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Senate probe sought into power bill ‘shocks’

Sen. Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Senate energy committee, has filed Resolution No. 535 seeking an inquiry into the increase in electricity prices to come up with a law to protect consumers and ensure that power rates remain reasonable.

‘While electric distribution utilities and generation companies are entitled to recover prudent and legitimate costs necessary to maintain reliable electric service and undertake essential capital investments, consumers likewise have the right to fair, transparent, accurate, and reasonable electricity charges and access to timely and effective complaint resolution mechanisms,’ Tulfo said in a statement.

Government helpless?

The senator also questioned the government’s capability to help consumers affected by the bill shocks.

‘Is the government really powerless here? For instance, if an electric cooperative’s service is awful and the people are fed up with it, are we helpless?’ he asked.

‘We cannot let our countrymen just accept this, especially with wage rates remaining stagnant,’ Tulfo added.

The senator said he wants to find a way to temper rising power costs and make electricity more affordable for Filipinos.

‘In this day and age, access to power is a right and not a mere luxury. Every Filipino deserves fair electricity rates,’ Tulfo said.

The Department of Energy recently reported that the country had the highest electricity costs in Southeast Asia as of last month, with average rates pegged at P12.43 per kilowatt hour, higher by P0.093 per kWh compared with Singapore.

This was attributed to market reliance on more expensive power generation plants to address the tight electricity supply in the Visayas region-a situation further aggravated by higher demand due to the summer heat.

Among the major grids, the Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative in the Visayas recorded the highest on-grid residential rate at P16.57 per kWh, an increase of 32 percent from P12.53 per kWh in May.

On the other hand, Manila Electric Co., the country’s biggest power distributor that serves Metro Manila and nearby provinces, was also among the top distribution utilities with high rates. In June, its residential rate reached P14.48 per kWh.

Vatican: Jesus is the true treasure of the Church

The true wealth of the Catholic Church is Jesus Christ, and this hidden treasure must be revealed, Papal Nuncio Charles Brown said on Saturday.

Drawing on the Gospel parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, the archbishop said many people mistake the Church for a purely humanitarian organization, overlooking what he called its central, divine reality.

‘The mission of evangelization is to reveal that hidden treasure,’ he said.

That treasure is Christ’s presence, love, teaching and the life of grace – one that stays concealed unless Catholics actively make it known, the ambassador of the Vatican said.

According to CBCPNews, Brown gave this message to almost 4,000 Catholics who attended the 12th Philippine Conference on the New Evangelization held at the Quadricentennial Pavilion of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

‘We want people to see that the Church is not merely a human organization doing good works, but truly the Body of Christ, where Jesus is present and where the fullness of truth about human life and our eternal destiny is found,’ Brown said.

He stressed the dignity of the marginalized, urging delegates to view the poor, the addicted and the abandoned as ‘pearls of great price,’ reminding them that these are the people for whom Christ gave everything.

He added that authentic evangelization requires more than preaching, it demands concrete acts of charity toward those living on the streets or struggling with addiction, whom he described as deeply loved by God despite society’s neglect.

He urged the delegates to continue as ‘missionary disciples,’ carrying that message beyond the conference.

Gov’t infra spending still down after 11 months

Signs of a turnaround in the Marcos administration’s infrastructure spending were still elusive in May, nearly a year after it began to slide, as tighter oversight continued to delay payments for public works projects.

Latest data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed infrastructure and other capital outlays fell 35.3 percent to P80.1 billion in May from P123.8 billion in the same month last year, marking the 11th consecutive month of year-on-year declines.

‘The year-on-year decline primarily reflects the implementation of strengthened review, audit, and validation procedures for infrastructure payment claims, as well as documentary compliance requirements for contractors,’ the DBM said.

‘These enhanced safeguards have affected the timing of some infrastructure disbursements, particularly on Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects,’ it added, noting that the measures are in a bid to ensure the prudent use of public funds.

The decline came despite the DPWH receiving P403.3 billion in allotments in May, which is already the bulk of its adjusted P530.1 billion budget for the year.

