The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee in Ogun State, Abayomi Sanyaolu, on Wednesday urged all political parties that participated in the House of Representatives Saturday by-election for the seat of Remo Federal constituency to accept in good faith the results of the poll as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Sanyaolu said that any political party that is disenchanted with the results of the poll which declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji, winner, should head to court to seek redress rather than engaging in any act capable of hurting the peaceful coexistence of the residents of the state
Recall that Elegbeji, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, polled 41,237 votes to defeat her closest rival, Bola Oluwole of the Peoples Democratic Party, who garnered 14,324 votes.
The IPAC Chairman disclosed this at a briefing held in Abeokuta on Wednesday.
He stated that the position of the electoral law is that once INEC declares the results of a poll, the option left for aggrieved participants in that electoral process is to approach a competent court of jurisdiction to seek redress.
Sanyaolu explained, “Though other political parties also participated in the by-election but the Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mrs Ayoola Elegbeji, as the winner of the poll. So, as the Chairman of IPAC in the state, what is left to do is to call for the unity of all. We don’t want violence, all that we want is peace for the state to continue to make progress.
“Our duty is to relate with other political parties and to advise that we all give peace a chance, there must be no bloodshed or crisis after the election. If any of the political parties that participated in the by-election is not satisfied with the conduct of the election, the best thing to do is to go to court to seek redress.
“I could remember that during the local government election held in the state last year, we had some issues with the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission and we went to court and got our judgment against them.
“In this wise too, if you are having any misgivings over the last Saturday Remo Federal constituency by-election, don’t take the law into your hands. Go to court to seek redress and let the peace that we have continued to enjoy in the state prevail.”
Speaking during the briefing, the factional National Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Comrade Oginni Olaposi, also urged anyone dissatisfied with the results of the by-election to approach the court to vent their anger and misgivings over the conduct of the election.
Oginni said that the emphatic victory of the APC in the by-election is traceable to the fact that the governor is from the Remo Federal constituency and his giant strides, particularly the construction of the multi billion naira Agrocargo airport within the vicinity, precisely in Iperu Remo, the governor’s home town must have attracted lot of admiration for the Governor’s party.
He added, “I want to say that the election went the way it went because the governor, who is the leader of the ruling party, is from Remoland, Iperu Remo to be precise.
“And we should not forget that the multi-billion naira mega project of the Agrocargo airport is sited in that region. So the by-election became an opportunity for the people of Remo land to show their appreciation to the governor and therefore voted massively for the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“So, I won’t say that as an opposition party member, the election was rigged or compromise, I think what swing the vote in favor of the ruling party and the governor is that multi billion naira airport project which will serve as a good alternative to the one in Lagos and also help to decongest the airport in Lagos.
“The opposition parties should just go back to the drawing board and see how we can do better next time. We should not say that we want to bring the roof down because our parties did not win. And if we feel aggrieved, let’s approach a competent court to seek redress. So I am appealing for peace and understanding, there is always another day to put up a better performance in the future election.”
Also speaking, the factional National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, declared that the landslide victory of the APC was a referendum of acceptance of the government of the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, by his kinsmen in Remoland, who have benefited a lot from his administration.
Arabambi said, “The outcome of the election is a referendum for the government of Gov Dapo Abiodun. He has done a lot for the people in that region and they compensated him with the emphatic victory for his party, the APC. The Cargo airport situated within the region is a game-changer.
“And once INEC declares a winner in an election, the next option for whoever has an axe to grind with the conduct of the election is to go to court rather than causing any brigandage.
“So I congratulate President Bola Tinubu, the governor and the security agencies for ensuring an enabling environment for the conduct of the election. Any party that is not satisfied with the conduct of the election as spelt out by the electoral laws will have to go to court.”
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, has announced plans to set up and lead campaign teams for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid in the FCT and Rivers State.
It was reports that Wike made this known on Friday during an inspection of the ongoing Phase Two construction of the Kuje-Gwagwalada road dualization project in Chikuku, Abuja.
The minister said he would personally head the campaign structure in the nation’s capital and his home state, Rivers, as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
He said political parties were already reorganizing ahead of the election, adding that supporters of Tinubu from different political platforms had also begun preparing their campaign structures.
He said: “The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), I believe, is putting itself together for an aggressive campaign. For us who are supporting Mr President from different political platforms, we have put our machinery ready to fully kickstart. Very soon, I will inaugurate the campaign team for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State, which I will lead. All elements of the APC are ready, Mr President is ready, we are ready and you can see the enthusiasm.
“People are happy, and I don’t know who will contest against Mr President as far as this election is concerned. This is governance, and this is what people expect. It will translate directly into actual votes. It is very obvious. Nobody will be able to claim rigging in the FCT. The ‘rigging’ is the projects we are delivering, making the people happy.
“This is my first time getting to this side of the road, and I can see how highly populated this area is. You can imagine the enthusiasm and happiness on the faces of the people. That is why we say the essence of governance is to make people happy. When the people are happy, those in authority are happy.”
