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  • NCS Raises Alarm as ISWAP, Boko Haram Plot Attacks on Abuja Airport, Prison

     

    Nigeria’s security forces have been placed on high alert following intelligence that sleeper cells linked to ISWAP and Boko Haram are planning coordinated attacks on key infrastructure in Abuja and parts of Niger State.

    What intelligence reveals

    According to a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the planned targets include the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and a prison facility in Abuja, as well as a military detention centre in neighbouring Niger State.

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) warned that the threat is credible, prompting heightened vigilance across security agencies.

    Planned targets and strategy

    Authorities say the suspected terrorists aim to attack strategic locations and free detained fighters.

    “Their intention is to release detained terrorists and inflict significant damage on critical aviation infrastructure,” the memo stated.

    Security analysts also noted a worrying pattern in the planned attacks.

    “An analysis of the report reveals a concerning correlation between the potential targeting of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja and recent large-scale attacks on aviation facilities in Niger Republic,” the report added.

    Link to Niger attacks

    The alert follows a similar incident in January in Niamey, Niger Republic, where terrorists attacked an air force base, injuring four soldiers and damaging an aircraft.

    Experts believe the latest plot may be an attempt to replicate those attacks within Nigeria.

    “This suggests a possible intent by terrorists to replicate the attack patterns within Nigeria,” the report noted.

    Security concerns deepen

    Nigeria has continued to battle multiple security threats in recent years, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry, and mass kidnappings.

    Data from the Global Terrorism Index released on March 19, 2026, shows the country ranked fourth globally, with a 46 per cent rise in terrorism-related deaths in 2025.

    US advisory and FG response

    The development comes days after the United States issued a travel advisory authorising non-essential embassy staff and their families to leave Abuja over security concerns.

    However, the Federal Government dismissed the move as routine.

    Officials described the advisory as a “precautionary measure based on internal protocols,” insisting there is no cause for panic.

  • US F-15E Shot Down over Iran; One Crew Member Rescued, Search for Second Ongoing

    A United States Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet has been shot down over Iran, with American officials confirming the downing on Friday — a significant military development that directly contradicts repeated White House claims that Iran’s air defences had been completely destroyed.

    Three US sources confirmed the incident to CNN, with the White House confirming that President Donald Trump had been briefed. One of the two crew members aboard the aircraft has been rescued by American forces and is receiving medical treatment, according to CBS News, citing two US officials. A search and rescue operation is ongoing for the second crew member.

    What Iran Claims

    Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft, releasing photos and video of what it described as the wreckage of the jet, including images of debris and an ejection seat with a parachute attached. Iranian state media initially misidentified the aircraft as an F-35 stealth fighter, but CNN analysis of the published images suggested the downed aircraft was more likely an F-15E Strike Eagle.

    Iranian state broadcaster aired footage of a female anchor calling on civilians to help locate and capture the crew, with a state broadcaster offering a bounty for anyone who hands the pilots over to authorities alive. An on-screen crawl on one channel urged the public to “shoot them if you see them,” referring to videos of what appeared to be US aircraft in the area.

    Search and rescue effort

    US search-and-rescue aircraft, including a C-130 Hercules cargo plane and two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, were spotted flying low over Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran in a formation consistent with a combat search-and-rescue operation. A second US aircraft, an A-10 Warthog attack plane, also crashed near the Strait of Hormuz around the same time, though its lone pilot was safely rescued.

    Israel suspended its planned airstrikes in Iran to avoid interfering with the US search and rescue effort for the downed crew, an Israeli official confirmed.

    The aircraft and crew

    The F-15E Strike Eagle is a two-seater aircraft, crewed by a pilot and a weapons-systems officer. If confirmed as the first manned American aircraft shot down by enemy fire during the current conflict, it would be a major escalation. Photographs consistent with the 48th Fighter Wing — the Liberty Wing, normally based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom, were circulating on social media, though their authenticity has not been independently verified.

    A direct contradiction of US claims

    The incident directly challenges repeated assertions from US military commanders and the White House. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said on Thursday, just one day before the shootdown, that Iran’s air and missile defence systems had “largely been destroyed” and that he did not see Iranian aircraft flying. President Trump had also declared in a prime-time address earlier this week that Iran had “no anti-aircraft equipment” and that its radar was “100% annihilated.”

    Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, mocked the US directly in a social media post. “After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from ‘regime change’ to ‘Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?” he wrote.

    Analysis: How Iran may have done it

    Retired US Army Colonel Myles Caggins, a non-resident senior fellow at the New Lines Institute, described the shootdown as a “significant event.” He noted that while Iran’s primary air defence systems were largely destroyed or taken offline in the early days of the conflict, man-portable air defence systems, which can be carried and fired by a single person, remained a viable threat. “Possibly that is the type of system that shot down this F-15,” Caggins said.

    The wider context

    The downing of the F-15E occurred on the same day as a series of fresh Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf states, with strikes reported in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, leaving at least 12 people wounded in the UAE. In Iran, US and Israeli strikes destroyed a major bridge near Tehran, killing at least eight people who had gathered below to celebrate National Day.

    There have now been 13 Americans killed during the campaign, with three F-15Es previously shot down by friendly fire. The conflict, which began on February 28, 2026, with coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iranian military and government sites, has escalated significantly in the five weeks since.

    The fate of the second crew member remains unknown as of the time of this report. The US military has not issued a formal statement. RNN.NG will update this story as developments emerge.

  • Burkina Faso’s Traoré Declares Democracy “Kills” and Amounts to “Slavery”

    Burkina Faso’s military ruler, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has made his most explicit rejection of democratic governance to date, declaring in a televised state media interview on Thursday that democracy “kills” and amounts to “slavery”, remarks that have drawn fresh international attention to the Sahel region’s deepening drift away from civilian rule.

    In the interview, Traoré told citizens to “forget the issue of democracy,” arguing that his government was instead focused on what he described as a path of “conquest” and “refoundation”, a revolutionary approach, in his framing, that he believes is more suited to the challenges facing Burkina Faso.

    A broken pledge

    The remarks mark a significant departure from Traoré’s earlier public commitments. After seizing power in a military coup in September 2022, he had pledged to organise elections by 2024 and restore civilian governance. Those pledges have not been fulfilled, and his latest statements signal a further hardening against any democratic transition.

    The reality on the ground

    Traoré’s rejection of democracy comes as his government struggles to demonstrate the security gains it promised when justifying its seizure of power.

    Armed groups linked to extremist networks continue to operate across large parts of Burkina Faso. Estimates indicate that more than 60 per cent of the country is now beyond effective government control, a figure that directly undermines the junta’s central justification for holding power.

    The humanitarian situation has deteriorated in parallel. Over 2.1 million people have been internally displaced, while nearly 6.5 million require urgent humanitarian assistance. Conflict monitoring data indicate that at least 10,600 civilians have been killed since 2016, with violence continuing at a sustained pace under military rule.

    The wider Sahel pattern

    Burkina Faso’s trajectory mirrors a broader pattern of military consolidation across West Africa’s Sahel belt. The 2022 coup in Burkina Faso followed Mali’s military takeover in 2020 and was followed by Niger’s military seizure of power in 2023. All three countries have since withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States and formed a new bloc called the Alliance of Sahel States.

    Each of the three juntas initially gained public support by promising to restore security that civilian governments had failed to deliver, yet insecurity in all three nations has worsened or persisted under military rule, according to independent assessments.

    Why this matters for Nigeria

    Traoré’s remarks carry direct implications for West Africa and, by extension, for Nigeria. ECOWAS, in which Nigeria plays the leading role, has struggled to find an effective response to the military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States represents a direct challenge to the regional bloc’s authority and Nigeria’s diplomatic leadership in the region.

    Nigeria shares a porous northern border with Niger, and the security crisis in the Sahel has direct spillover effects, including cross-border movement of armed groups, displacement of civilians, and pressure on Nigeria’s own north-west and north-east security situation.

    Traoré’s public abandonment of any democratic commitment is also likely to fuel debate within Nigeria about the appeal of military solutions to security crises, a debate that has intensified following the recent attacks in Plateau State and Borno.

