Headline

Tinubu’s ‘Lagosnisation’ of Nigeria

Published

2 years ago

September 23, 2023

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

While Nigerians had bargained a clear departure from former President Muhammadu Buhari’s subtle agenda of cronyism, nepotism and fulanisation, the present crop of administration is replete with something worse than that, considering the policies and appointment decisions of the substantive President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

While a large chunk of the president’s appointment has concentrated on the South West, his native Yoruba origin, observers have said that though the appointees ear Yoruba names, but their their appointments do not reflect the region but favours a certain group known as the Lagos Boys, a clear indication that Tinubu is on a short run to create a theory of Lagosnisation of Nigeria.

The agenda, which has become so obvious even as Nigerians have started to complain, has in its wake men and women with whom a respondent says Tinubu had used to hold bound Lagos in over 24 years of return to democratic rule.

“The intention of this Lagosnisation principle is not far from caging the country as he did Lagos since 1999. Nithing good is coming out of it. The administration is just a transfer of the Lagos boys to Aso Rock, Abuja,” the respondent told The Boss.

Another noted that apart from.the mandatory one state per minister althea constitution prescribed, other appointments have tilted to the South West, notably the cronies from Lagos.

It is important to note that all the juicy ministerial, agencies and parastatal positions, especially as refers to revenue and economy have gone to the boys from Lagos.

Among the cronies are:

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff

The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila has been with Tinubu since the days of Alliance for Democracy, and has been elected for six consecutive terms to represent the people of Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos in the National Assembly.

Under Tinubu’s tutelage, he contested and lost the speakership of the 8th assembly, but was elected on his next try as the 9th assembly speaker.

Olayemi Michael Cardoso, Givernor, Central Bank of Nigeria

Cardoso served as the first commissioner/cabinet member for Economic Planning and Budget for Lagos State when Tinu was the governor. He has also served on the board of several leading companies including Texaco and Chevron Oil Plc.

Dr. Yemi Cardoso is a financial and development expert with over thirty years of experience in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.

He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Citibank Nigeria.

Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals

Alake served as Commissioner for Information and Strategy of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007 when under the administration of Tinubu as governor.

Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy

Edun was appointed the Lagos State Commissioner for Finance in 1999 by then governor, Bola Tinubu. He was in office till 2004.

Hakeem Muri Okuola, PPS Personal Physician to Tinubu

In the run off to the 2023 general elections, speculations were rife that Muri-Okunola, a one time Personal Assistant to Tinubu (2003 – 2005) during his governor days in Lagos State, would be replacing Sanwo-Olu as Lagos State Governor. However, rumors had it that Tinubu, as the Lagos kingmaker, later changed his mind after considering some variables.

He was later made the Executive Secretary to the Governor, Land Use and Allocation Committee, and afterwards, promoted to the position of Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Public Service in 2011. He resigned as Lagos State Head of Service a few days ago.

Tunde Rahman, Special Assistant to the President on Media Affairs

Rahman was appointed the media adviser to Tinubu In 2016 to replace Sunday Dare, who was appointed commissioner in the Nigerian Communications Commission. He has since remained in the shadows of Tinubu, and today merits a mention as he relocates to Aso Rock to continue his stewardship.

Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, SA, Sustainable Development Goals

A former deputy governor of Lagos State from 2011 to 2015, Orelope-Adefulire was appointed the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of Lagos State from 2003 to 2011 by Tinubu. She retained the post even after Tinubu left.

A loyalist of Tinubu to the core, she was known to have abandoned his principal, former governor Adewunmi Ambode, when it rumored that Tinubu was no longer in supported of his administration. In 2016, Buhari appointed her Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals.

Gboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy

Oyetola has always been touted as a crony of Tinubu, and that paved the way for him to rise to the governorship position of Osun State after serving as Chief of Staff to Rauf Aregbesola, a former Commissioner for Works under Tinubu in Lagos State. He may not have served directly in Lagos, but is believed to have the flow from the Tinubu, especially as his former immediate boss, Aregbesola, was supposedly taking orders from Lagos.

Observers are also of the opinion that Tinubu also had the same level of stranglehold on Osun as he has of Lagos, prior to the emergence of the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke.

This is not forgetting the fact that Oyetola is Tinubu’s nephew.

Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism

Having spent all her career in finance and technology sector, Lola was appointed Tourism Minister. She had worked with Shell Petroleum as a systems analyst. Then she proceeded to work with Magnum Trust bank, Access Bank, United Bank for Africa and Ecobank.

After her stinct at the banking sector, she founded Novateur Business Tecchnology Consultants in 2013.

On 16 August 2023, she was appointed minister of Tourism by President Bola Tinubu. She assumed office on 21 August 2023

Mutiu Are – Member Of North-East Devt Commission

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Secretary of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Mutiu Are is one of the eyes if Tinubu watching over the governor(s) of Lagos.

