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Lagos Assembly Says 2023 Election Free, Credible

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Lagos Assembly Says 2023 Election Free, Credible

– Congratulates Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, Obasa

– Condemns hate speeches, ethnicity, tribalism, religious sentiment

 

 

 

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday congratulated Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima for winning what lawmakers described as a free and credible 2023 presidential election.

 

 

 

 

 

The House also congratulated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat while calling Speaker Obasa a ‘record breaker’ for being re-elected a sixth time to represent Agege Constituency 1 at the House.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lawmakers further resolved to send congratulatory messages to the President-elect, the Governor of Lagos State, and the elected members of the National Assembly, while the House would send a commendation letter each to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for their roles at ensuring a peaceful general election, especially in Lagos State.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While commending the electorate for voting during the exercise, the House further admitted that the election has become an opportunity for elected official to learn some lessons going forward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I think this is an opportunity for our political scientists to x-ray the situation. This was an election where some sitting governors lost to opposition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The election has come and gone but there is a need to look again at ourselves to see what we have left undone and what we need to sustain, how we can manage the social contract we have with the people,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Obasa noted that even the United States that is considered a leading democracy still conducts elections that some some candidates challenge as not perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I am saying this to those who have been beating drums of war and anger. We must learnt to endure and accept the outcomes of election but that does not mean we cannot legally challenge the outcome. We need to be more patriotic, we have a nation that we must protect, we have had an election and it is worthy,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We need to call everyone to order that the process of election is what everyone must comply with.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket was a bold one and had those who favoured it and those who were against it, but at the end, the election has happened. “It was a good election and it was successful.”

For those sponsoring inciting comments on social media, Obasa urged for caution reminding them to understand that freedom of expression also has limitations.

“We must give kudos to President Buhari for being upright during the election and also commend INEC and the people who voted.

“For us at the Lagos Assembly, the election went well as we had 38 and we hope that the remaining two will join us after exploring legal means to recover their victories. Lagos also got 20 elected House of Representatives members and the three senators.

“It shows that the people of Lagos love us and support what we are doing right,” he said as he thanked Agege people for returning him to the House.

Earlier, the lawmakers who took turns to speak about the election, expressed optimism that the administration of Asiwaju Tinubu would liberate citizens from the shackles of poverty, divisive tendencies and youth restiveness.

Leader of the House, Hon Sanai Agunbiade, moving a motion under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, observed that despite the peaceful nature of the elections, there had been lots of dust that needs to be addressed.

According to him, “We need to conscientise ourselves, not to enable the haters and those who are peddling rumours to incite members of the public. Elections are over but national healing is necessary. We should encourage members of the public not to join in hot arguments.”

Other lawmakers including Yinka Ogundimu, Bisi Yusuff, Setonji David, Adedamola Kasunmu and Victor Akande, congratulated Obasa for his victory noting that his leadership of the House produced a Senator and Rep member-elect.

The lawmakers also expressed confidence in him saying they would love him to lead the House in the 10th Assembly.

 

Lagos Assembly Says 2023 Election Free, Credible

Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

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Ogun Central To Host Final Zonal Townhall Meeting for Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, April 30

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Ogun Central To Host Final Zonal Townhall Meeting for Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, April 30

-.Removes Hon.Olugbenga Lekuti as Deputy Director General,Ogun East

One of the leading Political Groups, Ogun Visionaries is set to host the final zonal edition of the Sen. Solomon Adeola Yayi town hall meetings in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital. The Ogun Central Edition, scheduled for April 30, 2026, aims to engage the electorate and push for Senator Yayi’s Governorship bid in 2027.

The event is themed ‘Ogun 2027: Yayi For All,’ marking the finale of the zonal town hall meetings.

Addressing Journalists on Tuesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital,the Director General of Ogun Visionaries, Hon. Leye Odunjo, said the meeting will draw key stakeholders from Ogun Central’s political power circle.

Hon.odunjo stated that the event will kick off with a health walk, ‘Ogun Visionaries For Yayi Unity Walk,’ in the morning of April 30, 2026.The walk is themed ‘Let’s Walk for A United and Prosperous Ogun State,’ aiming to rally support for Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Governorship aspiration.

