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How APC leaders hijacked ex- Oyo lawmakers’ mandate for anointed candidate.
SOME members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State have accused the leadership of the party in the state of hijacking the mandate freely and willingly given to the erstwhile lawmaker, Hon Oyeniran Oyeniyi Akande by the delegates during the party primaries.
Hon Oyeniran, who represented Oluyole State Constituency was a member of the 7th Oyo State House of Assembly, and also the Majority Leader of the House. The irate party members who confided in Mega Icon Magazine said, “he was very nice and accommodating and did everything he could to support the party, (APC) and Governor Abiola Ajimobi led government”.
Mega Icon Magazine exclusively gathered that during the build up to the 2015 general elections, the former majority leader signified his interest to recontest like his colleagues in the APC for the state assembly election by obtaining both the expression of interest form and nomination form.
He was neither told nor persuaded by anybody to step down or not to re-contest for the election. On the 6th December, 2014, he contested for the primary election alongside other four aspirants. The ex-lawmaker, Oyeniran defeated other four aspirants by polling 138 votes.
His second runner up and the present occupant of the seat, Hon. Muideen Abiodun Wahab popularly addressed as ‘Deen Abbey’ scored 116 votes. Having scored the highest number of lawful votes in the said primary election, Oyeniran was returned as the candidate of the party.
However, our further checks revealed that his victory in the said election was upturned by some leaders in the local government in connivance with some State executives. His ticket was hijacked and given to his runner up, Mr Muideen Abiodun who got 116 votes in the party primaries. Their reason was that Hon. Oyeniran is too old and there is likelihood that he would be defeated during the House of Assembly election slated for 11th April, 2015.
Not satisfied with the injustice done to him, the ex-lawmaker headed to the High Court of Justice, Ibadan to reclaim his stolen mandate.
Interestingly, the case he instituted in suit no: I/17/2015 against Hon. Muideen Wahab Abiodun, the APC Oyo State and the INEC has not been fixed for hearing and it has been adjourned for more than twenty (20) times till now.
This is the case wherein the mandate being claimed by the plaintiff, Hon. Oyeniran will last for four years and two years has already gone without any tentative date when the hearing would commence.
In a related development, Mr. Olujide Adewale, former Commissioner for Environment and Habitat in Oyo State also suffered the same fate. He polled 129 votes during the party primary for the House of Representatives election to defeat his closest rival, Hon. Sunbo Olugbemi who recorded 128 votes. His victory was also upturned by the party and was given to Olugbemi. He went to the Federal High Court, Ibadan to seek redress and his case is still pending before the court not yet heard.
It would be recalled that sometimes last year, the state executives of the APC issued a release that the party has expelled both Hon. Oyeniran Akande and Jide Adewale for anti party activities. Mega Icon Magazine learnt that the party took that steps having failed to pressurize the duo to withdraw the cases they instituted to reclaim their mandates.
Prior to the conduct of the party primaries, Mega Icon Magazine learnt that Hon. Oyeniran spent a huge amount of money and campaigned vigorously ahead of the election. Shortly after the election, he lost his daughter with her husband and their two children in a ghastly motor accident along Ogbomosho Oyo road.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has mourned the death of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo, popularly known as Able, describing his demise as a painful loss to the progressive family.
Oladipupo, who represented Ibadan North-West Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, was widely regarded as a grassroots politician and committed party loyalist until his passing.
Oseni, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency and the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, said the late politician’s death had created a vacuum within the party and among those who benefitted from his unwavering commitment to public service.
In a condolence statement issued on Monday by his Media Aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the federal lawmaker described the late Oladipupo as a dependable progressive, humble political actor and loyal party stalwart whose impact would remain indelible.
He said the deceased dedicated his life to serving humanity, strengthening the progressive movement and supporting the aspirations of many at the grassroots.
Oseni said, “The death of Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo (Able) came to me as a rude shock. Oyo State and the progressive family have indeed lost a committed, loyal and selfless leader whose passion for service, humility and dedication to the people stood him out.
“He was not just a politician but a bridge-builder, a dependable ally and a grassroots mobiliser who believed strongly in the ideals of our great party. His contributions to the growth of the APC in Oyo State and his service to humanity will remain unforgettable.”
