Former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has endorsed the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
Oyinlola made the declaration in Osogbo while addressing political stakeholders and supporters, saying his decision was based on the interest of Osun State and the need for a new direction. He, however, clarified that his faction remains members of the PDP and is not defecting to the APC.
The former governor urged Oyebamiji, if elected, to run an inclusive administration focused on good governance, economic development, infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and youth empowerment.
The endorsement is considered politically significant given Oyinlola’s status as a former governor and prominent PDP figure. It comes days before the election, in which Oyebamiji is challenging incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke and other candidates for the Osun governorship.
Popular Ibadan-based broadcaster and Accord Party governorship candidate in Oyo State, Oriyomi Hamzat, has claimed that he was among those who encouraged Governor Seyi Makinde to enter the Oyo State governorship race.
Hamzat made the disclosure while addressing members of the Accord Party in Ibadan on Saturday, amid growing political differences between him and Makinde ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the broadcaster, he supported Makinde’s governorship ambition because he believed the former engineer would work for the people of Oyo State.
Hamzat said he should also be given credit for the achievements recorded by the Makinde administration, arguing that those who acknowledge the governor’s accomplishments should equally recognise the people who supported his emergence.
“Seyi Makinde has reformed Oyo. Hence, we are not following you. Who brought Seyi Makinde? I was the one. I was one of those that brought him and supported him as governor,” Hamzat said.
He questioned why his alleged role in supporting Makinde’s political emergence was being overlooked while critics focused on issues surrounding the administration.
“All those good things, why don’t you give me the credit? Why is it that it is the unpleasant side that people are using to attack me?” he asked.
Hamzat further argued that opposition politicians often acknowledge Makinde’s achievements when discussing his administration, but fail to recognise those who supported his emergence.
The broadcaster and Makinde were previously regarded as close political allies. However, their relationship has become strained as Hamzat has entered the 2027 governorship contest on the platform of the Accord Party.
Hamzat is now seeking to succeed Makinde, who is constitutionally ineligible to seek a third consecutive term as governor in 2027.
The development adds another dimension to the emerging political contest in Oyo State, with several political actors positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
As all attention shifts to Osun state for the governorship poll which comes up this Saturday, the All Progressives Congress APC in Oyo state has charged voters “to save their state from charlatans and comedians who have been in the saddle in close to four years with only the record of wastefulness, nepotism and brigandage to show”.
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has fixed August 15, 2026 for the Osun state’s off circle in which the candidate of the APC, Dr. Bola Oyebamiji, is being touted as the favorite over the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking a re-election under the platform of the Accord.
In a statement issued at the weekend and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC cited the need for quality leadership, decent representation and equity in the distribution of resources among communities as major reasons power must change hands in Osun state this this time.
“Regrettably, Osun and Oyo states fell into the wrong hands in 2022 and 2023 respectively and the sad results of this development are evident in the key sectors of both states today. Osun state is worse hit because its residents and indigene have had to with the reality of having an incompetent leader at the helm of affairs. It is quite sad that a state which harbors a University with global reputation for excellence and Africa’s most beautiful campus is being governed by a mere dance freak.
“Today, Osun state people are divided in all spheres because they have a governor who does not know what to do keep his people together. Also, official corruption is the order of the day while distribution of appointments and infrastructure among the people and community is lopsided. Osun and Oyo states have governors who do not get on well with their brothers in the South West geopolitical zones due to party differences and inferiority complex.
“But fortunately enough, the good people of Osun state have been offered another opportunity to get right by electing a competent, intelligent and unifier as their new governor. Dr. Bola Oyebamiji of the APC is the ideal man for the job and he will not disappoint if elected as he is prepared to deliver on his electoral promises. Enough of sponsored violence, brigandage and crime surge in Osun state. APC government will restore peace, accountability in governance and accelerated development in Osun.” Oyo APC stated.
The death of Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba has taken a new turn following claims by her fiancé that the actress died at a police station in Ikorodu, Lagos, contrary to reports linking her death to cancer.
