POLITICS
Adeleke Has Reclaimed PDP’s Stolen Mandate in Osun –Saraki
Former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has said that the winner of yesterday’s Osun State gubernatorial election, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, has by the victory reclaimed the stolen mandate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement released on his social media handles, Saraki emphasized that after the inexplicable loss in 2018, Adeleke demonstrated leadership by working to build stronger coalition across the state and the nation in order to ensure that the PDP remained the most popular party in the state and emerged victorious four years later.
The former Senate President also described the incoming Osun State Governor as the “leader that Osun needs at this crucial time,” while also commending the work of the PDP’s polling unit agents who worked to ensure that every vote was counted and that results from all polling units were uploaded to the INEC election portal in line with the new Electoral Act guidelines.
The statement reads:
“Today, all across Nigeria, the nation has watched as the people of Osun State have delivered a clear, loud, and strong message: “Imole De” — which means that light has come.
“We have watched, as the people of this great state have reclaimed their mandate and the mandate of my dear friend and brother, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, the PDP Governorship candidate, which was surreptitiously stolen at the polls exactly 4-years ago.
“With everything that we have all witnessed here in Osun State, one lesson remains clear: the people of Nigeria want better. They want lives that are not hampered by the rising cost of living, the flailing economy, and insecurity. They want a conscientious government — one that works for and represents the best interests of themselves, their families, and their communities.
“Make no mistake, this victory was not easily attained. It is the culmination of the sacrifice and hard work of our party leaders, stakeholders, and leaders, who all played specific roles to ensure that this time around, our party’s mandate has been protected, and our candidate has now emerged victorious.
“I congratulate my brothers, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa and Governor Godwin Obaseki, for taking the time out of their busy schedules to ensure that our victory was not only concise but complete.
“I commend all the polling unit agents and the young people in the PDP situation room who stood their ground to ensure that the votes were counted and uploaded in line with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines. I must say, after training our determined polling unit agents earlier this week, and spending the entire day with the young and excited people that manned our situation room, I am more than optimistic about our party’s chances in 2023. When we work together, the PDP is unstoppable!
“I commend INEC and the security agencies, who largely were impartial and allowed the votes of the people of Osun to be reflected in the actual results.
“Again, my heartfelt congratulations go out to my dear friend, Sen. Adeleke, who understood the lessons garnered from 2018 and worked to build stronger coalitions across the state and the nation. You have demonstrated that you are truly the leader that Osun needs at this crucial time.
“Finally, I commend the people of Osun State and all Nigerians for standing by the PDP and believing that our party represents the best chance at a better life.
“As we prepare for the 2023 General Election, I am optimistic that by appealing to the best interest of all Nigerians — as partners and stakeholders in the development of our dear nation — our party is well-positioned to reclaim many of our states and the federal government.
“With this winning strategy, moving forward, our objective is clear: Together, we must fix Nigeria, rescue it from the failures of the past 7-years, and work to elect our former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the next President of Nigeria.
“I pray that Almighty Allah blesses the incoming Governor of Osun State, Sen. Adeleke, the great people of Osun, and the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Saraki stated.
The Labour Party has fixed its national convention for April 28 in Umuahia, Abia.
The party also officially released the list of chairmen and members of its electoral sub-committees for the forthcoming congresses in all the states of the federation.
Senior Special Adviser (Media) to the Interim National Chairman, Ken Asogwa, made these known in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
The party had earlier announced the timetable for its congresses, with ward congresses scheduled for April 23, local government congresses, April 24 and state congresses April 26.
According to Asogwa, the sub-committees, made up of experienced and respected party members, have been constituted to oversee the conduct of the congresses in their respective states.
He listed the chairmen to include: Iheanacho Obioma (Abia); Francis Kim (Adamawa); Ekong Solomon (Akwa Ibom); Chief Tony Asuoha (Anambra); Malam Mustapha Adamu (Bauchi); Beredugo Ebimonyo (Bayelsa) and Chief John Ochoga (Benue).
Others are: Urom Iyang (Cross River); Chuks Onitsha (Delta); Chief Mitchell Nwabueze (Ebonyi); Dr Saliu Edogiawerie (Edo); Usman Mohammed (Niger); Owolabi Ezekiel (Ogun); Charles Afolabi (Ondo); Balogun Ibrahim (Osun); Babatunde Yusuf (Oyo); Fakorede Matthew (Ekiti) and Dr David Ogba (Enugu).
