Politics
2018: Ekiti APC Lauds Daramola’s Performance
EKITI State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has commended one of its prominent gubernatorial aspirant, Hon. Bimbo Damaramola for executing people-oriented programmes in the state.
State Chairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe, who was represented by the Vice Chairperson, Mrs Kemi Olalere gave this commendation on Tuesday where he again distributed 1,050 free UTME/JAMB forms to indigent students under his Educational Scheme dubbed ‘Teach Them How to Fish’ held at Afe Babalola Foundation Civic Centre, Opopogboro, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The event had in attendance youths among whom were beneficiaries, parents, guardians, invited guests, politicians, state leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC , local government officials and its executives in all the 177 wards in the state amongst others.
It would be recalled that the ex -member, Federal House of Representatives, Daramola had earlier empowered the less privileged candidates in the state with no fewer than 1000 UTME/JAMB forms.
Speaking at the epoch – making event, Olalere who could not hide her joy, said the party was overwhelmed as well as satisfied with the various programmes executed by the governorship aspirant, stressing that they were happy with his superlative performance and various welfarist programmes which were tailored towards the propagation of APC in the state.
In her words, “it is beneficial to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. All the party machineries are here and we are all happy for today’s programme. We stand in solidarity with Bimbo because, he is investing in our future leaders. Bimbo is doing all these to promote our great party in this state”.
“Parents could not afford the forms for their children because they are suffering at the hands of the state governor who has simply refused to pay them the salaries as and when due. At this juncture, it is important to state that we are not here to adopt or endorse any candidate but to give support to our son and we can all see what is happening here today. When it’s time, the party will speak.
Congressman Bimbo Daramola flanked by the state executives of APC
While accusing Governor Ayodele Fayose of allegedly inflicting suffering on the people with his leadership style, she continued, ” we are not gullible in this state, divine intervention has finally come, we are the only party that can rescue Ekiti from this poverty and we are fully on ground.
“Well, my brother, I want to appreciate you on behalf of our great party because you are doing this for the party, this is indeed our future”, the Vice Chairperson submitted.
Also, another APC chieftain, Chief George Ojo, in his remarks saluted the sponsor for impacting lives. “Let me start from where the Deputy Chairman stopped. She said the party has not adopted anybody, that’s true. But, that is not to say we should not recognise or acknowledge the fact that Hon. Bimbo Daramola has been performing excellently well in this party.
“When he was in the House of Representatives , I am saying this without mincing words , we knew and know and recognised all he did for his people in his federal constituency.
Congressman Bimbo Daramola surrounded by the youths whom were beneficiaries
“In my own area, I am sorry to say this and I don’t have apology for anybody . We were not as lucky as that in our own federal constituency.I was there physically by the time he was commissioning an ultra modern hospital in his home town, we are all living witnesses to that occasion. See what we are witnessing here today, so much money has been expended on this programme.
“I give kudos to you and I want to say that we know those who are very hard working in the party and those who are not. And I want to say that Bimbo is one of the hardworking people in the party. I am saying it authoritatively that the party will reciprocate all his good deeds. By the grace of God, you will never labour in vain”, Ojo added.
According to the party’s publicist, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, ” this is a proper party programme and this one is just too unique and special. Bimbo kudos to you, we love you .As a distinguished party member that respects the party rules and authority, it is equally good to display that; particularly when it’s time to recognise that. You know we have ‘Peter the rock’ somewhere who is mismanaging our resources, but we have ‘Bimbo the dynamite’ who is capable of blasting ‘Peter the rock’ out of Ekiti government house”.
Remarking, the facilitator, Hon. Bimbo Daramola informed that his intention was to relaunch Ekiti state to an enviable height by restoring the pristine identity of the state. He lamented that Ekiti was once known and revered to as the state that breed professors, but has lost that reputation. “We had an alias like one house one professor, but today that’s gone. So, it’s about time to consciously jump start efforts and initiatives that will connect us with who we really are as a people and initiatives around education particularly fits into that matrix.
The facilitator, Daramola engaging the youths for a sustainable future
Stressing further, the ex-lawmaker noted, “JAMB is the gateway to acquisition of tertiary education and a pool of young brilliant Ekiti sons and daughters will be struggling for spaces with others nationwide; while self efforts will make them briliantly qualified to find a space. The limitation they are faced with is the economic challenge of their parents even to afford cost of forms and if you cannot get the form no matter how brilliant you are, you cannot get your foot in the door, that’s why we decided to intervene. Last year, we gave out 1,000 free JAMB forms and now we are giving out another 1,050 forms. So, in a space of one year we have taken the battle to restore our prisine identity as Ekiti people to 2,050 homes.
