Pantami continued: “Since leaving the hospital, I have been deeply worried because of the condition I saw him in. Even to a layman like me, his health condition was clearly critical. However, we always put our trust in Allah, the Almighty God. A few hours later, I received news of his passing at Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja, today, Friday.”

The ex-minister added:

“We have lost one of our own. However, passing away on a Friday carries its own spiritual blessing. The Prophet Muhammad said: “No believer passes away on Friday, or its night, but that Allah will protect him from the trial of the grave.” (Tirmidhi: 1074).

“May Allah admit him to Jannatul Firdaus along with our departed parents and loved ones, and grant his family and relatives the fortitude to bear this loss.” Pantami’s full statement can be read below, as shared in his post on X:

Inuwa, a founding member of the APC in Katsina, left the party after failing to secure its governorship ticket for the 2023 election. He later joined the PDP and served as campaign director for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Katsina before moving to the ADC.

The report also stated that APC officials first sent Jabiru Tsauri, a former chief of staff to the governor, to meet Inuwa. Later, the deputy governor, Lawal Jobe, reportedly held another closed-door meeting with him, although details were not made public.

Meanwhile, the ADC continues to grapple with internal disagreements following its governorship primary, with rival groups challenging the emergence of Ahmed Kaita as the party’s candidate. Some aspirants alleged that the process lacked transparency and did not comply with electoral guidelines.

The crisis has created uncertainty within the party’s structure in the state.

On Tuesday, 34 House of Assembly aspirants from 18 local government areas officially joined the PDP. They said their decision was based on injustice, poor leadership and a lack of internal democracy within the ADC.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Ahmad Yusuf Jaguma said they had lost confidence in the party’s leadership.

“We thought deeply, and we found that PDP is the solution. We left a disorganised journey and returned to our original home,” he said.

He added that many of them had expected PDP leader Senator Yakubu Lado Danmarke to also join the ADC but changed their minds when that did not happen.

Welcoming the defectors, Katsina PDP chairperson Nuraddeen Kurfi said the party remained united and open to new members.

“You will have a full opportunity and justice in PDP. This party is home for everyone,” he said.

PDP governorship candidate Yakubu Danmarke also welcomed the new members and said more politicians were expected to join the party in the coming weeks.

“The administration has pledged to uphold these principles without compromise.

“The Ministry of Interior, in coordination with relevant security agencies, will continue to maintain and strengthen internal security measures to protect lives and property across the country,” Dr Tunji-Ojo said.

He noted that a secure and stable environment is essential to the health of any democracy and to the broader project of national development.

The Minister called on all Nigerians to observe the holiday as an opportunity for civic reflection, urging citizens to recommit to lawful conduct, responsible engagement and national unity.

“As we mark this historic day, every Nigerian is encouraged to remain law-abiding, uphold the institutions that sustain our democracy, and remember that the strength of any democracy lies ultimately in the character of its citizens,” he said.