Politics
‘Aregbesola And The Hard-Earned Victory’
Despite the heavy pres
ence of security personnel put at about 75,000 including soldiers, policemen, members of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps and even sniff dogs to Osun State, which the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as attempt to intimidate its members and the electorate, the much talked about governorship election in the state went on smoothly last Saturday.
The contest which centred mainly around two major contenders, the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf A. Aregbesola of the APC and Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) witnessed massive turn-out of voters who trooped to the accreditation centres as early as 6.30 am.
At last, Aregbesola beat his main rival, Omisore to a distant second. While Aregbesola polled 394,684, Omisore scored 292,747 votes.
Meanwhile, Aregbesola’s victory which was greeted with wild jubilation in Osun State has also elicited reactions from some eminent personalities in the country, including President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade and Chief of Staff Government House Port Harcourt, Sir Tony Okocha.
President Jonathan
The President’s congratulatory message to Aregbesola was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati. The statement reads in parts:
“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan congratulates Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on his victory in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
“The President commends the Independent National Electoral Commission and National Security agencies for ensuring that the elections were free, fair, credible and peaceful in keeping with the avowed commitment of his administration.
“As Governor Aregbesola prepares to begin a second term in office, President Jonathan looks forward to continuing to work with him and other state governors to further improve the living conditions of Nigerians in Osun and other States of the country.
Governor Oshiomhole
“ I have seen a new lease of life for the people of the state of Osun over the past three and half years due to the radical improvements in the quality of governance you introduced. It is gratifying to note that you have restored a people-driven governance, reminiscent of the Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige eras, thus placing you firmly in the pantheon of the greats to have come from that part of the country.
“The wide margin of the votes you recorded in your re-election victory over your closet rival is a clear testimony of your doggedness and the confidence reposed in you by the good people of the state in your ability to move the State of Osun forward and position it among the best in the country.
“Above all, your victory has strengthened the progressive movement nationally and further enhanced its capacity to positively affect the direction of the nation’s polity.
“I salute the people of the State of Osun for choosing to the path of positive progressivism and lasting legacies over the politics of stomach infrastructure which the other party has introduced into the nation’s political lexicon.
“As you settle down to the business of governance in your second term, I wish you greater and quality achievements in your efforts to reposition the State of Osun. I assure you of the continued solidarity of the people and Government of Edo State”.
Sir Tony Okocha
In Port Harcourt, a victory dance reportedly broke out immediately Governor Aregbesola’s victory was confirmed. Leading the celebration was the Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi, Chief Tony Okocha, an APC chieftain, who reportedly threw the gates of his palatial mansion situated at the old GRA, wide open to all comers for good music, as well as assorted food and drinks.
According to Chief Okocha, “Today is the happiest day of my life as the Osun result declares the immediate demise of PDP, whose presence in Nigeria has become a curse and bad luck to Nigeria and Nigerians. Things have gotten so bad that no family in Nigeria can be sure of seeing tomorrow as their lives are no longer secured, apart from the few operating this government that is doomed to be chased out by the Nigerian masses in 2015. Let Nigerians celebrate as their freedom from a visionless, clueless and misguided government is at hand. The Lord is good. It’s confidence restored. Congratulations to all agents and adherents of change.
“We salute the great people of Osun State for giving us hope that together, we shall in 2015 free Nigerians from an inept government and enthrone a people-oriented government that will utilise our God-given resources for the development of our nation instead of the few currently oppressing and looting our common patrimony with impunity.
“ I sincerely salute Governor Amaechi for the great role he played to ensure that Osun State did not fall into the hands of PDP, whose mission was to wreck the State and take it back to the days of darkness. My commendation also goes to the People’s Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who has proved that he is truly a lion, a great mobilizer, a political bulldozer, a man of the people and most importantly that he is on ground. I am happy to award the Governor the title of Tiger of our democracy”.
