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OGUN GETS GOVERNOR’S ELDERS COUNCIL

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   In order to walk the talk about his commitment to inclusive and participatory governance, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, has constituted Governors’ Elders Council (GEC) comprising of critical stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Members of the Council include statesmen and women who have the requisite governance, business and political experiences necessary to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

The Council’s membership include:

  1. Senator Biyi Durojaiye
  2. Prince Segun Adesegun
  3. Senator Gbenga Kaka
  4. Chief Muyideen Sabitu
  5. Chief Segun Osibote
  6. Chief Johnson Ogundeko
  7. Chief Folorunso Elias
  8. Alhaji Sarumi
  9. Chief Rasheed Adenusi
  10. Chief Bisi Rodipe
  11. Chief Segun Aderibigbe
  12. Dr. Olukoya Adeleke Adedoyin
  13. Alhaji Dauda Afolabi Olokun
  14. Chief Tolu Daodu
  15. Chief Adepegba Otemolu
  16. ACP Lamidi Odulawa Rtd
  17. Otunba Adekunle Orekoya
  18. Chief James Dina
  19. Chief Sam Durojaye
  20. Senator Odujirin
  21. Dr. Ogunbiyi
  22. Chief Shoyemi
  23. Chief Sodiyan
  24. Hon. Dave Salako
  25. Chief Yemi Adefulu
  26. Chief Fohun ABIOLA
  27. Chief Dayo Abatan
  28. Engr. Michael Joda
  29. Pa Olutunji E Sotomi
  30. Chief Aiyedogbon
  31. Senator Akin Odunsi
  32. Chief Babatunde Fadun
  33. Chief Muftau Ajibola
  34. Chief Mrs Iyabo Apanpa
  35. Chief Waliu Ajibode
  36. Chief Olusanya
  37. Chief Musibau Obanla
  38. Chief Olu Agemo
  39. Bashorun Hon. Bisiriyu Popoola
  40. Chief Samuel Elegbede
  41. Alh. Adesokan
  42. Dr. Femi Majekodunmi
  43. Chief Sunday Sowunmi
  44. Chief Muyideen soremekun
  45. Hon. Babatunde Adesina
  46. Chief Bode Mustapha
  47. Engr. Seni Ayorinde
  48. Chief Michael Adeleke Fajimi
  49. Barr. Moshood Taiwo
  50. Alhaji Adebesin
  51. Chief Shamusideen Osho

       A release signed by Kunle Somorin, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun stated that the Council will act in pure advisory capacity.

The release added that the Council’s responsibilities would be to make inputs to fulfil “the Building our Future Together” Agenda of the Dapo Abiodun administration and to ensure strategic allocation of resources to projects and programmes that will make the most impact on the citizenry, irrespective of party affiliations or any other sectional sentiments.

E-Signed
Kunle Somorin
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun

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Lagos Assembly Crisis Deepens as Speaker Obasa and Former Speaker Meranda Clash Over N5 Billion Vehicle Purchase

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Lagos Assembly Crisis Deepens as Speaker Obasa and Former Speaker Meranda Clash Over N5 Billion Vehicle Purchase

Lagos Assembly Crisis Deepens as Speaker Obasa and Former Speaker Meranda Clash Over N5 Billion Vehicle Purchase

The Lagos State House of Assembly has plunged into further turmoil following the controversial purchase of N5 billion worth of vehicles for lawmakers, exacerbating the already strained relationship between Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and his predecessor, Mojisola Meranda.

Investigations by The PUNCH revealed that during Obasa’s removal as Speaker, Meranda facilitated the purchase of 39 vehicles for lawmakers. However, it emerged that before his ouster, Obasa had approved N7 billion for the same procurement, with plans to source the vehicles from Dubai. His removal on January 13, 2025, by 35 out of 40 lawmakers, citing highhandedness and financial mismanagement, paved the way for Meranda to assume the Speaker position.

Meranda’s tenure, however, was short-lived as she resigned on March 3, 2025, after intense pressure from the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership, allowing Obasa to reclaim the speakership while she reverted to her Deputy Speaker role. Despite this political settlement, legal and financial disputes between the two factions continue to rage.

Legal Battle Over Procurement

The controversy now centers on the legality of the vehicle purchase made under Meranda’s leadership. Sources close to Obasa allege that she acted without proper authorization, thereby undermining his earlier procurement strategy.

“He had approved the money before his removal. But Meranda proceeded with buying them, a move that infuriated Obasa,” an anonymous aide to the Speaker disclosed.

Another insider added, “In December, Obasa approved the purchase of those vehicles from Dubai. However, after his removal, Meranda changed the process to open bidding, leading to local procurement instead. That is the major difference.”

Meranda’s Defense: A Cost-Saving Measure

Meranda’s camp has firmly defended her decision, asserting that she actually saved the state N2 billion by purchasing 32 units of the 2025 Toyota Prado SUV and seven units of the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser for N5 billion, compared to Obasa’s planned expenditure of N7 billion for 35 Toyota Fortuner SUVs and 10 Toyota Prados.

A close associate of Meranda emphasized, “Let it be known that Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda never withdrew funds from the Assembly’s account. She merely adjusted an existing procurement approval, resulting in significant cost savings.”

