Politics

Former Senator Decries Marginalisation In Edo North Senatorial District, Advocates Power Shift

Published

4 years ago

August 12, 2021

Yisa Braimoh, former Senator, representing Edo North Senatorial District, Thursday, decried the continued marginalisation within the senatorial district, just as he called for a power shift from Estako to Akoko-Edo or Owan, all in the district, so as to give them a sense of belonging.

Senator Braimoh maintained that such political shift will help in compensating the dissatisfaction of majority of the people of Owan and Akoko-Edo clans over perceived and real marginalisation of the zone.

Braimoh, who expressed resentment while addressing newsmen as part of the anniversary to mark his 79 years birthday at his country home in Ihievbe, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, argued that the Owan/Akoko Edo clans have never had a fair share of principal political office holders in Edo North Senatorial District.

The former Senator, who represented the district in the National Assembly between 2003 and 2007, appealed to the deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shuaibu, and the Etsako speaking people in the senatorial district to concede the Senate seat, 2023 and support the Owan or the Akoko-Edo in producing the next senator for the district.

He disclosed that the Owan/Akoko Edo clans have never had a fair share of principal political office holdings in Edo North Senatorial District.

He further expressed displeasure with the reality that a good number of the people of Edo North Senatorial District feel disenchanted with how the zone has been schemed out of the political equation in the state.

The Senator lamented that the Estako people by design, deliberately dominated the district’s senatorial seat for over 25 cumulative years out of the last 35 years and still counting.

He noted that from the late 60’s of Senator Ekpomoriri Lamai to the 70s/80s and beyond period of Senator John Umolu, Senator Franka Afegbua, to Albert Legogie, Senator Victor Oyofo and presently Senator Francis Alimikhena.

“The Edo North district is made up of six local government areas with Etsakos occupying 3 of the local governments, Owan 2, with Akoko-Edo occupying 1.

“The Etsakos have a 44% voters population advantage to the Owans 26% and the Akoko – Edo’s 25% of voters population”, he stated.

According to Senator Braimoh, “The utter and highly dismal performance of Senator Francis Alimikhena, an Etsako chieftain and presently representing Edo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, who recently openly voted against the Electronic Transmission of Election Results in the INEC amendment bill at the floor of the Senate is part of the reasons the Etsakos should opt for a candidate from the Owan axis.

“The Senator Alimikhena disgraceful act makes it more imperative for the Etsakos to concede the Senate seat to the minority people of Owan/Akoko Edo once again.”

He listed some of the positions being denied the Owan/Akoko-Edo people which are being occupied by the Estako people to include the state deputy governor, Edo North, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, PDP National Vice Chairman South-South, PDP BOT Member.

Others are PDP National Deputy Women Leader, PDP State Secretary, Chairmen, Local Government service commission. House of Assembly service commission.

He, however, noted that the unprecedented 12 years loyalty and support of Owan/Akoko Edo Clans to former governor, Adams Oshiomhole and the current state deputy governor, Philip Shaibu need to be reciprocated by conceding 2023 Senate seat once again to them.

“In order to sustain peace, fairness, justice and equity in the polity of Edo North, the Senate Seat should now go to Owan or Akoko Edo people”, he added.

He also used the occasion to appeal to the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, to establish a faculty of the Edo State University Iyamo, in Afuze, Owan East LGA, to make education accessible to the people at the grassroots.

Politics

PDP Issues Certificate Of Expulsion To Wike, Fayose, Anyanwu, Others

Published

4 hours ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it has issued certificate of expulsion from the party to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other 10 members earlier expelled from the party.

The party National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen after the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The other members, according to him, include the embattled National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the Legal Adviser, Kamarudeen Ajibade, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

They also included Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah Nnanna, George Turna and Chief Dan Orbih, expelled during the party National convention in Lagos.

Turaki said that the original copies of the certificate had been dispatched to the owners through a courier service to serve as proof that they were expelled from the PDP.

“We have taken note of the fact that Nigerian law frowns on dual membership of political parties, and so we have sought to make it easy for them.

“Now that they are no longer members of our party, and now that the National Convention, which is the highest decision-making organ of our party, has expelled them, we have decided to issue them certificates of expulsion.

“So, when they go to register with other political parties in Nigeria, they will show these certificates as proof that they are no longer members of the PDP.

“By that, those parties will not accuse them of trying to belong to more than one political party,” he said.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, and other government agencies, to take note.

“Very soon, members of the society will be informed via proper disclaimers that any person henceforth who decides to do business with them, any or all of them, does so at his or her own risk.

“They are no longer members of the PDP. They have been expelled,” he added.

He added that the NWC also reviewed some of the cases filed against the party and lawsuits instituted by the party, particularly the one that related to the “unlawful and illegal” closure of the party’s national Secretariat, the Legacy House, and the Wadata Plaza.

“The brief we received from our lawyers is that we are on sound ground, and that very soon, the law will take its course,” he said.

Turaki said the NWC was prepared to be saddled with the responsibility of performing its functions as the leading opposition party in Nigeria.

“We are going to provide a credible alternative to Nigerians. We are going to provide credible leadership to Nigerians by the special grace of God from 2027,” he said.

Politics

Adebayo Adedamola Wins Osun PDP Governorship Primary

Published

1 day ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola, popularly known as FRYO, has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the August 8, 2026 governorship election in Osun State.

The primary election took place in Osogbo on Tuesday amid heavy security presence.

Announcing the result, chairman of the primary election committee, Humphrey Abba, stated that Adebayo secured 919 votes out of 957 accredited ballots, giving him a clear victory in the contest.

Explaining that there were 20 void votes following the withdrawal of one of the candidates, believed to be Governor Ademola Adeleke, Abba added, “The candidate that got the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes and he stands elected and returned.”

DAILY POST reports that despite announcing his resignation from the party, Adeleke’s name appeared on the ballot paper for the PDP governorship primary.

Party officials said the exercise was conducted in accordance with established guidelines, with accredited delegates participating in the voting process.

Adeleke announced his resignation in a letter dated November 4, 2025, and addressed to the PDP leadership at his ward.

On Monday, Osun PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, had announced that the governorship primary slated for Tuesday, December 2, 2025, has been postponed due to leadership crisis at the national level.

But a faction of the party went ahead with the exercise in Osogbo on Tuesday.

Politics

Gov Adeleke Resigns From PDP

Published

2 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial primaries of the party.

Adeleke’s resignation letter, dated November 4, 2025, sighted by Tribune Online was addressed to the PDP ward chairman for Ward 2, Sagba Abogunde, Ede, Osun State.

According to the letter, the governor’s resignation was based on “the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”

According to the letter, titled: “Resignation of my membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’ read, “Due to the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my Membership of the People’s Democratic Party with immediate effect.

“I thank the People’s Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the People’s Democratic Party.”