The Man Rauf Aregbesola
Rauf Aregbesola was born on May 25, 1957. He graduated from The Polytechnic, Ibadan where he studied Mechanical Engineering.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Nigerian Association of Technological Engineers and Certified Marketing Communications Institute of Nigeria.
He was on April 12 this year endorsed as the governorship candidate of the APC. The emergence of Aregbesola was preceded by congresses. The governor, who had no opponents, was endorsed as the flag- bearer of the party.
The Nasir el-Rufai-led committee supervised the primary election in which Aregbesola was endorsed. While giving him the certificate of return, el Rufai said 269,631 members of the party voted for the governor for a second term out of 355,390 members who registered in 332 wards across the state.
Before becoming the state governor in 2010, Aregbesola had served as the Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure for eight years under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, then governor of Lagos State. He left Lagos State Government to contest the governorship election in Osun in 2007, on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
At the end of the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) under Prof. Maurice Iwu declared Olagunsoye Oyinlola of the PDP, the winner of the election. The former commissioner and his party contested the result, taking Oyinlola and the INEC to court.
In May 2008, Aregbesola called over 100 witnesses and tendered 168 exhibits in his petition before the Election Petitions Tribunal, alleging violence and ballot boxes stuffing in the election.
The case was moved from the election tribunal to the Federal Appeal Court in Ibadan.
After several dramatic exchanges in the courtroom, which lasted for three-and-half years, Justices of the Appeal Court finally declared Aregbesola the winner of the 2007 election, ordering that he should be sworn in as governor by noon on November 27, 2010.
Upon assumption of office as governor of Osun State, the former Lagos State commissioner outlined what he called his ‘Six Point Integral Action Plan’ which focused on agriculture, economic and youth development, health, education and security.
The six points are to banish poverty, hunger, unemployment; restore healthy living; promote functional education; and enhance communal peace and progress. These, the governor said, would seek “to ensure that the fruits of economic development positively impact as many lives as possible” in Osun.
Aregbesola’s interest in politics dated back to his undergraduate days, when he served as the Speaker of the Students’ Union Parliament at The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
His First Official Reaction To His Re-Election
In his first official reaction to the outcome of the governorship election held on Saturday, Governor Aregbesola described his victory as a call to increased service.
In a broadcast to the people of Osun State, he pledged to leave no stone unturned to continue in transforming the state, saying “we shall work even more”.
His words, “On behalf of my party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), we are delighted to claim this hard won victory against all odds.
“I salute the courage of the people; I salute your courage, loyalty, your integrity and your desire to nurture our nascent democracy. The trust reposed in me and the confidence you have in me shall not be taken for granted, the outcome of this election shows that you people are interested in the growth of democracy.
“From now on, every vote must not only be counted, every vote must count.
“This victory is for the people and it is a call for increased service”.
Boye Salau
Governor Aregbesola of Osun State celebrating his re-election in Osogbo last Saturday. Photo: NAN
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday told the National Assembly that it requires N873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections, even as it seeks N171bn to fund its operations in the 2026 fiscal year.
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the projected cost for the 2027 general elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.
According to Amupitan, the N873.78bn election budget covers the full conduct of national polls in 2027.
An additional N171bn is needed to support INEC’s routine activities in 2026, including bye-elections and off-season elections, the commission stated.
The INEC boss said the proposed election budget does not include a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps seeking increased allowances for corps members engaged as ad-hoc staff during elections.
He explained that, although the details of specific line items were not exhaustively presented, the almost N1tn election budget is structured across five major components.
“N379.75bn is for operational costs, N92.32bn for administrative costs, N209.21bn for technological costs, N154.91bn for election capital costs and N42.61bn for miscellaneous expenses,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chief noted that the budget was prepared “in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the Commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before the general election.”
On the 2026 fiscal year, Amupitan disclosed that the Ministry of Finance provided an envelope of N140bn, stressing, however, that “INEC is proposing a total expenditure of N171bn.”