President Bola Tinubu, speaking through House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, urged Nigerians to give his administration more time to complete its programmes and reforms.
Tinubu delivered the appeal on Friday at a special Juma’at prayer at the National Mosque, Abuja, marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
Abbas said Tinubu assured Nigerians not to lose hope, promising peace and development would return as the government corrects past mistakes and missed opportunities.
President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to give his administration more time to complete the programmes and reforms it has embarked upon. NigeriaMarket Research
Tinubu made the appeal on Friday through the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, at a special Juma’at prayer held at the National Mosque in Abuja as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The President, represented by Abbas at the prayer, urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country, saying his administration was working to address what he described as the cumulative mistakes and missed opportunities of previous governments.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 66 years of independence, the President described the country as having reached maturity despite the challenges it had encountered over the years.
Abbas, conveying Tinubu’s message, said, “This anniversary, the 66th, by all accounts signifies Nigeria has come of age. A 66-year-old cannot be called a child anymore. Nigeria has become mature, even though when we reflect on the journey from independence to date, we may say it was a mixed journey.
“Nigeria was bedevilled with a lot of issues in the past and opportunities as well. But we thank Almighty Allah for granting us the life and the peace for us to witness this very historic event today.”
The President urged Nigerians to remain hopeful, assuring them that peace and development would return as the country continued on its democratic path. NigeriaMarket Research
“My message to the country on behalf of the Mr President, the Senate President and all members of the National Assembly is that the citizens should not lose hope.
“Peace is coming back to this country. Development is coming back to this country. Things will get better as we progress in this democracy,” he said.
Tinubu said his administration was focused on correcting what he described as accumulated mistakes and missed opportunities inherited from previous governments.
The President further said Nigerians should consider the direction of his administration as it implements its programmes and reforms. NigeriaMarket Research
He added, “More importantly, citizens should look at the focus of the government of today, that the mistakes of the past—the cumulative mistakes and the missed opportunities of the past are being corrected in this particular administration.
“And I want to categorically make it clear that Nigeria is on the right path; that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that Nigerians have finished making sacrifices for this country to be great again.
“We should give this government more opportunity for it to come back and finish the good work.”
Children of former presidents, governors and other political bigwigs are among those seeking Senate and House of Representatives seats ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly polls, as parties intensify preparations for the election.
Named aspirants and incumbents include Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Iyabo Obasanjo, Yusuf Buhari, Bello El-Rufai, Adamu Atiku and Blessing Onuh across multiple states and constituencies.
As political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, the children of several former
Nigerian presidents, governors and other prominent political figures are featuring among those seeking seats in the National Assembly.
According to The Nation, a review of candidates and politicians identified in recent reports shows that some already serve in the Senate or House of Representatives, while others seek to enter the National Assembly in the next election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, according to its published timetable.
Among those linked to the 2027 National Assembly contests are:
1. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan – Kogi
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, daughter of the late former House of Representatives member, Jimoh Abdul Akpoti, is the incumbent senator representing Kogi Central.
She is seeking another term in the Senate on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.
2. Iyabo Obasanjo – Ogun
Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is seeking the Ogun Central senatorial seat on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.
Her proposed return to elective politics places another member of a former president’s family in the 2027 National Assembly contest.
3. Yusuf Buhari – Katsina
Yusuf Buhari, son of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been linked to the Daura/Sandamu/Mai’adua Federal Constituency contest in Katsina State.
His reported involvement adds another former presidential family to the list of political families featuring in the 2027 legislative elections.
4. Bello El-Rufai – Kaduna
Bello El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, currently represents the Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
He is among the politicians featuring in the 2027 National Assembly contests.
5. Chinedum Orji – Abia
Chinedum Orji, son of former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, is contesting the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
6. Adamu Atiku – Adamawa Government
Adamu Atiku, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, is among those linked to the 2027 National Assembly race in Adamawa State.
Reports have also linked him to the Adamawa South senatorial contest.
7. Blessing Onuh – Benue
Blessing Onuh, daughter of former Senate President David Mark, currently represents the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
She is seeking another term in the 2027 election.
8. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu – Delta
Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, represents the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
She is also involved in the 2027 electoral contest.
9. Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion – Edo
Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion, daughter of businessman and politician Gabriel Igbinedion, is associated with the Ovia North-East/Ovia South-West Federal Constituency in Edo State.
She has emerged as a candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election.
10. Olumide Osoba – Ogun
Olumide Osoba, son of former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, represents the Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
He is among the children of prominent political figures seeking National Assembly seats in 2027.
11. Adegboyega Adefarati – Ondo
Adegboyega Adefarati, son of the late former Ondo State Governor Adebayo Adefarati, represents the Akoko South-East/Akoko South-West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
He is seeking another term in the 2027 election.
12. Olamiju Alao-Akala – Oyo
Olamiju Alao-Akala, son of the late former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, is linked to the Orire/Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South Federal Constituency contest in Oyo State.
His participation adds another child of a former governor to the list of politicians featuring in the 2027 National Assembly contests.