A Group within All Progressives Congress (APC), The Progressive Frontliners (TPF) has appealed to the leadership of the party to zone the guber ticket to Osun West Senatorial District to rescue the state from the grip of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2026 election.
The group noted that despite the ruling PDP picking its candidate from Osun West, the district delivered 6 out of 10 local government areas for APC.
Addressing newsmen at Osun NUJ Press Center on Friday, the coordinator of the group, Ajijola Ayodeji said: “It is evident that the Osun West aspiration will be a reflection of our mutual hopes and a roadmap to put progressives back on the right track.”
He noted that the party should give Osun West special consideration in the spirit of egalitarianism and fairness- being a region that has never been favoured in consideration for this post since its inception.
“We seek to energize our communities, inspire the younger generation, and galvanize the collective will of our people to strive for a future where opportunities are abundant and accessible to all.
“To all lovers and supporters of APC watching from afar, we invite you to be a part of this movement, to lend your voices and your support to a workable agenda that is reasonable enough to bring APC back to power.
“Let us remind ourselves that the Osun West Senatorial District has proven over time their loyalty to progressives since the time of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Even in 2022 when our party, APC presented our leader, Adegboyega Oyetola from Osun Central as our candidate, we ensured APC won in six of 10 local government areas although the PDP had its candidate from the zone.”
A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the banner of The Progressive Frontliners (TPF) has called on the party leadership to zone its 2026 gubernatorial ticket to Osun West Senatorial District.
The group argued that the move would help the party reclaim Osun state from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Despite the PDP fielding its candidate from Osun West in the last election, the district still delivered six out of ten local government areas to the APC.
Speaking at the Osun NUJ Press Centre on Friday, TPF coordinator Ajijola Ayodeji stated, “The Osun West aspiration is a reflection of our collective hopes and a roadmap to restore the progressives’ vision.”
Ajijola emphasised the need for the APC to prioritize fairness and equity, highlighting that Osun West has not been given the governorship opportunity since the state’s creation.
He urged the party leadership to address this imbalance by granting the district special consideration.
He said: “We seek to energize our communities, inspire the younger generation and galvanize the collective will of our people to strive for a future where opportunities are abundant and accessible to all.
“To all lovers and supporters of APC watching from afar, we invite you to be a part of this movement, to lend your voices and your support to a workable agenda that’s reasonable enough to bring APC back to power.
“Let us remind ourselves that the Osun West Senatorial District has proven over time their loyalty to progressives since the time of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Even in 2022 when our party, APC presented our leader, Adegboyega Oyetola from Osun Central as our candidate, we ensured APC won in six of 10 local government areas despite the fact that the PDP had its candidate from the zone.”
One-time Anambra State Governor Peter Obi came under a scathing criticism yesterday from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over his assessment of the security and economic situation of the country.
At a news conference, Obi disagreed with the claims of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his New Year Day address which chronicled the feats attained by the APC-led administration.
Obi alleged that the political, economic and security situations in the country have worsened under the incumbent administration.
But the APC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka carpeted Obi, describing his assessment as jaundiced, misleading and an attempt to score cheap political points.
He noted that Obi’s assessment was at variance with all indicators that showed that the nation’s economy is rebounding in significant measure across all sectors.
Dismissing Obi’s claims, Morka said: “While Nigerians celebrated the New Year with hope for a more glorious 2025, Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, was seemingly stuck in replay of his jangling, gloom-ridden wish-list for our country.
“Obi’s new year message, in which he claimed that the political, economic and security situation of our dear country is worsening daily, is misleading and appears intended to score cheap political points.
“This claim, at a time when all indicators show that our country is rebounding in significant measure across all sectors, casts Obi, squarely, as Nigeria’s leading doomsayer.”
Morka, who reeled out the achievements of the APC-led administration, said: “In reality, 18 months later, the economy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, has showed steady record of progress.”
