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Osun APC Leaders Shun Tinubu’s Campaign Council Inauguration as Akande, Basiru Back Adeleke By Sayo Alagbe Prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State on Thursday stayed away from the inauguration of a 344-member campaign council established to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 presidential election. However, former Osun State Governor, Chief Adebisi Akande, led several APC chieftains to the ceremony, where Governor Ademola Adeleke inaugurated the council. Among the APC leaders who attended were the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru; former National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; former deputy governors Titi Laoye-Ponle and Lekan Adewoyin; Senator Babajide Omoworare; and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun. Others included the party’s Osun Central Senatorial Leader, Adeoye Adelakun; former members of the House of Representatives, Ajibola Famurewa and Bukola Oyewo; former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Afolabi; and former National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) Registrar, Professor Olu Aina. Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo; Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi; and Osun Accord Chairman, Victor Akande, also attended the event. However, several prominent APC figures were absent, including the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District; and the party’s governorship candidate in the 2026 election, Bola Oyebamiji. Other notable absentees included the Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal; former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye; member representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Oluwole Oke; Executive Director of Project Implementation at the Federal Housing Authority, Abuja, Remi Omowaiye; and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Adebayo Adeleke. Akande Calls for Tinubu’s Re-election Addressing the gathering, Akande urged eligible voters across the South-West to prioritise Tinubu’s re-election, describing the President’s second-term bid as an important political objective. He said the President, as a Yoruba son occupying Nigeria’s highest political office, deserved the support of the region to secure another term. “Today, we have one of our sons in Yorubaland as President of Nigeria, and he is entitled to two terms in office. We are all praying that he gets his second term,” Akande said. He added that he had been informed that Adeleke was expected to mobilise two million votes for Tinubu in Osun State on January 16, 2027. Akande, whose birthday falls on January 16, expressed the hope that the day would bring a successful electoral outcome for the President. Basiru Urges APC Leaders to Set Aside Differences In his remarks, Basiru urged APC stakeholders in Osun State to put aside personal ambitions and political disagreements and work with Adeleke to secure victory for Tinubu. He explained that the President’s decision to appoint Adeleke as the Osun coordinator of his re-election campaign should be respected by party members, regardless of their individual political interests. Basiru said he had rearranged his schedule to attend the inauguration before proceeding to Kaduna State for another engagement. According to him, the President’s re-election should take precedence over personal ambitions and political egos. “It is in President Tinubu’s wisdom that he chose Governor Adeleke as his campaign coordinator in Osun. For us in Osun State, irrespective of our feelings, ambitions and scheming, we must abide by the vision of President Bola Tinubu and support Governor Ademola Adeleke to be successful in this exercise,” he said. The APC National Secretary appealed to political stakeholders across the state to unite behind the governor and help deliver a substantial number of votes for Tinubu. “There is no ambition or ego that is greater than ensuring President Bola Tinubu is re-elected,” Basiru added. He also noted that increased financial resources available to subnational governments had created opportunities for states such as Osun to meet their expenditure obligations. Adeleke Targets More Than 1.5 Million Votes Adeleke, in his address, said the campaign council’s primary objective was to mobilise more than the 1.5 million votes previously pledged to Tinubu in Osun State. He described the alliance involving the Accord Party, APC and PDP political structures as a broad coalition capable of delivering a decisive victory for the President. The governor urged