Politics
Oyo 2019: Lanlehin tests popularity, kicks off roadshow in Ibadan {SEE PHOTOS}
AHEAD of the forthcoming general elections, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo state, on Tuesday participated in a roadshow in Ibadan, the state capital, aimed at canvassing support for his political ambition.
During the roadshow, Senator Lanlehin gave an insight into how he intends to bring smiles to the faces of the citizenry immediately he is sworn in as the Governor of Oyo State.
Addressing newsmen, the Director of Public Communication, New Media and Tertiary Institutions of Senator Olufemi Lanlehin Campaign Organization, Engr Akeem Olatunji, informed that Lanlehin’s integrity, antecedents of his late father whom he said was described by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as loyal, honest and incorruptible politician coupled with his own performance as former House of Representatives member, former Commissioner and Senator of the federal Republic of Nigeria would form the major plank of the ADC template in delivering good governance with human face to the good people of Oyo State.
While at Idi-Arere area of Ibadan where he saw the extent of carnage perpetrated by gangsters, the ADC guber candidate described this development as one of the several security challenges that Oyo State has been keeping away from the media and the outside world. Condoning with the victims and the general citizens of the state who have been living in fear, Sen Lanlehin, however vowed to ensure adequate and effective security of lives and property once he is elected as the governor of the state.
Also, he faulted the APC led administration over security levy, just as he challenged the party’s gubernatorial candidate, who doubles as the Chairman, Oyo State Security Fund Raising Committee, Chief Adebayo Adelabu to come out clean on his role in the disbursement of funds in relation to what he tagged, ‘the deplorable security situation’ of the state.
Sen Lanlehin, also assured those who lost their investments in the carnage of his readiness to compensate them as soon as he takes over reign of governance. In a related development, he promised to put Oje market on the world map thereby making it attractive for international business communities to patronize the the market.
Speaking further, he flayed the Ajimobi led APC government for making an issue out of the location of Gate Spare Part Market, accusing the administration of clandestine plan to allocate the age long market’s land to top members of the ruling party without considering the biting poverty amongst residents of Oyo State and economic crisis it may cause.
Sen Lanlehin, therefore advised the traders to bear their present predicament as he is poised to wipe out their tears once elected.
Good road, toilets, portable water, health facilities and revolving loans for the traders are part of plans he has in stock for the traders within one year of his administration.
According to him, “We don’t have any problem at all in ADC, We are very okay and nothing suggest that anybody leave our party because we are even stronger, bigger, peaceful, purposeful, well organized and more cohesive than it was about two months ago. Everyone is a very important personality (VIP) in ADC of today and that is evident in our rallies either in Iseyin, Ogbomoso, Oyo and Ibadan.
“No party can boast of arrays of tested and trusted politicians in ADC fold. The likes of Sen Monsurat Sunmonu, Sen Adesoji Akanbi and Barrister Bayo Lawal are some of the very few eggheads Nigeria can be proud of and that’s why we are putting them forward as our candidates because Oyo State deserves the best brains.
“We expect Sen Ajimobi and APC to go to the 33 local government areas in Oyo State and apologize profusely and demonstrate remorsefulness which they have failed to do.
“And they keep going to different places to organise campaign rallies to insult the people who they have impoverished through nonpayment of salaries and gratuities most especially to primary school retirees and other pensioners while the 6 state owned tertiary institutions including LAUTECH are been owed salaries ranging from 10 months to 23 months.
“The ADC campaign is about one issue; the character of persons who have come forward to say he wants to impose a successor. We are going to bring character of Sen Abiola Ajimobi into focus as his godson can’t be better than the worst his government is known for. And for APC guber candidate, we won’t go too far.
“The best way to review who you are is your boss, the person who is recommending you. Bayo Adelabu and APC have failed the integrity test to continue governing Oyo State beyond May 29 2019”, he continued.
Similarly, the Director General of Senator Lanlein Campaign Organization (SOLANCO), Architect Bashiru Lawal, in his remarks re-echoed the determination of Sen Lanlehin’s administration as from May 29t, to ensure that all abandoned projects are completed and the issue of diversification is given prompt attention so that Oyo State will no longer be relying on federal allocation for her survival, adding that the state economy will be the one that you have contribution from agriculture and from solid minerals, making solid impact in our GDP. Hence the need to vote ADC candidates in all elections.
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.
-
News4 days agoKola Oyewo’s family to Adeleke, Ooni, Atiku: Your condolences are our pillar of strength
-
Opinion1 week ago
The Silent Thief in Nigeria’s Petrol Stations | By Solomon Oroge
-
Politics6 days ago
Oyo APC rejects Makinde’s planned December LG poll, vows boycott
-
News6 days ago
Govs Back State Police, Power Reform, Nutrition Drive, World Bank Partnership
