Politics
Kwara govt organises retreat for new LG bosses
Kwara govt organises retreat for new LG bosses
- Speakers charge LG chiefs to prioritise people’s needs
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Kwara State Government has organized a four-day capacity building training for the newly inaugurated Local Government Chairmen and Vice Chairmen to prepare them for their new roles as chief executives at the grassroots level.
A statement by Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola, Deputy Chief
Press Secretary, Government House Ilorin, said the programme was organised in collaboration with the 7 Yard Resources Limited, a top management firm, while the
Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Oba AbdulKadir Magaji, chaired the interactive session that featured lectures and discussions that centered around the responsibilities of the local council chiefs, challenges of leadership, the prospects and how they can tackle the different challenges that may come their way.
Magaji said the essence of the retreat was to equip the participants with basic things and prepare them for the tasks ahead.
He requested them to take the workshop very seriously by tapping from the wealth of experiences of various speakers.
“Irrespective of whatever experiences they must have had, there would be areas to learn from. No knowledge is a waste. I urge you to take this very seriously,” he said.
Prof Hassan Saliu, who was the lead speaker at the occasion, said it becomes imperative for the new Chairmen and Vice Chairmen to understand what federalism and democracy is “because they are going to operate under this system. They have to know their realities, moderate their expectations, and know the kind of promises they make to their people”.
Speaking on financial autonomy for local governments in the country, Prof Saliu noted that the concept is evolving in the Nigerian context and still requires a lot of clarity.
He advised the administrators of the third tier of government to be financially prudent.
“Three principal factors they must consider include the vision and mission of the APC government because that is the ruling party. Secondly, autonomy has been granted, but there are still some cobwebs surrounding the issue of autonomy,” he said.
“So, it is not as if you get into the office and think the rain of autonomy will just be falling on you. You are still under the state government, and you should be clear about that. There are still certain issues that need to be cleared regarding the full and effective implementation of the autonomy. You need to understand all the issues.”
He said the state has continued to evolve since its creation in 1967, particularly under the present administration, alluding to the infrastructure development, peaceful coexistence, relative religious harmony, and national political visibility among other indices.
Participants, who spoke with newsmen, such as the Chairmen for Ifelodun, Ilorin West and Baruten LGs, said the training gave them the opportunity to further understand their responsibilities and what the people’s expectations are, pledging to work to positively impact the lives of people at the grassroots level.
Politics
KAWU HAILS TINUBU’S LANDSLIDE APC PRIMARY VICTORY, DESCRIBES IT AS “A TRIUMPH OF DEMOCRACY ”
Rt. Hon. Comrade Hafiz Kawu, OON, mni, Executive Commissioner (Technical) of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his overwhelming victory at the 2026 All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Primary Election, describing the outcome as a clear endorsement of the President’s leadership and reform-driven administration.
Kawu, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Tarauni Federal Constituency of Kano State, said the President’s victory was not only historic but also a reflection of the growing confidence Nigerians have in the Renewed Hope agenda.
President Tinubu secured a massive victory in the nationwide direct primary election conducted across the country’s 8,809 wards, polling over 10 million votes to defeat his challenger, Mr. Stanley Osifo.
Reacting to the result, Kawu said the election demonstrated the strength of Nigeria’s democratic process and the willingness of Nigerians to stand behind a leader they believe is committed to national progress.
According to him, the President’s decision to participate in an open and transparent direct primary election despite being the incumbent leader showed rare courage, humility, and democratic conviction.
He noted that President Tinubu could easily have relied on the influence of incumbency but instead chose to subject himself to the will of party members and ordinary Nigerians through a grassroots voting process.
Kawu praised the President for championing reforms that strengthened internal party democracy, saying the direct primary system gave millions of Nigerians a sense of participation and ownership in the political process.
The PenCom Commissioner further commended the Tinubu administration for implementing policies and reforms aimed at repositioning the country’s economy, improving infrastructure, strengthening institutions, and enhancing workers’ welfare through measures such as the new national minimum wage.