The fiancé reportedly disputed the circumstances surrounding the actress’ death, alleging that she passed away while at a police station in Ikorodu.
His claim has sparked questions about what transpired before the actress’ death and has placed the circumstances surrounding her final moments under fresh scrutiny.
Osoba, popularly known as Tope Osoba, had previously spoken publicly about her battle with breast cancer. In November 2024, colleagues including actress Foluke Daramola rallied financial support for her treatment after she underwent surgery and required further medical care.
In August 2025, Osoba said she had recovered from the illness and announced her return to acting. She also recounted how doctors had initially warned that her treatment could affect her ability to conceive, while explaining that subsequent tests showed the cancer had not spread and that she underwent another surgery to remove remaining tumour tissue.
By December 2025, reports described Osoba as a cancer survivor as she celebrated her 40th birthday and reflected on her experience with the disease.
The latest allegation by her fiancé therefore contradicts the narrative that her death was directly caused by cancer.
Details surrounding the reported incident at the Ikorodu police station, including why the actress was there, what happened before her death and whether the police have formally responded to the allegation, remain unclear from the information currently available.
The circumstances of her death may require further clarification from her family, fiancé, the police authorities and other persons with direct knowledge of the incident.
Until such clarification is provided, the claim that she died at a police station remains an allegation attributed to her fiancé.
Presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of waging “a war against the people” of Osun State, in the countdown to the governorship election.
Olawepo-Hashim alleged that recent actions of the Federal Government crossed the line from politics into what he described as ‘punitive state oppression.’
In a strongly-worded statement he personally issued over the weekend, Hashim, who is also Co-Chairman of the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR), alleged that withholding of Osun state’s local government allocations, freezing of state government accounts and the provision of security protection for APC supporters allegedly involved in attacks on opposition members formed part of a coordinated attempt to undermine democracy and punish the people of Osun for political reasons.
While acknowledging reports that the restrictions placed on the state’s accounts by the EFCC had been lifted following the president’s directive, Hashim maintained that the measures should never have been imposed in the first place.
He described those actions as abuse of federal power; inconsistent with constitutional democracy.
Hashim said: This is not politics. It is the punitive conduct of a Federal colonial state treating the people of Osun as vassals.”
He further noted that democracy cannot survive where federal institutions are deployed as political weapons against elected state governments, insisting that the sovereignty of the people must never be subordinated to partisan interests.
Hashim also issued a stern warning to public officials whom he alleged participated in implementing the measures, saying they would bear personal responsibility for any unlawful actions, irrespective of how the political dispute ultimately ends.
“However this ends, all state officials involved in this political brigandage must note that they will be held individually accountable for their actions,” he declared.
The presidential candidate urged Nigerians and democratic institutions to resist what he described as the weaponisation of state power, maintaining that no democracy can flourish where constitutional powers are allegedly abused to intimidate political opponents and undermine the will of the electorate.
With the Osun State governorship election approaching, Hashim called on president Tinubu to ensure that every remaining obstacle to a free, peaceful and credible poll is removed.
“It is not too late to apply the brakes. President Tinubu should immediately instruct all security agencies and federal officials to remain neutral and allow the people of Osun to make their choices in an atmosphere devoid of intimidation. The world is watching,” he added.
Hashim concluded by urging the people of Osun to reject intimidation and participate peacefully in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
“Stand your ground. Refuse to be cowed into submission. We are still a democracy and a Republic. Come out peacefully and exercise your constitutional right to vote,” he urged the electorate.
The Lagos State Government has arrested 27 suspected hoodlums for allegedly vandalising the newly constructed bridge linking Festac Town and Alakija and removing metals used to reinforce the structure.
The suspects were arrested during a joint midnight enforcement operation carried out by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) task force.
The operation followed the discovery that critical components of the newly constructed bridge had allegedly been vandalised, raising concerns over the safety and structural integrity of the infrastructure.
According to a statement shared on the X handle of the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the enforcement operation was conducted in line with the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to rid the Lagos-Badagry Transnational Highway of environmental infractions, illegal motor parks, roadside trading and other unlawful activities.
