•Deputy governor hails members for peaceful primary
Barr. Omosede Igbinedion and Hon Joseph Ikpea emerged candidates of the All Progressives Congress for next month’s by-election to fill vacant seats for the National Assembly.
The primary was conducted in Ovia Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives and Edo Central senatorial district.
Igbinedion was the sole candidate of the party for Ovia Federal constituency as other aspirants stepped down for her but Hon Ikpea defeated Mr. Glory Momodu with a wide margin for the Edo Central senatorial seat.
Members of the APC queued behind their preferred aspirants as the party opted for the direct mode of primary and was affirmed by elected delegates of the party.
Chairman of the primary election committee for Ovia Federal Constituency, Barr. Lucky Ajokperiniovo, said Omosede won the election after results were collated in 23 wards.
He said Omosede polled a total vote of 5819.
He said, “It was a free and successful election. The party worked hard for aspirants to step down. The turnout was impressive and they conducted themselves in orderly manner.
Chairman for Edo Central, Stanley Uzoamaka, said the exercise was conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner.
He affirmed that Ikpea won the election.
State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, thanked the committee for ensuring a peaceful primary.
He assured that the party would mobilise the masses for maximum.
Earlier, the Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, has commended members of the APC in Ovia federal constituency for coming out en-masse to vote for candidate of their choice in the party primary conducted on Saturday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission fixed August 16th to conduct by-election into vacant seats in the National Assembly.
Besides Ovia Constituency in the House of Representatives, primary was also conducted for Esan Central Senatorial seat.
Idahosa , who joined other party faithful to queue at Iguobazuwa, Ovia South West local government area, said the internal workings and decisions of party leaders were guided by its constitution and rules.
He said the primary was peaceful and well-coordinated at all the wards.
According to him, “This is my ward, Iguobazuwa West Ward 2. Voting here was impressive as a mammoth crowd endorsed Omosede Igbinedion.
“We await results of the 23 Wards that make up Ovia Federal Constituency, which consists of the two Ovia local governments.
“This brought up the need for gender inclusiveness, as there are presently no female candidates representing Edo state at the National Assembly.”
Omosede was the sole aspirant for the primary after the party’s leadership adopted consensus arrangement.
Similarly, a member of the party’s national electoral committee, Jafaru Leko, declared that the process was “smooth, organised and credible.”
Meanwhile, chairman of the primary in the federal constituency, Lucky Ajokperiniovo, announced Omosede winner after results were collated in 23 wards.
He said Omosede polled a total vote of 5819.
“With this aggregate score in the two council areas, Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion is hereby announced as the winner of the primary and the party’s candidate for the bye-election,” he stated.
The North Central All Progressives Congress (NC APC) Forum has formally endorsed former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, for the position of National Chairman of the ruling party.
The endorsement comes amid renewed calls for the APC to allow the North-Central to complete the unfinished term of Abdullahi Adamu, who resigned in July 2023. Ganduje, who replaced him in August 2023, stepped down on June 27, 2025.
The Forum’s endorsement, announced in a statement on Sunday by the Forum’s Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, followed extensive consultations among stakeholders from the region and came just days after the resignation of former National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Zazzaga said the Forum’s decision aligns with its earlier call for the APC to return the chairmanship to the North-Central, in line with the party’s zoning arrangement that brought in Adamu in 2022.
The Forum noted that Al-Makura, also from Nasarawa like Adamu, represents the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc, the only one among APC’s three legacy parties (CPC, ACN, ANPP) yet to produce a national chairman.
“Senator Al-Makura’s loyalty to the APC and President Bola Tinubu is not in doubt. He is a bridge-builder, a party loyalist, and a former governor and senator with unmatched political and administrative experience,” the Forum stated.
The group highlighted Al-Makura’s party pedigree, noting that he was a signatory to the 2013 APC merger and had previously stepped down for Adamu in the 2022 consensus arrangement.
It also pointed to his past national assignments, including serving as chairman of the Ekiti APC governorship primary in 2018, head of the North-East Zonal Reconciliation Committee, and a member of the Bisi Akande Reconciliation Committee.
