Politics
Court Nullifies Zamfara Deputy Governor’s Impeachment
Former Zamfara State deputy governor, Mahdi Gusau, received a significant legal victory as the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified his impeachment.
It is worth noting that in July of the last year, Gusau faced impeachment by the Zamfara State House of Assembly when Bello Matawalle, the former governor of the state and Gusau’s superior, along with three state senators, members of the House of Representatives, and the House of Assembly, switched their allegiance from the PDP to the APC on June 29, 2021.
After the defection, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Mahdi Gusau, who chose not to join them in switching parties, filed a lawsuit seeking to have the court declare the seats of the defectors vacant.
Their argument was based on the notion that by leaving the party that facilitated their rise to positions of power, the defectors had effectively abandoned their mandates.
The plaintiffs, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC), the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the speaker of the House of Assembly, were named as the first to fifth defendants in the lawsuit.
Furthermore, the chief judge, Bello Matawalle, the three senators, members of the House of Representatives, and all members of the state’s House of Assembly were also included as defendants, ranging from the sixth to the 38th positions, respectively.
Their objective was to obtain a mandatory injunction from the court, compelling INEC to accept the PDP’s list of candidates for the positions of governor, state lawmakers, and federal lawmakers, allowing them to assume office.
Additionally, the plaintiffs requested an order for INEC to issue certificates of return to each candidate, enabling them to assume the positions that were allegedly occupied by the defectors.
The plaintiffs also requested a court order to compel the defendants to swear in Mahdi Gusau as governor on the platform of the PDP, allowing him to complete the remaining tenure of office, among other requests.
On July 19, 2021, the Federal High Court issued a judgment that prohibited the House of Assembly from moving forward with its intended impeachment of Gusau as deputy governor.
Despite the court’s previous order, Mahdi Gusau was impeached based on the findings of an investigative panel report.
The report, commissioned by the state chief judge, Kulu Aliyu, accused Gusau of committing various impeachable offenses, including abuse of office, financial impropriety, and gross misconduct.
However, Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a recent judgment on Tuesday, June 21, declared all actions taken by the House of Assembly, former Governor Bello Matawalle, and the state’s chief judge regarding the impeachment as null and void.
In its ruling, the court emphasized the importance of safeguarding its dignity and firmly rebuked those responsible for the “unconstitutional” impeachment.
Justice Ekwo said “I agree with the learned silk for the plaintiff/applicant that the court must protect its dignity by reprimanding the fifth, sixth, and seventh defendants (speaker, governor, and chief judge) and undoing the steps, acts, or proceedings taken in the impeachment while this suit was pending.”
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially kicked off its nationwide elections, marking the start of a major leadership renewal ahead of the party’s National Convention scheduled for April 14, 2026.
In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, the party’s National Organising Secretary, Prince Chinedu Idigo, and National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, outlined the timetable for the election process.
According to the statement, polling unit and ward congresses will hold on April 7, followed by local government area congresses on April 9 and state congresses on April 11.
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The exercise is part of ADC’s constitutional mandate to refresh its leadership structures across all levels, culminating in the national convention in April. Party members interested in contesting vacant positions have been urged to obtain and submit nomination or expression of interest forms via the official ADC website.
“This process forms part of the party’s constitutional responsibility to renew its leadership structures across all levels of the organisation, culminating in the national convention,” the statement said.
The party also called on members nationwide to participate actively in the congresses and to conduct themselves in accordance with ADC’s constitution, guidelines, and democratic principles.
The nationwide elections are expected to set the stage for a robust leadership team as ADC positions itself strategically ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A former senator representing Sokoto East Senatorial District, Abubakar Umar Gada, has assured members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the party remains strong and united in Sokoto State despite recent defections by some political figures.
Gada gave the assurance in a statement issued on Thursday in Sokoto, where he urged party loyalists to remain calm, focused and committed to the ideals of the PDP.
According to him, political defections are not unusual in Nigeria’s democratic landscape and should not be seen as a threat to the stability and strength of the party in the state.
SEE MORE: PDP’s Festering Crisis Chases Tambuwal to ADC
The former lawmaker stressed that the PDP still enjoys a strong grassroots presence in Sokoto, noting that the party’s structure across the state remains intact and capable of delivering electoral victories.
He explained that the strength of the PDP lies in the loyalty and dedication of its members, leaders and supporters who have remained committed to the party through various political challenges.
Gada also pointed out that politics allows individuals the freedom to make personal decisions, but maintained that the PDP as an institution remains resilient and firmly rooted in the aspirations of the people of Sokoto State and Nigeria.
He further disclosed that the party’s national leadership has already initiated measures aimed at strengthening internal unity and consolidating party structures across the country.
According to him, consultations and reconciliation efforts are currently ongoing among key stakeholders to address emerging concerns and reinforce unity within the party.
Gada noted that such engagements are designed to ensure the PDP moves forward with renewed focus, stronger unity and a clear commitment to democratic values.
He recalled that the party has successfully navigated several political challenges in the past and has consistently emerged stronger.
The former senator therefore urged PDP members in Sokoto State to remain steadfast and avoid actions capable of creating divisions within the party.
He also called on supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation and strengthen party structures across all levels as the party prepares for future political contests.
The lingering intra-party crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has forced senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Tambuwal to dump the party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Tambuwal, a former governor of Sokoto State, disclosed this in a resignation letter dated March 11, 2026, addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Tambuwal/Shinfiri Ward of Tambuwal Local Government Area.
The letter, which was made available to journalists on Thursday, said the decision followed consultations with his political associates and supporters.
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“After deep reflection and extensive consultations with my political associates and supporters, I have decided to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party with immediate effect,” Tambuwal stated.
According to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, lingering disputes and leadership disagreements in the PDP made it increasingly difficult for him to remain in the party.
“The persistent internal crises, leadership disagreements and growing divisions within the party have made it increasingly difficult for me to continue my membership,” he added.
Despite leaving the party, the senator expressed appreciation to the PDP for the opportunities it gave him to serve in different capacities.
“I remain grateful to the party for the platform it provided me to serve Nigeria as Speaker of the House of Representatives and later as Governor of Sokoto State,” he said.
Tambuwal confirmed that he had joined the ADC alongside his political associates and supporters, describing the move as part of efforts to strengthen democratic values and provide a credible political alternative.
“My decision is guided by the conviction that Nigeria requires a stronger political platform built on integrity, accountability, inclusiveness and a clear commitment to national development,” he added.
Tambuwal served as Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 before emerging governor of Sokoto State in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC). He later defected to the PDP the same year and was re-elected governor in 2019.
After completing his second term in 2023, he was elected to the Nigerian Senate to represent Sokoto South.
His defection to the ADC is expected to alter the political dynamics in Sokoto State, where he remains one of the state’s most influential political figures.
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