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If 27 Parties Are Ready, We Are Also Ready -INEC Reply Jegede
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday governorship election in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, on Thursday, led protesters to the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding for the postponement of the governorship election by four weeks.
Jegede, who was accompanied by mammoth crowd to the office of the INEC office, armed with a letter of request seeking for the postponement of the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 26, in order to enable him fulfill and comply with the Electoral Act. (2010) as amended.
Jegede and some leaders of the party, including the State Party chairman, Clement Faboyede, were attended to by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Segun Agbaje , who told Jegede and his entourage that they were denied entry into the premises of INEC because they staff of the Commission were busy distributing sensitive materials for tomorrow’s election.
Speaking to the REC, Jegede who drew the attention of the Commission to the Section 34, 45, and 74 of the Electoral Act of 2010 said the request became imperative to avoid some loopholes in the election process.
According to him, the PDP flag bearer, the Electoral Act made it mandatory for the electoral umpire to publish the names and addresses and political parties of each candidate contesting the election on the commission’s website and display such in their office.
He also noted that the Commission has not receive the names of his agents for the election saying ” the Electoral Act enjoins each political party to forward the names of its agents in each of the polling units to the commission at least seven days before the day of the election. We also refer to Section 74 of the Act which provides for every result sheet to be countersigned by polling agents.”
He however said ” We want all these corrected. We are asking INEC to shift the election and give me also the opportunity to enjoy the same rights and privileges that other political parties candidate have enjoyed. That is why we are here and that is why we are waiting for INEC response and I do hope they will give us the opportunity to formally make this presentation to him.
He said his counsel had written to the Commission earlier to inform the INEC of some provisions of the Electoral Act and said ” before now my counsel had written INEC to inform the Commission of what is needed to be done in line with the provision of the law . They have till date not reply the letter and we want to know what is the official position of INEC.
He queried INEC over the election saying “are they prepare to give a level playing ground or not? Are they also prepared to give the same opportunity they have given to other political parties and I have heard INEC spoke about conditions for postponement.These conditions are three, Violence, natural disaster or any other emergency but what we have here is legal emergency and it must be attended to. It’s not my fault, it is a legal emergency”
While responding, Agbaje said the Commission had taken notice of all the issues raised by Jegede and PDP and had forwarded it to the Commission headquarters in Abuja, but said the governorship election would go on in the state as scheduled.
Agbaje explained that all the sensitive materials needed for the election have been distributed to all the local government areas of the state, and disclosed that postponing the election would cost the nation a fortune.
He acknowledged receiving the Court order reinstating Jegede’s mandate and said the commission has replaced the Jimoh Ibrahim’s name with Jegede saying “the Commission has taken notice of all these issues, when we have the directive from the National headquarters, we have since pasted the name of the candidate on our notice board and also sent it across to all our office in all the local government “
He said the Commission should not be blamed for the party’s woes and explained the rationale behind dealing with Biyi Poroye’s group, and said the voters register had been handed over to the Jimoh Ibrahim faction.
He said “On the issue of voters register, the soft copy as far as the Commission is concern, was given to the party that the court directed us to deal with on the 28 of last month. When the judgement was given and the officials of the other faction of PDP came here the following day after the judgement, they were duly given, so as far as we are concern. PDP was given.
“This morning when we started the distribution of sensitive materials, the party agents was also among the agents who witnessed the collection and distribution of these materials to the local government areas
“I must be sincere with you that this election must go on and we are going to go ahead with the election on Saturday, the security agencies are ready. It is going to cost Nigeria serious financial implication.”
It is true that the party has crisis but the crisis is intra party crisis, it is not the fault of INEC and we have no control over the Judge that directed us to give the mandate of the party to one faction of the party and now that the Supreme Court had spoken and Appeal court has also given judgement, we have bowed to the order of the superior court”
Agbaje said further “The fact that we have two days in between the election and the fact that today is the last day for the campaign. This is not the fault of INEC but the fault of the party themselves because the first judgement was given in June, so I believe if the two faction had approached the Superior court that time, maybe it would have been something difference today.
“It is not the fault of INEC, if 27 parties are ready and we are also ready for the election and by now sensitive materials have gone out, even the chairman cannot call them back again because it means the government is going to spend millions of Naira to produce new set of sensitive materials.
“On the issue of party agents, as at about an hour ago about 17 local government have been received by our office and I am sure that the Electoral Officer must have given instructions to them on how to receive them in a very transparent manner.”
Similarly, the state Party Chairman, Faboyede, has asked INEC to postpone the election in order to give room to equity and fair play in the election.
