Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticised the arrest and continued detention of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing it as “political persecution.”

Obi made the remarks on Sunday during a meeting with stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress in Kaduna.

The former Anambra State governor expressed concern over El-Rufai’s detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), warning that the development raises questions about the state of democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.

“It is political persecution. We have laws that guarantee dignity for individuals until proven guilty. Let the law prevail,” Obi said.

He questioned the manner in which El-Rufai was treated despite reportedly returning to the country voluntarily.

El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18, following his transfer from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has filed charges against him over alleged cybercrime, with a court hearing scheduled for April 23, 2026.

The former governor has, however, instituted legal actions against both the DSS and ICPC, accusing the agencies of unlawful detention, abuse of power, and manipulation of court processes.

The ICPC maintains that El-Rufai’s detention is necessary as investigations into allegations of money laundering and abuse of office continue.

His family has also called for his release, while his legal team, led by Ubong Esop Akpan, accused the anti-corruption agency of misrepresentation and disregard for due process in a letter dated March 6, 2026.

The Federal Government has announced plans to abolish the Junior Secondary School Common Entrance Examination and introduce a nationwide Learner Identification Number system to track pupils throughout their academic journey.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed the proposal during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, stating that the reforms are aimed at improving access to education and strengthening monitoring mechanisms across the country.

Under the proposed framework, the current common entrance examination will be phased out and replaced with a Continuous Assessment (CA) system. The minister explained that pupils would be evaluated based on their academic performance from primary one, allowing for seamless transfer of records when moving between schools.

Alausa said the reform is designed to address long-standing challenges in the transition from primary to secondary education, particularly the high number of pupils who fail to progress.

According to him, Nigeria has over 50,000 public primary schools with more than 23 million pupils, yet only slightly above three million transition to junior secondary school within the public system.

He described the gap as a reflection of limited access, noting that private schools cannot fully absorb the shortfall.

“The issue is simply lack of access,” he said, adding that the Federal Government is working with state governments to expand infrastructure and build more schools to accommodate the growing number of pupils.

To support the reform, the government plans to introduce a unique Learner Identification Number for every child from the primary school level. The number will remain with each pupil throughout their education, regardless of school transfers.

The system, the minister said, will enable authorities to track students’ progress and identify dropouts for timely intervention.

“If a child is expected to be in JSS1 and is not there, we will be able to determine the reason,” he added.

Alausa also revealed plans to revive the school feeding programme as part of efforts to boost enrolment and retention in public schools.

He noted that the programme may be placed under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education to improve monitoring and effectiveness.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen the education sector, improve retention rates, and ensure more children complete basic education.

The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has strongly condemned the reported assault of women and girls during the Alue-Do Festival in Ozoro, Delta State, describing the incident as “horrific” and unacceptable.

Reacting to viral footage from Ozoro, the First Lady expressed outrage over scenes showing young girls being physically and sexually assaulted, as well as subjected to degrading treatment during what was meant to be a cultural celebration.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity, Mrs. Tinubu stressed that no tradition or custom should be used as justification for violating the dignity and rights of women and girls.

She commended the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force for making arrests in connection with the incident and urged authorities to ensure that all perpetrators are brought to justice.

The First Lady also called on victims to seek immediate medical and psychological support, offering prayers for their healing, peace, and strength in the aftermath of the ordeal.

The incident has sparked widespread concern and renewed calls for stricter measures to protect women and girls during cultural and public events across the country.