members of the council to work together, mobilise voters and pursue their shared objective of securing Tinubu’s re-election. “From the pain of the past, we must unite for the prosperity of the future. From unity in diversity, we must forge a new brotherhood behind our leader, Asiwaju Tinubu,” Adeleke said. He clarified, however, that the alliance was limited to the presidential election and would not extend to legislative contests. According to him, while the coalition partners would jointly support Tinubu’s presidential ambition, each political party would remain free to support its candidates in senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly elections. “What ties us together is the presidential, not the legislative, elections,” he stated. Adeleke also disclosed that discussions between the federal and state governments aimed at resolving the lingering local government crisis in Osun had reached an advanced stage. He expressed optimism that a resolution would be reached soon. Osun APC Vice Chairman Explains Absence of Party Leaders Adelakun, who spoke on behalf of the Osun APC chairman, suggested that some of the party leaders who were absent might not have received adequate information about the inauguration. He said those present would brief their colleagues on the proceedings and expressed confidence that the absent leaders remained committed to Tinubu’s re-election. Adelakun defended the coalition arrangement, arguing that collaboration among political parties was necessary to achieve the desired electoral outcome in Osun. “As APC alone, we have not won an election in the last three election cycles, and if we must give President Tinubu the required number of votes in Osun, we have to collaborate,” he said. He added that the President had acknowledged the importance of the political collaboration. APC Had Earlier Complained About Short Notice The inauguration came amid complaints by the Osun APC leadership that it had not been adequately consulted before the announcement of the campaign council. In a statement issued on Thursday, a few hours before the ceremony, Lawal said the party had not been formally informed about the inauguration beyond the publication of the council members’ names on social media by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed. Rasheed had announced the planned inauguration on Wednesday, listing several prominent APC figures among those expected to serve on the council. Those listed included Akande, Oyetola, Basiru, Oyebamiji, Omisore, Omoworare, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Foluke Etteh, Professor Sola Adeyeye, Yinka Ajayi, Ponle, Akintunde Adegboye and Mumini Olabanji. The announcement reportedly generated uncertainty among political stakeholders because, according to sources within the governor’s camp and the Osun APC, no formal meeting had been held to determine how the President’s re-election campaign would be coordinated in the state following Adeleke’s appointment. An APC source, who requested anonymity, said the party’s leaders had only become aware of the proposed arrangement through the published list. “The two camps have not met. We just saw the list like everyone in the state. There is uncertainty around it, but I can’t officially say what the APC reaction will be,” the source said. Lawal acknowledged that the party accepted Adeleke’s appointment as the state coordinator of Tinubu’s re-election campaign but insisted that the inauguration should have been properly scheduled and communicated to relevant stakeholders. He maintained that the re-election of the President was a collective responsibility requiring adequate consultation and respect for established political protocols. According to him, the short notice and lack of prior engagement with the state party leadership could create unnecessary friction between the APC and the appointed campaign coordinator. Lawal said the party was committed to Tinubu’s re-election but warned against arrangements that could undermine cooperation among stakeholders. He alleged that announcing the council members less than 24 hours before the inauguration, without prior consultation with the party leadership, could create avoidable misunderstandings between the APC and Adeleke. Despite the disagreement over the process, the inauguration proceeded with the participation of several APC chieftains and leaders from other political parties, underscoring the coalition’s stated objective of mobilising support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election. 2 days ago
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Current Events and News

