Category: Politics

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made a significant announcement that is causing a stir in Nigeria’s political scene. The much-awaited governorship and state assembly elections scheduled for Saturday have been postponed to March 18, 2023.

The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yaqub while speaking to Journalists said, the decision to postpone the election was hinged on the INEC’s inability to promptly reconfigure the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used during the February 25 presidential election to enable their use in the state elections.

The BVAS system is a technology-driven process introduced by INEC in the 2019 general elections to ease the accreditation of voters during elections. It involves two modes of authentication: fingerprint and facial recognition. However, the machines were not ready for use in the upcoming elections due to legal issues that arose after the presidential election. INEC was earlier restrained from tampering with the information embedded in the BVAS machines until due inspection was conducted, and Certified True Copies (CTC) were issued to candidates who are challenging the outcome of the presidential election.

INEC’s decision to postpone the elections is a result of its commitment to upholding the law and ensuring a credible electoral process. According to a statement released by the commission, “The decision is in compliance with the legal requirement and to ensure that we conduct a free, fair and credible election.” It is a necessary step to ensure that all voters are given the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to choose their leaders without any impediment.

This decision has been met with mixed reactions from different quarters. While some people have commended INEC for taking the right step, others have expressed disappointment and frustration. Many Nigerians were eagerly waiting for the elections to take place and were already making plans to exercise their right to vote. However, INEC has assured the public that it is doing everything possible to ensure that the new date for the elections is well publicized and that all stakeholders are carried along.

In conclusion, the postponement of the governorship and state assembly elections is a necessary step taken by INEC to ensure that the elections are conducted in line with the law and best practices. The commission’s decision is a testament to its commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria. The public is urged to remain patient and stay engaged as we all work towards building a better democracy.

Barring any further extensions, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said to have reached a decision to postpone Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections to March 18, 2023,

Any moment from now, the postponement might be announced if INEC Chairman finally succumbs to the decision of the electoral commissioners as suggested to him.

This was due to the commission’s inability to promptly commence reconfiguration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines utilized during the February 25 presidential election to enable their use in the state elections.

INEC was earlier restrained from tampering with the information embedded in the BVAS machines until due inspection was conducted and Certified True Copies (CTC) issued to candidates who are challenging the outcome of the presidential election.

The season of political scheming and maneuvering has come as many political parties would be forming alliance together towards the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Oyo State.

A meeting was recently held in Saki at Riverside Hotel where SDP in Ifedapo Federal Constituency (Saki West, Saki East and Atisbo ) agreed to support the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress, Sen. Teslim Folarin.

Details later.

Ahead of the gubernatorial election on saturday, the entire Oyo State Executive members of the Accord party, have agreed to form a working alliance with the incumbent Governor, Seyi Makinde, to actualize his reelection bid.

The state chairman of the party, Hon. Prince kolade Ojo, disclosed this during a press briefing held today in Ibadan.

According to him, the state working committee of ACCORD, the 33 local government chairmen of ACCORD, as well as party stalwarts converged on the party office, Aremo, Ibadan to evaluate, brainstorm and came up with the resolution to support the reelection of the incumbent governor.

He equally accused the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Chief Bayo Adelabu, of sidelining chieftains and members of the party.

See Full Speech Below:

AN ADDRESS BY THE OYO STATE CHAIRMAN ACCORD, HON. PRINCE KOLADE OJO AT A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 8TH MARCH, 2023 IN IBADAN.

The State Secretary, ACCORD, Hon Olayinka Dairo,

Other members of ACCORD Oyo state working committee,

ACCORD local government party chairmen,

Other local government and ward executives of our great party here present,

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, good afternoon.

It is a great delight and honour for me to intimate you members of the fourth estate of the realm in particular and the public in general on developments in the political arena at this auspicious moment.

Following the just concluded presidential and national assembly elections in our dear nation, the state working committee of ACCORD, the 33 local government chairmen of ACCORD, as well as party stalwarts converged on the party office, Aremo, Ibadan to evaluate, brainstorm and chart the way forward with a view to proffering workable solutions for the progress and continued development of our pace setter state.

At the meeting, which was chaired by Hon. Tajudeen Alimi, ACCORD chairman, Ibadan South East and chairman of the chairmen, we decided the following ahead of the forthcoming governorship and house of assembly elections of Saturday 11th March, 2023:

I. Consequent upon many appeals and entreaties by the local government chairmen to right some wrongs, including the taking of unilateral decisions, deliberate sidelining of ward and local government party executives in the running and administration of the party and lack of harmonious working relationships by the governorship candidate of the party, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, the entire party structure expressed its displeasure, disappointment and disenchantment for not being carried along as partners in progress and pillars of electoral victory for his candidature.