From January to May, infrastructure spending dropped 42.9 percent to P269.4 billion from P471.5 billion a year earlier.

Including estimated national government infrastructure disbursements and the infrastructure components of subsidies and equity to state-run firms as well as transfers to local government units (LGUs), infrastructure spending likewise fell 28.2 percent to P401.3 billion from P558.8 billion.

Despite the weakness in infrastructure, overall government spending continued to pick up pace.

Total spending

National government disbursements rose 3.8 percent to P600.2 billion in May from P579.2 billion a year earlier, driven by higher maintenance and other operating expenses, transfers to LGUs, interest payments and personnel services.

This brought total government spending in the first five months to P2.596 trillion, up 4.8 percent from P2.477 trillion in the same period last year. The amount represents roughly 40 percent of the government’s revised P6.465-trillion spending program for 2026.

Looking ahead, the government is expected to ramp up spending in the second half of the year after the DPWH received another P14.2 billion in allotments in June.

The DBM also said disbursements were expected to accelerate, supported by the implementation of programs under the Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food and Transport amid the Middle East war.

PhilHealth, Yakap, Gamot programs to expand in 2027, says Marcos

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said PhilHealth will expand its preventive health program next year to gradually include blood tests and medicines aimed at detecting and monitoring kidney, liver and thyroid conditions, as well as hepatitis B, earlier.

Marcos announced the expansion in his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona), in which he outlined the government’s health programs covering preventive care, medicines, and treatment for serious and common diseases.

‘If our true goal is to prevent disease, this is not enough. We need to detect and monitor health problems much earlier,’ Marcos said.

‘That is why we are further expanding this program. Starting next year, we will gradually include various types of blood tests and medications so that potential kidney, liver, thyroid, and hepatitis B conditions can be detected and monitored at an earlier stage,’ he added.

Marcos described Universal Health Care, implemented with the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth, as the country’s primary health protection system.

He cited the Yakap program as part of the government’s push toward preventive and early health care.

‘Being proactive is better than simply working hard. That is the goal of our Yakap Program: to keep Filipinos healthy and away from disease, and to address potential illnesses before they become serious,’ Marcos said.

According to Marcos, 25 million Filipinos have already registered under the program, while 4.5 million have received consultations this year.

The government also wants more clinics to participate in Yakap to give patients more options, he said.

P20,000 annual medicine benefit

Marcos also cited PhilHealth’s GAMOT program, under which members can obtain medicines from more than 2,000 accredited providers.

Each member has an annual benefit limit of P20,000.

The program currently covers 75 essential medicines, including antibiotics and medicines for asthma, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, cough, fever and other common illnesses, according to Marcos.

‘In the first seven months of this year, more than 300,000 of our fellow Filipinos have already benefited from these medicines,’ he said.

Over 2,000 medicines exempted from VAT

Marcos also said more than 2,000 medicines have been exempted from value-added tax (VAT). Of these, more than 700 are for cancer, over 500 are for hypertension, while more than 600 are for diabetes and mental health, according to figures he cited.

‘By removing this tax, the result is lower prices for these products in pharmacies,’ Marcos said.

Marcos also said PhilHealth continues to expand the diseases, conditions and services it covers and has increased benefit limits to account for rising prices. He specifically cited coverage for serious and prevalent illnesses such as cancer and heart disease.

He said HIV/AIDS treatment is now also covered as the government seeks to address the rising number of cases in the country.

He also cited tuberculosis, which he said kills nearly 100 people each day in the Philippines.

‘PhilHealth’s substantial support is also there if you truly need to be admitted to a hospital. PhilHealth continues to expand its coverage to include more diseases, medical conditions, and healthcare services. It has also increased its benefit limits to ensure they keep pace with rising costs,’ Marcos said.

‘PhilHealth gives priority to widespread and serious illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease. Coverage now also includes HIV/AIDS treatment to help curb the growing number of cases in the country. Treatment for tuberculosis is likewise covered-a disease that claims nearly 100 lives every day in our country,’ he added.

