Headline

Osun Guber Rerun: Omisore, the New Bride

Published

8 years ago

September 25, 2018

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Following the inconclusive nature of the Osun State governorship election held last Saturday which pitched the candidates of the Peoples Progressives Party (PDP) Ademola Adeleke and All Progressives Congress (APC), Gboyega Oyetola against each other in a rerun election fixed for Thursday, September, 27, 2018, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Iyiola Omisore, has suddenly turned the most sort after bride of Osun politics.

With a total vote of 254, 698 to beat his closest rival from the APC with 254, 345, the PDP candidate was denied the mantle yet as the electoral law suggest that the difference in both votes is much less than the total number of cancelled votes, which INEC put at over 3, 000. As a result, there is no clear winner. A clear winner will however, be determined after a rerun is conducted on Thursday in some polling units where elections were cancelled.

The units, according to INEC, include two in Orolu Local Government Area, one in Ife South Local Government Area, one in Ife North Local Government Area and one in Osogbo Local Government Area.

As a result, the SDP candidate, who hails from Ife, has suddenly become a most sort after bride as the two parties are clamouring for his attention believing that he has the ability to sway votes to any party he gives his green light, given that two of his areas of influence are among the determining units

It was gathered that the PDP had already initiated discussions with Omisore towards winning the two units in his stronghold of Ife as a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, had reportedly spoken with Omisore on the need for him to support the PDP candidate in the rerun.

Fani-Kayode, who is also from Ile Ife like the former deputy governor, confirmed that he had spoken with both Omisore and Adeleke on the issue which bordered on how to “bury the ruling party in the state on Thursday.”

Apart from Omisore, the PDP was however, said to be planning to meet with candidates of other political parties that had what a source described as a “worthy outing” during the election on Saturday. This move has already swayed the candidate of the ADC, Fatai Akinbade to his their side.

Fani-Kayode said, “Yes, it is true that I have spoken with my brother, Senator Omisore, and our (PDP) candidate, Senator Adeleke, on the issue.

“I can tell you confidently that both of them are receptive to the idea and I can tell you that we are going to meet together to discuss working relationship before Thursday.

“We are not talking about any condition. We are doing all these for the love of our party and our people. We need to liberate the state from the vultures and invaders of our commonwealth. By the grace of God, we shall do it.”

The President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, who also heads the party’s 85-member governorship campaign council in the state, was in the state to visit Omisore, who promised to give his support any of the parties that can guarantee good governance for the people of Osun State.

Omisore came third during the election with over 120, 000 votes, and is believed to command some influence in most of the units were the rerun elections will be held on Saturday.

It is the party that meet Omisore’s condition that may eventually carry the day.

Headline

UK Court Acquittal: Diezani Goes Spiritual, Says God Will Always Be God

Published

3 days ago

June 18, 2026

Eric

Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has reacted to her acquittal by a London court after bribery charges brought against her were dismissed.

The Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday acquitted the former minister of all charges, including five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Reacting to the judgment, Alison-Madueke expressed relief and said she and her family had endured years of emotional distress over the case.

Speaking to News Central, she said she has remained in the United Kingdom since the legal proceedings began 11 years ago.

She said: “I’m just thankful to God, it’s been arduous, almost 11 years. It’s been traumatic not just for me but for my family, friends, my 93-year-old mother in Port Harcourt and for my son.

“It has been a hard journey, but I tell you this, God will always do as He will. God will be God and God is not a man that He should lie; when He promises you something, He will see it through.

“For almost 11 years I have been here. I did my job to the best of my ability.”

Headline

I Never Saw Report that Led to Natasha’s Suspension, Says Ireti Kingibe

Published

3 days ago

June 18, 2026

Eric

The lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), at the Senate, Ireti Kingibe, says she did not see any report that led to the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Kingibe made this disclosure on Wednesday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

She said she was at a retreat with Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, when she heard about the report.

“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension. I was at a retreat. I had earlier stated that I was there with three or four other senators who are members of the committee.

“We attended the Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints, signed the attendance register, and I later left for the tax reform retreat, which I considered more important at the time.

“It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator, and I figured that the other people who were not part of that committee would take care of it.

“I even complained to other Senators, specifically to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. I complained to him very bitterly that I had not seen that report. I didn’t see it then. I have not seen it till now,” she said.

Headline

UK Court Clears Ex-Petroleum Minister Alison-Madueke of All Corruption Charges

Published

4 days ago

June 17, 2026

Eric

Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke was on Wednesday found not guilty by a London jury of six bribery charges, after ‌a rare corruption trial of a high-profile former energy official.

Alison-Madueke, minister for petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-president Goodluck Jonathan, stood trial charged with five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denied.

Prosecutors ⁠alleged Alison-Madueke, 65, was given “a life of luxury” in London from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria, which has long grappled with mismanagement and corruption.

But the former minister, who was also briefly president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said she never took any bribes and had no real influence over the awarding of lucrative government contracts.

After a trial at London’s Southwark ‌Crown ⁠Court, Alison-Madueke was acquitted by a jury of all six charges she faced after more than 46 hours of deliberation.

The not guilty verdicts are a major blow to British authorities, which began their investigation into corruption allegations against Alison-Madueke ⁠more than a decade ago.

Alison-Madueke stood trial alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who was charged with one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke ⁠and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official.

Alison-Madueke’s brother Doye Agama, 69, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery ⁠with his sister relating to payments made to Agama’s church.

Both Ayinde and Agama denied the charges against them and were also acquitted by the jury.

Source: Reuters