He listed the landmarks as:
•Massive balance of trade surpluses;
•Trillions in stock market wealth creation;
•Surge in foreign direct investments as a result of increased confidence in the economy;
•Enhanced foreign reserve;
•Significant decline in debt servicing ratio from 90 per cent to about 64 per cent;
•Higher incomes for farmers; massive increase in federation account allocation to states and local governments;
•Deliberate and patriotic efforts to plug leakages and shore up the nation’s revenue base;
•Restart of moribund Port-Harcourt and Warri refineries;
•Remarkable improvement in oil production and export of petroleum products;
•Decimation of terrorist leaders and improvement in the security situation;
•Numerous other measures to meet the $1 trillion economy target of this administration.
The ruling party further argued: “Despite these and other initial beneficial outcomes of ongoing unprecedented reforms, the administration is doubling its effort to ensuring that the reforms deliver their fullest benefits for the sustainable growth and transformation of our country.”
The ruling party said that the Presidential New Year message acknowledged that the “cost of food and essential drugs remained a significant concern for many Nigerian households. And to reverse this trend, Mr. President assured that his administration was committed to lowering food prices by boosting food production and promoting local production of drugs.”
The party also highlighted Tinubu’s resolve to crash the current inflation rate from 34 per cent to 15 per cent in the course of this fiscal year as a move to addressing the threat inflation poses to the country’s economy.
The statement further reads: “With the vigour in the administration’s war on corruption, evidenced by ongoing investigations and trial of well-heeled Nigerians, Obi’s pontification on the urgent need to tame corruption is a clear case of carrying coal to Newcastle.”
Faulting Obi, the party said: “It is a thing of irony that Peter Obi, who now arrogates to himself to be omniscient and philosopher’s stone, when it comes to our nation’s challenges, left no record of significant achievement, let alone transformation of any kind, in his eight-year tenure as Governor of Anambra State.
“Like his co-travellers in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obi’s obsessive pessimism and endless but futile effort to incite public outrage against the administration is borne out of their realisation that President Tinubu is unwittingly cementing their ultimate political irrelevance by his visionary and full-throttle reform and transformation of the fundamental pillars of our national life.”
Appealing for citizens’ support and patience, the APC spokesman assured Nigerians that “under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA), President Tinubu is dutifully turning our nation’s fortunes around.
“He (Tinubu) deserves the support and patience of Nigerians in order to consolidate on the deep economic foundation he has laid, and deliver a vibrant, prosperous new Nigeria for the good of all. We urge Nigerians to remain confident of better days ahead.”
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reassured Nigerians that this year will birth many beneficial outcomes through the ongoing economic reform programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to the relief and delight of the citizens.
APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka gave the assurance in the party’s New Year felicitation in Abuja.
The statement reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes all Nigerians a resounding happy new year. We join in the celebration and thanksgiving for God’s steadfast love and preservation of our lives and country into the dawn of 2025.
“On this joyous occasion, our great party celebrates all Nigerians for their gracefulness in the face of the challenges we have faced as a nation. We commend their perseverance and confidence in the ability of the APC-led administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda, to confront and overcome generational setbacks to our growth and prosperity.
“We are confident that 2025 will deliver many beneficial outcomes of ongoing economic reform programmes of the administration to the relief and delight of our people.
“Across all sectors, signs of incremental progress are now visible for all to see. One step at a time, our dear country is on a bold and steady march to full recovery and enduring prosperity.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party sincerely appreciates President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our foremost leader, the National Assembly leadership and the APC legislative caucus, the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), development partners, and indeed the entire National Executive Committee (NEC) and teeming members of our party for their solid support and collaboration, which have helped build the cohesion that has ensured our successive electoral victories and consolidating our position as Africa’s largest and preeminent political party.
“Thank you again, dear compatriots, for your enduring trust. We remain committed to delivering on our electoral promises and improving the living conditions of our people.”