Faboyede urged the Commission not to run foul of the electoral laws in the election, noting that the party has not submitted the names of the agents in the election while the voters register for the election has not been receive by the party
The PDP chairman who said that INEC is not ready for the election, said ” we don’t want to waste our time and energy on illegality, INEC should follow and employ Electoral Act and guidelines as stipulated by the electoral laws.”
Meanwhile, the Coalition of INEC Accredited Domestic Observers, has also called for the postponement of the Ondo state governorship election to ensure fairness, moral considerations and level playground.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the Coordinator, Kalu Igwe said the call became necessary following the last minute Court judgement that affirmed the authentic candidate of PDP, Jegede.
The group urged INEC to consider postponing the election to enable the candidate of the PDP that was just cleared by the court to minimally prepare for the election.
Igwe said “The postponement of the election will douse political and security tension created by Justice Okon Abang Kangoroo judgement against Eyitayo Jegede’s candidature for the election. A judgement that threw the state into serious chaos; dividing the judiciary, our electoral system and the political class.
“While we have confidence on the commitment on our dear President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR in strengthening our democratic values, we urge him to see reasons with the good people of the State who are threatening to boycott the election should INEC go ahead with the election on Saturday and call the commission to order by postponing the election in consideration to the demands of the people.”
The group noted that some few hours to the election, politicians in the state have commenced buying of voters card in some areas of the state while it said ” It has also been reported that thumb-printing of ballot papers is ongoing in a local government within the coastal area of the state.
Also yesterday, the National Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory. Council of Nigeria Hon Muhammad Lawal Nalado called on political parties, contestants and the electorate to maintain high sense of civility and decorum in the course of their last minutes campaigns.
Addressing newsmen in Akure, Nalado advised against selling their votes noting that doing so is ” mortgaging the future of your unborn generation and denying you the moral right to hold the winner accountable.
He pleaded with INEC and security agencies to conduct a credible and acceptable election and to perform their constitutional duties without bias
The chairman called on the electorate to vote for candidate that have articulated the numerous economic, social and political problems. And proffer solutions.
However, the state government has declared tomorrow as Public Holiday to enable workers prepare for Saturday’s governorship election.
This was contained in a statement issued by the state Head of Service, Toyin Akinkuotu, who directed all heads of MDAs to inform workers in their offices.
Why Babangida’s Hilltop Home Became Nigeria’s Political “Mecca”.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s birthday visit to Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) in Minna (where he hailed the octogenarian as a patriotic leader committed to national unity) was more than a courtesy call. It was a reminder of a peculiar constant in Nigerian politics: the steady pilgrimage of power-seekers, bridge-builders and crisis-managers to the Hilltop mansion. Jonathan’s own words captured it bluntly: IBB’s residence “is like a Mecca of sorts” because of the former military president’s enduring relevance and perceived nation-first posture.
Babangida turned 84 on 17 August 2025. That alone invites reflection on a career that has shaped Nigeria’s political architecture for four decades; admired by some for audacious statecraft, condemned by others for controversies that still shadow the republic. Born on 17 August 1941 in Minna, he ruled as military president from 1985 to 1993, presiding over transformative and turbulent chapters: the relocation of the national capital to Abuja in 1991; the creation of political institutions for a long, complex transition; economic liberalisation that cut both ways; and the fateful annulment of the 12 June 1993 election. Each of these choices helps explain why the Hilltop remains a magnet for Nigerians who need counsel, cover or calibration.
A house built on influence; why the visits never stop.
Let’s start with the obvious: access. Nigeria’s political class prizes proximity to the men and women who can open doors, soften opposition, broker peace and read the hidden currents. In that calculus, IBB’s network is unmatched. He cultivated a reputation for “political engineering,” the reason the press christened him “Maradona” (for deft dribbling through complexity) and “Evil Genius” (for the strategic cunning his critics decried). Whether one embraces or rejects those labels, they reflect a reality: Babangida is still the place where many politicians go to test ideas, seek endorsements or secure introductions. Even the mainstream press has described him as a consultant of sorts to desperate or ambitious politicians, an uncomfortable description that nevertheless underlines his gravitational pull.
Though it isn’t only political tact that draws visitors; it’s statecraft with lasting fingerprints. Moving the seat of government from Lagos to Abuja in December 1991 was not a cosmetic relocation, it re-centred the federation and signaled a symbolic neutrality in a country fractured by regional suspicion. Abuja’s founding logic (GEOGRAPHIC CENTRALITY and ETHNIC NEUTRALITY) continues to stabilise the national imagination. This is part of the reason many leaders, across party lines, still defer to IBB: he didn’t just rule; he rearranged the map of power.
