Politics

Exclusive: Oyo APC finally writes OYSIEC to postpone LG elections, gives reason

Published

5 years ago

May 12, 2021

Oyo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has requested that the state Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) postpone the intended local government elections till 7th day of August, 2021 following the recent decision of the Supreme Court which declared the illegally sacked council bosses as the lawfully elected local government chairmen.

Oyo APC made the request in a letter written to the OYSIEC Chairman, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju SAN and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, dated 10th May; 2021 and received by the duo yesterday (11th May, 2021).

Meanwhile, OYSIEC, through its Chairman, Olagunju, had maintained that there was no plan or justification for the commission to postpone the local council election from May 22, 2021 to a later date.

But, the APC, in a letter written to OYSIEC by its solicitors and signed by Olamiji Martins noted that the matter instituted by Oyo ALGON lasted for 2 years from the High Court of Justice to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He argued that within the 2 years legal debacle, it wouldn’t have been legally right for the APC and indeed Oyo ALGON to have jettisoned the pending court matter and shift base to the Commission’s side when the illegally sacked council chairmen had specifically prayed the Court to restrain OYSIEC from conducting the said election.

Olamiji Martins, in the letter, also observed that It would have amounted to approbating and reprobating simultaneously, maintaining that in the spirit of the laws of the land, it was only legal for Oyo APC and indeed Oyo ALGON to desist from rendering nugatory the possible orders of the court.

In order to avoid constitutional crises and unsolicited legal tussles, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state however opined that it is better in the spirit of democracy and wider participation which the commission had earlier promised when it visited the party office at Oke-Ado on 7th January 2021, to postpone the election and allow the party conduct its affairs in readiness to participate in the election.

“It does not allude to commonsense that our client should have conducted primary elections in readiness for your Commission’s election when its matter against your Commission was before the Supreme Court of Nigeria. That would have amounted to a contemptuous and ridiculous act”, the letter said.

Contained in the letter, which was obtained by Mega Icon Magazine from impeccable sources, Oyo APC recalled, “in 2018 the body of duly elected local government Chairmen and Councillors popularly referred to as ALGON took the Oyo State Government and your Commission to the Oyo State High Court of Justice in suit number I/347/2019. When judgment was entered in favour of ALGON by My Lord, the Honourable Justice A. A. Aderemi restraining your Commission from conducting elections into the Local Governments in Oyo State, the Oyo State Government and your humble Commission approached the Court of Appeal. At the Court of Appeal, judgment was entered in favour of Oyo State Government and your Commission. Dissatisfied with the Court of Appeal judgment, the matter went to the apex court of the land: the Supreme Court.

“Recall also that the Supreme Court of Nigeria reserved judgment in the case between ALGON and your Commission and others on February 10, 2021 for the judgment to be read on 7th May, 2021. It was when the matter was before the highest Court of the land that your Commission started in earnest to prepare to conduct the elections into Chairmanship and Councillorship positions into the 33 local government areas in the state. When your Commission visited our client on 7th January 2021, you implored our client to participate in the Local Government election. Our client informed you that as a law abiding party, it would rather wait till the matter at the Supreme Court in suit number SC556/2020 is properly determined.

“However, it is instructive to note that after your appointment in September 2019, your commission did not take any concrete step to start the electioneering process immediately and this is largely due to the fact that your Commission and indeed the Oyo State Government had appealed the High Court judgment of Justice A. A. Aderemi delivered in suit number I/347/2019 restraining your Commission from conducting election and the matter heard by the Court of Appeal, Ibadan in suit number CA/IB/300/2019. Your Commission did not do anything because part of the reliefs granted in favour of ALGON in the judgment was an order of injunction restraining your Commission from conducting election into the office of the Chairman and Councillors of all or any of the 33 Local Government Councils and 35 Local Council Development Areas in Oyo State.

It continued, “As soon as judgment was delivered in your Commission’s favour by the Court of Appeal on 15th July, 2020 and the judgment of the High Court set aside, your Commission suddenly found its voice and from September 2020, your Commission started visiting political parties for parleys and talks despite the fact that ALGON had appealed the judgment and approached the Supreme Court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal. True, the Supreme Court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal and declared the Appellants as the lawfully elected Local Government Chairmen.