The group also commended Al-Makura for his inclusivity, particularly his engagement with Nigeria’s disability community, as he is a person living with a disability.
With the chairmanship once again vacant, the Forum said it is only fair that the position returns to the zone.
“After extensive deliberations among stakeholders in the North-Central region, we have resolved to back Senator Al-Makura for the National Chairmanship.
This is in furtherance of our demand that the North-Central retains the position as originally zoned,” Zazzaga said.
The undeclared kick-off of the 2027 general election campaign is something of a false start. It’s a start nonetheless – one laden with boasts, bluster and outright threats. To be fair, the stuff isn’t just coming from one direction: the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and those who would love to oust it, are giving as good as they get.
Last weekend, the party’s high command descended on Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to formally receive Governor Umo Eno, who had finally executed his oft-threatened exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Everyone from Vice President Kashim Shettima to the party’s entire slate of governors was present.
The state is home turf for Senate President Godswill Akpabio who was once its governor. Naturally, he was in his element celebrating the bloodless coup that further enfeebled the main opposition party. Akwa Ibom, like most states in the South-South zone, was until recently died-in-the-wool PDP territory. So, it was no mean feat that the entire structure of the governing party would dissolve overnight into enemy camp without resistance.
While applauding Eno for making the right political choice, Akpabio suggested governors of Bayelsa and Rivers would soon follow. It wasn’t the appeal of a suitor; it was a statement delivered with the certainty of a prophet. Were his prophecy to be fulfilled, not too many would be surprised given that stranger things have been happening lately.
The punch-drunk PDP didn’t have much of a response to the loss of another heavyweight from within its ranks. It was probably too preoccupied trying to identify which of many claimants was its rightful National Secretary to worry about the rising number of rats fleeing its listing ship.
With its 10 governors, 36 senators and 118 members of the House of Representatives, it remains, on paper, the preeminent opposition party. But it’s a measure of how low its stock has sunk that some of its leading lights like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President David Mark are among sponsors of the yet-to-be-registered All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
By their actions and utterances, the two men have written off PDP as a viable vehicle for prosecuting the 2027 election. Atiku has been arguing for months that the only way President Bola Tinubu and APC can be defeated at the next polls is for all opposition platforms to come together. Mark has been less voluble but no less committed to the cause.
Unfortunately for Atiku, his passion for defeating his one-time ally by all means necessary is not shared by PDP governors who have declared they won’t touch his coalition with a ten-foot pole. This is a significant disagreement which suggests that those who now control the party are unlikely to make the former VP flag bearer given he’s lost faith in the platform. It’s also a pointer that he could yet exit to actualise his ambitions elsewhere.
Although it remains very much work in progress, what the coalition, or a likely new party, lacks in terms of membership or office holders, it makes up for with bluster and threats. In the face of every setback dealt the opposition by way of high profile defections to the ruling party, its boosters head for television talk shows to offload incendiary interviews.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was at it again this week, regurgitating the same talking points. Apparently, he and his confederates had been conducting opinion polls which claim Tinubu had less than 10% approval in every corner of the country.
For a man of his intellect and sophistication, this faith in his “scientific” polls is touching. Beyond offering comfort to he and his co-conspirators, El-Rufai should treat polls and pollsters with a healthy dose of caution. For one thing, their reputation isn’t what it used to be after they misfired badly in the 2016 Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump presidential contest.
For months last year they predicted a tight race between Kamala Harris and Trump – only for Election Day to reveal a chasm in support between the two candidates. What’s more, today’s polls may be meaningless in two years when actual voting would be taking place.
Truth is wise men don’t rush to conclusions on the strength of dodgy opinion polls – especially in a country as unpredictable as Nigeria. If tough economic conditions were the only determinant of electoral success or failure in these parts, then Tinubu wouldn’t be president given the state of the nation between January and February 2023.
Another noisy figure in the nascent opposition platform is one-time Foreign Minister and former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido. What can be gleaned from his regular utterances is his readiness to join any grouping that can remove the incumbent from office.
While the focus of these individuals is clear, how to transit from dreaming to reality has become a giant obstacle. For all their hot air, the would-be coalition hasn’t done much to inspire confidence about their project within the political class and in the wider polity. They can’t even agree on how to proceed.
