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US government shutdown averted as Senate passes spending bill

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voted to allow funding to the government. © Getty Images

The US has averted a government shutdown after the Senate passed a Republican-led measure to keep the government funded for the next six months.

The stopgap funding bill passed in the Senate 54-46, as two Democrats joined all but one Republican senator in voting yes. President Donald Trump must now sign it into law before the Friday midnight deadline.

The key vote came earlier when some Senate Democrats, after fierce debate, allowed the measure to pass a procedural hurdle.

The Senate minority leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer, and nine others broke with their colleagues to vote to advance the bill to its final Friday evening vote.

Two Democrats – Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Independent Senator Angus King of Maine – voted in favour of its final passage. Schumer voted “no”.

On Thursday, he announced he would vote to allow the measure to move forward, saying although it wasn’t a bill he liked, he believed triggering a shutdown would be a worse result.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez called Schumer’s willingness to let the spending bill proceed a “huge slap in the face”, adding that there is a “wide sense of betrayal” among the party, according to the BBC’s US partner CBS News.

She said supporting the bill “codifies the chaos and the reckless cuts that Elon Musk has been pursuing”, and that Senate Democrats who voted yes would be empowering “the robbing of our federal government in order to finance tax cuts for billionaires”.

The Democrats had agonised over whether to support the measure, and eventually pushed for a 30-day continuing resolution that was unlikely to earn enough support to pass.

Senator Ted Cruz accused the Democrats of conducting “political theater” and praised the bill’s passage.

“The government is funded, let’s get back to work,” he said in a statement.

The passage is a victory for Trump and congressional Republicans.

On Friday morning, Trump offered rare bipartisan praise of Schumer’s decision to let the bill advance, writing that “a non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights”.

The legislation would keep much of the federal funding levels from the Biden Administration in place, with some key changes.

It increases military spending by $6bn (£4.6bn), for items like border security, veterans healthcare, and military spending. But would cut non-defence funding by about $13bn.

Local officials in Washington DC had feared the bill would result in a $1bn cut in federal funds for the city over the next six months. However, the Senate approved a separate bill that kept its current operating budget intact, the New York Times reported.

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Don’t let Ganduje’s exit divide APC – Dalori tells NWC members, others

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Acting National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Ali Dalori, has appealed to members of the National Working Committee, NWC, and others not to allow the resignation of the immediate past national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, to cause disunity in the party.

This is even as he charged them to be mindful of their words and actions in the wake of Ganduje’s exit.

Dalori revealed that in the days ahead, he would share with them a practical roadmap to guide the NWC during this interim period.

“To all party members and stakeholders, I urge us to stay united. Political transitions often create uncertainty, but we must not allow it to breed disunity.

“We must avoid actions and words that divide us and focus on what binds us — our shared belief in the promise of Nigeria and the future of the APC.

“It will cover key areas such as party discipline, reconciliation, communication, member mobilisation, and broader stakeholder engagement,” he said.

The acting national chairman further said that he assumed his new position in line with the constitution of the party and the directive of President Bola Tinubu.

He wished Ganduje a speedy recovery, thanking him for his contributions to the upliftment of the APC.

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Gov Yusuf immortalizes Kano athletes killed in auto-crash

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Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has immortalized 22 Kano athletes who lost their lives in a road accident while returning from the National Sports Festival in May 2025.

Yusuf made the announcement during a ceremony held at the Government House in Kano.

He said the Kano State Sports Institute will now be known as the ‘Kano State 22 Athletes Sports Institute’.

In addition, the governor said that the Kano State Sports Commission will bear the name, ‘Kano State 22 Athletes Sports Commission’, in honour of the late sportsmen and women.

“These young heroes made Kano proud. They should be remembered forever. Their commitment and sacrifice to the state will not be forgotten,” the governor said.

The governor made the announcement during a courtesy visit by representatives of the First Lady, Mrs Remi Tinubu, who donated N110 million to the bereaved families.

He appreciated the First Lady for the donation to the families, whom he said were going through unimaginable grief.

“We are grateful to Her Excellency, the First Lady, for this generous support. These families are going through unimaginable grief, and this act of kindness provides not only relief but also recognition,” the governor added.

Yusuf pledged the Kano government’s continued support for the families of the deceased.

DAILY POST reports that tragic incident, which occurred just five kilometres away from Kano, shocked the nation and plunged the sports community into mourning.

Recall that the athletes were returning home after representing Kano at the National Sports Festival, where they had reportedly delivered outstanding performances.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, reiterated that the fallen athletes were heroes who fought for the success of Kano State and deserve to be immortalised for their patriotism and excellence.

According to the statement, the renaming of the two key sports institutions would stand as a permanent symbol of honour, reminding future generations of the sacrifices made by those who wore the state’s colours with pride.

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Mass Exodus Looms: Thousands of APC Members in Adamawa Prepare to Defect to ADC Coalition

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By Emmanuel Kwada

In a significant political development, a group of prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Adamawa State convened a strategic meeting in Yola to discuss defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and forming a new coalition to challenge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The meeting, held at the residence of Engr. Omar Suleiman, a former Nigerian Ports Authority official and ex-Ambassador to Sudan, signals a potential shift in the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.

The coalition includes loyalists of high-profile figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governor Murtala Nyako, former Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani, and Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo.

The group aims to position the ADC as a formidable force to unseat the PDP, which has maintained control under Governor Ahmadu Fintiri

These APC stalwarts expressed frustration with internal party dynamics, citing a lack of reward systems and vested interests as key reasons for their dissatisfaction. The group aims to position the ADC as a formidable force to unseat the PDP, which has maintained control under Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.

Engr. Omar Suleiman, a long-time APC member who unsuccessfully contested for the Adamawa Central senatorial seat in 2015 and 2019, hosted the meeting. Sources revealed that discussions centered on a strategic plan to take over Adamawa State, leveraging the ADC as a new political platform.

Gov Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri

 

Another key figure, Engr. Dr. Umar Buba Bindir, a former Secretary to the Adamawa State Government and senatorial aspirant, addressed the coalition, emphasizing that the ADC has been adopted at the national level as a party for all registered and loyal members. Bindir vowed to work collaboratively to dislodge the PDP, criticizing the APC for its failure to reward loyalty.

Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Dasin, a former state and federal lawmaker and active APC member, also attended the meeting, calling for unity among the coalition to achieve their shared goal. “We must come together with a clear purpose to bring change to Adamawa,” Dasin urged, highlighting the need for a cohesive strategy to challenge the PDP’s dominance.

We must come together with a clear purpose to bring change to Adamawa

The meeting underscores ongoing internal crises within the Adamawa APC, with prominent members like Nyako, Bindow, Binani, and Abbo previously boycotting a reconciliation meeting organized by the party’s national leadership in December 2024.

The ADC coalition’s emergence could further weaken the APC’s position in the state, especially following the expulsion of Senator Abbo and other internal disputes that have plagued the party. In

The Adamawa State ADC leadership has yet to issue an official statement, but the coalition’s activities are expected to intensify in the coming months as they work to expand their base and finalize their strategy.

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