  • Tinubu Asks Senate to Approve ₦9.3trn Hike, Raising 2026 Budget to ₦67.7trn

    President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the National Assembly to approve an upward revision of ₦9.3 trillion to Nigeria’s 2026 budget, a move that, if approved, would raise total federal spending from ₦58.47 trillion to ₦67.7 trillion, making it the largest proposed federal budget in Nigerian history.

    The request was conveyed in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, as lawmakers returned from the two-week Eid-el-Fitr recess. Akpabio subsequently referred the proposal to the Senate Committee on Appropriations for detailed legislative consideration.

    Why Tinubu says the increase is needed

    The president cited three reasons for the proposed increase in his letter to the Senate.

    First, he said the adjustment is designed to regularise and account for outstanding legal commitments carried over from previous appropriation cycles, preventing them from burdening the execution of the 2026 budget going forward.

    Second, the increase is intended to fund outstanding legacy capital projects inherited from previous budgets — with a specific focus on ensuring their completion rather than allowing them to continue rolling over indefinitely from one fiscal year to the next.

    Third, the president said the additional spending would support key transport infrastructure projects aligned with the administration’s development agenda, while also preserving macro-fiscal stability and easing pressure on the domestic financial market.

    The 2026 budget’s original framework

    Tinubu presented the original 2026 budget of ₦58.18 trillion to the National Assembly on December 19, 2025, themed “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity.” The budget projected total revenue of ₦34.33 trillion, capital expenditure of ₦26.08 trillion, and recurrent non-debt expenditure of ₦15.25 trillion. It carried a deficit of ₦23.85 trillion, representing 4.28 per cent of GDP. Key projections included a crude oil benchmark price of $64.85 per barrel, oil production of 1.84 million barrels per day, and an exchange rate of ₦1,400 to the dollar.

    Notably, the 2026 budget had not yet been passed by the National Assembly as of Tuesday’s request, meaning Tinubu is seeking a significant amendment to a budget that is still awaiting legislative approval.

    Legacy capital rollover problem

    Tuesday’s request is directly connected to a broader fiscal reset Tinubu has been attempting since taking office. In December 2025, the House of Representatives approved Tinubu’s request to extend the 2025 budget implementation to March 31, 2026, after the administration disclosed that approximately ₦16.76 trillion initially earmarked for capital projects could not be funded within the original 2025 timeline and was rolled over to the 2026 fiscal year.

    Tinubu has repeatedly stated his determination to end Nigeria’s long-standing practice of overlapping budgets, vowing that from April 2026, Nigeria will operate on a single budget backed by a single revenue cycle, with no rollovers, no overlaps, and no excuses. Tuesday’s request to increase the 2026 budget by ₦9.3 trillion is framed as the mechanism to clear the inherited backlog before that clean slate begins.

    What it means for Nigerians

    The proposed ₦67.7 trillion budget,  if approved, would mean Nigeria’s federal government would spend more than double what it did just three years ago, when the 2023 budget stood at approximately ₦21.8 trillion. The increase reflects the sharp devaluation of the naira since the subsidy removal in 2023, which has inflated the naira cost of virtually all government programmes denominated in dollars, including debt service, infrastructure contracts, and security spending.

    The development is expected to generate debate among lawmakers and economic stakeholders, particularly regarding funding sources, implementation capacity, and the broader implications for Nigeria’s fiscal outlook. Critics are likely to question how a government that has already warned of a ₦23.85 trillion deficit in the original budget plans to fund an additional ₦9.3 trillion in spending.

    The Senate Committee on Appropriations is expected to schedule public hearings on the request before reporting back to the full Senate for a vote.

  • Kwankwaso Receives ADC Membership Card in Kano as Obi, Amaechi, Tambuwal Attend

    Former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has formally joined the African Democratic Congress, receiving his membership card on Monday afternoon at Gidan Kwankwasiyya on Miller Road, Kano, completing a political journey that began with his resignation from the New Nigeria Peoples Party just 24 hours earlier.

    Confirming the move on his X handle moments after receiving the card, Kwankwaso wrote simply: “New Dawn. We are ADC.”

