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‘Oyetola, APC Backing Illegal Reinstatement Of Sacked LG Chairmen’
The Osun state lawmakers in the national assembly have accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Gboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy, of causing political tension in the state.
Addressing a press conference on behalf of the caucus comprising three senators and nine members of the house of representatives, Bamidele Salam representing Ede north, Ede south, Egbedore, and Ejigbo federal constituency, said local government chairpersons sacked by the court, are illegally attempting to return to office.
Salam said the action of the politicians, allegedly backed by the APC and Oyetola, is a breach of the judgement of the court sacking them from office.
The legislator said two separate federal high court judgments previously nullified the 2022 local government elections, one following a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the other by the Action Peoples Party (APP).
He said while the APC appealed the PDP’s judgment, the court of appeal in Akure struck it out on technical grounds.
However, the appeal against the APP judgment was dismissed, meaning that the ruling removing the council officials remains valid.
The lawmaker alleged that Oyetola, a former governor of Osun state, and APC leaders in the state colluding with heads of security agencies to return the former local government chairpersons to office.
“Today, the people of Osun woke up to a criminal take-over of the local government secretariats across Osun state by these sacked officials who forcefully broke into the premises of the councils, aided by thugs and hooligans who have been shooting sporadically, wreaking havoc on the people of the state, thereby breaking law and order,” he said.
“Sadly, this is being perpetrated with the support of some security personnel, relying on a different court judgement, despite a subsisting court judgement which upheld the nullification of their purported election.
“The general public is aware that there were two different federal high court judgements on the said local government election of 2022. One of the judgements was on the suit filed by the PDP which sacked the products of the 2022 local government polls, while the other judgment was on the suit filed by the APP which equally sacked them.
“The two cases were filed differently at different times and in the exercise of the fundamental rights of each of the political parties (PDP and APP) to challenge the propriety or otherwise of the Local Government poll so conducted in the court of competent jurisdiction.
“Although APC appealed the federal high court judgment obtained by the PDP on the said case, the court of appeal, Akure, on 10th day of February, 2025 struck out the judgement earlier obtained by the PDP at the federal high court on technical/jurisdictional ground that the originating process of the PDP was filed before the notice of election was published by Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).
“The court of appeal which equally lacked the jurisdiction to determine the merit of the suit based on the lack of jurisdiction by the federal high court refused to go into the merit of the case and made no order reinstating the sacked local government chairmen and councillors.
“However, the appeal by the APC against the favourable judgememt obtained by the APP at the federal high court was dismissed by the same court of appeal, Akure, on the 13th day of January 2025 for lack of diligent prosecution which makes the judgment of the APP still subsisting and alive.
“Thus, the subsisting judgement of the APP affirms the sacking of these officials and APC is bound by the same. It is important for us to establish that the suits filed by the PDP and the APP were not consolidated at any point in time and the judgement obtained in one cannot affect the other.”
“Interestingly, the APC realises the serious implication and the binding effect of the favourable judgement in favour of the APP at the court of appeal against it as a party. The party, APC, has therefore since returned to the court of appeal to reopen the appeal of the party which was dismissed on the 13th day of January 2025.”
Salam said the APC needs to wait till the appeal on the judgement of the APP is finally determined by the apex court and should “stop blowing hot and cold at the same time”.
“It is inexplicable that the APC which is pursuing the judgement of the APP on one hand is also seeking illegal execution of another judgement on the other hand,” the lawmaker said.
Salam said this political tension could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the state, “thereby causing chaos and mayhem”.
He said the “desperate acts contradict common sense” because the APC hopefuls have purchased forms and are campaigning ahead of the LG polls scheduled to take place on February 22.
Salam called on President Bola Tinubu to take urgent action by directing the police to restore law and order in the state.
Senators in the caucus include Akogun Olalere Oyewumi, Francis Fadahunsi, and Olubiyi Fadeyi Ajagunnla.
Members of house are Oluwole Oke, Taofeek Ajilesoro, Clement Olohunwa, Soji Adetunji, Adebayo Adewale, Mudashiru Lukman, Lanre Oladebo, and Sanya Omirin
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Muahammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111 has commended the developmental strides of Sokoto state governor, Ahmed Aliyu, just as he assured of the support of traditional institutions in the state.
Sultan who admonished other governor’s to also borrow a leaf from governor Ahmed Aliyu who ensures that resident communities enjoys equal benefit from everybody, added that, Nigerians should project what unites us moe than that which divides us.
“In Sokoto, we appreciate what the Governor is doing and we’d like to assure him of the support of the traditional institution so that he can continue the good work he’s doing of transforming our State.
“The Governor and our security agencies are doing their best and this has made the state to record tremendous improvement in the fight against banditry,” the Sultan averred.