EFCC Forfeits Over $500m Cash, Assets to FG in Three Years — Olukoyede

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EFCC Forfeits Over $500m Cash, Assets to FG in Three Years — Olukoyede

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By Our Staff Reporter

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that the anti-graft agency has secured the forfeiture of cash and assets worth more than $500 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria within the past three years.

Olukoyede made the disclosure on Wednesday while delivering a lecture at the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime in the United Kingdom.

“Within three years of my assumption of office, we’ve been able to forfeit both cash and assets worth over half a billion dollars to the government,” he said.

The EFCC chairman explained that Nigeria’s legal framework empowers the commission to seek the forfeiture of assets suspected to be proceeds of crime without waiting for a criminal conviction.

According to him, the provision is comparable to legal frameworks in countries such as Australia and Canada.

“We have similar to what is obtainable in Australia and Canada that empowers us to apply the forfeiture to proceeds of what is suspected to be proceeds of crime,” Olukoyede said.

He explained that the process of securing civil forfeiture begins with an application to the High Court.

“You apply ex parte to the High Court upon a probable suspicion of the proceeds of crime,” he said.

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Aircraft Allegedly Linked to $30m Bribe

Olukoyede cited the recent forfeiture of an aircraft allegedly linked to a member of a monitoring committee for a power project in Nigeria.

