Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has elevated 14 high chiefs and Baales in Oyo town to crown-wearing Obas, despite resistance from the Alaafin.
The coronation ceremony, held on February 13 at Oliveth Baptist High School, saw the newly installed monarchs receive their instruments of office in a symbolic consolidation of traditional authority.
Representing the governor, Deputy Governor Adebayo Lawal described the elevation as a strategic step to strengthen traditional institutions, enhance grassroots governance, and promote peace and development across communities.
He charged the new Obas to lead with integrity, fairness, and inclusiveness, emphasizing the crucial role traditional rulers play in security, unity, and community progress.
The development is widely seen as a significant shift in Oyo’s traditional power structure, reinforcing the state government’s commitment to redefining local leadership dynamics.
INEC Chairman, Amupitan, has addressed the issue of vote buying during elections, stressing that such malpractice will not be tolerated in the upcoming polls. He explained that the commission has already put in place necessary measures, in collaboration with security agencies, to detect, prevent, and prosecute anyone involved in attempting to buy votes.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, he said: “We have directed the Nigeria Police and the EFCC to arrest vote buyers during the election. Cause we have been noted that this is also flagged by a committee, and high number of security vilence that is likely to occur”
He added: “We are doing all these cause we have been presented an evidence based information and we are not going to take it for granted. We will share it with our security partners so they use the information to take necessary steps they ought to take.”
Igbo-Elerin Grammar School, Bamgbola, Ibadan, came alive with excitement and celebration on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, as it hosted its 40th Inter-House Sports Competition amidst cheers from students, staff, parents and invited guests. The school field was filled with joy as the colourful biennial ceremony commenced at about 10:30 a.m. with an opening prayer, followed by the national anthem, national pledge and the Oyo State anthem.
In her welcome address, the Principal, Mrs. Elizabeth Oluyemisi Ajewole, expressed gratitude to guests and encouraged students to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship and unity. The event was chaired by a notable alumnus and the CEO of Waterfield Luxury Hotels, Alhaji Ismail Hameed and also in attendance were other dignitaries including the National President of Igbo-Elerin Old Students’ Association, Engr. Sunday Gbenjo, representatives of the Old Students’ Association, TESCOM officials and other stakeholders who delivered goodwill messages and applauded the school’s commitment to academic and extracurricular excellence.
The competition began in earnest with a vibrant march pass by the four houses, namely Red (Lana House), Blue (Adejumo House), Green (Bamgbola House) and Yellow (Fadipe House). The display was followed by track events including 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m races for junior, intermediate and senior categories. A cultural dance performance added glamour to the occasion, while invited schools participated in relay races. Staff members also thrilled spectators during a special staff race.
At the end of the keenly contested events, Red House emerged overall winner with 356 points, clinching the coveted trophy. Blue House secured second position with 331 points, Green House came third with 260 points, while Yellow House finished fourth with 243 points.
Prizes and trophies were presented to outstanding athletes, and donations were also made by alumni and supporters towards the development of the school. The memorable sporting fiesta concluded peacefully at about 4:00 p.m.
The lawmaker representing Ido Local Government Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Razaq Mabaje, has provided financial support to 500 constituents in a major empowerment initiative valued at ₦25 million.
Under the programme, each beneficiary received ₦50,000, with recipients drawn from across Ward 1 to Ward 10 in Ido Local Government. Beneficiaries included farmers, market men and women, business owners, community leaders, party stakeholders, and loyal members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Hon. Mabaje described the initiative as part of his ongoing commitment to improving the welfare of his constituents and strengthening grassroots support. He assured beneficiaries that more empowerment programmes would follow, reaffirming his dedication to inclusive development in the constituency.
Speaking at the event, the PDP State Auditor, Alhaji Akinsola Ayuba, urged party members to remain united and steadfast. He stressed that the PDP remains strong in Oyo State under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde. “Let us remain one family. Do not allow anyone to mislead you about our party. We are still in PDP and Governor Seyi Makinde is our leader. If anyone invites you to any meeting outside the structure of our party, kindly reach out to me or your party chairman,” he said.
