Politics

How APC Barred Journalists From Covering Senatorial Primaries In Ekiti

Published

4 years ago

June 1, 2022

Editor

As the National Assembly aspirants in Saturday’s primaries of the All Progressives Congress are still counting their gains and losses, some journalists who covered the events in Ekiti are still in a maze why they were barred from covering the voting exercise of the Ekiti North Senatorial primaries which held in Ifaki.

The contestants for the ticket were incumbent senator, Olubunmi Adetumbi, Cyril Fasuyi, Oluomo Osinkolu, and Segun Ajibulu.

Expectedly, the ticket was keenly contested given that the state government was rumoured to be backing a particular candidate for the ticket other than the incumbent.

Reporters were at the venue as early as 9 a.m. but as soon as the process began, the Chairman of the committee for the election ordered that journalists be barred from entering the hall.

Adeola Aderibigbe, a reporter with the African Independent Television(AIT), told PREMIUM TIMES that the order to bar journalists from the venue was issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, who was heading the committee.

He said despite protests from the reporters and efforts to get the party to change the rules, they were kept out of the premises until voting was concluded.

Mr Dipe was a journalist before joining politics.

“We covered several other APC primaries, there was never a place where we were barred from covering the process,” said Mr Aderibigbe.

“We were only allowed into the hall after voting had taken place and we were there to cover the counting of the ballots and thereafter the results were announced.”

He said the incident indicated that there was something someone wanted to hide and had prevented the press from playing its role during the voting process.

Kayode Babatuyi, the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ekiti, said it was strange for reporters to be barred from covering an event as important as a senatorial primary.

“Although we were later called in to cover the counting of votes after the delegates were done with the voting, it is unusual for reporters not to be allowed to cover primaries.,” he said.

Mr Babatuyi, who also reports for the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria(FRCN), noted that he had covered several APC primaries before Friday’s event and still could not fathom the reason behind the decision.

He, however, said there was nothing suggesting malpractice during the exercise.

Mr Osinkolu, one of the aspirants who spoke to journalists on the issue, said “That is not part of the rules. There is no election that journalists are asked not to cover the exercise. So, that is not part of the rules.”

While announcing the results of the primary, Mr Dipe said Mr Adetumbi polled 85, while Mr Fasuyi scored 111 to emerge as the winner of the primaries.

Mr Osinkolu scored 47 votes and Mr Ajibulu scored 13 votes.

Mr Dipe further stated that the total number of expected voters was 280 but 270 votes were cast.

When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES for his reaction on the matter, Mr Dipe said he would not speak on it.

“I am not in any position to speak to you on the matter. Thank you.”

Related Topics:APC Ekiti Senatorial Primaries

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Politics

Crisis Hits APC Govs Forum As 18 Rejects Uzodinma’s Removal

Published

8 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Editor

A serious crisis is currently brewing in the Progressive Governors’ Forum following the sudden removal of the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, as its chairman.

Reports had it earlier that a cross-section of All Progressives Congress, APC, governors removed Uzodinma and installed the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, as its chairman.

Although the Director-General of the forum, Folorunso Aluko, in a statement on Friday, said the reports of Uzodinma’s removal were fake and misleading, sources privy to the matter confirmed to DAILY POST that some governors met on Thursday night and removed Uzodinma.

The meeting, according to reports, was led by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and was held at the Ogun Government Lodge.

However, in a swift move to counter the decision of the Abiodun-led group, 18 other governors met behind closed doors at the Imo Lodge on Friday and passed a vote of confidence in Uzodinma.

Some of those present at the meeting included the governors of Ondo, Kaduna, Taraba, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Borno, Lagos, Kogi, Kano, Yobe, Kebbi, Benue and Jigawa states, while Nasarawa State was represented by its deputy governor.

Speaking on the unfolding events, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State said: “All of us woke up to that very unfortunate story, which was virtually in all the media in Nigeria. But the truth of the matter is that the APC Progressive Governors’ Forum is very united.

“We are stronger now than at any other time. And, of course, we are all supporting the president for what he has been doing.

“We also want to assure everyone that the APC is united, the governors are united, the forum is united, and there is no problem at all.”

Politics

BREAKING: APC Governors Forum Splits As Uzodimma, Abiodun Lead Rival Factions

Published

9 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Editor

The Progressive Governors Forum, PGF, has been factionalised.

The rival factions emerged after its chairman, Governor Hope Uzodimma, was reportedly removed on Thursday.

While Uzodimma insisted that he remains PGF chairman, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq are leading a separate faction.

Another bloc within the forum has reportedly aligned behind Abiodun and AbdulRazaq.

The development, which comes amid growing political realignments within the ruling party, marks a significant crack within the ranks of APC governors ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to reports by Arise TV, details surrounding the disagreement remain unclear, but sources within the party said tensions had been building over internal leadership control and strategic positioning ahead of the next election season.

DAILY POST reports that, as of the time of filing this report, none of the factions had officially released a detailed statement on the cause of the division.

Politics

2027: Why We Called On Goodluck Jonathan To Run For Presidency – Ohikere

Published

1 day ago

May 7, 2026

Editor

Supporters of former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan have explained why they marched to his office, urging him to run in the 2027 presidential election.

While addressing the Coalition for Jonathan 2027 in Abuja on Thursday, its National President, Tom Ohikere, said the group was motivated by concerns over the state of the country.

Ohikere, on behalf of the coalition, appealed to the former president to “save Nigeria from impending collapse.”

He recalled an earlier visit to Jonathan on April 8, 2026, during which the group first appealed to him to contest the 2027 election.

The coalition noted that it had yet to receive a clear response from the former president and expressed concern that he had not picked up a nomination form from any political party.

According to them, Jonathan should commit to the race, obtain a presidential nomination form from any party of his choice, and contest the election, pledging to mobilise support for him across the country.

“Last month, April 8, 2026, the Coalition for Jonathan 2027 paid a friendly visit to Your Excellency to urge you to run in the 2027 presidential election to save Nigeria from impending collapse. Though we did not meet you in person, we believe that our message was unreservedly passed on to you, as it was to the entire Nigerian people through the media.

“Since then, we have had little information as to whether you have yielded to our clarion call, as you have not yet, to our knowledge, picked up a nomination form for the presidential contest in any registered political party.

“Because of our genuine fear of a possible collapse of Nigeria, as peace and unity are now gradually eluding all of us, we decided to march to your office again today, hoping you will step out to receive us and make a statement that will gladden our hearts and the entire nation.

“We are asking you to hear our cries and contest the 2027 presidential election, sir. This mammoth crowd that came with us here today is a fragment of your supporters nationwide and represents every tribe, tongue, and religious belief in this country. We, young and old, girls and boys, men and women, are all here crying for your voice to say ‘yes’ to our request,” Ohikere said.

Recall that Jonathan had hinted at the possibility of returning to the presidential race in 2027, saying he would “consult widely” following growing calls for him to contest.

Jonathan made the remark while responding to members of the Coalition for Jonathan 2027 who marched to his office to urge him to run for president in the next general election.

“Presidential race is not a computer game, but I heard you, and I will consult widely. But the most important thing is that Nigeria should have young people who will plan for our grandchildren,” Jonathan said.