He said he would continue to sustain programmes inherited from All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, if they were for the advantage of the people of the state.
Adeleke, in his new year state-wide address, said after two years of his administration, he promised that the new year would witness new and continuation of old social programmes designed to cushion the effect of hard time on the people.
He said: “This new year will witness extensive implementation of soft infrastructure. The goal is to ensure good roads are complemented by strong bodies, strong citizens and residents.
“In the last year and since I assumed office, our projects have been financed mainly from state resources. This includes Internally Generated Revenue and allocations from the Federation Account. Just as I have not been accessing security votes, I have not borrowed a kobo to run the state government.
“As a responsible state in Nigeria, we are part and parcel of programmes and activities of the National Economic Council and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum. We inherited many national programmes from the previous APC governments. We continue to sustain the programmes when and if they benefit our people.
“As democracy is a government for the people, of the people and by the people, I call on those seeking specific data on government programnes to take advantage of the Freedom of Information Act. Specifically, I enjoin the opposition to join the state government as we turn the fortune of our state for the better. We are all stakeholders.”
Assuring completion of ongoing projects and new ones listed in the 2025 budget, the governor said his motivation would continue to be the well-being of the people of Osun State.
He held out an olive branch to members of the opposition parties, saying he had kept faith with his pledge for transparency and accountability in governance.
Adeleke said in the past two years, “we have implemented our infrastructure agenda. We have rehabilitated over 150 kilometres of roads, upgraded over 100 schools, refurbished 200 health centres, and provided over 332 local water facilities, among others.”
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reassured Nigerians that 2025 will deliver many beneficial outcomes of ongoing economic reform programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to the relief and delight of our people.
APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka in a New Year felicitation message in Abuja on Wednesday, commended the perseverance and confidence of Nigerians in the ability of the APC-led administration to confront and overcome generational setbacks to our growth and prosperity.
The statement reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes all Nigerians a resounding happy new year. We join in celebration and thanksgiving for God’s steadfast love and preservation of our lives and country into the dawn of 2025.
“On this joyous occasion, our great Party celebrates all Nigerians for their gracefulness in the face of the challenges we have faced as a nation. We commend their perseverance and confidence in the ability of the APC-led administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda, to confront and overcome generational setbacks to our growth and prosperity.
“We are confident that 2025 will deliver many beneficial outcomes of ongoing economic reform programmes of the administration to the relief and delight of our people.
“Across all sectors, signs of incremental progress are now visible for all to see. One step at a time, our dear country is on a bold and steady march to full recovery and enduring prosperity.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great sincerely appreciates President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our foremost leader, the National Assembly leadership and the APC legislative caucus, the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), development partners, and indeed the entire National Executive Committee (NEC) and teeming members of our Party for their solid support and collaboration, which have helped build cohesion that has ensured our successive electoral victories and consolidating our position as Africa’s largest and preeminent political Party.
“Thank you again, dear compatriots, for your enduring trust. We remain committed to delivering on our electoral promises and improving the living conditions of our people.”
The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke on Wednesday has assured that resident will witness extensive implementation of soft infrastructure in the 2025 fiscal year.
This is just as he assured that he will continue to sustain programmes inherited from APC administration if they are for the advantage of the people of the state.
Adeleke in his new year state-wide address said after two years of his administration, he promised that the new year will witness new and continuation of old social programmes designed to cushion the effect of the hard time on the people of the state.
He said: “This new year will witness extensive implementation of soft infrastructure. The goal is to ensure that good roads are complemented by strong bodies, strong citizens, and residents.
“In the last year and since I assumed office, our projects have been financed mainly from state resources. This includes internally generated revenue and allocations from the federation account. Just as I have not been accessing security votes, I had not borrowed a single kobo to run the state government.
“As a responsible state in Nigeria, we are part and parcel of programmes and activities of the National Economic Council and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum. We inherited many national programmes from the previous APC governments. We continue to sustain those programmes when and if they benefit our people.
