Category: Politics and Governance

PHILANTHROPIST HON. FRANCIS BARTHLOMEW CHIMA OMOBARCA WISHES AJEROMI IFELODUN CONSTITUENCY A HAPPY NEW MONTH, URGES RESIDENTS TO REGISTER FOR VOTERS’ CARD

As the month of September begins, philanthropist Hon. Francis Barthlomew Omowale Chima has extended his warmest greetings to the good people of Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency. In a statement released today, OmoBarca wished the residents joy, prosperity, and fulfilment in all their endeavors.

The statement also served as a reminder to eligible voters in the constituency about the ongoing nationwide INEC voters’ card registration exercise. Hon. Francis Barthlomew Omowale Chima urged all residents who have not yet registered or updated their voter cards to participate in the exercise, stressing that every voice matters and every vote counts.

Let us seize this chance to make our voices heard and exercise our civic rights, OmoBarca said. As a philanthropist committed to the welfare and progress of our community, I believe that every voice matters and every vote counts. Let us work together to build a brighter future for Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency and Nigeria as a whole.

Hon. Francis Barthlomew Omowale Chima expressed optimism that the residents would turn out en masse to register and update their voter cards, thereby shaping the future of their constituency and the nation.

The statement concluded with a call to action, as OmoBarca looked forward to seeing the residents at the registration centres.

Stakeholders in Enugu East Zone endorse Mbah as sole candidate for 2027 General Election

Political stakeholders in Enugu East Senatorial Zone, on Sunday, endorsed Gov. Peter Mbah as their sole candidate for 2027 Governorship Election in Enugu State due to his exemplary visionary leadership.

The stakeholders, who also cut across community, youth and professional divides, gave the endorsement in a communiqué issued at the end of a Town Hall Meeting in Enugu on Gov. Mbah’s stride in development within 27 months.

The communique said that the people of the zone had reflected on the performance of Mbah and expressed “total satisfaction” with his government, adding that he had kept his campaign promises and surpassed expectations.

“We are indeed proud that Gov. Mbah stands tall as the rave of the moment by every sector and indicator, as far as sub-national governance in Nigeria today is concerned.

“In specifics, we note with pride and commendation that within his first anniversary in office, Mbah administration built from scratch to finish the Enugu Command-and-Control Centre linked to AI-embedded cameras installed across the state.

“It also invested in setting up the Distress Response Squad, a special police unit powered with more than 150 security vehicles with AI-embedded cameras, which are equally linked to the Command-and-Control Centre,” it said.

It said that Mbah had transformed the state to one rated as one of the safest in the country, playing host to Nigeria’s most popular conferences, including Annual General Conference of the NBA with over 20,000 lawyers.

The communique noted the 33 per cent of the state’s annual budget to 260 Smart Schools across the 260 political wards; which translate to about 6,500 digitally-equipped classrooms featuring robust ICT infrastructure and e-libraries among others.

 

 

“The construction of 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres with accompanying staff quarters in 260 wards to provide 24-hour service to every nook and cranny of the state.

“The revival of moribund/abandoned assets, notably: Enugu United Palm Products Limited, completion of the International Conference Centre, reconstruction of Hotel Presidential, and recently, the revamp and upgrade of NigerGas Company Limited, while Sunrise Flour Mills is underway.

“The administration achieved a trailblazing performance in the transport sector by launch of Enugu Air; construction and commissioning of five modern transport terminals as well as launching 100 CNG Mass Transit buses for transit to Enugu.

“The administration has successfully pushed through a concession by the Federal Government that will see to the completion and operationalisation of the international terminal of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport,” it said.

The communiqué hailed Mbah massive road projects in the state, with about 1,000km completed or ongoing; while positioning Enugu as the centre for tourism, including medical tourism; huge investment in agriculture and bumper harvest among others.

“Consequently, the thought leaders, political leaders, professionals, youth leaders, women leaders, traditional rulers, leaders of market associations, trade union leaders, and people of Enugu East Senatorial District unequivocally endorse Mbah for a second term in office.

“If he has done these great works in repositioning Enugu State in just two years, it is only left to imagination what the state would look like at the end of eight years of his administration.

