Politics

How I Defeated Bola Ige In 1999 To Get AD’s Presidential Ticket — Olu Falae

Published

1 month ago

March 21, 2026

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae, has revealed how he emerged as the presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1999, defeating the late Chief Bola Ige in what he described as a surprising but hard-earned victory.

Falae, in excerpts from his forthcoming autobiography, The Triumph of Grace, said his emergence followed an intense lobbying effort, strategic consultations, and what he termed a miscalculation by his opponent.

According to him, the process began when Afenifere constituted a 23-member committee to select a consensus candidate for the AD/APP alliance presidential ticket.

The committee comprised elected governors of the AD, party chairmen across the South-West, Kwara and Kogi states, as well as key Afenifere elders.

Falae noted that the composition of the committee was, in his view, “unfair,” particularly as he was neither informed about the meeting that set it up nor given the opportunity to influence its structure. Despite this, he chose not to challenge the decision.

Both aspirants were asked to pay a nomination fee of N500,000. Falae said he promptly submitted a bank draft, while Ige also paid the same amount with “a post-dated cheque.”

Determined to secure victory, Falae embarked on an extensive campaign, visiting each member of the committee individually to solicit support.

“It would be very boring to bring into this autobiography the details of my conversations,” he wrote, “but I went round and saw everybody.”

He recounted visits to key political figures, including Chief Adebodun in Kogi State, who, despite being a long-time ally of Bola Ige, acknowledged Falae’s broader acceptability in Northern Nigeria.

Falae said he leveraged his experience in public service having served as Permanent Secretary, Managing Director of Nigeria Merchant Bank, and later Secretary to the Government of the Federation to convince members of his capacity to lead the country.

He also met with influential elders such as Chief J.O. Odebiyi, former Minister of Education, who subjected him to rigorous questioning on his plans for key sectors.

“I had a blueprint titled The Way Forward for the Third Republic, and I was able to respond to all his questions,” Falae said.

In addition, he reached out to figures considered close to Bola Ige, including Archdeacon Emmanuel Alayande and Justice Adewale Thompson, even though he admitted he did not expect their support.

“I did not want them to feel ignored,” he explained.

Falae contrasted his approach with that of his rival, noting that Ige travelled abroad during the critical period leading up to the decisive meeting at D-Rovans Hotel in Ibadan.

“While I was approaching members of the panel with arguments and logic… I learnt that Chief Bola Ige was away in London. He did not campaign at all, presumably because he was sure of victory.

“The day before the D-Rovans meeting, I went to Ibadan, to be as close as possible to the venue of the meeting, because the meeting was very important to me. To be nominated as Presidential candidate is the highest honour any political party can accord any of its members. It is the nation as a whole, in a general election that could convert that candidate into President. As far as the Party is concerned, it is the highest honour which they gave to Baba Awolowo and which I was now seeking. So, I went to Ibadan a day before to stay with my cousin, Chief Tayo Daniel, in Apata area of Ibadan. From there, I monitored what was going on; to confirm that the meeting was on and to know the outcome of the meeting, as soon as a decision was taken.

When the voting ended, an announcement was made that Chief Bola Ige scored nine votes and Chief Olu Falae scored fourteen votes and, therefore, Olu Falae was declared the candidate of the AD/Afenifere, to be recommended to the National Working Committee of the AD/APP alliance for adoption and ratification.

“I was naturally very happy. It was a major progress in my political career. To have succeeded against such a formidable and experienced politician like Chief Bola Ige was close to a miracle,” he said.

While he described the victory as “close to a miracle,” Falae admitted that the outcome triggered controversy, with allegations that money influenced the process claims Falae firmly denied.

“There were allegations that money changed hands during the D-Rovans election. I pray that God will forgive those who made such false and wicked allegations.

“In the circumstances, it would be a sacrilege to offer money to respected elders like Chief Adekeye who was then in his nineties, Chief (Jonathan) Odebiyi who was a Minister in the 1950s, Chief Adebodun, retired Justice Adewale Thompson and newly elected governors. To think of giving them money would be obscene, and I want to state categorically in this autobiography that I have never offered a bribe to anybody to do me a favour and I have never accepted a bribe from anybody for doing my duty…”

Falae attributed part of his success to lingering resentment among some party elders over Ige’s past political decisions, particularly his refusal to step down for Archdeacon Emmanuel Alayande during the 1979 governorship race in Oyo State.

Following his emergence, Falae said he made efforts to reconcile with Ige, sending emissaries and eventually meeting him in Ibadan in the presence of prominent figures.

At the meeting, he said Ige acknowledged his (Falae’s) qualities and agreed, at least verbally, to support his campaign in the South-West.

However, the fragile truce soon showed cracks when Ige publicly distanced himself from claims that he would lead Falae’s campaign.

Despite the tensions, Falae maintained that his victory was the product of strategy, persuasion, and what he described as divine grace.

“The Yoruba say, bo se wu Olorun lo n sola e God bestows His grace as He pleases,” he wrote.

The autobiography, The Triumph of Grace, is scheduled for public presentation in the coming days. Saturday Tribune got an advance copy during the week.
(TRIBUNE)

Politics

PDP Loses Five Reps, APC Two In Fresh Defections

Published

23 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Editor

A fresh wave of defections swept through the House of Representatives on Tuesday as lawmakers realigned across party lines in what appears to be early positioning for the 2027 general elections.

