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Shetima: 13 Northern Govs Worked Against Tinubu In 2023

By
James Orji
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VP Kashim Shettima
VP Kashim Shettima

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu forgave all the Northern Governors whodid not suport him during the 2023 presidential election,Vice President Kassim Shettiam said.

No fewer than 13 governors from the region refused to support Tinubu, then presidentialcandidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Shetima revealed, saying inspite of the decision of the governors no to support his presidentialbid,Tinubu still went ahead to forgive themafter winning the election, noting that the president has displayed that he hasa large heart.

The vice president spoke on Wednesday during thee turbaning of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate by the Emir of  Ilorin,  Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, at his palace in the state capital.

Tinubu won the 2023 election by securing over 8.6 million votes,to defeat his closet rivaland Notherner, AtikuAbubakar ofthe Peoples Democratic Party,PDP.

Shetima said only six governors from the north supported Tinubu during the election, but that  Tinubu embraced and forgave them after he won, because he’s a good leader.

He, however , did not mention the governors who refused to support Tinubu, but hinted that Abdulrasaq was among the six governors who supported the president during his presidential bid.

Shetima: “You know we have 19 states. Apart from Niger former governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, seated here, and Malam Abdurrahman AbdulRazaq (governor of Kwara State)…

“But to avoid controversy, I will stop naming the names of the other governors. But the governors that were supporting President Tinubu in the North were not more than six who believed in him. But Tinubu refused to be deterred. He was able to cross the road.”

Meanwhile, 18 Nothern governors who are members ofthe president’s party have declared their support for him regarding the 2027 presidential election. Aside Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, the remaining state governors fromthe region have promsied to workfor him to return tooffice.

Alleged NYSC Cert Forgery: Atiku Ordered To Serve Tinubu Court Papers

By
James Orji
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Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar

The controversy over President Bola Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election has taken a fresh turn, with the Federal High Court in Abuja granting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar permission to serve court processes on the President through the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the application on Wednesday following an ex parte motion filed by Atiku’s counsel, O.T. Omotayo-Ojo, seeking an order for substituted service.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and his party are challenging the participation of Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 presidential election, alleging that a forged National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, discharge certificate was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, listed Tinubu, the APC and INEC as the first, second and third defendants respectively.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to compel INEC to remove Tinubu’s name and that of the APC from the list of candidates and political parties for the 2027 presidential election.
The application for substituted service became necessary, according to Atiku’s counsel, because efforts to personally serve Tinubu with the originating summons and other court processes had been unsuccessful.
Omotayo-Ojo therefore asked the court to permit the documents to be served on the President through the APC.
Justice Ekwo granted the request and ordered the plaintiffs to effect service within seven days, following an undertaking by Omotayo-Ojo, who held the brief of Silas Onu.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until September 28 for mention.
But while Atiku and the ADC are pressing ahead with the case, Tinubu, the APC and INEC have mounted legal challenges to the suit.
In their joint counter-affidavit filed on September 9, Tinubu and the APC asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that it was incompetent and that the plaintiffs lacked the legal right to institute the action.
The defendants  also denied submitting any forged certificate to INEC for either the 2023 or 2027 presidential elections.
The defendants, through the APC Director of Legal Services, Sanusi Samaila, further denied submitting Form CF001 to INEC for either election as alleged by the plaintiffs.
They maintained that the NYSC had never denied issuing a discharge certificate to Tinubu at the end of his service.
In a written address filed alongside their preliminary objection, counsel to Tinubu and the APC, Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, argued that the allegation of forgery was criminal in nature and must be proved beyond reasonable doubt under Section 135(1) of the Evidence Act.
Olujinmi argued that an allegation that a certificate was forged must be backed by a disclaimer from the institution purported to have issued the document.
He contended that Atiku and the ADC had produced no evidence from the NYSC Directorate disclaiming the issuance of Tinubu’s discharge certificate.
The senior lawyer consequently described the suit as hypothetical and academic and urged the court to dismiss it.
He also challenged the competence of the case on the grounds that it was a pre-election matter, arguing that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to challenge Tinubu’s candidacy on the APC platform.
INEC has similarly challenged the suit.
In its preliminary objection filed on September 7 through its counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, the electoral commission cited several grounds, including statute-bar, lack of locus standi, absence of a reasonable cause of action and abuse of court process.
INEC also alleged that the plaintiffs failed to comply with the mandatory written deposition requirement under Paragraph 7(1) of the Federal High Court Pre-Election Practice Directions (Amendment) 2026.
The commission further challenged the propriety of Reliefs 2 and 3 in the originating summons and urged the court to dismiss the case.