“The direct consequences are that; we are settting agenda for the future, we are pressing the reset button and we are giving the future of these young people back to them; securing them; their families and ultimately our state”, the APC chieftain explained.
Daramola, while assuring the candidates of further assistance, however implored them to read extensively and ensure successful use of the unique opportunity given to them. He thanked the APC executives for their continued support.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the Governor of Ekiti State and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Biodun Oyebanji, winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, announced the result at about 3:13 a.m. on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, saying Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes to defeat his closest rivals and secure a second term in office.
According to Oladiji, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Oluwole Oluyede, garnered 40,543 votes, while the African Democratic Congress candidate, Dare Bejide, secured 12,872 votes.
She said 384,940 voters were accredited for the election, while 375,777 valid votes were recorded. The electoral umpire also announced that 6,332 votes were rejected, bringing the total number of votes cast to 382,109.
The declaration capped a governorship poll largely adjudged peaceful by observers and security agencies, despite complaints of malfunctioning Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines, delayed commencement of voting in some polling units and allegations of voter intimidation by opposition parties.
INEC said voting was conducted in all the 2,445 polling units across the state’s 16 local government areas, noting that 2,257 units, representing 92.31 per cent, opened before 8.30 a.m., while 188 polling units commenced accreditation and voting before 10.30 a.m. after experiencing minor delays.
The commission also commenced uploading polling unit results to its Results Viewing Portal shortly after the completion of voting and counting in several centres.
The PDP candidate, Oluyede, had expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the exercise at Ugele/Arokun Ward in Ikere Local Government Area, alleging that many prospective voters were disenfranchised due to BVAS-related challenges.
Speaking with journalists after voting at Polling Unit 006, he further alleged cases of harassment and intimidation of voters in the area.
Some elderly voters at the polling unit also lamented difficulties encountered during accreditation and urged INEC to urgently rectify the technical glitches.
The ADC candidate, Bejide, similarly alleged irregularities during the exercise.
However, Oyebanji dismissed the claims, insisting that those making allegations of electoral misconduct should provide credible evidence to support them.
The governor, who voted at Polling Unit 003, Okelele, Ikogosi-Ekiti, in Ekiti West Local Government Area, described the election as satisfactory and urged eligible voters yet to cast their ballots to do so peacefully.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, Abayomi Shogunle, said no case of vote-buying was reported to security agencies throughout the exercise.
Election observers commended the peaceful atmosphere that characterised the poll but raised concerns over procedural inconsistencies.
The First Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Sebastian Anyia, described the process as orderly and peaceful, saying voter turnout was encouraging.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Brenda Anugwom, lauded the resilience of female voters, many of whom remained at polling units for several hours with their children to exercise their franchise.
Yiaga Africa, however, expressed concern over discrepancies involving ballot papers, result sheets and INEC’s published list of candidates, warning that such inconsistencies could create challenges during collation and reconciliation of results.
The election observer group urged INEC to provide further clarification on the final list of participating parties and candidates and issue clear guidance to electoral officials handling result documentation.
Ahead of the poll, INEC and security agencies had repeatedly assured residents of their preparedness to deliver a peaceful, credible and transparent election, deploying personnel and restricting vehicular movement to forestall electoral violence and other offences.
The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has rejected plans by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde to conduct another local government election on December 26, 2026, describing the proposed exercise as illegal, premature and a calculated move to retain political influence at the grassroots beyond the governor’s tenure.
The party declared that it would neither participate in the election nor remain silent over what it termed an attempt to squander public resources on a process allegedly designed to install loyalists in the 33 local government councils and 351 wards across the state.
The controversy followed the decision of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) to shift the date earlier fixed for January 2027 to December 26, 2026, after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The move has continued to generate debate among political observers, many of whom have questioned the urgency of conducting another council poll barely six months before the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent chairmen and councillors elected in the 2024 local government elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC said it would not stop at boycotting the election but would also collaborate with “patriots and rational minds” to resist what it called an unnecessary expenditure of taxpayers’ money.
The party accused Governor Makinde of lacking commitment to local government autonomy, alleging that the administration had exercised undue control over council resources for more than seven years.
“The whole world knows that Governor Makinde does not believe in local government autonomy and, when it comes to democracy at the grassroots, he cannot be trusted for anything,” the statement said.