“As democracy is a government for the people of the people and by the people, I call on those seeking specific data on government programnes to take advantage of the Freedom of Information Act. Specifically, I enjoy the opposition to join the state government as we turn the fortune of our state for the better. We are all stakeholders”, the Governor noted
While assuring completion of all ongoing projects and new ones listed in the 2025 budget, Governor Adeleke emphasised that his motivation will continue to be the well-being of the people of Osun state.
He extended an olive branch to members of the opposition parties affirmed that he has kept faith with his pledge for transparency and accountability in state governance.
Adeleke highlighted that for the past two years “We faithfully implemented our infrastructure agenda. We rehabilitated over 150 kilometers of roads, upgraded over 100 schools, refurbished 200 health centers, and provided over 332 local water facilities among others.”
Some elders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State have called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the State Party Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi to wade into the division within the party hierarchy.
The party leaders including the Apex Leader, Elder Dele Ogunshakin and Chief Dele Ogundipe, made the call at the APC LGA Meeting on Monday in Lagos
The meeting which pulled more than 3,000 party members, was also to share New Year gifts, including cash support to members for the clebration.
Speaking, Ogunshakin noted that the way the current local government managers were running the party structure had brought a lot of disaffection and hatred among the rank and file of the party members.
According to him, the party nearly suffered total defeat during the 2023 general elections in the council because of the deep rooted grievance of some leaders against the council chairman.
Ogunsakin said that the council chairman, Mr Kehinde Al-Maroof had not done enough to bring party members together after the election that produced him.
He alleged that the Council chairman had been dealing with and concentrated mainly on his loyalists from the Aanunarigba group and abandoned members in the mainstream party structure.
“Is a Aanu Ni Arigba group APC? No! We should not allow this to continue into the next election.
“Since the chairman came in, he only deals with members of this group which is his own caucus when he started ambition. Anybody that is not in that group is not APC. That’s the bottom line of the division. We must not allow the party to be destroyed in Oshodi. The cohesion of the party at this local government is a graveyard peace. The founding members, those who started from 1998, today, a lot of us have been sideline. Just because we say we cannot be members of Aanu Ni Arigba group. We are APC members,” he said.
The APC Apex leader said that stakeholders in the party had however met with the party chairman and told him that “the peace in Oshodi is a graveyard peace. Come and intervene.”
He however expressed possibility of bringing back peace into the party with genuine reconciliation, “then there will be peace.”
“The governor cannot go and sleep on this. He must initiate genuine reconciliation and this is simple: give and take. Our reconciliation does not take 24 hours. We are not fighting because of individuals now. We are fighting for the interest. We don’t want what happened in 2023, where our President lost in Lagos to happen again,” the APC Apex leader said.
Ogunshakin said that due to the evident neglect of party members and grievance, the elders and some party leaders put heads together and mobilise funds to celebrate aggrieved party loyalists.
“So, we are here to appreciate, and to thank most sincerely the neglected members of APC for one reason or the other, by the council chairman,” he said.
Another leader of the party, Elder Dele Ogundipe, decried that those elected on the platform of the party failed to reconcile members after the 2021 local government elections.
Ogundipe said: “A lot of people will jostle for a position and at the end of the day only one person will get it; after that, we expect all to come together and become one APC.
“After the chairman was elected, he failed to bring the house together, and that is why we are having this issue.
“The leadership failure was what led to our huge reduction in the votes we had at the general elections in 2023. We were lucky, Labour Party, almost got the House of Representatives from APC also.”
Expressing surprise about the huge turnout of aggrieved members, Ogundipe said that the state party hierarchy should to listen to the cries before the 2025 council poll..
“Very soon, we are going to the local government election. I am sure what we had last time is not going to be what we have this time. We must ensure a proper and ready leadership. A leader that will bring all of us together. A leader that will carry all of us together so that we can have a united family,” he said.
