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Osun Poll: Fayose Says Federal Might Could Have Swayed Result If Deployed

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Osun Poll: Fayose Says Federal Might Could Have Swayed Result If Deployed
Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose

Osun Poll: Fayose Says Federal Might Could Have Swayed Result If Deployed

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has declared that if the Federal Government genuinely intended to manipulate an election outcome by force, there would be little anyone could do to stop it. Fayose made this assertion while reflecting on the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, during an interview with TVC News, in which incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke secured re-election under the Accord Party banner. The former governor, who said he remained in Osogbo throughout the election period, explained that he visited markets and communities across the state, including Ilesa, to gauge the mood of voters ahead of the poll, and his interactions with residents suggested the election would be closely contested, with the result capable of going either way.

When asked if he knew Adeleke would win, Fayose said the closeness of the contest meant either candidate could have emerged victorious, stating, “When you have an election that is 52, 48, it could go either way,” contrasting that with an election where one candidate holds a much wider lead of 30 to 70. He expressed concern about the violence and killings recorded around the election, describing them as unnecessary and deeply regrettable, noting that the Nigeria Police Force retained approximately 15,000 personnel deployed for the election and deployed anti-riot policemen and undercover operatives to strategic locations to prevent post-election violence, following at least 34 election-related violent incidents that resulted in 18 deaths recorded since May 2026.

On vote buying, Fayose stated that neither the APC nor the Accord Party could claim innocence, saying the two sides clearly engaged in the practice, and according to reports, vote trading topped the list of electoral offences with 103 cases recorded by observers, with police arresting individuals from both sides sharing money. Official results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed that Governor Ademola Adeleke polled 511,067 votes (51.90 per cent) to defeat APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes (45.17 per cent), with the margin of victory increasing from 28,344 votes in 2022 to 66,252 votes in 2026, and the wider margin, combined with intense competition, made manipulation more difficult, according to the Athena Election Observatory.

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Fayose broke down the winning margin, arguing that a significant portion of the difference came from Ede, the home base of the Adeleke family, where in Ede North, Adeleke polled 35,427 votes against Oyebamiji’s 10,283, while in Ede South, he secured 26,188 votes compared with the APC candidate’s 6,219, and Adeleke also won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas. He addressed claims that the Federal Government wanted to take over the election, saying, “I want to say to you, if the federal government wants to take an election, they will take it. If the federal government… the ones I know of the past, if they want to take an election, there’s nothing you can do,” a statement that echoed comments by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who said President Bola Tinubu could have secured victory for the APC in Osun if he wanted it “at all costs,” insisting that the result showed that no federal might was deployed in Osun and that the President allowed a free and fair process, with Fayose agreeing with Wike’s position, responding, “That, that exactly…”

Fayose congratulated Adeleke on his victory and urged him to reconcile with all stakeholders in the state, saying, “So let us commend the Adelekes for winning and remind them they need to be magnanimous in victory. The language now must be right. Reconciliation must be total. Not with the Accord alone, but with all other stakeholders because all of you are from Osun state.” His comments come as political stakeholders continue to analyse the outcome of the closely watched governorship election, which has significant implications for the political landscape in the South-West region and the build-up to the 2027 general elections.

Osun Poll: Fayose Says Federal Might Could Have Swayed Result If Deployed

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2027: Atiku, Amaechi Reiterate Plan to Cut Petrol Prices

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2027: Atiku, Amaechi Reiterate Plan to Cut Petrol Prices
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi

2027: Atiku, Amaechi Reiterate Plan to Cut Petrol Prices

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, have reiterated their plan to reduce the cost of petrol if elected in the 2027 presidential election.

The pair made the remarks during a brief stop at an NNPC filling station in Guzape, Abuja, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, where they were approached by members of the public.

Amaechi was driving the vehicle with Atiku seated beside him when they stopped at the filling station. The encounter attracted a small crowd, with the politicians responding to questions about fuel prices and their proposed policy.

Amaechi said an Atiku-led government would reduce the cost of petrol through what the ADC ticket describes as a production subsidy, rather than simply returning to the previous system of subsidising imported petrol.

Atiku also addressed the crowd briefly in Hausa, saying, “Zan dawo da tallafi insha Allahu,” which translates to, “I will bring back the subsidy, by God’s grace.”

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The encounter came a day after Amaechi challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reduce petrol to ₦600 per litre.

Amaechi said he would withdraw from Atiku’s presidential ticket and campaign for Tinubu if petrol was brought down to that price. He made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The former Rivers State governor has continued to criticise the impact of the petrol subsidy removal on households, particularly the effect of higher fuel prices on transportation and the cost of goods.

Atiku has separately outlined a proposed domestic production subsidy under which government support would be directed at locally refined petroleum products.

The proposal is intended to reduce production costs for domestic refineries and, according to Atiku, allow the savings to be reflected in lower petrol prices for consumers.

The former vice president has argued that the intervention would be structured, capped and subject to public disclosure and independent auditing. Imported petrol would not qualify under the proposed arrangement.

The fuel subsidy debate has remained a major issue in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election, following the removal of the petrol subsidy by the Tinubu administration in May 2023.

The Federal Government has defended the removal, arguing that the former subsidy regime imposed a significant burden on public finances. Opposition figures, including Atiku, have instead linked the policy to higher living costs and have proposed alternative measures to reduce the impact on consumers.

