From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo

As the August 15 Governorship election approaches, prominent chieftain of the Accord in Osun State, Hon Ismaila Kolawole has intensified calls for supporters and residents of Ila-Orangun and its environs to come out en-masse and demonstrate their unalloyed support to Governor Ademola Adeleke with their votes.

Kolawole while fielding questions from journalists on Tuesday however charged residents of Osun State to re-elect Governor Adeleke for a second term in office, while describing his administration’s record in infrastructure, workers’ welfare, education, healthcare, empowerment, and welfare of the aged as pace-setting, he also described the governor as a blessing saying he would do more if given another term.

His words, “Let us keep our Voter Cards till Saturday’s morning for us to bring Governor Ademola Adeleke back to the office for second term, he deserves our unalloyed support at this point in time and this is the period for us to appreciate all that he has done for us. Let us come out peacefully on Saturday and I want to assure you that you will not regret it.

“Governor Adeleke’s efforts on infrastructure projects like road construction and workers’ welfare reform including prompt salary payments cannot be over emphasized”.

Kolawole who is a former member of the House of Representatives, said the electorates should ignore threats or attempts at voter suppression while urging them to embrace peace before and after the governorship election.

The Ila-Orangun born politician emphasized the need for the people of Osun State to vote Governor Adeleke back to the office saying it will give them the opportunity to benefit from the people oriented programmes coming from the state government.

“Governor Adeleke has done well for the people of Osun, he has transformed the state, turning around the fortune of the state, better life for the rural dwellers, etc.

“Immediately he assumed the office for a second term, he will double his efforts in making life more bearable for the people.

“On Saturday, shun any intimidation or harassment by the opposition, that is the only thing they can do, don’t let that change your decision in voting for Mr Governor. Be law abiding and shun any act of political violence before, during, and after the election”, Hon Kolawole concluded.

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Kogi State Government has approved official fees for the placement of billboards, posters, branded T-shirts, caps and other campaign materials by political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections and the October 2026 local government elections.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this in Lokoja after a stakeholders’ meeting with operators in the signage and advertising sector, as campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to commence on August 19.

Fanwo said the approved fees were designed to regulate political advertising across the state, ensure compliance with existing signage regulations and generate revenue for the development of Kogi State.

Under the approved structure, Presidential candidates will pay N150 million for campaign signage and related promotional materials across the state, while Senatorial candidates will pay N50 million.

Candidates for the House of Representatives will pay N30 million, while those contesting for the State House of Assembly will pay N5 million.

For the local government elections, chairmanship candidates will pay N2 million, while councillorship candidates will pay N300,000.

The Commissioner explained that the rates were arrived at after a peer review of applicable fees in other states, noting that the charges were considered affordable in view of the scale and reach of political campaigns.

He said the fees would also enable the government to properly regulate the proliferation of campaign materials across the state while ensuring that political advertising contributes to the state’s revenue base.

Fanwo warned that the placement of campaign materials without payment of the prescribed fees and compliance with the relevant regulations would constitute an offence, adding that offenders and anyone found aiding or facilitating such violations would be prosecuted.

He stressed that the regulations apply to all political parties and candidates without exception, including candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“In Kogi, APC is the ruling party, but that does not exempt any APC candidate from complying with the law. If you are an APC candidate and you did not pay the prescribed fee before placing your billboards or posters, we will remove them and you will be prosecuted.

“The government is for everybody. All political parties and candidates are hereby enjoined to adhere strictly to the regulations governing the placement of campaign materials across the state,” he said.

Fanwo further explained that the Kogi State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KOSSAA), an agency under the Kogi State Ministry of Information and Communications, is responsible for regulating signage and outdoor advertising activities in the state and would coordinate the enforcement of the approved campaign signage regime.

He said the state government would ensure that the enforcement of the regulations was carried out fairly and without political discrimination.

The General Manager of KOSSAA, Richard Osaseyi, said the agency would commence full enforcement of the regulations from next week.

Osaseyi urged political parties, candidates, campaign organisations and billboard operators to register with the agency and obtain the necessary approvals before erecting or displaying campaign materials.

He cautioned that unauthorised campaign materials would be removed, while individuals or organisations found to have violated the regulations would face the appropriate sanctions.

Some stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject an alleged plot to substitute Omar Suleiman, the party’s governorship candidate with Tukur Modibbo.

The spokesman of the group, Bukar Dahi, made the call at a press conference in Yola on Tuesday.

He alleged that the national leadership of the party was under pressure by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to substitute Suleiman with Modibbo, who came second at the governorship primary election.

The spokesman said Suleiman gained momentum from the ward level to broader political campaigns and became a threat to the established political order in the state.

Dahi therefore urged INEC to ensure that any alteration to Suleiman’s candidature complied with the party’s constitution and applicable electoral laws.

He said the commission should act in the interest of peace, fairness and justice, particularly given the political sensitivity surrounding the 2027 governorship election.

The spokesman noted that imposition and other forms of irregularities were allegedly responsible for the party’s unresolved governorship disputes in Adamawa, Sokoto, Imo, Kano and Borno.

Dahi called on the Sen. David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to demonstrate independence, resolve internal disagreements transparently and uphold the outcome of the party’s electoral processes.

He warned that substituting an elected candidate without any cogent reason could damage ADC’s credibility and undermine its claim of providing a democratic alternative ahead of 2027.

In a swift reaction, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, denied any involvement by his principal in the alleged plot to substitute Suleiman.