The Commissioner said investigations showed that the suspects allegedly removed key structural materials from the bridge, including iron rods, steel reinforcements, cables and other supporting components.
“Investigations revealed that suspected hoodlums had deliberately vandalised critical structural components of the bridge by removing iron rods, steel reinforcements, cables, and other supporting materials essential to the integrity of the infrastructure,” Wahab said.
He described the alleged vandalism as a serious threat to public safety and the integrity of the bridge, warning that such acts could undermine government investments in critical infrastructure.
Following the discovery, security operatives launched a coordinated enforcement operation at the site, resulting in the arrest of 27 suspects.
The Lagos State Government said the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the extant laws of the state.
The government also reiterated its commitment to protecting public infrastructure and ensuring that individuals who engage in vandalism or other activities capable of endangering public safety are brought to justice.
Justice F.N. Ogazi of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, August 7, 2026, convicted and sentenced four persons to two and six months’ imprisonment respectively for offences bordering on illegal foreign exchange transactions and unlawful trading of naira notes.
The convicts; Ahmad Umar Baros, Aminu Umar Injay, Yusuf Suleimon, and Olasunbo Sholanke were separately arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate one-count charge on Thursday August 6, 2026.
The charge against Baros reads: “That you, Ahmad Umar Baros sometime in 2026 in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, engaged in a foreign exchange transaction other than through the official foreign exchange market, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 11(1)(a) of the National Economic Intelligence Committee (Establishment etc) Act, 1994, and punishable under Section 11(2) of the same Act.”
Yusuf Suleimon and Olasunbo Sholanke were separately charged with the illegal sale and trading of naira notes.
One of the charges read: “That you, Yusuf Suleimon, on or about July 25, 2026, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did sell and trade in naira notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 21(4) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 (as amended), and punishable under Section 21(1) of the same Act.”
They all pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them.
Following their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel N.K. Ukoha, Ebuka Okongwu and U.S. Kyari reviewed the facts of the cases and urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
In his judgment, Justice Ogazi found all four defendants guilty and sentenced Ahmad Umar Baros to two months imprisonment while the other three were sentenced to six months imprisonment each, with the option of ₦100,000 fine each.
The Ogun State Government has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of its criminal justice system with the introduction of the Group Liability for Offences of Violence, Extortion and Secret Societies (GLOVES) Bill, a legislation aimed at making members of unlawful societies criminally liable for offences committed in furtherance of their groups’ objectives.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), disclosed this on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ engagement on justice sector reforms in the state.
Ogungbade explained that the proposed legislation was designed to address gaps in the existing legal framework, particularly in cases where individuals allegedly commit violent or other criminal acts as members of organised groups.
According to him, the GLOVES Bill would provide a legal framework for establishing liability against members of unlawful societies where offences are committed in pursuit of the objectives or activities of such groups.
He said the proposed law was part of the state government’s broader efforts to strengthen public safety, improve access to justice and respond more effectively to organised violence, cultism and extortion.
The Attorney-General also disclosed plans to establish a Victims Support Office as part of the reforms.
The office, when established, is expected to provide institutional support to victims of crime and help them navigate the justice system, particularly in cases involving violence and other serious offences.
Ogungbade said the proposed reforms were aimed not only at prosecuting offenders but also at ensuring that victims receive appropriate attention and support throughout the justice process.
He noted that an effective criminal justice system must balance the prosecution of offenders with the protection of victims’ rights and the provision of mechanisms through which victims can obtain necessary assistance.
The commissioner stressed the importance of collaboration among relevant stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, traditional institutions, civil society organisations and members of the public, in tackling criminal activities and improving the administration of justice.
He said the state government would continue to pursue legal and institutional reforms capable of strengthening the justice system and making Ogun safer for residents, businesses and investors.
The proposed GLOVES Bill is expected to undergo the necessary legislative processes before it can become law, including consideration by the Ogun State House of Assembly and other relevant stakeholders.
