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  • APC e-membership registration hits over two million in one week – Basiru

    APC e-membership registration hits over two million in one week – Basiru

    Barely a week into its nationwide electronic membership registration exercise, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded over two million digitally verified members.

    The disclosure was made on Monday by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, following a meeting between the National Working Committee (NWC) and state coordinators overseeing the registration.

    The meeting, presided over by APC national chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, also included other senior party officials.

    Addressing reporters at the APC National Secretariat, Basiru explained that the exercise was approved by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) at its December meeting, which directed that all APC members nationwide must be digitally registered before the end of January 2026.

    He said the registration is vital for strengthening the party’s internal organisation and operational efficiency.

    “Despite many states yet to commence the exercise fully, Nigerians who have registered as APC members are already in excess of two million. These are digitally verified members with their voter identification numbers, National Identification Numbers (NIN), and telephone contacts,” Basiru said.

    He added that, with increasing momentum across states, the party expects its digital membership to rise to between eight and nine million by the next assessment scheduled for next week.

    State coordinators have been tasked with ensuring the successful execution of the exercise.

    “The National Chairman charged all state coordinators on the need to carry out this exercise correctly and within the stipulated timeline. Data is central to effective management, and this is even more important for a political party that relies on mobilisation, organisation, and consultation,” Basiru said.

    On the inclusion of members from states with internal factional disputes, Basiru stated, “During the last NEC meeting, Mr. President, who is the leader of the party, stated that nobody, no group, should be denied the opportunity of being registered. Every group, every factional interest, every personal interest is being taken care of.”

    Highlighting the strategic importance of the initiative, Basiru urged party stakeholders at state and grassroots levels to prioritise the registration exercise, describing it as foundational to building a cohesive party structure capable of mobilising support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    The APC leadership commended governors, state chairmen, and other stakeholders for their commitment and resources deployed so far, noting that ongoing challenges are being addressed through continuous engagement with relevant actors.

  • Wike/Basiru clash

    Wike/Basiru clash

    “From my records, he isn’t a member of the APC. I don’t see which authority or temerity he has to be dabbling into APC affairs. I am the head of the national secretariat of the APC. So, he has no locus whatsoever to engage me in any official activity that concerns the APC, until he joins the party”.

    These were the exact words with which the national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru reacted to scathing remarks against him by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FTC), Nyesom Wike. He had also asked Wike to resign from his ministerial position and face what he called, his obsession with Rivers politics.

    The altercation arose after Basiru led the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to Port Harcourt, Rivers State during which they interfaced with Governor Siminalayi Fubara. In the course of that visit, the NWC members had reportedly endorsed Fubara for a second term.

    Basiru equally cautioned the national vice chairman of the APC South-south, Victor Giadom for making derogatory remarks against the governor.  Giadom had reportedly said at a political function that “Gokana is a no-go-area for anybody, be it the so-called governor”.

    Basiru contended that it was wrong for anybody to hide under personal loyalty or political allegiance to denigrate a governor elected by the people. Giadom is said to be an ally of Wike.

    Wike in reaction to the NWC visit to Rivers State warned Basiru to steer clear of Rivers politics. He alluded to those who go to Rivers State because they heard the state has N600bn allocation and accused them of going to the state to collect money only to open their mouths to talk anyhow.

    “I say it here; take this message to your national secretary. Leave Rivers State alone. Go and ask those who have done it before. Please, don’t take our support for Mr. President for granted. You have to be careful with the statements you make”, Wike warned.

    In the statement which Basiru personally signed (from which the introductory quote was lifted), the APC national scribe took strong exceptions to Wike’s allusion that he is interested in the N600bn allocation to Rivers State even as he queried his competence to dabble into the affairs of the APC.

    Read Also: 5.36m electricity customers remain without meters– NERC

    The issues raised by the APC national secretary on Wike’s current political leaning, highlights all that is wrong with the brand of politics played in this country.  And in it can be located why it has been pretty difficult for significant progress to be recorded in deepening the democratic culture on these shores.

    Wike has been a key member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until the last controversial national convention of the party held in Oyo State when he was expelled. Even then, the group he leads has formed a parallel faction. They floated a factional national caretaker committee of the party which went to court to challenge the Oyo State convention. Until the issues in their litigations are resolved, he still remains a member of the PDP.

    Since after his support for President Tinubu in the last presidential election, Wike had been embroiled in a running battle with some key leaders of the party for the soul of the PDP. He owes his current ministerial position to that support.

