Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has asked opposition leaders and aggrieved stakeholders in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to drop the idea of a possible future coalition and join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) instead.

El-Rufai, a former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, specifically called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential flag-bearer in 2023, Peter Obi, and former ministers Rotimi Amaechi and Rauf Aregbesola to join forces with him in the SDP.

He made the appeal in a recent interview with BBC Hausa, in which he pleaded with politicians to join the SDP to defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

This follows his resignation from the APC on Monday, March 10, 2025, citing a misalignment of values with the ruling party.

ALSO READ: El-Rufai meets Aregbesola, Bakare as speculations of APC defection grows

“My wishes and prayers are for Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf, and all opposition leaders to come and join SDP, not to do a merger or to register a new political party.

“What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in would do well because we saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges.

“We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos for Nigeria, let’s support him. However, he failed,” he said.

The former Kaduna Governor affirmed that his presidential ambition in 2027 would depend on the party and the people’s will.

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ALSO READ: SDP youths accuse El-Rufai of attempting to hijack the party, reject his defection

“It is not for me to decide; it is the party and the people that will decide. Even when I was contesting for governor, it was people that met and convinced (Muhammadu) Buhari, and he called me and asked me to contest,” he added.

  The African Industrial and Development Conference and Awards (AIDCA) is set to host the Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition (EPC) finals in Abuja, Nigeria, in partnership with SeedsPad Qatar and Keystone Bank. This event will spotlight the top 100 startups from across Nigeria, offering them a chance to compete for a substantial prize pool of 100 million Naira, alongside valuable business to business meetings with angel investors. These finalists, selected from an anticipated pool of over 200 applicants through www.aidca.africa, have already proven their mettle in national competitions and undergone rigorous training at a global boot camp.  The EPC finals will be a central feature of the Global Entrepreneurship and Investment Summit, scheduled for July 21st-22nd, 2025, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. The summit, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Economic Potential: Harnessing Entrepreneurship and Investment Opportunities,” is designed to connect innovative entrepreneurs with private equity firms, venture capitalists, family offices, angel investors, and other key stakeholders from across Africa and beyond. This prestigious gathering will offer a unique platform for organizations, entrepreneurs, and startups to engage in Business-to-Business meetings, explore exhibitions, attend insightful keynotes and panel sessions, and participate in the AIDCA Awards.   Adedotun Olaoluwa, the president of Dotmount Communications and an organizer for this summit, emphasizes its potential to cultivate a robust investment ecosystem, building upon the success of the recent Middle East Investor Expo. “We are excited to host this prestigious event, which will bring together key players in the entrepreneurship and investment ecosystem. Our goal is to create a platform that fosters collaboration, innovation, and growth, ultimately unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.”  Building on Previous Success Following the success of the last Middle East Investor Expo, we are confident that this event will exceed expectations and provide a valuable experience for all participants.Registration and More Information To register and learn more about the Global Entrepreneurship and Investment Summit and the Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition, please visit www.aidca.africa. For sponsorship and enquiries.Email: info@aidca.africaTel: +234 808 709 7176        View this post on Instagram           A post shared by aidca (@aidca.summit) The post N100M Up for Grabs! AIDCA Hosts Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition Finals appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.

Hamas said Saturday that “the ball is in Israel’s court” after offering to release an Israeli-US hostage and return the bodies of four others as part of Gaza truce talks.

Following the offer on Friday, Israel said the Palestinian militants had “not budged a millimetre” after a proposal from US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy.

The first phase of the truce, which began in January, ended on March 1 without agreement on next steps. A Hamas official said negotiations began in Doha on Tuesday.

“The ball is in Israel’s court,” a Hamas spokesman said.

“We want to solidify the ceasefire agreement and force (Israel) to implement its terms,” Abdul Latif al-Qanou told AFP, accusing Israel of “delaying” its enforcement.

He pointed to the ongoing blockage of humanitarian aid entering Gaza since March 2.

A Hamas political bureau member, speaking anonymously, told AFP the proposal to release 21-year-old soldier Edan Alexander — abducted during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack — and return the bodies of four other Israeli-American hostages was part of a “unique agreement”.

In exchange, Israel would free Palestinian prisoners, with the number still under negotiation, the official said.

The official said the proposed exchange was conditioned with simultaneously starting negotiations for the implementation of the truce’s second phase, with the talks ending within a 50-day period, he said.

The proposal also called for the immediate opening of all border crossings to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Philadelphi corridor, he added.

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The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday accused Hamas of resorting to “manipulation and psychological warfare”.

Netanyahu’s office said he would meet late Saturday with several ministers “to receive a detailed report from the negotiation team and decide next steps towards freeing the hostages”.

The White House on Friday accused Hamas of making “entirely impractical” demands and “making a very bad bet that time is on its side”.

During the truce’s initial six-week phase which came into effect on January 19, militants released 33 hostages, including eight who were deceased, in exchange for about 1,800 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons.

There are still 58 hostages held in Gaza, 34 of whom the Israeli army has declared dead.

The post Hamas says ‘ball is in Israel’s court’ after hostage offer appeared first on Vanguard News.