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2027: Nine PDP aspirants battle for Oyo gov ticket
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has tasked his advisory council with engaging credible candidates among the Peoples Democratic Party aspirants for the 2027 governorship election.
Investigation by The PUNCH on Sunday revealed that the council, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Bolaji Ayorinde, has been mandated to interact with all governorship aspirants under the umbrella of the ruling PDP and provide recommendations for a candidate in continuation of Omituntun 3.0.
Makinde’s decision, according to the investigation, was aimed at giving all aspirants the opportunity to showcase their plans and ideas while ensuring a level playing field.
Invitation letters have reportedly been sent to all aspirants.
Some of the aspirants who have responded include a member of the House of Representatives representing Ibadan South-West/North-East, Adedeji Olajide (Odidiomo); State Chairman of Universal Basic Education, Nureni Adeniran; former Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Planning during the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration, Bimbo Adekanmbi; state Chairman of the Agribusiness Development Agency, Debo Akande; and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, among others.
Confirming the development in Ibadan, the state capital, on Sunday, Ayorinde said the exercise was not a screening of candidates but an interaction to understand their plans for the state.
He added that by the close of Saturday’s session, nine aspirants had interacted with the council.
“It is not a screening exercise. It is an interaction between the advisory council and the aspirants. We do not want a situation where there will be any form of imposition from any quarter.
“With the cooperation of the governor, the council, which I chair, is interacting with all the aspirants just to understand their plans for the state.
“Because of that, we have invited all of them, and they have responded individually. They are fantastic aspirants,” Ayorinde said.
The legal luminary expressed optimism that the governor would still engage other stakeholders, including party leaders and traditional rulers, to seek their views before any candidate emerges, to ensure the choice is widely acceptable.
He reiterated that the council was not screening or interrogating the aspirants and would not discredit or disqualify any aspirant, as it had no such authority.
Ayorinde added, “The job of the council is to advise the governor, as a listening leader who is committed to a free and fair process and a level playing field for all the aspirants.”
He explained that the idea of the “interaction” was conceived by the council and approved by the governor, noting that it was the council’s contribution to the democratic development of the state.
“When we are done, I know the governor will still engage all other stakeholders, including party leaders and traditional rulers, so that whosoever emerges will be acceptable to all.
“We do not want a situation where anyone who emerges later will not be acceptable to all stakeholders.
“We are not screening or interrogating them. We are having discussions with them to understand their ideas, visions, and programmes for the state after Governor Makinde.
“When we are done, we will write and send our report to the governor as a council. It is our job to advise the governor, and the governor, as a listening leader, is committed to a free and fair process and a level playing field for all party aspirants,” he said.
Asked if the idea was approved by the governor, Ayorinde said, “If he did not like it, he would not allow it,” adding that the governor also wanted all aspirants to have an equal chance to present and promote themselves openly.
“At the moment, nine aspirants have appeared before the council. There may be a few more coming tomorrow. The process has been rigorous, and the engagement has been intense and deep. This is our contribution to the democratic development of our state,” he explained.
Two major gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State, Mr Adebayo Adelabu and Barrister Sharafadeen Alli, have picked the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The duo picked the forms on Wednesday in Abuja.
Adelabu is the immediate past Minister of Power and hails from Ibadan.
Alli, on the other hand, currently represents Oyo South Senatorial District on the platform of the APC.
He is also an indigene of Ibadan, the state capital.
Recall that Adelabu’s Personal Assistant, Mr Ajiboye, picked up the form on behalf of his boss at the APC Secretariat in Abuja.
Alli, on his part, collected the form himself in Abuja.
Alli was accompanied by some members of the House of Representatives, among whom were Remi Oseni, Akeem Adeyemi, Olamiju Alao-Akala, and Akin Alabi.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has urged the government of South Africa to step up protection for Nigerians and other black immigrants following reports of renewed xenophobic violence.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, April 29, NIDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa warned that the situation had worsened despite earlier diplomatic engagements between both countries.
According to the commission, recent reports suggest children of Nigerian descent are now afraid to attend school, while business owners are reluctant to open their shops for fear of looting, harassment and targeted attacks. Community leaders have also documented fresh incidents of violence and intimidation within the past 72 hours.
NIDCOM appealed to South African authorities to take “urgent and visible steps” to safeguard foreign nationals, citing obligations under international law and African Union protocols on free movement and human rights.
The commission rejected what it described as the profiling of Nigerians, stressing that crime should be treated as an individual matter. “Crime has no nationality,” the statement said, adding that offenders should be prosecuted under South African law rather than entire communities being stigmatised.
Among its demands, NIDCOM called for increased police patrols in areas where Nigerians live and work, swift arrests and prosecutions of perpetrators, and the creation of a joint Nigeria-South Africa community safety forum involving police, city officials and diaspora leaders.
The commission also urged South African authorities to issue clear public messages condemning xenophobia and stereotyping.
Nigerians living in South Africa were advised to remain law-abiding and avoid high-risk areas after dark. NIDCOM said it is in contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, the consulate in Johannesburg, and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
While condemning the attacks, the commission praised the majority of South Africans who continue to live peacefully with other Africans, expressing confidence in the longstanding ties between both nations and pledging continued diplomatic engagement to protect Nigerians abroad.
The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the dismissal and prosecution of officers involved in the fatal shooting of Mr. Mene Ogidi in Effurun, Delta State, following the tragic incident that occurred on April 26, 2026.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, directed the immediate withdrawal of all officers linked to the incident from the Delta State Command to Force Headquarters, Abuja, where they underwent accelerated disciplinary proceedings.
The statement revealed that the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), after a thorough review, found that the principal officer, ASP Nuhu Usman, acted in gross violation of Force Order 237 and other established regulations guiding the use of firearms.
The committee described his actions as unlawful, unprofessional, and a serious betrayal of the oath sworn to protect lives and uphold the law.
Following the findings, the FDC recommended the immediate dismissal of ASP Nuhu Usman and other officers found culpable in the incident.
The Inspector-General of Police has since approved the recommendation and forwarded it to the Police Service Commission for ratification in line with due process.
The Force also confirmed that upon completion of the administrative procedures, the affected officers would be handed over to the appropriate judicial authorities for prosecution over their roles in the extrajudicial killing.
Reaffirming the Force’s stance, the IGP stated that the Nigeria Police Force maintains zero tolerance for extrajudicial actions and abuse of power, stressing that no officer has the right to take life outside the provisions of the law.
He emphasized that any officer found violating this principle would face the full weight of disciplinary and legal consequences.
The Inspector-General also extended his condolences to the family of the deceased, Mr. Mene Ogidi, assuring them that the matter would not be treated lightly and that justice would be served transparently to restore public confidence.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding, while assuring citizens of the Force’s commitment to professionalism, discipline, and the protection of the rights and dignity of all Nigerians.
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