Politics

2023: Oyo APC Begins Reconciliatory Moves

By Web News 474

Notable leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, on Thursday, held a peace meeting aimed at resolving the crisis rocking the party in the state.

The meeting, which was held at the residence of the wife of late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Florence Ajimobi, had the state chairman, Isaac Omodewu, Senator Ayo Adeseun, former Deputy Governor, Moses Alake, and others in attendance.

The party had been having crisis in the state since the congress which produced Omodewu in October. But on the eve of the national convention of the party, a factional chairman, Abu Gbadamosi, was inaugurated.

The state chairman, Omodewu, expressed delight at the move to broker peace, saying that would reposition the party to wrest power form Governor Seyi Makinde in 2023.

Omodewu said, “I can only say we are here to reconcile all members of our party in the state.

“As the state chairman, I will appreciate if the two factions can come together as one, so as for us to end the current administration of Seyi Makinde in 2023. I can assure you that the resolution will favour everyone in the party.”

One of the party leaders, who had vehemently rejected Omodewu’s leadership, Ayo Adeseun, also told journalists at the end of the meeting that the opposition party must ensure that they become united to win the governorship election in 2023.

Adeseun said, “Today, Her Excellency, Florence Ajimobi, the wife of our departed leader, invited all of us to see how we can work together and find a way out of the quagmire.

“We are aware that the national leadership of our party  is working on this but whatever the decision they come up with, we need to seek  the cooperation of every single person of the party at all levels, from the ward to the local government, and to the state, for us to succeed in our singular onerous target of ensuring that come 2023, the Seyi Makinde’s administration is put to an end.

“We don’t want this state to remain in the hand of people like him  anymore. We have resolved and God willing, we are going to work together.

“The problem we are having has to do with the process that was very faulty, which will be revisited. We have to make necessary adjustments to ensure that we unitedly focus on our challenges.

“Though the challenges are still there, I don’t want anyone to misread us. We are going to set up a committee that is going to delve into the issues that are at hand, make necessary adjustments and come up with unified party.

“All we are saying is that we want arrangements that all of us can work together. We are going to resolve all the issues.”

Ajimobi’s wife expressed delight at the coming together of the leaders of the party to resolve the crisis, describing it as a defining moment for the opposition party.

Punch/Olaolu Fawole

Politics

2023: PDP Begins Screening of Oyo NASS, OYHA Aspirants

By Web News 854

Ahead of next month primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Oyo State, the party has begun screening of Aspirants for the national and state Assembly seats.
Radio Nigeria correspondent reports that the screening exercise which took place at the PDP party secretariat, Molete Ibadan considered all aspirants irrespective of any consensus arrangements in various constituencies.
Oyo state PDP publicity secretary, Engr Akeem Olatunji said it was Democratic for the party to allow everyone to pass through the screening process especially for constituencies where consensus arrangement failed.
 
Mr Olatunji who said the exercise was peaceful said only successful aspirants would be allowed for the primaries and possibly become the party’s flag bearers.
Some of the aspirants, including a former Oyo Assembly lawmaker, Mr Segun Olaleye, a special adviser to Governor Makinde, Mrs Bolanle Sarumi and and a former aide to former president Jonathan, Mr Kunle Yusuf expressed confidence in the capacity of the screening committee headed by a former senate president, Adolfus Wabara.


They urged the Oyo state Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde to remain neutral and truthful to his words against imposition of candidates.

Another Aspirant, Mr Ibrahim Ajiboye who stepped down in a consensus arrangement in Ibadan southeast Federal constituency said the victory of the party at all levels of government must be the priority for all aspirants. 

A female house of Representatives Aspirant for Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency, Mrs Ramota Dabo expressed displeasure at the low number of women aspiring for political positions across the state and country in general.
Meanwhile, many of the aspirants complained that the exercise was stressful and slow, alleging the committee of preferential treatment for some aspirants.


Mosope Kehinde

Politics

2023: INEC Begins Staff Training on IVED in Kwara

By Web News 1166

As part of preparations for 2023 General Election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Kwara State has begun training of its Registration Area Officers on use of the IVED machine.