Also included are: Adoga Knaabayi (Gombe); Chinagorom Nwankpa (Imo); Mustapha Garba (Jigawa); Dr Emmanuel Barau (Kaduna); Kabiru Said (Kano); Pastor Ishaku Izang (Plateau); Amaobi Ogah (Rivers); Prof. Muhamuda Muhammad (Sokoto); Jesse Williams (Taraba); Mukhtar Hassan (Yobe) and Haila Baja (Zamfara).
Also, Ismail Bello (Katsina); Muh’d (Birnin Kebbi); Samuel Ajare (Kogi); Bodunde Adebayo (Kwara); Chukwuemeka Ogbanna (Lagos); Dr Muttaqa Yushau (Nasarawa) and Rose Uba-Anarah (FCT).
Asogwa quoted the National Chairman of the party, Sen. Nenadi Usman, as urging the chairmen and members to carry out their responsibilities with utmost fairness, transparency and integrity.
Usman reminded them of the party’s core values of equal opportunity and social justice, urging them to reflect these principles in the discharge of their duties.
She stressed the need for diligence and commitment, noting that the credibility of the party must be upheld throughout the congress process.
The statement assured that all necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure a smooth, successful, and hitch-free convention.
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
The Amir and National Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, Alatoye Abdulazeez, has urged Nigerian youths to unite politically and strategically, identifying Adewole Adebayo as a potential leader capable of driving national transformation if given collective support.
Speaking during an interview, Abdulazeez emphasized that Nigeria’s progress hinges largely on the ability of young people to organize themselves beyond tribal, religious, and financial inducements, and to rally behind credible leadership.
According to him, while several young candidates have emerged in past elections, their failure to build strong alliances allowed older political forces to maintain dominance.
He noted that the case of Adebayo, a lawyer and businessman who contested under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), presents an opportunity for a different political direction if youths can act in unity.
“If the younger generation is sure that Adewole Adebayo can deliver, they should team up with him, get things right, and encourage other youths across tribes to see themselves as one,” Abdulazeez said.
He stressed that Nigeria is currently in what he described as a “storming stage” of nationhood, where divisions along ethnic and regional lines continue to hinder development.
He warned that unless a “national norm” is established—where citizens prioritize unity over sectional interests—the country may struggle to reach its full potential.
The cleric further advised youths to avoid electoral inducement and reject divisive politics, urging them instead to focus on long-term nation-building.
“We must move from where we are to the next stage. Otherwise, we will keep moving in the same direction,” he added.
Beyond politics, Abdulazeez reiterated the Ahmadiyya motto, “Love for All, Hatred for None,” as a guiding principle for national cohesion, stressing that religion should be a force for peace rather than division.
He condemned terrorism and violence carried out in the name of religion, insisting that such acts contradict Islamic teachings.
On governance, he acknowledged efforts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that while progress has been made in some areas, more attention is needed in critical sectors such as power and economic management.
Abdulazeez concluded with a call for collective responsibility among citizens, particularly the youth, to reshape Nigeria’s future through unity, moral discipline, and active participation in governance.
“Leadership is not just about those in office,” he said. “It is also about those who choose them.”
End
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) have released a revised timetable for the 2026 local government elections.
ENSIEC Chairman, Prof. Christian Ngwu, presented the updated schedule to journalists in Enugu.
Ngwu said the framework outlines activities leading to elections on Sept.
26 and re-run polls on Oct. 10.He explained the adjustments followed the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.
“The revised timetable aligns with the new law and other relevant statutes guiding elections in the state,” he said.
He recalled ENSIEC earlier issued a notice on Aug. 20, 2025 alongside an initial timetable.
According to him, party primaries will be held from Jan. 23 to May 26.
“Campaigns will begin on April 29 and end on Sept. 25, 24 hours before polling,” Ngwu added.
He said submission of nomination forms closes on May 29, while candidates’ particulars will be published on June 19.
“The final list of candidates will be released on July 27,” he stated.
Ngwu added that submission of polling agents ends on Aug. 31, while the official notice of poll comes on Sept. 11.
He confirmed elections will be held on Sept. 26, with voting from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. using the open secret ballot system.
“In case of inconclusive results, re-run elections will be conducted on Oct. 10,” he said.
Ngwu stressed the timetable was issued under the commission’s constitutional mandate and in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.
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