politics
Buhari to tell Goje, Ndume: Lawan is APC’s candidate
……Senate leader meets PDP senators, Mode of voting in June not sure
President Muhammadu Buhari may hold a “frank” meeting with two of the three aspirants for Senate President – Sen. Danjuma Goje and Sen. Ali Ndume — on the adoption of Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan for the office.
The All Progressives Congress(APC) is working towards a lone candidate for the job.
Lawan yesterday intensified lobbying of senators-elect from the opposition, especially those from the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
The main issue between the APC team and the PDP senators-elect has been the mode of voting during the inauguration of the Senate in June.
There are indications that a block vote by PDP senators may not be possible.
According to sources, the President decided to intervene in the race for Senate president to avoid APC going into the battle as a divided house.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The President will meet with Goje and Ndume to explain to them the rationale behind the adoption of Lawan as the party’s candidate for Senate president.
“Some of the aspirants have claimed that Buhari has not stated where he stands on the matter. In order not to take things for granted, the President has decided to hold a frank session with Goje and Ndume.
“ The meeting will hold at or before the weekend. But after the dialogue, the President and the party may then draw the battle line if the two aspirants do not want to respect the supremacy of APC.
“We hope reason will prevail and these aspirants will leave the party united.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “The Presidency and the APC are working towards the emergence of one candidate for the Office of the President of the Senate. This is the maximum Buhari and other leaders may tolerate.”
A member of Lawan’s campaign team said after the meeting with more senators-elect from the opposition, especially the PDP, the Senate Leader was trying to consolidate the gains made “by building confidence and trust”.
“There are some prejudices and fears we have succeeded in addressing to allay misgivings by our colleagues,” he said, pleading not to be named because he is not permitted to talk on the issue.
The source spoke on the mode of voting during the inauguration of the National Assembly on June 6.
“Those in APC are adamant on open voting and some senators-elect in the opposition have stuck to secret ballot system. We are confident that we shall all be on the same page before the inauguration,” he said.
PDP senators-elect are not likely to vote same way.
One said: “I think because of certain interests peculiar to some of us, block voting might be difficult for PDP. We do not have the number to dominate the Senate and if Lawan wins, those opposed to him might not get befiting committees.
“So, in casting votes for any candidate, you have to align the interest of the party with the overriding interest of your constituents who are demanding the dividends of democracy. Some of us are not going to the Senate to be bench warmers.”
Also yesterday, a Joint Consultative Forum of Northern Youth Groups dismissed the insinuations that Lawan would be remote-controlled by unseen hands if elected as Senate president.
It described the allegation as ”false and cheap blackmail”.
The forum hailed the senator as “a man of integrity, whose consistency in vying for Senate president is in line with his belief in the independence of legislature”.
In a communiqué jointly signed by the forum’s Director of Media and Publication and Chairperson of the communiqué Committee, Isah Imam Muhammed and Zainab Aliyu Sabon-Birni, the forum said among all the contending senators, only Lawan possesses leadership trait which can help Nigeria.
The forum said: “It is pertinent to state that Senator Lawan cannot be anybody’s stooge as a Senate President.”
“We appeal to other aspirants to see reason and rally round Lawan who has the capacity to lead the 9th Senate for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.
“ Lawan enjoys a lot of respect from the Executive arm of government, which is a good signal of a harmonious working relationship between the two arms of government in the next dispensation. ”As youths of Nigeria who are critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project, our support for Senator Lawan is predicated on our belief that he will serve as a bridge that will unite the Senate, irrespective of party leaning.
”We believe he will deploy his experience and goodwill to bring about harmonious working relationship within and among all arms of government in the next dispensation in the interest of national unity, peace and development.”
politics
Breaking : INEC Confirms Oyebanji’s Re-election in Ekiti, First Consecutive Governorship Victory Since 1999
Governor Biodun Oyebanji casting his vote at his Okeelele Unit 003
The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the All Progressives Congress candidate, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the winner of the Ekiti State governorship election held on Saturday.
The governor was re-elected after polling 319,224 votes over his closest rivals in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Olumayokun Oluyede and African Democratic Congress, Dare Bejide, across the state’s 16 local governments.
