Business
ONDO 2016: Trouble for AD as party leaders battle over Olusola Oke, Akin Olowokere candidacy
With the Ondo governorship election now about a month away, the Alliance for Democracy is still embroiled in a controversy over the eligibility of its candidate, Olusola Oke, after party officials disagreed over the manner the earlier candidate, Akin Olowokere, was substituted.
The National Chairman of the party, Joseph Avazi, had justified the choice of Mr. Oke as a credible replacement for Mr. Olowokere, saying he had fulfilled party requirements to hold the ticket.
At the wake of the emergence of Mr. Oke, a youth group within the party rejected his candidature, saying the party’s chairman and other officials acted contrary to its constitution in the substitution of Mr. Olowokere.
The National Legal Adviser of the party, Kehinde Aworele, on Saturday also rejected Mr. Oke’s emergence, saying the National Executive Committee of the party did not meet to decide on his candidature.
He said the NEC also did not recognise Mr. Oke as a member of the party, let alone elected to fly its flag in the coming governorship election.
He described the action of the national chairman as “reckless” in reaching a decision to replace Mr. Olowokere without consultation.
According to Mr. Aworele, the October 14 NEC resolutions remained binding, affirming that those who later revoked it barely 24 hours after the emergency meeting in Akure, acted on behalf of themselves and not the NEC.
“As at today, we have passed a vote of no confidence on the national chairman, national secretary and national auditor of the party and it is the NEC of the party that can make a change of that decision,” he said, adding that the NEC still recognized Mr. Olowokere as its candidate.
“We have said that Olusola Oke is not known to the party because he did not follow proper procedure of the party, so he is not even a member of AD,” the lawyer said.
“I can tell you that he is not a member of our party because he has not complied with the constitutional procedure of our party by which a candidate should emerge.
“I don’t have anything against Oke as a person; he is a nice gentleman and a member of my profession but he should not come through the backdoor.
“On the issue of his eligibility, I will not comment on that because it is pending before the Federal High Court, Akure.”
Mr. Olowokere has however, denounced the position of the Legal Adviser, saying he willingly stepped down for Mr. Oke to become the candidate of the party.
He said the incessant kicks against Mr. Oke’s candidature were sponsored by the opposition who are bent on creating crisis in the AD.
“We are standing for the good of Ondo State, on behalf of the masses we have provided a third force and an alternative in order to make sure that we dismantle the illegitimate tyranny currently operating in the state,” said Mr. Olowokere.
“That I was able to midwife the party…there is a lot of jealousy and envy. If somebody calls himself a Legal Adviser of a party, he knows how to go to court. You don’t fight or sue on the pages of media.
Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Oke’s Campaign Director, Bola Ilori, dismissed the threats by the legal adviser, saying “it is an unattractive side attraction. It is just part of the fun just to make it more enterprising.”
Mr. Ilori asserted that Mr. Oke is a member of the AD, noting that it was the work of his opponents to distract the party from making progress.
“So all these are parts of the drama that forms politics, politics is drama; it could be fun, it is fun. It is just entertainment, you have seen it before and you will see it again; more of it will soon come: there is no issue about that,” Mr. Ilori said.
Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation opens applications for 6th Cohort Programme
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the sixth cohort of its transformative AIG Public Leaders Programme (AIG PLP).
This flagship six-month executive education initiative, delivered by the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, is designed to empower high-potential public sector leaders across Africa with the tools, networks, and strategic insight required to deliver meaningful reform across African public institutions.
Applications are now open to qualified public servants from all English-speaking African countries and will close on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The programme commences in October 2026.
Since its inception in 2021, the AIG PLP has built a formidable reputation for creating tangible impact.
Alumni from the programme have gone on to design and implement more than 230 reform projects within their ministries, departments, and agencies across Africa.
An impact survey revealed that 62% of alumni have earned promotions or assumed expanded leadership roles post-training, demonstrating the programme’s direct effect on career advancement and institutional influence.
“Across Africa, the complexity of public sector challenges demands more than good intentions. It requires reformers who understand systems, can navigate institutional realities, and are equipped to implement sustainable change.
The AIG PLP is designed to meet this need,” said Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, Executive Vice-Chair of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation.
As part of the programme, a PLP alumna, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, Executive Secretary of Lagos State DSVA, launched a secure self-reporting tool that allows survivors of domestic and sexual abuse safely document incidents and preserve evidence.
Survivors are already accessing support, and the tool ensures that crucial proof is protected until justice can be sought. This is one of over 230 impactful reform projects being implemented across sectors as diverse as healthcare, finance, agriculture, and education.
We are seeing proof every day that investing in the capacity and leadership potential of people, delivers the kind of transformation that policy alone cannot achieve.”
The AIG PLP is a blended learning experience that combines online sessions with an intensive residential module.
It is offered at no cost to selected participants, with the Foundation covering all costs of the programme including accommodation and feeding during the residential weeks.
Participants gain direct access to world-class faculty from the University of Oxford, and learn to tackle core public sector challenges such as: Negotiating in the public interest. Harnessing digital technology for governance.
Strengthening public organisations.
Upholding integrity in public life.
The curriculum culminates in a capstone reform project, where participants apply their new skills to a real-world challenge within their institution.
This practical component ensures that learning translates directly into actionable solutions.
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply early. For more details on the application process and to apply, please visit the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation website.
Renewed Hope Ambassadors Inspect RHA Secretariat
Renewed Hope Ambassadors, led by its Director-General and the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, alongside Zonal Coordinators (NW, NC, SE), the Media & Publicity Directorate, and other key stakeholders, inspected the RHA Secretariat two days after President Bola Tinubu unveiled the Renewed Hope Ambassadors grassroots engagement drive in Abuja.
Harmony Gardens’ Ibeju-Lekki Portfolio Crosses $1bn
Harmony Garden & Estate Development Limited has expanded its development activities across Ibeju-Lekki, pushing the projected long-term value of its estate portfolio beyond $1 billion.
Led by Chief Executive Officer Hon. Dr. Audullahi Saheed Mosadoluwa, popularly know Saheed Ibile, the company is developing seven estates within the Lekki–Ibeju corridor. Details available on Harmony Garden & Estate Development show a portfolio spanning land assets and ongoing residential construction across key growth locations.
A major component is Lekki Aviation Town, where urban living meets neighborhood charm, located near the proposed Lekki International Airport and valued internally at over $250 million. The development forms part of the company’s broader phased expansion strategy within the axis.
Other estates in the corridor tagged as the “Citadel of Joy” (Ogba-idunnu) include Granville Estate, Majestic Bay Estate, The Parliament Phase I & II, and Harmony Casa Phase I & II.
With multiple projects active, the rollout of the Ibile Traditional Mortgage System, and structured expansion underway, Harmony Garden & Estate Development Ltd continues to deepen its presence within the fast-growing Ibeju-Lekki real estate market.
-
celebrity radar - gossips7 months agoWhy Babangida’s Hilltop Home Became Nigeria’s Political “Mecca”
-
society5 months agoReligion: Africa’s Oldest Weapon of Enslavement and the Forgotten Truth
-
society7 months agoPower is a Loan, Not a Possession: The Sacred Duty of Planting People
-
news3 months agoWHO REALLY OWNS MONIEPOINT? The $290 Million Deal That Sold Nigeria’s Top Fintech to Foreign Interests
You must be logged in to post a comment Login