He stated that many Nigerians were beginning to see the practical impact of the administration’s policies, adding that the outcome of the primary election reflected public appreciation for the President’s efforts.
Kawu also described Tinubu as a leader with a strong vision for national development and unity, stressing that the renewed mandate from party members should serve as further motivation to continue delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.
He reaffirmed his support and loyalty to the President’s administration and prayed for divine wisdom, strength, and guidance for the President as he continues to steer the affairs of the nation.
Kawu concluded by expressing optimism that Nigeria would continue to witness growth, stability, and progress under President Tinubu’s leadership.
Politics
Dogara Commends Tinubu’s Resounding APC Primary Victory
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, CFR, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s landslide victory in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Dogara, who served as Bauchi State Coordinator and Collation Officer while also sitting on the national Presidential Primary Election Committee, said the outcome was not just a win for Tinubu but a triumph for grassroots democracy. He congratulated the President on behalf of Bauchi State and in his capacity as a member of the committee, calling the victory extraordinary, historic, and thoroughly deserved.
The final results revealed Tinubu’s overwhelming mandate: 10,999,162 votes across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, compared to just 15,503 for his sole challenger, Stanley Osifo. For Dogara, this margin was more than a statistic; it was a declaration of trust from millions of APC members nationwide. He noted that nearly eleven million Nigerians had risen as one to affirm a leader who had earned their confidence, describing the outcome as a movement rather than just a result.
Dogara commended the election committee, chaired by former SGF Pius Anyim and including respected figures such as Ken Nnamani, Victor Ndoma-Egba, and Idris Wada, for ensuring transparency, credibility, and fairness throughout the process. He said the committee had been given a sacred mandate to guarantee integrity and was proud that it discharged that responsibility faithfully.
He also highlighted Tinubu’s decision to subject himself to direct primaries under the Electoral Act 2026, which abolished delegate voting and empowered millions of party members at the grassroots. Dogara stressed that Tinubu could have relied on the powers of incumbency but instead chose to stand before the people. He described this as humility and character, noting that Tinubu had signed the law, championed the reforms, and then submitted himself to the same process, proving his commitment to democratic principles.
In his closing remarks, Dogara urged Tinubu to carry the weight of the people’s confidence with integrity and purpose. He reminded the President that nearly eleven million Nigerians had entrusted him with their hopes, calling it a responsibility of historic proportions. He charged Tinubu to fulfill that mandate faithfully, declaring that history is watching and that Nigerians are proud.
Politics
APC Reps Primary: Akpanke Wins Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Ticket
Over the weekend, Hon. Peter A. Akpanke emerged victorious in the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election for the Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency in Cross River State after securing an overwhelming majority of votes cast across the three local government areas.
The primary election, monitored by party officials and stakeholders, recorded a total of 18,921 registered APC members and delegates across Bekwarra, Obudu and Obanliku Local Government Areas.
Official results collation which was made available to journalists showed that 16,564 valid votes were cast during the exercise, with no void votes recorded.
According to the results, Hon. Akpanke polled a total of 14,252 votes to defeat five other aspirants, with
Hon. Theresa Akwaji Ushie scoring 101 votes;
Hon. Martin Orim with 1,572 votes;
Anthonia A. Ally with 104 votes;
Dr. Vincent A. Ushie with 270 votes and
Dr. Godwin A. Agbor with 265 votes.
A breakdown of the constituency wide results showed that Akpanke secured 4,749 votes in Obanliku Local Government Area, 4,886 votes in Obudu Local Government Area, and 4,617 votes in Bekwarra Local Government Area, consolidating respectively.
Following the conclusion of the collation process, APC electoral officials formally declared Hon. Peter A. Akpanke winner of the party’s House of Representatives primary election for the Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency.
The primary election was described by stakeholders, observers and party officials as peaceful, orderly transparent and credible, noting that the outcome reflected the will of party delegates and members across the constituency.
The primary election was conducted under the supervision of APC electoral officials who demonstrated true professionalism, with the official collation documents signed and dated May 16, 2026.
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