Politics
N3.5b Debt: Nigerians won’t allow you to become a full despot; Oyo APC tells Makinde to pay sacked LG officials
The Oyo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated Governor Seyi Makinde over his refusal to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court regarding the payment of entitlements of all the local government council officials who were illegally sacked from office in 2019 warning that Nigerians would not watch him (Makinde) become a full despot in the nation’s democratic space.
Mega Icon Magazine recalled that Governor Makinde, on his first day in office in May 2019, sacked all the local government council officials elected during the tenure of his predecessor, late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and this resulted in litigation up till the Apex Court where the governor was indicted and mandated to pay his victims all their entitlement for the remaining two years they were denied out of their three-year tenure.
In a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC frowned at the decision of Governor Makinde to resort to intimidation and blackmail of the deprived Chairmen and councilors rather than comply with the judgment of the courts describing the development as disturbing, embarrassing and unbecoming of any leader in a democratic setting.
“It beats the imagination of many pundits and political watchers across the globe that a governor who swore to an oath to defend the nation’s constitution but now turned out to be the one desecrating the sacred document. Gov. Makinde left no one in doubt of his mission to rule with an iron hand and total disregard for the rule of law when he ordered the sack of elected council officials on his first day in office without any recourse to the law of the land.
“But rather than employ confrontation and violence, his victims took their case to the lower court where their prayers for reinstatement were expressly granted. The judgment of the Federal High Court was appealed by the state government up to the Apex Court and at every stage, Gov. Makinde lost out since the law is so apt on the administration of all the three tiers of government without one being allowed to swallow or strangulate the other.
“In the history of the nation’s democracy, there has been a time that a governor would discountenance the verdict of the Supreme Court and this call the bluff of the judiciary brazenly as Gov. Makinde is doing at the moment. The governor has not only defied the court, he has also made it a habit to throw tantrums and jibes at the court in public over a verdict that went against him. Reports have it that about 27 of the sacked officials died recently as they could not get money to treat one ailment or the other.
“To save the society from dire consequences of Gov. Makinde’s recklessness and abuse of power, the onus now lies on President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and other relevant authorities to stop Gov. Makinde from making a mockery of the judiciary as his current attitude poses a grave danger to the nation’s democracy. When a governor displays brazen disregard for the Supreme Court and disrespect for the entire judiciary, he is laying a bad precedent and this has to be checked without further delay as the issue goes beyond APC versus PDP.” Oyo APC stated.
The Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, on Thursday announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that he had joined the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, made the announcement during a media briefing in Abuja, attributing his decision to what he described as irreconcilable differences within the PDP.
The lawmaker said the emergence of the NDC would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic system by providing a credible opposition platform.
According to him, the party recently received its certificate of registration from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said, “Last week INEC issued a certificate of registration and we now have the newest party in Nigeria known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress and our symbol is victory, the victory sign.
“So, my dear Nigerians, you now have a credible alternative opposition party known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress.”
Dickson noted that although the party’s registration took longer than expected, its eventual approval was a welcome development for the country’s democratic landscape.
“Yes, it is coming at this time. We would have wished it started some years or months back. We don’t control INEC and their processes; they delayed. We don’t also control the judiciary, but thank God it has finally arrived,” he said.
The senator also stressed that Nigeria’s democracy must not slide into a one-party system, insisting that political diversity remained vital for national stability.
“This nation cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria is not designed to be a one-party state.
“We are a very diverse nation culturally, religiously and politically and that is the beauty of our country.
“So anyone or any party promoting one-party rule in Nigeria is mistaken. We build political parties and get involved in movements to access power for the good of the people, not for our personal benefit,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission recently announced the registration of two new political parties.
The parties are the Democratic Leadership Alliance and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, bringing the total number of registered political parties in Nigeria to 21.
The announcement was made by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political party stakeholders for 2026.
According to him, the Democratic Leadership Alliance completed the required verification process, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress was registered in compliance with a Federal High Court order.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and member representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated the newly elected State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.
The party, at its state congress held on Tuesday at Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, elected a former Deputy Governor of the state, Moses Alake Adeyemo, as its new chairman alongside other state executive members.
Oseni, in a statement on Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, described Adeyemo’s emergence as well-deserved, noting that his experience and longstanding commitment to the party would further strengthen its structure in the state.
He said the peaceful conduct of the congress demonstrated the party’s commitment to internal democracy and progressive leadership.
The statement said, “I congratulate our newly elected State Chairman and leader, His Excellency, Moses Alake Adeyemo, and other members of the State Executive Committee on their emergence. This victory reflects the confidence reposed in them by party members across the state.”
Oseni further expressed confidence that the new leadership would reposition the party for greater cohesion and electoral success.
According to him, “This is a critical moment for our party in Oyo State. It calls for unity, reconciliation, and renewed commitment to the ideals that bind us together as progressives.”
The federal lawmaker assured the new executives of his support and cooperation in advancing the programmes of the party and strengthening its grassroots structures.
He urged party members to rally behind the new leadership to ensure stability and secure future victories for the APC in the state.
Politics
Ibarapa East Assembly Hopeful, Ramon Congratulates Ajiboye, Says Emergence Good for Oyo APC
An aspirant for the Ibarapa East State Constituency seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Engr. Yusuf Abiodun Ramon, on Tuesday congratulated Alhaji Lateef Akinsanya (Ajiboye) on his emergence as the State Treasurer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.
Akinsanya was elected at the party’s state congress held today, a development party faithful in Ibarapa East Local Government described as significant for the zone’s growing influence within the APC structure.
In a statement issued shortly after the announcement of the results, Ramon described Ajiboye’s victory as “well-deserved and timely.”
According to him, “Alhaji Lateef Akinsanya has remained steadfast, loyal and committed to the ideals of our great party. His emergence as State Treasurer is a clear affirmation of the trust and confidence members have in his integrity and administrative competence.”
Ramon noted that the election of a party stalwart from Ibarapa East into a critical financial office at the state level would further strengthen grassroots participation and unity within the APC.
“This is not just a personal victory for Ajiboye; it is a collective achievement for Ibarapa East. It reinforces our relevance in the progressive family and encourages broader inclusion in party administration,” he said.
The aspirant expressed confidence that the new treasurer would discharge his responsibilities with transparency, accountability and diligence in order to deepen internal democracy and institutional stability within the party.
He urged party leaders and members across Oyo State to close ranks in support of the newly elected executive members to ensure cohesion and effective management of party affairs ahead of future political engagements.
Ramon reaffirmed his commitment to the growth of the APC in Ibarapa East and Oyo State at large, stressing that sustained unity and responsible leadership remain essential to consolidating the party’s strength across the state.
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