Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo  says his party,  the All Progressives Congress (APC), will not underrate any candidate from other political parties in  the  state’s Nov. 16 governorship election.

Aiyedatiwa stated this on Sunday at a gathering to celebrate his victory at the APC primaries, organised by a group, ‘Friends of Lucky,’ in Akure.

Aiyedatiwa, who said victory belonged  to the people of Ondo state, appreciated the leaders of the party for their support, as well as the organisers of the event.

“Once again, I appreciate all my supporters. You all went a long way for me, initiated things, spreading the message for my support across the 18 local government areas of the state.

“However, it is not over yet. This is just the first phase. There’s still more land to conquer; there’s still a great battle ahead. The primary election was just an in-house contest and now we head to the main battle,” he said.

The Chairman, Organising Committee of the event, Mrs Bukola Tenabe, said the event was to honour the governor on his resounding victory at the APC primary election held on April 20, and also to appreciate his supporters.

In his goodwill message, the Deputy State Chairman of the APC, Chief Atili Adaba, congratulated the governor on his victory, describing it as well deserved.

He commended the organisers of the event for their efforts in making it a success.

The Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, who represented the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, stated that Aiyedatiwa remained  a product of grace.

He added that the house would continue to support the governor for the progress of the state.

Speaking on behalf of the State Executive Council, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Adewale Akinlosotu, noted that the governor deserved to be celebrated.

Akinlosotu added that APC was one big family, urging everyone to come together so that the party would be successful at the Nov.16 gubernatorial election.

Dr Abiola Oshodi, who spoke on behalf of APC Canada, also congratulated the governor on his victory, saying: “I am sure that the people of Ondo state will definitely vote for you come Nov. 16”.

A former speaker of the state’s assembly and Chairman of SUBEB, Victor Olabimtan, said the governor was a product of mercy and that APC would  record unprecedented success in the election.

The beautifully decorated Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium assumed the role of a parliamentary session on Saturday as Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon (Obongemem) Ekperikpe Ekpo moved a motion for the adoption of Senator Godswill Akpabio by the people of Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district as sole candidate of all political parties for the 2027 election.

The event was the public reception organised by the Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district for Akpabio as Senate President.

Ekpo’s motion was seconded by Hon Dr. Patrick Umoh, House of Representatives member representing Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim, Obot Akara federal constituency and was generally agreed through a voice votes on the affirmative.

The Gas Minister who described Akpabio as a father, role model, a man of grace who has served the state and senatorial district meritoriously and deserved to be allowed to run for the 2027 Senate unopposed citing his magnanimous decision to allow Senator Aloysius Etuk run for two terms in the same senatorial district.

“Will we not allow such a man to go for another term? We know that even if you sleep and election is conducted you will win…but the people have mandated me to ask you that come 2027 no body will buy any form to contest that seat from any of the political parties in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district…the people have told me to inform you that,” Ekpo said amid thunderous applause from the crowd.

Ekpo thanked the large crowd that turned up for the event saying the former governor of the state deserved all the honour and felicitations from the people.

The Minister also extolled the peaceful disposition of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno to governance, urging the Senate President to partner with Eno for the development of the state.

Ekpo described Eno as a “shepherd that should be celebrated” imploring Akpabio not to listen to those who come to him to blackmail and backbite the governor.

The minister tasked Akpabio “to teach Governor Eno” how to perform and deliver dividends of democracy to Akwa Ibom State just as he did as governor.

By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo

When people are thinking about what the government can do for them to make their lives bearable as citizens, politicians are thinking about how to win the next election.

In December, former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola whose members of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Osun State chapter believe masterminded the defeat of the party to then opposition party, People Democratic Party, (PDP) during the last governorship election, revealed plans to announce his next political move to the people of the state.

Aregbesola and his political loyalists Omoluabi Progressive Caucus which was launched in 2023 have continued to separate political activities in the state.