The breakdown includes N109bn for personnel costs, N18.7bn for overheads, N42.63bn for election-related activities and N1.4bn for capital expenditure.
He argued that the envelope budgeting system is not suitable for the Commission’s operations, noting that INEC’s activities often require urgent and flexible funding.
Amupitan also identified the lack of a dedicated communications network as a major operational challenge, adding that if the commission develops its own network infrastructure, Nigerians would be in a better position to hold it accountable for any technical glitches.
Speaking at the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) said external agencies should not dictate the budgeting framework for INEC, given the unique and sensitive nature of its mandate.
He advocated that the envelope budgeting model should be set aside.
He urged the National Assembly to work with INEC’s financial proposal to avoid future instances of possible underfunding.
In the same vein, a member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, Billy Osawaru, called for INEC’s budget to be placed on first-line charge as provided in the Constitution, with funds released in full and on time to enable the Commission to plan early enough for the 2027 general election.
The Joint Committee approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the Commission’s annual budget.
The committee also said it would consider the NYSC’s request for about N32bn to increase allowances for corps members to N125,000 each when engaged for election duties.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Along, assured that the National Assembly would work closely with the Commission to ensure it receives the necessary support for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, also pledged legislative support, warning INEC to be careful about promises it might be unable to keep.
He recalled that during the 2023 general election, INEC made strong assurances about uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing portal, creating the impression that results could be monitored in real time.
“iREV was not even in the Electoral Act; it was only in INEC regulations. So, be careful how you make promises,” Balogun warned.
The N873.78bn proposed by INEC for next year’s general election is a significant increase from the N313.4bn released to the Commission by the Federal Government for the conduct of the 2023 general election.
In a timetable issued by its National Secretariat in Abuja and signed by the National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, the party said the activities were in line with provisions of its constitution guiding the election of party officials across all tiers.
According to the schedule, membership e-registration began on January 31 and ended on February 8, while notices of congresses were dispatched to state and Federal Capital Territory chapters on February 2.
Submission of nomination forms for ward and local government congresses closed on February 9, followed by screening and appeals between February 10 and February 14.
Ward congresses are fixed for February 18, with appeals the following day, while local government congresses will take place on February 21 and appeals on February 23.
At the state level, purchase of forms for state executive positions will run from February 22 to February 25, with screening set for February 27–28 and appeals from March 1–2. State congresses are scheduled for March 3, and appeals on March 4.
Activities leading to zonal congresses and the national convention include purchase and submission of forms between March 12 and March 16, inauguration of screening committees on March 23, and screening of aspirants on March 24. Zonal congresses across the six geo-political zones are slated for March 25, with appeals on March 26.
The party’s national convention will hold from March 27 to March 28.The APC also published fees for expression of interest and nomination forms across the different tiers.
At the ward level, expression of interest costs ?5,000, while nomination forms range from ?15,000 to ?20,000 depending on the position. For local government positions, nomination forms range from ?50,000 to ?100,000 after a ?10,000 expression-of-interest fee.
State executive positions attract ?50,000 for expression of interest, with nomination forms pegged at ?1 million for chairman and ?500,000 for other offices. Zonal offices require ?100,000 expression of interest and ?200,000 for nomination.
For national positions, the fees rise significantly, with expression of interest set at ?100,000. Nomination forms cost ?10 million for national chairman, ?7.5 million for deputy national chairmen and national secretary, ?5 million for other offices, and ?250,000 for National Executive Committee membership.
The party noted that female aspirants, youths and persons living with disabilities would pay only the expression-of-interest fee and 50 per cent of nomination costs. It also clarified that Ekiti, Osun, Rivers states and the FCT are excluded from ward, local government and state congresses, but will participate in electing delegates to the national convention.
Forms are to be completed online after payment verification, with payments directed to designated APC accounts at Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa.
The congress cycle is expected to determine new party leadership structures ahead of future electoral activities.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
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