Then there’s the regional dimension. Under his watch, Nigeria led the creation and deployment of ECOMOG in 1990 to staunch Liberia’s bloody civil war, a bold move that announced Abuja as a regional security anchor. The intervention was imperfect, contested and costly, but it helped define West Africa’s collective security posture and Nigeria’s leadership brand. When neighboring states now face crises, the memory of that precedent still echoes in diplomatic corridors and Babangida’s counsel retains currency among those who remember how decisions were made.
Jonathan’s praise and the unity argument.
Jonathan’s tribute (stressing Babangida’s non-sectional outlook and commitment to unity) goes to the heart of the Hilltop mystique. For a multi-ethnic federation straining under distrust, figures who can speak across divides are prized. Jonathan’s point wasn’t nostalgia; it was a live assessment of a man many still call when Nigeria’s seams fray. That’s why the parade to Minna continues: the anxious, the ambitious and the statesmanlike alike seek an elder who can convene rivals and cool temperatures.
The unresolved shadow: June 12 and the ethics of influence.
No honest appraisal can skip the hardest chapter: the annulment of the 12 June 1993 election (judged widely as free and fair) was a rupture that delegitimised the transition and scarred Nigeria’s democratic journey. Political scientist Larry Diamond has repeatedly identified June 12 as a prime example of how authoritarian reversals corrode democratic legitimacy and public trust. His larger warning (“few developments are more destructive to the legitimacy of new democracies than blatant and pervasive political corruption”) captures the moral crater that followed the annulment and the years of drift that ensued. Those wounds are part of the Babangida legacy too and they complicate the reverence that a steady stream of visitors displays.
Max Siollun, a leading historian of Nigeria’s military era, has observed (provocatively) that the military’s “greatest contribution” to democracy may have been to rule “long and badly enough” that Nigerians lost appetite for soldiers in power. It’s a stinging line, yet it helps explain the paradox of IBB’s status: the same system he personified taught Nigeria costly lessons that hardened its democratic reflexes. Today’s generation visits the Hilltop not to revive militarism but to harvest hard-won insights about managing a fragile federation.
What sustains the pilgrimage.
1) Institutional memory: Nigeria’s politics often suffers amnesia. Babangida offers a living archive of security crises navigated, regional diplomacy attempted, volatile markets tempered and power-sharing experiments designed. Whether one applauds or condemns specific choices, the muscle memory of governing a complex federation is rare and urgently sought.
2) Convening power: In a season of polarisation, the ability to sit warring factions in the same room is not small capital. Babangida’s imprimatur remains a safe invitation card few refuse it, fewer ignore it. That convening power explains why movements, parties and would-be presidents keep filing up the long driveway. Recent delegations have explicitly cast their courtesy calls in the language of unity, loyalty and patriotism ahead of pivotal elections.
3) Signals to the base: Visiting Minna telegraphs seriousness to party structures and funders. It says: “I have sought counsel where history meets experience.” In Nigeria’s coded political theatre, that signal still matters. Outlets have reported for years that many aspirants treat the Hilltop as an obligatory stop an unflattering reality, perhaps, but a revealing one.
4) The man and the myth: The mansion itself, with its opulence and aura, has become a set piece in Nigeria’s story of power, admired by some, resented by others, but always discussed. The myth feeds the pilgrimage; the pilgrimage feeds the myth.
The balance sheet at 84.
To treat Babangida solely as a sage is to forget the costs of his era; to treat him only as a villain is to ignore the architecture that still holds parts of Nigeria together. Abuja’s relocation stands as a stabilising bet that paid off. ECOMOG, for all its flaws, seeded a habit of regional responsibility. Conversely, June 12 remains a national cautionary tale about elite manipulation, civilian marginalisation and the brittleness of transitions managed from above. These are not contradictory truths; they are the double helix of Babangida’s place in Nigerian memory.
Jonathan’s homage tried to distill the better angel of IBB’s record: MENTORSHIP, BRIDGE-BUILDING and a POSTURE that (at least in his telling) RESISTS SECTIONAL ISM. “That is why today, his house is like a Mecca of sorts,” he said, praying that the GENERAL continues to “mentor the younger ones.” Whether one agrees with the full sentiment, it accurately describes the lived politics of Nigeria today: Minna remains a checkpoint on the road to relevance.
The scholar’s verdict and a citizen’s challenge.
If Diamond warns about legitimacy and Siollun warns about the perils of soldier-politics, what should Nigerians demand from the Hilltop effect? Three things.
First, use influence to open space, not close it. Counsel should tilt toward rules, institutions and credible elections not kingmaking for its own sake. The lesson of 1993 is that subverting a valid vote haunts a nation for decades.