    Who came to Kano

    The event carried unmistakable weight, drawing a roll call of Nigeria’s most prominent opposition figures to Kano to witness the formal registration.

    In attendance were ADC National Chairman and former Senate President David Mark; ADC National Secretary and former Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola; former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi; former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal; former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi; Senator Dino Melaye; former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun; and former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha.

    The high-powered delegation had arrived at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport earlier in the day, where they were received by the immediate past Kano Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo, who himself resigned from office last week ahead of his own expected defection alongside Kwankwaso.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, already a member of the ADC, wasted no time in welcoming Kwankwaso. “When men of conviction come together, power trembles. Welcome aboard, @KwankwasoRM,” he wrote on X.

    What Kwankwaso said at the event

    Kwankwaso described his exit from the NNPP as a difficult but necessary decision, saying the current trajectory of Nigeria’s political landscape demanded strategic realignment. He expressed gratitude to the NNPP for the platform it had provided and paid tribute to the Kwankwasiyya Movement members whose loyalty had sustained his political career across multiple parties and decades.

    The defection is not a solo move. The Kwankwasiyya Movement has directed all its members across Nigeria to proceed immediately to register with the ADC at their respective wards, local government areas, and states. “This strategic decision, as always, has been taken in the best interest of the movement, our state, and the nation at large,” the movement’s statement said.

    Kwankwaso is also expected to be joined in the ADC by key political allies, including Senator Rufa’i Hanga and the Kano State NNPP Chairman, Hashim Dungurawa.

    What the ADC now represents

    With Kwankwaso‘s formal entry, the ADC has now consolidated Nigeria’s most formidable opposition coalition in a generation. The party’s membership now includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Abubakar Malami, Aminu Tambuwal, Emeka Ihedioha, and now Kwankwaso, uniting figures who collectively received over 12 million votes across different parties in the 2023 presidential election.

    Kwankwaso had polled 1,496,687 votes in the 2023 presidential race, finishing fourth behind Tinubu, Atiku, and Obi. His entry into the ADC brings with it the Kwankwasiyya Movement’s deep grassroots structure in Kano and across the North-West, a region where his influence was decisive in delivering the Kano State governorship to the NNPP’s Abba Yusuf in 2023.

    The ADC is yet to announce its 2027 presidential candidate or ticket composition. All indications point toward a joint Atiku-Obi or Obi-Kwankwaso arrangement, though no official announcement has been made. The party’s next major milestone will be a national convention expected later in the year, at which its 2027 strategy will be formally unveiled. The APC has not responded to Monday’s events. RNN.NG will continue to follow all 2027 opposition developments as they unfold.

  • Toyin Abraham Unfollows Funke Akindele after Public Snub at Iyabo Ojo Premiere

    What was meant to be a milestone night for veteran actress Iyabo Ojo has been largely overshadowed by a viral moment between two of Nollywood‘s biggest names, Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham, after a widely circulated video showed Akindele appearing to deliberately ignore Abraham’s greeting at Sunday night’s premiere.

    The incident occurred at the premiere of Iyabo Ojo’s film, The Return of Arinzo, held at the Balmoral Event Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    What happened

    Funke Akindele was seated at the same table as Iyabo Ojo and Mercy Aigbe when Toyin Abraham came over to greet them. While Ojo and Aigbe both acknowledged Abraham’s greeting, Akindele looked away and said nothing, completely ignoring her colleague. Abraham was visibly left in an awkward position and walked away from the table.

    A separate angle of the same incident shows Abraham, dressed in a purple gown, arriving at the table after the screening was about to begin, greeting those present. Akindele maintained a stern expression and did not respond.

    Toyin Abraham reacts

    Abraham did not let the moment pass quietly. She unfollowed Akindele on Instagram shortly after the event and made her feelings known publicly. “I have unfollowed her. God forbid a bad thing. If I ever greet her again, that means I am a bastard,” she wrote.

    Akindele subsequently unfollowed Abraham, and both actresses are no longer following each other on the platform. Neither has issued a formal statement explaining the root of the current tension.

