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Oyetola, competent, performing leader deserving of reelection — Obokun/Oriade Monarchs 

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Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and others
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.. ‘Oyetola has set high standards, let’s forbid a downgrade’ – Campaign Council

…as Campaign trail moves to Obokun/Oriade

As the Campaign trail of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola moved to Obokun and Oriade Local Government Areas of the State, on Wednesday, monarchs in Obokun/Oriade federal constituency have described Oyetola as the pillar of Osun’s sustainable growth in the last three and half years.

They also described the governor as a competent, performing leader that is deserving of a reelection, just as they commended him for bringing stability to the affairs of the state at a time when the political situation was full of uncertainties.

The monarchs also lauded Oyetola for investing in the improved security architecture of the state, adding that Osun has become the most peaceful state in the country as a result of his attention to security.

They urged their subjects to set sentiment aside and make a wise decision that guarantees greater development and a brighter future.

This is as the Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) welcomed scores of defectors from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Obokun and Oriade into the Party.

Speaking on behalf of the other monarchs, the President of Ijesha North Traditional Rulers’ Council, Ajalaye of Ipetu-Ijesha, Oba Adeleke Agunbiade, described Oyetola as a competent administrator, a distinguished leader and a humane politician, saying his performance in the last three and half years shows he was built for the job of governance.

Oba Agunbiade also lauded Oyetola for the way he has transformed the fortune of the state, declaring his readiness to campaign for the governor’s re-election.

According to him: “We the monarchs in Osun State have seen your work. In an ideal setting, you shouldn’t be touring the State on campaign again because your works speak for you in the nooks and crannies of the State.

“Most of the monarchs in Osun and in Ijeshaland precisely are professionals. This reality has put us in the position to act as assessors of your performances across different sectors. From our assessment, we can boldly submit that Governor Oyetola is a competent governor, a leader par excellence, and a humane politician with human heart.

“Anyone who knew Osun in the past will testify that this governor has done wonderfully well. Those thinking they can wrestle power from him should think twice, because after Oyetola, it is still Oyetola.

“We are not saying this to make him feel good, we are ready to throw our weight behind him. If we are not breaking any known law, we are ready to lead Oyetola’s reelection campaign. As a matter of fact, I am offering myself as the Director-General of his campaign among the monarchs”, Oba Agunbiade said.

Speaking in their Palaces, the Alademore of Ibokun, Oba Festus Kayode Awogboro; the Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa, Oba Moses Oluwafemi Agunsoye, and the Owamiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran, lauded Oyetola’s commitment to educational reform and security of the state, among other critical areas of development.

The monarchs also commended Oyetola for prioritising the welfare of both monarchs and their subjects, urging citizens to show favourable disposition to him because he has been tried and found competent.

While addressing the crowd at the various campaign grounds, where some defectors were received, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola assured the people that the modest achievements of his administration in the last three and half years are a foretaste of greater developments that his second term will bring to the state when re-elected.

He said: “The welfare and wellbeing of the good people of Osun, as well as the overall development of the State, hold a centrestage in my heart, and the modest achievements of my administration so far testify to this fact.

“We have paid salaries in the most amazing ways — amazing because resources are limited but we found a way to fulfil our obligations. We are dutifully paying pensions and we are offsetting backlogs. We have given the state infrastructural face-lift as much as affordable. These and many more we have shown commitment to and we will not relent in our commitment.

“We are approaching governance as we should. This is government of the people and for the people, and you can testify that the people have been at the centre of our programmes. Just take it that what you have seen in our first term is a taste of a sweeter sensation in our second term”, Oyetola said.

In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prince Gboyega Famodun, and the Director-General of the Campaign Council, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, said Osun has stepped up significantly with Oyetola in the saddle.

They urged citizens to support the governor’s re-election, saying Osun does not deserve a downgrade from the high standards already set in the last three and half years.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Babatunde Olayemi from Ward 10, Ilare Obokun, said their coming into the Party is not an espionage mission but a genuine passion to align with a government and a party that have showed distinction in governance.

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Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri Set to Join APC on Monday as Tinubu, Party Leaders Prepare Grand Welcome

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Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri
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Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, is poised to officially defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, in what is shaping up to be one of the most significant political realignments in Nigeria’s South-South region since 2023.

According to Party sources, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC governors, and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) are expected to be on hand to formally receive the Bayelsa governor into the ruling party during a high-profile ceremony.

Information has it that Diri, who resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15, has been in discreet negotiations with key APC figures to finalize his move. The talks, described as “strategic and delicate,” reportedly centered on ensuring a smooth integration of Diri’s political bloc into the APC’s structure in Bayelsa State.

A senior APC insider revealed that the delay in announcing the defection was deliberate, designed to “ensure seamless alignment and prevent internal friction within the state chapter,” particularly as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Political observers see Diri’s defection as a major coup for the APC, marking a significant expansion of its influence in the oil-rich South-South, a region that has historically remained a stronghold of the PDP.

