By Idowu Adebomi, Ado Ekiti

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has raised the alarm over what it described as an attempt to exclude the party from the forthcoming election, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) moved to clarify issues surrounding the controversy.

The PDP made the allegation on Tuesday during a visit to the INEC office in Ado-Ekiti, where party chieftain, Mr Deji Ogunsakin, expressed shock over the non-listing of the party’s candidate, despite what he said was a properly conducted primary election.

Ogunsakin insisted that the PDP primary was lawfully held and fully monitored by INEC officials, noting that there was no court order restraining the exercise and no judgment delivered against it afterward.

According to him, INEC officials supervised the primary election from night till the following morning, making the omission of the party’s candidate both surprising and troubling.

“This situation is shocking and unprecedented in Ekiti State. INEC monitored our primary from start to finish. There was no litigation against it, yet our candidate’s name did not appear. That raises serious concerns,” Ogunsakin said.

He warned that the exclusion of a major opposition party could heighten political tension in the state and fuel fears of an emerging one-party system.

“We do not want a crisis in Ekiti, but any attempt to sideline the PDP will only create unnecessary tension. No political party has ever been denied participation in an election in this state,” he added.

Also speaking, Ekiti State Chairman of IPAC, Mr Owoola Daramola, said the council intervened to prevent what it viewed as an unfair and illegal exclusion from the electoral process.

Daramola said records available to IPAC showed that the PDP complied with the Electoral Act and due process during its primary election, stressing that any problem likely arose after the primary, possibly at the stage of national submission.

“From what we have seen, PDP followed the rules. INEC monitored the primary and a valid candidate emerged. Whatever went wrong did not happen in Ekiti State, and it should not be used to deny the party participation,” he said.

He warned that the credibility of elections would be undermined if major political parties were excluded.

“There can be no free and fair election if one party is unfairly removed. If the reasons for this exclusion remain unclear, IPAC will take a firm position. The playing field must be level,” Daramola stated.

Responding, Head of Election and Political Monitoring (EPM) at INEC, Mr Kehinde Mustafa, clarified that the commission lacks the constitutional power to disqualify candidates, explaining that the responsibility for candidate submission rests with political parties.

“INEC is not the custodian of candidate submissions. That responsibility belongs to the political parties. Once a party submits a name, INEC only assesses compliance. Under the law, we do not have the power to disqualify candidates arbitrarily,” Mustafa said.

He noted that the Electoral Act and various court judgments clearly place candidate qualification and submission in the hands of political parties, provided stipulated timelines are observed.

Mustafa added that the submission window was still open and that similar issues had been resolved in the past once procedural lapses were corrected.

“The process is still ongoing. INEC is guided strictly by the rule of law. We are not aligned with any political party. Our duty is to ensure a credible election,” he said.

PDP and IPAC leaders urged calm among party members and the public as engagements continue at the national level, insisting that fairness, transparency and inclusion must guide the electoral process in Ekiti State.

Panic as BRT bus catches fire on Third Mainland Bridge

Panic erupted on Tuesday afternoon after a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle was engulfed by fire on the Third Mainland Bridge, causing anxiety among commuters and heavy traffic congestion.

The incident occurred at about 1:00 p.m. around the Adekunle axis of the bridge, inward Iyana Oworo. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the development in a statement posted on its official X handle.

According to LASTMA, the high-capacity BRT bus suddenly burst into flames, forcing motorists to slow down or divert from the affected section of the bridge. Videos circulating online showed the bus completely on fire, with thick smoke billowing into the air.

Although no casualties were recorded, the fire caused severe traffic gridlock stretching from Adekunle towards Iyana Oworo.

“A high-capacity bus is on fire on the Third Mainland Bridge, by Adekunle, inwards Iyana Oworo, affecting traffic,” LASTMA stated.

The agency added that its officials were immediately deployed to the scene to manage traffic and ensure public safety while efforts were made to extinguish the fire.

Further updates indicated that operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived promptly and worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other vehicles.

Traffic officials were seen directing motorists away from the affected area as emergency responders battled the inferno. As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire had not been disclosed.

Sanwo-Olu urges resilience, partnership to strengthen Lagos creative economy

By Sodiq Adelakun

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on creatives and storytellers in the state to remain resilient, innovative and collaborative as efforts intensify to grow Lagos’ creative economy.

The governor made the call on Tuesday at the Lens for Good 2026 Storytellers’ Conference, themed “Stories That Move Us,” held at the Wole Soyinka Centre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu described Lagos as a city defined by energy, resilience and creativity, noting that the state and Nigeria are filled with talented individuals waiting to be discovered.

He stressed that perseverance and the ability to push through difficult moments are central to the Lagos identity.

He warned against complacency in a highly competitive environment, noting that failure to innovate or improve creates room for others to take the lead.

According to him, creatives must consistently challenge themselves and pursue originality to remain relevant.

The governor also acknowledged concerns about trust between government and the creative community, describing trust-building as a gradual process that requires consistency in policies and sustained engagement.

He said government must demonstrate sincerity by providing an enabling environment through supportive policies, infrastructure and clear direction.

Sanwo-Olu emphasised that the relationship between government and creatives should be viewed as a partnership, adding that government does not have all the answers and must remain open to being guided and challenged by industry stakeholders.

He identified complacency as a major threat to the growth of the creative industry in Lagos, urging practitioners to set higher goals, pursue continuous self-improvement and learn from past experiences to achieve better outcomes.

The governor said the vision for Lagos is to become a leading global city that offers opportunities, a high quality of life and a thriving creative industry. He added that Lagos aims to serve as a benchmark for other cities, where success in the state reflects the ability to compete anywhere in the world.

Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusivity, sustained engagement and continuous improvement to ensure Lagos remains a city where creativity can thrive and opportunities are accessible to all residents.