    But the way he carried on with his group of four other former PDP governors (before Makinde pulled out) has not gone down well with others who feel his agenda is to decapitate the leading opposition party. As things stand, the PDP is a ghost of its former self as most of its governors have defected to the ruling party. The Osun State governor has pitched his tent in another party for fear of disqualification in the face of the series litigations by opposing factions with Wike at the centre of it all.

    So, he remains a PDP member until the issues in court are resolved. As the crisis in the PDP raged on, some of its state assembly members in Rivers State defected to the ruling party. They were followed quickly by Fubara.

    It was sequel to these defections that Basiru led the APC NWC to Rivers State. The altercation between Wike and Basiru is a fallout of events of that visit.

    When Basiru said Wike is not a member of the APC and has no locus to engage him in the running of the party affairs, he was just highlighting the obvious contradictions in the current political posturing of the FCT minister. That role had before now given vent to allegations that the federal government has a hand in the crisis rocking the opposition parties and the slide to one-party system.

    That is not all. By asking Wike to resign from his ministerial position and face his obsession with Rivers politics, the APC appears to be coming to terms with the incongruity in Wike’s current political posturing. Yes, he can hold his ministerial position.

    But he cannot be the face of a troublesome faction in the PDP and at the same time seek to control the affairs of the APC government of Rivers State. Basiru was within his rights when he argued that Wike cannot challenge his job in the APC when he is yet to join the party. It is however curious that the APC is realising the duplicitous role of the FCT minister in the PDP in the last two years.

    Not a few Nigerians had viewed with utter suspicion and dismay the double role he has been playing in both the opposition PDP and the ruling APC government. That suspicion came to a head when a couple of weeks back, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Wike were embroiled in serious altercations.

    The quarrel was sequel to the allegation by Makinde that Wike was attempting to weaken the PDP in support of President Tinubu’s second term ambition. He had alleged that Wike had during a meeting, openly offered to hold the PDP for the president ahead of the 2023 elections.

    But Wike quickly denied Makinde’s allegation describing it as a blatant lie. He said there was no such meeting. We are faced with Makinde’s words against that of Wike with no evidence to determine their veracity or lack of it.

    Even then, the body language and some utterances of the FCT minister have not helped matters. Not with recent unconfirmed reports that Wike is rooting for the former national secretary of the PDP, Samuel Anyanwu to fly the flag of the APC for the 2027 election in Imo State. Not with the impeachment notice to Fubara by the Rivers State House of Assembly last week.

    Wike’s politics in the PDP is responsible for suggestions that the federal government has a hand in the PDP crisis. His politics in Rivers conveys the unmistakable impression that one man determines the electoral swing of a state. That is the impression we get each time people say this or that local government area is no-go-area. It is no credit to our democracy that Wike postures to be of considerable influence in the APC and PDP. His altercation with Basiru exposes all that. It is time for him to take a stand or be compelled to do so.

  • Basiru, Omisore, Ogunbiyi lament political neglect of Iwo as ex-Concord Editor, Tella, launches book

    Basiru, Omisore, Ogunbiyi lament political neglect of Iwo as ex-Concord Editor, Tella, launches book

    The political marginalisation of Iwo town, Osun State came to the front burner during the launch of a book by a veteran journalist, Alhaji Liad Tella.

    Eminent Osun indigenes, including National Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru; ex-Osun Deputy governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore;, Chairman of Mutual Benefits Assurance, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, noted this during the launch.

    The dignitaries who gathered at Riverside Hotel, Iwo, Osun State on Saturday, noted that Iwo town is an ancient town in Yorubaland which should not be neglected with its cultural and wide landscape.

    The author of the book, Alh Liad Tella, said “You will learn a lot of lessons from the book if you read it. The advocacy that this book raised will cause light of relevance to shine on Iwo, an ancient town which had long been marginalised.

    “The book will further push Iwo town forward from the politically marginalised side to limelight. This gathering today shows that we don’t do politics of bitterness as politicians from all parties are here.”

    In the remark, Basiru highlighted the factors responsible for politically marginalisation of communities.

    He said “there are four factors that work against development and benefit of any communities or groups. We must prioritise western education and not rely on Arabic class alone. We must work on the economy of our communities to be viable, our politicians must work jointly for the progress of Iwo and external politicians must see to the development of all towns evenly.”

    Also, the Chairman of the occasion, the ex-National Secretary of APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore, said “the title of the book has suggested its contents, I urge every politician in Osun State to get a copy of this book.”

