Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Armed bandits have abducted the traditional ruler of Igbesi community in the Isin local government area of Kwara State, Oba Moses Oyinloye Iwedunmoye I.

It was gathered that the bandits invaded Igbesi at about 11:00 pm. on Saturday and abducted the monarch.

A palace source said the monarch was abducted alongside some other residents of the community during the attack.

“As of now , the exact number of victims and the whereabouts of the abducted monarch remained unclear”, the source said.

The State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, confirmed the abduction of the traditional ruler, adding that no other person was kidnapped.

He said that efforts are being made to rescue the monarch, adding that: “The narrative of attacks within the past 24 hours is also far from the truth; nothing of such.”

• Urges Unity, Support For Party Candidates

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Share/Oke-Ode Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Oyinloye Benjamin Dairo, has held a strategic meeting with women and youth leaders from across the Ifelodun Constituency as part of his ongoing consultations and grassroots engagement and mobilisation.

The stakeholders’ meeting, held at the residence of the late Dr. Femi Ogunshola, commenced with a minute of silence in honour and remembrance of the departed APC chieftain.

Dairo said: “Since his demise, I had not held any meeting at the residence, but I now deemed it fit to return there as a mark of respect and honour to the memory of a departed father. The solemn gesture reflected the deep respect and affection with which the late Dr. Femi Ogunshola continues to be remembered by the people.

“This strategic engagement provided me a unique opportunity to interact with party leaders and grassroots stakeholders, listen to their perspectives, and further strengthen the spirit of unity, consultation, cooperation and collective commitment within the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

Hon. Oyinloye was accompanied by Alhaji Abdullateef Quadri Oko-Ode, Elder Babalola Arola, Obafemi Babamogba, Yusuf Adekunle Tajudeen, Mustapha Oladipo Alakoro and Biodun Balogun.

Among those present at the meeting were the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Segun Ogunshola; Hon. Timothy Ogunshola; Wahab Adam, Youth Leader, Oke-Ode 3; Musbau Toheeb, Youth Leader, Share 1; Raji Ismaila, Youth Leader, Oke-Ode 2; Animasaun J. Julius, Youth Leader, Oro-Ago Ward; Aileru Testimony, Youth Leader, Oke-Ode 1; Aremu Sarafa, Youth Leader, Share 4; Shaba Suleiman, Youth Leader, Share 3; Ajayi K., Youth Leader, Share 5; Yusuf Ismail, Youth Leader, Share 2; Sheu Kafayat, Women Leader, Oke-Ode 3; Awoyemi Janet, Women Leader, Oro-Ago Ward; Ibrahim Kehinde, Women Leader, Share 4; Azeez Sadiyat, Women Leader, Share 3; Abosede Jacob, Women Leader, Share 2; Mustapha Fatima, Women Leader, Oke-Ode 2; and Usman Limota, Women Leader, Oke-Ode 3.

In his address, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Segun Ogunshola, commended the administration and achievements of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, stressing the importance of sustained commitment and collective efforts towards the continued progress of the state and the success of the APC.

He urged all party members and stakeholders to give their maximum support to all APC candidates in the forthcoming 2027 elections, from the gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Saliu Yakub Danladi; the Senatorial candidate, Prince Lekan Adewoye; the House of Representatives candidate, Dr. Rafiu Ajakaye; to the Share/Oke-Ode Constituency candidate for the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Oyinloye Benjamin Dairo.

Also speaking, Alhaji Abdullateef and Elder Babalola urged the women and youth leaders, as well as all party stakeholders present, to remain steadfast and loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasising the importance of party discipline, unity and commitment, and encouraging all members to continue to support the party’s leadership and remain dedicated to the collective progress and success of the party.

The party leaders and executives present reaffirmed their dedication and unflinching loyalty to the leadership, unity and progress of the All Progressives Congress, pledging to intensify their grassroots engagement, mobilise support and contribute their utmost towards the success of the party and its candidates at all levels.

In his remarks, Hon. Oyinloye Benjamin Dairo expressed his appreciation to the women and youth leaders, party stakeholders and all those who honoured the invitation, urging continued unity, cooperation and commitment to the collective success of the party.

He further emphasised the need to sustain the development strides and vision of the Governor AbdulRazaq, while also urging party members to remain united, support all APC candidates and prepare to vote massively for the party’s candidates at all levels in the forthcoming 2027 elections.

The meeting ended on a strong note of renewed commitment, with all those present pledging to strengthen party unity, deepen grassroots engagement and work collectively towards a decisive victory for the All Progressives Congress and all its candidates in the forthcoming 2027 elections.

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A group, under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Grassroots’ Mobilisation Movement, in the Edu and Patigi local government areas of Kwara State, has appealed to members of the party in the Kwara Central and Kwara South Senatorial Districts to support the party’s governorship candidate, Rt Hon Salihu-Yakubu Danladi, in the 2027 general elections.

The appeal, among others, was made in a communique signed by the Leader and Chief Coordinator of the Movement, Alhaji Mohammed Mariam Alhassan, and the Secretary, Abubakar Zubair Shonga, respectively, at the end of their consultative meeting held in Patigi, headquarters of the Patigi local government area of the Kwara North Senatorial District on Sunday.

The communique stated: “We respectfully appeal to our brothers and sisters across Kwara Central and Kwara South Senatorial Districts to support the Kwara North project in 2027.

“This appeal is hinged on the spirit of reciprocity and our long-standing political relationships, particularly the support Kwara North has consistently extended to the emergence of governors from the other senatorial districts since the beginning of the Fourth Republic,” the communique added.

The Movement also enjoined its members from Kwara North to embrace the governorship project, saying: “We urge every son and daughter of Kwara North to embrace this historic opportunity with unity, discipline, and determination.

“Having waited patiently for this moment, we must work collectively and peacefully to translate the opportunity into electoral success. Under no circumstance should political differences degenerate into violence.”

It, however, cautioned the party’s governorship flag bearer, saying:
“We respectfully appeal to the Party’s governorship flag bearer and his supporters to exercise utmost restraint, responsibility, and political maturity in their public utterances and engagements.

“At this critical stage, every statement should be measured against its potential impact on party unity and our collective electoral prospects.

“The primary objective must remain securing victory for the APC in the 2027 general elections, rather than becoming distracted by petty disagreements, personal exchanges, recriminations, or whataboutism.

“We must prioritise reconciliation, inclusion, strategic mobilisation, and bringing every member and stakeholder into the fold. No candidate can secure victory alone; the strength of the campaign will ultimately depend on the collective goodwill, support, and commitment of the entire Party.”

The grassroots Movement added: “We recognise the party leadership,”
we recognise His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, as the leader of the APC in Kwara State and also acknowledge his leadership of the Party.

“We sincerely appreciate His Excellency for supporting the zoning of the APC governorship ticket to Kwara North. We regard this as an important step towards equity, justice, fairness, and inclusiveness in the political development of our state.”

The communiqué also added: “Given the complexities and dynamics of our political environment, the Kwara North project must be pursued through broad consultation, unity, dialogue, and the involvement of all stakeholders.

“Every community, ward, local government, demographic group, and party structure has a role to play.”

It urged,”all members, leaders, and stakeholders to put aside differences, strengthen “our bonds, and commence purposeful grassroots mobilisation”, stressing that “our victory in 2027 will depend not only on our candidates, but also on our ability to remain united, organised, peaceful, and committed to a common political objective.”