“The question now is: would it not defeat the essence of the appeal at the Supreme Court should ALGON have joined your Commission in its pre-election arrangements against the doctrine of lis pendens? As a senior lawyer, you are aware of the provision of the law that once a matter has been appealed, all parties are expected to stay put and not take any step that will overreach the court and parties to the suit. Your Commission did not. ALGON won at the High Court, your Commission won at the Court of Appeal and the matter went to Supreme Court. Unfortunately, your Commission felt it could make do with the Court of Appeal judgment and go ahead to start preparation to conduct the election when in essence the 3 cases followed a single streak. Your Commission was meant to have waited, in deference to the rule of law, before taking any step to conduct any election whatsoever. It did not.”

“Learned Silk, our client had no reason to preempt the Supreme Court and had to exercise caution in waiting till the judgment is delivered in the case. It is actually a void act and outrightly unlawful for any party to a suit to approbate and reprobate at the same time. This has been made notorious by judicial pronouncements of our Law Lords. Of reference is the Supreme Court’s decided case of NASKO v. BELLO (2020) LPELR-52530 (SC)

“Learned Silk, it would have amounted to one having his cake and then eating it if our client had participated in the processes building up to the purported election your Commission is planning to conduct by 22nd May, 2021 when it had taken your Commission before the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The question is: what would have happened if the Supreme Court had ordered members of ALGON back to their offices? This mindset was borne out of the fact that the Supreme Court being so empowered, could have made a consequential order pursuant to its extant Court Rules, Laws, Practice Directions and Procedures.

“Basically because the ALGON members are also part of our client, and basically because they are the principal Appellants in the case which was determined at the Supreme Court last Friday, it would have amounted to an overreaching act and judicial travesty if after taking your Commission to court, they still participate in your Commission’s election build-up processes. That would have amounted to an overt illegality and an overreaching act based on the imperishable dictum of the revered Niki Tobi JSC in the case of NIWA v. SPDC (2008) LPELR-1963(SC).

“The wait by ALGON is actually legal and within the ambits of the law. This has found expression in the case of OKOYE v. INEC (2010) LPELR-4726 (CA)

“You had had the course, at various fora, to say that it is the desire of your Commission not to make its personal interests clash with the general interests of the people and make sure that concerted efforts would be made to change the perception of the public on forms of conducting local government elections over the years to enhance massive participation during the poll. Mr. Chairman, your integrity is now been appealed to as our client is holding strongly to your words of non-partisanship in the matter. Your Commission stands nothing to lose if it postpones this election and if your Commission doesn’t use its power as a punitive weight and bring same to bear on our client.

“Our client informed us that it is willing to participate in the election if your Commission is willing to allow reason to prevail and if your Commission postpones the elections till August 2021 when our client would have done all its internal assignments in readiness to participate in the local government elections.

“The decision – whether to postpone the election or not – lies in your Commission’s womb and we know actually that whichever way your Commission decide to follow, your Commission has nothing to lose. However, we implore your Commission to allow for the postponement as our client is a respecter of the rule of law and a strict adherent to the doctrine of lis pendens and wouldn’t flout the due process of law under any guise. Now that the Supreme Court has laid the ALGON matter to rest, we humbly implore your Commission to postpone the election till 7th August, 2021 so that our client can prepare itself to participate in it”, the letter concluded.

However, as of press time, efforts made by our reporter to reach the Oyo APC acting Publicity Secretary, Dr Abdul-Azeez Olatunde via his cellphone number for comments were unsuccessful.

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Politics

APC knocks Makinde over UN probe call on Oriire abductions

Published

3 days ago

July 14, 2026

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State yesterday faulted Governor Seyi Makinde’s call on the United Nations (UN) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent killings, abductions and rescue of 46 victims in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the move as “shameful, shocking and unbecoming of a leader.”

The opposition party accused the governor of politicising insecurity and attempting to internationalise what it called a domestic security challenge.

Makinde, while receiving the rescued victims at the Government House, Ibadan, on Monday, urged the United Nations and international human rights organisations to conduct an independent investigation into the incident, saying the circumstances surrounding the attacks and rescue operation were “grave and unusual.”

The governor’s position came days after he alleged during a visit to Bauchi State that the attacks on Ahoro Esiele and Yawota communities were orchestrated by individuals opposed to his alleged 2027 presidential ambition.

But in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC said the governor’s position was a demonstration of “ineptitude, cluelessness and grandstanding.”

The party urged Makinde to be “circumspect, decorous and statesman-like” as he prepares to complete his tenure.

