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2019: Ondo APC Members Protest, Reject Senatorial Candidate

Published

8 years ago

November 2, 2018

Eric

Thousands of members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ondo State on Thursday took to the street of Ore, the headquarters of the Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, to protest against the alleged imposition of Senator Yele Omogunwa as the candidate of the party in the Ondo Senatorial District.

Senator Omogunwa, who is currently representing the Ondo South Senatorial District at the upper chamber of the National Assembly, was alleged to have been imposed on the members of the party in the district by the National Working Committee of the APC. The senator was given an automatic ticket to be the candidate of the party in the 2019 senatorial election.

Omogunwa was elected into the Senate in 2015 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party but he later joined the APC in 2016 shortly before the governorship election in the state.

The protesters, who were from the six local government areas of the district, converged on the party secretariat in Ore with different placards with inscriptions, saying the party would lose in the senatorial district if Omogunwa remained the candidate.

The placards had inscriptions such as “Ondo South Rejects Yele Omogunwa”, “Ondo South says No to imposition”, “Ondo South APC says No to Yele Omogunwa”, “Omogunwa is a liability, no more second term”, and “We demand a replacement for Omogunwa”, among others.

The leader of the protesters and an APC leader in the district, Mr Olatunbosun James, said members of the party were concerned with the victory at the poll in 2019, adding that the party would suffer defeat if Senator Omogunwa was fielded as the party’s candidate.

James also noted that the rejection of Omogunwa’s candidature would affect the chances of President Muhammadu Buhari at the 2019 presidential election in the senatorial district.

He alleged that the senator had failed the people of the senatorial district, adding that he was a dormant representative of the district in the Senate.

He said, “The fact is incontrovertible that our senatorial district is suffering from misrepresentation at present in the red chamber. Yele Omogunwa, the man positioned to represent us, is nothing but a political misfit. Under his watch, our district suffered untold and unbearable hardship including the extant infamous electricity blackout ravaging the land.

“Senator Omogunwa is identified with incompetence and his candidature becomes unsellable because we deserve better representation in Ondo South which lay the golden egg for the state and the country. Yele has become analogue and the best thing to do for President Buhari and the party to win in 2019 is to replace him with a more competent fellow before it will be too late.

“We reject his candidature; we don’t want him because he has failed us in the last three and half years. He has no capacity to win the Senate election for APC and that will affect the president on the day of the election.”

James also called on the National Working Committee and the National Chairman of the party, Mr Adams Oshiomhole and other party leaders to replace Omogunwa for a better and more competent candidate in the interest of the party and the senatorial district.

However, the embattled Senator Omogunwa, in a statement, said the protest was sponsored by some aggrieved aspirants of the party.

“As far as I am concerned, the sponsored protest coming amid my concerted effort to reconcile all cleavages within the party in the district is highly regrettable and unconscionably misdirected and mischievous in all ramifications,” he stated.

The Punch

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Certificate Forgery: Group Seeks Tinubu’s Disqualification from 2027 Election

Published

1 day ago

June 29, 2026

Eric

The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Kano seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over allegations of certificate forgery.

‎According to court documents seen by Daily Trust, the plaintiff alleged that Tinubu presented forged academic certificates from Chicago State University and a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 elections.

‎‎The suit, marked FHC/K/CS/312/2026, lists Tinubu, INEC, and Chicago State University as defendants.

‎The plaintiff contended that Tinubu never attended Government College Lagos as claimed, noting that the school was established in 1974, four years after Tinubu allegedly graduated.

The CSO further argued that Tinubu does not possess a valid secondary school certificate, which is the minimum constitutional requirement to contest for the presidency.

‎It claimed that INEC had failed to act on its petition dated June 19, 2026, demanding clarification on Tinubu’s eligibility.

‎‎In its statement of claims, the group referenced a 2023 U.S. court ruling in In Re: Application of Atiku Abubakar (No. 23 CV 05099), which compelled Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records.

‎The plaintiff insisted those records revealed false entries and inconsistencies, including a forged University of Cambridge General Certificate of Education.

‎The prayers asked by the plaintiff included declaration of forgery against Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate, issuance of an order directing INEC to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election, directing CSU to strike Tinubu’s name from its records and perpetual injunction restraining INEC from uploading Tinubu’s name as a candidate.

‎The plaintiff also submitted affidavits of non-multiplicity of action, witness statements, and letters to the NYSC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, demanding disclaimers on the alleged fake NYSC certificate.

Featured

Lagos Island Red Cross Holds Annual Thanksgiving Service

Published

2 days ago

June 28, 2026

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The Lagos Island Division of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, has held its 2026 Annual Thanksgiving, to express gratitude for another year of provision of succor and comfort to as many that are in need.

The thanksgiving service, which was held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, on the last Sunday of June, was led by the Division Coordinator, Chief (Olori) Aderonke Elegushi.

Speaking to The Boss on the activities of the Island Division of the Red Cross over the years, Olori Elegushi noted that it has been a thing of joy to be at the forefront of releasing the milk of human kindness to as many that needs it, and when they need it.

Coordinator, Lagos Island Division Nigerian Red Cross Society, Chief (Olori) Aderonke Elegushi (m), Vice Coordinator Abimbola Adeshile (2nd left), Secretary Ajibola Adu (2md right) and Saheed Ayinde Yusuf (1st right)

“This is what I love to do, and this is what the Red Cross is all about; lending helping hand and spreading love across borders, especially here in Lagos Island.

“In everything, we won’t forget our Maker, the Almighty God, through whose power we are able to do the little and much we can do. That explains why we here today to give thanks as it’s a tradition every year,” Olori Elegushi said.

Olori Elegushi also noted that as an not for profit organization, the Society seeks support well-meaning Nigerians and Lagosians to come to their aid so that the gospel of continuous lending of helping hand to the needy will continue unabated.

“We also seek the support of well-meaning individuals, organizations, and the Church in our efforts to expand our humanitarian activities. With adequate funding and partnerships, we can organize first aid and health awareness programmes for public school students, train more volunteers, equip communities with emergency preparedness skills, and carry out outreach programmes that will positively impact lives across our society,” she concluded.

Olori Elegushi, who will soon join the octogenarian club, was accompanied at the thanksgiving event, by Vice Coordinator Abimbola Adeshile, Secretary Ajibola Adu, Saheed Ayinde Yusuf, and a host of other members, dressed in their sparkling white uniform.

The Red Cross Society is an international organizational saddled with the responsibility of providing healthcare services among other humanitarian services to the people of the world. The Society is domiciled in every part of the world.

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Insecurity: Adeboye, Oyedepo Urge More US Military Action in Nigeria

Published

3 days ago

June 28, 2026

Eric

The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, have thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for recent military action against terrorism in Nigeria, urging Washington to do more to halt the unrelenting attacks.

Both clerics spoke at the “Faith Heroes Award Gala” in Washington D.C. on June 26, 2026, organised by Save Nigeria Group USA, SNGUSA, with the US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition.

The event honoured Trump, Congressmen Chris Smith and Riley Moore, and other advocates of religious freedom in Nigeria.

Addressing a packed audience of activists, policymakers and faith leaders at the Hilton Garden Inn, Capitol Hill, Adeboye said the scale of violence has moved beyond what any religious leader can handle alone.

“Terrorism is now at my doorstep,” he said. “If you want to help us, help us more.”

The RCCG leader, who had faced criticism for not speaking out earlier, said he chose “spiritual warfare” instead of public escalation. He noted that Trump’s December strikes on terrorist camps did not surprise him because the U.S. President had warned of consequences.