ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The decision, dubbed the ‘Ibadan Declaration’, was the central focus of a high-stakes national summit of opposition political parties held on Saturday, 25 April 2026, in the Oyo State capital.

Fourteen opposition parties have collectively agreed to field one presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

The opposition political parties which participated in the summit included the PDP, ADC, PRP, NNPP, NDC, LP, APP, Accord, APM, AA, DLA, YP, ADP, and ZLP.

Reading the communiqué on behalf of the participating chairmen, the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Taminu Turaki (SAN), declared that the move was an existential necessity to rescue Nigeria from the stranglehold of the APC.

The opposition bloc made it clear that its primary objective is to prevent the emergence of a one-party state. Despite what they described as the APC’s manoeuvres to position President Bola Tinubu as a sole presidential candidate for 2027, the coalition vowed to fight back through a unified ticket.

“We shall work towards fielding one presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, which shall be agreed and supported by all participating opposition parties to rescue our nation and her long-suffering masses,” the communiqué stated.

The summit also launched a scathing attack on the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It passed a vote of no confidence in the INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, accusing him of blatant partisanship toward the ruling party.

The declaration warned that Amupitan’s continued stay in office is vexatious and could trigger a national crisis. The summit demanded that Amupitan be replaced by a neutral figure to guarantee a credible process.

The Ibadan Declaration outlined several critical demands aimed at levelling the playing field. The National Assembly was urged to immediately strip the Electoral Act 2026 of clauses that allegedly threatened the sanctity of elections.

The parties slammed recent INEC guidelines as engineered obstacles and demanded that the deadline for party primaries be extended to the end of July 2026.

The communiqué called for the immediate release of leading politicians currently being allegedly harassed or detained on bailable offences, framing their detention as a violation of fundamental rights.

The opposition leaders commended the resilience of Nigerians in the face of what they termed state capture. They expressed a renewed commitment to multiparty democracy and swore to resist any machinations intended to stifle political competition.

The summit also appreciated the host, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, whose state served as the backdrop for what many delegates described as an epochal event in the journey toward the 2027 polls.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Fire has razed a police station and three residential buildings in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The police station, according to sources, is located at Kara in Akinyele local government area of the state.

An eye-witness account says that a patrol van, motorcycles and other items were affected.

Meanwhile, three residential buildings located in three different areas within Ibadan were also razed, on Friday.

The ground floor of one of the buildings located at No.19, Omigade street, Robert junction, Ososami in Ibadan.

A residential building in the Moniya area and another at the Alakia area were also affected by the fire.

Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande confirmed the incidents.

On the police station, Akinwande said, “On getting to the scene, it was a patrol van and seven motorcycles that were engulfed by fire. Our officers quickly launched a coordinated attack, restricted the fire from spreading to the police station’s building and other properties”.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The South West Zonal meeting and press conference of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has showcased newly elected chairmen from the six states in the region.

The development was disclosed in a statement signed by Abosede Busayo Oluwaseun, Osun ADC State Publicity Secretary (Elect), on Saturday after the meeting held at Ibadan Business School in Old Bodija, Ibadan.

According to the statement, “the meeting formally presented the chairmen who emerged through a credible and transparent processes following the party’s recent State Congresses conducted earlier in April across the South West states.”

Participants at the meeting expressed appreciation to Rauf Aregbesola for his leadership in overseeing the activities of the Zonal Executive Committee.

The party also commended other zonal leaders for their contributions, noting that their efforts had strengthened internal cohesion within the ADC in the region.

The statement praised the conduct of the congresses, describing them as smooth, transparent and credible under the guidance of the National Secretary and the National Chairman, David Mark.

It added that “the outcome of the congresses reflected the party’s commitment to internal democracy and due process in its organisational structure.”

The meeting noted that “the ADC had continued to witness growth, with members from the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and New Nigeria Peoples Party aligning with the party.”

According to the statement, “the growing support base reflects a shared commitment among members to address challenges facing Nigerians under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The ADC reaffirmed its commitment to restoring governance and economic opportunities to citizens, stating that its policies would prioritise the welfare of the common people.

It also emphasised its resolve to “enhance the safety of lives and property across the South West, with a focus on addressing kidnapping and armed banditry.”

The party called on citizens in the region to join its ranks, urging members to intensify grassroots mobilisation efforts aimed at restoring hope and strengthening democratic governance.