At the onset, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was touted as their platform of choice. El-Rufai announced his defection there with much fanfare. But their ardour for the arrangement cooled rapidly. The party’s National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, now describes his would-be collaborators as “confused people” who are only interested in taking over.
Former presidential adviser turned critic, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has been equally unsparing, describing the coalition’s promoters as only concerned with being the face of project. Just as many had predicted, a collision of egos and ambitions is already playing out.
Baba-Ahmed laments that even before getting out of the starting block, Nigeria’s latest set of would-be saviours have blown the opportunity of offering a credible challenge to the administration.
“The most important thing they’re doing wrong is putting themselves forward,” he said on Arise TV. “It’s a coalition of a few politicians who hope that they can arrive at some understanding and then open the door and say, ‘ok, fellow Nigerians, we’ve agreed. This one will be this, and this one will be that, and you can now come in.’
“It’s the wrong way about it. None of these people should lead or be seen in a position where they’re determining who should be in that coalition. They can work behind the scenes. What they need is a generational shift and a political shift away from who they are, what they’ve done, what they want to do, to a different set of Nigerians who can give Nigerians hope.
“These are not the people who are saying, give us trust. Trust us again to solve the problems that the APC is creating. This is the wrong thing. And it’s very difficult to convince politicians that Nigerians can see through you. They don’t have faith that you actually represent a future, a different future from this government. You just want to replace President Tinubu.”
Put differently, those offering change are as stale as they come, laden with all sorts of unattractive baggage. Virtually all have been active participants in making Nigeria what it is today. That’s why their project is having difficulty scaling the credibility hurdle.
It’s often said you don’t get a second chance to make the first impression. What those who claim to be speaking for the coalition have succeeded in doing so far is projecting vengeance and retribution, as well as the promotion of the interests of a section of the country, as their agenda.
Bitterness and outpouring of venom against the incumbent president is no alternative to providing voters an alternative governance vision. All we hear is “we must remove Tinubu.” If that’s all Atiku, El-Rufai and company have to offer, they are set for a rude collision with reality in the not-too distant future.
Traders in Alaba International market, the biggest electronics and electrical market in Africa, have declared support for the second term ambition of President Bola Tinubu and all All Progressives Congress (APC), candidates for 2027.
Speaking in an interview with reporters, President General of Alaba International Amalgamated Council of Sectional Heads, the umbrella body of all associations in the market, Chief Camilus Amajuoyi, said the founding fathers and traders have resolved to change their voting pattern.
According to him, over the years, the parties they have been voting for have not been of any help to them.
He said they are living in Lagos, doing their businesses in Lagos, their children are living in Lagos and their property are also in Lagos, adding that common sense demands that they should align with the party in power in Lagos State.
Speaking, he said: “… For more than 12 years now, traders in Alaba International market have been voting differently from the party in power in Lagos State.
“Because of that, we are seen or perceived as people in the opposition. With our huge population, we have more than one million registered members. As you know, politics is a game of number. We have voted in federal and State House members in Ojo Federal Constituency. But at the end of the voting season, these candidates would not come back to say thank you or show any appreciation. Even the dividends of democracy from the people we voted into office, we don’t see. So, we are victims of use and dump by the political parties and candidates that we have been voting for. That is the reason I said at the beginning that Alaba International traders have woken up,” he said.
Amajuoyi added that not voting for the party in power in the last election had its consequences but it is all in the past.
“The effect is natural. By not voting for the party in power in Lagos State, we are being denied a lot of things. All the things that we are supposed to get from the government of Lagos State were not forthcoming. For example, all the trunk C roads in Ojo Local Government has been tarred or interlocked and every street has been reconstructed or rehabilitated, but the road that links to Alaba from Ojo-Igede to Ajangbadi has been left out without attention even at our pleas to the Governor, Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Works.
“The revenue that Lagos State and Ojo Local government including the Federal Government make from Alaba International market is more than enough to tar the road that leads to the market, but the reverse is the case because we are seen as people in the opposition and enemies of government.