It alleged that insecurity had worsened in Oyo State under the present administration, claiming the state had become the worst affected by banditry in Southern Nigeria.

The APC also criticised the governor’s appeal to the United Nations, arguing that Article 2(7) of the UN Charter discourages external interference in the domestic affairs of sovereign nations.
According to the party, rather than calling for an international investigation, the governor should focus on addressing the security challenges confronting residents of the state.

The opposition party further challenged Makinde to submit himself to investigations over allegations relating to local government funds, the Bodija explosion relief fund, surveillance aircraft procurement, airport and stadium upgrade projects, among other transactions.

The APC, however, did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegations.
As of press time, the Oyo State Government had not responded to the APC’s latest claims

Politics

2027: Bunvic Has Edge in Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa Reps Race – Agbomojo

Published

2 weeks ago

July 7, 2026

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A political observer and public affairs commentator in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Oladejo Ezekiel Agbomojo, has said former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Olusegun Dokun Odebunmi, popularly known as Bunvic, is currently better positioned than other aspirants to reclaim the Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general election.

Agbomojo, who is from Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State, stressed that he is not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying his position was based on his independent assessment of the political atmosphere in the constituency and feedback gathered from residents, community leaders and other stakeholders.

Speaking on political developments ahead of the 2027 general election, Agbomojo said Bunvic’s experience, grassroots acceptance and long-standing relationship with the people had given him an advantage over other aspirants seeking to represent the constituency in the House of Representatives.

According to him, the former lawmaker’s previous tenure in the Green Chamber provided him with the legislative experience and understanding required to address the developmental needs of the constituency.

He also identified Bunvic’s relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as one of his major political strengths, expressing optimism that such ties could facilitate the attraction of more federal projects, appointments and developmental opportunities to Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa Federal Constituency if elected.

Agbomojo further commended Yeyeluwa Toyin Odebunmi, wife of the APC candidate, describing her as a compassionate woman whose humanitarian interventions have continued to earn admiration across the constituency and beyond.

He said her empowerment and outreach programmes have impacted women, youths, students and other vulnerable groups in different communities, adding that her activities have complemented her husband’s political efforts and further strengthened his acceptance among the electorate.

He also attributed Bunvic’s growing political advantage to what he described as renewed unity within the APC.

According to him, the cordial relationship between Bunvic and respected party leaders, including Senator Ayo Adeseun, as well as the emergence of the APC deputy governorship candidate from Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa Federal Constituency, had further boosted the party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 elections.

Describing Bunvic as one of the most accessible and generous politicians in the Ogbomoso zone, Agbomojo said the former lawmaker had remained close to the people and consistently demonstrated a willingness to support individuals and communities whenever the opportunity arose. He added that his interactions with residents across the constituency indicated a growing belief that Bunvic deserved another opportunity to represent them at the Green Chamber.

“I am not speaking as an APC member because I am not one. This is simply my personal opinion based on what I have observed and the views I have heard from many people across Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa,” he said.

“From my interactions with residents, many believe Bunvic has the experience, the political connections and the grassroots support needed to represent the constituency effectively once again,” he added.

While expressing confidence in Bunvic’s chances, Agbomojo urged the former lawmaker to place greater emphasis on tackling youth unemployment if elected. He acknowledged Bunvic’s previous empowerment initiatives but maintained that sustainable job creation should remain one of his major priorities.

“Hon. Bunvic has done well in supporting young people through different empowerment initiatives, and I acknowledge those efforts. However, I want him to place even greater emphasis on employment generation because many of our youths are still searching for jobs. Creating sustainable employment opportunities should remain one of his major priorities if elected,” he said.

Agbomojo also called for increased Federal Government presence in Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa Federal Constituency through the establishment of more federal institutions, infrastructure projects and programmes capable of creating jobs and stimulating economic growth. He said attracting more federal projects would not only improve residents’ standard of living but also create opportunities for young people and local businesses.

“I strongly believe Hon. Bunvic has what it takes to attract meaningful federal projects because of his experience, his relationships within government and his understanding of the needs of our people. What Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa Federal Constituency needs now is greater federal presence, improved infrastructure and more employment opportunities for our youths,” he stressed while maintaining that his views were entirely personal.

He, however, said the electorate would have the final say, urging political actors to conduct peaceful, issue-based campaigns that would promote the development and prosperity of Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa Federal Constituency.

Politics

Oyo: Makinde presents staff of office to new Alakufo of Akufo

Published

3 weeks ago

June 28, 2026

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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.