The Returning Officer for the election, Prof Adenike Oladiji, who is the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure, announced the results in the early hours of Sunday at the INEC’s headquarters on Iyin Road in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Oladiji said, “Therefore, I, Adenike, am the returning officer for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election…Oyebanji Abiodun Abayomi, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and stands re-elected.”
While the APC polled 319,224 votes, the PDP candidate polled 40, 533 votes, and the ADC candidate amassed 12,872 votes.
There are 988,251 registered voters, and 384,940 are accredited.
Out of the 382,109 votes cast, the total valid votes in the election were 375, 777.
According to INEC result, the PDP candidate, who hails from Ikere Ekiti, lost in his Ikere Local Government area.
While the APC and its candidate, Oyebanji, scored 8,742 votes, the PDP, which came second in the LGA, garnered 2,051 votes.
Below are the full results of the governorship election as collated at the State Collation Centre from the 16 LGAs on Sunday.
Efon Local Govt
Collation officer: Prof. Joseph Ojo
ADC – 201
APC – 8742
PDP – 2051
Ijero LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Olaniran Akanni
ADC – 2026
APC – 25506
PDP – 2479
Ikere LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Kehinde Jayeoba
ADC – 245
APC – 11116
PDP – 9872
Emure LG
Collation Officer: Prof Emmanuel Oluwafemi
ADC -732
APC – 14325
PDP – 851
Ekiti South West
Collation Officer: Prof. Kola Oladunmoye
ADC – 1076
APC – 14705
PDP – 1800
Ido/Osi
Collation Officer: Prof. Otalobi Akintunde
ADC – 561
APC – 17901
PDP – 1449
Ekiti West
Collation Officer: Prof Bolaji Stephen
ADC – 674
APC – 28258
PDP – 3644
Ado LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Toye Fasinmirin
ADC – 1054
APC – 38026
PDP – 3817
Ilejemeje LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Kehinde Mogaji
ADC – 579
APC – 8984
PDP – 1243
Ise/Orun LG
Collation Officer: Dr John Isa
ADC – 365
APC – 12907
PDP – 1627
Oye LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Jide Popoola
ADC – 998
APC – 18975
PDP – 2891
Moba LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Suleiman Adegboyega
ADC – 994
APC – 20500
PDP – 1572
Ayekire/Gbonyin LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Oso Bamidele
ADC – 314
APC – 17133
PDP – 1563
Ikole LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Sadiat Adifala
ADC – 812
APC – 26508
PDP – 750
Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA
Collation Officer: Prof. Michael Adeyemi
ADC – 511
APC – 29278
PDP – 2119
Ekiti East LGA
Collation Officer: Prof. Olabode Olatunbosun
ADC – 1730
APC – 26359
PDP – 2795
politics
BREAKING: Rivers State Assembly Begins Impeachment Process Against Governor Fubara and Deputy
The Rivers House of Assembly has commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh.
The move followed a plenary session on Thursday presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule.
During the session, the Majority Leader of the House, Major Jack, formally read the notice of allegations and claims of gross misconducts levelled against Governor Fubara.
He disclosed that the notice was endorsed by 26 members of the Assembly, who alleged that the Governor had acted in violation of provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
Speaker Amaewhule stated that the notice of impeachment would be served on Governor Fubara within the next seven days in line with constitutional procedures.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, read out a separate notice of allegations and gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor, Oduh, marking the formal commencement of impeachment proceedings against her as well.
politics
Breaking : Accord Party Faces Internal Crisis in Osun as Bamigbola Emerges for 2026 After Adeleke
A faction of the Accord Party has produced Clement Bamigbola as its governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun State election, just four days after the emergence of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the party’s flagbearer.
Newsthumb recalls that Adeleke had emerged on Wednesday as the party’s candidate, being the sole aspirant in the exercise.
However, a faction of the party rejected his emergence, insisting that Barrister Maxwell Ngbudem is not the legally recognised national chairman of the Accord Party.
In a fresh development on Sunday, about 300 delegates of the Accord Party from across Osun State elected Bamigbola as the factional candidate during a primary held at Regina Suite, Osogbo.
Bamigbola emerged through a voice vote conducted by the delegates, after which the Chairman of the Primary Committee, Hon. Olufemi Ogundare, declared him the party’s candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Following his declaration, Ogundare and other party leaders formally presented the party’s flag to Bamigbola ahead of the 2026 contest.
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