue of sexual harassment within the Nigerian Senate.

The discussion was prompted by a pointed question from the host, who sought Ogunlewe’s perspective on whether male lawmakers in the Senate or National Assembly exhibit inappropriate behavior toward their female colleagues.

The host framed the question candidly, asking, “Can it be implied that men in the Senate are often looking at female Senators inappropriately, failing to keep their eyes where they should be, especially given the limited number of women in the chamber?”

Addressing the question, Ogunlewe emphasized that, based on his experience, female senators did not perceive themselves as inferior to their male counterparts.

“In my own experience,” Ogunlewe stated, “the female senators did not look at themselves as if they were inferior to men. If you even mention that it is a woman, the response you are going to get will make you ashamed of yourself, because they will stand up to you.”

The former minister for works and housing said that “the beauty of distinguished Senator Natasa is a problem to her.” The host, visibly surprised, pressed further, asking, “How can beauty be a problem?”

Ogunlewe began by addressing the natural reactions men might have toward women they find attractive. “You know men,” he said, “when somebody who is pretty passes by you, your attitude will change. You can smile, you can wink, but you may not talk to her. Yet, her beauty is a problem.”

The host, visibly intrigued, pressed further, asking, “How is it a problem?” Ogunlewe elaborated, stating, “When she’s passing, there is no way a man will not look at that woman. It is a natural thing for a man to look at beautiful women. How can you be a man and a beautiful woman pass by, and you close your eyes?”