“The town hall meeting is expected to feature prominent personalities, including Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi as the Special Guest of Honour. The event will provide a platform for interaction and engagement with the electorate”.

Ogun Visionaries has successfully held town hall meetings in Ogun West and Ogun East senatorial districts. The Ogun Central Edition is the final zonal meeting before moving to LGAs and wards.

The Director General while acknowledging the support received from various personalities since inception of the group,disclosed that distinguished individuals would be honoured with Award of Recognition during the event.

Odunjo, who is also a Senior Legislative Aide to the Deputy Senate President said “The political atmosphere in Ogun State is reportedly in tune with the people’s yearning for Yayi’s emergence. Ogun Visionaries is at the forefront of making this a reality.

“The event aims to unite stakeholders and push for a prosperous Ogun State. With Senator Yayi’s popularity growing, the meeting is expected to draw a large turnout.

“The Ogun Central Edition will provide a platform for stakeholders to interact and engage with the electorate. The event is seen as a crucial step towards achieving the group’s goals.

“Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi’s presence is expected to energize supporters and further boost his campaign for 2027” he added

Meanwhile, Ogun Visionaries has announced removal of Hon Olugbenga Lekuti as the Deputy Director General, DDG,Ogun East, of the group.

Announcing the removal in a brief statement made available to Journalists, Hon.Odunjo stated that Hon.Lekuti was relieved of the position as a result of his anti -group and anti -Yayi’s acts.

He added that a new Deputy Director General would be announced in due course.

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Political Earthquake in Kano: How, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Nasiru Gawuna’s Move to ADC Reshapes North-West Politics

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Political Earthquake in Kano: How, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Nasiru Gawuna’s Move to ADC Reshapes North-West Politics

 

 

The political atmosphere of Nigeria’s North-West was fundamentally altered on a sweltering afternoon in 2026 after Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso former Governor of Kano State and Former Minister for Defence who is also the “Grand Commander” of the Red-Cap revolution, finalized a move that many viewed as the ultimate masterstroke of his political career. By transitioning from the NNPP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kwankwaso did more than change platforms; he effectively reset the coordinates of the nation’s largest voting bloc.

 

Senator Kwankwaso’s pedigree is defined by a singular devotion to human capital development and an almost mythical grassroots loyalty preceded him. He turned a local movement, the Kwankwasiyya, into a disciplined, ideological army that transcends traditional party structures. His entry into the ADC instantly transformed a secondary party into a formidable fortress, signaling to the ruling elite that the North-West is no longer a monolith under their control.

 

The gravity of this shift is most profound in Kano, the heartbeat of Northern commerce. For years, the state was a polarized battlefield between the Kwankwasiyya and established conservative wings. However, the entry of Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna into the same ADC orbit has created a “Kano Super-Alliance” that was previously unthinkable. Kwankwaso, the visionary architect who sent thousands of Kano’s children to global universities, now finds his populist ideology merging with Gawuna’s administrative steadiness and deep-rooted institutional connections.

 

This synergy is a seismic departure from the politics of “zero-sum” rivalry; it is a calculated fusion of mass appeal and the strategic machinery required to protect and deliver votes.

This move reshuffles the entire North-West deck. As Kwankwaso plants the ADC flag across the region, he is attracting a wave of heavyweights from Kaduna to Sokoto who feel marginalized by the status quo. His political pedigree allows him to speak with a regional authority that others lack, positioning himself as a protector during a time of economic uncertainty. By bringing Gawuna into this fold, the dynamics of Kano politics have shifted from a war of attrition to a coalition of necessity. This alliance creates a “Third Way” that bypasses the failures of the old guard, promising a return to the rapid growth that defined the Kwankwaso years, but with a broader, more inclusive base that could dictate the occupant of Aso Rock in 2027.

 

Kwankwaso’s career has always been defined by a uniquely personal brand of power. From 1999 to 2015, he served two terms as Governor of Kano State, in addition to roles as Minister of Defence and Senator. While many were surprised by his recent maneuvers; especially following closed-door meetings with President Bola Tinubu, he chose the emerging ADC over the ruling APC.