PDP Factions Unite In Kano, Pick Abacha As Gov Candidate

By
James Orji
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Mohammed Abacha

The Kano state chapter of the  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has picked Muhammad Sani Abacha as the party’s 2027 governorship candidate. The PDP governorship hopeful is the son of the late military dictaor, General Sani Abacha, who died in office in 1998.

This is not the first time Abacha is contesting the state governorship election.

According to the PDP, his choiceas the party’s governroship candidate became necessary after Muhammadu Bello Halda, who had earlier won the pimary to represents the party in next year’selection, stepped down.

As a result of the development, the PDP said a fresh primary was conducted where Abacha emrged as its candidate, saying the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  was present at the primary election .

The state PDP Chairman, Dr Bello Gambo Bichi, said all the statkeholders agreed to the candidature of Abacha, including the Taminu Turaki faction, whose candidate has  been picked as runingm ate to in the governrshipelection next year.

Bichi said the decision to bring on board, Yusuf Ado Kibiya, a former factional PDP chairman and former Commissioner for Land and Agriculture, the PDP Deputy Governorship candidate was neccessary to unite the party in the state ahed the election, adding that there’snolonger fations inthe state, as all the stakeholders were now united.

The magazine reports that two groups in the party led by FCT Minister , Nyesom Wike and Turaki,aformer Ministe of Speial Duties, are still in court to determine which one is the authentic leadership.

Bichi,however, stated that the twofactions are united in Kanostate and agreed to sharing the governorship ticket, saying that the decision by the former governorship candidate tostep down for Abacha,was in line with the Electoral Act,which says where a candidate steps down as a  torch bearer, the party can conduct fresh primary to replace him/her.

 

Bichi: “Last time we did a primary election in which Muhammad Bello Dalha was declared winner, but following consultations among stakeholders in Kano and Abuja, the candidate decided to withdraw.

“The law says that as a result of withdrawal, a replacement primary must be held. That is what brought us here today.”

He added: “After a wide consultation and reconciliation, we agreed to give the deputy governorship slot to the Turaki faction here in Kano. With this, there is no faction in Kano PDP. We have reconciled.”

“Things Have Changed In The North, Tinubu Will Be Beaten Woefully”- Fmr Minister Dalung On 2027 Polls

By
Ayodele Oni
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Solomon Dalung and Bola Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

 

Two things may likely cause the woeful performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, President Bola Tinubu in the north during 2027 general elections.

 

According to a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), Solomon Dalung, the death of former President Mohammadu Buhari and unending trial of Kaduna former governor, Malam Nasir El Rufai, will work against APC and President Tinubu.

 

 Dalung, a former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, said President Bola Tinubu will be “beaten woefully” in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the president has lost much of the northern support that helped him win in 2023.

 

Mr Dalung, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, said Mr Tinubu’s 8.7 million votes in the 2023 election were largely boosted by Mr Buhari’s political influence in the North.

 

He argued that with Mr Buhari death and the North now bearing the brunt of the Tinubu administration’s policies, the president could be left with only about 3.7 million of his 2023 votes.

 

Mr Dalung made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed the opposition’s prospects ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

 

The former minister, pointed out that the election would be largely determined by the performance of the Tinubu administration and the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.

