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PDP: Nothern coalition stages protest in Kaduna, says Ayu must resign
Coalition of the Northern Nigeria Peoples Democratic Party Youth Movement, on Friday protested at the PDP Secretariat in Kaduna, demanding the resignation of National Chairman of the party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the PDP is currently hit by crisis after Alhaji Atiku Abubakar emerged the party’s Presidential Candidate for the 2023 general elections.
Some PDP governors and leaders, particularly from southern Nigeria were insistent that for fairness, northern Nigeria should not hold both the party’s presidential ticket and national chairmanship position.
Leading in the struggle for the resignation of Ayu, who is from the North Central, is Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers and other leaders of the party from southern Nigeria.
Spokesperson/Leader of the Coalition, Mr Shehu Isa-Dan’Inna, said they had been in PDP since 1999 without defection and had no plans to decamp even in the future.
He said for the PDP to win a Presidential seat in the coming 2023 elections, the party Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu must resign from his position as he had promised to.
Isa-Dan’Inna said for the PDP to project transparency as it had always done, the North could not hold about three key positions in the party.
“PDP is not a Northern Peoples Democratic Party nor Southern Peoples Democratic Party, we have to be just and united, to enable us to win at various levels in the coming 2023 general elections,” he said.
He noted that Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, the party’s national chairman must go, to fulfill the promise he made that he would resign immediately after the parties primary elections if a Northerner emerged the party’s flag bearer.
Isa-Dan’Inna said they were reminding Ayu to fulfil his promise because they were tired of opposition.
He said the country needed back the PDP at the helms of its affairs for the overall well-being of Nigerians.
“If the PDP’s internal crises persist, I don’t think we will win the presidential election.
“About six governors are fighting one governor; in the South, we have about four presidential aspirants cut across different parties which will reduce our votes, and the rulling party again which is strong,” he said
“The other man is also so strong, we don’t want to divide our votes, that is why we are calling on Sen. Iyorchia Ayu to resign.
“It will be better wise for us to lose Ayu as the PDP Chairman and clinch the President seat than to leave him and lose the presidency”, Isa-Dan’Inna said.
He called on the PDP Board of Trustees, National Working Committee and the PDP caucus to be just and fair in order to get the party to victory.
“If Ayu should keep to his promise, victory will surely be ours and Nigerians will smile again, the party leaders must act to salvage Nigerians, we don’t want to continue suffering,” he said.
NAN recalls that the crisis got deeper on Wednesday when loyalists to Wike’s caucus pulled out of the Abubakar presidential campaign council after a meeting in Portharcourt, Rivers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesters carried placards with inscriptions reading: “Ayu Must Go”, “Ayu must step down”, “We need justice, and fairness for all”. (NAN)
Gunmen on Thursday night ambushed and beheaded a 30-year-old man, Elisha Abbas Saku, at Riwhie-Chwo in Nzharuvo, Miango District of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred around 10 pm when the gunmen stormed the community, throwing residents into panic and confusion.
A statement issued on Friday by the Irigwe Youth Movement described the killing as a brutal ambush.
The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Yonkpa, who signed the statement, prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul while calling for divine comfort for the entire Irigwe Nation.
“Yesterday night, 16th April 2026, gunmen ambushed and beheaded Mr. Elisha Abbas Saku, 30 years old, at Riwhie-Chwo, Nzharuvo, Miango District of Bassa LGA, Plateau State,” the report stated. “May his soul rest in peace, and may God comfort the entire Irigwe Nation.”
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of results for 632,788 candidates who participated in the first day of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), held on Thursday.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on Friday.
According to the Board, candidates can now access their results by sending “UTMERESULT” via SMS to either 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number registered during the examination process.
At this stage, only result viewing is available, as printing of result slips has not yet been enabled.
JAMB emphasised that the UTME exercise is still ongoing, adding that additional batches of results will be released progressively as marking and processing continue.
The Board also issued a stern warning against any attempts to manipulate or falsify results.
It cautioned candidates against altering SMS messages received from its official platforms to misrepresent their scores to others, including parents and guardians.
JAMB Releases Results of 632,788 Candidates from Day One of the 2026 UTME
The results of candidates who sat the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16 April 2026, have been released and are now available for viewing.
To check their results, candidates should send UTMERESULT via SMS to 55019…
— Fabian Benjamin (@FabianB58246501) April 17, 2026
Describing such actions as a serious criminal offence, JAMB disclosed that it has already taken action against offenders. “Two candidates and one parent are currently in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means,” the statement revealed.
The Board reiterated that anyone found guilty of such misconduct would face the full weight of the law.
JAMB urged candidates to adhere strictly to official channels and maintain integrity throughout the examination process, as it continues efforts to ensure a credible and transparent admissions system in Nigeria.
The Arewa APC Forum, Kano State chapter, has announced the withdrawal of its support for the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing concerns over governance and leadership direction.
In a statement dated April 17, 2026, the forum said its decision followed “extensive consultations and careful reflection” on the state of affairs at the federal level.
The group stated that it could no longer, “in good conscience,” continue to support the current administration, which it criticised over alleged issues including nepotism, incompetence, and corruption.
“We believe that leadership must inspire confidence, uphold fairness, and demonstrate a sincere commitment to national unity, institutional integrity, and responsible governance,” the statement read.
It added that where such values are persistently undermined, “silence becomes complicity.”
The forum further declared that its confidence in the current political direction has been withdrawn, urging its members to align with this position in future political engagements.
The statement was signed by Sallah Hakilu Kibiya, chairman of the forum in Kano State.
The development signals potential cracks within support structures linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in the northern region, as political alignments begin to shift ahead of the next electoral cycle.
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