The APC senatorial candidate noted that the late former lawmaker remained steadfast in promoting peace, unity and political development, adding that his simplicity and accessibility endeared him to many across political divides.
According to Oseni, the late politician’s legacy of service and sacrifice would continue to inspire younger politicians and party faithful.
He, however, urged members of the APC, associates and family members of the deceased to take solace in the remarkable life he lived and the positive impact he made during his lifetime.
Oseni also prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and for God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
State governors have proposed a new national minimum wage of N100,000 for Nigerian workers as part of efforts to cushion them from the biting effects of inflation and the rising cost of living.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), disclosed the proposal on Saturday in a post by the state government’s official Facebook page. He said the move aims to improve workers’ welfare while ensuring that government finances remain sustainable.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq said.
“We are actively engaging with the Federal Government and organised labour to arrive at a wage structure that is fair to workers and sustainable for government finances.”
The NGF chairman explained that ongoing discussions are focused on balancing the need to boost workers’ purchasing power with the capacity of governments to deliver essential public services and development projects.
“The goal is to improve the living conditions of workers while ensuring that states can continue to meet their obligations and sustain projects that directly impact citizens,” he added.
The proposed N100,000 minimum wage is expected to intensify national debates on salaries, inflation, and broader economic reforms as Nigerians continue to contend with rising food prices, transportation costs, and other living expenses.
Currently, Nigeria’s statutory minimum wage stands at N70,000 per month. Some states, including Lagos, Rivers, and Imo, are already paying above the national benchmark to support workers amid the country’s economic challenges.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has continued to call for a comprehensive review of salaries, insisting that workers deserve a living wage that reflects present-day economic realities rather than merely guaranteeing survival.
The average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, rose to N1,532.93 per litre in April 2026, representing a 23.69 per cent increase compared to the N1,239.33 recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, findings by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have shown.
The sharp rise in petrol prices came amid mounting inflationary pressure and worsening living costs, with Nigerians grappling with soaring transportation and food expenses that have continued to shrink household purchasing power.
The NBS disclosed this in its Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch for April 2026, released on Friday.
The report further showed that on a month-on-month basis, petrol prices rose by 18.97 per cent from N1,288.54 recorded in March 2026, underscoring persistent volatility in the downstream petroleum market.
A breakdown of prices across states revealed that Yobe recorded the highest average retail price for petrol at N1,599.05 per litre during the review period.
Edo and Bauchi followed closely with average prices of N1,595.74 and N1,589.07, respectively.
However, Niger residents paid the least for petrol at an average of N1,403.89 per litre, while Sokoto and Katsina recorded N1,404.16 and N1,406.28 respectively.
At the zonal level, the South-South recorded the highest average retail price at N1,566.76 per litre, while the North-West posted the lowest at N1,508.81.
The latest petrol price increase comes as millions of Nigerians continue to battle the ripple effects of rising inflation, with higher energy costs worsening transportation fares and the prices of essential commodities.
Similarly, the NBS said the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as cooking gas, rose by 13.73 per cent month-on-month to N8,706.93 in April 2026 from N7,655.73 recorded in March.
On a year-on-year basis, the price increased by 10.42 per cent from N7,885.60 recorded in April 2025.
Lagos recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,745.10, followed by Nasarawa at N9,451.70 and Bayelsa at N9,422.74.
In contrast, Anambra recorded the lowest average price at N7,204.76, while Ondo and Ogun followed with N7,239.49 and N7,825.75, respectively.
At the regional level, the North-West recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,025.07, followed by the North-East at N8,847.16, while the South-East posted the lowest average price at N8,224.37.
Also, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas increased by 13.89 per cent month-on-month to N22,382.20 in April 2026 from N19,652.83 in March.
Compared to April 2025, the price rose by 10.43 per cent from N20,268.06.
According to the NBS LPG Price Watch for April, Katsina recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N25,596.71, followed by Kogi at N24,558.25 and Gombe at N24,438.97.
Ogun recorded the lowest average price at N19,564.36, while Bauchi and Anambra followed at N20,178.87 and N20,511.90 respectively.
The North-West recorded the highest zonal average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N23,276.95, followed by the North-Central at N22,865.29, while the South-East posted the lowest average at N21,060.92.
The latest figures signal growing pressure on household energy costs, raising concerns over the implications for inflation and the cost of living in the coming months.
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