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  • Malema Sentenced to 5 Years, Appeals Conviction Over Public Gun Firing Incident

     

    South African opposition leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm and discharging it in public, a ruling that immediately triggered an appeal from his legal team as he seeks to avoid jail.

    Court ruling and sentence

    The verdict was delivered by Magistrate Twanet Olivier at a court in East London, where Malema appeared in a dark suit and red tie, showing little emotion as the sentence was read out.

    He had earlier been convicted of five offences, including unlawful possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment, and discharging a weapon in a public space.

    The court’s decision marks one of the most serious legal setbacks yet for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, who has remained a dominant and controversial figure in South African politics.

    How the incident happened

    The case dates back to 2018 when a video went viral showing Malema firing several shots into the air with a semi-automatic rifle during the EFF’s fifth anniversary celebrations in Eastern Cape province.

    Prosecutors argued the act was dangerous and reckless, especially as it took place in a crowded public event attended by supporters and party members.

    In his defence, Malema insisted the firearm did not belong to him and claimed he only discharged it to energise the crowd during the celebration.

    However, the court dismissed the explanation, with Magistrate Olivier ruling that the act was deliberate and not impulsive.

    Appeal and legal reaction

    Immediately after the judgment, Malema’s lawyer filed an appeal, a move aimed at stopping any immediate imprisonment while the case continues through higher courts.

    The EFF leader has consistently maintained that he will challenge the ruling to the highest judicial level, including South Africa’s Constitutional Court if necessary.

    Malema himself had earlier framed possible jail time as part of his political struggle, saying, “We cannot be scared of prison or to die for the revolution.”

    Public reaction and support

    Outside the courtroom, hundreds of supporters gathered in solidarity, chanting and singing revolutionary songs in support of the EFF leader.

    The atmosphere reflected Malema’s continued influence among his base, despite growing legal and political pressure around him.

    He remains one of South Africa’s most polarising political figures, known for his fiery rhetoric and strong grassroots following.


    Malema’s party supporters have been out in force to show their solidarity

    Political background and rise

    Malema first rose to national prominence as the leader of the African National Congress Youth League, before being expelled following a fallout with then-President Jacob Zuma.

    He later went on to form the Economic Freedom Fighters, a party built on radical economic transformation policies, including calls for land expropriation without compensation.

    The EFF has since grown into a major opposition force and became the fourth-largest party in South Africa’s 2024 general elections.

    Other legal challenges

    Beyond the firearm conviction, Malema has also faced other court rulings, including a hate speech conviction linked to remarks made at a 2022 rally.

    That case followed comments interpreted by the equality court as inciting harm, although the EFF argued the statements were taken out of context.

    What next

    With the appeal now in motion, Malema’s legal and political future remains uncertain, as the case is expected to move through South Africa’s higher courts in what could become a prolonged legal battle.

  • ADC Defies INEC, Vows to Hold Congresses as David Mark Demands Chairman’s Sack

    A high-stakes confrontation between Nigeria’s most prominent opposition coalition and the country’s electoral commission intensified on Friday, as the African Democratic Congress declared it would proceed with its planned party congresses and national convention regardless of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s decision to de-recognise its leadership, a move the party described as a politically motivated attack on democracy ahead of the 2027 elections.

    What triggered the crisis

    The crisis reached a boiling point on Wednesday, April 1, when INEC announced it was removing Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal as ADC National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, and would not monitor any congress or convention convened by their faction. INEC cited a Court of Appeal ruling in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026, which directed all parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum”, that is, the state of affairs before hostilities began, pending the resolution of an ongoing leadership dispute before the Federal High Court.

    The dispute involves a former ADC official, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who claims he never resigned as national chairman and that his signature on a resignation letter was forged. INEC said it received legal letters from Nafiu Bala’s lawyers demanding that Mark and Aregbesola be de-recognised, and determined that since Mark’s leadership was uploaded to the INEC portal seven days after the lawsuit was filed, removing the names was consistent with restoring the status quo.

    ADC: “We are proceeding regardless”

    Addressing a press conference at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Thursday, ADC National Chairman David Mark described INEC’s action as a direct attack on democracy and accused the commission of taking sides in an internal party dispute. “The only conclusion Nigerians can draw is that the electoral umpire has taken sides and can no longer be trusted,” he said.

    Mark announced that the ADC would proceed with its congresses beginning April 9 and its national convention on April 14, arguing that the law does not make INEC’s attendance a mandatory requirement for internal party processes. “We have duly served INEC notice, and we will proceed accordingly,” he said.

