Category: Business Day

Dr. Najeem Salaam, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in the Osun State election has faulted the alleged non-recognition of the party’s agents at wards in about 10 local government areas, describing the development as ‘worrisome and disturbing.’

Salaam, who spoke after casting his vote at Ward 4, Unit 13, Ejigbo, in Ejigbo Local Government Area, said the names of the party’s agents had been uploaded onto the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) platform.

He alleged that ADC agents in Ward 5, Ejigbo, were not issued tags despite the party having submitted their names, adding that a similar situation was reported in about 10 local government areas across the state.

Salaam said he might address the press again at the end of the election to give an update on the matter.

According to him, the matter had been reported to the relevant authorities, who he said were looking into it.

His words: ‘The report that my agents are not being recognised at most of the wards across the state is worrisome and disturbing.

‘Despite the fact that we uploaded all the names of our party agents, especially here in Ejigbo, the agents in Ward 5 for the ADC were not given tags. The same thing happened in about 10 local governments across the state.

‘I reported the matter to the relevant authorities, and they are looking into it. When the votes are being counted, it is necessary for my agents to be recognised at the polling units.

‘Apart from that, in Ejigbo Local Government, the process has been going on without any crisis for now. I want to believe it will remain peaceful until the end of the exercise.

‘As it stands, we cannot accept a situation where our party agents are not recognised. The importance of having party agents at the polling units cannot be oversee.

‘All the names were uploaded onto the INEC platform, so I don’t understand why we are now being denied the opportunity to have our party agents present.

‘Maybe towards the end of the election process, I will still address the press and let the people know how far we have gone with the matter.

‘What I’m saying is part of the preparation on the side of INEC. When you requested that the parties upload the names of their agents, we did so. I don’t understand how or why the party agents would not be given tags.

‘If there is a fair election, with no rigging or manipulation, and there is a level playing field, I trust my God that I’m going to win the election.

‘We engage with the people and let them know about our programmes. That is exactly what we do. Vote-buying is out of it. I have never in my life bought votes.

‘People should decide whom they want, and I think it should be fair enough for them to have the right to choose whom they prefer as a candidate or as the governor of the state.’

Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has commended security agencies for maintaining peace during the ongoing Osun State governorship election.

Oyetola and his wife cast their votes at Ward 1, Unit 10, in Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area of the state, at about 10:30 a.m.

Speaking after voting, the former governor of the state commended the military and police for their presence across the state, saying their deployment had helped to provide security and encourage voters to come out and exercise their franchise.

He described the turnout as impressive, noting that the election had remained peaceful.

‘Our state is known for peace. I don’t know why voting, which is a normal process, should create any issue at all,’ Oyetola said.

He also thanked voters for coming out in large numbers to participate in the election, saying the exercise provided an opportunity for them to determine the kind of government they wanted.

The minister said, ‘I’m impressed and I thank our people for coming out enmass to vote for their candidate, which I believe we are the candidate. This is a progressive state. And particularly I’m here, there is no reason why people should not come out.

‘We’ve actually enjoyed dividend of democracy all over the state and people are yearning for a change, sir the most appropriate thing is for them to turn out enmass and vote, so that they can have a way of confirming that this is the kind of government they want. It is a normal process of four years.

‘My candidate will win by the grace of God.’

Voting was disrupted at the polling unit of Najeem Salam, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, in Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State on Saturday after suspected thugs invaded the centre and destroyed election materials.

Salam was whisked away from the scene for safety following the incident at Unit 13, Ward 4, where the candidate had gone to vote.

The disruption reportedly followed a confrontation involving some individuals at the polling unit before suspected thugs invaded the centre.

The situation escalated as the suspected thugs destroyed materials deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the election.

The incident sent voters fleeing from the polling unit for safety, bringing voting activities at the centre to a halt.

Ademola Adeleke, Osun Governor campaign council alleges calculated plots to declare the state’s ongoing governorship election inconclusive.

The campaign organisation of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has raised an alarm over an alleged deliberate strategy by political opponents to force the Independent National Electoral Commission to declare the ongoing governorship election inconclusive.

According to statements issued by the Adeleke Campaign Council, opposition elements are actively attempting to subvert the democratic process after recognising their impending defeat at the polls. The council asserted that the governor maintains a clear lead based on figures gathered from polling units across the state’s 30 local government areas.

