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Attack on Kogi SDP gov candidate orchestrated by Gov Bello – Spokesman alleges

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Muritala Ajaka, SDP Governorship candidate, Kogi state
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The camp of Social Democratic Party governorship candidate in Kogi State, Murtala Ajaka, has again accused Governor Yahaya Bello of orchestrating the recent attack on their convoy in Lokoja.

The claim was made by the SDP spokesman, Faruk Adejoh-Audu, when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Monday night.

Bello, had in a statement signed by his Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, alleged that his convoy was blocked and attacked by gunmen he suspected was supporters of Ajaka near the naval base, a few kilometres from Lokoja.

The governor claimed the armed thugs started shooting sporadically at his convoy after they sighted him.

But Adejoh-Audu denied the allegation, saying it wasn’t a true reflection of what happened.

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“It was an orchestrated attack. The incident happened around 12.40 pm. We didn’t block the road. The truth of the matter was that things happened very quickly. And as the time we discovered what was going on, the road has been blocked while some gunmen opened fire on the car of our candidate (SDP), Alhaji Murtala Ajaka.

“At a point, two outriders on power bikes came past. I wasn’t in the car of the candidate but in another car. Those of us who were behind were hearing the sirens but it wasn’t like a convoy per se. The candidate was on his way from Abuja and only stop to pay homage to a first-class traditional ruler, the Attah Igala in Idah.

“Now after we left, a lot of people most of who we didn’t know including motorbike riders followed the convoy. Some other people on the bridge turned and followed us. At a point, the convoy got extended even beyond our own control. Before we got to Lokoja, there was a place called ‘the banda’ (sic). That is where you have the naval base.

“The car (Ajaka) also stopped to greet some people. One of them is a commissioner in Yahaya Bello’s government. His name is Bashir Gegu. You remembered I told you he just left the APC?

“Gebu was in a pick-up (hilux) and another pick-up came and crossed the road. The next thing we heard was gunshots. They started shooting. There was panic everywhere. Some people even jumped out of their cars. But the obvious target was the car of our principal.

“The only thing that saved him was that the car was an armoured car. The bullets that rained on the car didn’t penetrate. But not every other person was as lucky as he was. It was an orchestrated attack. A senior advocate of Nigeria, Shuaibu Aruwa, was affected. His own car was penetrated.”

On what he thinks can be done to prevent innocent people in the state from getting caught in the crossfire of fire before the election period, the SDP spokesman said only President Bola Tinubu can call Bello to order.

He claimed that the reason why the Kogi governor became too powerful was that he was indulged by former President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), who never intervened in any reported violence in the state.

He said, “It is a very simple thing. We have a new president and new federal government unlike in the last eight years where several people have been killed and nothing ever happened. So that courage and confidence that I can always get away with whatever I do since the president is from my party is there.

“If the new government sends out a strong signal that ‘Look, we are democrats. We’re not going to allow the blood of people (be spilled) in the name of election, I think it will cease.”

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2027 Election: Yilwatda apologises to aggrieved Oyo APC members, seeks unity

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Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has apologised to aggrieved members over perceived wrongs during the party’s internal primaries, saying the National Working Committee (NWC) takes responsibility for such actions.

Yilwatda, who made the disclosure on Thursday in Ibadan during the launch of the APC governorship candidate campaign office in Ibadan, appealed to members who felt hurt, injured, prevented or excluded in any form to forgive the party and remain united ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said the responsibility extended beyond Oyo State, stressing that the committee that conducted the party’s primaries was constituted by the national leadership and therefore, any mistake committed by it amounted to a mistake by the party.

“This is not for Oyo State alone. Anywhere anybody made a mistake in a state, it is our mistake because the committee was set up by us and they are representing us.

“If anybody is hurt, if anybody is injured, if anybody is prevented or excluded in any form or the other, we take responsibility. On TV, before Nigerians, we take responsibility of all that has happened. I appeal to everybody that we are sorry,” he said.

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The APC national chairman urged members at polling units, wards and local government areas across the country to regard the matter as an internal family affair.

Yilwatda assured that the party was taking Oyo State seriously because of its strategic importance and large voting population, second only to Lagos.

Speaking, the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, commended the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, for fulfilling his promises to the state within two days.

Alli expressed appreciation to Yilwatda for honouring the invitation to meet with governorship aspirants and stakeholders, saying the achievements recorded within the period surpassed what the stakeholders had been able to accomplish.

He said the promises made when the national chairman invited the aspirants had now been fulfilled.

