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Ondo Poll: APC Group Backs SDP Candidate, Rejects Aiyedatiwa

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Ahead of the upcoming Ondo State governorship election, a group within the All Progressives Congress in the state has thrown its weight behind Benson Akingboye of the Social Democratic Party, rejecting the party’s candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The group criticised Aiyedatiwa’s emergence as the party’s flag-bearer, citing concerns over alleged irregularities and their disenchantment with the leadership’s handling of the primaries.

This was revealed in a petition written to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Saturday.

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This comes barely a week before the Ondo governorship poll.

Aiyedatiwa was declared the winner by Governor Usman Ododo-led Primary Election Committee following a poll conducted in all 18 local government areas of the state.

READ ALSO: Ondo Election: 17 Parties, Candidates Sign Peace Accord For Credible, Peaceful Polls

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However, the result was contested over allegations of irregularities and violence in some polling units.

Consequently, the senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim, and five other aspirants filed petitions challenging Aiyedatiwa’s victory.

The other aspirants were Olusola Oke, Folakemi Omogoroye, Olugbenga Edema, Jimi Odimayo, and Wale Akinterinwa.

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In response, the APC national chairman summoned all the aspirants to the party secretariat in Abuja and urged them to bury the hatchet and work with Aiyedatiwa.

READ ALSO: Ondo Poll: APC, PDP In Verbal War Over Candidates’ Debate Performance

Trouble flared again in the APC camp on Saturday with the declaration of this APC group.

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In a fresh petition signed by the Coordinator of Ondo Patriots, Dele Oyewo, the party leaders vowed to shun Aiyedatiwa and support the Social Democratic Party candidate, Otunba Benson Akingboye.

The letter partly read: “Following the position our dear party in Abuja has taken, supporting Governor Aiyedatiwa’s questionable emergence at the shadow primaries conducted in April 2024, the leadership of our various organising groups within the party structure hereby reiterates that it will be almost impossible to work with the governor in the November 16 gubernatorial election.

“This is not unconnected to the fact that our kindness and loyalty have repeatedly been taken for granted, not only in Ondo state but across the country. We also discovered that the party leadership in Abuja is not in any way concerned about the well-being of the citizens of Ondo State.

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READ ALSO: Ondo Poll: PDP, APC Trade Words Over Violence

“Rather, they prefer their own choice of settlement over any resulting consequences. The voices of Ondo APC hereby condemn what it describes as gross misconduct against party ethics in the choice of Aiyedatiwa, if we are truly different from the PDP and what we preached before the 2015 general elections.

“Having reviewed the credentials of all the major contenders for the forthcoming governorship election in our state, we, the major APC groups in Ondo, have decided to support Otunba Benson Akingboye of the Social Democratic Party as our choice. We cannot continue to suffer in silence.”

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Efforts to reach the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, for a response were unsuccessful.

As of the time of filing this report, Morka had neither returned the calls nor replied to the messages sent for clarification.

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Court Declines Kachikwu’s Motion Against INEC, ADC Leaders

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday declined to hear an application filed by the African Democratic Congress’ 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, against the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party.

Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling, refused to entertain the motion.

Kachikwu, through his counsel, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN), had sought an order compelling INEC to withdraw the publication of Mark and Rauf Aregbesola’s names as national chairman and secretary of the ADC, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

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INEC had recently recognised Mark, a former Senate President, and Aregbesola, a former Governor of Osun State, as the party’s national chairman and national secretary.

READ ALSO:Court Dismisses Suit Seeking Refund Of Rivers’ Monies Expended By Ibas

On July 7, Kachikwu and four others – Adikwu Elias, Etimbuk Umoh, Muhammed Khala, and Alaku Godwin William – filed an originating summons challenging the recognition of the duo.

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The suit lists INEC, ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola as the first to fifth defendants.

When the matter was called on Friday, Akinlaja told the court that a motion dated September 19 had been filed. He argued that despite the pendency of the suit, INEC went ahead to recognise Mark and Aregbesola as party leaders.

The plaintiffs asked the court to set aside the recognition and publication of their names, describing it as a breach of the doctrine of lis pendens. They also sought an injunction restraining Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola from further relating with INEC as ADC’s national officers.

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However, counsel for the ADC, Shaibu Aruwa (SAN), along with other defence lawyers, opposed the application.