    The controversy has inadvertently dominated conversations that should have centred on Iyabo Ojo’s directorial debut. The Return of Arinzo, scheduled for a cinema release on April 3, attracted a star-studded audience, including Rita Dominic, Mo Abudu, Femi Adebayo, Odunlade Adekola, Florence Ita-Giwa, AY Comedian, and Shaffy Bello. Many observers have noted that the viral snub clip has eclipsed the film’s launch entirely.

    The tension between the two actresses has deep roots, though its exact origins have never been publicly confirmed by either party.

    The most recent flashpoint came in early February 2026, when filmmaker Kunle Afolayan publicly criticised the use of dance skits and social media challenges as a film promotion strategy, a method closely associated with Akindele. Toyin Abraham was seen as having sided with Afolayan’s position, a stance widely interpreted as a slight against Akindele. Iyabo Ojo, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, and Mo Abudu all weighed in on the debate at the time

  • El-Rufai Freed on Compassionate Grounds as Mother Dies in Cairo

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has released former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai from custody on compassionate grounds, hours after the death of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday.

    An aide to the former governor confirmed that the release was approved to allow him to participate in the burial arrangements for his late mother. The ICPC had not issued an official statement on the terms of the temporary release as of the time of this report.

    Son’s reaction

    His son, Bashir El-Rufai, confirmed the development in a post on X, expressing relief while sharply criticising the anti-corruption agency. “My beloved, great legend of a father is being released from his unlawful and illegal detention at the hands of one of the most corrupt agencies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is a lame excuse for a pathetic institution. Thank you all for all the support. Our family shall never forget these times. We have overcome, as the El-Rufais,” he wrote.

    Death of Hajiya Umma

    Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, said to be approximately 100 years old, died on Friday after a period of illness in Cairo, Egypt. Her death came barely a week after the passing of her daughter-in-law, Safiya Ali Rufai, making Friday’s loss a second bereavement for the El-Rufai family within days.

    Her death was announced by her grandson and member of the House of Representatives, Bello El-Rufai, who described her as a matriarch whose life was devoted to faith and family, and called on Nigerians to pray for the family. The family finds strength in her long and fulfilled life. Similar condolences came from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and other political figures across party lines.

    El-Rufai’s legal battles

    Friday’s temporary release does not resolve the extensive legal proceedings El-Rufai is currently facing across multiple courts in Nigeria.

    The ICPC has accused El-Rufai of unlawfully receiving approximately ₦579 million in severance allowances on two separate occasions, in September 2020 and January 2023, far above the legally entitled sum of approximately ₦20 million. He was formally arraigned alongside co-defendant Joel Adoga at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on March 24, on charges of alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering. He pleaded not guilty.

    The court adjourned ruling on his bail application to March 31, 2026. The ICPC has also filed a separate case against him at the Kaduna State High Court involving another defendant, Amadu Sule.

    In a third legal front, the Department of State Services has filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja, centred on allegations that he unlawfully intercepted phone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in violation of the Cybercrimes Act. His arraignment in that matter is scheduled for April 23, 2026.

    El-Rufai’s counter-suits

    El-Rufai has filed counter-suits challenging the authorities’ actions. In one suit, he is seeking ₦1 billion in damages against the ICPC and other agencies over a February 19 raid on his Abuja residence, which he claims was unlawful, and is asking the court to invalidate the search warrant and restrain the use of any evidence obtained. In a separate action against the DSS, he is seeking ₦2 billion in damages and has asked the court to dismiss the wiretapping charges as unconstitutional harassment.

    How the detention began

    El-Rufai’s current legal saga began on February 16, 2026, when he was initially detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged ₦423 billion misappropriation. He was subsequently transferred to ICPC custody on February 18, where he has remained until today’s temporary release.

    El-Rufai is expected to return to ICPC custody following the completion of his mother’s burial rites, with the Federal High Court in Kaduna due to rule on his substantive bail application on March 31. RNN.NG will continue to follow all developments in his case.

  • How Three Teenagers Hid a Bomb in a Food Flask to Attack Maiduguri Hospital

    Fresh details have emerged about the March 16 coordinated bombings in Maiduguri, Borno State, revealing how three teenage suspected suicide bombers disguised explosives inside a food flask and attempted to pass themselves off as relatives visiting patients at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital — a plan that was foiled by an alert security officer at the entrance gate.

