Politics
PDP Calls Osun Gov To Order
The Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to desist from political gimmicks and deal with the alleged maladministration being perpetrated by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement signed by Sunday Bisi, the Osun PDP Chairman and made available to newsmen, the party disclosed that the call became necessary due to the laborious- cum-dramatic integrity inspection being conducted on a few school building projects, most of which were completed less than six years ago but are now on the verge of total collapse.
While wondering why the inspection which the PDP described as ‘APC orchestrated emergency situation’ had to wait until the 11th hour to the Osun gubernatorial election before government would start informing the populace about the potentially fatal defects on the project which was executed at outrageous costs, it noted that the state was being made to make monthly refunds on loans obtained on the projects running into hundreds of billions of Naira.
The party tasked the state government to extend its integrity searchlight to the flyover at Olaiya before it would inflict fatal pains on innocent road users in the state.
It maintained that the integrity radar should also explain to the public why the flyover was compressed into a single carriage way as against what was tabled before the public prior to commencement of work on the project.
“Although, our party is not unmindful of Mr. Oyetola’s desperate bid to hide under pretentious actions as this 11th hour so called integrity tests on projects executed by their own government and as a matter of fact, when Mr. Oyetola was calling shots around as the chief of staff to his former boss, Rauf Aregbesola.”
The party wanted the governor and his party to purge themselves of the deception it was selling to unsuspecting members of the public whenever they were confronted with electoral humiliation.
They also accused the government of ineptitude, wickedness and lack of respect for human lives, especially innocent children who had been marching to the “death traps” almost on a daily basis.
They asked the state governor not to distance himself from a government in which he was a principal actor for eight years, adding that claiming ignorance of actions taken in the last administration was a mere waste of time.
“For all we care, Oyetola can stab his former boss in the back but the cost burden in terms of consequential liabilities on the state, which have been shrouded in uncanny secrecy should also be unraveled. That is where people can begin to take the governor’s integrity a bit serious.
“That the good people of our dear state are not availed the actual debt portfolio incurred to execute the failed mega schools and other abandoned projects scattered across the state, is a cracked integrity foundation on its own.”
Meanwhile, the Osun State Government through the Secretary to the State Government, Wole Oyebamiji, has reiterated its determination to keep its citizens and residents safe irrespective of mischief makers’ insinuations to the contrary.
Making this known in statement to debunk claims that the administration of Adegboyega Oyetola was out to witch-hunt its predecessor with the decision to carry out integrity tests on the state-owned model schools, the government said safety of students, teachers and all workers in the affected schools was the reason for the exercise.
Oyebamiji also said the governor would continue to do what was right for his people unlike the desperate elements trying to score cheap political points at the expense of human lives.
Alhaji Mohammed Kasim, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has won the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Philip Akpeni, the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the results on Sunday morning.
Alhaji Kasim polled 22,165 votes to defeat Alhaji Yahaya Shehu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 17,788 votes.
Alhaji Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 1, 687 to come in third place.
“I am the returning officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Gwagwalada chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026,” Akpeni said.
“That Mohammed Kasim of PDP, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
In the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, the APC candidate, was declared the winner of the chairmanship poll with 40,295 votes.
Andrew Abue, the Collation Officer for AMAC, said Hon. Maikalangu, who is the incumbent AMAC chairman, was returned elected having scored the highest number of votes cast.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) came second with 12,109 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 3,398 votes.
According to Abue, the total number of valid votes in the chairmanship poll was 62,861, while the total votes cast stood at 65,197.
He added that the number of registered voters in AMAC was 837,338, while the total number of accredited voters was 65,676.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr. Joshua Ishaku of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Bwari Area Council Chairmanship election.
Announcing the result on Sunday in Bwari, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Mohammed Nurudeen, stated that Ishaku polled a total of 18,466 votes to emerge victorious in the February 21, 2026 poll.
“I am the Returning Officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Bwari chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026. That Joshua Ishaku, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Nurudeen said.
According to the results declared, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 4,254 votes, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) polled 3,515 votes to place second and third respectively.
The declaration adds to the series of results emerging from the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, as political parties assess their performance ahead of future contests.
INEC UPLOADS 2,602 OF 2,822 FCT CHAIRMANSHIP RESULTS ON IReV
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had uploaded 2,602 out of the 2,822 expected polling unit results from Saturday’s chairmanship elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as at 5:55am on Sunday, data retrieved from its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed.
According to The Tide source, the figure represents an overall upload rate of about 92.2 per cent across the six area councils of the territory.
A council-by-council breakdown indicates that Municipal Area Council recorded the highest number of submissions in absolute terms, with 1,309 of 1,401 polling unit results uploaded, representing 93.43 per cent.
In Gwagwalada Area Council, 330 of the expected 338 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 97.63 per cent — the highest upload rate among the six councils.
In Bwari Area Council, INEC uploaded 463 of 485 polling unit results, translating to 95.46 per cent.
In Abaji Area Council, 129 of 135 polling unit results had been uploaded as at 5:55am, representing 95.56 per cent.
In Kwali Area Council, 164 of the expected 201 polling unit results were available on the portal, representing 81.59 per cent.
In Kuje Area Council, 207 of 262 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 79.01 per cent — the lowest rate among the six councils as at the time of review.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group described the swift assent as a clear demonstration of political will to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We see the decision by President Bola Tinubu to sign the reworked 2022 Electoral Act into law within a few hours of its passage as a demonstration of political will to ensure an improved electoral process which the new law envisages,” the group said.
The TMSG expressed confidence that the development would enable the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to quickly align its operations with the new provisions in preparation for the 2027 polls.
The group noted that the provision for electronic transmission of results had been contentious but described its codification in the law as a significant step forward.
“So, for the first time, the country’s electoral law would be recognising the use of the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the result viewing portal, IREV, which were just INEC guidelines in 2023,” it stated.
According to the TMSG, although the Act provides for electronic transmission of results from polling units to the IREV portal, it also makes room for manual transmission of Form EC8A result sheets as a backup in the event of technological failure.
“Unlike some Nigerians, we do not see anything wrong with the fallback plan but we agree with the President that no matter how beautiful a process is with improved technology, the onus lies on the people manning it to show good faith and ensure that the votes of the people really count at the end of the day,” the statement added.
The group highlighted other key provisions in the amended law, including the streamlining of party primaries to either consensus or direct primaries, early release of funds to INEC, reinforced measures against over-voting, and stiffer sanctions for electoral offences such as falsification of results.
It also pointed out that the mandatory notice period for elections has been reduced from 360 days to 300 days, giving INEC more flexibility in adjusting the timetable for the 2027 elections, especially where it may clash with Ramadan.
The TMSG further observed that the President’s decision to sign the bill days before the forthcoming Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) underscores his desire for the law to take immediate effect.
“And by signing the amendment bill a few days before the Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it is obvious that the President is keen on ensuring that the 2026 Electoral Act takes immediate effect.
“Nigerians would also have an opportunity to see some of the key provisions of the new electoral law become operational, especially the electronic transmission of results,” it said.
The group expressed optimism that the current INEC leadership would leverage the new legal framework to deliver a more credible and widely acceptable electioneering process than in previous electoral cycles.
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