 

He accused the government of recklessness and impunity, saying its handling of the country had turned it into a campaign asset for the opposition.

 

“This administration in the history of Nigeria has been one of the governments that mismanaged the goodwill of the Nigerian people.

 

“It is very reckless, it operates on impunity and it doesn’t bother whether what they are doing has any implications on the citizens of the country,” he said.

 

“By their mismanagement of governance, they are the main campaigners for the opposition party.”

 

Mr Dalung claimed that Tinubu’s 2023 result should not be viewed as a reliable measure of his support ahead of the next election.

 

He stated that about 5.5 million of Tinubu’s 8.7 million votes came from the North, largely because of Buhari’s political influence and the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the APC.

 

According to him, that support has now been withdrawn because northerners have become some of the biggest victims of the administration’s policies.

 

“So, Tinubu does not even have the 8.7 million votes. So, we would rather have 3.7 million votes,” Mr Dalung said.

 

He pointed out that the anger against the government has gone beyond partisan politics.

 

“This anger is not the anger of the political parties, but it is the anger of Nigeria. People who will decide and determine.”

 

Mr Dalung also cited the 2026 Osun governorship election as evidence that the influence of incumbency and financial mobilisation could no longer guarantee electoral victory.

 

He claimed that several governors, ministers and senior APC officials campaigned in the state but could not secure victory for the party.

 

“Almost 20-something governors were in Osun. About 15 or 16 ministers, the national chairman, were there. All the bullion vans that were rolling into Osun could not deliver the APC. And it wasn’t like the opposition in Osun was organised,” he said.

 

The APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, lost the 15 August election to the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke. The result has since become part of the political debate over the strength of the ruling party ahead of 2027.

 

Mr Dalung said the death of Mr Buhari had fundamentally altered the political calculations ahead of 2027.

 

He also cited the detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as another factor that could affect the ruling party’s support base.

 

“For those of you who are thinking what has changed between 2023 and 2027, Buhari is dead. There’s a huge difference. He’s no longer around.”

 

He said that Tinubu has also failed to properly inherit Mr Buhari’s political legacy, referring to the events surrounding the former president’s burial.

 

“On the day of the burial of Buhari, he handed over the legacies of Buhari to Atiku, because he went and occupied Buhari’s house and prevented Atiku from coming even close. They stopped Atiku about a kilometre away from Buhari’s house.”

 

Mr Dalung noted that the situation has created an opportunity for opposition politicians to win over voters who previously supported the APC.

 

The former minister also backed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the opposition pairing best positioned to manage the country after the 2027 election.

 

“Abubakar Atiku and Amaechi are the most experienced politicians and competent enough to be trusted with the management of Nigeria in 2027.”

 

He described Atiku as an experienced politician who understands the Nigerian political system after serving as vice president for eight years.

 

He also said Mr Amaechi, who has been active in Nigerian politics since 1999, has sufficient experience to help lead the country.

 

Mr Dalung said Atiku had also developed a 10-point agenda addressing the economy, insecurity, youth unemployment, agriculture and national unity.

 

Atiku is the presidential candidate of the ADC, while Mr Amaechi is his running mate. The ADC has emerged as a major platform for opposition forces seeking to challenge Mr Tinubu in 2027.

 

The opposition realignment has, however, remained fluid, with Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso contesting the 2027 election under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), while Mr Atiku leads the ADC.

Is Alex Otti Lying?

By
The Source
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0
Alex Otti - Governor of Abia State

“An Insider’s Ledger on Peter Obi’s $155 Million Anambra Reserves which Gov. Soludo did not see in Anambra account books.”

 

By Valentine Obienyem

 

In public discourse, political rhetoric is cheap, but banking ledgers are stubborn things. When critics dismissed Peter Obi’s claim of leaving behind substantial savings and investments at the end of his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, the debate was decisively settled not by a partisan defender, but by a consummate professional who held the receipts.

