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Ex-Senator Abubakar Gada Abandons ADC, Returns to PDP After Six Months

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Former Senator Abubakar Gada has announced his return to the Peoples Democratic Party just six months after joining the African Democratic Congress, citing leadership failures and lack of commitment from former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

Gada made the declaration on Saturday during a meeting with supporters in Sokoto State, explaining that his decision was driven by the need to reclaim and rebuild the PDP after what he described as years of stagnation under Tambuwal’s leadership.

The former lawmaker, who represented Sokoto East Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011 under the PDP before joining ADC in 2025, accused Tambuwal of failing to fulfill his responsibilities as joint leader of the party in Sokoto.

“My humble self and Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal were considered the leaders to drive the party in the state,” Gada stated. “But leadership comes with responsibility. Leadership is not just a title; it requires commitment, presence, and dedication to the people.”

Gada revealed that despite their agreement to jointly lead the ADC in Sokoto, Tambuwal never made meaningful efforts to sit down with stakeholders or engage in grassroots party building across the state.

“Tambuwal never came to sit with us to build the party. This lack of commitment has left the ADC in limbo in Sokoto and forced us to take destiny into our hands by returning to PDP,” he explained.

The former senator’s decision marks a dramatic reversal from August 2025, when he received scores of APC members who defected to the ADC, declaring at the time that the coalition was committed to rescuing Sokoto State and Nigeria from what he called poor leadership.

During that period, Gada had spoken passionately about the ADC’s mission to restore peace, security and development, particularly in response to worsening insecurity in Sokoto East that had crippled farming activities and deepened poverty.

Supporters who gathered for Gada’s return to PDP, including Alhaji Hamza Yabo, described the move as a significant step toward rebuilding the party after its defeat in the 2023 elections.

Alhaji Hamza Gatawa stated that work had begun to reclaim the PDP, while Hajiya Mariam Kabi called on women and youth to rally behind Gada to achieve his political objectives ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, the Sokoto PDP has distanced itself from reports of Gada’s return. State Publicity Secretary Hassan Sayinnawal denied knowledge of any formal defection, stating that no steps had been taken at the ward, local government or state levels to confirm Gada’s membership.

“The party has no information about Senator Gada’s return. There has been no official process at any level indicating that he has rejoined PDP,” Sayinnawal clarified.

Gada is expected to formally announce his return to the PDP at the state level in the coming weeks as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development adds another layer to the complex political dynamics in Sokoto State, where multiple defections across party lines have created uncertainty about electoral alliances and power structures heading into the next political cycle.

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NACC Introduces Nigerian Entrepreneurs to US EB-5 Investment Programme

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The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) has introduced Nigerian entrepreneurs, business executives and investors to an investment programme that offers eligible foreign nationals a pathway to permanent residency in the United States.

The chamber organised an executive roundtable in Lagos on October 22, 2026, to explain the requirements and opportunities under the US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Programme. The engagement was themed “Exploring the U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Programme: A Strategic Pathway to U.S. Permanent Residency and Global Mobility.”

According to the chamber, the session was designed to help participants understand how qualifying investments can provide a route to US permanent residency, alongside opportunities for international business expansion.

The EB-5 programme allows eligible foreign investors to apply for permanent residency by making qualifying investments that meet requirements established by US immigration authorities. These include conditions relating to job creation and other applicable investment criteria.

The event was hosted by NACC National President, Alhaji Sheriff Balogun, while Moussa Ndiaye, Vice President of Business Development and Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa at U.S. Immigration Fund, spoke on the programme and how prospective applicants could navigate its requirements.

Grace Adeyemo, chairperson of the chamber’s Trade and Investment Committee, also participated in the discussion. The roundtable was sponsored by U.S. Immigration Fund and brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs and prospective investors interested in learning about investment-linked immigration options.

The NACC said the initiative formed part of its broader efforts to promote investment education, encourage international business engagement and strengthen economic relations between Nigeria and the United States.

The chamber added that it would continue to provide platforms for business networking, investment facilitation and bilateral trade cooperation.

However, participation in the programme does not guarantee permanent residency. Prospective applicants must meet the relevant investment, job-creation and immigration requirements set by US authorities.

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Kano NDC Threatens to Sue INEC Over Gwarzo’s 2027 Candidacy

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The Kano State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has threatened to take legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the exclusion of its governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from the list of candidates for the 2027 election.

The party’s state chairman, Husseini Mairiga, said the NDC would approach the court if the electoral commission failed to address its complaint concerning Gwarzo’s omission from the final list.

Speaking in a telephone interview with LEADERSHIP, Mairiga disclosed that the party had yet to receive an official response from INEC following the expiration of the October 24 deadline for submitting complaints over excluded candidates.

He said he had contacted party leaders at the national level but had received no update on the matter. Mairiga added that he planned to visit Abuja on Monday to seek clarification from the commission and determine the next course of action.

The chairman maintained that the party would not abandon its efforts to secure Gwarzo’s inclusion on the list.

“If INEC does not give us any update, we are going to court. We cannot just leave it like that,” he said.

The NDC had earlier submitted a complaint through its national leadership after INEC directed political parties affected by the omission of their candidates to report their grievances before the October 24 deadline.

Mairiga insisted that Gwarzo was a duly registered member of the party and maintained that a review of the relevant membership records would establish his eligibility to contest the governorship election.

The dispute follows INEC’s publication of its final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship elections, which also excluded some candidates from other political parties.

Among those affected are the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidates in Gombe and Ogun states, Isa Ali Pantami and Oladipupo Adebutu, respectively. The omissions have prompted complaints from the affected parties and threats of legal action.

INEC has previously cited compliance with statutory requirements governing political party membership registers and candidate nominations as a factor in the exclusion of some candidates. The commission’s position is central to the dispute, as affected parties seek clarification on the reasons their candidates were left off the list.

The NDC’s planned legal action will depend on the outcome of its engagement with INEC and the available legal procedures for challenging the exclusion.

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Atiku Slams Tinubu Over Security for Campaign Billboards in Kaduna

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Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over reports that security personnel have been deployed to protect his campaign billboards in Kaduna State, urging the Federal Government to prioritise the safety of citizens amid persistent insecurity.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remarks on Friday in a social media post reacting to reports that security operatives were guarding Tinubu’s campaign posters and billboards ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign flag-off scheduled for Saturday, October 24, in Kaduna.

The former vice-president questioned why campaign materials required security protection while communities across the country continued to face threats from bandits, terrorists and kidnappers.

“Bola, you claim Nigerians love you, yet your billboards in Kaduna require security guards,” Atiku wrote, arguing that the protection given to the posters contrasted with the insecurity experienced by many Nigerians.

He added that the situation reflected what he described as misplaced priorities in the Tinubu administration, calling on the President to demonstrate the same urgency in protecting citizens as was being applied to safeguarding his campaign materials.

Reports indicated that personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Authority (KASTLEA), alongside other security operatives, were assigned to protect the billboards at strategic locations in Kaduna metropolis.

A security operative was quoted as saying that the assignment was intended to prevent vandalism, particularly at night, before the planned campaign rally.

The development comes ahead of the APC’s campaign launch in Kaduna, where Tinubu is expected to join party leaders and supporters as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.

Atiku’s comments have brought renewed attention to the issue of public security and the deployment of security personnel during political activities. The Presidency’s response to his latest criticism was not included in the reports reviewed.

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