Opposition Smearing INEC Chairman Out of Desperation — Ajulo Declares Tinubu’s Victory Inevitable

ABUJA — The Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo (SAN), has accused opposition elements of orchestrating a calculated smear campaign against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan (SAN), insisting that such actions stem from their acceptance of imminent electoral defeat.

In a strongly worded press statement issued on Sunday, Ajulo argued that the opposition has abandoned genuine political engagement and has instead resorted to “the politics of discredit,” targeting the electoral umpire in a bid to undermine public confidence.

According to him, the attacks on the INEC chairman are deliberate attempts to weaken the credibility of the electoral process ahead of the next presidential election, which he claimed has already been “decisively won” by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The opposition knows the battle is lost. What they now implement is not resistance, but the politics of discredit,” Ajulo stated.

He described Prof. Amupitan as a “steadfast guardian of Nigeria’s democratic process,” warning that efforts to discredit him would ultimately fail as Nigerians “see through the smoke.”

Ajulo further anchored his argument on Nigeria’s political history, recalling a period when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dominated the political landscape with a majority of state governors, while Tinubu, then leading the Alliance for Democracy (AD), controlled only Lagos State.

He said the political evolution that led to the rise of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its current dominance across many states reflects what he described as “a profound feat of strategy, resilience, and leadership.”

The attorney-general also noted that, unlike previous political realignments, the APC under Tinubu has not experienced defections of governors, but has instead attracted members from opposition parties.

He maintained that the current wave of criticism against INEC leadership is rooted in fear of electoral loss rather than legitimate concerns about the commission’s integrity.

Ajulo concluded by urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and resist attempts to erode trust in democratic institutions, emphasizing that “the mandate of the people will stand.”

GOV. LAWAL WINS BON GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR FOR ZAMFARA’S INFRASTRUCTURE

The Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) has awarded Governor Dauda Lawal the Infrastructure Governor of the Year honour for his administration’s giant strides in the Urban Renewal project across Zamfara.

The governor received the award at the second edition of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) held at the NAF conference centre, Abuja.

A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that the BON acknowledged Zamfara state’s unprecedented and transformative achievements in infrastructure, recognising excellence beyond the broadcasting industry.

He added that Governors Bassey Otu of Cross River and Uba Sani of Kaduna, the minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, along with John Momoh, Shyngle Wigwe, Abubakar Jijiwa, and Sa’a Ibrahim, were among the prominent Nigerians honoured at the 2026 Nigeria Broadcasting Awards.

The statement read in parts, “The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, an umbrella body for public and private broadcasters in Nigeria, was established in 1973 to promote the interests of the broadcasting industry and ensure high standards in media practices.

“The organisation conducted a thorough months-long selection process aimed at recognising professional excellence and raising standards for media practice across Nigeria.

“The Awards Selection Committee was chaired by Dr Danladi Bako, former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). The awards panel included veterans and representatives from the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and the NBC..

“The selection committee cited numerous reasons for awarding Governor Dauda Lawal, notably his significant progress across sectors, particularly for transforming Gusau into a modern State Capital.

“Zamfara has witnessed unprecedented achievements under Governor Dauda Lawal, including the historic construction of a modern International Airport in the State.

“Apart from urban renewal projects, as well as the construction and outfitting of General Hospitals, Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration has built, refurbished, and equipped over 800 schools across the 14 local government areas of the State.

“This recognition by the highest broadcasting authority in Nigeria will motivate the governor to dedicate more effort to his mission to serve and rebuild Zamfara state.”