    The attacks struck three crowded locations at approximately 7:05 p.m. — the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital entrance, the Post Office area, and Monday Market — at the height of the Ramadan evening rush. At least 23 people were killed, and 108 others were confirmed injured.

    How the hospital attack unfolded

    A security officer at the hospital, Ali Musa, said the three suspects arrived at the facility in a commercial tricycle, posing as relatives bringing food to patients. Musa said he had already tightened security at his post after receiving word of the earlier blast at the post office, and immediately noticed something was wrong when the suspects drove in at high speed rather than slowing down for the standard security check.

    “They were three in number — two boys and one rider of the tricycle. I think they were around 13 or 14 years old. They looked very unkempt. I suspected something was wrong with the way they drove in,” Musa said.

    When Musa ordered them to reverse, one of the suspects threw the food flask containing the concealed explosive device directly at him. Musa kicked the flask back toward them — and the device detonated. “I heard a loud explosion and immediately lay flat on the ground,” he said. A second explosion followed shortly afterwards near the hospital entrance.

    Musa sustained injuries in the blast and found his female colleague on the ground with a broken leg when he went to check on her. He also saw a young Almajiri boy lying nearby on the ground. A shop owner near the hospital entrance, speaking anonymously, confirmed the attackers’ intent. “They wanted to blow up parts of the hospital,” she said.

    The Monday Market blast

    Investigations revealed that the Monday Market explosion was likely carried out by a separate attacker wearing an explosive vest. An eyewitness, simply identified as Fati, who works near the market, said the night was unlike anything she had experienced. “I later heard that they found a boy whose body was completely destroyed. The impact on that boy was worse than on others, so they suspected he was the bomb carrier,” she said.

    Government response

    President Tinubu directed service chiefs to relocate to Borno State following the attacks. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, arrived in Maiduguri on the morning of Wednesday, March 18, to coordinate security operations on the ground.

    Background

    Maiduguri is the birthplace of Boko Haram and has been at the centre of Nigeria’s insurgency for over 17 years. The city had experienced relative calm since 2021 before a mosque bombing in December 2025 killed five people and raised early concerns about renewed attacks. The March 16 bombings are the deadliest to hit the city in several years. No group has formally claimed responsibility, though the Nigerian Armed Forces have attributed the attacks to Boko Haram-affiliated elements.

  • Kwankwaso Meets Aregbesola, ADC Leaders Ahead of Expected Defection

    Former Kano State Governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso held fresh talks with African Democratic Congress National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday, in a significant step forward in his much-anticipated defection to the growing opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Following the meeting with Aregbesola, Kwankwaso also held separate discussions with ADC leaders from Kano at his Abuja residence, signalling that the groundwork for his entry into the party is being laid simultaneously at both the national and state levels.

    A defection months in the making

    Thursday’s meetings are the latest in a series of political consultations that have positioned Kwankwaso as the most high-profile figure yet to formally complete his move to the ADC. The Kwankwasiyya Movement’s spokesperson, Mansur Kurugu, had confirmed earlier this week that Kwankwaso was in active talks with the ADC, expressing optimism that the discussions would culminate in a formal defection before the 2027 election cycle begins in earnest. “It is true that Kwankwaso is in talks with ADC and NDC, and we are optimistic that the leaders will end up adopting one of the parties before the 2027 elections,” Kurugu said.

    The latest round of discussions comes shortly after Kwankwaso hosted former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at his residence last Sunday, a gathering widely interpreted as part of opposition alignment ahead of 2027.

    Who is already in ADC

    The ADC has rapidly transformed from a fringe party into Nigeria’s most consequential opposition platform in the space of months. Peter Obi formally defected to the party earlier this year, along with his supporters, opposition legislators, and several National Assembly members. He joined a roster that already included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, Aminu Tambuwal, Emeka Ihedioha, Rauf Aregbesola, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Abubakar Malami.

