ISWAP Reeling From Heavy Losses, Moves to Overhaul Leadership Structure — sources

By: Zagazola Makama

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) is undergoing a comprehensive restructuring of its command and leadership hierarchy following significant battlefield losses in recent months, intelligence sources have revealed.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the reorganisation was directed by the group’s central leadership linked to the ISIS network in the Iraq/Syria axis, after sustained military pressure degraded ISWAP’s operational capacity and leadership cohesion.

According to the sources, the group has suffered considerable setbacks due to intensified air and ground offensives, leading to the elimination of key fighters and disruption of its command structure across several fronts in the North-East.

The sources said the restructuring is expected to involve major leadership changes, including a possible replacement of the current factional leader, Ba Shuwa, whose continued leadership is reportedly under review due to recent operational failures.

They added that the status of another prominent commander, Abor Mainok, remains unclear amid the ongoing shake-up, raising concerns about internal disarray within the group’s hierarchy.

The sources further disclosed that there was no reference to Habib Yusuf, also known as Abu Musab al-Barnawi, in recent internal communications, reinforcing long-standing indications that he has not been active for a while within the group.

According to the sources, the overhaul is aimed at restoring command effectiveness, re-establishing control over dispersed fighters, and repositioning the group after the losses suffered.

They noted that intelligence gathering is ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the leadership changes and their potential impact on the group’s operational strategy.

ISWAP Reeling From Heavy Losses, Moves to Overhaul Leadership Structure — sources

Forum of Special Advisers Backs Engr. Gubio as Zulum’s Anointed Candidate

By: Our Reporter

The Forum of Special Advisers to Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has unanimously endorsed Engr—Mustapha Gubio FNSE as the anointed and preferred governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement jointly signed by the Forum Chairman, Hon. Tijani Goni, and the Secretary, Haruna Ibrahim Biu, the Forum, comprising 38 Special Advisers drawn from the 27 local government areas of the state, unanimously resolved that its decision was collective and unequivocal.

“Following a brief but productive meeting, we unanimously resolved to publicly express our unshaken, total, and unequivocal support for His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, in his wise and visionary leadership, particularly in his choice and anointment of Engr. Mustapha Gubio as the preferred APC governorship candidate,” the statement said.

The statement highlighted Gubio’s record in public service, noting his contributions to post-conflict recovery and infrastructure development in the state.

“Engr. Mustapha Gubio has distinguished himself through dedicated and meritorious service, having served as Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement and as Commissioner for Works and Housing. His track record of competence, loyalty, and commitment to development makes him a worthy and capable choice to sustain the progressive vision for Borno State,” he stated.

Reaffirming confidence in Governor Zulum’s leadership, the Forum said his decisions have consistently reflected a commitment to the overall interest of the state.

“As loyal appointees and committed stakeholders, we recognize His Excellency’s exceptional judgment, foresight, and unwavering dedication to the stability, continuity, and advancement of our dear state. His leadership has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to good governance, development, security, and the welfare of the people,” the Chairman added.

The Forum also called on party members and residents of the state to support the Governor’s decision in the interest of unity and sustained development.

“We firmly believe that His Excellency’s decision is guided by experience, sincerity of purpose, and the collective interest of Borno State above personal considerations. We therefore call on all party faithful, political stakeholders, and the good people of Borno State to rally behind this noble direction for the sake of sustained progress and unity,” he said.

Emphasizing the importance of continuity in governance, the Forum expressed optimism about the state’s future.

“Leadership is about trust, continuity, and preserving the gains already achieved. We are confident that with Engr. Mustapha Gubio, under the guidance of His Excellency Governor Zulum, Borno State, will continue on the path of peace, prosperity, and transformational governance,” he said.

“We remain loyal, committed, and fully aligned with the vision of His Excellency for a greater Borno State,” the Chairman concluded.
E-signed

Hon. Tijjani Goni Muhammad FCASN, RAS – Forum Chairman ​​​​​
Hon. Haruna Ibrahim Biu – Forum Secretary

Forum of Special Advisers Backs Engr. Gubio as Zulum’s Anointed Candidate

Women Rally as Political Force, Signal Shift from Inclusion to Power

By: Michael Mike

A new political current is gathering momentum in Nigeria—one that seeks to transform women from participants in governance to a decisive, organised force capable of shaping power itself.