The APC alleged that the proposed poll was aimed at positioning individuals loyal to the governor in local councils before his exit from office on May 29, 2027, arguing that such a move would enable him to sustain political influence after leaving the Agodi Government House.
According to the opposition party, expectations among many residents are centred on ongoing efforts by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen local government autonomy and ensure that councils enjoy direct access to their statutory allocations without interference from state governments.
The APC also linked what it described as poor development outcomes in some rural communities to the operation of the state-local government joint account system. It cited communities such as Ahoro Esiele and Yawota in Oriire Local Government Area, which have reportedly faced security challenges, as examples of areas where local government resources should have translated into visible improvements.
“It is sad that Governor Makinde appears determined to sustain a system that has left many rural communities vulnerable despite huge allocations accruing to local governments monthly,” the party said.
The opposition further dismissed the local government elections conducted in 2020 and 2024 as lacking credibility, alleging that winners emerged through predetermined outcomes rather than a transparent electoral process.
“The fraud called local government polls in 2020 and 2024 should be the last the people of Oyo State would witness. Governor Makinde and his supporters should bury any thought of staging another charade in which results are announced without genuine voting and public offices become tools for the diversion of public funds,” the statement added.
The APC consequently urged officials of OYSIEC to halt preparations for the proposed December election, warning against actions capable of undermining democratic values and public confidence in the electoral process.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Oyo State Government nor OYSIEC had issued an official response to the allegations raised by the opposition party.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Aderemi Oseni, on Saturday mobilised thousands of artisans and traders across Oyo State in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Oseni said the support base of the Remi Oseni Committee of Friends (ROCOF), in collaboration with other stakeholders, was intensifying efforts to deliver one million votes for the President in the state.
Oseni, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), said artisans and traders must see themselves as critical stakeholders in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that the success of the administration depends largely on grassroots participation.
The federal lawmaker spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during a stakeholders’ engagement with members of the ROCOF Progressive Workers and Traders’ Associations.
In a symbolic show of political readiness, scores of traders and artisans displayed their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), while Oseni urged eligible Nigerians yet to register to obtain their voter cards ahead of the next general election.
He cautioned against vote-buying and vote-selling, warning that such practices threaten the future of democracy and mortgage the destiny of younger generations.
The meeting, according to Oseni, was also convened to deepen economic support for members through empowerment programmes targeted at strengthening businesses and improving livelihoods.
He announced that requests for a N250 million interest-free loan scheme for artisans and traders, construction of an artisans’ village with stable electricity supply, and health insurance support had received approval.
According to him, the loan facility will be administered through a microfinance bank under the Remi Oseni Foundation to ensure transparency, accessibility and sustainability.
He added that road and infrastructure projects across communities would remain a major priority.
Oseni, who is seeking to represent Oyo South Senatorial District in the next election cycle, also used the meeting to explain his decision to pursue a Senate seat instead of his earlier governorship ambition.
He said the move followed consultations with party leaders and supporters.
According to him, supporters deserved clarity on the political direction of the movement.
He said: “We convened this stakeholders’ meeting to review our present position. Before now, our focus was on leading Oyo State through the governorship. That was our clear objective as a movement, but today, it has become evident that God is directing us towards the Senate.
“Our people needed to understand the reasons for this decision, the position of the party and what we have accepted in the overall interest of our political future. It is not enough for leaders to take decisions. We owe our supporters explanations and must carry them along.
“We have encouraged them to embrace this opportunity in good faith and believe that greater opportunities still lie ahead.
“Many of them felt our governorship ambition would have delivered greater benefits, but we have reassured them that the government remains supportive and the future is bright.
“We have equally assured the President that our decision to pursue the Oyo South Senate seat will not affect the one million votes earlier promised him, because ROCOF structures across the 33 local government areas are fully mobilised and committed to his re-election.”
On the crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oseni said efforts were ongoing to reconcile aggrieved members, expressing confidence that outstanding differences would soon be resolved.
He described competing interests within the party as a reflection of the APC’s growing strength and political attractiveness.
Earlier, the Oyo State Coordinator of ROCOF Progressive Workers and Traders’ Associations, Alhaji Munirudeen Adegoke, described Oseni’s empowerment drive as a strategic investment capable of reducing unemployment, youth restiveness and poverty.
Adegoke said meaningful empowerment for artisans and traders must go beyond temporary palliatives.
According to him, sustainable support requires deliberate policies that guarantee access to capital, improved infrastructure and social protection.
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