 

In his backpage column titled “The Triumph of Profligacy Over Prudence,” published in THISDAY on Monday, June 8, 2020, Dr. Alex Otti—then the former Group Managing Director and CEO of Diamond Bank, and now Governor of Abia State – provided an authoritative, firsthand testimony that removed the issue from the realm of speculation.

 

Otti was neither a spectator nor a political surrogate; he was the chief executive of the financial institution that structured the transaction. He recounted how Governor Obi approached his office with a deliberate mandate: to insulate Anambra State’s accumulated fiscal surplus against the perennial ravages of inflation and domestic currency depreciation. Rather than leaving surplus liquidity to languish in rapidly eroding naira accounts, Otti’s bank facilitated the conversion of state funds into $155 million, securing them in high-yielding, foreign-denominated assets.

Valentine Obienyem
Valentine Obienyem

To mitigate counterparty risk and guarantee liquidity, the investment was prudently syndicated across three leading commercial banks: $50 million in Diamond Bank, $50 million in Access Bank, and $55 million in Fidelity Bank. These funds were locked into five-year Tier-2 capital instruments yielding up to 9% per annum, accruing strictly to the credit of Anambra State.

 

The arithmetic of that foresight was staggering. As Otti demonstrated, the original $155 million portfolio – valued at roughly ₦25 billion when deposited in early 2014 – had appreciated exponentially through currency realignments and compounding dollar coupons. By mid-2020, the present value of that single portfolio had expanded to well over ₦95 billion.

 

To ask whether Alex Otti was lying is to ignore both the gravity of professional reputation and the immutable nature of banking records. A bank chief executive cannot invent $155 million out of thin air, syndicate it across three competitor institutions, and place it on regulatory records without leaving an indelible paper trail.

 

Otti’s intervention remains an unassailable piece of primary evidence: Peter Obi did not merely leave money behind; he demonstrated a masterclass in sovereign wealth management that defied Nigeria’s culture of administrative waste.

 

To listen to him directly, visit: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DsEcGWsbC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Obi Will Not Be Distracted By Political Surrogates – Media Office Tackles Presidency

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
President Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi

 

By Ayodele Oni

 

The Peter Obi Media Office has reacted to the presidency’s remark on the disagreement between Anambra state government and former governor Peter Obi on the debt profile of the state.

 

The Presidency had demanded from the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, (NDC), Peter Obi, whether he will withdraw from presidential race, now that Anambra state government had released details of indebtedness of his administration in the state.

 

Reacting to the ongoing dispute between  presidential candidate of the NDC and the state government over the debts and financial liabilities, it added that the Anambra State Government has now responded with claims concerning liabilities allegedly left by the former governor’s administration.

 

But the Peter Obi Media Office described as laughable and shameless call by President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson that Peter Obi should defend the document released by the Anambra State government.

 

The statement was signed by Idris Zekeri Jnr, Spokesman of the media group on Wednesday.

 

“A president with such a dirty cupboard that he has been unable to clean it even using hired surrogates is pointing at the man with undented records in all ramifications.

 

“Peter Obi is on the road, meeting Nigerians, listening to their concerns, and asking for their mandate directly.

 

“He will not be distracted by political surrogates deployed to speak for a president who should be speaking for himself. Our campaign is about the people—not political noise.

 

“While others hide behind surrogates, Peter Obi will continue to go directly to Nigerians: to hear them, engage them, and present his vision for a better Nigeria.

 

“The mandate belongs to the people, and it will be sought from the people—not negotiated through proxies. Let the surrogates talk.

 

“Obi will keep walking, meeting, and listening to Nigerians. Obi will not be dragged into endless exchanges with political proxies.

 

“His focus is on Nigerians—their hardship, their hopes, their concerns, and the future they want. A New Nigeria is possible and will be OK.”

Constitutional Amendment: NASS Transmits Bill To State Assemblies

By
Ayodele Oni
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House of Reps Members

By Ayodele Oni

 

The next stage in the constitutional alteration process of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, has commenced as the National Assembly transmitted the bill to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states for consideration and approval.