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    Earlier, ex-guber candidate in Osun State, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, co-launcher, said “I can boldly say that Iwo has been marginalised for so long as if it is not part of Osun State in the last 30 years, there is no development that has come to Iwo compared with other communities.

    “When you read this book you will weep for us in Iwo. I challenged Alh Liadi Tella to write this book so that people will know what we are facing. In the last 40 years, we have never been governor, deputy governor, Minister, Speaker, Ambassador…Nothing! I want to tell the people of Iwo that power is not shared in a la carte, we must fight for it to earn it.”

    The dignitaries present were; Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Sunday Oroniyi, who represented the  of Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke; Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi; ex-SSG, Fatai Akinbade;  Prince Dotun Babayemi;  ex-Commissioners under administration of Adegboyega Oyetola, Yemi Lawal; Folorunso Bamisayemi.

    Also, Former National Commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Professor Lai Olurode; General Adelekan Adeniran (rtd); ex-SSG, Kazeem Adio; LT Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, among others.

  • Basiru rejects NES award in Osun, accuses Adeleke of undue interference

    Basiru rejects NES award in Osun, accuses Adeleke of undue interference

    National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Ajibola Basiru, has rejected the award of Excellence in Leadership to be conferred on him by the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) Osun Chapter.

    He accused Osun State Government of manipulating the society following the abrupt postponement of the award over what he described as undue political interference and manipulation by the Osun State Government. 

    NES had in a letter dated April 7, 2025 by its Chairman, Prof. Adeleke G.  Aremo and Secretary, Adewale Sam-Aliyu intimated Basiru of the postponement of the award slated for Thursday 11th April, 2025, hinging their decision on unexpected turn of events, logistic and security complexities. No new date was fixed.

    Faulting the postponement and rejecting the award, Basiru in a letter by his Special Adviser,  Legal and Political Strategy, Barrister Othuke Amata Aso said the society has compromised the integrity of the award.

    Basiru criticizeid the NES for what he described as an unprofessional communication regarding the “postponement” of the ceremony, calling the letter “convoluted” and “hastily prepared.”

    Expressing dismay at the abrupt cancellation of the award, which was labelled a “postponement,” Basiru said the April 7 letter was lacking coherence and clarity.”

    The APC National Secretary alleged external interference as the primary cause for the cancellation of the award ceremony.

    According to him:  “Reliable sources within the ranks of the NES, Osun Chapter revealed that the pressure to cancel the award ceremony came from the Osun State Government, specifically Governor Ademola Adeleke.

    Read Also: Oyetola, Basiru, APC elders strategise for 2026 Osun guber poll

    “The real reason for this shameful retreat is the undue pressure and shenanigans exerted by the Governor of Osun State, Mr. Ademola Adeleke, on the leadership of your society.” 

    The APC Scribe accused the Osun State administration of lacking excellence and being politically motivated, specifically calling out what he  described as “mediocrity” and “cheap politicking” on the part of the state’s leadership.

    Basiru, who said he initially hesitated to accept the award due to skepticism towards honorary awards, accepted it after encouragement from well meaning colleagues, and friends.

    He rejected the recognition, stating that the actions of the NES Osun Chapter represent “a stain on its reputation” and a “disservice to the very ideals it purports to champion.”

    Basiru advised NES Osun State Chapter to find a way to redeem itself and rise above political influence, reinforcing that merit should not be “subverted by the whims of those in power.”

  • Communal clashes signs Adeleke has lost grip on security in Osun – Basiru 

    Communal clashes signs Adeleke has lost grip on security in Osun – Basiru 

    Following spate of communal clashes and crisis over chieftaincy matters in Osun State, the National Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru said Governor Ademola Adeleke has lost grip on security of the State. 

    The Nation reports that communities like Ifon and Ilobu; Ido-Osun and Halleluyah; Ede and Ebedi; Esa-Oke and Ido-Ajegunle; Iragbiji; Igbajo and Iree among others have been ensnared in land tussles or Chieftaincy matters leading to loss of lives and properties in the last one year.

    Rising from a recent communal clash where seven policemen were shot and four persons killed, Basiru in a chat with reporters in Osogbo, berated Adeleke’s government for losing grip over the security situation in the State. 

    He said: “The Governor is only giving false hope to residents of the state he is in control but he is not. It is glaring that he is not with a series of communal clashes characterised by killing, maiming, arson, and loss of properties among others. 

