Politics
Oyo PMS members fingered in destruction of APC Reps candidate billboards, posters
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ibarapa East/Ido federal constituency, Engr Aderemi Oseni has alleged the destruction and removal of outdoor billboards and campaign posters belonging to him and other APC candidates by the agents of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led government in Oyo state
Oseni, while condemning the act, accused the ruling party in the state of violating the nation’s democratic order and extant law, adding that clampdown on the opposition by the ruling party was largely informed not only by its desperate bid to dominate the polity at all cost, but because the constituents had rejected the party and its candidates.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Media Aide, Idowu Ayodele, the businessman cum clergy described the Sunday’s attack on the constituents in Ibarapa East local government by a gang of terror led by the chairman of the disciplinary committee of the Park Management System, (PMS), Mukaila Lamidi (Auxiliary) as an indication of his popularity and acceptability by the people.
He added that no amount of intimidation and onslaught against democratic order by the PDP-led government can change the resolve of the Ibarapa East/Ido constituents to vote for him and all the APC candidates in the forthcoming polls billed for next year.
The statement read thus: “It would be recalled that no fewer than two youths were allegedly shot dead in New Eruwa, Eruwa in the Ibarapa East local government area of Oyo state during the local government elections held under the Seyi Makinde-led PDP administration which was marred by violence. Today, families are still mourning their loved ones. As if this was not enough, the desperation to cling to power finally commenced as the men of the PMS empowered by Governor Seyi Makinde returned to the Ibarapa zone of the state to disrupt the fragile peace being enjoyed by the people.
“The people of Ibarapa East and Ido local governments are watching the atrocities of the hoodlums parading themselves as Park Managers. The people of Oyo-State who brought the present administration to power are also watching and will act decisively at the poll. On this note, I urge that this brigandage, reckless rascal behaviour and criminality should be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators and their agents should be brought to book.
“The issues surrounding intimidation and undemocratic practices ahead of the forthcoming elections have again come to the fore. The constitutionally guaranteed right to freely associate is now under attack even as our state is being pushed to the brink. I am confident that those doing this would one day face the consequences of their actions.
“The PDP and its candidates in the federal constituency, having realised that its chances of winning the 2023 elections get slimmer by the day and petrified by my popularity and acceptability has now resorted to a fiendish plot to physically attack our party members, destroy our outdoor campaign facilities as well as deploy force and orchestrated violence in an attempt to destabilise our structure in the constituency.
“Although I was surprised with the degree of damages done by these miscreants, I refused to be rattled because the constituents are with me. I remain their best and preferred choice. It is imperative to restate that no degree of intimidation and harassment will dissuade me from carrying out my philanthropic gestures to the people of my constituency.
“The PDP candidates should endeavour to endear themselves to the good people of Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency through humane and civilized manner as enshrined by the constitution, rather than resort to desperate tactics that threaten the lives and property of the constituents. As an apostle of politics without bitterness, who is determined to liberate my people, to the glory of God, I have not only given hope to the downtrodden but also corrected the almost eight-year wrongs made by the present occupant of the seat through our various intervention projects and programmes which have given a new lease of life to my esteemed constituents”, the statement concluded.
Oseni, therefore, called on the Oyo State Police Commissioner and other security agencies to act quickly and decisively to stop the brigandage of the PDP in the state.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday held a high-level strategic meeting with the Oyo State chapter of the party as part of efforts to reposition the APC for victory and prevent internal crisis ahead of the polls.
The development was first scooped by OYOINSIGHT.COM which quoted multiple party sources familiar with the closed-door deliberations.
Sources disclosed that the meeting, held in Abuja, focused largely on a consensus arrangement being considered by stakeholders of the party in Oyo State, in line with political templates reportedly being adopted in Lagos and Ogun states ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Party insiders said the move was aimed at strengthening unity within the fold of the opposition party in the state, minimising rancour during the primaries and presenting a formidable front against rival parties in 2027.
It was further gathered that some members of the state executive committee may have been subtly informed about preferred consensus candidates being considered for elective positions across the state.
Though details of the deliberations were still sketchy as of press time, sources hinted that the national leadership stressed the need for cohesion, discipline and strategic alignment among stakeholders to improve the party’s electoral fortunes in Oyo.
