Politics

Osun APC Members Petition Party Leadership, Seek Disqualification Of Reps Aspirant

Published

3 years ago

May 25, 2022

A group, Concerned Members of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has petitioned the National Chairman and Secretary of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Iyiola Omisore, demanding the disqualification of Mr. Oluseun Odofin, a House of Representatives aspirant for the Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State.

The group said Odofin was erroneously issued a Certificate of Clearance by the Screening Committee set up by APC because he allegedly concealed crucial information from the committee.

A petition dated May 23, sighted by DAILY POST on Wednesday was jointly signed by Mr. Alofe Babatunde and Ms. Modupe Adedayo, and submitted at the party secretariat in Abuja on Monday.

The group said: “We the above-mentioned concerned members of the All Progressive Congress (APC), of the Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency, Osun State hereby write to appraise your good offices of the non-qualification, forgery of submitted documents, non-appearance before the Screening Committee during the screening exercise and illegally obtaining the Certificate of Clearance of the APC from the screening Committee by Oluseun David Odofin.

“It came to our attention that Oluseun David Odofin was issued a Certificate of Clearance, however, we are of the firm opinion that the same was erroneously issued because he obtained the same by concealing crucial information from the screening committee and forging his resignation documents.

“We have been apprised by our reliable source that the said Oluseun David Odofin is currently serving as a political appointee at the National Assembly, while purposely misleading the Committee that he had resigned his appointment.”

The group insisted that owing to this finding, it was of the belief that his participation in the party’s primary election and possibly becoming party’s flag bearer would jeopardise the party’s interest in the forthcoming general election if the opposing party were to challenge the said primaries in court.

Responding, Odofin described the group as faceless, while also describing the allegation as spurious.

The aspirant noted that he resigned his appointment on March 10 because he knew that allegations like this would come up.

Odofin was of the view that the person behind it was afraid of facing him either at the primary election or at the general election, hence, the person’s decision to engage the services of a “faceless group”.

His words: “I have resigned a long time ago immediately they amended the Electoral Act. I resigned on March 10 because I knew this would come up. I have to meet up with the timing that was why I resigned and sent my resignation letter.

“Two months ago my salary was stopped. I don’t receive any salary anymore. They can go there and check the records if I have been receiving salaries.”

On the allegation that he didn’t attend the screening, Odofin said, “that was why I said these people are faceless. I was screened for two days. The first day we were given a form to go and fill. We filled the form and we came back the following day and submitted the form and we were screened. I was screened and cleared. So, I don’t know what they are talking about.

“I don’t even know what the certificate looks like. I have not seen the certificate, I did not receive any certificate. This is just malicious, spurious. Just to malign my name, just to stop me from participating in the primary. That tells you that someone, somewhere that is so afraid to face me whether at the primary or at the main election is behind this.”

Politics

N’Assembly committee Approves New State For S’East

Published

19 hours ago

October 26, 2025

Editor

The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in the South-East geo-political zone.

According to a statement by the media unit of the committee, the resolution was reached on Saturday at a two-day retreat in Lagos, where it reviewed 55 proposals for state creation across the country.

The session, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, resolved that, in the spirit of fairness and equity, the Federal Government should create another state for the region.

Kalu, who joined other lawmakers to champion additional state creation for the region, argued that a new state would give the people a sense of belonging.

When created, the South-East will be at par with the South-South, South-West, North-Central, and North-East zones, each having six states.

The South-East is the only geo-political zone with five states comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.

The North-West comprises seven states: Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa.

According to the statement, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State) at the retreat.

“The motion received the unanimous support of committee members and was adopted,” the statement read in part

Similarly, the committee also established a sub-committee to consider the creation of additional states and local government areas across all six geo-political zones, noting that a total of 278 proposals were submitted for review.

Speaking at the event, Jibrin urged members to rally support among their colleagues at the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to ensure the resolutions sail through during voting.

“We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process.

“By the time we get to the actual voting, we should already have the buy-in of all stakeholders—from both chambers and the state Houses of Assembly,” the Deputy Senate President was quoted as saying.

