Politics

1,000 Arewa members endorse Tinubu, okay Egbayelo for Lagos Assembly

Published

3 weeks ago

April 19, 2026

As the 2027 political landscape begins to take shape, the Arewa community in the Apapa Local Government Area of Lagos State has formally declared its support for the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the legislative aspiration of Dr Mike Oladunjoye Egbayelo.
During a massive grassroots rally involving over 1,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), community leaders cited President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda as the catalyst for their early endorsement.
Yahaya Matazu, Coordinator of the Sokoto Elders Forum (Apapa Branch), and Haruna Ibrahim, a prominent Arewa leader, emphasised that the president’s policies are designed for long-term national prosperity.
“Nigerians should learn to be patient. Greatness takes time, and we are ready to give the President our full support so he can achieve 100% success in his vision for the country,” the leaders stated in a joint address.
The endorsement extended to Egbayelo, who is eyeing a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly (Apapa Constituency 1).
The Arewa community highlighted Egbayelo’s track record of inclusive governance, particularly his history of integrating non-indigenous communities into the local socio-economic fabric.
The group pointed to his extensive resume as evidence of his readiness: Pioneer General Manager: Apapa GRA Residents Association (AGRA). Executive Secretary/CEO: Apapa Community Security Trust Fund. Public Servant: Former Supervisor for Education, Youth, and Sports.
“Dr Egbayelo has consistently demonstrated the ability to build institutions and manage complex teams. He has never left anyone behind. We believe he is one with the people,” Matazu added.
Addressing the crowd, Egbayelo reaffirmed his commitment to the ‘One Lagos’ philosophy, promising that his representation would be blind to ethnic or religious divides.
“I grew up with the Arewa community; you are my brothers and sisters,” Egbayelo said. “I have never let you down, and I will not start now. The time for a united front has come, and under my watch, nobody will be left behind,” he added.
Egbayelo further bolstered the case for the presidency, telling the gathering that President Tinubu remains the most viable choice for 2027.
He argued that the foundations laid in the first three years of the administration have restored hope to a nation in transition, urging the community to remain steadfast in its loyalty to the APC.

Politics

Osun West Senatorial: Why I’m Running-Rovet

Published

2 months ago

March 26, 2026

The Exclusives

A leading senatorial aspirant for the Osun West ticket on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Waliyulai Adebayo Oladosu, has explained that he joined the race to offer quality representation to his people at the National Assembly.

Oladosu whose popularly referred to as Rovet, has expressed optimism that the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji(AMBO), would emerge victorious at the polls, assuring as well that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu would be reelected as President of the country in 2027.

In a statement from his Media Unit, the well- known Iwo-born politician, while appealing to the APC leaders, stakeholders and members to ensure his emergence as the senatorial candidate of the party, maintained that his candidature would attract more votes to the party in the build up to the elections.

“To replicate the wonderful job of President Bola Tinubu, I’m assuring that if I’m given the APC Osun West senatorial ticket, we shall win. This will offer me the ample opportunity of further serving our people who have been yearning for good and quality representation all this while,” he stressed.

According to him, as an individual familiar with the needs of the people and the areas in the senatorial district, he would readily apply his knowledge, exposure and connections to attract the needed attention from the Federal Government and corporate bodies to mitigate the challenges being faced by them.

While calling for massive support for the APC at the coming elections later this year and in 2027, Alhaji Oladosu promised a direct link with the people at the grassroots who have always been left out in the scheme of things.

“I can assure you that my presence at the National Assembly will largely factor in the interest of our people at the grassroots, who always give so much but get little in return. Above all, if given the opportunity as from next year, by the grace of God, my voice in the hallowed chamber will be for the betterment of the senatorial district and the state,” he added.

The popular aspirant who is currently consulting widely across the ten local governments in the senatorial district, urged party members not rest on their oars in their mobilisation quest so as to ease the success of APC at the polls.

While calling for a unity of purpose among the party members across the state, he implored the people to always be peaceful and law-abiding in order to achieve the envisaged progress in society.

Politics

PDP, threat to APC in 2027, says George

Published

2 months ago

February 28, 2026

The Exclusives

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) member, Chief Olabode George, has said the main opposition is a threat to the second-term ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

He said, despite efforts to liquidate PDP, the platform will survive and reclaim power.

George, a former military governor of Ondo State, raised the alarm that the APC-led Federal Government is forcing PDP members to defect, saying that it is an affront on democracy.

He said, “Because APC is threatened with the way we conducted our convention in Ibadan, they are now using INEC to truncate that process. But, Nigerians know their undemocratic game plan. That is why voters who have suffered from the APC’s bad policies are waiting to re-elect PDP in 2027.”