Second, mentor for unity, but insist on accountability. Unity cannot be a euphemism for silence. A truly patriotic elder statesman sets a high bar for conduct and condemns the shortcuts that tempt new actors in old ways. Diamond’s admonition on corruption is not an abstraction; it’s a roadmap for rebuilding trust.
Third, convert nostalgia into institutional memory. If Babangida’s house is a classroom, then Nigeria should capture, publish and debate its lessons in the open: on peace operations (what worked, what failed), on capital relocation (how to plan at scale), and on transitions (how not to repeat 1993). Only then does the pilgrimage serve the republic rather than personalities.
At 84, Ibrahim Babangida remains a paradox that Nigeria cannot ignore: a man whose legacy straddles NATION-BUILDING and NATION-BRUISING, whose doors remain open to those seeking power and those seeking peace. Jonathan’s visit (and his striking “Mecca” metaphor) reveals a simple, stubborn fact: in a country still searching for steady hands, the Hilltop’s shadow is long. The task before Nigeria is to ensure that the shadow points toward a brighter constitutional daybreak, where influence is finally subordinated to institutions and where mentorship hardens into norms that no single mansion can monopolise. That is the only pilgrimage worth making.
Ajadi Celebrates Juju Legend Femolancaster’s 50th Birthday in the UK
Nigerian Juju music legend, Otunba Femi Fadipe, popularly known as FemoLancaster, is being celebrated today in London as he clocks 50 years of age.
Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, a frontline politician and businessman, led tributes to the Ilesa-born maestro, describing him as a timeless cultural icon whose artistry has enriched both Nigeria and the world.
“FemoLancaster is not just a musician, he is a legend,” Ambassador Ajadi said in his birthday message. “For decades, his classical Juju sound has remained a reminder of the beauty of Yoruba heritage. Today, as he turns 50, I celebrate a cultural ambassador whose music bridges generations and continents.”
While FemoLancaster is highly dominant in Oyo State and across the South-West, his craft has also taken him beyond Nigeria’s borders.
FemoLancaster’s illustrious career has seen him thrill audiences across Nigeria and beyond, with performances in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, and other parts of the world. His dedication to Juju music has projected Yoruba traditional sounds to international stages, keeping alive the legacy of icons like King Sunny Ade and Chief Ebenezer Obey while infusing fresh energy for younger audiences
He further stressed the significance of honoring artistes who have remained faithful to indigenous music while taking it global. “In an era where modern sounds often overshadow tradition, FemoLancaster stands as a beacon of continuity and resilience. He has carried Yoruba Juju music into the global space with dignity, passion, and excellence,” he added.
The golden jubilee celebration in London has drawn fans, friends, and colleagues, who all describe FemoLancaster as a gifted artist whose contributions over decades have earned him a revered place in the pantheon of Nigerian music legends.
“As FemoLancaster marks this milestone,” Ajadi concluded, “I wish him many more years of good health, wisdom, and global recognition. May his music continue to echo across generations and continents.”
celebrity radar - gossips
Gospel Songstress Esther Igbekele Marks Birthday with Gratitude and Celebration
Gospel Songstress Esther Igbekele Marks Birthday with Gratitude and Celebration
By Aderounmu Kazeem Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria — The gospel music scene is aglow today as the “Duchess of Gospel Music,” Esther Igbekele, marks another milestone in her life, celebrating her birthday on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
Known for her powerful voice, inspirational lyrics, and unwavering dedication to spreading the gospel through music, Esther Igbekele has become one of Nigeria’s most respected and beloved gospel artistes. Over the years, she has graced countless stages, released hit albums, and inspired audiences across the world with her uplifting songs.
Today’s celebration is expected to be a joyful blend of music, prayers, and heartfelt tributes from family, friends, fans, and fellow artistes. Sources close to the singer revealed that plans are in place for a special praise gathering in Lagos, where she will be joined by notable figures in the gospel industry, church leaders, and admirers from home and abroad.
Speaking ahead of the day, Igbekele expressed deep gratitude to God for His mercy and the opportunity to use her gift to touch lives. “Every birthday is a reminder of God’s faithfulness in my journey. I am thankful for life, for my fans, and for the privilege to keep ministering through music,” she said.
From her early beginnings in the Yoruba gospel music scene to her rise as a celebrated recording artiste with a unique fusion of contemporary and traditional sounds, Esther Igbekele’s career has been marked by consistency, excellence, and a strong message of hope.
As she adds another year today, her fans have flooded social media with messages of love, appreciation, and prayers — a testament to the profound impact she continues to make in the gospel music ministry.
For many, this birthday is not just a celebration of Esther Igbekele’s life, but also of the divine inspiration she brings to the Nigerian gospel music landscape.
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