From Hassan Taiye

A group, Igabi Youths and Women Forum, has listed what it described as the reasons former Kaduna State House of Assembly Speaker, Yusuf Zailani, lost the All Progressives Congress senatorial ticket for Kaduna Central.

In a statement issued in Kaduna on Saturday, the forum said Zailani’s strained relationship with party executives, stakeholders, and grassroots supporters contributed to his defeat in the recent APC primary.

The statement, signed by Malam Mohammed Suleiman Igabi, accused the former speaker of refusing to recognise newly elected APC executives at the ward and Igabi Local Government levels after their inauguration.

The group also said Zailani distanced himself from party activities and failed to participate actively in campaigns for recent bye-elections, including the Chikun/Kajuru House of Representatives contest and other state legislative elections.

It further alleged that during the 2023 general elections, the former speaker failed to deliver Igabi Local Government for the APC, where the Peoples Democratic Party won.

The forum claimed Zailani maintained poor relations with stakeholders and elected officials from his local government, adding that many long-time associates had become disillusioned with his leadership style.

It also accused him of being largely absent from party and state functions in Kaduna over the past year and of not attending key APC activities and official engagements.

The group linked public dissatisfaction with Zailani to his tenure as Speaker under former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of backing controversial policies, including demolitions, dismissals of public workers, and crackdowns on critics.

It further alleged that he remained silent over recent political disagreements between the former governor and the current Kaduna State administration.

The forum also accused Zailani of sponsoring political thuggery and empowering youths involved in violence and drug abuse in parts of Igabi Local Government, saying this affected his support base during the primaries.

It added that several APC leaders and stakeholders in Igabi had openly withdrawn support for his senatorial ambition over differences with local party executives and political figures.

The group said Zailani’s 20 years in the Kaduna State House of Assembly did not translate into enough developmental projects for his constituency, which it described as underdeveloped and facing security challenges.

The forum concluded that the combination of these factors weakened his political standing and led to his defeat.

The APC primary for Kaduna Central was won by former senator and rights activist, Shehu Sani.

An aspirant for the Otukpo/Akpa State Constituency seat, Hon. Peter Amedu Igoh, has said no primary election was conducted by the African Democratic Congress on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

In a statement issued in Otukpo on Friday, Igoh said party faithfuls and delegates waited at designated ward centres from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, but no electoral materials were distributed and no officials were present.

“As an aspirant and party member, I can confirm that no primary election took place,” he said. “No voting occurred in any ward.”

The ADC had scheduled the primary for the seven wards of Otukpo/Akpa State Constituency to begin at 10:00 AM on May 21.

Igoh urged the party’s leadership at the local government, state, and national levels to act in line with Articles 15 and 16 of the ADC Constitution 2022 and Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022.

He called on the party to schedule and conduct a free, fair, and transparent primary within the timeline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission to avoid losing the right to field a candidate for the constituency.

“The people of Otukpo/Akpa deserve a process that reflects their will. The ADC owes them nothing less,” he said.

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

To underscore its zero tolerance for Gender-Based Violence (GBB) in Kwara State, the state government, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has organised a 5-Day capacity building workshop for staff of the Ministry of Women Affairs.

The workshop, held at the World Health Organisation Office in Ilorin, was aimed at training staff on survivor-centered and safe responses, enhancing understanding of GBV dynamics, strengthening coordination and referral pathways and improving quality of service delivery, especially in the handling of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and other related social protection matters.

Addressing participants at the closing session of the training, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief (Mrs) Opeyemi Oluwakemi Afolashade, noted that the importance of capacity building for social workers cannot be overemphasized, affirming that the issue of GBV can only be properly addressed by trained and competent personnel who are able to manage cases with sensitivity and in line with global best practices.

The Commissioner, who was represented by the Director, Personnel, Finance and Supply, Alhaji Rasheed Baba Ubandawaki, reiterated that responses for GBV has now shifted to Survivor Centered Approach built on the four major principles of GBV responses which are Safety, Respect, Non-discrimination and Confidentiality, adding that they are essential tools in case management, referral pathways, providing psychological first aid documentation and reporting based on ethical standards.

Chief Afolashade commended UNFPA for prioritizing capacity building for staff as this aligns with the practice of the AbdulRazaq-led administration which ensures self-care, stress management and supervision practices that help staff sustain their work without compromising their mental health, explaining that GBV cases usually takes mental toll on staff if they are not properly cared for.

The Commissioner also acknowledged Royal Heritage Health Foundation for providing the necessary technical support, expertise, guidance and dedication throughout the implementation of the training programme.

The Programme Technical Assessment, Olayinka Adedayo, reinforced the commitment of stakeholders towards strengthening the GBV prevention and response system in the state while improving support services for survivors.

The Deputy Director, Child Development Directorate, Hajia Rakiat Bello, who also participated in the training, commended the effort of the facilitators and noted the need for continuous training for social workers as this will ensure professionalism and help them align with globally accepted practices and ethics of social work.