The Executive Chairman of Ido Local Government, Hon. Sheriff Adeojo, commended Mabaje for what he described as a timely and impactful initiative. He also announced a donation of ₦1 million to party members, encouraging continued support for the State Assembly and the Local Government Council.
Reiterating loyalty to Governor Makinde, Adeojo declared, “Seyi Makinde is our leader. If the Governor says we move, we move together. There is no more caucus in Ido Local Government — we are one family.”
The event was attended by several party leaders and stakeholders, including Mallam Muyili Yusuf; Alhaji Akinsola Ayuba (PDP State Auditor); Yisau Alabanla; Akano Matthew; Obe Jimoh; Ibrahim Tiamiyu; Kunle Akinwande; Alhaji Asimiyu Lawal; Oladipupo Musibau; Lateef Fashola Adepoju; Mukaila Diekola; Pastor Akintokun; and Alhaji Atilola. Also present were the Vice Chairman, Hon. Fashina; the Speaker of the House; councilors; supervisory councilors; special assistants; the PDP Chairman in Ido Local Government, Emiola Musibau; and Adeyanju Mustapha, former Chief of Staff of Ido Local Government.
The empowerment programme further underscores Hon. Mabaje’s commitment to grassroots development and party unity in Ido Local Government.
Panic gripped residents of Ibadan on Thursday morning after a Junior Secondary School 2 student of Monarch Model College was reportedly kidnapped by armed men in a brazen attack.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the masked abductors, driving a vehicle without number plates, allegedly trailed the girl’s mother before striking as she stopped to drop her daughter off. The gunmen, said to be armed with a double-barrel gun, reportedly fired shots into the air to disperse bystanders and punctured the tyre of the mother’s Toyota RAV4 with Lagos registration number KRD 350 GP.
The student, who reportedly resisted, was forcefully dragged into the kidnappers’ vehicle. The suspects thereafter fled the scene through the Challenge area, leaving residents in shock.
The incident was reported at the Orita Challenge Police Station, with officers arriving at the scene alongside the victim’s mother around 8:50 a.m. However, when contacted, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olusola Olayinka Ayanlade, said he had not yet been briefed on the matter as of press time.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to provide details regarding the kidnappers’ demands or the whereabouts of the abducted student.
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has alleged that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde recently met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Minna, Niger State, to discuss a possible political alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to Fayose, the meeting was strategically arranged with carefully selected participants to ensure confidence and political acceptability. Fayose claimed that Makinde is willing to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on the condition that he is offered the party’s vice-presidential ticket as Atiku’s running mate. He further alleged that Atiku is confident of securing the ADC presidential ticket, particularly following moves to ensure the party’s ticket is not zoned to any region.
As part of the reported negotiations, Makinde allegedly pledged an initial contribution of N10 billion, to be released in two tranches, to support the “proper take-off” of the ADC. He also reportedly promised additional funding once the campaign formally begins, alongside assurances that he could mobilize delegates from the Southwest and leverage political connections in the South-South.
Fayose added that Makinde believes his presence on the ticket could help divide votes in the Southwest during the general election, giving the ADC a strategic advantage. A follow-up meeting between both camps is reportedly scheduled to take place in Dubai within the next two weeks, although neither Atiku nor Makinde has publicly confirmed the claims.
Abuja — Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has reaffirmed the commitment of subnational governments to inclusive growth and sustainable development following deliberations at the second edition of the National Economic Council Conference.
The conference, held at the State House Conference Centre, brought together governors and key national stakeholders as panelists to examine strategies for delivering inclusive growth and advancing sustainable national development under the Renewed Hope National Development Plan.
Discussions at the forum focused on strengthening subnational economies, expanding opportunities for shared prosperity, and aligning state-level policies with the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to economic resilience, social inclusion, and long-term sustainability. Participants exchanged practical ideas on driving investment, improving infrastructure, boosting productivity, and ensuring that growth translates into tangible benefits for citizens across all regions of the country.
The conference also provided a platform for stakeholders to reaffirm their collective resolve to work collaboratively, leverage innovation, and pursue people-centred policies capable of accelerating national development and securing a more prosperous future for Nigeria.
Abeokuta, Ogun State — A technical team from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has visited the Eba oil well in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area as preparations advance for the commencement of commercial drilling operations in the state.