At the centre of this shift is the Minister of Women Affairs, Iman Suleiman, who on Thursday framed the forthcoming 2026 Women Mega Empowerment and Rally not as a ceremonial gathering, but as the launch of a structured national movement with clear political, economic and social intent.

Addressing a world press briefing in Abuja, Suleiman described the initiative—anchored on the theme “The Power of 10 Million: One Voice, One Movement, One Choice”—as a strategic pivot in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

“This is not a programme. It is a paradigm shift,” she declared. “It is a movement from participation to power, from inclusion to influence—one that establishes women as organised constituents with voice, structure and agency.”

⸻

Beyond Optics: Building a National Women’s Bloc

While political rallies are a familiar feature of Nigeria’s democratic landscape, the minister’s framing suggests something more deliberate: the construction of a nationwide women’s bloc capable of exerting coordinated influence.

Rather than attempting to gather millions physically, the rally—scheduled for May 5 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium—will bring together delegates from all 9,410 wards, embedding what organisers describe as a bottom-up mobilisation model.

“It is not about filling a stadium with 10 million people,” Suleiman explained. “It is about mobilising 10 million voices and ensuring that empowerment reaches the grassroots.”

The approach signals a shift from symbolic inclusion to structured participation—where representation is decentralised, but influence is unified.

⸻

Aligning Power with Policy

The movement is explicitly tied to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reflecting a growing convergence between gender advocacy and state policy.

Suleiman credited the administration with repositioning women, families and vulnerable groups at the centre of national development, arguing that the rally represents both endorsement and expansion of that framework.

“Inclusive growth is not optional—it is fundamental,” she said. “Women are not beneficiaries; they are drivers of transformational change.”

The minister pointed to policy instruments such as the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention 774 programme, which targets women across all local government areas with grants, skills development, enterprise support and access to markets.

⸻

Economic Power as Political Leverage

Underlying the mobilisation is a clear economic argument: that women’s empowerment is not merely social policy but a macroeconomic strategy.

With women forming a significant share of Nigeria’s informal economy—particularly in agriculture, trade and small-scale enterprise—the minister argued that closing systemic gaps in access to finance, land and opportunity could unlock exponential national growth.

“When women are empowered, the nation multiplies its productivity,” she said, framing the initiative as both an empowerment pipeline and an economic engine.

⸻

The First Lady Factor

The rally also draws legitimacy from the visible involvement of the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, whose grassroots engagements have positioned her as a central figure in the administration’s social development agenda.

Suleiman described her role as going “beyond ceremonial duty,” noting that her interventions have helped bridge the gap between policy and community-level impact. She is expected to attend the rally as Special Guest of Honour.

⸻

Three Strategic Outcomes

Beyond mobilisation, the rally is designed to produce tangible political and institutional outcomes.

First, it will serve as a unified platform for endorsing President Tinubu ahead of the general election—an indication that the movement is not neutral but aligned with existing power structures.

Second, it will generate a national charter of women’s demands, intended to function as both a policy roadmap and a social contract between women and the state.

Third, it aims to integrate women’s groups across all wards into a coordinated network, strengthening grassroots organisation and ensuring continuity beyond the event itself.

⸻

A Narrative of Unity—and Control

Speakers at the briefing reinforced the idea of collective identity as a source of strength. Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, argued that women must take ownership of the national narrative.

“We are not telling the story enough,” she said. “When women come together, they can speak more powerfully than anyone.”

Similarly, Organising Committee Chairman, Zainab Ibrahim, framed the initiative as a unifying force across political, social and regional divides.

“This is not just a rally—it is a movement,” she said. “It allows women to think, plan and act as one.”

⸻

From Momentum to Power

What distinguishes this initiative is not its scale, but its intent. By combining political endorsement, economic empowerment and grassroots structuring, the organisers are attempting to convert numerical strength into coordinated influence.

The emphasis on ward-level integration suggests a long-term strategy—one that could reshape how women engage with elections, policy advocacy and governance.

Whether it evolves into a sustained political force or remains within the orbit of existing power structures will depend on how effectively it translates mobilisation into measurable outcomes.

For now, the message from Abuja is unmistakable: Nigerian women are no longer content with inclusion—they are organising for power.

“The rise of Nigerian women,” Suleiman said, “is not a possibility. It is inevitable.”

Women Rally as Political Force, Signal Shift from Inclusion to Power