The party elder spoke at the swearing-in of newly elected ward, local government and state officers who emerged at the recent congresses.

At the ceremony held at the party secretariat, in Ikeja, were former Ekiti State Acting Governor Sunday Odeyemi, Senator Kofo Akerele-Bucknor, Mrs Aduke Maina, governorship aspirant Funso Doherty and Dr Amos Fawole, the chairman of the chapter.

George said, “Our governors and lawmakers are being forced and threatened to defect, but we are not bothered because the PDP is the only true national party in the country today. APC is just a coalition of strange bedfellows.”

He said PDP has lived up to expectations as a democratic party, unlike the APC that has indulged in the culture of imposition.

George said PDP stands for what is just, fair and equitable, adding that the Saminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has vowed to sustain these values as it prepares for next year’s polls.

Although he did not tender any evidence, George alleged plans by the APC to rig the 2027 elections, vowing that the PDP would resist the move.

He added, “In this rigging plot, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should also be careful. In PDP, INEC cannot choose our leaders for us. Opposition parties will resist this irresponsible behaviour from the umpire.

“What INEC is doing is shameful. Some of the characters in INEC were not born in 1962 when the crisis in the defunct Western Region started, due to the manipulation of democratic processes by the powers that be then.

We all know what happened between then and 1966, which eventually led to the civil war between 1967 and 1970, when over two million Nigerians died. So, INEC should be very careful.”

George urged party members not to panic, assuring that “the challenge PDP is facing today is temporary.”

He added, “Nigerians are waiting for us in 2027. Remain in the party and work for its progress.

From the North to South, East to West, PDP remains a strong political platform, offering great opportunities for members and Nigerians.

“It is only in the PDP that the interest of Nigerians can be better served.

“There is no coalition in today’s Nigeria that can be stronger than the PDP.

Ours is a reborn political party that has weathered every storm and can never go under. Those defecting must return to this Iroko political party. PDP is coming back to take over its place as the ruling party in the country.

I want to assure Nigerians that come 2027, PDP will take Nigeria to its rightful place in the comity of nations”

Politics

Islam, Christianity, Nigeria’s double strength — Adebayo

Published

2 months ago

February 28, 2026

The Exclusives

Islam, Christianity, Nigeria’s double strength — Adebayo

Clerics and faithful from the Muslim and Christian communities gathered on Tuesday at the Al-Ahfad Mosque in Gombe for a special Ramadan Iftar aimed at fostering unity and religious tolerance.

Speaking at the event, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Prince Adewole Adebayo, described the coincidence of Ramadan and the Christian Lenten season as a unique opportunity for national rebirth.

“The central message in this holy Ramadan, which coincides with Christians’ Lent, is an opportunity to redeem ourselves, renew our faith, and reflect on who we are as a community,” Adebayo said.

According to him, the presence of Christianity and Islam in Nigeria should be seen as a “double blessing” rather than a source of division. He urged Nigerians to embrace the core values of both religions — peace, justice, and responsible leadership — to build a united and progressive nation.

“If we are united and use the tenets of our religions to raise a new generation, they will not be thinking of how to get rid of each other; rather, they will be thinking of how to get rid of bad leadership,” he stated.

“The faith and characteristics of our religions talk about peace, justice and raising leaders who will unite us together, and the earlier we start, the better for us.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Chief Imam of the mosque, Dr. Umar Dokaji, said the gathering was timely as both Muslims and Christians are observing fasting periods.

He noted that inviting Christian and Islamic scholars to break fast together was a practical demonstration of religious tolerance, especially at a time when the country faces allegations of religious persecution, as well as ethnic and terrorist crises in some parts.

“This kind of gathering will help unite the two major religious faiths and will go a long way in preventing deadly religious crises in the largest Black nation on earth,” Dokaji said, while also calling for support for vulnerable groups and stressing that justice remains key to resolving Nigeria’s lingering challenges.

Also speaking, former North-East Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Reverend Abare Kalla, who represented the Christian invitees, described the joint fasting period as divinely orchestrated.

He said the prayers and supplications offered by Muslims during Ramadan mirror those of Christians during Lent, emphasising that the overwhelming majority of Muslims globally reject terrorism. He added that Christians and Muslims working together can overcome the forces of violence and division threatening the country.

Kalla recalled how Christian and Muslim communities in Nasarawa had previously resolved a misunderstanding over a place of worship amicably, describing it as a model of peaceful coexistence.

The interfaith Iftar brought together Islamic scholars, Christian clerics and community leaders, all united by a common call for peace, justice and national cohesion.