 

The transmission, was carried out on Wednesday,  by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

 

The Clerk, acting on the directive of the leadership of the National Assembly, requested the state legislatures to consider the Bill in line with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after concluding their consideration.

 

Section 9 of the Constitution requires a proposed constitutional amendment to secure the approval of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before the alteration process can be concluded.

 

This means that the Bill requires the approval of at least 24 State Houses of Assembly to meet the constitutional threshold.

 

The National Assembly pointed out that the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which the state legislatures must communicate their decisions on constitutional alteration Bills.

 

However, it said the State Houses of Assembly are expected to consider the Bill and transmit their resolutions within 30 days of receiving it to facilitate an orderly and timely conclusion of the process.

 

The National Assembly clarified that the 30-day period is an administrative expectation and does not constitute a constitutional deadline.

 

In the transmission, the Clerk emphasised the constitutional responsibility of the state legislatures and their independence in considering the proposed alteration.

 

“The National Assembly recognises the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and respects their independence in the consideration of the Bill.

 

“The transmission is intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of their constitutional role in the process,” the statement said.

 

The National Assembly also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the constitutional alteration process complies with the provisions of the Constitution and follows the principles of due process and institutional cooperation.

 

According to the statement, the process will also respect the respective legislative responsibilities of the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly.

 

“The National Assembly remains committed to ensuring that the constitutional alteration process is conducted in strict compliance with the Constitution and in accordance with the principles of due process, institutional cooperation and respect for the legislative responsibilities of all tiers of the legislature,” it said.

 

The National Assembly will proceed with the next steps in the amendment process after receiving the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly.

 

The development comes as the 10th National Assembly continues its constitutional review process, with several constitutional amendment proposals undergoing legislative consideration.

 

The Bill had previously appeared among constitutional alteration legislation before the National Assembly during its 2026 legislative proceedings.

 

Signed by Ogunlana, the statement reiterated that the National Assembly would allow the State Houses of Assembly to exercise their constitutional powers independently while facilitating the completion of the alteration process.

NPF, In Nationwide Crackdown, Nabs Suspected Assassins, Kidnappers, Armed Robbers, Cultists

By
Ayodele Oni
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Police on Duty

By Ayodele Oni

 

As part of ongoing efforts by the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen internal security and combat violent crime nationwide,  series of operational successes have been recorded across several states.

 

These include the foiling of a suspected assassination attempt in Rivers State and the arrest of suspects linked to kidnapping, armed robbery, homicide and cult-related offences.

 

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed the developments on Wednesday, stating that police operatives also recovered firearms, ammunition and other exhibits during operations conducted between September 12 and 15, 2026.

 

He said investigations into the various cases have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Departments (SCIDs) in the affected states.

 

The latest arrests come amid ongoing efforts by the Nigeria Police Force under Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu to strengthen internal security and combat violent crime nationwide.

 

In recent months, the Force has intensified intelligence-led operations targeting kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and other organised criminal activities across the country.

 

Among the major breakthroughs, police operatives in Rivers State foiled a suspected targeted assassination attempt during a routine patrol in Kaani, Khana Local Government Area, recovering an AK-47 rifle loaded with two rounds of live ammunition after the suspects fled.

 

In Kano State, officers arrested a suspected kidnap kingpin and cattle rustler who allegedly operated across Kano, Katsina and Kaduna states and reportedly provided information that could lead to the arrest of other gang members.

 

In Ogun State, operatives working with the So-Safe Corps recovered a cut-to-size AK-47 rifle, a single-barrel gun, an unserviceable pistol, ammunition and burglary tools abandoned by suspects in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

 

Police also arrested suspects linked to armed robbery, homicide and cult-related offences in Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Imo, Ekiti and Oyo states, with additional firearms and other exhibits recovered during the operations.

 

The police said investigations were ongoing and assured that efforts to apprehend fleeing suspects and dismantle criminal networks across the country would continue.