The one-day training held at the INEC State office, Ilorin had in attendance all the registration officers across the sixteen local government areas of Kwara State.

Addressing the participants, Kwara State Resident  Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Garba Attahiru Madami said that in line with the recently amended Electoral Act, INEC has a mandate to conduct the coming elections using the necessary technological equipments hence, the need for officers to know how the machines should be handled for optimal performance.

Mallam Madami who noted that issue of network had been a setback in elections conducted in recent time, announced that INEC had resolved the issue and that the training would enable participants make use of the IVED machine in the absence of network.

The INEC REC commended the officers  for their dedication to duty in the Continuous Voter  Registration, CVR, exercise and charged them to be attentive during the training as well as get clarifications to ensure that they master the machine for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.

Our correspondent reports that Electoral Officers have also been scheduled for the same training.

Rasheedat Iliyas

Politics

4th Quarter CVR to commence next Monday – Agboke

By Web News 712

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says the fourth and last quarter of the Continuous Voter’s Registration, CVR will commence on Monday, 11th April 2022 and last till 30th June 2022.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, Dr Mutiu Agboke made this known during the stakeholders meeting on CVR and its devolution to the ward level at INEC Collation Centre, Ibadan.

Dr Agboke explained that the devolution of CVR to the 351 wards in the state following the expansion of voter access to polling units was to allow Nigerians who have not registered to enrol and those who want to change locations or replace defaced or damaged PVCs.

He gave assurance that all pending PVCs would be available before the 2023 general elections, noting that the commission has concluded work on the Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and Election Project Plan for 2023 polls.

Dr Agboke confirmed that INEC has resolved the wrong siting of newly converted polling units between Ogbomoso North and Surulere Local governments.

Speaking on behalf of other security agencies, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko represented by Mr Ademola Ajakaye promised adequate security of lives and property before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

Oyo State Director, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Dr Olukemi Afolarin stated that deepening democracy and the need to move Nigeria forward was a collective task while calling on religious leaders to disseminate information on the necessity to collect PVCs and ensure peaceful conduct at all times.

The chairman of, Inter-Party Advisory Committee, IPAC in Oyo State, Apostle Dare Ojo promised that political actors would play the game according to rules for a better outcome in the next general elections.

A representative of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Mrs Roseline Oniyide appealed for the provision of guides and amenities for special people to make it easier for them to vote on election day.

The Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abubakar Agbotomokekere represented by Ustadh Hassan Ameen and a representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Oyo State, Bishop Daniel Oluwajimade pointed out that the pulpit has always been used to sensitize the congregation on the importance of participation in the electoral process. 

Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke paid a courtesy visit to the Olubaban of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun to celebrate his recent installation and keep him abreast of INEC’s activities, as well as soliciting the intervention of traditional institution for a repeat of success in 2023.

Responding, the Olubaban of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, observed that there was the need for all and sundry to do the right thing, irrespective of political affiliations to have credible and peaceful elections in 2023.

Sherrifdeen Nasirudeen

Politics

Warring Oyo APC Factions Agree to Truce

By Web News 775

The various blocs within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have agreed to allow the executives of the party at all levels in the state to complete their tenure while reconciliation efforts continues.

They took the decision at a reconciliation meeting held in Ibadan.

Various party leaders who addressed the meeting submitted that sacking the executive will create another problem and thwart the reconciliatory efforts ahead of the 2023 election.

The governorship candidate of the party in the 2019 election, Chief Bayo Adelabu, Senator Teslim Folarin, Dr Sola Ayandele, Honourable Segun Odebunmi and others posited that since members of the serving executive were part of the party, they should be allowed to carry on with their job till their tenure expired in about 18 months.

Responding, Alao-Akala explained that executives at all levels could not dictate for the party emphasizing that once members embraced peace and worked for a stronger party, there would not be any need to worry about executives.

Aggrieved members had agreed that refund should be made for those who purchased interest forms and that party executives should be sacked as a way to move forward.

Adedayo Adelowo