Politics
2023: Ex-Oyo Assembly chief whip, Lafisoye declares interest in house of representatives seat
Indeed, it was a jubilation galore at Ejioku in Lagelu Local Government area as the former Chief Whip in the 8th Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede officially declared his intention to contest for the House of Representatives seat.
Olafisoye, popularly addressed as ‘Lafi’ by his admirers, who aspires to represent Lagelu/Akinyele Federal constituency in 2023 made his declaration at the All Progressives Congress (APC) party secretariat office, Ejioku, on Thursday in the presence of all the party leaders in the state, and all the local governments and wards party executives in the federal constituency.
In his remarks at the event, the Oyo Central Senatorial Chairman of APC, Hon. Joshua Oyebamiji (a.k.a. Atiku) declared that the issue about who will get the party ticket for the Lagelu /Akinyele federal constituency has already been settled because the incumbent represntative of the constituency, Sir Akintola Oluokun, who hails from Akinyele Local Government has certified that the ticket should be given to Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede from Lagelu Local Government following his decision not to re-contest again.
According to him, “history is being written with what is happening here today because we have cause to thank God that the issue of House of Representatives ticket for Lagelu/Akinyele federal constituency has been settled. The present occupant of the position, Hon (Sir) Akintola Oluokun has certified the person to whom the ticket shall be given following his decision not to re-contest again. He has endorsed that the ticket be given to Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede who has surrendered his life and left it on the altar to be slaughtered for the party. I am also aware that all the leaders, elders, and party executives at Lagelu and Akinyele local government areas have thrown their weight behind his candidacy.
“I am saying this to let others know that there is a reward for everything and to let them know that no aspirant will be sidelined as each of them shall be rewarded with whatever is due to them at the appropriate time. The present leadership of APC in Oyo state will not impose any candidate against the popular wish of the people and will not allow any external influence to determine for us in selecting candidates for any elective positions. This is an assurance from the party Chairman, Hon. Isaac Ajiboye Omodewu”, Oyebamiji assured.
Declaring his ambition, Hon. Olafisoye said he is in the race to make use of his experience to make meaningful contributions to the state and national development as a legislator so as to attract monumental projects targeting at developing the Lagelu/ Akinyele federal Constituency from the federal government and to bring dividends of democracy to the door step of the people.
Tagged “Ilerioluwa 2023”, Lafisoye who hails from Ile Oba Isale Lalupon in Lagelu Local Government, expressed optimism of clinching the APC ticket to represent the party at the election.
He enjoined other party faithful to rally round his candidacy so as to ameliorate the sufferings of the people through effective representation at the National Assembly.
His words, “I am in the race for Federal House of Representatives because I want to make use of my experience in politics. I have been in this game of politics since 1998 having served as council chairman for Lagelu Local Government and as Oyo State House of Assembly member for four years, I have good record as a politician and all the necessary experiences needed to run and win.
“Look at the crowd of people who gathered here today from the two local governments to show their support. All the leaders and executive members from the said two local governments are here with us not only to witness my declaration but also to identify with my ambition. This is an affirmation of my acceptability by them and I won’t take their support for granted after the election”, he said.
Other leaders and party executives from the two local governments that spoke at the event, Hon. D.A. Lawal, Madam Abodunwa Abosede, Madam Lateefat Olayinka Jayeoba, Mrs Felicia Bukola, Chief Mrs Akinpelu Olufunke, Elder Amoo, Hon. Ambali Abiola, Professor Adeyemo Oyewo and others all testified that Olafisoye is the best when talking about complete grassroot politician that the party can field for the House of Representatives election in 2023 if it desires to win the election.
Representatives of Team Senator Teslim Folarin, members of Omoluabi Frontiers Group by Chief Yemi Aderibigbe in Lagelu/Akinyele local governments, members of Hausa community in Lagelu/Akinyele, Hon Shina Alabi, Hon. Apapa Adeleke, Hon. Charles Olalekan Odunade, Hon. Abiodun Adedeji, Hon. Taofeek Arowomole, Hon. Aransi Akibu, Hon. M.N. Lawal, Hon. Kehinde Adeleke, Hon. Femi Akintunde, Hon. Wale Bello, Femi Akinyemi were among the leaders present at the ceremony.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of letter of expression of interest to contest presented by Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede separately to the party chairmen in both Akinyele and Lagelu local governments, Hon. Awoyoola Fatai Sunday and Engr. Akinbode Emmanuel which was read on their behalf by Hon. Gbenga Adekanmbi, party Secretary in Lagelu Local Government area.
The Oyo State Government on Friday presented the staff and instruments of office to the new Alakufo of Akufo in Ido Local Government Area, Engr. Lamidi Taoreed Ayankojo Adefisoye.