The inspection followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for commercial exploration and forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to deploy the required technical capacity and infrastructure for production. Officials of NNPCL carried out the exercise alongside representatives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and national security agencies to evaluate the site and confirm its readiness for drilling activities.
The delegation was led by Hussein Aliyu, Project Coordinator for Enserv, who headed the NNPCL Enserv technical team. Other members included Wasiu Adeniyi, Onwugba Kelechi, Engr. Rabiu M. Audu, Ojonoka Braimah, Ahmad Usman, Akinbosola Oluwaseyi, Salisu Nuhu, James Amezhinim, Yusuf Abdul-Azeez, Amararu Isukul and Livinus J. Kigbu.
Governor Dapo Abiodun described the development as a landmark achievement for Ogun State, saying the commencement of drilling at Eba would stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities and attract increased federal presence to the state’s coastal communities.
Geological reports had earlier confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons within the Ogun Waterside axis, leading to preliminary surveys and technical engagements by NNPCL. The Ogun State Government also carried out an independent verification of the oil well’s coordinates, affirming that the discovery is located within the state’s boundaries.
To secure the project, naval security personnel have been deployed to the site for over 18 months, with the support of the Ogun State Government, to protect the facility and its environs.
The Eba oil well is regarded as part of Nigeria’s strategic move to expand oil production beyond the Niger Delta region. Stakeholders noted that the next phase would focus on regulatory compliance, community relations, environmental protection and the smooth take-off of commercial operations.
The state government also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support toward the development of frontier oil basins and the equitable spread of the nation’s energy resources.
Minna, Niger State — Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with former Military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) at his residence in Minna. The private session, which lasted for several hours, has drawn political attention ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku and Makinde arrived separately at the Minna residence of the retired general, with Atiku getting there first and Makinde joining later as the talks got underway. No official statement has been released by any of the parties after the meeting concluded.
Speaking to journalists after his interaction, Atiku used the opportunity to criticise recent changes to Nigeria’s Electoral Bill, specifically the decision to adopt a hybrid election results transmission system that mixes electronic and manual processes. He argued the amendment could create confusion and weaken the integrity of elections, saying Nigerians had expected a fully electronic real-time transmission system.
Atiku also condemned the controversial Tax Bills and launched a broad attack on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a “party of forgers and riggers” — accusing the party of forgery on several fronts including age limits and tax laws.
Governor Makinde, who also met privately with the former military leader, declined to speak to reporters as he left the meeting.
Observers say the meeting — involving major opposition figures and a respected elder statesman — is being closely watched for its possible implications on political alliances and strategy ahead of the 2027 polls.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has issued a firm warning to herders operating within Ibadan metropolis to desist from open grazing, declaring the practice illegal, prohibited and unacceptable.
The monarch gave the warning on Monday in Ibadan following a meeting with members of the Ibadan Traditional Council and representatives of the Ijaye Farm Settlers Association. The position of the Olubadan was conveyed in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Olugbemiga Ayoade.
Oba Ladoja stressed that Ibadan, as a rapidly expanding urban centre and the capital of Oyo State, can no longer accommodate open grazing, which poses serious threats to public safety, agriculture, and peaceful coexistence. He noted that open grazing has been outlawed by the Oyo State Government and that all residents, regardless of background, must comply with existing laws.
According to the monarch, reports of destruction of farmlands, environmental degradation and rising tension between farmers and herders informed the decision to restate the ban and issue a clear warning. He emphasized that traditional institutions would not tolerate actions capable of disrupting peace and stability in Ibadanland.
The Olubadan urged herders to embrace alternative and lawful livestock management practices, such as ranching, in line with government policy. He added that anyone found violating the ban on open grazing would be handed over to relevant security agencies for prosecution.
Oba Ladoja also called on community leaders, security operatives and residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with authorities by reporting cases of open grazing or related disturbances. He reaffirmed the commitment of the traditional council to work with the state government to ensure lasting peace, security and protection of livelihoods across Ibadanland.
The meeting, which included leaders of the Ijaye Farm Settlers Association, ended with a consensus on the need for dialogue, strict law enforcement and mutual respect to prevent further conflicts between farmers and herders in the area.