“On the part of the traders, we are losing hundreds of millions of naira because of the dilapidated state of the road. When they clear our containers at the ports, when they get to Alaba road, the containers would fall and the goods would waste. Mind you most of us borrow money from banks to import. When that happen, whatever was used for collateral would be confiscated by the banks and before you know it, traders that were controlling hundreds of millions of naira would become bankrupt. Some even become sick and die because of the pressure and frustration. We have continually appealed to the Lagos State government to link the Alaba road to the Alabarago road to ease the traffic, but after series of promises, it has not been done,” added Amajuoyi,
In addition, Amajuoyi noted some reasons why traders in Alaba are equally affected in building structure adjustments.
“We have suffered series of demolition in Alaba, ranging from shops to plazas in the name of the property being defective or distressed. But when you look very well, you would see that the plazas and shops were built not more than two years ago which means they are solid and strong. Then you begin to wonder what is happening. We have also succeeded in building a clinic in Alaba and have pleaded with the government of Lagos State to help us equip it, but up till now nothing has been done. We have written several letters to the government on that, but to no avail. Well, when you are in the opposition, a lot of things that are not too palatable would be happening to you. So, that is the situation that we have found ourselves by voting for other political parties.
“Having said that, it is the reason we decided that we must change our voting pattern. With all that we are going through, none of those people that we have voted into power either in the past or in the present has come to our aid. The same thing with the political parties that they used as platforms to win the elections. The only party that has started showing concern is the All Progressives Congress (APC).They have started fixing the road that lead from Masafejo, Ilufe to Chemist bus stop. Also they have come to survey Ojo-Igede road (Olojo Drive), and they have also assured us that if we vote for them, all that we are requesting from them would be met. The party candidate for the forthcoming local government election, Hon. Muhabat TitilolaRufai has assured us that if we vote her into office ,she will personally take us to Alausa for our demands to be met,” Amajuoyi said.
Continuing, he stated: “The founding fathers of Alaba International market, the presidents of sections, the leaders and stakeholders of Alaba International have resolved that henceforth, all the traders will be voting for the party in power in Lagos State. We have realized our mistakes and we are joining the APC party for the benefit of traders at Alaba. We are living and doing our businesses in Lagos. Our children schools in Lagos and our property are in Lagos. So, common sense demands that we should work with the party in power in Lagos State, so that our plights and other problems would be attended to.
“As the council election is drawing near, we are pleading with the party to continue with the tradition of using an Igbo person as a vice chairman in Ojo. We have absolute confidence in the leadership of the chairman of APC in Lagos State, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi. We also want to use this opportunity to appreciate the amiable and resourceful governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat for the way they are transforming the state into a smart city. We are assuring them of our unalloyed support and loyalty,” Amajuoyi concluded.
The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Umar Ganduje has described the death of 20 young athletes from Kano State as a national heartbreaking tragedy.
The athletes died in a road accident 50KM to Kano while returning from the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Ganduje in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu in Abuja on Saturday said that the accident dealt a heavy blow not only to the bereaved families and the people of Kano State but to the entire nation.
He described the deceased athletes as promising and dedicated youths who embodied the future of Nigerian sports and the pride of Kano State.
“This is a deeply sorrowful moment. These young athletes travelled in the spirit of unity, patriotism, and excellence to represent our state and nation. To lose them in such a tragic and untimely manner is a devastating national loss,” Ganduje said.
The APC Chairman extended deepest condolences to the grieving families, the Government and people of Kano State, and the wider Nigerian sports community.
He offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the souls of the deceased and comfort and strength for those left behind.
Ganduje, who is performing Hajj in Saudi Arabia, also called on the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident and implement stronger safety protocols to protect Nigerian athletes during future national assignments.
“May Almighty Allah (SWT) grant the families the strength to bear this irreparable loss and grant eternal rest to the departed souls,” he added.
Some residents of Agege and Orile-Agege in Lagos State have slammed All Progressives Congress council primary polls of May 10, at the state secretariat on Acme Road, Ikeja.
Aggrieved members had protested at Blue Roof event centre in Agege to reject the results and alleged imposition of candidates.
The protest was organised under the platform of Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Agege/Orile-Agege chapter.
