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The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma; Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo and Kogi Governor, Ahmed Usman, have arrived in Osogbo for the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally.

Ondo Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and member of the House of Representatives representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, have also arrived for the mega rally scheduled for Thursday.

The high-profile political gathering is part of the APC’s final mobilisation efforts for its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The arrival of the party’s senior leaders and governors is expected to further energise the APC campaign as the party intensifies its grassroots mobilisation across the state.

The mega rally, coming on the final day of the official campaign period, is expected to attract APC leaders, supporters, campaign coordinators and members from across the 30 local government areas of Osun.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed August 13 as the deadline for campaigns ahead of the election, following the adjustment of the poll date from August 8 to 15.

The APC leadership is using the final stretch of the campaign to consolidate support for Mr Oyebamiji, who emerged as the party’s candidate after its governorship primary held in Osogbo.

It was gathered that the visiting governors and other APC leaders had also commenced engagements with party members and supporters, including indigenes of their respective states resident in Osun, as part of efforts to mobilise additional support for the party’s candidate.

The mobilisation is expected to complement the APC’s existing grassroots structures across the state as the party seeks to translate its campaign activities into votes for Mr Oyebamiji on Saturday.

Mr Oyebamiji, a former managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has been campaigning on the platform of the APC and repeatedly called on voters to support his bid to return the state to development.

The mega rally is expected to serve as the APC’s major show of strength before the campaign window closes at midnight on Thursday.

With the election only days away, the APC is seeking to consolidate its support base, reach undecided voters and strengthen its mobilisation machinery ahead of the poll.

(NAN)

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cried out over an alleged plan to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

The party, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it had received what it described as “credible reports” of moves to arrest the former Osun State governor in the days leading to the poll.

The ADC expressed concern that such an action could be intended to disrupt its campaign and election-day activities, particularly Aregbesola’s role in coordinating the party’s efforts.

“Given the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions that has increasingly characterised the conduct of this government towards the opposition, we cannot afford to dismiss these reports,” Abdullahi said.

Aregbesola, who governed Osun between 2010 and 2018 and later served as Minister of the Interior, is currently the national secretary of the opposition party.

The ADC expressed concern that such an action could be intended to disrupt its campaign and election-day activities, particularly Aregbesola’s role in coordinating the party’s efforts.

The ADC said any invitation by security agencies should follow due process, given Aregbesola’s political status and previous public offices.

“Ogbeni Aregbesola is a former Governor of Osun State, a former Minister of the Federal Republic and the National Secretary of the opposition political party. If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,” the party said.

It warned that arresting him shortly before the election could be interpreted as an attempt to weaken the party’s participation in the poll.

“An arrest on the eve of an election in which his party is participating would invite only one reasonable conclusion: that the purpose is to prevent him from leading and coordinating the party’s election activities,” the statement added.

The opposition party consequently urged the Federal Government and security agencies to avoid actions capable of undermining the credibility of the election.

“The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said, urging authorities to uphold democratic principles.

“Whatever happens before, during and after Saturday’s election will be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken now.”

The ADC also called on the APC-led Federal Government to avoid measures that could heighten political tension in the state.

“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” Abdullahi said.

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A group operating under the aegis of the Plateau North Coalition has rejected the proposed one-term agenda by Kefas Ropshik of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and endorsed Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for a second term in 2027.

The group said its position was aimed at ensuring the smooth running of governance and maintaining the zoning arrangement in Plateau State.

In a press statement issued in Jos and signed by Gyang Dalyop Pam and Ajik Agwom, the coalition said the people of Plateau could not trust Ropshik with political office, arguing that he had not previously been entrusted with any political position, hence his assertion will violate to zoning arrengement in the state.

The group also commended Governor Mutfwang for his courage, resilience and equitable distribution of infrastructure across the state. It argued that introducing a new candidate from Plateau Central at this critical point in the state’s history would amount to taking Plateau backwards.

“The people of Plateau North cannot trust any politician from Plateau Central at the moment apart from Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, who has shown leadership qualities and demonstrated that Plateau can be governed on the basis of equity, fairness and justice,” the statement said.

The coalition maintained that Plateau State could not afford to take any action that would undermine the progress recorded under the current administration.

“We cannot take any action at this moment that will take Plateau State backwards. Plateau North is willing to support Governor Mutfwang to complete his second tenure and hand over to Plateau North. We are not in for stories at this moment, and Kefas Ropshik cannot be trusted for a single term,” the group stated.

The group therefore called on the people of Plateau North, and Plateau State at large, to support Governor Mutfwang’s second-term bid, arguing that his completion of another term would help preserve the state’s zoning arrangement and ensure continuity in governance.