“In endorsing him, we want to state that we are blind to party affiliation. In the face of Nigeria’s fluid party politics, our political party is Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.

“Mbah has shown that he not only has what it takes to turn Enugu State around, but also to take it to the pinnacle of glory where our founding fathers dream of,” it added.

The communique was signed by Dr Ben Nwoye, Leader of Progressives Movement in Enugu State and former Chairman of APC in Enugu State and Chief Chijioke Edeoga, Governorship Candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 Governorship Election in the state.

Other signatories included: Chief Steve Orurua, Deputy State Chairman of PDP; Chief Sydney Edeh, Chairman, Association of Local Government Chairman of Nigeria (ALGON), Enugu State and Chairman of Nkanu East LGA; and Chief Augustine Nnamani, former Chairman of PDP Enugu.

Flowerbud News/ The All Progressives Congress (APC), Italy chapter has on Wednesday disowned one Mr Chima Ibezim as its Chairman.

This is contained in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mr Okpioba Osakue, Mr Michael oputteh, Vice Chairman, and Hon. Patience Ehiabhi, Woman leader, in Italy and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

“We the members of APC, Italy chapter, formally write to draw the attention of the general public, that a certain man, known and addressed as Mr Chima Ibezim, who resides in Rome, had been in the habit of parading himself as the chairman of APC, Italy chapter without the proper or legal authorisation.

“It is on this note, we wish to categorically state that he is not the chairman of the party in Italy and his representation is false, unauthorised and illegitimate.

“We emphatically deny any endorsement of Ibezim in this capacity and that any of his actions don’t reflect the official position or stance of the chapter or the entire APC.

“Recently, we saw on some social media platforms, his picture, with the new National Chairman in the capacity of the Italy chapter of the party, all in an attempt to boost his propaganda.

“We want to say clearly that it was a wrong representation. We challenge him to publicly provide any endorsement document or the registration of Italy chapter from the APC headquarters in Abuja, where his name appeared as the chairman.

In the same vein, we dare him to come on air to say whether he was received by our distinguished National Chairman in Abuja as the APC Chairman, Italy chapter.

The duo explained that the disclaimer was necessitated because of the plethora of anti party activities he had hitherto engaged himself in and his quest to surreptitiously stagnate the renewed hope agenda by President Bola Tinubu and the entire progress of the party in Italy.

“We wish to state unequivocally that in the event that he continued to arrogate the chairmanship position to himself, we will not hesitate to expose his wily ways and plans calculated to truncate the lofty plans of our dear party in the diaspora, particularly in Italy,

“We request the party higher authority in Abuja to take necessary measures to address this misrepresentation of Ibezim and ensure that only the duly authorised officials whose names appeared on the papers of the party in Abuja are recognised as legitimate representatives.

Our legitimate leadership is committed to upholding the values and principles of the party and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with the headquarters in a transparent and authentic manner.

Oyo Govt Debunks APC’s Loan Claims, Accuses Them of Spreading Lies

 

By Adewale Owoade

 

The Oyo State Government has dismissed allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration secured a ₦300 billion “fresh loan.”

 

In a statement signed by Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, the government clarified that the claims were false and mischievous.

 

The government explained that the House of Assembly approved ₦149 billion for refinancing and ₦151 billion for infrastructure investment and contractor financing. Refinancing involves replacing older, more expensive loans with new facilities on better terms, while contractor financing allows the government to fund projects without straining cash flow.

 

The government criticised the APC lawmaker who made the claims, accusing him of ignorance and absentee lawmaking. The lawmaker’s claim of a 500% increase in FAAC allocations was debunked, with the government attributing the actual increase to about 75%.

 

The government highlighted its achievements under Governor Makinde, including a significant increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from ₦20 billion to over ₦70 billion without introducing new taxes.

 

The government also emphasised its commitment to transparent financial management and investments that will make Oyo State self-sustaining, competitive, and prosperous.

 

Flowerbud News/ A new wave of political realignment may be in the offing as Labour Party chieftain in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Hon. Francis Barthlomew Chima, popularly known as OmoBarca, held a closed-door meeting with the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who is also a former Governor of Osun State, in Lagos over the weekend.

