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The son of Nigeria’s former Vice President, Abba Atiku Abubakar, has joined the All Progressives Congress with a vow to mobilize massive support for the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He was received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen Barau Jibrin and the National Vice Chairman of the APC, North East, Mustafa Salihu on Thursday evening, in Abuja.

Abba Abubakar Atiku has also renamed the political group he founded in 2022 for his father from Atiku Haske Organization to Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation.

Meanwhile, some political bigwigs in northern Nigeria of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) extraction have reportedly resolved to allow power to remain in Southern Nigeria till 2031.

Our paper gathered authoritatively that a former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam El-Rufai and other northern leaders within the ADC are said to hold this position of 2027 southern presidency, firmly.

According to insiders, fielding a northern presidential candidate would mark the beginning of the end for the ADC. Such a move, it was learnt, would alienate southern voters, cost the party its national appeal, and effectively reduce it to a regional, northern-based party.

The consensus, sources say, is clear: zoning to the South is not optional, it is strategic survival for the ADC.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was Vice President under former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, from 1999 to 2007.

He was the presidential standard bearer of the PDP in 2023 but defected and joined the ADC some months ago. He is said to be planning to contest for the party’s presidential ticket with which to vie for Presidency of the country, come 2027.

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A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, on Tuesday nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election which produced Dr Wole Oluyede as the party’s candidate for the 2026 governorship election.

The court also ordered the PDP to conduct a new governorship primary election in Ekiti State.

The court gave the order while delivering judgement in a suit filed by a governorship aspirant, Funsho Ayeni, against PDP and the Independent National Election Commission (INEC).

Ayeni had approached the court to challenge the validity of the governorship primary election, alleging that the party failed to present the original and authentic list of statutory and ad hoc delegates used for the exercise.

He also argued that the absence of the original delegates’ list constituted a fundamental breach of the PDP guidelines and the Electoral Act, thereby rendering the primary election invalid.

Delivering judgement, Justice Babs Kuewumi held that the conduct of the primary election did not comply with the provisions of the law and the party’s constitution.

Justice Kuewumi nullified the primary election and ordered PDP, in conjunction with INEC, to conduct a fresh primary election in strict compliance with the law and relevant guidelines.

The judge ordered that all eligible aspirants be allowed to participate in the fresh primary election to ensure transparency, fairness and internal democracy within the party.

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There was a tense atmosphere and disquiet in Kano state on Monday, following Governor Abba Yusuf’s defection from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection was rescheduled to Monday after the January 5 date.

Governor Yusuf won the 2023 election on the platform of the NNPP but decided to join the ruling APC to improve on his development efforts in the state, his aides say.

It was also learnt that Yusuf’s decision stems from the unresolved leadership crises and multiple court cases within the NNPP that could jeopardise his mandate.

Although, there was no official speech from the State Government or formal ceremony heralding the defection, it was clear that the Governor and his administration were no longer of the NNPP platform.

Unlike before the defection, some government officials were walking around the Government House premises with caps emblazoned with the infinity insignia of the famous President Bola Tinubu’s freedom cap.

The Tinubu cap had surfaced since Sunday at a Government House function attended by the Governor and cabinet members.

The NNPP flag at the main entrance to the seat of power was removed leaving the pole naked, while new national flags were flying.

The NNPP flag at the Deputy Governor’s Office was also seen removed when The Nation correspondent visited the two premises.

Senior government officials were not in their offices, except their junior counterparts spotted holding talks in groups.

The discussants did not wear the Kwankwasiyya caps and their discussions were not without the defection.

Heavy security apparatuses, including armoured tanks and personnel, were deployed at the State Government House.

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Service (DSS) and those of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were seen tightening security at the gate of the State House.

A grapevine source told The Nation that the Governor skipped the ceremony to prevent violence.

“We are no longer in NNPP. The most important things about the defection to APC have been done and the process is still ongoing,” a member of the cabinet told The Nation on Monday.

Credible sources told The Nation that Yusuf was billed to fly abroad with his loyal stakeholders to brief President Tinubu, having defected.

It was gathered the ceremony was skipped to avoid violence between the governor’s supporters and those of his benefactor Rabiu Kwankwaso who has kicked against the defection.

Kwankwaso, a former Governor of Kano, who doubles as factional leader of the NNPP, has vehemently disapproved the move, insisting that the governor should relinquish his position if he must defect.

The disagreement between Yusuf and Yusuf has divided the state.

It was however, gathered Governor Yusuf decamped with all the chairmen of local government councils and all NNPP House of Assembly members to the APC.