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My Stance Against The Naira Redesign Policy Made Me Lose The Election – Gov Matawalle

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The Zamfara state Governor, Bello Matawalle has stated that his stance against the Central Bank’s recent naira policy played a significant role in his loss at the March 18 Governorship election.

 

Speaking in Zamfara on Thursday, Matawalle also alleged that there were more military personnel deployed during the election than when the state government requested military assistance to combat insurgents.

 

According to him, the security situation in the state would have been much better than it currently is if the military had been deployed earlier.

 

“What’s being said is that we went to the court over new naira notes redesign. They said myself, Ganduje, and El Rufai would be punished accordingly. We have had security challenges in Zamfara state, and we’ve been asking them to send soldiers to us, but they didn’t.

 

“But three days to the (governorship) election, they sent over 300 vehicles conveying soldiers into Zamfara. Such a high number of soldiers. If they could send them to us to fight insecurity, it would be better. But they only sent them during elections.” Matawalle said in an interview with DW Hausa.

 

He further accused the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari of bullying the state’s electorate into voting for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through the deployment of heavy military presence during the Governorship election.

 

He said “They were over 50 soldiers in our polling unit in Zamfara. They were even straight about it that those voting for APC would not be allowed to vote.

 

“When I saw that (the heavy deployment of soldiers), I knew they were up to something. That was why it didn’t bother me because I received an intelligence report on what they were going to do against me. Not only myself but other governors that did something that is considered wrong.

 

“People were harassed and beaten because they wanted to vote for APC. We all have this evidence on video. When we called soldiers to come to our aid, they didn’t come. But I have left everything to God,” he explained.

 

However, Matawalle said despite his loss, the presidential victory of the APC’s Bola Tinubu is enough consolation for him.

 

He said “we delivered Zamfara State to the APC during the presidential election. But we lost the governorship.

 

“Nevertheless, we are happy about his emergence. If he didn’t win it would have been more painful for us. But I am not worried at all.”

 

Recall that Bello Matawalle contested in the March 18 Governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he received 311,976 votes, but he lost to Dauda Lawal-Dare of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 377,726 votes. As reported by BIZTELLERS.

 

It is worth noting that Matawalle became the Governor of Zamfara State in 2019 on the PDP ticket, after a court of appeal judgment nullified the APC primary elections that had previously made Muktar Idris the candidate and winner of the election.

 

 

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Politics

2027: Kwankwasiyya Movement Fires Warning Shot Over Attacks on Kwankwaso

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The Kwankwasiyya Movement has issued a strong warning against what it described as growing political attacks on its leader, former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group, in a statement released on Friday by its spokesperson, Habibu Sale Mohammed, accused some political commentators of deliberately targeting Kwankwaso with what it called misleading narratives aimed at undermining his political influence.

SEE ALSO: Political Alignments: Tinubu Woos Kwakwanso in France

According to the movement, the recent wave of criticism appears to be linked to discussions around possible political cooperation between Kwankwaso and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, under the proposed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

The group said the idea of a broader political alliance has generated nationwide interest and support, as many Nigerians see it as a potential pathway to national unity and democratic progress.

However, it expressed concern that certain individuals and interests are uncomfortable with the emerging political alignment, which they believe could reshape Nigeria’s political structure.

“What appears to be troubling certain interests is not merely the possibility of political cooperation, but the enormous national potential such an alliance represents,” the statement said.

The Kwankwasiyya Movement further argued that a partnership between Kwankwaso and Obi could bridge Nigeria’s long-standing regional and political divisions by combining strong grassroots support in the North with widespread youth backing in the South.

It described the development as a rare opportunity in Nigeria’s political history, where leaders with independent support bases could collaborate across regional lines for national interest.

“For the first time in recent political history, Nigerians are witnessing the realistic possibility of a broad-based political understanding capable of bridging the long-standing regional divide,” the group stated.

The movement also criticised what it called double standards in how political figures are judged, alleging that similar political engagements by other actors are often praised while Kwankwaso’s are framed negatively.

It maintained that coalition-building is a normal part of democratic politics and should not be misrepresented as a threat.

Reaffirming Kwankwaso’s relevance in Nigerian politics, the group said his influence is built on years of grassroots engagement and public trust rather than federal power or elite backing.

The statement urged political actors and commentators to act responsibly and avoid inflammatory rhetoric, especially at a time when Nigeria is facing economic and security challenges.

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ADC Leadership Crisis Deepens as Court Adjourns David Mark Suit Indefinitely

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The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress took a fresh turn on Friday after the Federal High Court in Abuja indefinitely adjourned a suit challenging the party’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark.

The case, filed by ADC chieftain Nafiu Bala Gombe, also challenges the emergence of former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola within the party’s leadership structure.

SEE ALSO: ‘He Can’t Compete’ — Presidency Mocks Obi Over ADC Exit

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter indefinitely after the plaintiff informed the court that an application had been submitted to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court seeking the transfer of the case to another judge.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, disclosed that the Supreme Court had earlier dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed against the proceedings by Mark.

According to him, the apex court on April 30, 2026, ruled that the appeal lacked merit and also lifted the Court of Appeal’s earlier order staying proceedings in the substantive suit.

Haruna further told the court that the plaintiff had written a letter dated May 4, 2026, requesting that the matter be reassigned to another judge, urging the court to await the administrative decision of the Chief Judge.

The request, however, sparked strong opposition from lawyers representing the defendants, who accused the plaintiff of attempting to frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the Court of Appeal and upheld by the Supreme Court.

Counsel for the first defendant, Realwan Okpanachi, argued that the defence had not been served any communication concerning the application, describing the move as an ambush.

Another defence lawyer, Sulaiman Usman, condemned the action, describing it as “forum shopping and judge shopping,” while P.I. Oyewole labelled the request “strange” and accused the plaintiff of inviting the Chief Judge to indulge in judicial misconduct.

Responding to the objections, Haruna maintained that the plaintiff stood by the application seeking reassignment of the case.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite stated that the court could not take any action on the transfer request without first hearing from all parties involved.

He added that since the letter was addressed to the Chief Judge, the trial court lacked the authority to make pronouncements on it.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter indefinitely to allow parties file a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment, serve the defendants with the transfer request letter, and await further directives from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

Gombe is seeking an order restraining Mark, Aregbesola and others from parading themselves as leaders of the ADC, arguing that their emergence violated the party’s constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.

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‘He Can’t Face Free, Fair Primaries’ – Kenneth Okonkwo Blast Obi

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A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has alleged that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, avoids participating in free and fair primary elections.

Okonkwo made the claim during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, stating that Obi’s political decisions are often influenced by his reluctance to engage in open and competitive contests.

SEE ALSO: BREAKING: Peter Obi Dumps ADC Ahead of 2027 Election

According to him, Obi’s departure from the ADC was not due to ideological differences or internal party challenges, but rather a deliberate move to sidestep primary elections.

“Peter Obi is afraid of free and fair primary elections. He gave reasons of challenges, but his main reason is that he does not want to face the primary election,” he said.

The ADC chieftain further alleged that Obi has historically depended on political negotiations and arrangements instead of contesting in primaries.

Citing Obi’s emergence as governor of Anambra State under the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Okonkwo claimed that the former governor initially lost the party’s primary election before the outcome was later overturned.

“He has never been in one, and he will not be in one until he finishes his political career,” Okonkwo added.

The remarks come amid shifting political alignments and growing speculations ahead of the 2027 general elections, with major political figures exploring new platforms and alliances.

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