Former Kano South Senator, Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, has lost his bid to return to the Senate after the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) selected former National Chairman of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alkasim Ibrahim Batayya, as its candidate for the 2027 election.

Gaya, who recently defected to the NDC after leaving both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had sought the party’s ticket for Kano South Senatorial District.

The party, however, settled for Batayya through a consensus arrangement reached during a meeting held at the Miller Road residence of former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in Kano on Sunday.

Kwankwasiyya’s spokesperson, Mansur Kurugu, confirmed the development, saying Gaya has accepted the outcome and pledged support for the party’s candidate.

“Kabiru Gaya has already accepted the decision and has promised to give his maximum support for Batayya to win the seat,” Kurugu said.

He added that the consensus process would continue until all elective positions are decided without necessarily conducting primary elections.

A video later shared by Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, showed Gaya publicly endorsing the decision.

The development marks a major political setback for Gaya, who represented Kano South in the Senate from 2015 to 2023 and also served as governor of Kano State during the Third Republic.

Batayya is expected to face incumbent Senator, Sumaila, who won the seat in 2023 under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) before defecting to the APC, where he has secured the party’s ticket for the 2027 contest.

An All Progressives Congress group in Akwa Ibom State have called for unity of purpose and determination among members of the party to ensure it secures the presidency under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Renewed Hope Ambassadors for President Bola Tinubu noted that the APC in Akwa Ibom remains committed to internal democracy, peace and progress, expressing satisfaction with APC stakeholders in the state for the conduct of the primaries, which it noted was peaceful.

The State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Obong Prince Ikim, appreciated the APC leadership in the state, describing the reported atmosphere of unity, decorum and democratic maturity during the party primaries as a clear reflection of Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.

He noted that the peaceful APC primary election in the state sends a message of hope to Nigerians that the APC remains committed to internal democracy, peace and progress.

“This peaceful conduct strengthens our resolve as Renewed Hope Ambassadors to intensify grassroots mobilisations and sustain momentum towards delivering victory for the party in the coming elections,” part of the message read.

Prince Ikim further sued for unity of purpose among party faithful, saying, “Let us continue to work together, united in purpose, as we advance the vision of a prosperous, secured and inclusive Nigeria under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, has clarified that former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, is not her godfather but her principal.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Yesufu also said she was never a member of the Labour Party but supported Obi because of his perceived empathy, patriotism and commitment to Nigeria.

According to her, she was formerly a member of the African Democratic Congress before moving to the Nigerian Democratic Congress.

The activist also said she intends to take her advocacy into politics, stressing that her priority as a lawmaker would be to hold the executive accountable.

She noted that if elected into the Senate to represent the Federal Capital Territory, she would not support what she described as frivolous loan requests from the executive arm of government, regardless of who occupies the presidency.

She said, “I don’t have a godfather. Peter Obi is not my godfather. He is my principal.

“First of all, I was never in the Labour Party, and I think I’ve said this repeatedly. I don’t know whether I need to put it on my phone. I was a supporter of Mr Peter Obi.

“I was a member of the African Democratic Congress, and from there I moved down to the Nigerian Democratic Congress.

“I gave my words to Peter Obi, and I see him right now as that person who has empathy, who is patriotic, and who cares enough about Nigeria for it to work for Nigerians. 

“I want someone who gets into office and I don’t need to keep making demands, you understand. 

“I’m taking advocacy and activism into politics because, for me, as a lawmaker, if I get voted in, by the grace of God, my number one business is holding the executive accountable. 

“You can’t come as a president, Mr Peter Obi, being the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, cannot just come to the Senate with frivolous, you know, application for loans, and I, Aisha Yesufu, is representing FCT.”