    “Unfortunately, Adeleke is majorly the precipitator of these clashes and wrangling because he approved controversial chieftaincy matters to cause issues in peaceful domains.”

    Read Also: APC chieftain urges Adeleke to recruit more teachers in Osun schools

    “Protection of life and property should be paramount to any responsible government but Adeleke has failed that, he also failed in other areas. 

    “I can assure you that APC will end all these shenanigans of Adeleke’s reign in 2026 and Osun State will be the most peaceful state in Nigeria again like the days of progressives.” 

    But Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi berated Basiru, noting that Adeleke is in charge..

    He said: “It is quite unfortunate that Basiru is playing politics with this matter. Adeleke visited all these places and also set panel of enquiries to resolve the matter. The accusations are useless, fallacious and laughable. Adeleke is not the cause of all the crisis.”

  • PDP can’t retain power in Edo, says APC secretary Basiru

    PDP can’t retain power in Edo, says APC secretary Basiru

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary, Ajibola Basiru on Saturday, July, 20, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot retain power in the proposed September governorship election 

    He said the poll will terminate PDP’s tenancy in the Dennis Osadebe’s House, Benin.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the National Campaign Council of the APC in Benin, Basiru said APC will restore sanity and probity to Edo state.

    He stressed that PDP will not win a local government during the exercise. 

    Read Also: Tinubu, APC salute National Secretary Basiru

    Welcoming deputy governor, Philip Shuaibu, and other chieftains of the legacy group of the PDP to the APC, Basiru described them as men and women of timber and calibre.

    He said: “On behalf of the National Chairman of our Party and on behalf of the National Leader of our Party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, I welcome you all to fold of the progressives.

    “You are not visitors or tenants but landlords and landladies in APC. We are happy to receive you.”

    On the court ruling that reinstated Shuaibu as the deputy governor, Basiru said the  court order was regular, positive and valid, warning that anybody who acts contrary to the pronouncement risks a jail term

  • Basiru dedicates victory to Osun Central

    The senator-elect for Osun Central Senatorial District, Dr Ajibola Basiru has dedicated his victory at the poll to the people of the zone.

    Basiru thanked his supporters across the senatorial district, particularly Osogbo, for standing by him through thick and thin, which made it possible for him to win.

    Addressing a crowd of supporters that stormed his residence to rejoice with him, the senator elect was full of praises to All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and members in the state. He also hailed his campaign organisation for a job well done saying the results worth the efforts. However, he advised them to be humble in victory and humane in jubilation.

    The immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice thanked the Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, Osogbo elders’ caucus, elites, religious bodies, market men and women, artisans and student body for their support throughout the struggle.

    He assured the people that his representation at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly will bring fortune to them as he would endeavour to fulfil all his promises.

    He appealled to the electorates to complete the victory for APC  by voting for the party candidates in the House of Assembly election scheduled for March 9, 2017.

     

  • I am sure of victory, says Osun APC candidate Basiru

    The senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Osun Central, Dr Ajibola Basiru yesterday said he’s sure of winning tomorrow’s election.

    In a statement by his media office, Basiru said: No amount of blackmail and mudslinging will stop us from coasting home to victory.

    Apparently reacting to the criticism on his visit to Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) secretariat in Osogbo during his campaign tour, the APC candidate said: “I’ have taken my campaigns to Pastors and Imams and that does not denigrate me from my faith. I am to be a senator to entire Osun Central Senaorial District and so shall it be by Allah’s grace”.

    He advised the opposition to nurse the wound of their imminent defeat secretly and stop assassinating his character.

    Basiru told the APC supporters to protect their votes by staying around after voting . He said the law permits the electorate to stay at a distance after casting their votes to monitor the ballot boxes and witness counting of votes. He urged them to maintain peace during and after voting.

    The immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice urged APC agents to be on the alert and report any malpractice to security agents on ground. He also advised the security personnel to be neutral in order to enhance the credibility of the electoral process.

    He stressed the need for voters to use their index fingers to print the ballots in order to avoid void votes. He also told voters not to allow themselves to be disenfranchised on the excuse that the smart card reader machine could not recognise their fingers.

    He said: “If you are duly registered and possess the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) you should insist on being screened again and again until the machine brings out your data. Tell the presiding officer that it is your right to vote.”

    He advised women to clean their fingers of the local paint called “laali” before going to the polling units on the day of election.  He said failure to remove the paints may suggest they have voted when they have not.