If enacted, the legislation could introduce a stronger legal approach to dealing with organised criminal activities by targeting not only individuals directly involved in offences but also members of unlawful groups whose activities facilitate or promote such crimes.
The initiative is part of the Ogun State Government’s continuing efforts to strengthen its criminal justice architecture and improve the state’s response to cultism, violence, extortion and other organised criminal activities.
Princess Alimot Osunbunmi, a nine-year-old member of the royal family in Osogbo, emerged as the new Arugba Osun for the 2025 Osun-Osogbo Festival, taking over the revered role after the exit of Osuntomi Ewatomilola, who served for about 11 years.
Osunbunmi was selected in March 2025 following the traditional Ifa divination process conducted by Osun devotees. Her emergence marked the beginning of a new chapter in one of Nigeria’s most significant traditional and cultural festivals.
The Arugba, traditionally a young female virgin from the royal lineage selected through Ifa divination, plays a central role in the annual Osun-Osogbo Festival. She is traditionally associated with the sacred calabash, known as the Igba Osun, which contains ritual offerings presented to Osun, the Yoruba river deity.
During the festival procession, the Arugba traditionally leads devotees and traditionalists from the palace towards the Osun Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the major spiritual rites take place.
The role carries deep symbolic significance within Osogbo tradition. The Arugba is regarded as an important spiritual figure in the procession, with devotees traditionally offering prayers and seeking blessings as she makes her way towards the sacred grove.
However, the 2025 edition witnessed an unusual adjustment. Although Osunbunmi led the procession, the sacred calabash was carried by the Osun Chief Priest, identified as Adesina, rather than by the young Arugba herself.
Reports indicated that the adjustment was linked to concerns about the weight of the calabash and the physical demands of carrying it over the procession route. A traditionalist, Olawale Osunfemi, explained that the duty is physically demanding and that the young Arugba’s age and strength could have made carrying the calabash difficult.
Ifa priest Ifatoki Elebuibon also explained that tradition permits another person to assist with carrying the calabash when it is too heavy for the Arugba, although such a person would not assume the title of Arugba.
The development generated considerable public interest because carrying the sacred calabash is one of the most recognisable responsibilities associated with the Arugba.
Despite the adjustment, Osunbunmi retained her position as the newly selected Arugba and led the procession into the sacred grove, continuing a centuries-old tradition that remains central to the cultural identity of the people of Osogbo.
The Osun-Osogbo Festival, held annually in Osogbo, Osun State, attracts worshippers, traditionalists, tourists, researchers and cultural enthusiasts from Nigeria and beyond. The festival is widely regarded as an important celebration of Yoruba cultural heritage and spirituality, with the Osun Sacred Grove serving as its principal spiritual and cultural centre.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed concern over the timing of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) decision to freeze the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, saying he feels “deeply embarrassed” by when the action was taken.
According to the President, his concern is not with the EFCC carrying out its statutory responsibilities under a valid court order, but with the timing of the enforcement, coming just days before the Osun State governorship election.
Tinubu reportedly stated that while anti-corruption agencies must be allowed to perform their constitutional duties without interference, such actions should also be carefully timed to avoid creating unnecessary political tension or giving room for allegations of partisanship.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the independence of the EFCC and the fight against corruption, stressing that no individual or institution is above the law. However, he noted that the anti-graft agency must always ensure that its operations inspire public confidence and do not undermine the credibility of democratic processes.
His comments come amid growing controversy over the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts by the EFCC. The Commission had earlier explained that the action followed an ongoing investigation into the alleged mismanagement of about N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations. The EFCC maintained that it acted after detecting what it described as suspicious transfers of large sums of money from the state’s accounts to several corporate entities.
The development has sparked political reactions, with the Osun State Government accusing the Commission of attempting to disrupt governance, while the EFCC insists that its actions were solely aimed at protecting public funds and were backed by a court order.
Tinubu’s intervention is expected to fuel further debate over the balance between anti-corruption enforcement and the need to preserve public confidence in democratic institutions, particularly during election periods.
