Politics
Group Slams APC, PDP Over Osun LG Shutdown, Calls For Fresh Polls
The group, in a statement by its state coordinator and secretary, Alfred Adegoke and Kola Ibrahim, made available to journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday, said the continued shutdown of local government activities shows the anti-people character of the APC led Federal government and the PDP led state government.
It, therefore, called for the immediate resumption of local government activities, the release of withheld local government allocations, and a new, properly conducted election.
Noting that the shutdown of the local government administration has affected governance at the local level, DSM stated that people can no longer access essential services rendered by the local government.
“The shutdown is a sequel to the attempt by the former local government executives under the administration of former governor, Gboyega Oyetola, to return to office.
“The Ademola Adeleke/PDP government in Osun State, rather than take bold steps to defend the Osun State people and its local governments by calling out the illegality being sponsored and supported by the federal government through the federal attorney general, is preoccupied with declaring support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, all in a bid not to rock the boat.
“We totally condemn the prostration of the Osun State government to the illegal action of the federal government, and we demand that the state government take proactive measures to defend and protect the interest of the people and the local government administration.
“The continued paralysis of the local government administration in Osun State has further shown that the two main ruling parties, the APC and the PDP, are not interested in any democracy or even a pretence to it. They are ready to castrate the local government just to satisfy their pecuniary political interests.
“The APC is holding the local government system to ransom in order to undermine the Adeleke government in preparation for the 2026 elections. On the other hand, the Adeleke government is trying to court President Tinubu and seek his favour towards the 2026 gubernatorial election, even if this means sacrificing the local government system.
“The recent rumour of Governor Adeleke’s joining the APC, and the subsequent official statement of the PDP in Osun State declaring support for Tinubu’s second term, are indicative of a resolve not to rock the boat, even when the Adeleke government has a judicial edge over the APC on the local government matter.
“Rather than take the federal government up legally, the Adeleke government actually withdrew a matter earlier filed at the Supreme Court challenging the continued withholding of local government funds.
“It is obvious that the Adeleke government is not prepared to take any serious action to restore the local government administration, while the APC is prepared to wreck the state, as long as it would guarantee them power come 2026,” the group said.
We totally condemn the prostration of the Osun State government to the illegal action of the federal government, and we demand that the state government take proactive measures to defend and protect the interest of the people and the local government administration.
“The continued paralysis of the local government administration in Osun State has further shown that the two main ruling parties, the APC and the PDP, are not interested in any democracy or even a pretence to it. They are ready to castrate the local government just to satisfy their pecuniary political interests.
“The APC is holding the local government system to ransom in order to undermine the Adeleke government in preparation for the 2026 elections. On the other hand, the Adeleke government is trying to court President Tinubu and seek his favour towards the 2026 gubernatorial election, even if this means sacrificing the local government system.
“The recent rumour of Governor Adeleke’s joining the APC, and the subsequent official statement of the PDP in Osun State declaring support for Tinubu’s second term, are indicative of a resolve not to rock the boat, even when the Adeleke government has a judicial edge over the APC on the local government matter.
“Rather than take the federal government up legally, the Adeleke government actually withdrew a matter earlier filed at the Supreme Court challenging the continued withholding of local government funds.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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