II. It was categorically stated after discreet observation and careful study of events that Chief Adebayo Adelabu prefers to work in cahoot with his few supporters from his former party, thereby institutionalising use and dump syndrome within the party.

III. Chief Adebayo Adelabu has neither recognition, nor due respect whatsoever for the party hierarchy and this he will sustain should he be elected as governor of Oyo state.

IV. Arising from the above, the party executives, including the state working committee, local and ward executives have lost confidence in Chief Adebayo Adelabu as a worthy candidate to be supported for the exalted position of state governor. Charity, they say begins at home thus we would not want him to work at cross purposes with our party’s unique and lofty ideology which includes, unity, togetherness, development and progress for the masses.

V. Going forward, the entire ACCORD Oyo state executives have agreed to form a working alliance with the incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde

VI. It is noteworthy to clarify and assert authoritatively that the coalition was born out of passion for interrupted good governance and our conviction that Engineer Seyi Makinde has performed creditably well to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Oyo state. Thus, this coalition will bolster accelerated growth and all round development. We are not unaware of antics of political jobbers and purveyors of fake news who may want to hoodwink the public that the altruistic merger has pecuniary gains, please disregard such baseless assumption and unfounded insinuation should it arise.

VII. We are particularly satisfied with Governor Seyi Makinde’s achievements in different sectors such as Education, Health, Civil Service reform, and prompt payment of pension and gratuity to mention but a few.

VIII. Meanwhile, the 32 ACCORD candidates for the state house of assembly are in the race to win and we call on supporters and party faithfuls to give them the necessary support for their resounding victory at the coming poils.

IX. We appeal to the media as our dependable companions to include it in their various reports that the party structure is not collapsed, but rather it will be used to support the PDP government led by Governor Seyi Makinde.

Thanks for your audience and remained blessed.

The former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has claimed that the the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, Gbadebo Chinedu Rhodes Vivor cannot speak Yoruba native language and as such would find it difficult to govern Lagos State.

Fayose made the assertion in an interview with TVC Lagos.

“The Candidate of LP we understand was born in Lagos but he can’t speak Yoruba, are we going to get an interpreter for him when he’s speaking to Lagosians? No experience at all”.

“..And some people say Lagos is Cosmopolitan, can I go to the SE or SS or go to Kano or Kaduna and say because the states are Cosmopolitan and I was born there, I should be the governor? Common. Stop this. Don’t insult people’s sensibility.”

Ayo Fayose also claimed that the naira scarcity that happened before the 2023 Presidential election was a strategy by the PDP.

He stated this in an interview with TVC this morning.
He also dismissed claims that he will ever join the ruling APC. He further averred that the 2027 presidential election is likely to be between the APC and LP because by then the PDP “will have been long dead.”

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, on Monday, said that there are plans by unidentified individuals to assassinate the Lagos State gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour ahead of Saturday’s election.

Mr George made the disclosure at a press conference in Lagos where he referred to the unsolved murder of a frontline politician and governorship hopeful, Funsho Williams, who was assassinated at his Ikoyi residence ahead of the 2007 elections.

Mr George said he and a group, Omo Eko Pataki, had uncovered the heinous plan to avoid a repetition of the dreadful history.

“We wish to inform Nigerians about the heinous plan to secretly eliminate the Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour, the latest move by the Lagos occupiers, to take him out of circulation before the election on Saturday.

“It’s not a matter of party, the essence of life is to open yourself to protect others and I told you that Funsho williams is my younger brother. I was in the villa when the president then called me that I am just getting a report that they have killed Funsho Williams, they gave me a presidential plane to come down and I saw his corpse, so we don’t want a repeat,” he said. We, hereby, warn that, should anything happen to this vibrant bonafide Lagosian, who fate has thrown up to free our dear state from the stranglehold of marauders, Nigerians should know who to hold.”

Since the Labour Party in Lagos demystified president-elect Bola Tinubu’s political influence in the just concluded presidential election, Mr Rhodes-Vivour’s growing popularity has unsettled staunch supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, some of whom have reaffirmed their intention to use all necessary measures to ensure that the country’s commercial capital remains under the grip of the party.

Prominent politicians across different political parties in the Oke Ogun region of Oyo State on Tuesday met with all the royal fathers in the region where they unanimously endorsed Governor Seyi Makinde for second term.