    A chieftain of the ADC, Ladan Salihu, said Obi’s entry had fundamentally altered Nigeria’s opposition landscape, describing the party as now a credible challenger to the ruling APC.

    Kwankwaso’s political background

    Kwankwaso’s move comes as his political structure in Kano State shows signs of fracture. Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, a former Kwankwasiyya loyalist, is expected to defect to the APC, a development that has created visible tension within the movement and accelerated Kwankwaso’s search for a new national platform.

    Further complicating his situation, a Court of Appeal ruling affirmed the leadership of an NNPP faction led by Agbo Major over a rival faction, deepening internal tensions within the party and prompting renewed conversations about Kwankwaso’s future.

    The 2027 picture

    Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso finished second, third, and fourth, respectively, in the 2023 presidential election. Their potential convergence under one platform represents a significant consolidation of the opposition vote, which was widely split in 2023 — a split that analysts say handed Tinubu a more comfortable victory than he might otherwise have achieved.

    Kwankwaso’s name has featured in opposition calculations as a potential running mate on a joint ADC ticket, though negotiations on the ticket’s composition remain unresolved. His absence from a recent high-profile ADC event drew scrutiny, with analysts suggesting that while public alignment has begun, the private negotiations over structure, roles, and candidate selection are still ongoing.

    The APC has not commented on Kwankwaso’s reported plans to defect. The NNPP has not issued a formal statement on the matter as of the time of this report.

    A formal announcement of Kwankwaso’s defection to the ADC is expected imminently, with sources close to the process suggesting it could come as early as this weekend. RNN.NG will provide live updates when the announcement is made.

  • Nigeria vs Iran: Kick-off Time, Venue and How to Watch On Friday

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Iran in an international friendly on Friday, March 27, 2026, as coach Eric Chelle uses the March international window to test new faces and sharpen his squad ahead of future competitive fixtures.

    The match is part of a four-nation invitational tournament being held in Antalya, Turkey, after organisers relocated the event from Jordan due to regional security concerns arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

    Match details

    The game takes place at the Corendon Airlines Park in Antalya, Turkey. Kick-off is 4:00pm Nigerian time, which translates to 6:00pm local Turkish time.

    Where to watch

    The match is listed on SuperSport and is available to DStv subscribers. Fans are advised to check the SuperSport channel guide closer to kick-off for the confirmed channel number.

    No additional Nigerian free-to-air broadcaster has been officially confirmed for the match. Unlike AFCON or World Cup fixtures, international friendlies often have limited or region-specific broadcast deals, meaning the game may not be available on all major local channels.

    The match is also listed on ESPN for viewers in the United States.

    Team news

    Nigeria will be without striker Victor Osimhen, who is sidelined with a fractured forearm. Ola Aina and Calvin Bassey have also been ruled out through injury. Alex Iwobi is in the squad and is approaching his 100th international cap, currently standing at 97. Wilfred Ndidi will anchor the midfield.

    Coach Chelle has used this window to introduce new faces to the senior setup. Emmanuel Fernandez, Collins Yira Sor, and Philip Otele are among the debutants receiving their first call-up to the senior national team.

    Iran arrive in Antalya without Saeid Ezatolahi, who is out with a foot injury, while Sardar Azmoun has been omitted from the squad. Mehdi Taremi remains their principal attacking threat alongside creative midfielder Saman Ghoddos.

    Iran in turmoil

    Iran come into this fixture carrying significant disruption. The ongoing conflict involving their country has severely affected their squad preparations, with several key players unavailable. Their football federation has publicly raised doubts about their ability to participate in certain 2026 World Cup matches on US soil, and has formally demanded a venue switch to Mexico.  The situation makes them a team in genuine uncertainty despite having qualified for the World Cup.

    Super Eagles’ recent form

    Under Eric Chelle, Nigeria have gone unbeaten in their last six matches and finished third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco. The friendly against Iran is the first competitive-level test of what Chelle is building in the post-AFCON rebuild phase.

    Following the Iran fixture, the Super Eagles will remain in Antalya to face Jordan on Tuesday, March 31. Jordan recently qualified for their first-ever FIFA World Cup, making that second game arguably the more demanding test of the two.