Also speaking, Lady Evang. Adesola Oriyomi, one of the APC women leaders in Oshodi-Isolo said that the meeting became important because many loyal members had been sidelined and were aggrieved.
“We have come together in order to encourage them and recognise their efforts, and to share whatever we can give them. It is our party, our members must be valued,” Oriyomi said.
The meeting was attended by former and present political appointees and lawmaker including the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASPEMA), Mr Daisi Oso.
Others are Mr Taiwo Ayedun, former Senior Special Assistant on Civic Engagement to former governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr Adebanji Atewogboye, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Grassroots Sports Development.
Also, Hon. Akeem Sokunle, a former two -term lawmaker who represented Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Sadiq Gbolade, former council’s Supervisor for Works among others.
Nigeria Acting High Commissioner in South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, and other dignitaries celebrated entrepreneur and member of South Africa chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Oluwatoyin Oyekanmi, on his 40th birthday.
Speaking at the event at The Maslow Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg, Ajayi praised Oyekanmi for his efforts in fostering stronger ties between Nigeria and South Africa.
“Oyekanmi has demonstrated dedication to bridging gaps and strengthening relations between our two nations. His vision and commitment inspire not just our citizens but also the African continent,” he said.
The acting high commissioner described the celebrator as highly noted for his entrepreneurial ingenuity and dedication to promoting African heritage on a global scale.
He said Oyekanmi’s ventures have created opportunities while serving as a bridge connecting African culture to international audiences.
Thuthukile Zuma, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma and former Chair of African Union Commission, noted Oyekanmi’s unifying role in transcending cultural and political divides.
Assistant Continental Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God in South Africa, Pastor Olarewaju Akerele, extolled the celebrator’s moral integrity and community-driven initiatives.
“Toyin’s commitment to lifting others and staying true to his values is a testament to the kind of leadership Africa needs.” Pastor Akerele said.
Representative of South Africa APC chapter, led by Adeyinka Oloruntosin, hailed Oyekanmi’s leadership and called for his involvement in governance.
“At a time when Nigeria needs effective and visionary leadership, Oyekanmi’s impact and legacy are a call to action for him to serve his home state of Osun and the nation,” Oloruntosin said.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Osun State Government on Monday clashed over Governor Ademola Adeleke’s plan to secure a N56 billion foreign loan.
The APC raised concerns that with the new facility, foreign loans obtained under Adeleke’s administration could rise to N81.6 billion.
Speaking at the Tinubu/Shettima campaign office, the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Kola Olabisi, criticized Adeleke’s borrowing approach, warning it could plunge the state into a financial crisis.
Olabisi alleged that Adeleke had secretly obtained N10 billion and N3.92 billion in domestic loans earlier in 2023, pushing Osun State’s debt profile to N55.3 billion.
“As if that was not enough, the state has also failed to address concerns that it secretly signed a $16 million foreign loan facility, equivalent to N26.6 billion, to fund the ‘Nigeria for Women Project,’” Olabisi added.
“The first phase of the NG-CARES ended in June 2024, however, the Osun State governor, we are aware, has been misled to go for the second phase of the programme. Therefore, the state has signed all relevant documents to signify her intention to participate in the second phase of the NG-CARES programme.
“In total, the state will obtain the sum of $35 million (equivalent of N56 billion) on the NG – CARES facility.”
However, Adeleke through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, berated APC for misleading public over acclaimed loan facility, noting that “It is fake news.”
“Normally we are not surprised, because APC has gotten to a stage in Osun that they have nothing to say again, they cannot fault us on our service delivery, they cannot fault us on governance delivery, good governance across the sector, and we are getting award from far and near.
He queried that “How can you call N’care, World Bank matters that we even inherited from both Governor Aregbesola and, former governor Oyetola. How can you call it our matter? It’s not our matter. It’s a federal matter. There are many illiterate postulations coming from APC.”
