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PDP Senators, Reps Members Can Seek Any NASS Office – Ologbondiyan

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The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, on Tuesday said the party’s elected senators and members of the House of Representatives are constitutionally eligible and can seek election into any presiding office of both chambers of the National Assembly.

Ologbondiyan, also stated that the position of the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives as well as the Deputy Senate President and the Deputy Speaker are not the exclusive preserves of any political party, but a constitutional right of every elected lawmaker in both chambers

The party’s mouthpiece described it as laughable that President Muhammadu Buhari and the alleged factional National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, “posture as if the presiding offices and Committee Chairmanship in the National Assembly are exclusive rights of the APC”.

“President Buhari and Oshiomhole should wake up to the fact that the National Assembly belongs to no political party but to all Nigerians, who exercise their control through their elected representatives.

“For emphasis, Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is clear in providing that “There shall be:- (a) a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves; and (b) a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.

“Section 92 (1) makes the same provision for the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of State House of Assembly,” he added.

Continuing, Ologbondiyan reminded President Buhari and Oshiomhole that “the APC had in the past benefited from the provisions of section 50, with the defection of the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal from the PDP to the APC, in October 2014, without relinquishing the speakership of the House to the PDP; a development that was applauded by President Buhari, as the then-opposition leader as well as the APC, through it’s then National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.

“In fact, the former Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, echoed the Constitutional provision that the constitution requires only that the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be elected by members of that House from among themselves”.

The party further gave other instances of Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange and Hon. Peter Azi, who according to them in 2015, were elected Speakers of the Benue and Plateau State Houses of Assembly respectively, though their party, the APC, was a minority in both Houses.

Ologbondiyan, therefore, stated that the PDP does not only have a constitutional say in the process of the emergence of the leadership of the 9th National Assembly but will, as a matter of constitutional right, field candidates into presiding offices of both chambers, if need be.

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Ibarapa East/Ido: I’ll sustain quality representation, development, says Osuolale 

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File photo of Hon.Osuolale Niyi Yusuf

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Hon. Osuolale Niyi Yusuf, has promised to sustain quality representation and development in the constituency if elected.

Osuolale made the promise on Saturday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital while speaking with journalists on his ambition and his plans for the constituency.

The former Education Secretary and councillor said his focus would be on effective legislation, people-oriented representation and the facilitation of projects that would address the immediate needs of the people.

According to him,  representation should not be limited to attending legislative sessions, but must also involve listening to the people, understanding their challenges and ensuring that their concerns receive attention at the appropriate level.

The APC chieftain said people of Ibarapa East/Ido need a representative who would remain close to them and continue to engage with them after elections as it is presently witnessed.

“I want to assure the people of Ibarapa East/Ido that if given the opportunity, I will give them quality and effective representation. My interest is to represent the people well and ensure that projects and interventions are directed towards areas where they are most needed,” he said.

Osuolale also acknowledged the work of the incumbent member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, saying that his performance had created a standard that any successor would have to respect.

“Hon. Aderemi Oseni has set a standard that must not be lowered. Whoever is coming after him must be prepared to sustain the quality of representation and, where possible, improve on it,” he said.

The APC candidate said his experience in public service had given him an understanding of the importance of consultation and accountability in governance, stressing that he would make the people central to his legislative activities.

He identified education, infrastructure, youth development, women empowerment , health care services among others as areas that deserved continued attention, adding that he would work with community leaders and other stakeholders to attract meaningful development to Ibarapa East/Ido.

Osuolale therefore appealed to the people of the constituency to support his aspiration, promising that, if elected, he would regard the mandate as a responsibility to serve rather than an opportunity for personal gain.

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Oyo 2027: Alli appoints Oladele, Olaosebikan, Tunji media directors

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has appointed three experienced journalists and communication professionals as directors in his campaign media and publicity team ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The appointees are the former South-West Bureau Chief of The Nation, Bisi Oladele, who was named Director of Media and Publicity; a former Chief Press Secretary to the late Oyo State Governor, Lam Adesina, Kehinde Olaosebikan, as Director of Strategic Communication; and a former Special Adviser to the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Communication and Strategy, Bolaji Tunji, as Director of Public Affairs.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Media Consultant to Alli, Dare Adekanmbi, and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday.