The presentation, held at the Ido Local Government Secretariat, followed the approval of Adefisoye’s appointment by Governor Seyi Makinde.
A memo dated June 24, 2026, from the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, titled “Re: Filling of Vacant Stool of Alakufo,” conveyed the governor’s approval.
The memo, with reference number CB141/152/4T/119 and signed by the Director of Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Kola Abiola, on behalf of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo, stated that the appointment took effect from October 23, 2023.
It read in part, “I am directed to inform you with great pleasure that His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, has graciously approved your appointment as the Alakufo of Akufo with effect from October 23, 2023.”
The staff of office was presented to the monarch by the Chairman of Ido Local Government, Sheriff Aderemi Adeojo, alongside Abiola, who represented the state government.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included the Head of Local Government Administration in Ido, Alhaji Sarafadeen; the Director of Chieftaincy Matters in the council, Mr Adelu; the head of the Adefisoye family, Mogaji Nurudeen Adegbola Adefisoye; the head of the Okekegan family of Akufo, Asiwaju Tunde Black; and Alhaji AbdulAzeez AbdulSalam.
Speaking after receiving the staff of office, Adefisoye expressed appreciation to Makinde, the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo, and the Ido Local Government chairman for their support.
He also thanked the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, and all those who contributed to the successful completion of the selection process.
The monarch expressed gratitude to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, and members of the Olubadan-in-Council for their support throughout the process.
He pledged to work closely with the state and local governments while promoting peace and development in the community.
Adefisoye promised to prioritise infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, youth and women empowerment, investment, security, transportation, and the preservation of Akufo’s cultural heritage.
He called on indigenes of the community, both at home and abroad, to unite in support of efforts aimed at accelerating the development of the town.
“I accept this honour with humility and a deep commitment to serve. This is not my vision alone; it is our collective mission. I invite all sons and daughters of Akufo, at home and abroad, to join hands with me in building a peaceful, united and prosperous community for future generations,” he said.
Market men and women across Oyo South Senatorial District have declared support for the senatorial ambition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the district, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, and reaffirmed their backing for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The traders said their endorsement was driven by the lawmaker’s sustained grassroots interventions and what they described as his people-centred representation.
The endorsement came on Monday during an interactive engagement in Ibadan with market stakeholders drawn from the nine local government areas of the senatorial district.
At the event, Oseni supported market men and women across the district with N90 million, with each of the nine local government areas receiving N10 million to boost petty trading, expand businesses and stimulate grassroots economic activity.
In a statement by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, the lawmaker said the intervention was part of efforts to improve livelihoods and deepen economic inclusion, particularly among small-scale traders.
Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and chairs the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), said empowering market operators remained central to his development agenda.
He said markets remained the heartbeat of local communities, noting that traders’ resilience continues to sustain families and drive local economies.
“This intervention is aimed at strengthening their businesses, easing economic pressure and encouraging enterprise at the grassroots,” he said.
The APC chieftain added that his representation would continue to focus on practical interventions with visible impact.
“Leadership must translate into visible impact. I remain committed to initiatives that support small businesses, create opportunities for growth and complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Oseni also canvassed support for President Tinubu among traders in Oyo South, saying stronger alignment between federal, state, senatorial and local government leadership would accelerate development in the state.
He listed the Tinubu administration’s initiatives to include the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND, measures to curb industrial actions in tertiary institutions, tuition-free technical colleges, construction and rehabilitation of major highways, agricultural support programmes and subsidies for cancer treatment, fuel subsidy removal, which he noted has boosted state and local government revenues.
He urged traders to mobilise support for APC candidates in the next general elections, expressing confidence that Tinubu’s re-election would further improve residents’ welfare.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, the Coordinator of Market Men and Women in Oyo South Senatorial District and Babaloja of Omi-Adio and Ido Local Government, Chief Odedele Waheed, commended the turnout and described the engagement as a demonstration of confidence in Oseni’s leadership.
He lauded the lawmaker for sustained grassroots development efforts, noting that the N90 million support would strengthen businesses across the district.
Odedele also commended the leadership of market men and women in Oyo State for granting traders approval to meet and interact with the lawmaker, saying the platform allowed them to express concerns and understand his vision for Oyo South.
The traders pledged to mobilise support across markets in the district in favour of Oseni’s electoral bid and President Tinubu’s re-election.
Those present included the Babaloja of Ibadan North East, Ibrahim Balogun; Babaloja of Ibadan South West, Rafiu Iyo; Babaloja of Ibadan North West, Alhaji Tajudeen Hammed; Alhaji Abdulraman Salawudeen; Asiwaju Oloja of Ibarapa Zone, Chief Okanlawon John Adebisi; Babaloja of Ibadan North, Chief Adewole Basirat; and Iyaloja of Ibarapa Central, Chief Ige Fausat, among others.
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.
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