Politics

Oyo LG Poll: APGA demands scrapping of nomination fee

Published

5 years ago

May 14, 2021

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Oyo state has written to the Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju SAN, asking the Commission to scrap the nomination form fees for the offices of Chairmen and Councillors demanded from political parties before they can participate in the upcoming local government election, Mega Icon Magazine exclusively gathered.

It will be recalled that OYSIEC, had earlier published guidelines for Chairmanship and Councillorship Elections in the 33 Local Government Councils of Oyo State and expressly stated that Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates of political parties are expected to pay a sum of N250,000 and N100,000 respectively before picking the nomination forms and before they can participate in the election.

However, Oyo APGA, in a letter written by its solicitors, Marvic Alpha LP Nigeria , to the OYSIEC Chairman, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju SAN and the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, dated 14th May, 2021, submitted that it is not only outrightly illegal for the Commission to demand money from the party and indeed other political parties.

The solicitors also noted that it would amount to an unlawful act should OYSIEC disenfranchise APGA and other political parties from contesting in the local government election on the account of non payment of the requested non-refundable nomination fee.

“The acts of intended disenfranchisement on account of failure to pay the non-refundable fee by our client is against the spirit of Section 42(1)(a-b) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as altered”.

Lawyers of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in a letter obtained by our reporter, further argued, “By virtue of the provision of the Constitution, is not competent to prescribe any substantive condition or conditions for the nomination, eligibility, qualification or disqualification of person contesting elections into the Local Government Areas in Oyo State either on its own or pursuant to any law enacted by the Government of Oyo State which are contrary to the provisions of the Constitution. We further submit that it is no gainsaying that what you intend doing in this case is to state extraneous conditions against the provisions stated in Sections 7(4), 106 and 107 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and now proceeded to add some foreign elements into it such as the request for non-refundable payment of N250,000 and N100,000 for Chairmanship and Councilorship respectively.”

Oyo APGA disclosed that when the Commission refused to entertain all entreaties made to it to scrap the non-refundable nomination form fee, it instituted a suit at the Oyo State High Court of Justice sitting at Ring Road, Ibadan against OYSIEC and the Attorney General of Oyo State .

The letter reads in part, “Our client informed us that despite all its protests and that of other political parties, your Commission refused to scrap the nomination form fee and went ahead to publish a Notice and Timetable of 2021 Elections into Thirty Three (33) Local Government Councils in Oyo State which also included the prescribed fee of N100,000 and N250,OOO for the offices of Councillors and Chairmen respectively. After doing this, our client informed us that you invited it and other political parties to another meeting on 23rd February, 2021 for the purpose of looking at the notice and timetable of the election over again. Our client insists that it is not going to be part of the illegality your Commission wants to perpetrate by asking for financial deposits against the provisions of the Constitution and plethora of case laws.

“Our client informed us that at another forum on 2nd March 2021 held at your Commission’s Conference Room, the issue of nomination form fee was raised by the State Chairman of our client wherein he implored you to look into the matter as it has the tendency of disenfranchising lots of our client’s candidates and prevent them from picking nomination forms to participate in the elections. Our client also complained about the screening and verification exercise to be conducted by your Commission pursuant to the provisions of your Guideline and against the provisions of the Constitution but you rejected this saying that your Commission is so empowered under the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2000.

“However, our client informed us that you promised to look into the matter. On the basis of your Commission’s assurance, our client directed its Oyo State structure to get ready to participate in the 2021 local government election into the Chairmanship and Councillorship positions. Our client caused a letter to be forwarded to your Commission indicating its desire to conduct primary elections in readiness for the local government election and requesting your Commission’s presence as observers. In actual fact, your Commission duly acknowledged the said letter. Our client was able to conduct primary elections across the 33 local governments in Oyo State and presented the list of the successful candidates to your Commission and same was acknowledged.

According to the lawyers, APGA’s demand on nomination fee was in line with a court decision which the late Gani Fawehinmi and Femi Falana were part of.

It continued, “Our client informed us that there was another time when you visited its office and the issue of payment for nomination form was discussed. The National Vice Chairman (South West) of our client informed you that there is an existing court judgment procured by late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN against your Commission in suit number I/117/2004 between National Conscience Party on one side and the Attorney General of Oyo State and your Commission on the other side. In the above case, the Court per My Lord the Hon. Justice M. O. Bolaji-Yusuf held by declaring that your Commission is incompetent to prescribe conditions for the nomination, eligibility, qualification and disqualification of candidates to contest Local Government Elections in Oyo State outside the conditions stipulated by Sections 7(4), 106 and 107 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Our client informed us that after showing a copy of the judgment to you, you promised to look into it and revert accordingly. Till date, nothing was done and no scrapping of nomination form fee was effected by your Commission. Our client is desirous of participating and fielding candidates to contest Chairmanship and Councillorship elections across the 33 Local Government Areas of Oyo State but only being handicapped by the nomination form fees imposed by your Commission.

“This matter is already before the court and as such, all parties ought to maintain status quo until the determination of the matter.

“The law is that once a matter is in court all parties are enjoined to abstain from any act that might impugn or affect the status quo. It will amount to a flagrant disregard of due processes for any person who has notice of a pending suit either against him or against the authority for whom he works, to embark on any activity that will defeat the essence of justice or to render the course of justice already set in motion into futility or nugatory”, it concluded.

