Politics
Oyo APC cautions Akinjide to desist from campaign of calumny against Tinubu
Oyo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed its dismay over alleged calculated attempts by a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide-Pategi, to discredit and run down the APC presidential candidate in the next month election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with a view to winning the electorate over for her choice candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Oloye Jumoke Akinjide-Pategi, a former minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory, had appeared on some local radio stations in the last one week to mobilize support for Atiku Abubakar and in the course of her submission and assertion, she reportedly made Senator Bola Tinubu an object of verbal attacks and blackmail.
In a statement issued on Thursday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC condemned the former minister who it accused of promoting a campaign of calumny against an established political figure whose time has come to rule the country and move it forward as desired by patriots and well-meaning citizens of the country.
“We have been inundated with unpleasant feedback from members of the public who had listened to all the sponsored interviews granted by Mrs Akinjide-Pategi in the last few days wherein she made futile attempts to tell barefaced lies against the person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is the presidential candidate of our great Party in the next month election. This is nothing but unacceptable malfeasance coming from a fry with a shameful political background.
“It is a height of insensitivity for somebody who has neither won any election in her life nor has someone in her family with any electoral victory now trying to pull down an accomplished personality who has never lost any election anywhere. It would have been better for her (Akinjide-Pategi) to find a better ploy with which she could earn patronage from Atiku than seeking attention using Tinubu’s name because no amount of smear campaigns and character assassination from unscrupulous elements would make voters turn against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“With this development, it is easy for Nigeria to conclude that history is repeating itself because of the unfortunate role played by the father of the person, in question, in 1979 and 1983 when Chief Obafemi Awolowo was denied the chance to emerge as the nation’s President has a big space in the book of history. Also, another eminent Yoruba son (Chief M.K.O Abiola) had his popular mandate annulled in 1993 and the whole world knows the culpability of the same family the one waging war against Sen. Bola Tinubu now.
“If money and political patronage are what matters to Akinjide, we urge her to remember the fate which befell her and others in 2015 when they travelled a similar route with former President Good luck Jonathan and got humiliated at the poll. It is on record that a huge sum of money regarded as campaign funds which she collected from Abuja was mismanaged and this caused her to be arrested and prosecuted by the EFCC and we have not seen the end of that case up till even after she had pleased for a plea bargain in an apparent admission of corruption and stealing of public funds.
“If what most citizens across the country demonstrate as a show of support and endorsement for the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Project on account of competence, track record and promise does not appeal to the likes of Mrs Akinjide-Pategi, we would encourage them to thread softly and stop fighting dirty in the political space over a lost cause. Nigerians want Tinubu as their next president and there is nothing which the enemies of the country can do about it this time”, Oyo APC said.
Meanwhile, Oyo APC has applauded the former deputy governor of the state, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, for “his recent heroic activities aimed at achieving all-round victory for the party at this year’s general election. “It is worthy of note that His Excellency, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan is doing a wonderful job at the moment to mobilize support for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Sen. Teslim Folarin as well as all other candidates of the APC and we shall not take this for granted.” The statement added.
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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