The meeting, which was held in Saki at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Oba Surveyor Dr. Khalid Olabisi Oyeniyi Ayinla-Ado, the Okere of Saki Land, had in attendance all the Oke Ogun royal fathers, a member of the House of Representatives representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency and Accord Senatorial candidate for Oyo North, Honourable Shina Peller, immediate past chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha, Oyo North Senatorial Chairman for New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Alhaji Tajudeen Oloyede.

Others in attendance were chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Honourable Kehinde Adetola, representatives from All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogunyinka Solomon, Sarafadeen Olaide from Labour Party (LP), Accord House of Representatives candidate for Saki West/Saki East/Atisbo federal constituency, Honourable Robert Atitlola and others.

The communiqué issued at the end of the meeting read in full:

“A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A MEETING HELD BETWEEN THE OKE OGUN TRADITIONAL RULERS AND POLITICAL PARTIES IN OKE OGUN REGION TODAY THE 7TH MARCH, 2023.

“The meeting was held at the Palace of the Okere of Saki Land and had in attendance critical stakeholders across all political parties within the 10 local government areas of Oke Ogun. It also had in attendance all Oke Ogun Royal Fathers.

“The purpose behind the meeting was to x-ray the three major political parties in the state with the view to determine where Oke Ogun will have their interest defended and their political benefits derived.

“Therefore, after extensive deliberation, the meeting noted with interest the laudable developments and benefits accrued to Oke Ogun region from the government of Engr. Seyi Makinde which outweigh any other government in the recent past.

“Against this background, the meeting therefore unanimously agreed and adopts His Excellency, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde as their governorship candidate in Oyo State for the forthcoming election holding on March 11, 2023.

“The meeting further resolved that this novel meeting of the Oke Ogun region should be sustained for the benefits of future objectives. And that meeting should reconvene immediately after the governorship election and should be expanded to others who share the same ideology and vision for Oke Ogun above their individual political interest.”

During a recent live broadcast made by a well known Kalabari chief named Alhaji Asari Mujahid Dokubo, he recounted how he met the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Alhaji Asari Mujahid Dokubo said, “I became close with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 1992. Throughout the NADECO period till he became governor of Lagos state, I was close to him. When I was in detention, he paid my children’s school fees. He also gave a house to my wife. When I came from prison, he sponsored my medical trip abroad and bought my first (1st) car for me.” He added, “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the one who also sent me and 6 other people to Hajj then.”

Narrating further, Alhaji Asari Mujahid Dokubo said, “it was because of former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan we parted ways in 2010. When I saw that he came out to contest for the presidency, I decided to pay him back because he was with me in my hours of travails. When he even came to campaign in my state, he did well by acknowledging me. That does not mean my relationship with him is political.”

Speaking further, Alhaji Asari Mujahid Dokubo said, “there were many people who went round to make sure Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not have anything in this election. Governor Nyesom Wike, who was my enemy, stood with me for my friend during the election and it made me happy.”

Lastly, Alhaji Asari Mujahid Dokubo said, “in the past, when I went to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s house and tell them I am hungry, they feed me. Now that I was supposed to pay him back, my people, who had agreed that we should all vote for Asiwaju, said they were directed after a meeting with Amaechi to vote for either Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar. That makes me feel very bad. I paid a price for trusting people. What happened will not have happened if I had stepped out that morning to organize the election.”

The President-elect, Bola Tinubu, on Sunday visited Lagos in what could be described as a homecoming of a sort, during which he told Nigerians he would not disappoint them.

Mr Tinubu, according to a statement from his media office made available to journalists said he arrived to a tumultuous welcome at the Presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

The statement signed by Tunde Rahman noted that the President-elect was received among others by the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Chief of Staff Tayo Ayinde, Musiliu Obanikoro and other top functionaries in Lagos.

The train then proceeded to the Iga-Iduganran Palace where the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, some other traditional rulers in the state and White Cap chiefs were already waiting.

Addressing the modest crowd gathered inside the palace, Mr Tinubu, a former governor of the state, likened the primaries and election he went through to a World Cup tournament while thanking God and the people for his eventual victory.

He said his message was one of gratitude, adding, however, that he would work assiduously for Nigeria from the get-go and would not disappoint the people.

Speaking in Yoruba, he specifically thanked Oba Akiolu and other traditional rulers in the state for their prayers and support.

Mr Akiolu described the president-elect as a special breed “who is destined for leadership at the very top.”