Toyin Subair – Senior Special Assistant (Domestic) to President

According to a report, Toyin’s relationship with Tinubu dates back to early 2000s, as both operate a father-and-son relationship.

Toyin Subair founded the now-rested HiTV, a digital satellite TV channel in 2007. It was created to rival the DSTV monopoly and was the first television platform in Africa to deploy Hypercable, a terrestrial pay-per-view TV decoder system. The collapse of the project made him.leave the country, it was reported that Tinubu was there for him, and nursed him back to life

Kayode Egbetokun – Inspector General of Police

The present IGP is another crony of Tinubu, who served as his Chief Security Officer as Deputy Superintendent of Police in 1999.

In that capacity, he coordinated the security of the entire state while reporting to the governor. Observers say that rewarding his with the highest office in the Police Force is a testament of favoritism.

Others with similar affiliations are:

Adekunle Tinubu – Personal Physician

Damilotun Aderemi – Senior Special Assistant (Private Secretary)

Toyin Subair – Senior Special Assistant (Domestic).

Demola Oshodi – Senior Special Assistant (protocol)

Tope Ajayi – Senior Special Assistant (Media & Public Affairs)

Jide obanikoro – Special Assistant, Education

Tunji Alausa – Minister of State for Health

Observers and the Nigerian public have complained aloud that the sustaining of cronyism in the Tinubu administration is akin to monarchical system where government is run by family, and gradually leading to what is obtainable in Lagos, which Tinubu is accused of holding captive for 24 years and counting.

Nigerians are hoping that the fulanisation of Nigeria, which Buhari was accused for eight years does not transcend to Lagosnisation of Nigeria as is gradually unfolding.

Headline

Why Nigerians Must Reject INEC’s Revised Timetable – ADC

Published

3 days ago

February 28, 2026

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), during the week, released a fresh elections timetable, with major amendments to accommodate the just passed and signed Electoral Act 2026 by the National Assembly and President Bola Tinubu respectively.

Following the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, which introduced adjustments to statutory timelines governing pre-election and electoral activities, the Commission has reviewed and realigned the Schedule to ensure full compliance with the new legal framework.

Accordingly, the Commission has resolved as follows:

Presidential and National Assembly Elections will now hold on Saturday, 16th January 2027 as against the earlier stated February 20, 2027
Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections will now hold on Saturday, 6th February 2027 as against the former date of March 6, 2027

Also in accordance with the approved Schedule of Activities, the electoral bidy noted in the revised timetable that:

Conduct of Party Primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from primaries, will commence on 23rd April 2026 and end on 30th May 2026.

Presidential and National Assembly campaigns will commence on 19th August 2026.

Governorship and State Houses of Assembly campaigns will commence on 9th September 2026.

As provided by law, campaigns shall end 24 hours before Election Day. Political parties are strongly advised to adhere strictly to these timelines. The Commission will enforce compliance with the law.

But in a swift reaction, the opposition coalition, African Democratic Congress (ADC), rejected the revised 2026–2027 general election timetable, describing it as a politically biased schedule designed to favour the re-election agenda of President Bola Tinubu, and calling on all Nigerians to speak up enmasse to reject the revised timetable.

The ADC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Friday argued that the new deadlines and compliance requirements under the Electoral Act 2026 create near-impossible hurdles for opposition parties seeking to field candidates.

On February 13, INEC initially scheduled the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections were fixed for March 6, 2027.

The timetable, however, faced objections from some Muslim stakeholders who noted that the dates coincided with the 2027 Ramadan period.

Following the concerns, the National Assembly amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, reducing the required election notice period from 360 to 300 days, allowing INEC to adjust the election dates.

Subsequently, INEC released a revised schedule on Thursday, signed by its Chairman, Joash Amupitan, moving the Presidential and National Assembly elections to January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections to February 6, 2027.

Reacting, the ADC said the requirement that political parties submit a comprehensive digital membership register by April 2, 2026, effectively bars opposition parties from participating.

The party stated: “The African Democratic Congress rejects the updated 2026–2027 electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission. What has been presented as a routine administrative schedule of the upcoming general elections is, in fact, a political instrument carefully structured to narrow democratic space and strengthen the incumbent administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“According to the timetable, party primaries are to be conducted between April 23 and May 30, 2026, just 55 to 92 days from today. However, more significant is that, pursuant to Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026, political parties are required to submit their digital membership registers to INEC not later than April 2, 2026.

“That is only about 34 days away. Section 77(7) further provides that any party that fails to submit its membership register within the stipulated time shall not be eligible to field a candidate. These are not routine administrative rules but are deliberately constructed barriers designed to exclude the opposition from participating in the election.”