He alleged that the individual received a $30 million bribe, which subsequently led to the forfeiture of the aircraft.

“This aircraft was forfeited by someone who was supposed to be a member of a monitoring committee of a power project in Nigeria. We discovered he collected a bribe of about $30 million in Nigeria,” he said.

According to him, the aircraft was forfeited about three months ago and has since been added to the Presidential Air Fleet.

Olukoyede said the EFCC secured the forfeiture within two months of filing its application before the court.

753 Housing Units Forfeited

The EFCC chairman also disclosed that the commission had secured the forfeiture of a property containing about 753 housing units from a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“That property contains about 753 housing units we forfeited from an erstwhile governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. We have criminal charges against him in about three courts,” he said.

57 Properties Traced to Former AGF

Olukoyede further disclosed that the EFCC had investigated allegations of criminal abuse of office involving Abubakar Malami, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

He said the investigation commenced last year following what he described as reasonable suspicion of criminal abuse of office.

According to him, the commission traced about 57 properties allegedly linked to Malami during his eight years in office and had secured the forfeiture of 48 of them.

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“Sometimes last year, I opened investigations upon reasonable suspicion of criminal abuse of office by the immediate past attorney-general of Nigeria,” he said.

“We discovered that within eight years of his being in office, we were able to trace about 57 such properties to him. We’ve been able to forfeit about 48.”

The EFCC chairman also cited the forfeiture of a private university allegedly linked to a director in the Federal Ministry of Health. He said the official voluntarily surrendered the property following an EFCC investigation.

Intelligence, Judiciary Key to Asset Recovery

Olukoyede attributed the commission’s success in securing non-conviction-based forfeiture orders to three major factors: the ability of investigators to trace assets, cooperation from the judiciary and access to credible intelligence.

He said several EFCC investigators had received training at leading institutions around the world, adding that the commission had some of the best investigators.

“We also have some of the best investigators around the world,” he said.

Olukoyede stressed that an effective and proactive judiciary was essential to the success of non-conviction-based forfeiture, while credible intelligence remained another critical component of the asset-recovery process.

EFCC Seeks Stronger Whistleblower Protection

The EFCC chairman also called for stronger protection and incentives for whistleblowers, particularly those who provide credible information leading to the recovery of allegedly stolen Nigerian assets located abroad.

“The citizens must be encouraged with your whistleblower protection,” he said.

He added that individuals who provide information leading to the recovery of stolen Nigerian assets could receive financial incentives.

“If any of you is privy to where Nigerian asset is stolen or taken to anywhere in the world, we have an incentive for you. Between 2.5 and 5 percent is going to go back to recovery of assets,” Olukoyede said.

