The Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, on Friday charged President Bola Tinubu to pay Osun State’s local government allocation funds without delay.

The monarch, who made the call in an interview with newsmen at the Osun Osogbo Festival programme in Osogbo, said: “The Federal Government needs Osun’s vote in 2027. Osun cannot be ignored, and Osogbo people have already sent me to Tinubu that our vote is for him. Why is he now scared?”

He said: “Tinubu should release our money. Those of you who have the chance to speak to the President should tell him to release the money they are owing Osun State to our governor. Once they do that, when it’s time for the election, I will be available.

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“Some royal fathers have come to meet me to ask about what we will do on the issue, but I don’t want to be too forward, and I’ve been waiting for the leader of the royal fathers to call a meeting. This really concerns me. The Secretary to the State Government is my own, however, the governor, deputy governor, and Chief of Staff have monarchs in the towns they come from also.

“They should also call those monarchs. Why should I be the one to lead? When we get to Abuja, I know what to say there, ”Nigerian Tribune quoted him.

Reason has emerged why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to accord recognition to the interim National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, Senator David Mark.

Investigations revealed that the erstwhile National Chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu, in a letter dated July 29, 2025, and addressed to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, informed him of resolutions of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ADC held on the same date, “which empowers NEC to exercise the powers and perform all the functions of the National Convention pending the next National Convention.”

The NEC at that meeting effected changes in its leadership and informed the INEC so.

The letter to INEC, it was learnt, listed the names of 44 new national officers of the party. Listed among them by Ralph Nwosu were Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Dr Mani Ibrahim, as National Chairman, National Secretary and National Treasurer, respectively.

READ ALSO:ADC Slams Tinubu Over Mounting Debts, Demands Audit

Checks by Saturday Tribune on the INEC website, however, revealed that the commission still lists Ralph Nwosu, Alhaji Sai’d Baba Abdullahi and Mr Cavin Alagoa as National Chairman, National Secretary, and National Treasurer of the ADC, respectively. The website also lists Mrs Ifeyinwa Ntima as National Financial Secretary.

A source within INEC who spoke with Saturday Tribune in confidence explained why the electoral umpire was yet to accord official recognition to the David Mark-led interim leadership despite the formal notification by the party.

The source, who acknowledged receipt of the letter written by Ralph Okey Nwosu and Alhaji Sai’d Baba Abdullahi, the immediate past National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, noted that the commission was yet to recognise Senator Mark and Aregbesola as the new National Chairman and Secretary because the letter dated July 29, 2025, was not properly written.

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The source said: “The letter only listed 44 names of new national officers without their signatures. It is proper that we have in our custody specimens of their signatures. That’s when we would act on their letter.”

Asked if the commission was reluctant to accept the new leadership due to the ongoing tussle within the party, the INEC source dismissed the insinuation.

“No, we have nothing against the process. In fact, we were present and monitored the process where those resolutions were taken,” the source added.

Peter Obi, 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has advocated for a five-year single term for President in Nigeria.

Obi stated this in Bauchi on Friday when he paid a courtesy visit on Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

According to him, there shouldn’t be any second tenure for president, adding that instead of the four-year tenure, it should be five years as practiced in South Korea.

“I’ve said it and I want to say it again in this government house that if I have the opportunity, we should stop having a second tenure for president.

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“It should be five years straight, so that people can come in knowingly they have a job to do.

“What people do now is to be president for one year and use the rest of the years thinking about their next tenure. We must stop it, let’s face the real job, do your own and go,” he suggested.

The 2027 presidential hopeful insisted that if elected as Nigerian president in 2027, he would only serve for one term, promising that he won’t spend a day longer than four years in office.

He added that if given the opportunity to serve Nigeria, he would ensure that every political party functions properly.

READ ALSO:Return To PDP, Bauchi Gov Tells Peter Obi

Obi said he would ensure that political parties were bigger than the elected officials.

“I want the party to be bigger than the president and the governors so that we can have orderliness,” he said.

Responding, the Bauchi state governor called on Obi to come back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the party as where he belongs.

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“We want you to come back to PDP. Please come back because that is where you belong.

“We want you to be in PDP. There are plans, desires, and strategies,” he said.

Mohammed further said that politics in Nigeria could not be done with ego, differences, and personal interest, while calling on all oppositions to harmonise their interests in the interest of Nigerians.