Demola Olarenwaju, Senior Political Assistant to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has described the embattled former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai as a unique Nigerian politician.

Olarenwaju explained that El-Rufai is unique because of his clear headedness and strategic thoughts.

Posting on X, he noted that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, ICPC, would soon have no excuse for detaining him.

The former governor and a chieftain of the ADC has been held in detention by the ICPC since February 19, 2026.

On April 13, the ICPC took the former governor to a Kaduna high court with a revised set of nine charges related to alleged fraud and misuse of office.

El-Rufai is currently undergoing judicial trial amid health challenges and the arrest of his personal physician.

However, Olarenwaju wrote: “What makes El-Rufai unique in Nigeria’s politics is his clear headedness and depth of strategic thought with tactical implementational balance.

“He is not only a planner but if nobody will do the dirties, my man will off his white and enter the mud himself. Hate to love him.

“They will eventually run out of excuses to keep holding the man and then the nakedness of their hypocrisy will become too glaring to be concealed from and ignored by the outside world. Till then, it’s solidarity and courage.”

The All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial candidate for Sokoto East, Umaru Ajiya, has called for a more proactive approach to tackling insecurity, urging security agencies to take the fight to bandits’ hideouts.

Ajiya made the call in Sokoto on the sidelines of the combined convocation ceremony of Sokoto State University, where he was conferred with an honorary degree.

He said Nigeria must shift from what he described as a reactive approach to a proactive strategy in addressing insecurity through improved collaboration among security agencies.

According to him, sustained military operations against bandits are necessary to restore peace, particularly in Sokoto State, which he described as one of the areas most affected by banditry.

Ajiya said persistent attacks by bandits had claimed many lives, displaced residents and increased the number of internally displaced persons in affected communities.

He also advocated the establishment of state police, arguing that it would complement existing security agencies because personnel familiar with local terrain would be better positioned to respond to security threats.

The APC senatorial candidate said, if elected, he would prioritise security, youth empowerment, infrastructure development and other initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of his constituents.

He added that he would focus on legislative representation that promotes equitable resource allocation and effective oversight to address the developmental needs of the Sokoto East Senatorial District.

The Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, has taken a swipe at the former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, that he still operating with outdated political thinking, adding that Nigeria had moved beyond such divisive politics.

Umeh said this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The lawmaker was reacting to comments made by Sheriff during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, where the former governor said Northerners would not vote for the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, because he is “divisive.”

He accused Sheriff of attempting to whip up sentiment, adding that Nigeria had moved beyond such divisive politics.

Umeh maintained that Obi remains one of the finest politicians Nigeria has produced and is continuing to promote a message of peace and national renewal.

“Sheriff is still operating with outdated political thinking, adding that Nigeria had moved beyond such divisive politics.

“Anybody who gets up to say the North will not vote for Peter Obi, they are inciting their people against Peter Obi to use that and weaponise a war that ended 56 years ago, that the North should not vote for Peter Obi. Let them remain in the stone age. 

“Nobody is in the stone age anymore. Nigeria is moving. And if you don’t do reconciliation and healing, you cannot move forward.

“So, what he (Ali Modu Sheriff) is trying to do is to whip up sentiment against Peter Obi ahead of the election. Peter Obi is one of the finest souls Nigeria has had.

“Somebody who is non-violent, somebody who preaches peace, somebody even if you slap him he will smile and he continues with his message of change. Let this country be turned around,” he said.