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Anti-Party: Fayose Protests As Ekiti PDP Recommends Expulsion
The Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has recommended the expulsion of former Governor, Ayodele Fayose, from the party.
The recommendation was submitted by the party’s caretaker committee chairman, Dare Adeleke, before the Chief Tom Ikimi-led PDP disciplinary committee.
The party accused the former governor of anti-party activities, especially his declared support for the second-term bid of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
Fayose had, in an interview last week, said he would support Oyebanji for a second term in office, though he did not belong to the same party as the governor.
The former governor, while inaugurating the Dehead/Faglo Road and electrification project recently completed by Oyebanji in Ado Ekiti, reiterated his support for the second term bid of the governor who belonged to the All Progressives Congress.
Speaking on the recommendation for expulsion, Fayose said he was not bothered, adding that Adeleke lacked such power to recommend him (Fayose) for expulsion.
Speaking through his aide, Lere Olayinka, the former governor dismissed the activities of the CTC chairman.
“We will soon know between him (Adeleke) and Fayose who owns the politics of Ekiti. He will be the one that will come to Ekiti from Ibadan to vote for PDP in 2026 and 2027”.
He said, “Does he (Adeleke) have that kind of power? No, he does not. His position as CTC chairman is being challenged in court. I am aware of three or four court cases saying he ought not to be CTC chairman.
“If your authority to operate is being challenged, where will you have such power to say you are recommending someone for expulsion?
“He is just like that. He makes noise. We are not bothered. He can continue, he should go to Abuja to suspend Fayose.
“I am aware of various utterances of the person who is parading himself as the CTC chairman. In the last meeting they held, he said that he had removed Fayose from the party and the party is now free for him.
“If he said he does not want Fayose – is it wrong for the person you said you don’t want in your house to go to another person’s house?”
In his recommendation, Adeleke had said Fayose’s “public declarations and serial endorsements of the opposition are a direct affront to the values and unity of our great party, hence the step.”
Adeleke, who spoke at a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, said Fayose’s actions were misleading to the public, “giving a distorted and false image of what the PDP stands for”.
He said, “The PDP has set up a disciplinary committee headed by Chief Tom Ikimi. We (CTC) have met with the committee. Our position is that Ayo Fayose must be expelled from the party.”
Speaking of the former governor’s comments, Adeleke said, “My reply is very simple, that Fayose is not a member of PDP anymore. So, whatever he says is being said to soothe or massage the ego of his boss, Oyebanji. Oyebanji is his boss now.
“If a man (Fayose) shouts on top of the roof that Oyebanji came to his house 18 times in two years – what is he (the governor) doing there? Sharing Ekiti’s money, going to Fayose to give him Ekiti’s money! What is the governor doing there?
“Fayose is a person who wants everything for himself. If Fayose is now telling the whole world he can do this, he can do that, it is because he wants another money from Oyebanji and Oyebanji will surely give it to him. He needs to say something sweet. He knows that he is doing it for something.”
The PDP CTC chairman wondered the basis upon which anybody could express support for Oyebanji who, he said, had failed Ekiti State in the last two years in the areas of infrastructure, health, security, education and others.
He said, “Where is the infrastructure here in Ekiti? I have not seen much infrastructure in the state, the roads are in a state of decadence, and the health sector is bad.
“We must confront the reality of the past two years under the present administration of Governor Oyebanji. It is regrettable that this period has been marked by a glaring lack of progress, with many areas of development and governance left unattended.”
The PDP CTC chairman condemned Fayose’s actions and encouraged him “to take the bold and honest step of officially defecting rather than openly aligning himself with an opposing party and misleading others into his self-serving interests.
“Our focus is on strengthening Ekiti PDP. Fayose’s behaviour only serves to weaken our collective efforts. As we continue this journey of rebuilding, I urge all party members to remain focused and avoid any form of distraction that could derail our progress.
“Together, we can achieve a renewed and vibrant PDP that serves the people of Ekiti with integrity and purpose.”
He asked the people to reject the cycle of neglect and choose leadership that genuinely prioritizes our collective well-being and development,” he said.
?President Bola Tinubu, yesterday swore in retired Gen. Christopher Musa as the new Minister of Defence.?
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?The president administered the oath of office on Musa in his office
at the State House, Abuja.
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?Tinubu had described Musa as a “fine gentleman” whose track record in service positions him to drive a more integrated national security response.”
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?The new defence minister’s appointment comes less than 48 hours after the resignation of his predecessor, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar.
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?Musa, 58, served as the Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 to Oct. 2025, during which he oversaw broad counterterrorism operations and inter-agency coordination efforts.
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?His nomination was transmitted to the Senate on Tuesday and was swiftly confirmed after rigorous screening on Wednesday, a development Tinubu praised as an evidence of legislative support for his security vision.
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?With the swearing-in now complete, Musa assumes full ministerial duties as the Tinubu administration pushes to consolidate recent gains and accelerate reforms aimed at delivering lasting peace and national stability.
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?The brief ceremony was attended by top government officials including Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu and thd Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris
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?Musa told State House Correspondents after the event that he would ensure better synergy among the Armed Forces to tackle terrorism and all forms of insecurity in the country.