Members gathered to reject the results, accusing top party officials, of manipulating the process to install his candidates.
They said Tunde Azeez was imposed as the party’s flagbearer in Agege and Akinola Abiodun in Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area.
Sabbitu Kamorudeen, chair of PCC, said: “We acknowledge and respect supremacy of party structures, but such deference must not be mistaken for passive acceptance of tyranny masquerading as leadership,” Kamorudeen said.
He added: “We cannot support a scenario where an individual, wielding unchecked influence, positions himself as the sole determinant of political direction in Agege. That is not discipline, it is political capture, which contradicts democratic values of APC.”
Kamorudeen described the system as one that stifles independent voices and suppresses reform-minded aspirants.
“Many of our aspirants were denied access to nomination forms, stripped of endorsements, and subjected to threats aimed at silencing their ambitions,” he alleged.
While reaffirming their loyalty to the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision, Kamorudeen warned that continued suppression would prompt them to demand Obasa’s removal as a member of the House.
“This is Lagos. This is Agege. It is not a political estate to be inherited or transferred at will. We are determined to reclaim our dignity and restore fairness and balance in our party,” he said.
The aggrieved members acknowledged the existence of two major factions within the local APC; the Justice Forum (PCC) and the Obasa Movement, but argued that fairness demands shared representation.
The protesters called on the APC state chairman, National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, and other critical stakeholders to intervene and restore internal democracy in the party.
Former Commissioner for Information, Sports, Culture and Social Development in Ekiti State, Sir Kayode Otitoju, has relived his ordeal in the hands of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) officials and Ministry of the Environment in his Lekki, Lagos Island horticultural garden.
Otitoju said he was manhandled and thrown into a van by policemen, who accompanied the officials while seeking clarification over the invasion.
Otitoju, All Progressives Congress (APC) and fellow of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (FCILT), accused a LAWMA Director of Monitoring & Compliance, Mr. Jimmy Odukoya, of seizing his legally allocated property on Lekki Farms Avenue, Lekki Phase 1.
Otitoju alleged he was unlawfully detained in a LAWMA van on May 9 and denied access to a property he has since 2001 been paying rent.
He said trouble began on May 8 when some LAWMA officials stormed the garden, cut off the perimeter chain, and erected a LAWMA signpost indicating a takeover.
A “sealed” sticker signed by LAWMA’s Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, was affixed on the property, stating dates from July 9, 2025 to May 8, 2025, an anomaly Otitoju believes signals premeditation.
The next morning (May 9), upon noticing the signpost about 8:15 am, Otitoju said he pasted the 2025 land use charge bill and receipt on the gate as evidence of his ownership and tax compliance.
About 10:15 a.m., Otitoju said he received a call from his security personnel reporting that Odukoya, accompanied by policemen and LAWMA officials had entered the property, removed the land use charge receipt and signage and ordered his team to “ransack ” the premises.
They demolished a stainless steel bridge spanning an 18-metre-wide drainage canal, a structure Otitoju said he built in 2018 with over N5 million.
The former commissioner said when he arrived on the scene, Odukoya instructed the police and officials to take him out of the property.
His words: “When I asked him why, he replied that he had warned me never to enter ‘my own land’. He ordered policemen to throw me into their bus, instructing them to guard me like a criminal.
“I was kept inside the bus until the Permanent Secretary in the Office of Environmental Services of Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Gaji Tajudeen, arrived with some private company officials.
‘’After issuing instructions, he left with his entourage. At that point, I expected Odukoya to release me from the bus, but instead, he directed the driver to take me to another site on Freedom Way, Lekki.
‘‘My driver was following in my Mercedez Benz GL 450 SUV.
But Dr Gbadegesin disagreed with Sir Otitoju.
He said the location is a designated drainage setback in Lekki, not a private property.
“He has been asked to vacate the place. I believe he only had a temporary permit to use the area as a garden. The structures he erected were illegal and have been demolished. You cannot build such structures on a drainage setback,” Gbadegesin said.
He added that the state is carrying out a statewide exercise to remove structures obstructing drainage channels to mitigate flooding.
