The Senator representing Taraba North senatorial district, Shuaibu Isa Lau, has denied reports circulating online that he has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

In a statement issued on Friday, by his Media and Communication Strategies Unit, Lau described the rumours as “categorically false,” affirming his continued membership and active role within the PDP.

“Senator Lau has been a PDP member since his first election to the Senate in 2017 and continues to serve in that capacity today,” the statement read.

It highlighted his political career, including his elections to the 8th, 9th, and current 10th National Assembly under the PDP, and his position as Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate since 2022.

The senator’s office stressed that there has been no official announcement or filing with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, indicating any defection.

While urging the public and all media platforms to disregard the false claims, he warned those spreading the rumour to desist but rely on verified information.

The senator further reaffirmed his commitment to representing the people of Taraba North under the platform of the ruling party in the state.

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has confirmed July 24, 2025 for its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting.

In a post on its official X handle on Friday, the party charged all NEC members to take the notice of the meeting seriously in accordance with the article 12.3 of the APC constitution.

OSUNDAILY NG reports that in pursuant to article 12.3 of the APC constitution, the NEC shall consists of the party National Chairman, Deputy National Chairmen (North and South), National Secretary, among others

Recall that Umar Ganduje, last Friday resigned as the party’s chairman and in his place, Ali Dalori was appointed in acting capacity.

Meanwhile, Ali Bukar Dalori assumed duty as the party’s Acting National Chairman on Monday.

Dalori, who was the Deputy National Chairman (North) of the APC, emerged as the party’s acting chairman following the resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the party.

Ganduje, from the North-West zone, assumed leadership of the party in August 2023, following the resignation of his predecessor, Abdullahi Adamu, from the North-Central zone.

Dalori assured party members of his dedication to carry out his new role with transparency, inclusiveness, and a unity of purpose.

The acting chairman said he was prepared to work with members as partners in the collective task of safeguarding the party’s unity, discipline, and direction.

Dalori appealed to NEC members to keep their eyes on the bigger picture, deliver good governance to the Nigerian people, and deepen democracy within the party structures.

The escalating gang violence in Kano State is spiraling out of control, with ordinary residents now becoming victims in the cycle of revenge killings among thugs.

Last weekend, a clash between rival gangs in Kurna Mayanka, Yan Yashi, and Tudun Fulani led to the deaths of four people. Among them was Usman Hamidan, who was brutally murdered inside his own home.

OSUNDAILY NG spoke with his mother, Hajiya Habi Hamidan, an elderly woman of nearly 80 who is battling paralysis and has been left shattered by the loss of her only son.

“They broke into our house in the middle of the night while I was lying down sick in my room. I suddenly heard his screams in the courtyard as they were slaughtering him. When I looked, I saw four of them, they covered their faces with masks. I was crying, begging them not to kill my son, but they told me they were sent just to kill him and wouldn’t leave until they completed their mission,” she recounted tearfully.

Hajiya Habi said she watched helplessly as they beheaded her son, his brains spilling on the floor, before they opened the gate and walked out.

“The whole place looked like abbatoir, blood everywhere. They even licked the blood from their knives as I watched. He was my only son, the one who took care of me, fed me, and helped me since I became paralyzed. They killed him. Allah will judge them,” she said, weeping.

Apart from Usman, several others in Kurna, Ungogo Local Government Area, have reportedly been murdered in similar attacks, with assailants storming homes to execute victims.

The local vigilante chairman, Alhaji Bashir Lawal Moriki, blamed parents for shielding their children, enabling them to continue criminal acts unchecked.

“This is the parents’ fault because these boys are from this community, not from the sky. We have to correct our own before change can happen. I swear, even if it’s my own son, if he does such a thing, I will hand him over to the authorities,” Moriki said.

A young security guard, Sabiu, who narrowly escaped death after being attacked with knives, described his ordeal.

He said, “They flashed a dazzling light in my eyes, and before I understood what was happening, I felt cuts and blows all over my body. You can see the wounds on my head,” Sabiu said.

Residents in the area blame widespread drug abuse among youth as a major factor fueling these violent gang activities.

They also accuse the police of arresting innocent youths after these incidents, further increasing fear in the community.

During a visit to the area, Kano State Commissioner for Internal Security, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umar (Rtd.), urged residents to protect themselves, before security agencies arrive if such attacks occur again.

OSUNDAILY NG’s attempt to reach the spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command for comments on the allegations of indiscriminate arrests and ongoing investigations but it was not successful.

The gang violence in Kano appears to be taking a new, deadlier turn, with thugs now invading homes and killing residents, unlike in the past when attacks often occurred openly during the day.