    He called on the ADC’s allies in the international community to take note of what he described as a convergence of legal pressure and political intent by the ruling party. “If you are convinced you have done well, why are you afraid of credible elections?” he asked, directing the question at President Tinubu.

    David Mark demands INEC chairman’s resignation

    Mark went further, calling for the immediate resignation or removal of INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan and other national commissioners, saying the ADC had lost all confidence in their ability to conduct credible elections. “We are convinced they are incapable of conducting any credible election,” he said. He also warned that INEC’s actions could affect the ADC’s participation in the upcoming Osun and Ekiti governorship elections.

    INEC chairman fires back

    Speaking on Arise Television on Friday, INEC Chairman Amupitan defended the commission’s decision, saying the matter was already before a Federal High Court in Abuja and that INEC could not take any step that would prejudice proceedings still before the court. “We have a record of a letter written by ADC sometime ago informing the commission that Nafiu Bala had resigned. Then Nafiu also wrote and contended before the court that he did not resign, and as a matter of fact, that his signature was forged,” he said.

    Amupitan warned the ADC about the potential consequences of proceeding with unsupervised congresses and conventions, citing the Zamfara State precedent. “If they decide to go ahead, let me tell you what happened in Zamfara. At the end of the day, after you have won, the court will declare the election invalid, and the implication is that the person with the second-highest number of votes will be declared the winner,” he said.

    APC denies involvement

    The ruling APC rejected the ADC’s claim that President Tinubu was behind INEC’s action. APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru said at a separate press conference on Friday that the decision implemented by INEC was a consequence of the dismissal of an appeal filed by Mark’s own faction. “Where does President Bola Tinubu feature in their claims, if not in fallacious and malicious propaganda?” he asked. The APC also described the ADC’s call for Amupitan’s sack as reckless.

    INEC brushes off removal call

    In a statement on Thursday night, INEC also firmly dismissed the calls for its chairman’s removal. The commission said its decision was anchored strictly on compliance with the Court of Appeal order, and not on political considerations. It noted that it had recently registered three new political parties, the Democratic Leadership Alliance, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and the National Democratic Party, bringing the total number of active parties to 22, which it said was an empirical rebuttal of claims that it supported a one-party agenda.

    What it means for 2027

    The dispute strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s 2027 opposition strategy. The ADC has spent the past three months assembling the most formidable opposition coalition in recent Nigerian history, with Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Kwankwaso, El-Rufai, Amaechi, Tambuwal, and Mark himself all under the same roof. An INEC-enforced leadership freeze — or a court ruling that invalidates the Mark-Aregbesola leadership, could significantly disrupt those plans.

    The Federal High Court is yet to set a hearing date for the substantive case. The Court of Appeal has separately ordered that the matter be granted an accelerated hearing. RNN.NG will continue to follow all developments in this critical dispute.

  • 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.

  • Kwankwaso Quits NNPP with Immediate Effect, Joins ADC on Monday

    Former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has resigned from the New Nigeria Peoples Party with immediate effect, bringing to a close his leadership of the party he contested the presidency with less than three years ago and paving the way for a formal move to the African Democratic Congress on Monday.

    Kwankwaso announced the resignation in a personally signed statement on Sunday afternoon, describing it as a difficult but necessary decision driven by what he called the current trajectory of Nigeria’s political landscape. “I wish to formally announce my resignation from the New Nigeria Peoples Party with immediate effect. As a committed and bona fide member of the party, this was not an easy decision to make. However, considering the current trajectory of the nation’s political landscape, which calls for strategic realignment, I have found it necessary to identify with another political platform that offers the best opportunity to effectively change the nation,” he said.

    ADC registration on Monday

    While Kwankwaso did not name the ADC directly in his resignation statement, his next destination is not in doubt. The Kwankwasiyya Movement issued a separate statement on Saturday directing all its members across Nigeria to register with the ADC immediately. “The Kwankwasiyya Movement wishes to formally inform all its members across Nigeria and the general public that our Supreme Leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has concluded all necessary arrangements to join the African Democratic Congress. In furtherance of this decision, he will officially register with the party on Monday, 30th March 2026, at his residence, Gidan Kwankwasiyya, Miller Road, Kano, by 12 pm,” the statement said.

    ADC National Chairman David Mark and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola are expected to be present in Kano to formally receive Kwankwaso into the party. Former Kano Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo, who also resigned from office this week, is expected to defect alongside him.