 

In the high-stakes theater of Nigerian politics, few events have jolted the region quite like the defection of Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna from the APC to the ADC on March 31, 2026. Coming just twenty-four hours after Kwankwaso’s move, Gawuna’s transition fundamentally has also altered the political calculus in Kano. What makes this moment remarkable is the sheer drama of the reversal. Gawuna’s political journey has been a steady, calculated ascent through Kano’s establishment. He first shot to prominence as Commissioner of Agriculture under Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, earning a reputation for hands-on management in a state where farming is the economic backbone. He eventually rose to Deputy Governor, serving for nearly six years and gaining invaluable executive experience. Beyond partisan politics, Gawuna distinguished himself as Chairman of the Governing Council of Bayero University and, most recently, as Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). He resigned from the FMBN on March 27, 2026, citing compliance with presidential directives regarding political appointees.

 

A look back at the 2023 gubernatorial election reveals just how significant Gawuna is. Running under the APC, he polled over 890,000 votes against the formidable Kwankwasiyya machine. This proved that he is one of the few politicians in Kano who can genuinely compete with Kwankwaso’s electoral machinery. His strength is threefold: he appeals to the youth, the religious establishment (Ulama), and the business community; he has the capacity to split the APC vote; and he has demonstrated he can deliver votes independently of a larger party wave. To understand the magnitude of this defection, one must appreciate the complete inversion of alliances since 2023. Back then, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf ran on the NNPP ticket with Kwankwaso’s backing, while Gawuna carried the APC banner with Ganduje’s support. By 2027, the roles will likely reverse: Governor Yusuf is positioned to run under the APC with Ganduje’s blessing, while Gawuna is poised to run under the ADC with Kwankwaso’s endorsement.

 

From the perspective of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Gawuna’s arrival is a “return” rather than a “recruitment,” as he was part of the movement’s pioneer cohort. This narrative neutralizes accusations of opportunism. For his part, Gawuna framed his move in terms of service and divine guidance, with sources indicating he felt marginalized within the APC after his 2023 defeat.

 

The reaction from within the APC has been one of worry and regret. President Tinubu, recognizing the stakes, reportedly directed party leaders to prevent Gawuna’s move, even offering him an automatic Senatorial ticket for 2027. The failure of this pressure campaign, Gawuna reportedly placed his phone on “Do Not Disturb” and traveled abroad to avoid lobbyists represents a significant defeat for the presidency’s political management. This crisis prompted emergency meetings between President Tinubu, Dr. Ganduje, and Badaru Abubakar at the Presidential Villa to reorganize their strategy.

 

The long-term implication is the potential break of the APC-PDP duopoly. The ADC is now positioning itself as a genuine “third force” in the North-West. The defection of high-profile figures like Senator Ahmed Babba-Kaita, Senator Aishatu “Binani” Ahmed, and former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami suggests a coordinated realignment. This competition could force more substantive policy debates and reduce the “zero-sum” intensity of regional elections.

 

The projected 2027 gubernatorial rematch between Gawuna (ADC) and Governor Yusuf (APC) will be a battle between two men with established records. Voters will have a genuine choice between performance and platform rather than just shifting loyalties. As Gawuna put it: “Allah gives power to whom He wants and when He wants.” While the 2027 elections will reveal where that power flows, it is already clear that the political landscape of the North-West will never look the same again.

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Governor Dauda Lawal Approves Gratuity Payment

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Governor Dauda Lawal Approves Gratuity Payment

The Zamfara State Government, under the visionary leadership of Governor Dauda Lawal, has approved the release of funds for the payment of Gratuity Batch 3 for the 2024/25 period. This decisive action underscores the administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of retired civil servants who dedicated years of service to the state’s development.

The Accountant General of the State is already working diligently to ensure that all eligible retirees receive their payments promptly and efficiently, reflecting the government’s resolve to uphold transparency and accountability in the disbursement process.

This timely gratuity payment is a testament to Governor Dauda Lawal’s people-centered leadership, which recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of retirees to the progress and stability of Zamfara State. It also reaffirms the government’s pledge to honor its financial obligations without unnecessary delays.

The Zamfara State Government calls on all retirees in the affected batch to exercise patience as the necessary administrative and financial processes are finalized. Every effort is being made to ensure smooth and uninterrupted payments.

This initiative is part of Governor Dauda Lawal’s broader vision to empower citizens and retirees, strengthen confidence in public service, and sustain the morale of those who have committed their lives to the growth of Zamfara State.

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