Nation
Osun Police Meet With Political Parties Ahead Of Governorship Election
Osun State Police Command held a peace meeting with political parties yesterday in Osogbo, ahead of party primaries and the state’s governorship election scheduled for July.
Speaking at the meeting, DCP Kanayo Uzuegbu said there was the need to ensure that political parties abided by electoral rules.
He represented CP Olawale Olokode, head of the Police in Osun State at the meeting.
“The move is very important to put political parties and other stakeholders on their toes to abide by the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of peaceful, credible and violence-free elections.
“We are all aware that the governorship election in Osun State will take place in July and political parties have begun necessary and required preparations for the process.
“In accordance with the timetable released by INEC on the election, signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, build-ups to the election began on Feb. 15.
“The notice also indicated that Feb. 16 to March 12 is fixed for political parties to conduct their primaries and resolve disputes that may arise from them.
“April 17 is the official date for the commencement of campaigns by parties,’’ DCP Uzuegbu said.
He also told the meeting that the timetable was properly admissible to the Police and would be followed to the letter.
“It is very important to state that political activities, party primaries, consultation visits, campaigns and others are legal, so far as they are within the confines of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
“I enjoin all political parties and groups to play the game by the rules and allow themselves and their activities to be guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act.
“I advise politicians and other members of the public who may be supporting political parties to always formally inform the Command before embarking on processions, assemblies, campaigns or rallies.
“This is to allow for the making of necessary security arrangements that will prevent any breakdown of law and order.
“I assure all political parties of a level playing ground before, during and after the election.
“I also want to assure the entire people of the state that the Police will leave no stone unturned in ensuring security of lives and properties before, during and after the election period,’’ he added.
DCP Uzuegbu also said that it was imperative to warn politicians and others to avoid taking laws into their hands and to always trust that the Police in Osun State are always gallant and will do the right thing if properly briefed.
“All processions, primaries, consultation visits and rallies must be peaceful and be in accordance with the Electoral Act and respect for the rights and safety of everybody.
“The idea of unnecessary blocking of roads during campaigns, rallies and processions without due process, attacking innocent citizens unjustly, and assaulting security men on duty will not be tolerated.
“Anyone, irrespective of his status, who breaches public peace, will be punished according to the law.
“I urge youths not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs or as destructive agents.
“I equally advise so-called political thugs to, in their interest, vacate the state immediately as the command will not condone any act of indiscipline or allow anybody to truncate the peaceful atmosphere in the state,’’ DCP Uzuegbu said.
Political parties at the meeting were the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Action Democratic Party (ADP).
The quartet signed a peace accord with the police at the meeting.
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that 26,592 public school students failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, raising alarm across the state’s education sector.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during a ministerial press briefing yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja, said that “45.7 per cent of the 58,188 students from public schools who sat for the exams did not pass.”.
This failure rate comes despite the state government’s significant financial backing N1.577 billion was paid on behalf of the students to cover WAEC fees.
“Suffice to say that the sum of N1,577,794,000 only was paid by the state government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for the year 2024 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun announced.
In a bid to tighten accountability and avoid wastage, the Commissioner disclosed that biometric and image registration was carried out to accurately determine eligible students for government sponsorship for the 2025 WASSCE.
“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona fide beneficiaries of the Lagos state government’s sponsorship for the examination,” he added.
However, the Lagos State Government rolled out a bold educational intervention – the Eko Learners’ Support Programme for WASSCE and NECO candidates – aimed at reversing the tide of academic failure in the state’s public schools.
Launched on January 14, 2025, the initiative is part of a broader commitment by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to equip Lagos students with tools for success.
“This forward-thinking initiative was designed to support and empower young scholars in attestation of the ministry’s commitment to advancing interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State,” Alli-Balogun stated.
Ekiti State Government says it has vaccinated 226,429 eligible girls in the State against the Human Papilloma Virus, an infection believed to be a leading cause of cervical cancer.
The wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, said the HPV immunization exercise, which she flagged off in the State in May 2025 was a great success, noting that it reached targeted communities and protected children against cervical cancer.
The governor’s wife made the disclosure in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the introduction of Measles Rubella vaccines in Ekiti State.
She said, “The introduction of Measles Rubella Vaccines is a very crucial step towards protecting Ekiti children particularly the target age group of nine to 14 years from diseases.
“I urge all women in the State to regularly scan their breasts. This can be done with the aid of the Mammography machine which is available at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti”.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, noted that the Measles Rubella vaccines would be rolled out nationally in October, 2025.
Filani said that the State was taking proactive steps to sensitise residents of the State before the date to ensure adequate awareness on the vaccines by citizens.
The Acting Ochimba of Ogida in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam, says peace remains paramount in the socio-economic development of Etche land.
Eze Azuatalam, however, called on his people to embrace and eschew violence at all times.
The Onwa Nagbara Oha made the call during the official commissioning of his palace at Ogida recently.
The epoch-making ceremony held at his palace saw the attendance of members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs; the academia; the political class; the clergy ; women as well relevant stakeholders within and outside Etche land.
The Ngbaragida of Azuafor re-emphasised the essence of peace and social harmony which he said open the window for meaningful development to take place.
He also sought the support and collaboration of his people to achieve the desired goals of development, progress and prosperity.
He noted that the peace being witnessed in the area must be sustained through collective effort, saying, contributions and sacrifices need to be made by all concerned to live in peace.
Eze Azuatalam said his aim towards building a better Ogida cannot be compromised as he and his people have no other place called home.
The Acting Ochimba said as part of efforts to build a better Ogida, he has instituted a number of development projects, adding that some of his kinsmen have been empowered through his hard-earned money and resources, saying, he will continue to assist the less- privileged around him.
He reaffirmed his desire to impact positively on the lives of his people as the engagement of the youths will help to reduce social vices in the area.
He thanked members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs for honouring his invitation.
He specifically thanked the Onyi Ishi Etche and Ochie of Etcheland, His Eminence E mmanuel Opurum for leading Etche on the path of prosperity, and described the revered King as a role model to the younger generation.
He said his fatherly role has been a source of hope and inspiration to his subjects.
The palace was unveiled by His Eminence with the assistance of Ochimba of Abara, Eze Jonah Nwala and other prominent Etche traditional rulers and chiefs while the Onyi Ishi Etche was represented by Eze Ken Nwala, Onyi Ishi Agwuru, Ulakwo/ Umuselem Clan.
The Onyi Ishi Etche urged other prominent sons of Etche to emulate the kind gesture of Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam as his magnanimity is being seen and appreciated by his people.
Eze Azuatalam also applauded the efforts of Prof Mekuri Ndimele, former Vice Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in the growth of Etche land.
According to him, during Ndimele’ s tenure, a lot of development projects were sited at the institution, including the development of Etcheland and empowerment of Etche people.