The Abuja filling-station encounter therefore provided Atiku and Amaechi another opportunity to restate their position on petrol prices, fuel subsidy and the cost of living as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 election.

 

2027: Atiku, Amaechi Reiterate Plan to Cut Petrol Prices

 

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2027: Tompolo Mobilises Taraba for Tinubu, Donates 25 Campaign Vehicles

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2027: Tompolo Mobilises Taraba for Tinubu, Donates 25 Campaign Vehicles

2027: Tompolo Mobilises Taraba for Tinubu, Donates 25 Campaign Vehicles

The PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, led by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has launched its grassroots mobilisation campaign in Taraba State ahead of the 2027 presidential election, calling for support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The campaign was launched in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, with Tompolo represented by High Chief Kestin Pondi.

Tompolo, who is the Grand Patron of the movement, said the Tinubu administration’s reforms required more time to consolidate and deliver further benefits to Nigerians.

He said Taraba State was benefiting from federal government policies and argued that continuity would help sustain the gains recorded so far.

According to him, the challenges associated with economic reforms were expected but should not prevent the government from completing and consolidating its programmes.

The movement urged its supporters to take the 2027 campaign to homes, religious centres, wards, local government areas and polling units across the state.

The event also featured the donation of 25 campaign vehicles, generators and electronic speakers to strengthen the movement’s grassroots mobilisation activities in Taraba.

Speaking at the event, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas said residents were already witnessing the impact of the Tinubu administration through federal projects being implemented in the state.

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Kefas reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda and said the state would continue to work with the Federal Government on development projects.

The governor also declared his support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign, saying his administration would mobilise support for the President across the state.

Kefas said Taraba was ready to support Tinubu, while urging residents to assess the projects and programmes being implemented by the Federal Government.

The National Coordinator of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Sunday Asuku, said the group was in Taraba to expand its grassroots mobilisation for Tinubu and Kefas.

Asuku urged Nigerians to maintain the current political direction, arguing that abandoning the Tinubu administration’s reforms would be counterproductive.

He also praised the Taraba government for what he described as achievements recorded over the past three years and said the movement would strengthen its structures across wards and polling units ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Taraba mobilisation is part of a wider campaign by the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement to establish grassroots structures ahead of the 2027 elections.

The movement has been taking its campaign to different states while calling for support for Tinubu and other candidates it backs in the forthcoming elections.

The latest mobilisation in Taraba comes as political parties and support groups intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with grassroots structures becoming a major focus of campaign activities.

2027: Tompolo Mobilises Taraba for Tinubu, Donates 25 Campaign Vehicles

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Ogun 2027: YPP, BOOT Reject Suit Withdrawal Against Adeola

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Yayi Ancestry Row: Stepmother Sets Record Straight as Legal Battle Looms
Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola,, popularly known as Yayi

Ogun 2027: YPP, BOOT Reject Suit Withdrawal Against Adeola

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) and BOOT Party in Ogun State have rejected claims that they withdrew their respective legal challenges against the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

The parties said their court actions challenging aspects of Adeola’s eligibility to contest the 2027 Ogun State governorship election remain valid and that neither party authorised any withdrawal.

The controversy followed the decision by New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) governorship candidate Akinbola Rotham to withdraw a separate suit he filed against Adeola.

Rotham withdrew Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/135/2026, which was filed at the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, saying his decision was motivated by the broader interest of Ogun West and the longstanding aspiration of the senatorial district to produce the next governor of the state.

Rotham and Adeola are both from Ogun West Senatorial District, which has never produced a governor of the state since its creation.

The NNPP candidate said the Ogun West agenda should take precedence over individual political interests and that withdrawing his case would contribute to unity within the district.

However, the YPP and BOOT Party said Rotham’s decision should not be interpreted as a withdrawal of their own cases.

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The parties’ state chairmen, Adeyemi Solomon Oluwaseyunmi of YPP and Akerele Abiodun John of BOOT, said they did not authorise or sign any document discontinuing their legal actions.

They also rejected suggestions that they had been consulted over any purported withdrawal.

The parties were reacting to claims attributed to Kayode Odunaro, media adviser to Adeola, that major court cases challenging the APC candidate’s 2027 governorship bid had been discontinued by the litigants.

YPP and BOOT described the claim as misleading and maintained that their positions on the legal proceedings remain unchanged.

The opposition parties said their actions were aimed at allowing the courts to determine questions surrounding Adeola’s eligibility, constitutional requirements and state-of-origin claims.

The legal controversy includes questions about Adeola’s claim of being an indigene of Pahayi in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Adeola, who currently represents Ogun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, emerged as the APC candidate for the 2027 governorship election after winning the party’s nomination process.

The senator has maintained his eligibility and right to contest the election.

Rotham’s withdrawal of his individual suit does not automatically terminate other cases filed by separate political parties or individuals, meaning the legal questions raised by YPP and BOOT remain subject to the decisions of the courts.

The opposition parties have therefore urged political actors to rely on official court records rather than public statements when determining the status of the various cases.

The development comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 Ogun governorship election, with the issue of an Ogun West governor becoming a major theme in the emerging campaign.

While Rotham has opted to withdraw his case in support of a broader Ogun West political agenda, YPP and BOOT insist that their own legal challenges should proceed independently.

The conflicting positions mean that the withdrawal of one suit has not brought an end to the wider legal controversy surrounding Adeola’s 2027 governorship candidacy.

Ogun 2027: YPP, BOOT Reject Suit Withdrawal Against Adeola

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