READ ALSO:South African Court Finds Radical Politician Malema Guilty On Gun Charges

After hearing arguments, Justice Omotosho declined to entertain the motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1331/2025.

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He said, “This court is not inclined to nullify anything at this stage, whether done before or now. This is a political case. I am not taking any interlocutory matter.”

The judge held that all processes filed by the parties, including preliminary objections, would be taken together with the substantive case.

Despite repeated pleas by Akinlaja for the motion to be heard, the court stood its ground.

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Justice Omotosho also granted an application for joinder filed by Nkemakolam Ukandu, the ADC deputy national secretary, and ordered that his name be added as a defendant.

He directed the plaintiffs to file the amended processes within 48 working hours and gave the defence seven days to respond. The case was adjourned till October 23 for hearing.

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Fubara Sacks Commissioners, Others

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Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has sacked all commissioners and other public office holders serving in his administration.

The decision, according to a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday evening by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, takes immediate effect and followed the recent Supreme Court judgment.

The governor, during a valedictory session with his cabinet to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary at Government House, Port Harcourt, thanked the outgoing officials for their services and contributions to the state’s development over the past two years.

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The statement read in part, “Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has thanked members of his cabinet for their services and contributions to the development of the state in the last two years.

READ ALSO:BREAKING: Gov Fubara Dissolves Rivers Pension Board

The governor highlighted the significance of Nigeria’s Independence, and called on all Nigerians to work together with Mr President to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous country and a brighter future for all.

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“Furthermore, the Governor has relieved all Commissioners and other public officers affected by the recent Supreme Court judgment of their appointments with immediate effect.”

Fubara also reiterated his commitment to serve the state “with renewed vigour,” while expressing gratitude to Rivers people for their support and wishing Nigerians a happy Independence anniversary.

READ ALSO:Why I Refused To Challenge Emergency Rule – Fubara

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Recall that the immediate past administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), upon assumption of office during the emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu, suspended all commissioners, special advisers, and assistants appointed by Fubara. Ibas also dissolved boards and suspended heads of parastatals he met in office.

Since Ibas exited the state on September 18, the fate of Fubara’s appointees had remained uncertain. The Rivers State House of Assembly, at its first sitting after the lifting of the emergency rule, had called on the governor to submit a fresh list of commissioner-nominees for screening, alongside the 2025 budget for passage.

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2027: Crisis Rocks Kaduna ADC Over Power Tussle

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The Kaduna State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is enmeshed in crisis as a fierce power struggle among leading figures threatens the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.

ADC stalwart, Malam Salihu Lukman, raised the alarm on Wednesday, warning that the party may not make a meaningful impact at the polls if the internal rift persists.

In a statement, Lukman alleged that some party leaders have aligned with certain aspiring candidates for the 2027 elections to the exclusion of others.

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He called on former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Malam Jaafaru Sani, Alhaji Bashir Saidu, and other opposition leaders in the state to halt what he described as “the madness” of candidates bent on hijacking party structures.

READ ALSO:Ex-Tinubu Campaign Coordinator Resigns From APC

According to him, “anybody who is not ready to work as part of a united opposition in Kaduna State is consciously or unconsciously working for the APC.”

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Expressing concern over the infighting, Lukman said his efforts to mediate had largely failed.

“The fact that Senator Musa Bello is aggressively seeking to control structures of ADC in Zone 2 is a reflection of my failure, largely because I am associated with him.

“Senator Lawal Adamu (Mr. La) has avoided all my requests to meet him. I have met Malam Jaafaru Sani on this matter and had discussions with Malam Nasir. Sadly, we are not united, and the perception is that I am part of the problem.”

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READ ALSO:Why APC Candidates Contested 2023 LG Election Despite Intimidation — State Chairman

Lukman stressed that he has no political ambition but remains committed to building a united front. “As a citizen from Kaduna State, I am willing to make every necessary sacrifice to move our state forward. Without sounding immodest, I made every sacrifice to contribute to forming the coalition and negotiating the agreement with ADC.

“May I therefore appeal to Malam Nasir and all our leaders to please seek to unite us. It is only if we are united in ADC that we can unite our people in the state to defeat the APC in 2027. We must bear in mind that it is not just about defeating APC but about producing a government controlled by our party based on collective leadership.

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“We need to put an end to the era when we produce emperors as governors. Anything short of a government managed by collective leadership under ADC will be unacceptable.”

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