The effort of the immediate past Governor and now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola cannot be underestimated to put the party on track of progress ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

In his effort to further strengthen the party Oyetola has successfully wooed Mr Dotun Babayemi and Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, alongside their supporters to Osun APC.=

Ogunbiyi had contested and lost the 2018 governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party to Senator Ademola Adeleke, who was defeated at the poll by the APC candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola.

In the race for the 2022 governorship ticket of the PDP, Ogunbiyi was among the contenders for the PDP ticket, before he announced his withdrawal, accusing the National Working Committee of the party of bias.

But Babayemi and his supporters held a parallel governorship primary, where he emerged as a PDP factional candidate.

The Supreme Court later held that the incumbent governor, Adeleke was the validly elected candidate of the PDP at the poll, laying to rest the disagreement on the matter.

Babayemi has not formally announced his defection from the PDP.

Also, the party has set up three committees which are reconciliation, appeal and discipline.

The chairman of the Reconciliation Committee, Alhaji Sule Aderemi from Boripe local government council was picked as while the members are Elder J. A. Oni from Atakumosa East local government council;  and Ademola Akeem Adesina from Irepodun local government council.

Other members of the Reconciliation Committee are Dupe Ajayi from Obokun Local Government; Sola Ogunfolaju from Ayedaade Local Government Council Area; Bisi Odewumi from Ife North Local Government Area while Bisi Ogunkale from Ayedire Local Government Council Area will serve as the Secretary of the committee.

Also, a committee headed by former Minister of Health, Dr. Isaac Adewole was set up at the state level to reinvigorate the party.

The chairman of the Appeal Committee is Biodun Awolola from Egbedore Local Government Council Area; Dauda Akinwole from Ife-East Local Government Area (member) and Yele Akintola from Ilesa East Local Government Area (member).

According to a statement by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the Secretary of the party, Alao Kamoru, disclosed that the date of the inauguration of the three committees would be communicated to the members at a later date.

“Alao also stated that the terms of reference of each of the committees shall be spelt out to the members on the day of the inauguration.

“The state party secretary congratulated the members of the three committees, praying that God would use them for the improvement of the fortune of the APC to accomplish its collective mission,” he said

At the quarterly meeting of Osun Central APC in Osogbo, the National Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Basiru, stressed that there is no political party without dissension, but the best way to solve it is by employing internal mechanisms instead of playing moles.

“I’m happy with our members in Osun Central for not selling their birthrights for a pot of porridge. With contentment and steadfastness, our rank will swell, and we will sweep back to power.”

Basiru also urged the party faithful to steer clear of spreading unfounded information about the leaders of the party, stating that there are hierarchies and processes to get and sieve information about the party and its leaders.

Saying it for the umpteenth time that he and the minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola are on good terms, the APC National Secretary harped on the need to mobilize women and youths for APC to be more deeply rooted in the State.

Meanwhile, all things seem not well with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) as some members of the party accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of only appointing those who have Political affiliation with the ‘Adeleke dynasty.’

Some members of the PDP who are loyalists of the former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola are not part of the current administration and have not been participating in state political functions.

Recently, Barr. Faruq Abass, the Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Wale Egbedun, announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Abass tendered his resignation in a document shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

In a letter addressed to the PDP Chairman in his Ward, Ejigbo Local Government, Abass cited the hijack of the party by some ‘bootlickers,’ the failure of the ruling party to provide quality and visionary governance to the people of the state since 2022, and the ostracisation of party members who supported the governorship ambition of Prince Dotun Babayemi, among others.

The Speaker’s CoS also said that despite the substantial allocation to the Ejigbo local government, there has not been any meaningful development in the council area.

Abass is one of the loyalists of Babayemi, who has concluded plans to move to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) also put effort into making their voice heard in the state, the Chairman of IPAC, Pastor Victor Akande, told Governor Adeleke that they are not an opposition to the present administration but a partner in progress.

He consequently promised to give necessary support to ensure Governor Adeleke’s success in office, stressing that it is their success too in IPAC.