The party, however reminded the commission that it had already submitted the list of its candidates, urging OYSIEC to reconsider its earlier position and scrap the payment of the non-refundable nomination fees, or better still put the election on hold till the final determination of the matter in court.

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Politics

Adeleke: I Had No Electoral Deal With ADC

Published

5 days ago

August 18, 2026

Mega Icon

OSUN State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has denied having any electoral agreement or partnership with the African Democratic Congress before, during or after the August 15 governorship election.

Adeleke made the clarification on Tuesday in a post on his verified X handle, saying his victory was achieved through the support of God and the people of Osun State.

The governor said the ADC was not part of the political coalition that campaigned and mobilised support for his re-election, describing the group of political allies that worked for his victory as a “rainbow coalition.”

He said, “I had no electoral deal or partnership with the ADC before, during, or after the governorship election.”

Adeleke added that it was important to put the record straight, stressing that the ADC was not part of the coalition that campaigned and mobilised support for his re-election.

“For the sake of history, it is important to clarify that the ADC was never part of the rainbow coalition that canvassed, mobilised, and supported our campaign in the battle leading to last Saturday’s election,” he said.

The governor thanked his political allies for their sacrifices and efforts during the campaign, noting that their commitment contributed to his victory at the poll.

Adeleke, who called for unity after the election, said he remained governor of all Osun residents regardless of their political affiliation, religion or tribe.

“Now that the election is over, I remain the Governor of all Osun people, irrespective of political affiliation, religion, or tribe. My commitment is to unite our people and continue working for the progress and prosperity of Osun State,” he said.

Adeleke defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and the ADC candidate, Najeem Salaam, in the keenly contested election.

The governor polled 511,067 votes to defeat Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes, while Salaam secured 17,180 votes.

Adeleke won in 19 of the 30 local government areas in the state, while Oyebamiji won the remaining 11.

Politics

Adeleke Reaffirms Tinubu Endorsement After Osun Victory

Published

1 week ago

August 16, 2026

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Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has renewed his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027, barely hours after he was declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election.

Adeleke, who secured a second term in office, also commended Tinubu for what he described as his support for a free, fair and credible electoral process.

The governor spoke in Osogbo on Sunday while reacting to his victory, which he dedicated to the people of Osun State.

“At this point, I must deeply appreciate Mr President, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his strong support for a free and fair election,” Adeleke said.

“Mr President is a son of Osun State. And I hereby reaffirm my earlier endorsement of him for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.”

Adeleke thanked the people of the state for standing by him, saying their resilience and commitment to democracy had helped to produce the outcome of the election.

“In the last few months, Osun people have been under very intense pressure. Today, the issues are settled by the grace of God and the people.

“I therefore dedicate this victory to the good people of Osun State. I deeply appreciate your resilience, your strong will and your unwavering commitment to democracy,” he said.

The governor promised not to disappoint the electorate, saying his administration would build on its achievements and address areas where it had fallen short.

“As you have trusted me again for the second term in office, I will not disappoint you. To serve you better, I will reinforce my strong points and correct my errors,” Adeleke stated.

He also pledged to pursue accelerated development across the state under his renewed five-point agenda.

The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Adeleke the winner of the election in the early hours of Sunday.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, announced in Osogbo that Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.

The candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.

A total of 1,005,800 votes were cast across the 30 local government areas of the state, while 985,079 votes were declared valid.

INEC said 1,010,684 voters were accredited for the election, which was contested by candidates of 15 political parties.

Adeleke’s victory secures another four-year term for him and further strengthens his political position in Osun ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Politics

Tinubu tasks INEC, security agencies on credible Osun election

Published

1 week ago

August 14, 2026

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President Bola Tinubu has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State.

Tinubu made the call in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, ahead of Saturday’s poll.

The President urged INEC to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that voters are allowed to freely choose their preferred candidate.

“As the people of Osun State head to the polling units to elect who will govern them in the next four years, I call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure orderly conduct of the election.

“The election must be transparent, free and fair. I urge INEC to ensure the integrity of the process,” he said.

Tinubu also urged the electoral commission to use the Osun election as an opportunity to demonstrate its preparedness for the 2027 general elections.

“INEC must use this last off-cycle election as a test case to demonstrate to Nigerians their full preparedness for the 2027 polls,” the President added.

The President also charged the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and other security chiefs deployed for the election to provide adequate security at polling units and prevent attempts to disrupt the exercise.

“I have charged the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security outfits taking part in the election to provide maximum security at polling units. No room should be allowed for troublemakers to disrupt the process,” Tinubu said.

He stressed the need to protect voters and electoral officials, urging residents to participate in the election without fear or intimidation.

“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation. Voters should feel confident to go out in their numbers to vote for the candidate of their choice, as all measures necessary to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election have been put in place.

“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” he said.

Tinubu further urged voters to exercise their civic responsibility peacefully and avoid actions capable of undermining the conduct of the election.

More than 25,000 security personnel have been deployed across the state for the poll, while INEC has said preparations are on course.

With 15 candidates on the ballot, the election is expected to be keenly contested as voters across the state’s 30 local government areas elect a governor for the next four years.