How Man Killed His Girlfriend, Arrested In Kaduna

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Manaseh Bitrus Jatau and His Girlfriend

By Akinwale Kasali

 

Manaseh Bitrus Jatau, who was alleged to have killed his Girlfriend, Rebecca Ojonike Jeremiah, has been arrested by operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command.

 

Jatau was arrested in connection with the death of 35-Year Old Rebecca, who resided in the Karatudu area of Kaduna State. She was his girlfriend.

 

The Police had received  a report on September 5, that the lifeless body of the deceased was sighted along Mai Angwa Street, Romi, with cotton wool stuffed in her nose.

 

Following this report,

Police detectives from Romi Outstation rushed to the scene, carried the victim to St. Gerald Hospital, Kakuri, Kaduna, where she was confirmed dead on arrival by the Chief Medical Doctor at the hospital.

 

The body of the deceased was then deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy.

 

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect (Jatau) was the last person who called the deceased to meet him at Ebano Joint, Romi, prompting the Police to subsequently trace and arrest Jatua at his place of work, Tomato Jos Company, Maraban Jos Area, Kaduna.

 

During interrogation, the suspect confessed to having had a fight with the deceased in his room over a phone call from another lady, which resulted in her death.

 

He further confessed to having dumped the body in an open field close to his house in an attempt to conceal the crime.

 

His arrest was confirmed by DSP Mansir Hassan, the Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesperson, who said that the suspect is currently in Police Custody, and the case is being investigated and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.

I Have Documentary Evidence, Yayi Is Not From Ogun – HE Marcus-Bello

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Folake Marcus-Bello and Senator Yayi

By Ayodele Oni

 

Despite the threat of a court action, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Zambia and Malawi, Folake Marcus-Bello, has reopened the debate on the ancestry of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) for the 2027 election in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, known as Yayi.

 

Yayi had threatened to go to court over allegation that he is from Ekiti state, except those making the allegation could substantiate it with documentary evidence.

 

Speaking on a live television programme, the former ambassador, who was a Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state, said there was documentary evidence to prove her point.

 

“Senator Olamilekan is not from Yewa. He is not from Yewa. It saddens me as a mother, as a politician, as a Nigerian that people will come out and tell blatant lies because they want a particular thing.”

 

She said the issue was central to the 2027 contest because, according to her, the Yewa people deserve the governorship, but must be represented by a “genuine son or daughter of the soil.

 

“If what you have stated is true, Yewa has a better chance to produce a governor because they have never produced one.

 

“But give us — and I am speaking authoritatively also on behalf of Hon. Ladi Adebutu — a real son or daughter of Yewa and we will support that daughter or son of Yewa. Let us get it clear.”

 

The former diplomat challenged Adeola to a public confrontation, saying she was in possession of documents that contradict his claim.

 

“Let him come and sit in front of me. We would bring the documentation that I have — the programme of events of his father’s burial in Ekiti State with his Oriki and his progeny.

 

“His Oriki is in his father’s burial programme. Let him come and prove otherwise”.

 

Marcus-Bello noted that Adeola’s political career began and flourished in Lagos before he “moved his ambition” to Ogun West.

 

She also referenced his father’s background and the burial of his mother in Epe as evidence that his roots “lie outside Yewa.”

 

However, these claims were presented as part of her argument during the programme and were not independently verified.

 

According to the former Commissioner, the controversy goes beyond personal politics because indigene status matters for Ogun’s peculiar politics.

 

“The local politics of Ogun State is reserved for indigenes of Ogun State. It is not an all-comers game.

 

“Ogun State is peculiar. We are semi-rural. We are not Lagos where people come and claim all sorts of things.”

 

Marcus-Bello further accused the APC of abusing power and referred to what she called “a book containing allegations” against Adeola, urging his camp to respond.

 

As the 2027 governorship race gathers momentum, the question of origin has become one major talking point in Ogun politics as indigenes insist “strangers” won’t rule over them.

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