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Gbajabiamila, others influenced NASS decision on direct primary for personal interest —Senator N’Allah

The lawmaker representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, has opined that the decision of the National Assembly on mandatory direct primary in the Electoral Amendment Bill, may have been influenced by personal interests.

N’Allah said the provision for compulsory direct primary was included in the amendment at the last minute, hence was not thoroughly considered by the lawmakers.

He said, “the issue of direct primary came at the dying minute on the floor of the House of Representatives when they were considering the report of the committee of electoral matters. What it means is that it was never discussed or adopted by the committee of the House but that it came as an amendment allegedly because I don’t have the records, by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

The Senator who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Thursday, alleged that the idea of compulsory direct primary was the idea of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, among a few other Lawmakers.

“We are hearing that that law (direct primary) was intended for an individual. I don’t know. I honestly don’t know but I must say and maintain that the process was not painstaking enough.

“And I have seen the Speaker doing whatever was humanly possible to defend that position. But what would prove me right is that in one breath, I heard the Speaker saying that because of the rate of return at the National Assembly, there was the need to protect the members of the National Assembly from the influence of governors, therefore the resort to direct primaries.

“Now, the catch there is that personal interest was allowed in the process. That is the catch because he particularly said the turnover of members is very disturbing and that there is the need to protect members of the National Assembly from the governors.

“In the first place, that argument will fall flat because it means that decision was taken to promote personal interest against the oath of office that we have taken as members of the National Assembly.”

N’Allah further argued that compelling political parties to limit their options to the direct mode primaries was against the spirit of a Supreme Court judgment which had given parties the power to run their affairs as they see fit.

By Oluwatobi Odeyinka…

News

Unmet demands: Resident doctors begin indefinite strike November 1

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, says it will begin an indefinite nationwide strike starting November 1, 2025.

This was contained in a statement released by NARD President, Mohammad Suleiman, on Sunday.

The statement noted that the strike directive was issued after the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum earlier given to the Federal Government over unresolved demands.

The decision was taken after a five-hour meeting of the association’s National Executive Council, NEC, on Saturday.

“The NEC has marshalled out minimum demands, strike monitoring directives, and ‘no work, no pay/no pay, no work’ resolutions needed for a successful execution of this action.

“Today, after a 5-hour Extra-Ordinary National Executive Council Meeting, the members of NEC have issued out new marching orders to us once again.

“The NEC has unanimously directed us to declare a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action to commence on Friday 31st October 2025 at 11:59 pm,” the statement said.

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Police arrest four over alleged murder of man lured by girlfriend in Sokoto

The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested four suspects, including a woman, over the gruesome killing of a young man in what investigators described as a case of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and robbery.

In a statement on Saturday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmed Rufa’i, said the incident occurred on October 4, 2025, in Gidan Kacha, Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

According to the police, the victim, identified as Ali Salisu from Darnawa village, had travelled to Gidan Kacha to visit his girlfriend, Rukayya Amadu. Unknown to him, Rukayya had allegedly conspired with another boyfriend, Hamisu Ibrahim, to lure him into a deadly trap.

Police investigations revealed that Rukayya and Hamisu led the unsuspecting victim to Dabagi bush, where Hamisu allegedly ambushed and strangled him with a rope before stealing his red Kasea motorcycle.

Further investigations showed that the stolen motorcycle was later taken to Sokoto, where Lawali Abdullahi and Ibrahim Abdullahi allegedly received it without confirming its ownership.

“All four suspects have been arrested and are in custody. They will face charges of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, armed robbery, and receiving stolen property,” DSP Rufa’i said.

The Commissioner of Police commended the swift action of the investigative team and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

“This tragic case highlights the importance of vigilance and personal security awareness,” the statement read.

The Command also urged members of the public to report suspicious activities promptly.

Police encouraged residents to share information anonymously through official channels, assuring the public of continued efforts to maintain peace and security through proactive policing and community partnership.

News

Police arrest two suspects fleeing robbery scene in Niger

Police in Niger State have arrested two fleeing robbery suspects, Aliyu Salihu, 25, and Jibrin Ndako, 22, both from Barkin-Saleh, Minna, the state capital.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement, said the suspects were apprehended on October 22, 2025, at about 6:45 pm in the Tungan-Shanu area of Maje, while attempting to escape to Kogi State.

According to the police spokesperson, “During investigation, it was revealed that the two suspects, armed with cutlasses, had robbed a student in his lodge in Bida of the motorcycle, four handsets and a sum of forty thousand naira on same date at about 2:30 am.

“The suspects confessed to the crime and said that they were escaping to Kogi State before the arrest.”

He also explained that exhibits recovered from the suspects include the motorcycle, four handsets, two ATM cards, and N7,000 remaining from the loot.

The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for further investigation.