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Osun APC Leaders Shun Tinubu’s Campaign Council Inauguration as Akande, Basiru Back Adeleke By Sayo Alagbe Prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State on Thursday stayed away from the inauguration of a 344-member campaign council established to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 presidential election. However, former Osun State Governor, Chief Adebisi Akande, led several APC chieftains to the ceremony, where Governor Ademola Adeleke inaugurated the council. Among the APC leaders who attended were the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru; former National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; former deputy governors Titi Laoye-Ponle and Lekan Adewoyin; Senator Babajide Omoworare; and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun. Others included the party’s Osun Central Senatorial Leader, Adeoye Adelakun; former members of the House of Representatives, Ajibola Famurewa and Bukola Oyewo; former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Afolabi; and former National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) Registrar, Professor Olu Aina. Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo; Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi; and Osun Accord Chairman, Victor Akande, also attended the event. However, several prominent APC figures were absent, including the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District; and the party’s governorship candidate in the 2026 election, Bola Oyebamiji. Other notable absentees included the Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal; former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye; member representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Oluwole Oke; Executive Director of Project Implementation at the Federal Housing Authority, Abuja, Remi Omowaiye; and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Adebayo Adeleke. Akande Calls for Tinubu’s Re-election Addressing the gathering, Akande urged eligible voters across the South-West to prioritise Tinubu’s re-election, describing the President’s second-term bid as an important political objective. He said the President, as a Yoruba son occupying Nigeria’s highest political office, deserved the support of the region to secure another term. “Today, we have one of our sons in Yorubaland as President of Nigeria, and he is entitled to two terms in office. We are all praying that he gets his second term,” Akande said. He added that he had been informed that Adeleke was expected to mobilise two million votes for Tinubu in Osun State on January 16, 2027. Akande, whose birthday falls on January 16, expressed the hope that the day would bring a successful electoral outcome for the President. Basiru Urges APC Leaders to Set Aside Differences In his remarks, Basiru urged APC stakeholders in Osun State to put aside personal ambitions and political disagreements and work with Adeleke to secure victory for Tinubu. He explained that the President’s decision to appoint Adeleke as the Osun coordinator of his re-election campaign should be respected by party members, regardless of their individual political interests. Basiru said he had rearranged his schedule to attend the inauguration before proceeding to Kaduna State for another engagement. According to him, the President’s re-election should take precedence over personal ambitions and political egos. “It is in President Tinubu’s wisdom that he chose Governor Adeleke as his campaign coordinator in Osun. For us in Osun State, irrespective of our feelings, ambitions and scheming, we must abide by the vision of President Bola Tinubu and support Governor Ademola Adeleke to be successful in this exercise,” he said. The APC National Secretary appealed to political stakeholders across the state to unite behind the governor and help deliver a substantial number of votes for Tinubu. “There is no ambition or ego that is greater than ensuring President Bola Tinubu is re-elected,” Basiru added. He also noted that increased financial resources available to subnational governments had created opportunities for states such as Osun to meet their expenditure obligations. Adeleke Targets More Than 1.5 Million Votes Adeleke, in his address, said the campaign council’s primary objective was to mobilise more than the 1.5 million votes previously pledged to Tinubu in Osun State. He described the alliance involving the Accord Party, APC and PDP political structures as a broad coalition capable of delivering a decisive victory for the President. The governor urged members of the council to work together, mobilise voters and pursue their shared objective of securing Tinubu’s re-election. “From the pain of the past, we must unite for the prosperity of the future. From unity in diversity, we must forge a new brotherhood behind our leader, Asiwaju Tinubu,” Adeleke said. He clarified, however, that the alliance was limited to the presidential election and would not extend to legislative contests. According to him, while the coalition partners would jointly support Tinubu’s presidential ambition, each political party would remain free to support its candidates in senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly elections. “What ties us together is the presidential, not the legislative, elections,” he stated. Adeleke also disclosed that discussions between the federal and state governments aimed at resolving the lingering local government crisis in Osun had reached an advanced stage. He expressed optimism that a resolution would be reached soon. Osun APC Vice Chairman Explains Absence of Party Leaders Adelakun, who spoke on behalf of the Osun APC chairman, suggested that some of the party leaders who were absent might not have received adequate information about the inauguration. He said those present would brief their colleagues on the proceedings and expressed confidence that the absent leaders remained committed to Tinubu’s re-election. Adelakun defended the coalition arrangement, arguing that collaboration among political parties was necessary to achieve the desired electoral outcome in Osun. “As APC alone, we have not won an election in the last three election cycles, and if we must give President Tinubu the required number of votes in Osun, we have to collaborate,” he said. He added that the President had acknowledged the importance of the political collaboration. APC Had Earlier Complained About Short Notice The inauguration came amid complaints by the Osun APC leadership that it had not been adequately consulted before the announcement of the campaign council. In a statement issued on Thursday, a few hours before the ceremony, Lawal said the party had not been formally informed about the inauguration beyond the publication of the council members’ names on social media by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed. Rasheed had announced the planned inauguration on Wednesday, listing several prominent APC figures among those expected to serve on the council. Those listed included Akande, Oyetola, Basiru, Oyebamiji, Omisore, Omoworare, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Foluke Etteh, Professor Sola Adeyeye, Yinka Ajayi, Ponle, Akintunde Adegboye and Mumini Olabanji. The announcement reportedly generated uncertainty among political stakeholders because, according to sources within the governor’s camp and the Osun APC, no formal meeting had been held to determine how the President’s re-election campaign would be coordinated in the state following Adeleke’s appointment. An APC source, who requested anonymity, said the party’s leaders had only become aware of the proposed arrangement through the published list. “The two camps have not met. We just saw the list like everyone in the state. There is uncertainty around it, but I can’t officially say what the APC reaction will be,” the source said. Lawal acknowledged that the party accepted Adeleke’s appointment as the state coordinator of Tinubu’s re-election campaign but insisted that the inauguration should have been properly scheduled and communicated to relevant stakeholders. He maintained that the re-election of the President was a collective responsibility requiring adequate consultation and respect for established political protocols. According to him, the short notice and lack of prior engagement with the state party leadership could create unnecessary friction between the APC and the appointed campaign coordinator. Lawal said the party was committed to Tinubu’s re-election but warned against arrangements that could undermine cooperation among stakeholders. He alleged that announcing the council members less than 24 hours before the inauguration, without prior consultation with the party leadership, could create avoidable misunderstandings between the APC and Adeleke. Despite the disagreement over the process, the inauguration proceeded with the participation of several APC chieftains and leaders from other political parties, underscoring the coalition’s stated objective of mobilising support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Current Events and News