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?”My immediate priority is to make sure that defence takes its place fully in the country.
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?”The synergy between the armed forces and other security agencies and all Nigerians being carried along as we have always said, that security is everybody’s responsibility.
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?” It is that synergy that we need to build on and work on it, and that’s what we’re going to and I can assure you, within the shortest possible time, Nigerians will see results.
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?” I want to use this medium to appreciate all Nigerians. Nigerians have shown me love, and I will guarantee them that I am going to work whatever it takes to ensure that Nigeria is secured,” he said.
The five students of the Rivers State University (RSU), Emohua satellite campus in Emohua Local Government Area of the state who were recently kidnapped, have regained freedom from their captors.
The students spent three days in the hands of their abductors before being rescued through the combined efforts of the police and other security agents in the state.
In a statement by the police spokesperson in the state, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, yesterday, the police rescued the five students unhurt from their abductors at the early hours of yesterday.
The statement listed the rescued victims as: Prince London ‘M’, Azubuike Kelechukwu ‘M’, Elizabeth Aniete ‘F’, Onyebuchi Precious ‘M’, and London Sampson ‘M’.
The police further disclosed that the victims had been taken to the hospital for medical examination, while efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing cultists/abductors.
According to the police, the students were abducted by yet-to-be-identified cultists from their isolated residences but were later rescued unhurt.
The statement read in part; “The rescue operation was conducted at Rumudogo 2 Community in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State by the Command’s Tactical Teams, in collaboration with other sister security agencies and with the support of the community.”
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, warned the perpetrators that the police would not relent until all those involved are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.
He also urged continued collaboration from sister security agencies, community stakeholders, and the general public to enhance policing efforts across the State.
Adepoju also advised residents to go about their lawful activities without fear, assuring them that “their safety is our priority.”
Meanwhile, the authorities of the university have suspended academic activities in the Emohua campus following persistent security challenges in the area.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, disclosed this while addressing students of Emohua campus following the kidnapping of the five students on Tuesday morning.
The students had, among other demands, urged the school authority to suspend all academic activities in the campus and relocate them to the main campus.
However, the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, has appealed to the management of the university not to shut down the Emohua Campus, promising to provide the necessary logistics to strengthen security of lives and property within the institution.
Akujobi Amadi & King Onunwor
The Nigerian Navy has begun free medical screening, diagnosis, and treatment for no fewer than 2,000 residents in Rivers.
Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), announced this on Thursday at the opening of the outreach in Egberu, Oyibo Local Government Area of Rivers.
Zipele said that the beneficiaries would have the opportunity to undergo medical diagnosis and treatment without costs.
“The naval training command is offering free medical support to residents of Egberu, this is as part of our efforts to strengthen cooperation between the command and the community,” he said.
He said that residents would receive free medical services such as blood pressure checks, consultancies, laboratory investigations and medications, among others.
“This exercise is one of the strategic initiatives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, under navy’s corporate social responsibility,” he said.
Zipele further said that the exercise formed part of the navy’s end-of-year activities that aimed to strengthen civil-military relations.
He reiterated the navy’s commitment to providing essential services to residents of Egberu community.
Also speaking, Capt. Ikechukwu Chukwuka, the Head, Medical and Training, said that the outreach included screening for blood pressure, blood sugar, malaria, typhoid and HIV.
Chukwuka said that the beneficiaries would receive free medications and advice, adding, “serious conditions will be referred to the appropriate medical facilities”
“We recognise the challenges many communities face in accessing quality healthcare, we are here to support this community,” he said.
Chukwuka said that many individuals were unaware of the illnesses that plagued them until they became life-threatening.
“We are targeting no fewer than 2,000 people to take advantage of this opportunity to know their health status and receive free treatments,” he said.
He said that the programme showed that the navy was not only a combat institution but also a compassionate and people-oriented one.
Dr Adaeze Oreh, the Rivers Commissioner of Health, commended the navy for the gesture, describing it as well-intended.
Represented by Prof. Justina Jumbo, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Oreh said that the initiative aligned with the state government’s commitment to strengthen public health systems.
“Healthcare is most impactful when government and security agencies work together to support vulnerable populations,” she said.
She said that the Rivers Government remained open to deeper collaboration with stakeholders on outreach, disease prevention, emergency care and community health strengthening.
The Paramount Ruler of Egberu-Ndoki, Eze Boniface Akawor, expressed delight over NAVTRAC’s relocation from Apapa, Lagos, to Ebubu-Eleme in May 2024.
He said that the community had never benefitted from such free medical support, and decried the abandonment of the community primary healthcare centre.
“The nearest health centre is seven kilometres from here, this makes emergencies difficult for our people,” he said.
Akawor thanked the navy for the intervention, and urged other corporate bodies to emulate NAVTRAC.
One the beneficiaries, Mrs Cordelia Chibuzor, 58, who received treatment for an undisclosed ailment, praised the navy for the support.
She said that many residents could no longer afford healthcare due to the rising costs of medical treatments in the country.
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