“It is incorrect to say the land belongs to him. It is a drainage setback, and beyond gardening, there were reports of activities like animal slaughter, meat sales, barbecue, and beer sales. Waste was being dumped into the drainage, and this poses a health risk, including the potential for a cholera outbreak.’’
In his reaction, Gaji Tajudeen, said he was not aware of the incident. ‘’I was not in the country last week so, couldn’t have been in Lekki at the same time,’’ Tajudeen said. Otitoju was a usurper, he added. According to him, he should bring his allocation paper.
Otitoju adds: “Throughout the ordeal, I remained in the bus. Odukoya ensured the permanent secretary never saw me. When their inspection ended about 11:45 a.m., I was driven back to the Lekki Farm, where I was initially ‘detained . For nearly two hours, I was held without water or ventilation, sandwiched between two policemen for no reason.”
Otitoju said he was eventually returned to the original farm location, still detained in the van, after the inspection ended about 11:45 a.m.”
He alleged of a plot of land grab in collaboration with a private waste recycling firm, Alliance seeking to install machinery on the property under a project name “Waste Free Lekki.”
Backing his ownership claim, Otitoju said the land was officially allocated to him by the Lagos State Governor’s Office Lands Bureau on August 9, 2001, for horticultural use.
The allocation letter clearly designates the land as a “Road Setback Along Maroko–Epe Expressway, Lekki Scheme I, Eti-Osa Local Government.”
He cited a 2020 letter of appreciation from the Ministry of Finance, signed by then Commissioner Dr. Rabiu Olowo, commending him for his prompt payment of land use charges.
To resolve the conflict, Otitoju said he reached out to Gbadegesin on April 9 via WhatsApp message , sharing full documentation of his land title, payment receipts, and a plea to remove the illegal sticker.
“I explained everything in detail after our phone conversation on April 7, but Gbadegeshin didn’t reply,” he said.
Otitoju also questioned the legitimacy of the project signpost erected on his property.
He pointed out that the address listed—“Foreshore Point, along Foreshore Road, off Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1”—does not correspond with his Lekki Farms Avenue site, suggesting a deliberate attempt to mislead or misappropriate land.
Definitely, LAWMA and I will have our days in court.
Photos and records of the now-destroyed bridge and looted walkways have been documented as further evidence of vandalism, he added.
Otitoju questioned why a law-abiding citizen, who has spent years maintaining a valuable horticultural property and paying taxes, should be subjected to what he described as “barbaric treatment.” “Why should I be punished by land grabbers under the cover of state officials?” he asked.
Otitoju called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State House of Assembly, and anti-corruption agencies toi investigate the matter.
But Dr Gbadegesin disagreed with Sir Otitoju.
He said that the contested location is a designated drainage setback in Lekki, not a private property.
“He has been asked to vacate the place. I believe he only had a temporary permit to use the area as a garden. The structures he erected were illegal and have been demolished. You cannot build such structures on a drainage setback,” Gbadegesin said.
He added that the Lagos State government is currently carrying out an ongoing statewide exercise to remove structures obstructing drainage channels in order to mitigate flooding.
“It is incorrect to say the land belongs to him. It is a drainage setback, and beyond gardening, there were reports of activities like animal slaughtering, meat sales, barbecuing, and beer sales. Waste was being dumped directly into the drainage, which is in a terrible state and poses a public health risk, including the potential for a cholera outbreak.I
In his reaction, Gaji Tajudeen said he was not aware of the incident.
‘’I was not in the country last week and so couldn’t have been in Lekki at the same time.’’
But he said Otitoju was a usurper. According to him, he should bring his allocation paper.
Demolition in Lagos has been ongoing for several months, Gbadegeshin added.
No fewer than 114 women councillorship candidates on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are participating in the July12 local government elections, it was learnt yesterday.
There are 279 wards across the 20 pre-existing local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
Also, 10 women are in the race for chairmen at the poll, according to the results of the primaries conducted by the Election Committee headed by Babatunde Ogala (SAN) at the weekend.
They are Mrs Olayemi Animasahun (Epe Council), Motunrayo Alogba (Ijede), Samiat Bada (Ikosi-Ketu), Muibat Rufai (Ojo) and Yemi Akindele Adunni (Mosan-Okunola).