Osun APC Leaders Shun Tinubu’s Campaign Council Inauguration as Akande, Basiru Back Adeleke By Sayo Alagbe Prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State on Thursday stayed away from the inauguration of a 344-member campaign council established to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 presidential election. However, former Osun State Governor, Chief Adebisi Akande, led several APC chieftains to the ceremony, where Governor Ademola Adeleke inaugurated the council. Among the APC leaders who attended were the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru; former National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; former deputy governors Titi Laoye-Ponle and Lekan Adewoyin; Senator Babajide Omoworare; and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun. Others included the party’s Osun Central Senatorial Leader, Adeoye Adelakun; former members of the House of Representatives, Ajibola Famurewa and Bukola Oyewo; former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Afolabi; and former National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) Registrar, Professor Olu Aina. Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo; Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi; and Osun Accord Chairman, Victor Akande, also attended the event. However, several prominent APC figures were absent, including the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District; and the party’s governorship candidate in the 2026 election, Bola Oyebamiji. Other notable absentees included the Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal; former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye; member representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Oluwole Oke; Executive Director of Project Implementation at the Federal Housing Authority, Abuja, Remi Omowaiye; and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Adebayo Adeleke. Akande Calls for Tinubu’s Re-election Addressing the gathering, Akande urged eligible voters across the South-West to prioritise Tinubu’s re-election, describing the President’s second-term bid as an important political objective. He said the President, as a Yoruba son occupying Nigeria’s highest political office, deserved the support of the region to secure another term. “Today, we have one of our sons in Yorubaland as President of Nigeria, and he is entitled to two terms in office. We are all praying that he gets his second term,” Akande said. He added that he had been informed that Adeleke was expected to mobilise two million votes for Tinubu in Osun State on January 16, 2027. Akande, whose birthday falls on January 16, expressed the hope that the day would bring a successful electoral outcome for the President. Basiru Urges APC Leaders to Set Aside Differences In his remarks, Basiru urged APC stakeholders in Osun State to put aside personal ambitions and political disagreements and work with Adeleke to secure victory for Tinubu. He explained that the President’s decision to appoint Adeleke as the Osun coordinator of his re-election campaign should be respected by party members, regardless of their individual political interests. Basiru said he had rearranged his schedule to attend the inauguration before proceeding to Kaduna State for another engagement. According to him, the President’s re-election should take precedence over personal ambitions and political egos. “It is in President Tinubu’s wisdom that he chose Governor Adeleke as his campaign coordinator in Osun. For us in Osun State, irrespective of our feelings, ambitions and scheming, we must abide by the vision of President Bola Tinubu and support Governor Ademola Adeleke to be successful in this exercise,” he said. The APC National Secretary appealed to political stakeholders across the state to unite behind the governor and help deliver a substantial number of votes for Tinubu. “There is no ambition or ego that is greater than ensuring President Bola Tinubu is re-elected,” Basiru added. He also noted that increased financial resources available to subnational governments had created opportunities for states such as Osun to meet their expenditure obligations. Adeleke Targets More Than 1.5 Million Votes Adeleke, in his address, said the campaign council’s primary objective was to mobilise more than the 1.5 million votes previously pledged to Tinubu in Osun State. He described the alliance involving the Accord Party, APC and PDP political structures as a broad coalition capable of delivering a decisive victory for the President. The governor urged members of the council to work together, mobilise voters and pursue their shared objective of securing Tinubu’s re-election. “From the pain of the past, we must unite for the prosperity of the future. From unity in diversity, we must forge a new brotherhood behind our leader, Asiwaju Tinubu,” Adeleke said. He clarified, however, that the alliance was limited to the presidential election and would not extend to legislative contests. According to him, while the coalition partners would jointly support Tinubu’s presidential ambition, each political party would remain free to support its candidates in senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly elections. “What ties us together is the presidential, not the legislative, elections,” he stated. Adeleke also disclosed that discussions between the federal and state governments aimed at resolving the lingering local government crisis in Osun had reached an advanced stage. He expressed optimism that a resolution would be reached soon. Osun APC Vice Chairman Explains Absence of Party Leaders Adelakun, who spoke on behalf of the Osun APC chairman, suggested that some of the party leaders who were absent might not have received adequate information about the inauguration. He said those present would brief their colleagues on the proceedings and expressed confidence that the absent leaders remained committed to Tinubu’s re-election. Adelakun defended the coalition arrangement, arguing that collaboration among political parties was necessary to achieve the desired electoral outcome in Osun. “As APC alone, we have not won an election in the last three election cycles, and if we must give President Tinubu the required number of votes in Osun, we have to collaborate,” he said. He added that the President had acknowledged the importance of the political collaboration. APC Had Earlier Complained About Short Notice The inauguration came amid complaints by the Osun APC leadership that it had not been adequately consulted before the announcement of the campaign council. In a statement issued on Thursday, a few hours before the ceremony, Lawal said the party had not been formally informed about the inauguration beyond the publication of the council members’ names on social media by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed. Rasheed had announced the planned inauguration on Wednesday, listing several prominent APC figures among those expected to serve on the council. Those listed included Akande, Oyetola, Basiru, Oyebamiji, Omisore, Omoworare, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Foluke Etteh, Professor Sola Adeyeye, Yinka Ajayi, Ponle, Akintunde Adegboye and Mumini Olabanji. The announcement reportedly generated uncertainty among political stakeholders because, according to sources within the governor’s camp and the Osun APC, no formal meeting had been held to determine how the President’s re-election campaign would be coordinated in the state following Adeleke’s appointment. An APC source, who requested anonymity, said the party’s leaders had only become aware of the proposed arrangement through the published list. “The two camps have not met. We just saw the list like everyone in the state. There is uncertainty around it, but I can’t officially say what the APC reaction will be,” the source said. Lawal acknowledged that the party accepted Adeleke’s appointment as the state coordinator of Tinubu’s re-election campaign but insisted that the inauguration should have been properly scheduled and communicated to relevant stakeholders. He maintained that the re-election of the President was a collective responsibility requiring adequate consultation and respect for established political protocols. According to him, the short notice and lack of prior engagement with the state party leadership could create unnecessary friction between the APC and the appointed campaign coordinator. Lawal said the party was committed to Tinubu’s re-election but warned against arrangements that could undermine cooperation among stakeholders. He alleged that announcing the council members less than 24 hours before the inauguration, without prior consultation with the party leadership, could create avoidable misunderstandings between the APC and Adeleke. Despite the disagreement over the process, the inauguration proceeded with the participation of several APC chieftains and leaders from other political parties, underscoring the coalition’s stated objective of mobilising support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

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