Makinde

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has selected former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.

The announcement was made on Thursday at the APM national convention held at the Government House in Bauchi.

A statement by Dotun Oyelade, Oyo State Commissioner for Information, said Makinde unveiled Daura as his choice for the vice-presidential slot at the gathering.

Makinde said the former DSS chief was selected in response to the security challenges facing the country. He expressed confidence that Daura’s experience would help address the insecurity affecting Nigerians.

The governor also said he was prepared to tackle the country’s worsening poverty situation, which he attributed to poorly implemented policies over the past three years.

The APM candidate said his administration would seek cooperation with politicians who share his vision as part of efforts to improve the country after the 2027 election.

Makinde declared his intention to contest the presidency on May 14 at a joint mega-rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APM in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

At the time, he said his decision to seek the presidency was driven by the need to reset the country. He also maintained that the challenge extended beyond securing victory at the polls, as Nigerians deserved a genuine opportunity to determine the nation’s direction.

Daura served as DSS Director-General from July 2015 until August 2018. His tenure ended after he was reportedly removed over a controversial DSS operation at the National Assembly complex.

Before his latest political move, Daura was an aspirant for the governorship ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Katsina State.

He resigned from the ADC on Sunday and announced plans to join the APM. He cited what he described as injustice and instability within the party as reasons for his departure.

Daura’s selection by Makinde marks another major development in the political realignment ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

By Anwar Usman

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has shared evidence proving that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, received N50 billion from the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu.

According to Fayose, the money was approved as emergency support after the deadly explosion that occurred in Ibadan in January 2024.

Governor Makinde had earlier denied this accusation and challenged Fayose to provide proof.

Sequel to that, Fayose released the documents and claimed that only N4.5 billion from the funds was given to people affected by the explosion.

He alleged that the remaining money was used to support Makinde’s alleged plan to run for president.

In a statement signed by Fayose said, he made the documents available to public so Nigerians could decide for themselves whether the Oyo State Government has been truthful.

Fayose also dared Makinde to take legal action against him, while insisting that there are records showing that other financial support sent to Oyo State by Tinubu’s administration was never disclosed to the public.

More over, Fayose claimed he has documents revealing the true Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Oyo State, which he said is different from what the governor has publicly stated.

The statement in part reads, “Meanwhile, only N4.5bn was released to victims of the Ibadan Explosion. Rather, he diverted this fund and many others to his Presidential ambition, which is the reason for the crisis in the PDP and his attacks on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his government.‎‎

“Also, there are documentary evidences on the actual Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Oyo State, as against Governor Makinde’s claim, but we will keep our gunpowder dry for now. My name is still Ayo Fayose, I don’t say what I can’t prove.”

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC), led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken drastic disciplinary actions against several high-profile members.

At its 103rd NEC meeting held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the faction announced the expulsion of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; and Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal.

Prominent chieftain, Chief Bode George, was also expelled.Furthermore, the committee ratified the suspension of several other leaders, including former Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; Senator Kabiru Tanimu Turaki; and the Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja.

In a sweeping move, the NEC also ratified the dissolution of the State Executive Councils in Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, Edo, and Ekiti States.

Presenting the memo for the expulsion, the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, stated that the action was a consequence of the affected members’ disregard for court judgements.

He argued that their actions had brought the party into disrepute.These decisions mark a significant escalation in the internal crisis rocking the main opposition party.

By Uzair Adam Imam

In an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, Mr. Samuel Oyetayo, aged 35, faced charges on Monday for allegedly forging the Oyo Government hackney permit and ticket.

Oyetayo, whose address remains undisclosed, stood trial for a count charge related to forgery of the Oyo Government hackney permit.

Despite the accusation, he pleaded not guilty.According to the prosecutor, Insp Toyin Ibrahim, the defendant committed the offense on May 1, in the vicinity of Dugbe, Ibadan.

It was alleged that Oyetayo forged the Oyo Government hackney permit and ticket without proper governmental authorization.

The offense was cited as a violation of Section 467 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

Magistrate Mrs. Kausarat Ayofe granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000, along with two sureties in a similar amount.

The case was adjourned until June 24 for further hearing.