“We cannot thank you enough for what you have come to do. What you have achieved successfully in two days, we have not been able to accomplish,” Alli said.

He assured the national chairman that the party in Oyo would continue to do the needful.

Earlier, mammoth crowd of members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gathered in Ibadan on Thursday as the party’s national chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, officially inaugurated the party’s governorship campaign office in Dandaru, along the Total Garden-Mokola Road, Ibadan.

The inauguration formed part of activities marking the APC National Chairman’s two-day official visit to Oyo State, which commenced on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

Party members from across the 33 local government areas of the state converged on the venue to witness the official inauguration of the campaign office and welcome the national chairman.

The campaign office will serve as the secretariat of the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli.

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Why I decided to work with Obi — Kwankwaso

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Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has explained that his decision to work with former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, on the 2027 presidential ticket was driven by the need to provide Nigerians with competent and accountable leadership.

Kwankwaso, in a message to Nigerians on the commencement of the 2027 presidential campaign, said the country was at a critical crossroads, citing rising living costs, unemployment, insecurity and inadequate investment in education, healthcare and infrastructure.

He said millions of Nigerians, particularly young people, were struggling to find meaningful employment, while businesses were facing high operating costs and an uncertain economic environment.

According to him, insecurity has also continued to threaten communities, with terrorism, banditry and kidnapping resulting in the loss of lives, homes and livelihoods.

“Our farmers need security to return to their farms, our children need safe schools, and every Nigerian deserves to live without fear,” he said.

Kwankwaso said the challenges confronting the country were serious but insisted that Nigeria had the human and material resources required to build a prosperous and secure nation.

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He said what was needed was leadership with “competence, courage and commitment” to place the interests of Nigerians above personal considerations.

Explaining his decision to partner with Obi, Kwankwaso said: “This is why I have chosen to work with His Excellency, Peter Obi, on the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.

“Our partnership is not about region, religion or personal ambition. It is about Nigeria.”

He said the partnership was founded on the belief in a Nigeria where government serves the people, hard work is rewarded, young Nigerians can build successful futures in the country and every citizen has a fair opportunity to prosper.

Kwankwaso called on young people, women, workers, farmers, entrepreneurs and professionals to join the political movement, urging Nigerians to move beyond divisive politics and focus on issues affecting their daily lives.

He also urged voters to demand accountability, competence and measurable results from public office holders.

“The 2027 election presents Nigerians with an opportunity to choose a new direction,” he said.

Kwankwaso appealed to Nigerians to support the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket and candidates of the NDC, while urging supporters to conduct their campaigns peacefully and responsibly.

“Let us campaign peacefully, responsibly and with the national interest at heart. “Together, we can build a stronger nation and Nigeria will be OK,” he said.

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BREAKING: INEC declares Adeleke winner of Osun gov election

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photo: Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke
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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, was on Sunday declared elected, having won 19 out of the 30 local government areas in the governorship election held across the state on Saturday.

The State Returning Officer, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof Joshua Ogunwole, declared the result of the poll at about 7:24 am on Sunday.

Adeleke polled a total of 511067 votes to emerge victorious in the contest.

Ogunwole subsequently returned the governor to office for another term.

The incumbent Osun governor, who contested the poll on the platform of the Accord, defeated his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who won in 11 LG areas of the state.

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While Adeleke won in Ede North, Ede South, Ejigbo, Iwo, Egbedore, Ife North, Ife East, Ife Central, Oriade, Ifelodun, Orolu, Ayedaade, Ayedire, Odo Otin, Boluwaduro, Ilesa West, Ifedayo, Osogbo and Ayedire local government areas.

Oyebamiji, however, won in Irewole, Isokan, Olorunda, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ilesa East, Boripe, Irepodun and Obokun local government areas.

Declaring the results, Ogunwole said, “Accredited voters, 1010684, total votes received by political parties, A, 511067, AA, 2308, AAC, 1458, ADC, 17180, ADP, 2946, APC, 444815, APGA, 1475, APM, 234, APP, 114, BP, 111, NNPP, 118, PRP, 83, SDP, 155, YPP, 534, ZLP, 2482, total valid votes, 985079, rejected votes, 207, total vote cast, 1,005,800.”

After agents of the political parties have signed the results of the election, the Returning Officer declared Adeleke of the Accord as the winner of the poll.

“That Ademola Nurudeen-Jackson Adeleke having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declare the winner of the August 15 Governorship election and returned elected,” Ogunwole said.

The candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the poll, Najeem Salaam, came third in the poll.

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