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Oyo coalition was fraught with deception, insincerity – ZLP
A group, ‘Concerned Members of Zenith Labour Party’ (ZLP) in Oyo state has described the coalition that helped Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to victory at the election in March as a sad footnote in the history of governance in the state, stressing that it was fraught with deception, insincerity and so much malfeasance.
It said the major political actors in the alliance went into it without knowing the intent of others.
The group also alleged that Governor Makinde became the beneficiary of a coalition he scuttled twice.
In a statement made available to Mega Icon Magazine in Ibadan, the state capital on Saturday by its Coordinator, Abimbola Atilola, the Concerned Members of ZLP recalled, “going down memory lane, the first attempt at an alliance was in 2015 when a meeting was held at Chief Bayo Akande’s residence.
“The aim was to work out an alliance between Engineer Seyi Makinde, Senator Teslim Folarin on the race for governorship of Oyo State.
“It is on record that the present governor of Oyo State, Makinde was the first person to pull out on the grounds that he can never step down for anybody hence he does not see any need to continue discussing with others.
“The talks eventually crashed. Makinde went on to contest in SDP, Folarin in PDP, Akala/Alli in Labour Party and Ladoja in Accord. The result is no more news. They all lost, but something was imperative. If all their votes had been pooled together, Ajimobi would not have won with 32% of the votes cast. The 68% would not have been wasted.
“With the background of the 2015 failure in mind, it was with great expectations that all opposition elements came together in 2017 to form a new PDP.
“it was the same Seyi Makinde who threw the first spanner in the wheels of progress of the new alliance. He went for a parallel congress and even things were resolved in some form of harmonization, he still continued to tinker with the Party Executives. His target was mainly the Ladoja and Alli groups. His actions, aided by a money hungry PDP National Executive resulted in the failure of the new alliance. The party splintered again. He was elated to have total control of what is left of PDP.
The statement continued, ” as fate will have it, the need for another alliance arose in 2019 towards the elections. It had become obvious that none of the opposition parties had enough muscles to defeat the ruling APC. There was need for other candidates to drop their ambitions, despite spending so much money and energy campaigning, in support of one candidate.
“Our Assembly candidates suffered serious electoral defeats as a result. Engineer Makinde became the beneficiary of a coalition he scuttled twice. The others were surprisingly magnanimous in ensuring the APC was shown the Red Card in Oyo State. They all worked hard and Seyi Makinde became governor”.
Reacting to the sharing formula, Atilola explained, “at a meeting in Makinde’s residence on Akala way, the new governor promised the opposition half of 14- man state executive thus; ADC 3, ZLP 2, Chief Ladoja 1and SDP 1.
“As at today there are 17 commissioners and ZLP does not have a single one in the list. The first signs of this attitude was in the convocation of the Transition Committee. In the first list, ZLP was not represented. After complaints, Governor Makinde gave the spurious excuse of not being aware of the list. He promised to rectify this in the supplementary sub-committees list, which fell flat too. ZLP was again short-changed”.
Despite the alleged breach of coalition agreement by Governor Makinde, the group wondered why its revered leader, former Governor Rashidi Ladoja has remained silent on this contentious issue in the face of what it described as ‘obvious slap on our faces’
It lamented further that while Ladoja’s cronies were celebrating with their new commissioner, the rest of ZLP members were leaking their wounds in their homes.
“The party’s flag bearer too, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli is shockingly complacent. This seems to lend some credence to the theory by some of the Governor’s men that they have been settled. It begins to look like true considering their silence and refusal to work in the interest of the teeming members of the party. Have we truly labored in vain like our traducers taunt us?
“If Seyi Makinde chooses to deal as such with us and our leaders are still feeling pretty, then it behoves on us to let the world know our fate.
“If the leaders were not settled we demand an explanation openly on why they have suddenly lost their voices and ability to negotiate. If they were, we demand to know who got how much and if it was worth our sweat and blood, or if it is big enough to cater for us in the next four years. The truth must be seen at times like this”, the statement added.
The Kano State House of Assembly has initiated impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and breach of public trust.
The notice was presented yesterday during plenary by the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussaini Dala, who said the action follows Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dala said the allegations stem from Abdussalam’s tenure as Commissioner for Local Government (2023–2024) and his current role as deputy governor. He accused the deputy governor of diverting funds meant for the 44 local government councils.
According to the majority leader, Abdussalam allegedly received N1.5 million monthly from each council between June 2023 and January 2024, totaling N462 million. Between February and July 2024, he allegedly collected N3.255 million monthly from each council under the guise of special assignments, amounting to N726 million.
Dala also accused the deputy governor of abuse of office, claiming he facilitated payments of N10 million from each council to NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited, totaling N440 million, in violation of state procurement laws.
“The misuse of official capacity to confer undue advantage constitutes abuse of power and undermines public trust,” Dala told lawmakers, adding that the allegations amount to gross misconduct under the Constitution.
The impeachment notice was reportedly endorsed by 38 lawmakers, meeting the constitutional threshold to proceed. The Speaker has acknowledged receipt, and the House is expected to serve the allegations on the deputy governor.
If approved, a panel may be constituted by the state Chief Judge to investigate the claims.
As of filing, Abdussalam had yet to respond publicly to the allegations.
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 National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 58-year-old alleged drug lord, Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, who had reportedly been on the agency’s wanted list and that of British authorities for over 15 years.
Ilomuanya was apprehended in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, following what the agency described as a high-level, coordinated operation by officers of its Special Operations Unit.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Media and Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi said the suspect’s arrest ended a prolonged manhunt linked to his alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities across Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
According to the statement, Ilomuanya was first arrested in February 2003 in the United Kingdom and convicted for drug trafficking.
He was sentenced to nine years imprisonment but was released after serving two years following a successful appeal.
Babafemi added that the suspect was again arrested in the UK in July 2011 over drug-related offences.
He said, “He was granted administrative bail but jumped jurisdiction and fled to Nigeria.
“Typical of a recidivist, Ilomuanya was in November 2018 arrested in Nigeria by NDLEA operatives following the discovery of two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories in his Obinugwu, Orlu Local Government Area country home in Imo State and at his No. 3 Barrister Declan Uzoma Close, Lagos residence where officers recovered 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine and extensive production equipment.
“He was subsequently charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos, after which he jumped court bail and has been on the run since then.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the agency’s ongoing war against drug trafficking networks.
Marwa said the operation demonstrated the agency’s resolve to track down criminal elements regardless of how long they evade the law.
He said, “This arrest serves as a stern warning to those who think they can hide behind borders to escape justice.
“Whether you jump bail in London or set up clandestine labs in your village, the long arm of the NDLEA will eventually catch up with those who choose to undermine the health, security, and future of our nation.
“We remain committed to our international collaborations to ensure that Nigeria is not used as a sanctuary for global drug lords.”
Marwa also commended officers of the Special Operations Unit for their professionalism and persistence in tracking down the suspect.
He added that the agency would continue to strengthen intelligence-driven operations and international cooperation to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond Nigeria.
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