The party further noted that Section 77(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires the digital register of members to contain name, sex, date of birth, address, state, local government, ward, polling unit, National Identification Number (NIN) and photograph in both hard and soft copies, while Section 77(6) prohibits the use of any pre-existing register that does not contain the specified information. It warned that failure to meet these requirements would lead to disqualification.

The ADC questioned the fairness of the digital membership requirement, noting that the ruling All Progressives Congress began its registration process in February 2025, long before the requirement became mandatory.

“It is not a product of foresight but insider advantage. They knew what was coming. They therefore had one full year to carry out an exercise that other political parties are expected to complete in one month, during which they must collect, process, collate and transmit large volumes of digital data to INEC under the threat of exclusion. This is practically impossible.

“Democratic competition is based on a level playing field that does not give any contestant an undue advantage. A system where one party exploits incumbency to gain a one-year head start on a requirement that other parties only became aware of when it was nearly too late is a rigged system.”

The ADC said it has joined other opposition parties in rejecting the Electoral Act 2026, adding that the INEC timetable is equally rejected as it appears designed to serve what it described as a self-succession agenda.

“Let it be clear that ADC will not take any action that appears to confer legitimacy on a fraudulent system. We are reviewing our options and will make our position known in the coming days,” the party said.

The party also called on civil society organisations, democratic stakeholders and Nigerians to scrutinise the timetable and demand fairness, stressing that democracy cannot survive when electoral rules are structured to produce predetermined outcomes.

The party has consistently accused the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) of scheming to silence the opposition as the 2027 General Elections draw closer, citing his manipulation of state governors and Assembly members from jumping ship, and settling with the ruling party.

Presently, the president’s party has a total of 31 out of 36 states governors, more than majority of the national and states Houses of Assembly.

A frontline publisher and chieftain of the ADC, Chief Dele Momodu, has warned that Tinubu is gradually transforming into full-blown dictatorship, stressing that his second term in office would turn state governors into ‘total slaves’.

Headline

Second Term for Tinubu Will Turn Governors into Total Slaves, Dele Momodu Warns

Published

3 days ago

February 28, 2026

Eric

Chairman, Ovation Media Group, and former presidential aspirant, Aare Dele Momodu, has expressed strong concern over what he described as growing political support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu among state governors across the country.

Speaking during an interview on News Central TV, Momodu said he was shocked by the level of backing the president is reportedly receiving, warning that Nigeria’s democracy could face serious risks if the current political trend continues.

The media entrepreneur cautioned that allowing Tinubu to secure a second term in 2027 could, in his view, lead to excessive concentration of power. He particularly criticized what he described as a growing wave of opposition figures aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress> (APC).

Momodu referenced reports of opposition governors, including Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, allegedly moving closer to the ruling party, describing the development as politically troubling.

According to him, some governors are allegedly competing to demonstrate loyalty to the president ahead of future elections.

“The governors are fighting to ensure Tinubu wins a second term, fighting to be the biggest thug for him. If a man in his first term can capture the bodies and souls of Nigerians this way, imagine what he would do with a second term. It will be a full-blown dictatorship, and the governors will regret it as they become total slaves to him,” Momodu said.

He concluded by urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and actively protect democratic institutions, warning that unchecked consolidation of political power could threaten the nation’s democracy and future stability.

Gistmania

Headline

Court Validates PDP 2025 Convention in Ibadan, Affirms Turaki-led NWC

Published

4 days ago

February 27, 2026

Eric

The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has affirmed the validity of the 2025 Elective Convention of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), which produced Dr. Kabiru Turaki as the substantive National Chairman of the party.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Ladiran Akintola upheld the convention in its entirety, ruling that it was conducted in full compliance with the relevant constitutional and statutory provisions governing party elections in Nigeria.

The decision marked a significant legal victory for the party’s leadership and brought clarity to the dispute surrounding the convention’s legitimacy.

The ruling followed an amended originating summons filed by Misibau Adetunmbi (SAN) on behalf of the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, in Suit No. I/1336/2025.

In a comprehensive judgment, the court granted all 13 reliefs sought by the claimant, effectively endorsing the processes and outcomes of the Ibadan convention.

Justice Akintola held that the convention, organised by the recognised leadership of the party, satisfied all laid-down legal requirements as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), and the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

The court found no breach of due process or statutory non-compliance in the conduct of the exercise.

In the same proceedings, the court dismissed the Motion on Notice seeking a stay of proceedings and suspension of the ruling, filed by Sunday Ibrahim (SAN) on behalf of Austin Nwachukwu and two others. The applications were described as lacking merit.

Earlier in the proceedings, the court had also rejected a bid by Ibrahim to have his clients joined in the suit.

Justice Akintola ruled at the time that the joinder application was unsubstantiated and consequently dismissed it.