Ibrahim Khalil

Former Kano State Governor and vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has ruled out withdrawing from the presidential race in favour of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing its campaign team of engaging in unnecessary attacks against him, presidential candidate Peter Obi and their party.

KANO FOCUS reports that Kwankwaso stated this in a post on his Facebook account on Saturday, insisting that the NDC presidential ticket remained committed to contesting the election and offering Nigerians an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He accused the ADC Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) of attempting to create the impression that the NDC ticket was working for the ruling party or planning to withdraw from the race at the last minute in favour of the ADC candidate.

“The attacks directed at me, our presidential candidate His Excellency Peter Obi, and our party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), are unnecessary and unhelpful,” he said.

According to Kwankwaso, political parties should concentrate on presenting their candidates’ competence, credibility and capacity to Nigerians rather than attacking their opponents.

He argued that the ADC campaign team would be better served responding to allegations reportedly levelled against its candidate by Vice-President Kashim Shettima instead of targeting the NDC leadership.

Kwankwaso also warned that the ADC campaign might attempt to mislead NDC supporters shortly before the election by claiming that his party intended to withdraw in favour of its candidate.

“Let me state clearly and unequivocally: we will not withdraw our candidature for the ADC or any other party. We remain confident in our capacity, competence, and readiness to lead Nigeria,” he declared.

He further denied any alliance with the APC, stressing that the NDC ticket, which he referred to as the “OK ticket,” was neither working for the ruling party nor acting on behalf of any of its candidates.

The former governor maintained that there was no reason for the NDC to abandon the presidential contest, describing reports suggesting otherwise as unfounded.

Assessing the political alternatives available to Nigerians, Kwankwaso criticised the APC-led government, saying it had failed the country, while arguing that the ADC did not offer a better alternative.

He described the NDC ticket as a credible and viable option, citing its record, capacity and support across Northern and Southern Nigeria.

According to him, the ticket is committed to promoting national unity and addressing major challenges confronting the country, including insecurity, education, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and economic development.

Kwankwaso also described the NDC as the country’s most formidable and viable opposition party, urging supporters and Nigerians sympathetic to its cause to remain committed to its electoral success.

He concluded his message with the slogan, “Nigeria will be OK.”

Ibrahim Khalil

WHC Solar, a renewable energy company, has trained 300 solar traders and artisans in Kano to improve their technical skills and promote the safe and efficient installation of solar power systems in Nigeria.

KANO FOCUS reports that the training, organised by the company on Saturday in Kano, focused on equipping participants with practical knowledge of solar technology, particularly the installation and configuration of inverters and lithium batteries.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of WHC Solar, Clint Chan, said the programme was designed to address technical gaps among solar installers and improve the quality of services provided to customers.

Clint Chan

Chan said the company initially expected about 250 participants but recorded an attendance of nearly 300, reflecting growing interest in solar energy technology.

“We noticed that some installers may not fully understand the technology, which can lead to mistakes. We organised this training to help them improve their skills and become more experienced technicians who can contribute positively to society,” he said.

He explained that participants received practical instruction on installing and configuring inverters and lithium batteries, including understanding how the components communicate with one another.

According to him, improving the technical capacity of solar practitioners would help reduce installation errors, enhance system performance and build customers’ confidence in renewable energy solutions.

Chan said the initiative aligned with the company’s mission to expand access to electricity through solar energy, particularly in Nigeria, where many households and businesses continue to face unreliable power supply.

“Nigeria is still facing electricity challenges, which is why our mission is to ensure that everyone has access to electricity, starting with Nigeria,” he said.

He disclosed that WHC Solar had operated in Nigeria for more than 10 years and remained committed to supporting the growth of the country’s renewable energy sector.

The chief executive added that the company maintained a service centre in Kano and supplied solar power systems for residential, commercial and industrial users.

He said participants would receive certificates at the end of the training to recognise their participation and the skills acquired.

Also speaking, a solar distributor, Sani Abdulkadir, popularly known as ABDK, commended the company for organising the programme and creating opportunities for young people to develop technical skills in the renewable energy sector.

Abdulkadir, who said he attended the training as a distributor, explained that customers experiencing problems with the company’s products could take them to its service centre for repairs, which he said could be completed within 24 hours.

He noted that solar energy was gaining wider acceptance among Nigerian households, creating growing opportunities for traders, installers and other professionals in the sector.

“Before, you could count the number of houses using solar energy, but the situation is changing as more people are embracing it,” he said.

The training comes amid increasing interest in solar power as households and businesses seek alternatives to unreliable electricity supply, with technical capacity development seen as important to ensuring the quality, safety and sustainability of solar installations.

Kidnapped victim freed unharmed in Falgore Forest

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

The Kano State Police Command has reported the killing of two suspected bandits and the recovery of N10 million ransom following the rescue of a kidnapped victim in Falgore Forest, Doguwa Local Government Area of the state.

KANO FOCUS reports that the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, when three suspected bandits allegedly emerged from the forest to collect the ransom demanded for the release of a 45-year-old man, Kabiru Aliyu, of Falgore village.

Aliyu was reportedly kidnapped on September 11, 2026, and had spent days in captivity before his abductors secured the N10 million ransom.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the victim was released unharmed after the suspects collected the money.

However, the suspects were reportedly ambushed by local hunters, popularly known as Yan Bula, while returning to their hideout in Falgore Forest.

The police said two of the suspected bandits were killed during the encounter, while the third escaped with injuries.

The entire N10 million ransom was recovered intact from the deceased suspects, according to the statement.

Preliminary investigations identified one of the suspects as Dogo Isah, a commercial motorcycle operator from Maigwanda village in Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended the local hunters for their efforts in complementing the police-led Operation Kukan Kura in tackling kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes in the Falgore Forest axis.

Bakori also directed the Area Commander, divisional police officers and tactical teams operating in the area to intensify searches to apprehend the fleeing suspect and recover any weapons used by the gang.

The police said the rescued victim had been debriefed, medically examined and reunited with his family.

The command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property, urging residents to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations against criminal elements.

The statement was signed by CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, Police Public Relations Officer, Kano State Police Command, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.