Politics
APC Aspirant Yusuf Bala Ikara Launches Kaduna North Senatorial Campaign, Demands “Justice” in Candidate Selection
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
An aspirant for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Kaduna North Senatorial District, popularly known as Zone One, Yusuf Bala Ikara, has officially launched his campaign in Zaria, calling for fairness and transparency in the party’s candidate selection process.
Addressing a large crowd of supporters at the zone’s headquarters on Wednesday, Ikara said rural communities were demanding “justice” in how candidates are chosen, whether through consensus arrangements or party primaries.
He said his previous experience as a federal lawmaker gives him the capacity to represent the district effectively.
“I know the job because I was a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Ikara and Kubau local government areas for eight years, so I know the job without any doubt,” he said. “I am truly assuring everyone that I am qualified to be a senator to represent the people of Zone One.”
Ikara pledged not to betray the trust of his constituents if elected, urging supporters to remain committed to the party process.
He also encouraged APC members to mobilise at the grassroots level and ensure they obtain their party membership cards, which he said would be required for participation in the nomination process.
According to him, voting in the party’s selection process would take place at ward headquarters across the eight local government areas in the senatorial district, with officials verifying membership before participation.
“We are not criticizing the Kaduna State Government and we respect the Kaduna State Governor as the father of all in Kaduna State and the APC,” he said. “But what everyone is asking for is justice for the rural people in fielding candidates.”
Ikara described Kaduna North Senatorial District as the state’s strongest voting bloc, noting that local government areas such as Zaria, Sabon Gari, Kubau, Ikara, Soba, Lere, Kudan, and Makarfi have consistently delivered high voter turnout in elections.
Speakers at the event, including senior APC figures, business leaders, and retired civil servants from the zone, also urged the administration of Governor Uba Sani to ensure fairness and inclusivity in the party’s candidate selection process.
Kaduna North Senatorial District, widely known as Zone One, remains one of the most politically influential electoral blocs in Kaduna State due to its large voting population across the eight local government areas.
By Abigail David
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has scheduled Saturday, August 22, 2026, for its primary elections to select candidates for four restored State House of Assembly constituencies and legislative bye-elections across five states.
The party announced the timetable in a statement signed by its National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, and released on Wednesday.
The primaries will cover three restored constituencies in Delta State — Abraka, Isoko North II and Ughelli South II — and Yagba West II in Kogi State.
The exercise will also produce APC candidates for legislative bye-elections in Gombe, Bauchi, Delta and Kano states.
According to the timetable, the sale of expression-of-interest and nomination forms will run from August 18 to 20, while the submission deadline is August 20.
Screening of aspirants, publication of results and screening appeals will take place on August 21, ahead of the primaries on August 22. Election appeals are scheduled for August 24.
The APC fixed the expression-of-interest fee for State House of Assembly aspirants at N1 million and the nomination fee at N5 million, while House of Representatives aspirants will pay N1 million and N9 million respectively.
Female, youth and physically challenged aspirants are required to pay the expression-of-interest fee and 50 per cent of the prescribed nomination fee.
The timetable follows the Independent National Electoral Commission’s restoration of the four previously suppressed constituencies after court judgments.
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By Abigail David
Natasha Osawaru, wife of Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has been appointed Minority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly.
Osawaru, who represents Egor Constituency, was announced as the new minority leader during Monday’s plenary following a reshuffling of the Assembly’s principal leadership positions.
Her emergence followed her defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the National Democratic Congress in May 2026.
A statement from her Media and Strategic Communications Directorate said the reshuffle reflected new alignments among lawmakers and party caucuses in the Assembly.
Osawaru previously served as Deputy Majority Leader. She has focused on grassroots development, legislative debates, and youth and women empowerment during her time in the Assembly.
Reacting to her new position, Osawaru thanked the Assembly leadership, her colleagues and constituents.
She described the appointment as a responsibility rather than a title, pledging to promote accountability, effective representation and the development of Edo State.
Her emergence places her in a key opposition leadership role in the Edo State House of Assembly.
By Abigail David
A security expert in Katsina State, Ibrahim Katsina, has urged politicians and their supporters to embrace peaceful campaigns and focus on issues ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Katsina, a former Special Adviser on Security Matters to ex-Governor Aminu Masari, made the call in an interview with Channels Television in Katsina on Monday.
He urged political parties and candidates to promote their manifestos rather than resort to violence, intimidation, hate speech or other actions capable of creating tension.
“As the 2027 electioneering campaign draws closer, my advice to politicians is that they play according to the rules of the game in order not to overheat the polity,” he said.
Katsina also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to sanction political actors who incite violence or engage in thuggery.
On security, he commended the improvement recorded in Katsina State, attributing it to collaboration between the government and security agencies.
He expressed optimism that ongoing operations would further reduce insecurity before the 2027 elections, while stressing that citizens also have a role to play in maintaining peace.
“Security is everybody’s business. When we unite against terror, we will succeed,” he said.
Katsina also cautioned Nigerians against glorifying criminal activities on social media, saying such narratives could encourage criminals and undermine public confidence in security efforts.
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