     

  • Basiru challenges Osun PDP candidates to road walk

    The senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Osun Central District, Dr Ajibola Basiru, has challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in the zone to a road walk.

    Basiru gave the challenge while reacting to an allegation by the PDP that he and the APC senatorial candidate for Osun West, Hon. Adejare Bello, had threatened to deal with Mr Deji Adeleke, a businessman and brother to Mr Ademola Adeleke, the PDP governorship candidate in the last  governorship election in the state.

    In a letter addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Osun State Director of DSS and other security outfits, the PDP had alleged that Basiru and Bello had perfected plans to attack the convoy of Deji Adeleke.

    A statement from Basiru Media office said: “Barely twenty four hours after the opposition Peoples Democratic Party had its frustrating road show deserted by its big wigs the party has concocted a laughable allegation of threat to life against the senatorial candidate of APC for Osun Central, Dr Ajibola Basiru.

    “Just as the good and peace-loving people of Osun will laugh at the allegation, Dr Ajibola Basiru equally sees the spurious allegation as a straw held unto by Osun PDP to avoid inevitable drowning by next week electoral Tsunami.

    “Mr Deji Adeleke who has never been known to be a politician is from Osun West while Basiru is from the Central coupled with the fact that the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice is contesting senatorial election.

    Second, it was Demola Adeleke, youger brother of Deji who contested against the incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola. Where does Basiru come into the picture?  We hereby alert the public and security agents to the notoriety of the PDP in planning and executing evils and putting the blame on the door step of others.

    “We enjoin all strata of security agencies to do thorough investigation into this calumny aimed at smearing Dr Ajibola Basiru whose towering political influence in Osun Central has dwarfed the opposition. We want to make it clear that since Basiru launched his campaign in December last year, he has traversed the length and breadth of Osun Central without a streak of violence and has enjoyed wide acceptance.”

    Basiru advised the opposition PDP to look inward and search for reasons why its stalwarts such as Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, Dr Olu Alabi, Elder Funso Isola , Rev Bunmi Jenyo, Dr Muyiwa Oladimeji among others did not participate in the show of shame in Osun Central.

     

  • SDP members in Osun Central endorse Basiru

    The senatorial ambition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Osun Central zone, Dr Ajibola Basiru, received a boost as members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Odo-Otin Local Government have endorsed him as their candidate for the February 16 election.

    Basiru whose campaign team toured the local government was warmly received by the traditional rulers and APC members in all the communities visited.

    The Ajibola Basiru Campaign Organisation (ABCO) was received by the traditional ruler of Asi-Asaba, Oba Isaac Oyewale Olasunkanmi in his palace along with his chiefs; market women and artisans were also in attendance. The monarch recalled that the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice played a critical role during the kingship crisis in the community.

    Olasunkanmi said: “I will support a credible candidate and you (Basiru) you are one. I and my subjects have decided to vote for you. I pray that you will win the senatorial election and offer us quality representation at the red chamber.”

    Thereafter, APC candidate received hundreds of SDP members in Wards 9 and 14 in Asi-Asaba who declared their support for his candidacy. The SDP chairman in Ward 9, Mr Joseph Adeyemi expressed happiness over the merger of the party structures with APC in Osun State. To him, this would boost the APC fortunes in all elections in Osun State. He said the SDP members have embarked on a house-to-house campaign for Basiru and other APC candidates.

    In his response, Basiru appreciated the goodwill of the traditional ruler and people of Asi-Asaba and promised to resuscitate the community’s health centre which is in a deplorable condition.

    At the palace of Oloyan of Oyan, Oba Kilani Adekeye Oyedare commended the humility of the APC senatorial candidate. He described Basiru as a politician with great virtues. The traditional ruler recalled Basiru’s efforts towards the electrification of some neighbouring communities in Oyan.

    Oyedare said Oyan has always been progressive since the era of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He assured Basiru that his people would vote for him. The APC candidate thanked the Oba and his subjects for the good gesture and promised them vibrant representation if elected as senator. Thereafter, Basiru received hundreds of SDP members who formerly declared for APC. They promised to vote for him.

    Similarly at Ijabe, Basiru was given a warm reception at the palace of Oba Felix Oyeniyi with his chiefs in attendance. The APC candidate for Odo-Otin State Constituency, Mr Adeyinka Adetoyi urged the people to vote for the part in order to attract development for the community.

    The campaign train also moved to Igbotelele, Alapataand Ilaodo communities where party supporters, Fulani community and other well-wishers trooped out to declare support for the APC senatorial candidate.