He further argued that Meranda’s decision to source the vehicles locally ensured better financial prudence and transparency. “Unlike Obasa, who planned to import the vehicles from Dubai, all the cars were purchased domestically. Also, she did not approve any vehicle for herself as Speaker, unlike past administrations,” he added.

Court Showdown Looms

Despite political efforts to resolve the leadership crisis, Obasa remains steadfast in challenging his removal in court. His lawyer, Chief Fashanu Afolabi (SAN), underscored the significance of the case, stating, “The allegations against him, including highhandedness and fraudulent practices, are serious and must be legally addressed.”

Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has now set March 17, 2025, for the next hearing, after an initial adjournment from March 10, following further filings by Obasa’s legal team.

What Lies Ahead?

The unresolved legal battles and lingering power struggle between Obasa and Meranda continue to cast a shadow over the Assembly’s stability. As the legal proceedings unfold, the implications of the procurement controversy and the broader leadership crisis could shape the political landscape of Lagos in the coming months.

 

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El-Rufai’s Shock Defection Sparks Political Firestorm as Presidency, APC Hit Back

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El-Rufai’s Shock Defection Sparks Political Firestorm as Presidency, APC Hit Back

El-Rufai’s Shock Defection Sparks Political Firestorm as Presidency, APC Hit Back

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has ignited a political storm with his dramatic defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), a move seen as a direct challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

El-Rufai, in a scathing critique of the APC, accused the party of derailing from its founding principles and pledged to mobilize opposition forces to unseat the ruling government. “I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and by-elections,” he declared.

His defection letter, addressed to his ward in Kaduna State and publicly shared, detailed his frustration with the APC’s leadership. “Since 2013, I have hoped that my personal values and those of the APC will continue to align until I choose to retire from politics. Developments in the last two years confirm that those who currently control and run the APC do not desire to acknowledge, much less address, the party’s unhealthy situation,” he wrote.

The Presidency and the APC wasted no time in hitting back, dismissing El-Rufai’s move as an act of desperation driven by “an inordinate ambition destined to fail.” The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, downplayed El-Rufai’s influence, stating, “We will interrogate the motive in the coming days. Associating with sore losers to unseat the incumbent is not an ideology, neither is it progressivism.”

Similarly, the APC leadership in Kaduna brushed off El-Rufai’s defection as insignificant. Kaduna APC Secretary, Yahaya Baba-Pate, described it as “political gyration,” emphasizing that the party remains solidly behind President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani ahead of 2027.

Beyond Kaduna, El-Rufai’s sudden political maneuvering has sparked intense speculation. His recent high-profile meetings with opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, suggest broader realignments ahead of the next election cycle. At a recent conference on strengthening democracy, El-Rufai openly called for opposition unity against the APC, further fueling speculations about a potential mega coalition.

However, not all opposition figures are convinced. Salihu Lukman, a former APC chieftain involved in the proposed coalition talks, criticized El-Rufai’s defection as premature, stating that “we expected him to be more patient so we could walk out as a group.” Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dismissed his move as a strategic blunder, while the Pat Utomi-led National Consultative Front welcomed him as a key player in the anti-APC movement.

As political realignments intensify, El-Rufai’s defection sets the stage for what could be a fiercely contested 2027 election. While his ability to unify the fractured opposition remains uncertain, his departure from the APC marks a significant rupture within Nigeria’s ruling party. The coming months will reveal whether his bold gamble will reshape the political landscape or end in failure as his critics predict.

 

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El-Rufai Resigns from APC, Joins SDP Citing Leadership Concerns

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El-Rufai Resigns from APC, Joins SDP Citing Leadership Concerns

El-Rufai Resigns from APC, Joins SDP Citing Leadership Concerns

Former Kaduna State Governor and a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the ruling party, citing fundamental concerns over its leadership and direction. According to ThisDay Nigeria, El-Rufai announced his resignation in a statement released on Monday, expressing disappointment in the party’s deviation from its founding ideals.

El-Rufai criticized the APC leadership for sidelining key members and neglecting pressing internal issues, despite his repeated efforts to address these concerns both publicly and privately. He lamented the party’s drift away from progressive values and stated that recent developments confirmed a lack of willingness among those in control to acknowledge or rectify the situation.

“It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and that of the APC would continue to align up to the time I choose to retire from politics,” he said. “However, developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party.”

El-Rufai played a crucial role in securing APC’s victories in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 elections. Reflecting on his tenure as Kaduna State Governor, he emphasized his administration’s commitment to education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and investment attraction. However, he asserted that these principles have been abandoned by the APC.

“These records count for little in the current APC that has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt in the last two years. I find this no longer acceptable,” he added.

Following extensive consultations with political associates, mentors, and supporters nationwide, El-Rufai announced his decision to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which he believes presents a more credible alternative for progressive governance. He further called on opposition leaders and political parties to unite under a single democratic front to challenge the APC in future elections.

“As a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and bye-elections between now and 2027,” he declared.

El-Rufai’s departure adds to the growing list of prominent figures who have distanced themselves from the APC or voiced discontent with its leadership. His move to the SDP could signal a significant realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.

As El-Rufai embarks on a new political journey, the key question remains: will his defection trigger a mass exodus from the APC, or will the ruling party withstand yet another internal challenge? One thing is certain—his resignation has set the stage for a high-stakes political battle in the months and years ahead.

 

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