From Aliyu Askira, Kano

Some Kano based journalists returning from an All Progressives Congress (APC) political gathering in Kano were attacked by suspected thugs in a vehicle conveying media workers and other occupants.

The incident occurred shortly after the political event at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, with the attackers allegedly targeting journalists as they left the venue.

A Radio Nigeria, Pyramid FM Kano vehicle was reportedly vandalized during the attack. The assailants were said to have used machetes and knives to smash the vehicle’s windows and damage parts of the bus.

Five journalists were reportedly caught up in the incident.

They were identified as Shafiu Abdullahi Panshekara, Abdulmajid Habib Isa Tukuntawa, Yakubu Abubakar Gwagwarwa and Ibrahim Hussaini, all of Radio Nigeria’s Pyramid FM, as well as Abdulbaki Ali Ahmed Sharifai of Guarantee Radio.

Other occupants of the vehicle included the orderly to the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Mariya Mahmud Bunkure; some Department of State Services (DSS) personnel; and the political adviser to former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Reports said the attackers continued to strike the vehicle despite the presence of journalists and security personnel inside.

The occupants were said to have been left frightened as the assailants repeatedly attacked the vehicle before they could move away from the scene.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of journalists covering political activities, particularly as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum.

No information was immediately available on arrests made in connection with the attack or the extent of injuries sustained by those inside the vehicle.

NUJ Kano has formally filed a complaint to Kano State Police Command through PPRO Abdullahi Kiyawa who promised to ensure proper protection to journalists practicing in the state and promised to investigate the ugly incident which he described as unfortunate.

From Rabiu Sanusi, Kano

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has welcomed over 136,000 new members who defected from various political parties to the All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Governor ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesman, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Saturday.

Yusuf described the mass defection as a strong indication of the growing acceptance of the APC in Kano State, saying the development would further strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

He commended the new members for their decision to join the APC and urged them to remain committed to the development, peace and progress of Kano State and Nigeria.

The Governor assured the new members that his administration would continue to work with all stakeholders to promote unity, stability and sustainable development across the state.

The defectors pledged to mobilise support for President Tinubu and Governor Yusuf, promising to work tirelessly to ensure the success of the APC in the 2027 elections.

They said their decision to join the APC was based on their confidence in the leadership of President Tinubu and Governor Yusuf as well as their commitment to supporting the development of Kano State.

Yusuf further called on all APC members and supporters to remain united, peaceful and focused as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.

Kaduna State All Progressives Congress (APC) Consensus Aspirants Forum has pledged to deploy its political structures for grassroots mobilisation and to secure victory for Tinubu, Uba Sani and other APC candidates in the state in the 2027 election.

The forum made the pledge on Sunday at a press conference in Kaduna, saying its decision to accept the consensus arrangement was aimed at strengthening party unity and advancing the collective interest of the APC.

Chairman of the forum, Godwin Luka, said the members had willingly stepped aside to allow other party members to emerge as APC flag bearers.

Luka said the aspirants had resolved to transform their political structures into a grassroots mobilisation force operating from the polling-unit level to wards, local governments and the state.

He said the forum’s commitment to the APC was driven not only by party loyalty but also by what it described as the performance of the Tinubu and Uba Sani administrations.

According to him, the forum was encouraged by ongoing infrastructure projects and other interventions being implemented by the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He cited ongoing work on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road and the Sokoto-Badagry corridor, as well as interventions in education and other sectors.

Luka also commended the Kaduna State Government for various development projects across the state.

He said the administration had initiated road projects across the 23 Local Government Areas, while also undertaking interventions in primary healthcare, education and agriculture.

The chairman listed the upgrade of primary healthcare centres, establishment of Centres of Excellence and completion of a 300-bed specialist hospital among projects the forum considered significant.

He also cited the construction and renovation of classrooms, recruitment of teachers and establishment of new secondary schools as evidence of government interventions in education.

According to him, the distribution of fertiliser and provision of tractors to smallholder farmers were also helping to extend government interventions to rural communities.

“This is performance we can see, and performance compels us to work,” Luka said.

He said the forum would embark on strategic top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top mobilisation involving unit-to-unit consultations, ward-to-ward engagements and direct interaction with communities.

Luka urged APC members to remain united and avoid internal divisions, stressing that discipline, reconciliation and effective grassroots organisation would be critical to the party’s success in 2027.

He called on Nigerians to support the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying the forum believed the policies of the Tinubu administration and development initiatives of the Uba Sani government were delivering benefits to the people.

He said the aspirants’ acceptance of the consensus arrangement should not be viewed as the end of their political aspirations, but as the beginning of a broader responsibility to contribute to the party’s electoral success.

“Our decision to accept consensus was not the end of our political journey. It was the beginning of a greater responsibility — to turn our unity into electoral strength,” he said.(NAN)