Politics

PDP Unveils 13-member Screening Panel For National Convention

Published

2 days ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

According to a statement issued on October 25, 2025, by the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) and signed by its Chairman, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who is also the Governor of Adamawa State, the screening exercise will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

The committee will be chaired by Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), a former Ondo State governorship candidate and respected legal luminary.

He will be assisted by Hon. Mohammed L.S. Diri (SAN) as Deputy Chairman, while Mr. Asue Ighodalo, Esq., will serve as Secretary. Jacob Otorkpa was named Deputy Secretary.

Other members of the committee include: Emmanuel Enoidem (SAN), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Chief Mrs. Aduke Maina, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Achike Udenwa, Haj. Maryam Inna Ciroma, HM. Felix Hassan Hyat, HM. Zainab Maina, and Chinedu Nwachukwu, who will also serve as Administrative Secretary.

The statement noted that the selection reflected the PDP’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and internal democracy in the build-up to its national convention.

“The NCOC notes and expects that the exemplary conduct and strict adherence to rules and regulations during this very crucial assignment will justify the confidence reposed by the Party in members of the Committee,” the statement read.

Fintiri assured party members that the screening process will be conducted with the highest standards of fairness and impartiality, underscoring the PDP’s resolve to strengthen its democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This exercise is crucial in ensuring that only credible, competent, and loyal members emerge to steer the affairs of our great party,” Fintiri stated.

Politics

Why I Refused To Endorse El-Rufai As My Successor — Obasanjo

Published

2 days ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how he turned down a suggestion to endorse former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, as his successor.

Speaking on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the second edition of the annual Ajibosin Platform symposium themed “Importance of Leadership in Governance”, Obasanjo disclosed that former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had recommended El-Rufai for the presidency, but he rejected the idea.

Chidoka, who delivered the keynote address at the event, had earlier narrated how El-Rufai introduced him to Obasanjo at the age of 34, an encounter that led to his appointment as the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Addressing the audience, Obasanjo took a playful jab at Chidoka for leaving out the El-Rufai story.

“Let him tell you. He didn’t mention that. He was pushing when I was leaving government that his friend, El-Rufai, should be brought in as my successor,” Obasanjo said.

Turning to Chidoka, who was seated among the panelists, he asked, “No be so (Is that not true)?” The former minister nodded in agreement.

Obasanjo explained that he dismissed the suggestion because he believed El-Rufai still needed time to grow politically.

“I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he said, ‘I suggested this person, why didn’t you agree?’ I said El-Rufai needs to mature. You remember?

“When I left government and, many years later, he saw the performances of El-Rufai, he came back to me and said, ‘You’re absolutely correct. El-Rufai needed to mature.’”

The former president, however, commended Chidoka, El-Rufai, and other former aides for their “special attributes,” which he said contributed to the success of his administration.

Speaking further on leadership, Obasanjo emphasised character, exposure, experience, and training as essential qualities of effective governance.

Obasanjo said, “It’s only in politics that I found out there is no training for leadership. Even among armed robbers, I was told there is apprenticeship.

“But it’s only in politics that there is no training in leadership. That’s not good enough.”

El-Rufai served under Obasanjo’s administration as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) before becoming the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between 2003 and 2007. When Obasanjo was leaving office in 2007, he instead backed the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as his preferred successor.

In his address, Chidoka blamed Nigeria’s development setbacks on excuses and what he described as the politics of alibi.

“Leadership finds its true measure not in speeches or charisma but in the systems it leaves behind.

“Moral conviction must translate into the everyday machinery of governance—rules, routines, and institutions that make competence predictable and corruption difficult.

“Nigeria’s problem has never been a shortage of ideas; it is the absence of systems strong enough to outlive their authors,” he said.

He urged leaders to prioritise accountability and measurable results.

“We must therefore make leadership accountable not to rhetoric but to results: measure by building national dashboards and accountability systems that track every promise, every budget, every outcome. Monitor by strengthening the institutions that evaluate government performance and expose complacency,” he said.