F1: Proud Kimi Antonelli salvages third as Mercedes limits damage

World championship leader Kimi Antonelli said he was proud of his and Mercedes’ damage limitation efforts on Sunday after he finished third to extend his advantage in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 19-year-old Italian battled for a podium finish having been hit with a grid penalty to seventh place after a yellow flag infringement in qualifying.

‘I think it’s a good result,’ he said. ‘It was damage limitation after yesterday and we really had to fight for it because this weekend we struggled a little bit overall, but also other teams, like Ferrari and McLaren, brought upgrades so it was kind of expected.

Antonelli has six wins this season and extended his championship lead over seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari by five points to 50 and to 59 ahead of his teammate George Russell.

‘Hopefully it is going to be our turn, in the second half of the season to bring some upgrades.’

Antonelli had started seventh and worked his way forward in a complex race of mixed tyre strategies to finish behind world champion Lando Norris of McLaren and four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull.

‘It was a really good team effort,’ he said. ‘And this half of the season we have done a tremendous job.’

Looking ahead to the second half, he added: ‘It’s going to be tight. McLaren did a massive step forward, Ferrari are quick and you can never write off Max – so it is going to be a big fight.

‘And George is going to be back in shape for sure. We just need to raise the bar and come back stronger because it is going to be a big push.’

Russell said his ‘terrible start’ was beyond his control, just another setback to add to the list of things that had gone against him this year.

‘Right now, we don’t know what happened, but it’s added to the list of the things that have happened in the first half of this season.

‘I just pray things calm down in the second half. Honestly, I’m staying positive because I’ve gone through being so disappointed with everything that’s happened.

‘At some point, you’ve got to pick yourself up and accept there’s things that aren’t in your control that may work against you.

‘I’m not happy with how things have gone, but I’m just going keep on staying positive and keep on pushing.’

Team boss Toto Wolff conceded that ‘once again, we did a mistake on screwing George’s start. It is just not acceptable and not good enough from us.’

Russell recovered from a poor start, when he was halted by anti-stall software that dropped him to 20th, by finishing seventh

Tinubu may meet more Oyo APC stakeholders, as power tussle intensifies in Kwara, Benue

There are indications that President Bola Tinubu may schedule further meetings with some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in respect of the crisis rocking the Oyo State chapter of the party over the emergence of the governorship candidate.

The primaries had produced the Senator representing Oyo South, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, but other contestants have kicked against the outcome.

Last week, President Tinubu met with the Renewed Hope Ambassador in the state, Senator Teslim Folarin, who was asked to rally the support of the stakeholders in Oyo to guarantee a united front.

Feelers from Abuja, however, indicate that the president may schedule another meeting with an enlarged team of stakeholders ahead of the flag-off of campaigns.

A source said that as the consideration is ongoing, the governorship candidate, Senator Alli, has also intensified peace moves within the party, as a backup to the efforts of the peace committee already inaugurated by the state chapter of the APC.

‘We are hopeful of a final resolution in a short while, a source close to the party said, adding that some of the aggrieved aspirants are already embracing peace.

Kwara stakeholders await Abuja’s final verdict on guber candidate

In Kwara State, stakeholders and party leaders have continued to insist that the issue of the governorship candidate remained unresolved in the state. Sources said that the stakeholders are, however, awaiting the final verdict on the list of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for the 2027 general elections in Kwara State from the national leadership of the ruling party.

Speaking on the development, the state APC chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said that he could not confirm the authenticity of any of the candidates for the general elections, adding that the national leadership conducted primaries that produced the candidates.

Fagbemi also said that it is the national leadership that would announce the candidates. This is just as groups in the ruling party in the state continued to post names of their favourite as candidates on social media, claiming that their favourite is the winner of the primary.

It was also gathered that the name of Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central District propped up as the winner of the APC governorship primary, against Speaker, Kwara House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, who was announced as the winner by the Musliu Obanikoro-led team that conducted the primary.

Meanwhile, party leaders and stakeholders continue to wait for the national leadership of the party to announce the list before the time allowed by INEC to submit names of candidates.

In Benue, Alia, loyalists battle for APC tickets

There are strong indications that the internal crisis rocking the ruling All Progressive Congress in Benue State is not yet over.