Those at the meeting included the Oyo APC Chairman, Moses Alake Adeyemo; the state secretary, Fatai Adesina Adeniyi; the Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare; the Organising Secretary, Aderemi Adepoju; and the Legal Adviser, Sunday Aborisade.
Others were the Women Leader, Adekemi Opatunde; the Youth Leader, Olalekan Oladejo; Joshua Oyebamiji; Tunde Oloyede; Sunday Babalola; Joseph Omoniyi; and Mojeed Adebayo.
As of the time of filing this report, the party had yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of the meeting.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, on Monday assured aspirants and party members that the party would conduct transparent, peaceful and credible direct primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeyemo declared that no aspirant would be victimised or denied a level playing field, stressing that the party leadership remained committed to internal democracy and progressive ideals.
The former deputy governor spoke while receiving members of the APC Screening and Appeal Committees deployed from the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja at the APC Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan.
He disclosed that although the party initially explored consensus arrangements across elective positions, prevailing realities indicated that direct primaries would be conducted in some areas, including the governorship contest.
Adeyemo said the party had already put necessary structures in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise capable of strengthening unity within the APC.
He said: “We set machineries in motion for us to achieve the aim of consensus across board but reports available to me indicate that we would have to go by the second option which is direct primary in certain cases including the governorship ticket.
“To this end, we shall work towards organising free, fair and credible exercise in all the affected areas even as we cannot rule out the possibility of some aspirants having a rethink and supporting the consensus arrangement as necessary.
“Where we have more than an aspirant, Abuja would send people to conduct primaries and we at the state level would provide the required support to make everything work out in the interest of our great party.”
The APC chairman explained that all registered party members would participate fully in the exercise at their respective wards on dates to be announced by the National Secretariat.
According to him, affirmation would be adopted in areas where consensus candidates emerge, while voting would be conducted wherever direct primaries become necessary.
“For consensus, members will lend their voices for affirmation while voting will be done in the cases of direct primary,” he added.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Screening Committee and former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Taofiq AbdusSalam, assured party faithful that the committee would carry out a thorough, transparent and unbiased screening process.
He said only eligible aspirants would be cleared to participate in the primaries and eventually fly the APC flag in the forthcoming elections.
Other members of the Screening Committee are Kamal Sanusi (Secretary), Smart Oluwole, Tunde Kolade and Olabamiji Agunloye.
Members of the Screening Appeal Committee are Jibola Oduwole (Chairman), Abimbola Jack (Secretary) and Jelil Jimoh.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress on Saturday zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, declaring that the party’s candidate would serve a single four-year term if elected.
The decision was reached during the party’s national convention held in Abuja amid growing momentum within the opposition platform following a wave of high-profile defections from other political parties.
Announcing the development on its official social media handle, the party stated, “NDC presidential ticket is zoned to the South!!”
The party also resolved that its 2031 presidential ticket would be ceded to Northern Nigeria as part of efforts to maintain regional balance and internal equity.
The convention comes as key opposition figures, including former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former New Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, joined party leaders and delegates at the Abuja gathering.
Saturday’s convention is expected to ratify several recent decisions taken by the party’s National Executive Committee, including zoning arrangements, amendments to the party constitution, and the election of new national executives.
According to the convention agenda obtained by journalists, discussions centred on zoning, ratification of the amended constitution, and leadership restructuring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC has in recent weeks witnessed a surge in defections from rival opposition parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
On Tuesday, no fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives defected from the ADC to the NDC.
Their defections were formally announced during plenary at the House of Representatives.
The lawmakers include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande and Munachim Umezuruike.
Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omoruyi and Abdulhakeem Ado.
The defections came barely two days after Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC from the ADC.
The duo were presented with the party’s membership cards last Sunday shortly after a closed-door meeting with party leaders.
A former Governor of Bayelsa State and NDC national leader, Seriake Dickson, officially welcomed the opposition figures into the party.
Obi had attributed his exit from the ADC to worsening internal crises, external interference and what he described as increasing hostility within party structures.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria’s political environment had become increasingly toxic, marked by intimidation, insecurity and sustained scrutiny of opposition figures.
He also lamented that institutions meant to protect citizens were now often deployed against them, while individuals committed to genuine public service faced mounting pressure both publicly and privately.
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