Others are Idowu Senanjo (Apapa), Tola Oyedele-Abubakar (Agboyi-Ketu), Bukola Omope (Bariga), Aminat Alabi (Iru/Victoria Island), and Adeola Adetoro (Etiosa).
Protests against the results are being collated. Petitions are being received, to be looked into by the Appeal Panel.
Yesterday, the Election Panel headed by Babatunde Ogala (SAN) started preparing its report to the party, which has a final say because the tickets belong to the party. The primaries were neatly conducted and substantially credible. Delegates shunned unruly behaviour.
In fact, the delegates who constituted the electoral colleges are committed and dedicated party officers at the grassroots who knew the aspirants in their respective local councils. Many of them have been involved in grassroots politicking from the first and second republics. For example, the average age of delegates from Imota Council is between 65 and 70 years.
Delegates who spoke with reporters at the party office on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja after the exercise hailed Ogala and his team for their sense of innovation, firmness, effectiveness, efficiency, vigilance and compliance with the guidelines.
The security personnel on ground was led by Lagos State Police Commissioner Moshood Jimoh. The exercise was also witnessed by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials.
House of Representatives member Mrs. Kafilat Ogbara hailed the outcome of the shadow polls, saying that Lagos APC is meeting the criterion of gender inclusivity.
She stressed:”To a large extent, we are moving close to it. We have to thank our president for making it happen. The instructions on inclusion was effectively and strictly adhered to. The instruction of the party leader was followed. There is an improvement in terms of the number of women now going to be chairmen of councils.”
The federal legislator said the onus is now on women who are being given the opportunities to live to expectation and justify the confidence reposed in them.
After the polls, more women are also likely to be appointed as supervisory councillors and leaders of councils’ legislatures.
More women obtained the nomination forms, unlike before. While 399 male chairmanship aspirants were cleared after screening, 76 women were also given the nod to contest.
Lagos APC chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi has directed the local council party chairmen to adhere strictly to the directive to give special consideration to womem aspirants.
The directive was contained in a letter titled: ‘The 2025 Local Government Councillorship Screening Result and the Party Instruction on Female Aspirants.’
It reads: “You are strictly advised to comply with the party’s instructions associated with the result on the need to consider female councillorship aspirants in our wards accordingly as per the attached list.”
Consequently, the State Working Committee (CWC) directed that women aspirants should be given concessions. The nomination form was slashed to N250,000 for women councillorship aspirants while their male counterparts paid N1 million.
Women who withdrew from the race before the commencement of the primaries are likely to get refund.
Two weeks ago, prominent women leaders in APC stormed the party secretariat to press for 30 percent women affirmation in the spirit of Beijing Declaration. They urged the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) to fulfill the promise of allocating more chairmanship and councillorship seats to women.
Ogbara, who spoke ahead of the nominations, said “it is crucial that we have gender balance in local government leadership.”
She added: “For example, where a man serves as chairman, a woman should be vice-chairman, and vice versa.”
She urged the party to emulate the great example of intentional gender representation set by former Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
Ogbara said: “Under his leadership, he ensured that in every local government where there was a male chairman, the vice-chairman was a woman. He also promoted female senators and members of the House of Representatives.
She added: “We need more leaders like him, men who are truly ‘He For She’ advocates. Recently, we honored such leaders during our National Women Awards, recognising men like President Bola Tinubu and other governors, such as AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, for their deliberate efforts to empower and position women.”
“During Tinubu’s leadership of the Action Congress (AC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), he advocated for making politics more accessible to women. Many women can’t afford the high fees for nomination forms. So, we hope to see reforms that reduce these barriers and encourage more women to participate.”
A party source said President Tinubu and other party leaders reasoned that if Lagos can set a good example of improved women participation, other states may follow suit. Thefore, a deliberate opportunity was created to encourage ease of participation by women.
According to the source, “in any ward where the contestants are seven, three councillorship slots automatically go to women. Where they are five, two would go to women. This is to enhance women inclusion.”
But, some women also won the slots by merit. The members of the electoral colleges who gave them second term tickets considered their impressive performance as incumbent chairmen. Three of them-Animasahun, Alogba and Bada- stood out.