Also appointed to the team are the immediate past Chairman of the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ademola Babalola, as Deputy Director, while the Oyo State APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, will serve as Secretary.

Oladele, a multimedia journalist and communication strategist, has over 25 years of experience in journalism and public relations.

He was until his latest appointment the Executive Editor of Newspeak Media and Chairman of the South-West Guild of Online Publishers.

Oladele holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education (English) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and a Master’s degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan. He is also concluding a PhD programme in Political Communication at Lead City University, Ibadan.

He is expected to work with other communication professionals, including Ayotunde Olude, to drive the campaign’s media, publicity and strategic communication activities.

Olaosebikan, a veteran journalist and media practitioner, served as Chief Press Secretary to the late Governor Lam Adesina and brings considerable experience in government media relations and strategic communication to the campaign.

Tunji, also a journalist and communication practitioner, served as Special Adviser to the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Communication and Strategy.

According to the statement, the appointments were made to strengthen the campaign’s media visibility, strategic communication, public engagement and information management ahead of the 2027 general election.

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Oyo South: Ibadan security groups back Oseni’s senatorial bid 

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Oyo APC senatorial candidate, Aderemi Oseni addressing the crowd in Ibadan today

The Ibadan Security Initiative, a coalition of indigenous security groups operating across the six local government areas of Oyo South Senatorial District, has declared its support for the senatorial ambition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hon. Aderemi Oseni.

‎The declaration was made on Wednesday at the Recreation Club open field in Ibadan, where leaders and members of the groups gathered to publicly endorse Oseni ahead of the election.

‎The coalition comprises no fewer than 20 indigenous security organisations, including the OPC Fasheun, Agbekoya Solidarity, OLM, Ifenisese Oodua, Agbekoya Peace and Unity, LLVG, OPC Gani, Omo-Ibile, Agbekoya Warriors, OPC New Era, FYCC Alajobi, Agbekoya Farmers, IROD, IYF, Itesiwaju Agbekoya, Hunters Ode, Soludero Hunters Guide, Oyo State Vigilante Group, Soludero Association, Kobolese Vanguard and Majiyagbe Vanguard.

The groups have structures and members across the local government areas that  make up Ibadanland.

‎Speaking on behalf of the coalition, its Commandant, Chief Musliudeen Kehinde Ege, commended Oseni for what he described as his “superlative performance” as a member of the House of Representatives.

‎Ege said the groups had followed reports of Oseni’s interventions and representation before deciding to identify with his senatorial aspiration.

‎He said: “We have been hearing a lot of good things about you as a result of your quality representation and impactful development, even beyond Oyo South.We are proud to identify with you and openly declare our unflinching support for the realisation of your ambition. We will not only make this happen at the polls with our huge followership and networks, we are also going to ensure that the votes are well secured.”

‎Addressing the gathering, Oseni thanked the security groups for the confidence reposed in him, assuring them that he would remain committed to quality representation and people-oriented development.

‎The lawmaker said his legislative agenda for Oyo South would focus on people-centred legislation, strategic engagement at the national level and efforts to attract meaningful development projects to the district.

‎Oseni, who is currently representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and chairs the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), also assured residents that his interventions in communities would continue.

‎He said his support for communities, religious bodies, artisans, traders, market associations and other development stakeholders across the district was driven by his desire to improve the welfare of the people and would continue until the election.

‎The APC candidate also appealed to the gathering to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Sarafadeen Alli and other APC candidates.

‎Responding to requests earlier presented by the security initiative, Oseni donated a bus, three Hajj slots and N20 million to support the activities of the groups.

‎The donations, according to him, were part of his commitment to supporting initiatives that contribute to community development, security and the welfare of the people.

(c) Mega Icon Magazine 

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