    Gratitude to NNPP

    In his statement, Kwankwaso thanked the NNPP’s National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed, the National Working Committee, the Board of Trustees, and party members at all levels for their support during his time. “I also thank the legacy members of the party and all followers of the Kwankwasiyya Movement for their dedication and commitment to our shared mission. We shall continue to collaborate and work together towards charting a better and more prosperous future for our dear nation,” he said.

    The road to Sunday’s resignation

    The decision did not come without warning. RNN.NG reported on Thursday that Kwankwaso had met ADC National Secretary Aregbesola at his Abuja residence, and separately held talks with Kano-based ADC leaders the same day. On Saturday, Atiku Abubakar — who is already in the ADC — hosted Kwankwaso in Abuja in what observers described as a final alignment meeting ahead of the formal announcement.

    Kwankwaso had polled 1,496,687 votes as the NNPP presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, finishing fourth behind Tinubu, Atiku, and Peter Obi. His exit leaves the NNPP — a party effectively built around his political movement — without its most prominent figure and primary source of electoral weight.

    What the ADC now looks like

    Kwankwaso’s entry completes a remarkable assembly of Nigeria’s major opposition figures on a single platform. The ADC already counts former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, former Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Abubakar Malami, Aminu Tambuwal, and Emeka Ihedioha among its members. The addition of Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiyya movement — which commands significant voter loyalty in Kano and across the North-West — adds a critical regional dimension to the coalition’s 2027 presidential ambitions.

    A Kwankwaso Support Group has previously proposed a joint presidential ticket pairing Peter Obi with Kwankwaso as running mate, though no decision on the 2027 ticket composition has been publicly confirmed by the ADC leadership.

    Kwankwaso’s formal ADC registration is scheduled for Monday, March 30, at noon at Gidan Kwankwasiyya, Miller Road, Kano. RNN.NG will provide live updates from the event as the next major chapter in Nigeria’s 2027 political realignment unfolds.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Fayose Warns Fuel May Hit ₦5,000 Per Litre If Tinubu Wins 2027 Election

    Nigerian businessman and social commentator Isaac Fayose has warned that petrol prices could rise to ₦5,000 per litre if President Bola Tinubu wins re-election in 2027, accusing the federal government of failing to restore Nigeria’s refining capacity despite billions of dollars in public investment.

    Fayose made the remarks in a video posted to his Instagram page on Wednesday, amid a fresh wave of public anger over rising fuel prices across Nigeria, with petrol now selling at between ₦1,300 and ₦1,400 per litre in many parts of the country.

    What Fayose said

    Fayose dismissed claims by some Nigerians that the US-Iran war was responsible for the fuel price hike, insisting that the federal government bears full responsibility. “Many fools are saying we cannot blame President Tinubu for our fuel going up, that we should blame America, Israel and Iran. That is a fat lie,” he said.

    He accused successive APC administrations of spending massive sums on refinery projects that have yielded no results, alleging that ₦210 trillion in oil revenue remains unaccounted for. “They’ve spent our money on refineries. 210 trillion is still missing from our oil money,” he said, contrasting the government-owned refineries with the privately funded Dangote refinery, which he acknowledged as fully operational.

    Fayose warned that the economic trajectory is unsustainable, predicting that food prices will continue to rise alongside fuel costs due to rising transport expenses. “The way we are going, be ready for 5,000 a litre. And the ripple effect, the price of yams has gone up. Food prices are going up in the market because they need vehicles to bring them from the farm to the market,” he said.

    Fayose on 2027

    The fuel crisis commentary forms part of Fayose’s broader campaign against Tinubu’s re-election bid. The businessman has separately predicted that President Tinubu will fail to secure even 20 per cent of votes in the South-East region in 2027, backing that claim with a ₦10 million wager directed at the City Boys Movement — a pro-Tinubu campaign group widely associated with the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu.

    Fayose has openly declared support for Labour Party’s Peter Obi, predicting that the former Anambra State governor will dominate the South-East and South-South zones in the next presidential election.

    Opposing views

    Not all Nigerians agree with Fayose’s framing. One social media user, identified as @prinxe_B, argued that blaming the fuel crisis solely on Tinubu was intellectually dishonest, describing the refinery problem as a legacy of collective failure spanning the administrations of Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan, and Buhari.

    Nigeria’s four government-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna have remained largely non-operational for decades despite repeated rounds of rehabilitation spending. The Dangote refinery began distributing fuel locally in late 2024, but prices have remained high, with the refinery citing the naira’s weakness against the dollar as a key factor. Petrol prices have risen from under ₦200 per litre at the time of the subsidy removal in May 2023 to current levels above ₦1,300 in many states.