In fact, Animasahun and Alogba secured the tickets through consensus.
Bada, who has implemented some developmental projects in Ikosi-Ketu council, thanked President Tinubu for being gender-sensitive. “We are happy with what is happening in Lagos at the moment,” she said.
Lagos APC Women Leader Jumoke Okoya-Thomas said changed had occurred, adding that the chapter is now determined to encourage more women to cobtribute their quota to development.
Okoya-Thomas, a former member of the House of Representatives, added:”This time around, the party is actually thinking about women.”
The North-Central All Progressives Congress (NC-APC) forum has called on Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, to stop playing what it described as a “double game” and publicly declare where he stands, whether in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or aligned with elements opposed to the president.
In a statement on Saturday by its chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, the forum expressed disapproval over recent comments by Governor Sule concerning the political direction of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc within the APC.
The CPC, one of the legacy parties that merged to form the APC, has recently been at the centre of speculation, with some of its prominent members reportedly being courted by an emerging opposition coalition spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
In April, former Nasarawa Governor Tanko Al-Makura led a group of CPC bloc leaders—including former Katsina Governor Bello Masari—to publicly pledge their loyalty to President Tinubu and the APC, distancing themselves from the alleged coalition.
However, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, pushed back against the Al-Makura-led declaration, asserting that only the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s camp could determine the CPC bloc’s political direction.
Governor Sule echoed Malami’s view during a reception in Lafia on May 3, stating that only Buhari could speak on behalf of the CPC.
“There is only one person in this world who can decide for the CPC, and that is our father, Muhammadu Buhari. He is the CPC. When he speaks, the CPC moves,” Sule said, citing Buhari’s loyal 12 million voter base.
In response, the North-Central APC Forum said Sule’s comments reveal a contradiction and signal a possible opposition to the bloc’s endorsement of Tinubu, as led by Al-Makura, his immediate predecessor.
“It is now evident that Governor Sule does not support the CPC bloc’s alignment with President Tinubu. His statements suggest he is undermining the stance taken by Al-Makura and other respected leaders,” the Forum stated.
The Forum further emphasised that no one could claim more authority over the CPC legacy than Al-Makura, the only governor ever elected on the CPC platform before the party’s merger into the APC.
They argued that his role gave the CPC significant leverage during merger negotiations that led to Buhari’s presidency in 2015.
“If anyone represents the CPC legacy, it is Al-Makura, not even President Buhari, who couldn’t deliver a governor on the CPC platform in his home State of Katsina,” the statement said.
The Forum cautioned Governor Sule against working in tandem with individuals trying to destabilise the Tinubu administration, calling on him to clarify his position.
“We are forced to believe that Governor Sule is collaborating with those who do not want Tinubu’s government to succeed. He needs to stop sending mixed signals and decide where he stands.”
They also argued that Sule’s continued commentary on the CPC’s political trajectory was unnecessary, especially since he was not part of the party’s formative years or the APC merger negotiations.
The Forum noted Governor Sule’s cautious stance on some of the administration’s initiatives, such as the tax reforms, referencing his public remarks in October 2024 about the challenges posed by the reforms to Nigerians.
“As stakeholders from the North-Central region who have endorsed President Tinubu for a second term in 2027, we commend the Al-Makura-led CPC bloc for standing firm with Mr. President and rejecting the opposition coalition.
“We see this coalition as a self-serving alliance aimed at reversing the progress made since May 29, 2023,” the Forum noted.
It added that the loyalty of CPC leaders to Tinubu had already been declared and that ongoing attempts to discredit or diminish that endorsement only serve to create unnecessary confusion.
“The likes of Abdullahi Sule and Abubakar Malami cannot simultaneously oppose Tinubu’s endorsement and claim allegiance to his presidency.
“If they are truly with the President, they should fall in line and join other progressives working for the success of his administration and his reelection in 2027,” the Forum noted.
Princess Surah Olayemi Animashaun has emerged winner of All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government chairmanship primary for Epe Local Government.
The counting process is ongoing at party secretariat in ACME Ikeja, amid heavy security
