Politics
Osun tribunal: Pro-Adeleke Protests In Osun, Oyetola’s Loyalists Stage Carnival
Protests took place in the state capital of Osogbo on two fronts. Members of the Peoples Democratic Party demonstrated against the tribunal’s nullification of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s election. Meanwhile, commercial transporters protested the scarcity and rising cost of gasoline.
The protest in the state capital, caused blockages on major roads and hindering both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Due to the unrest, many business owners chose to stay closed for safety reasons and to avoid potential attacks from hooligans.
PDP protesters marched through Osogbo, singing songs in opposition to the nullification of Governor Adeleke’s victory from the July 16, 2022 election. The three-judge tribunal, led by its chairman Justice Tetsea Kume, declared Adeleke’s win invalid and instead named former governor Adegboyega Oyetola as the winner.
Following the verdict on Friday, PDP members and supporters called for Governor Adeleke to make a public statement to calm them and assure them of his plans to appeal the judgment.
On Saturday, the protesting PDP members who went through Osogbo streets carried placards with several inscriptions such as: “We were cheated before, now we reject miscarriage of justice’’; “Gov. Adeleke is our governor, no change of currency can change that’’; among others.
While protesting fuel scarcity and price increases, commercial transporters blocked four ends of the Gbongan-Osogbo Expressway: Owode-Ede, Ogo-Oluwa, Aregbe, and Old Garage. Passengers were forced off buses and motorcycles, and commercial mini buses and motorcyclists were prevented from picking up passengers.
Commercial transporters allowed private vehicles to pass but forced commercial mini bus owners and motorcyclists to halt operations.
The former chairman of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria in Osun, Abioye Adekunle, stated that the protest was due to the high cost of gasoline.
Adekunle said, “The price of petrol in Osun is ridiculously high. We are buying between N370 and N460 per litre.
“I just came back from Abuja. Even when there is queue, when you go into filling stations, you would still buy at N196 per litre.
“Here in Osun, the petrol is not even available and those selling are selling for between N370 and N460 per litre.
“The high cost of fuel is negatively affecting the operation of our members and that is why we are protesting so government can know what is going on and maybe come to our aid.”
Governor Adeleke, in a statement signed by him on Saturday, praised the PDP protesters and supporters for rejecting the tribunal’s verdict. He expressed his joy at their display of affection and appreciation for their ” Open defence of our mandate.”
He assured them that “the popular mandate will not be stolen either through front or backdoor.”
Meanwhile, as PDP protesters demonstrated, members of the ruling APC celebrated Oyetola’s victory with a carnival in his hometown of Iragbiji.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, also congratulated Oyetola on his tribunal win.
In a statement on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker said the judgment had again shown that the APC remained the party to beat at all times, especially during the forthcoming general elections.
He, however, urged Oyetola to be magnanimous in victory at the end of the whole process.
The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has declared the removal of the reinstated Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, as illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, the court also set aside all proceedings and resolutions passed by the House on January 13, 2025, the day Obasa was removed from office.
Obasa had dragged the Lagos State House of Assembly and Mojisola Meranda — who was appointed Speaker following his removal — before the court, challenging the legality of the action.
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In its ruling, the court held that the process leading to Obasa’s removal did not comply with constitutional provisions, rendering the exercise invalid.
The judgment effectively reinstates Obasa as the legitimate Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, while invalidating all legislative actions carried out during Meranda’s brief tenure.
With permutations for 2027 elections already play high on the cards of Nigerian politicians, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo is banking on Edo and Delta States to team up and swing victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.
Biztellers reports that his calculation is informed by the massive defection of notable politicians into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in both States.
Gov Okpebholo made the assertion while welcoming the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chiedu Ebie, who led the members of the Unity Group to join the APC.
Notable among other party stalwarts at the occasion were the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje and the party’s South-South leaders.
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According to Okpebholo “just like Edo, Delta is ready to witness practical governance under APC.”