At the resumption of plenary after the Easter break, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, read out a series of defection letters, reflecting a growing fluidity within Nigeria’s political space.

He dismissed concerns that the trend signalled an attempt to edge the country toward a one-party system, insisting instead that it underscores democratic freedom.

“This is to show the country that no party is stiffled. People are leaving the majority party to the minority parties and the minority parties to the majority party. This is the beauty of democracy,” Kalu said.

One of the notable movements came from Lagos, where Thaddeus Attah, representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency, dumped the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress.

In his letter, Attah attributed his decision to “the protracted crisis in the leadership of the LP,” which he said has hampered effective representation of his constituents in recent months.

The Peoples Democratic Party emerged as the biggest casualty of the latest round of defections, losing five members.

Among them, Abubakar Abdul from Niger State defected to the All Progressives Congress, while Yakubu Noma (Kebbi) joined the ADC and Ibrahim Mohammed (also from Kebbi) moved to the APC.

In Osun State, two lawmakers—Mudashiru Alani (Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa) and Adetunji Olusoji (Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe)—left the PDP for the Accord Party.

However, the APC also recorded losses. David Fuoh (Taraba) defected to the PDP, while Bashir Zubair (Kaduna) joined the ADC, highlighting the two-way nature of the shifting alliances.

Defections are not new in Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly as election cycles approach. With less than two years to the 2027 polls, lawmakers are increasingly recalibrating their positions in response to internal party disputes, electoral calculations, and evolving regional dynamics.

The current wave is partly driven by lingering leadership crises within parties—most notably in the PDP and LP—as both major and smaller parties intensify efforts to strengthen their ranks ahead of primaries.

For many legislators, party affiliation is often influenced by prospects for re-election, access to party structures, and alignment with influential political blocs at the state and national levels.

Since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in 2023, the APC has maintained a numerical advantage in the House, but opposition parties have continued to jostle for relevance through strategic defections and coalition-building.

The emergence of parties like the ADC as beneficiaries of defections suggests a gradual diversification of the political space beyond the traditional dominance of the APC and PDP.

Analysts say the trend may intensify in the coming months as parties finalise their internal structures and aspirants begin to test their popularity ahead of primaries.

For now, Tuesday’s developments reinforce a familiar pattern: in Nigeria’s legislature, party loyalty often remains fluid, especially when electoral stakes are high.

The House adjourned plenary to Wednesday in honour of Kano lawmaker Hassan Danjuma, who died on April 10, 2026, at the age of 66.

Politics

Delta North Youths Reject Okowa’s Senatorial Ambition

Published

3 days ago

April 19, 2026

Editor

A coalition of youths from the nine local government areas of Delta North has rejected the reported senatorial ambition of former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, ahead of the 2027 elections.

The position was made known at a press conference in Agbor, where the group’s spokesman, Benjamin Atagana Ofochi, accused Okowa of dominating the zone’s political space for decades.

The development comes days after political figures within the All Progressives Congress (APC) reportedly urged the former governor to contest for the Delta North senatorial seat in 2027.

The youth group argued that Okowa should step aside to allow other aspirants to emerge, citing what it described as long-standing control of political offices in the state since 1991.

They also referenced allegations of financial misconduct currently being handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urging him to focus on addressing those issues.

The coalition further raised concerns over what it described as an attempt to concentrate political power within one family, alleging that Okowa’s daughter is also seeking elective office.

According to the group, such developments could limit opportunities for broader participation in governance within the district.

The youths called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC leadership, and party delegates to ensure a transparent primary process for selecting candidates in Delta North.

They warned that they would mobilise against any perceived imposition of candidates, insisting on what they described as inclusive and competitive politics in the district.

Politics

VIDEO: I Will Beat Tinubu Flat In Free, Fair Election — Dino Melaye Boasts

Published

3 days ago

April 19, 2026

Editor

Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has stated that he would defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a free and fair election.

Melaye made the declaration during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On, where he criticised the current administration and expressed confidence in his chances if given a level playing field.

He argued that any presidential aspirant under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would perform better than President Tinubu.

“Anybody among those interested in the presidency in ADC would do one million times better than Tinubu. They can never be a worse president than Tinubu. They can never be.”

Expressing confidence in his own chances, he stated, “Me? Dino Melaye. Let’s go. Let’s go on a free and fair election.”

Melaye further described the president as unpopular among Nigerians, adding, “Today, Bola Tinubu is the most unpopular politician in Nigeria.”

He insisted he would secure a decisive victory in an election against Tinubu if the process is credible.

The former lawmaker also called for an open electoral process, warning against any attempt to undermine democracy.

“Let him allow a free and fair contest. And if he doesn’t allow it, we will make him conduct our election because he doesn’t want election. He wants to be Kabiyesi. He wants to be Igwe. We will not allow that to happen in Nigeria. It will not happen.”

On political alliances in ADC, Melaye dismissed interest in joint ticket arrangements, emphasising his focus on unseating the current administration.

“My brother, I am not interested in any joint ticket or non-joint ticket. My own for now is that we must send Tinubu away.”

He added that he would support any candidate who emerges through ADC processes.