Politics
We can comfortably handle LG elections- INEC chair tells NASS

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said Thursday it can comfortably handle the conduct of local government elections if the responsibility falls on it.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the commission, made the disclosure when he appeared before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on preparations for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.
According to the chairman, INEC has the capacity to handle the local government elections, but that would only be possible pending when the law is amended to permit it to do so.
Prof. Yakubu noted that the Commission had been conducting area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, which has been devoid of the problems associated with the conduct of local government elections.
He outlined some advantages of INEC handling elections, including the conduct of regular elections as they are due, stability of tenure, and absence of a caretaker committee in the FCT.
The election umpire boss also claimed that there has never been a time when one political party has won all the seats at the elections, as is common in the states.
According to him, if INEC handles the election, it would be better for democracy.
Yakubu, however, said this can only happen if the constitution is amended to take the responsibility from state electoral commissions.
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Politics
Kano Assembly Passes Motor Vehicle Administration Bill 2025

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Politics
Re: Ongoing Defections from NNPP to APC and Comments by Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso

In a democracy, disagreement is normal—but distortion of facts and personal attacks under the guise of political commentary must not go unchallenged. I am compelled to respond to recent remarks made by Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso at his residence on Miller Road—not out of malice, but out of duty. My purpose is to correct misleading narratives, reaffirm our stance, and, most importantly, clarify whom we stand with.
Let this be clear: The decision by myself and other respected leaders—Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, Hon. Abdullahi Sani Rogo, Hon. Aliyu Sani Madakin Gini, Hon. Idrees Dankawu, Rt. Hon. Zubairu Hamza Masu, Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada, Hon. Badamasi Ayuba Dambatta, Hon. Nura Muhammad Dankadai, and Rt. Hon. Alassan Abubakar Kibiya—to leave the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and join the All Progressives Congress (APC) was neither hasty nor self-serving. It was a deliberate choice, rooted in the realities on the ground and our commitment to the people we represent.
We are not political ornaments who thrive on social media hype or cult followings. We are grassroots politicians who earned our mandates through years of community service, direct engagement, and trust. The support we received in Rano, Kibiya, Bunkure, and across Kano South during the 2023 elections was not a gift from any individual. It was a vote of confidence in our personal track records—not blind allegiance to a political logo or a one-man brand.
Senator Kwankwaso’s description of our defection as “a political sin” is not only laughable but deeply ironic. This is a man who moved from the PDP to the APC in 2015, returned to the PDP in 2018, and later joined the NNPP in 2022. If political movement is a sin, then Kwankwaso himself has much to confess. The difference is that we moved for progress—not mere political survival.
What is truly disappointing, however, is the tone of his remarks—laced with veiled threats, dismissive language, and a refusal to acknowledge the shifting political tide in Kano. That is not leadership; it is political entitlement. The era of one man dictating the future of many is over.
Let us also recall: This same Senator Kwankwaso, while criticizing others for aligning with the APC, was seen just last year seeking political favors in France—not for the people of Kano, but for his own political survival. Actions speak louder than words, and the people are watching.
Since joining the APC, we have delivered projects to our constituencies, spanning critical sectors such as education, agriculture, and infrastructure. These are tangible results—not empty slogans. We measure progress by what the people experience, not by the volume of rhetoric from a podium.
We urge our supporters to remain calm and focused. Politics must not be reduced to a battle of egos or blind loyalty to personalities. It must remain a vehicle for development, justice, and a better life for all.
We stand firmly with the people of Kano State. We stand for their future.
Signed
Rt. Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Air Force
Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya Federal Constituency, Kano State
13th May 2025
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Politics
APLWH, GAMMUN commend Kano govt on expanded hypertension control

The Association of People Living with Hypertension (APLWH) and the GAMMUN Centre for Care and Development have commended the Kano State Government for expanding its hypertension prevention and management initiative.
The commendation was made during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, in Kano.
The groups lauded the expansion of the National Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI) from 22 to all 44 local government areas of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, a member of APLWH’s Board of Trustees, Mr Hussaini Namadi, described the initiative as a critical intervention that has improved access to screening, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension at the grassroots.
“We commend the government’s commitment to improving cardiovascular health and reducing the burden of hypertension in our communities,” he said.
Namadi noted the impact of training and deploying hundreds of health workers under the NHCI, describing it as a major step in addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the state.
He appealed to the government to authorise the 208 newly designated Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to procure at least two digital blood pressure monitors each through emergency procurement using the State’s Service Fund.
Namadi also called for the provision of data management tools, internet subscriptions for DHIS-2 reporting, airtime for follow-up calls, and the appointment of NCD focal persons in all 44 LGAs to enhance supervision and reporting in 260 NHCI facilities.
Responding, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting advocacy efforts aimed at tackling hypertension and other NCDs.
He described hypertension and diabetes as “silent killers” that require increased awareness and early detection to prevent complications.
“The task you have taken upon yourselves is enormous and highly beneficial to society. We are ready to support your campaigns because early detection and consistent treatment are essential,” Yusuf said.
He added that the state government had upgraded health facilities across all LGAs and would ensure that every functional PHC conducts hypertension screening before the end of the current administration.
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