This is coming as some candidates whose nominations have been upturned by the national working committee of the APC have challenged the decision in court.

Our correspondent reliably gathered that one of the House of Assembly aspirants, Sesugh Kaaba, had instituted a case before the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the APC from recognizing those whose names were not successful in the last primary elections of the party supervised by INEC but uploaded on the portal.

He is further seeking an order directing and compelling the APC to forward only the aforementioned candidates to INEC for the Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly elections in Benue State.

In suit number marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, Kaaba is seeking an order directing INEC to recognise Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia(governorship candidate), Sen Gabriel Suswam, Benjamin Aber and Francis Ottah Agbo(Senatorial candidates) and other successful candidates during the primary election.

The case, which is before Justice Inyang Ekwo.has been adjourned to August 27, 2026, for definite hearing.

Our correspondent learnt that the pending case might have delayed the party from uploading the name of the Benue APC governorship candidate on the INEC portal.

When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kula Tersoo, told our correspondent that his principal had received his nomination forms, filled and submitted.

Our correspondent on Sunday sighted a purported congratulatory message of the party Elders Advisory Council, Benue State Chapter, under the leadership of its Chairman, Senator Barnabas Gemade.

Gemade, in the letter, congratulated the governor and his deputy, Hyacinth Iormem Alia and Sam Ode, respectively, on the successful validation of their party nomination by INEC.

The council appealed to the people of the State to continue supporting Governor Alia and his administration as it strives to deepen the dividends of democracy across the state.

When contacted, the party state publicity secretary of the Agada-led exco and loyal to SGF, Daniel Ihomun, described the purported submission of the governor’s name to INEC by the APC as laughable.

Ihomun asked how tenable it was for the National Working Committee of the party to submit Governor Alia’s name to INEC, and for INEC to upload it to its portal, when the governor had been joined in a suit instituted at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Ihomun, who quoted Article 21.5, Paragraph V of the APC Constitution 2022 as Amended, said that all the people who had filed a case against the national working committee of the party without exhausting the conflict resolution mechanism of the party risk expulsion from the APC.

How Online Slot Games Have Changed Over the Years

You might remember opening an old slot game on a small laptop, hearing a sharp coin sound, and watching three reels stop almost instantly. Nothing moved except the symbols. Then you open a newer game on your phone and find layered backgrounds, side features, and tiny animations after every spin. The change feels obvious, but the reasons behind it are more interesting than the surface polish.

The early games felt almost mechanical

Older online slots borrowed heavily from physical machines. You saw familiar fruit symbols, simple pay lines, and a bright button that did nearly all the work. To be fair, that directness had its own charm.

Three reels told you everything

You did not need a tutorial. Three reels, a few symbols, and one clear result made the whole rhythm easy to follow. A round could finish in a couple of seconds.

That simplicity made every symbol feel larger than it really was.

Sound did more than graphics

Early games often relied on short electronic tones because the visuals had limited movement. You heard a click, a chime, or a brief burst after a win. The sound carried the moment.

And sometimes it still does.

Phones changed what you expected

Once slots moved comfortably onto phones, you stopped treating them like small copies of desktop games. You expected touch controls, readable text, and quick loading during a spare five minutes, without demanding that you stop and study the screen.

Screens became part of the design

A vertical phone screen changed where buttons sat and how much information you could see at once. Developers had to make symbols readable without filling the display with clutter.

You also started noticing smoother menus. Honestly, most people do not realise how much a badly placed spin button can interrupt the whole mood.

Themes started doing more work

A theme once meant little more than a background picture and matching icons. Later games began using characters, short scenes, and small visual changes to give each session a distinct feel.

You can see that shift on sites such as slot88, where the attraction often depends on how quickly a game communicates its mood.

Features became part of the story

Modern slot games often give you more to notice between spins. A symbol may expand, a background may change, or a side feature may appear after a certain combination.

Bonus rounds stopped feeling separate

Older bonus rounds could feel like a different screen pasted onto the main game. Newer designs often carry the same colours, characters, and sound cues into the extra feature.

