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Suspected thugs disrupt Ondo Speaker’s impeachment bid

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Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly on Thursday held a parliamentary meeting as part of moves to impeach the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji.

However, the lawmakers’ plan to carry out the impeachment on the floor of the House was unsuccessful following the appearance of three unknown men, alleged to be political thugs, at the Assembly complex.

It was gathered that it took the intervention of policemen from the state command to drive the men out of the complex.

The legislators, however, continued with a parliamentary meeting on the premises of the Assembly complex.

One of the legislators, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the meeting was strategic and centred on the removal of the Speaker, adding that “the man is gone already.”

He alleged that the unknown men were thugs sent to prevent the plenary from holding.

“He (the embattled Speaker) sent thugs to the Assembly to attack us, but he was disappointed. We sent them out, but we did not hold plenary again. But we will still meet to impeach him,” he stated.

The Assembly has been engulfed in crisis for the past few weeks, with 21 of its 26 members reportedly signing a notice for the Speaker’s impeachment over allegations of financial misconduct.

The Speaker was accused of diverting N44m meant for the reordering of the budget of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission.

Consequently, the aggrieved lawmakers gave the Speaker a deadline to resign or face impeachment on the floor of the House.

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However, the impeachment move was stalled following interventions by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress.

Oladiji has denied the allegations, insisting that nothing of such happened.

Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone shortly before the meeting, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi, said the impeachment would be carried out “definitely.”

He said, “We have been hearing news that we have abandoned the process. This is a lie and misinformation. We are still on it; he can’t be our Speaker again.

“Although the governor has been speaking with some of us, that does not stop the impeachment. There is no going back.”

Reacting, the embattled Speaker denied sending thugs to the Assembly, saying the men were members of his constituency who came to the complex for another purpose and had no intention of disrupting the lawmakers’ activities.

Oladiji also insisted that the matter had been resolved and that there was no longer any impeachment process.

He said, “There’s nothing like an impeachment process because the issue has been resolved and there is no impeachment.

“The governor and other leaders of the party have already intervened, and today we were supposed to have our parliamentary meeting.

“I have about three of my youth leaders whom I invited to come and pick up forms for recruitment, but, unknowingly to them, they did not know what was going on in the House of Assembly.

“Some of the members approached them and asked them why they were at the House of Assembly. They are not new and have been coming to the House of Assembly, but they insisted that they did not want to see them on the premises.

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“I came out of my office and tried to pacify the members, telling them that they were my people who had been coming to the House of Assembly and had not harassed any member. But they said they did not want them and asked them to leave.

“So, there is nothing like an impeachment notice. There is nothing like an impeachment process, and we were able to resolve the whole matter.”

Source: punchng.com

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2027: Moment Peter Obi, Dickson storm Bayelsa creeks in boat regatta for campaign

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October 31, 2026

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The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the national leader of the party, Seriake Dickson were spotted on Friday using a colourful boat regatta to campaign in Bayelsa State.

The event, which was held in Yenagoa, turned into a carnival as hundreds of boats decorated with party flags sailed across the creek, with supporters chanting Obi’s name.

Peter Obi, who arrived with Dickson, mounted one of the lead boats and waved to the crowd that gathered at the waterfront.

Speaking at the regatta, Obi said the NDC represents a new movement to rescue Nigeria, and that Bayelsa being a riverine state deserves special attention.

“We are not just campaigning, we are connecting with the people in their own environment. The people of Bayelsa live on water, so we must meet them on water,” Obi said.

On his part, Dickson said the boat regatta shows that the NDC has grassroots support in the Niger Delta.

“This is not Abuja politics. This is the real people, the Ijaw people, showing their strength. With boats, we will sail to victory,” Dickson said.

It was reports that the boat regatta is a traditional Ijaw cultural display.

Supporters of the NDC said the use of a boat regatta is strategic, as it shows respect for Bayelsa culture while pushing their political message.

Videos of the boat regatta have since gone viral on social media, with many Nigerians praising Obi for going into the creeks to campaign.

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Insecurity: I will go into the bush and rescue kidnap victims if elected – Peter Obi

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October 31, 2026

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The Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has vowed to go into forests on rescue mission if elected president in 2027, declaring that his administration would not tolerate kidnapping and insecurity.

Obi made the promise while addressing supporters during a campaign rally in Bayelsa State, where he pledged to make the country safe for Nigerians to travel and go about their daily activities without fear.

He said his administration would begin by uniting the country and ensuring that no region or group felt excluded from the Nigerian project.

“We will make Nigeria work. We will make Nigeria a place where people will live. We will secure Nigeria. Nobody will live in Nigeria where you can’t travel on the road again,” he said.

Obi cited his recent road trips across several states as evidence of the urgent need to improve security on the country’s highways.

“I came to Bayelsa this morning from Enugu by road; I moved around Nigeria by road. On Tuesday, I was in Lokoja; on Wednesday, I was in Akwanga; yesterday, I was in Ebonyi, and today I am in Bayelsa. Our roads must be secured,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor also criticised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as the President’s failure to visit Bayelsa State despite its contribution to the country’s economy through oil production.

He questioned the President’s frequent foreign trips, arguing that he should pay more attention to engagement with Nigerians across the country.

“This is a state where Nigeria discovered oil. This is a state where we get money we share, and the President said he will not come here to campaign,” Obi said.

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“Our President has travelled out of the country for over 200 days, sometimes 260 days, but he will not come to Bayelsa for one day, and he wants you to vote for him.”

On the security situation, Obi pledged that an NDC-led government would take decisive action against kidnappers, particularly those targeting schoolchildren and other vulnerable Nigerians.