The governor’s move also underscores President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to consolidate political dominance nationwide, with several former opposition leaders recently defecting to the ruling party.

With Diri’s entry, analysts say the political landscape in Bayelsa — and the broader Niger Delta — could experience a dramatic shift, potentially reshaping alliances and strategies ahead of the next election cycle.

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TINUBU HANDS OVER TARABA GOVERNOR AGBU KEFAS TO APC CHAIRMAN AHEAD OF DEFECTION

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Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally handed over Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, for proper induction into the ruling party, marking a major political realignment in the North-East region.

Governor Kefas disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with APC youths and stakeholders held at the T.Y. Danjuma House in Abuja. He revealed that President Tinubu had personally endorsed his decision to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC and had introduced him to the party’s national leadership for formal integration.

According to Kefas, the President not only welcomed his move but also described it as a step toward strengthening collaboration between the federal government and Taraba State. Preparations, he said, were already underway for his formal reception into the APC in Taraba, where he would be officially unveiled to party members and supporters.

Speaking after the meeting, Comrade Abubakar Gembo, a prominent APC youth leader, described Governor Kefas’s planned defection as a “major political boost” for the ruling party in Taraba State.

“Governor Kefas informed us of his readiness to join our great party, the APC. He told us he had met with President Tinubu, who received him warmly and handed him over to the national chairman,” Gembo said.

He added that the governor assured youths of inclusiveness and continued empowerment, stressing that Kefas had maintained a youth-friendly governance style even while serving under the PDP platform.

 

Similarly, Idris Ayuba, Chairman of the APC Youth Vanguard, Taraba State chapter, confirmed that arrangements for the governor’s defection had been concluded at the national level. According to him, only the formal reception ceremonies at the ward, local government, and state levels were pending.

 

Ayuba called on party members and supporters to rally behind the governor, describing him as a leader committed to youth development, education, and inclusive governance.

 

In a separate statement, the Vanguard’s Publicity Secretary, Rikwense Muri, affirmed the development, noting that Governor Kefas had met with key APC youth leaders and political influencers to strategize on building a united front capable of driving accelerated development in Taraba.

 

“Governor Kefas said Taraba can no longer afford to remain isolated from the mainstream of national politics. He explained that his decision to realign politically was motivated by the need to drive greater development, enhance security, and attract more federal presence to the state,” Muri said.

 

The governor was further quoted as saying, “I am guided by the need to put Taraba first. Our state must take its rightful place in national development, and that can only happen when we work hand in hand with the centre.”

 

APC youth stakeholders applauded the governor’s decision, commending his courage, pragmatism, and foresight in prioritising the interests of Tarabians over partisan affiliations.

 

Governor Agbu Kefas was elected in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has governed Taraba State since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. His defection, observers say, could signal a major shift in the political landscape of the North-East, where the APC continues to strengthen its foothold.

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APC Targets Four Opposition Governors in Major Political Realignment Ahead of 2027 Elections

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) is poised for a major political shake-up as at least four sitting governors from opposition parties are reportedly in advanced talks to defect to the ruling party before the end of 2025

A move insiders say could further consolidate APC’s dominance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, APC’s National Vice Chairman (South-East), revealed the development in an exclusive interview, naming the governors of Plateau, Taraba, Rivers, and Abia (Labour Party) as those being courted by the party.

According to Arodiogbu, discussions with the governors have reached an advanced stage, and their defection to the ruling party is “highly possible” in the coming weeks.

“It is a possibility that the Plateau governor will join us, likewise his Taraba counterpart. We are also looking forward to receiving Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State into our midst,” Arodiogbu stated confidently.

He further hinted that the defections are expected to take place before the party’s congresses, stressing that the APC is positioning itself as the most organised and dominant political structure in the country.

“These are all high possibilities. We expect that to happen in the coming weeks before our congresses. Most of these defections should happen before the end of the year. Once they do, it will further confirm that the APC remains the dominant and most organised political platform in Nigeria,” he added.

Arodiogbu attributed the growing attraction to the APC to the party’s reform-driven leadership and its open-door policy, which he said have created an inclusive environment for dialogue and participation.

“The truth is that the APC has become a home for all progressives. We are not just expanding in numbers but in quality leadership. Many political leaders now see that this is the platform that offers stability, direction, and a clear vision for Nigeria’s democracy,” he explained.

The APC vice chairman also noted that the party’s leadership under the current national chairman has aligned closely with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which continues to define the party’s policy direction and national outreach.

“The national chairman has made it clear that the APC is not closing its doors to anyone. We are reaching out to people of goodwill who believe in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Arodiogbu affirmed.

Political observers believe that if the anticipated defections materialise, the APC’s numerical and strategic advantage will be further strengthened, giving it a significant edge as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.

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