The result feels more connected, though not exactly invisible.

Small animations now guide your eyes

A glowing frame can show you where a feature began. A moving symbol can suggest what changed, even before you read the message on screen.

Weirdly enough, these tiny movements can matter more than a large cinematic sequence.

You have more control over pace

Many newer games let you adjust sound, speed, or animation length. You can keep the full presentation or move through rounds more quickly.

That choice matters because you may want spectacle at home and something quieter during a short break.

The next change may feel smaller

You will probably keep seeing cleaner controls, more adaptable layouts, and features that react to how you play. The changes may not look dramatic at first.

You might simply notice that a game remembers your preferred sound level or opens with fewer explanations. Small comforts tend to become normal before you realise they arrived.

At some point, visual polish may stop being the main difference. You may care more about whether a game respects your time and keeps its ideas clear.

But the old three-reel rhythm will probably stay around too. You may return to it now and then, partly for nostalgia, partly because simple can still feel right.

Osun guber: Adeleke declares Tuesday work-free day for PVC collection

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has declared Tuesday, July 28, 2026, a work-free day for all public servants in Osun State to enable them to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the August governorship election.

In a circular issued on Monday, the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina, said the approval covers workers at the state and local government levels, as well as staff of tertiary institutions across the state.

According to the circular, the work-free day was approved to enable public servants to perform their civic duty during the forthcoming gubernatorial and future elections in the state.

However, workers on essential services such as medical personnel and security operatives were urged to make necessary internal arrangements to ensure there is no disruption to critical services.

Governor Adeleke, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, urged both public and informal workers to collect their PVCs without delay.

‘I encourage all registered voters to go to all the collection points without delay. Your vote is your power. Your voter’s card is your licence to the ballot paper and by extension to the ballot box,’ the governor said.

He noted that the August 16 governorship election is critical to the future of Osun State and called on residents to participate actively.

Business backs SONA pitches, but cautious on outcomes

BUSINESS groups largely gave President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) a passing grade on Monday, but said the real test begins after the applause, with execution, funding and policy follow-through now under the spotlight.

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) said the President touched on many of the priorities long raised by the business community, including job creation, food security, affordable energy, health care, support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and improved government services.

‘We are encouraged that he addressed key priorities such as job creation, food security, affordable energy, health care, MSME support, and improving government services,’ MAP President Donald Patrick Lim said in a statement after the Sona.

‘These are the right priorities and are aligned with many of the concerns consistently raised by the business community,’ he added.

Lim, however, said businesses are now looking for clear implementation timelines, policy consistency and closer collaboration between government and the private sector.

He also noted that tourism-one of the country’s major economic drivers-was absent from the President’s address.

‘We hope this is complemented by a stronger emphasis on long-term economic reforms that improve the investment climate, strengthen MSMEs, accelerate infrastructure and digital transformation, and make the Philippines more competitive globally,’ he said.

Lim added that Congress should promptly translate the administration’s priorities into legislation while the Executive ensures programs are implemented efficiently and their benefits reach ordinary Filipinos.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman emeritus Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. echoed the generally positive assessment but questioned whether the government has the fiscal capacity to deliver on the commitments outlined in the speech.

‘From the business point of view, he answered almost everything we have been asking for-and even added more,’ Ortiz-Luis said in a televised interview after the Sona.

However, he said he did not hear any specific plans to strengthen tourism or expand export promotion and product development.

Ortiz-Luis renewed his call for greater support for MSMEs, saying the sector remains among the most underfunded in Asia despite its significant contribution to the economy.

‘I hope there is a plan to source the funding for all these programs,’ he said.

Also, the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) said targeted assistance remains necessary for manufacturers and small businesses as inflationary pressures continue to weigh on operations.

‘Sustaining MSMEs means protecting jobs and keeping local supply chains intact,’ FPI chairman Elizabeth Lee said in a statement.

‘By cushioning enterprises against rising costs, we can soften the blow of weakening demand while preserving employment and production capacity. The dual impact-jobs retained and supply chains stabilized-helps maintain confidence in the domestic market and shields industry from deeper contraction,’ she added.