While adding that governor Ahmed Aliyu deserves special commendation for the massive distribution of food items during the just-concluded Ramadan fast, Sultan urged Nigerians to always be law-abiding and desist from any act that may jeopardise the long lasting peace the country is enjoying.
Registering his displeasure over how the social media is been used negatively to promote and sow seed o discord, the Sultan said, some unpatriotic citizens use social media to spread falsehood, misinformation and provocative statements that can destroy the peaceful atmosphere the country is enjoying.
He, therefore, called on the security agencies in the country to be watchful of the unpatriotic citizens trying to create chaos in the land.
Speaking during his
Sallah homage on governor Ahmed Aliyu at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Lodge, Sokoto, Sultan
said, “”In Sokoto all Nigerians are treated as indigenes, an act that gives Nigerians residing in the State a sense of belonging.
Sultan equally stressed the need for for state governors to give much emphasis in protecting the lives and property of their subjects, describing security as the basis upon which all societies could progress.
Responding, governor Ahmed Aliyu reassured his administration’s determination to do everything humanly possible to make the state safe and secured.
He blamed unemployment especially among the youths as responsible for the insecurity being recorded in many parts of the country.
According to Aliyu, many youths have joined informants’ groups so as to be getting stipends to make ends meet.
“This administration has so far trained and graduated thousands of youths and women in different trades so as to make them productive members in the society.
” I want to assure you that we would soon embark on another massive skills acquisition programme to engage more unemployed youths in our modest attempt to reduce restiveness among our youths,” he vowed
Gov. Aliyu further reassured the people of the state that his administration would continue to prioritize Islamic affairs, adding that more Mosques and Islamiyya schools would continue to receive the desired attention from the state government.
He thanked the people of the state for their fervent prayers and support to his administration and called for it’s sustainance.
Sterling Bank has made a groundbreaking move by eliminating transfer charges on local transactions, aiming to create a more equitable banking experience for Nigerians. The question now arises: will other financial institutions follow this lead?
On April 1, Sterling Bank announced the removal of transfer fees for all local digital transactions, positioning itself as the first major bank in Nigeria to implement such a policy. Initially, the announcement faced skepticism, with many believing it to be an April Fools’ Day joke. However, Sterling has since reaffirmed the policy’s legitimacy and immediate implementation, signaling a significant evolution in the industry’s customer service approach.
Obinna Ukachukwu, the Growth Executive overseeing the Consumer and Business Banking Directorate, stated, “We believe that accessing your own funds should not incur a penalty. This decision transcends financial implications; it reflects our core values.”
With this new policy, Sterling customers can now make free transfers for all local transactions via the bank’s mobile app. This initiative is anticipated to yield considerable savings for individuals and small business owners who frequently engage in transfers.
“We may not be the largest bank in Nigeria, but we are certainly the most audacious,” Ukachukwu declared. “Sterling Bank is committed to the future of Nigeria, and we are backing our fellow citizens with more than just words.”
Sterling Bank has a history of prioritizing customer welfare, having previously offered financial assistance to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest initiative has garnered widespread public support, igniting conversations on social media and prompting calls for other banks to adopt similar practices.
“We take pride in leading this transformative change,” Ukachukwu concluded. “We hope to inspire others to rethink what customers truly require from their banks, not only in terms of services but also in values.”
On Wednesday, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, convened in Abuja, dismissed the Action Alliance’s (AA) petition aimed at overturning the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi and comprising a three-member panel, determined that the petition, filed by AA and its National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, was without merit.
The tribunal concluded that the issues raised in the petition were pre-election matters, falling outside its jurisdiction to adjudicate.
The petitioners claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had excluded their legitimate candidate from the governorship election held on September 21, 2024. They argued that, in contradiction to several court rulings, INEC recognized a candidate who had not been validly nominated by the party.
Furthermore, the petitioners contended that INEC’s failure to publish the name of their party’s rightful candidate constituted a significant violation of Section 134(1)(b) of the Electoral Act.
In addition to these claims, they asserted that Governor Okpebholo, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not receive the majority of legitimate votes and that the election was tainted by corrupt practices.
As a result, they sought the annulment of the election; however, the tribunal panel denied their request on Wednesday.
The panel upheld all preliminary objections raised against the petition. The respondents, including INEC and Governor Okpebholo, argued that the National Chairman of the AA lacked the standing to file the action, as he did not participate in the gubernatorial election.
They also asserted that the petition was barred by statute, as it involved pre-election issues that exceeded the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
It is noteworthy that AA’s candidate, Mr. Tom Iseghhi-Okojie, withdrew from the race in favor of Governor Okpebholo just days before the election.