Politics
PDP Elects Two Governorship Candidates At Parallel Primaries In Osun
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun yesterday elected two Governorship candidates at the party’s parallel primaries for the July 16 governorship election in the state.
At one of the primaries held at the Osogbo City Stadium, under the supervision of Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, as Chairman of the Osun Governorship primary, Sen. Ademola Adeleke was declared the winner.
While declaring Adeleke as the winner, Ewhrudjakpo, said that Adeleke scored 1, 887 votes, while his closet rival Sanya Omirin, scored four votes.
The primary was supervised by the party’s representatives from Abuja, as well as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At another primary held at the Women and Children Development Initiative Foundation (WOCDIF), Osogbo, there was no party’s representatives from Abuja and INEC representatives were absent, where Prince Dotun Babayemi, was declared the winner.
Ewhrudjakpo said that other aspirants, Dele Adeleke scored one vote, Fatai Akinbade, Dotun Babayemi and Akin Ogunbiyi, recorded zero.
He said that a total of 1916 votes were recorded, while 24 votes were invalid.
“By the power conferred on me as the Chief Returning Officer of this gubernatorial primary, we, hereby collectively declared Adeleke Ademola Jackson, as the winner of this gubernatorial primary for 2022 governorship election in Osun,” he said.
Ewhrudjakpo urged all other aspirants to join hands with the winner to enable the party to win the July 16 governorship election in the state.
He also urged Adeleke to be magnanimous in victory.
Ewhrudjakpo said that there was no parallel congress in the state.
According to him, any other congress, apart from the one I supervised will not be recognised by the national Headquarters of the party.
“The king is here and the crown is here. This is the authentic congress and any other one conducted in any other place will not be recognised,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, Adeleke said that there was no victor, no vanquished in the primary election.
According to him, we are all winners. Let’s work together to rescue people of the state from the All Progressives Congress-led government.
“By God’s grace, PDP will win July 16 Governorship election by a landslide to claim our stolen mandate. Our manifesto will be released in few days time,” he said.
At the WOCDIF Centre, Mr Adelani Ajanaku, the Returning Officer, said that Babayemi scored 1,781 votes, while his closet rival, Adeleke scored 32 votes.
Ajanaku said that Fatai Akinbade scored 28 votes, Ogunbiyi (23 votes) and Omirin polled 16 votes, respectively.
He said that 1,907 votes were recorded, with 27 voided.
In his acceptance speech, Babayemi said he was grateful to all his brothers and co-contestants, who voluntarily allowed him to fly the party’s flag.
“Your sacrifice is appreciated. Let me assure you that I will not let you down as your representative.
“I am indeed grateful to everyone for the confidence reposed in me, while making a solemn promise never to disappoint you.
“Today, I promise not to be the candidate of few, but a governorship candidate of all,” he said.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.