“NDC will secure Nigeria under our government. If anybody takes schoolchildren, if anybody kidnaps anybody, I will go into the bush. We will go into that bush and rescue the person. Nobody will try that in our government,” he declared.

Obi also promised to tackle corruption, insisting that public funds would be managed transparently and deployed for the benefit of citizens.

He said an NDC government would prioritise education, electricity and other essential services, adding that basic education would be free through collaboration with state governments.

“They say if you fight corruption, corruption will fight you back. And I’m telling you, under the NDC, you run away. You will not fight back because we will use public money for public good,” he said.

“Under NDC, your children will be in school; there will be classrooms. We will work with the states to ensure that basic education, which is primary, will be free.”

On electricity, Obi pledged that his administration would work towards producing, transmitting and distributing at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity.

“We will produce, transmit and distribute a minimum of 10,000 megawatts of electricity. The minimum we have today under APC is 4,000,” he said.

See also  Osun needs CEO, not an entertainer – Tinubu’s aide

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Ademola Adeleke reveals no deal with APC to share legislative seats in 2027

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October 30, 2026

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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has denied entering into any agreement with the All Progressives Congress to share legislative or local government positions in the state.

Adeleke, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Wednesday, said the clarification became necessary following social media reports alleging that a deal with the Presidency ahead of the 2027 general elections included the sharing of political positions.

According to the reports, local government positions, as well as Senate, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly seats to be contested in 2027, had been shared between the Osun Accord and the state APC.

The governor, who reaffirmed his commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, said negotiations to resolve the local government crisis were aimed at protecting the interests of both APC chairmen and elected Peoples Democratic Party chairmen and councillors.

He described reports of a position-sharing arrangement as “mere fabrication and fake news.”

The statement read, “As the governor of all Osun indigenes and residents, we are working to resolve the local government matter by ensuring that all interests are protected and cared for.

“As of now, all stakeholders agree that restoring grassroots governance is a condition for our successful campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.”

Adeleke assured that the local government crisis would be resolved before the end of the year, stressing that he had not entered into any agreement to share legislative seats with the Osun APC.

“What unites the coalition partners is only the presidential election.

“As I said while inaugurating the Presidential Campaign Council, the coalition is targeted at the presidential election. Partners agreed to join hands to ensure our dear President is re-elected.

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“All other legislative positions are open for competition. I will work and campaign for Accord candidates for Senate, House of Representatives and the state House of Assembly.

“I urge all political parties to campaign for their candidates as I will do for Accord candidates. We have no deal on the National Assembly and the state Assembly elections. All our candidates will face the electorate, who have the final say,” he said.

On Thursday, the governor insisted that the ‘Rainbow Coalition’ championed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to garner votes for Tinubu would not cause confusion among Osun voters in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking in Ede while inaugurating the campaign committee for the re-election of the Osun West Senatorial candidate of the Accord, Lere Oyewumi, Adeleke, represented by the Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi, described Oyewumi, who currently serves as the Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate, as a quality representative with enviable records of service.

He added that the lawmaker had made the state proud, saying his re-election had been made easy by his track record of effective representation and performance since his election into the National Assembly.

He appealed to members of the committee to work with total commitment to ensure victory for the party in the poll.

The governor said, “On the rumour going around in town about ‘Rainbow Coalition,’ don’t let that give us any headache. Let me state again that we are only going to vote for the All Progressives Congress in the presidential election only.

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“The National and State Assembly elections will be for the Accord. There should be no confusion among the voters.

“I want to appeal to the members of the campaign committee to work hard and ensure the victory of Senator Lere Oyewumi. There is nothing like 99.9 per cent loyalty. Your loyalty should be 100 per cent.”

Oyewumi attributed the growing acceptability of Accord in Osun to the leadership and performance of Adeleke.

The lawmaker said his senatorial ambition was long planned, adding that his experience in the Senate had better equipped him for service.

“Adeleke is a pathfinder, and his re-election has shown that Osun people love him, and that love will translate to victory for all Accord candidates in the general election.

“In my three and a half years in the Red Chamber, I have learned a lot. What I thought was not possible has been proven to me to be possible. So I am more prepared, more equipped and more determined to give my best to every community in Osun West Senatorial District,” Oyewumi said.

He promised more infrastructural and social development, adding, “For the people of Osun West, more development is coming – better roads, improved schools and hospitals, clean water, and solar streetlights that will light up every corner of the district.”

Highlighting some of the achievements of the senator since assuming office, the Director-General of the campaign committee, Adesoye Oyetunde, said, “Oyewumi has not disappointed us. Out of the 10 local governments we have in this senatorial district, the senator tarred roads in eight of them. In the remaining two, he has already flagged off construction.

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“There is no local government in Osun West where Oyewumi has not built classrooms. In terms of healthcare, farm inputs and other interventions, the senator has done a lot for his people, and I know he will do more.”

The PUNCH earlier reported that Adeleke was appointed by Tinubu as campaign coordinator for the presidential campaign in Osun.

At the inauguration of the 344-member campaign council in the state, however, some prominent APC leaders were absent as Adeleke tasked the team with coordinating Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the state ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Former governor, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola; the APC candidate in the governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji; the lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Oluwole Oke, among others, were absent.

Former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, however, led other APC chieftains to the event, where Adeleke inaugurated the council.

Those present included the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru; a former National Secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore; two former deputy governors of Osun State, Titi Laoye-Ponle and Lekan Adewoyin; Babajide Omoworare; and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun.

Other attendees included the Osun Central Senatorial Leader of the APC, Adeoye Adelakun; former members of the House of Representatives, Ajibola Famurewa and Bukola Oyewo; former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Afolabi; and former Registrar of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, Prof. Olu Aina, among others.

Source: punchng.com

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