Lee also said the administration’s emphasis on ease of doing business, Green Lanes and strategic investment initiatives such as Pax Silica provides a clear direction for industry, although businesses will be watching how these policies are carried out.

‘Ultimately, this Sona laid down benchmarks for accountability and competitiveness. The priority now shifts to swift execution-lowering operational costs, cutting red tape, and ensuring reforms translate directly to the factory floor,’ she said.

The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Apeco) welcomed the administration’s energy agenda, saying more reliable power will strengthen the ecozone’s ability to attract investments.

Apeco President Gil Taway IV said the agency plans to support the government’s energy initiatives by opening the ecozone to investments in renewable energy generation, battery energy storage, power distribution infrastructure and other emerging clean-energy technologies.

Trade, industry agenda

In his address, President Marcos underscored supply chain resilience, trade diversification and industrial upgrading as key components of the administration’s economic strategy.

He highlighted the planned Pax Silica Industrial Hub in New Clark City, describing it as an artificial intelligence-centered manufacturing and logistics ecosystem under the United States (US)-led Pax Silica Initiative and a cornerstone of the Luzon Economic Corridor.

Government projections estimate the project could attract $40 billion to $70 billion in investments, create 130,000 to 190,000 direct jobs, and generate another 500,000 to 800,000 indirect and induced jobs across supporting industries and supply chains.

The chief executive also affirmed the country’s commitment to expanding trade through free trade agreements, citing the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the conclusion of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) with the United Arab Emirates.

The Philippines now has 23 free trade agreements either in force or under negotiation, which include the recently concluded Cepa negotiations with Chile, alongside ongoing talks with the European Union, Canada and India, as well as the review of the Philippine-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.

He also said the government’s Green Lanes initiative has facilitated more than P6 trillion worth of strategic investments over the past three years, with projects projected to create over 400,000 jobs.

Since Executive Order 18 took effect in February 2023, at least 239 strategic investment projects worth P6.32 trillion have been certified under the program, per data from the Board of Investments.

Marcos also said the government maintained adequate fuel supplies despite disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz by diversifying oil import sources, adding that the country has enough inventory to meet demand for nearly two months.

On manufacturing, Marcos reiterated the administration’s push to accelerate electric vehicle adoption through zero tariffs on electric vehicle (EV) imports until 2028 and a directive requiring government agencies to prioritize EVs in fleet replacement.

He also identified pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, technology, logistics and luxury goods among the industries the government aims to develop further.

APC must strengthen grassroots, close ranks ahead 2027 elections – Akinfolarin

A former member of the House of Representatives and senatorial aspirant, Rt Honourable Mayowa Akinfolarin, at the weekend, mobilised his political structures across Ondo South Senatorial District with the directive to ensure overwhelming victory for President Bola Tinubu as well as every candidate within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akinfolarin, who had served as both state and federal lawmaker, emphasised that the interest of the APC and the success of Tinubu’s emergence at the polls in 2027 outweigh every personal ambition.

The APC chieftain, who contested the ticket of the party for the senatorial district during the recent primaries of the party, stressed this while meeting with party leaders, women, youths, and grassroots coordinators across the six local councils of the senatorial district.

According to Akinfolarin, the gathering was aimed at strengthening the APC’s electoral machinery ahead of 2027 and ensuring that the party presents a united front.

While directing all members of his political family to close ranks and work for the victory of every APC candidate in the state, maintained that the APC has always remained a party built on discipline, sacrifice, and respect for constituted authority.

Akinfolarin added that every loyal party member must stand by the decisions of the leadership of the party in order to preserve the unity and strength of the progressive family.

The former lawmaker, who commended the minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his support before, during, and after the party primaries, described him as ‘a political lion’ whose courage, influence, and capacity to defend and protect his followers have continued to inspire confidence across the political landscape of the state.

On his part, the Director-General of Akinfolarin’s political structure, Nimbe Tawose, hailed party leaders, stakeholders, and loyal supporters for their support and prayers for Akinfolarin during the struggle for the party’s ticket.