Beaming with joy, Gov Okpebholo added, “It is our turn to shine in the South South. It is now your turn in Delta. It is happening here, as it happened in Edo State. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing very well for the nation. He is repairing the foundation of the country for better prosperity. Because of that, in Edo State, we have started. We said 2027 is already possible. It is also possible here in Delta. I am here to welcome my brother, Chiedu Ebie.
“Chiedu is an intelligent young man who knows when to move. It is time for Delta to move, and it is starting here with Ika people.”
Receiving the decampees, Alh Ganduje, described the Delta Unity Group as great fighters of democracy, who have provided a strong vehicle that will lead APC to the Delta State Government House in 2027.
According to the APC national Chairman, “we have the three Senators now. We have members of the House of Representatives and State Assembly members, and over 60 percent of the followers of PDP have now joined the APC. We are assured of taking over this State come next election.
“We are not surprised because of the timber and caliber of politicians you have in Delta State in the APC. What we require now is unity. Unity of purpose and unity to win election. So we can provide quality governance to the people of Delta State.
“Very soon, we will organize a stakeholders meeting for all those major stakeholders because they are all good people. They are all wise people. They are all intelligent people, and they are all democrats. So, all of them will be convened for unity, like the Delta Unity Group.”
On his part, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Ebie, noted that their conviction to join the party was borne out of the love for good governance and party inclusiveness which the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated.
Earlier, while at the Palace of the Dein of Agbor, Dr Benjamin Ikenchukwu, the Keagborekuzi the first, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure peace and security across the country for the needed development in the country.
Present at the rally were Senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko; Chairman House Committee on NDDC, Hon. Teke Ibori-Swenu; former Deputy Senate President, Omo Agege, among other party big wigs.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has assured that his administration would do everything within its powers to take care of Edo State civil servants and make them happy.
He made the pledge on Friday when he received Executives of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State Chapter, led by its Acting State Chairman, Comrade Bernard Egwekhide.
Egwekhide said they were in Government House to congratulate the Governor on his recent victory at the governorship election tribunal that affirmed his victory in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
On his part, the Governor said whatever Edo State workers are enjoying in the state is the responsibility of his administration to do because it is worker friendly.
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Okpebholo said, “Whatever we are doing, which is favouring Edo workers, is done because it is our responsibility as a government. Edo people voted for us to work for them, and that is what we are doing to ensure life is made better for our people, including the workers.
“We embrace transparency in all what we do as a government to enable the people to trust us as we are not afraid of criticism. Positive criticism will put us on our toes to work harder for Edo people.
“The renewed hope agenda of the president has given us room and platform to perform and serve Edo people better as we embark on practical governance.
“We are doing everything in the State to ensure peace, unity, growth, and development. That is why we ensure smooth collaboration amongst the three tires of government. In all we do in the State, we ensure the three Senatorial zones are carried along.”
The NLC acting chairman, Egwekhide, commended the Governor for his developmental strides and the friendly environment created for Edo State workers to operate.
He said the visit was necessary as the body had come to congratulate the Governor for his deserved victory at the election petition tribunal in Abuja.
According to him, “Workers in Edo State are proud of you for the developmental strides in the State. You have created a friendly relationship between your administration and Edo workers as you have always taken steps to favour Edo State workers.
“Without asking, workers received their 13th month. You raised the subvention of Ambrose Ali University (AAU) from N41 to N500 million. You regularized casual workers in Edo State. You increased what is due pensioners monthly from N50 million to N1 billion naira for both local and State pensioners.”
He noted that a committee has been set up to look into the compulsory pension scheme, which has become a burden on retired civil servants, adding that the report will be submitted to him for his action.
“We thank the governor for several employments given to our people in the very short time in office,” he added.
In a related development, Gov Monday Okpebholo also received the new branch controller, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Edo State, Apanke Utande who was on a courtesy visit to Government House, where the Governor urged him to collaborate with his administration to improve the lives of Edo people.
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