Although details of the meeting remain undisclosed, political observers suggest that it may not be unconnected to early strategic moves ahead of the 2027 general elections. The encounter, which took place at a private venue in Lagos, has already sparked speculations of possible coalition talks, cross-party alliances, and strategic positioning by both political figures.

OmoBarca, a prominent philanthropist and grassroots mobilizer, has consistently maintained visibility within the Labour Party and Ajeromi-Ifelodun politics, particularly among youths and community development groups. His engagement with Aregbesola, a seasoned politician, former Minister of Interior, and key national figure now steering affairs within the ADC, signals a growing appetite for broader political collaboration across party lines.

Sources close to the meeting revealed that discussions centered around governance challenges, the role of smaller parties in shaping Nigeria’s political future, and the need to build formidable alliances capable of presenting credible alternatives to the dominant political blocs. While neither OmoBarca nor Aregbesola has issued an official statement, their joint appearance underscores the intensifying behind-the-scenes maneuvers that usually characterize Nigeria’s pre-election seasons.

Political analysts in Lagos have described the meeting as “strategic and symbolic,” noting that both men share a reputation for grassroots appeal and bold political decisions. “OmoBarca has established himself as a force in Ajeromi-Ifelodun through philanthropy and direct engagement with the people, while Aregbesola brings years of political experience, national visibility, and party structuring expertise,” one analyst observed. “If their discussions evolve into concrete political collaboration, it could alter calculations in Lagos and beyond as 2027 approaches.”

The closed-door parley also comes at a time when opposition parties are under pressure to build consensus and avoid fragmentation ahead of future elections. The Labour Party, which gained significant traction in 2023, is seeking to consolidate its position, while the ADC has repeatedly emphasized the need for a “third force” coalition to give Nigerians more viable political options.

Meanwhile, community stakeholders in Ajeromi-Ifelodun have reacted cautiously, with some expressing optimism that the meeting could yield positive political dividends for grassroots development. Others have urged OmoBarca to remain steadfast in championing the interests of his constituency while navigating national-level alliances.

As Nigeria edges closer to another election cycle, the Lagos meeting between OmoBarca and Aregbesola highlights the shifting dynamics of opposition politics. Whether it evolves into a formal alliance or remains exploratory, it reflects the urgency among political actors to begin laying foundations for 2027.

For now, Nigerians and political watchers will keenly await official clarifications, but one thing remains certain: the race towards 2027 has already begun behind closed doors.

PDP Wins Ibadan North Federal Constituency By-Election

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‎By Adewale Owoade

 

‎The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has declared Folajimi Oyekunle of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Ibadan North Federal Constituency By-election held on Saturday.

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‎Oyekunle, who polled 18,404 votes, was declared winner by the Returning Officer of the Ibadan North Federal Constituency By-election, Prof. Abiodun Oluwadare on Sunday in Ibadan.

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‎Adewale Olatunji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had 8,312 votes while Femi Akin-Alamu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had 256 votes.

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‎The Social Democratic Party, (SDP) candidate, Dr Islamiyah Abdulkadir, polled 88 votes, Olabisi Odususi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had 40 votes and Hammed Badmus of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) got 18 votes.

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‎The Ibadan North Federal Constituency seat became vacant following the death of Rep. Olaide Akinremi of the APC. (NAN)

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Ibadan North Federal Constituency By-Election peaceful, records mixed voter turnout.

 

By Adewale Owoade

 

Residents of Ibadan North Local Government on Saturday cast their ballots in the Federal House of Representatives by-election to fill the vacant position left by the late Hon. Olaide Akinremi.

 

The election was peaceful but witnessed a mixed voter turnout across the 512 polling units.

 

At Ward 4, voters turned out in large numbers, while the turnout in Ward 10, Unit 27 was relatively low.

Candidates Folajimi Oyekunle of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Adewale Olatunji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed satisfaction with the process.

 

They urged voters to come out and exercise their franchise.

Security agents were on ground to maintain oder, while INEC officials were commended for their efforts. Electorates moved orderly to polling units, expressing happiness with the exercise.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the INEC is conducting elections in 512 Polling Units across wards in an LGA, with six political parties participating.

 

The parties include the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). (NAN)