Politics

Osun APC, PDP Trade Words Over Appointment Of Electoral Commission Chairman

Published

2 years ago

November 13, 2023

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has faulted the appointment of an aide of the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, as the chairman, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission.

The state Deputy Governor, Mr Kola Adewusi, earlier on Monday, inaugurated Mr. Hashim Abioye, as OSSIEC chairman, alongside other chairmen and members of the statutory commissions in the state.

The inauguration came after the nominees for the statutory Commissions that include OSSIEC, Judicial Service Commission, House of Assembly Service Commission, among others, were screened and confirmed by the State House of Assembly at an emergency session on Monday.

But a statement by the Osun APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, in reaction to the development, said Abioye is a member of PDP and should not have been considered for such a post.

Lawal insisted that with the appointment of Abioye as chairman, there would be no independence in the activities of the commission, adding that the appointment had bastardised the statutory purpose of OSSIEC.

The statement read partly, “As usual, the Adeleke administration has not disappointed the right-thinking members of the society with the weird and crude appointment of his SA as the custodian of the OSSIEC as it would have made news if the apparently confused governor had acted otherwise.

“It is necessary for Adeleke to allow the OSSIEC to act its name as what is now transpiring in the commission is an aberration which is visibly antithetical to genuine constitutional government.

“The sensitivity of the expected functions of the OSSIEC demands that it is headed by a non-partisan entity whose activities would not be subjected to controversial political caprices and undertones.

“The most honourable thing for Adeleke to do with the controversial appointment of Barr Hashim Abioye, as the OSSIEC chairman, is to rescind the mindless decision without further delay and allow good judgment to prevail.”

But Osun PDP, in a statement signed by its chairman, Mr. Sunday Bisi, told the opposition that, in appointing chairmen and members of statutory commissions including the state Electoral Commission, merit, capacity and competence were considered.

Bisi added, “The APC and others who joined them in their inglorious voyage ought to be purged of their ignorance that politics is different from State governance and administration. Appointments by Governor Adeleke so far have been merit-based, capacity-driven and incontrovertible competence.

“Many of Adeleke’s cabinet members and other appointees are not politicians and/or were not appointed based on any political consideration but on skill, capacity, and professionalism. Appointments into statutory boards are therefore not an exception in this context

“As a matter of fact, most of the agencies are so critical that only competent professionals and skilled technocrats must be appointed. What then is the fuss if there is anyone presently serving in Adeleke’s cabinet but now considered for another appointment based on his considered area of competence, track record of impeccable integrity and professionalism? It is a shame for APC and its town criers to speak always from both sides of their mouth, approbating and reprobating on matters with very few borderlines.”
PUNCH

Politics

2027: I Will Resign If Tinubu Loses In Edo – Governor Okpebholo

Published

12 minutes ago

November 28, 2025

Editor

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholor has vowed that President Bola Tinubu will win the 2027 presidential election in Edo State.

Okpebholor in an interview captured in a viral video vowed to resign if the outcome of the 2027 election does not favour the president in Edo State.

According to him, the entire people in Edo State are ready to vote for the president, citing projects that his (Okpebholor) administration executed since the All Progressives Congress, APC took over the state.

He claimed that there is no opposition in the state, stressing that everyone is supporting the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said, “There is no opposition here in Edo everybody is for Asiwaju in this state.

“Tinubu is more popular than me in Edo state. If he doesn’t win the presidential election in Edo in 2027, I will resign.”

Politics

JUST IN: El-Rufai Formally Joins ADC

Published

18 hours ago

November 27, 2025

Editor

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has formally joined the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

El-Rufai, a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, left the party earlier this year for the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

In his resignation letter from the SDP, dated November 26, 2025, the former governor stated that his focus is on contributing to the strengthening of a unified democratic platform that can offer a credible political alternative to the people of Nigeria.

“I wish to notify that I have resigned my membership of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, effective 26 November, 2025,” he said.

Politics

Wike Bloc Asks Court To Nullify PDP Convention

Published

2 days ago

November 26, 2025

Editor

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order nullifying the party’s convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State on November 15 and 16 by the faction aligned with the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

The suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/250/2025, has as plaintiffs the PDP, its Acting National Chairman, Mohammed Abdulrahman, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.

They are asking the court to declare the convention and all resolutions “null, void and of no effect.”

They want the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the convention.

The move follows earlier legal actions by aggrieved PDP members who argued that proceeding with the convention violated the party’s internal rules, the Electoral Act, and other statutory provisions.

Previous complainants include Imo PDP Chairman Austin Nwachukwu, Abia PDP Chairman Amah Abraham Nnanna, and South-South PDP Secretary Turnah Alabh George.

On October 31, 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja restrained INEC from recognising the convention.

In a separate suit, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido successfully challenged his exclusion from purchasing a nomination form to contest for national chairman, with Justice Peter Lifu ordering that the convention should not proceed unless he was allowed to obtain the form.

In contrast, Justice A. L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, issued an interim order permitting the PDP to hold the convention as scheduled.

Despite the conflicting rulings, the party went ahead with the Ibadan event under heavy security, during which Anyanwu, Wike, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, and eight others were expelled.

In the new suit dated November 21, the plaintiffs listed 18 defendants, including INEC, the Inspector-General of Police, the FCT Commissioner of Police, the State Security Service, and several PDP officials.

They allege the convention was conducted “in flagrant disregard” of three subsisting Federal High Court orders and seek to prevent recognition of the new officers, restore access to party offices at Wadata Plaza and Legacy House, and compel security agencies to enforce the earlier judgments.

The plaintiffs also request judicial determination on whether any authority can lawfully recognise the Ibadan convention in light of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the PDP constitution.

The suit has not yet been assigned to a judge, and no hearing date has been fixed.