The campaign council noted that intelligence reports indicate widespread attempts to disrupt voting in areas considered strongholds of the incumbent governor. According to campaign officials, these actions are designed to trigger targeted cancellations that would artificially reduce the margin of victory below the threshold needed for a decisive outcome.

Furthermore, the team highlighted incidents of voter intimidation, technical hitches with voting hardware, and orchestrated delays in rural communities. Council representatives stated that these logistical bottlenecks are intended to disenfranchise registered voters and establish grounds for electoral disputes.

In light of these developments, the Adeleke camp has called on national electoral authorities and security agencies to uphold the integrity of the process. The council urged election officials to resist pressure from external parties seeking to manipulate collation processes or compromise local field officers.

The organisation reiterated that the electorate has clearly expressed its preference and cautioned against any administrative contrivance that seeks to undermine public confidence in the democratic system. Voters were advised to remain calm, stay vigilant at collation centres, and ensure their votes are accurately recorded.

Voters across Ilesa on Saturday turned out in large numbers to exercise their franchise in the ongoing governorship election.

At Idi Iroko/Itakogun 2, Ward 1, Unit 8, Ilesa West, Ward 2, Unit 8, Egbe Idi Junction, Ilesa West and Unit 1, Ward 5, Ilesa East Local Government Area of Osun State, BusinessDay could see how voters trooped out as early as 7:15 am to participate in the voting process.

Morufu Ajayi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) party agent at the unit, commended the voters for their early arrival and peaceful conduct and described the turnout as encouraging.

Ajayi also expressed satisfaction with the presence of agents of the various political parties at the polling unit, noting that their presence would help promote transparency in the electoral process.

As of the time of filing this report, all party agents were present at the polling unit, while voters continued to await the commencement and completion of the voting process.

For many women, wigs, braids and other hair extensions have become an easy way to change hairstyles, protect their hair or conceal areas where hair has begun to thin. But natural hair requires proper scalp care, regular moisturisation and gentle handling to prevent dryness, breakage and hair loss.

Agbeni Adeola, an instructor with Nature’s Gentle Touch, said during a natural hair workshop organised by Nature’s Gentle Touch recently, that the tightly curled structure of natural hair makes it difficult for natural oils from the scalp to travel along the hair shaft, leaving it prone to dryness, while improper handling can further expose it to breakage.

‘People that do back-to-back, they braid, they remove it, they put another one,’ Adeola said. ‘At the end of the day, their hair is already damaged.’

She explained that many women struggle with their natural hair because they have not been taught how to properly manage it, leading to common complaints like natural hair being too thick, difficult to manage, inability to retain length and limited styling options.

These challenges, she said, have contributed to some women losing confidence in wearing their natural hair.

The preference for extensions has also become a way for some women to avoid confronting underlying hair problems.

Adeola cited women with receding hairlines who use extensions to cover the affected areas. But when the extensions are repeatedly installed and removed, the additional strain can further damage the hair, creating a cycle in which women become increasingly dependent on extensions to conceal the damage.

She said the answer is not necessarily to abandon extensions but to first understand how to maintain healthy natural hair.

‘When it’s healthy and all that, definitely you want to flaunt it,’ Adeola said, noting that women are more likely to show off their hair when they are confident about its health and appearance.

Adeola said natural hair has a tightly curled structure and high density, which gives it the thick and full appearance associated with the texture.

She explained that natural hair can have different curl patterns, including 4A, 4B and 4C, depending on how tightly curled the strands are.

However, the same curl pattern that gives natural hair its texture also makes it more susceptible to dryness.

Adeola explained that natural oils produced by the scalp do not move easily along tightly curled hair strands. As a result, natural hair can become dry and dull and requires regular moisturising to maintain its condition.

She also explained that shrinkage can make natural hair appear much shorter than its actual length.

Because of its tight curls, natural hair contracts when dry and appears shorter. Stretching it reveals its actual length, meaning that what may appear to be poor length retention may sometimes be a result of shrinkage.

Adeola stressed that the thickness and fullness of natural hair also require gentle handling to reduce the risk of breakage and shedding.

But the condition of the hair itself is only part of the equation. Adeola said scalp health is the foundation of healthy hair growth.

She explained that hair grows from follicles in the scalp and that clogging or inflammation can affect how the follicles function, potentially resulting in weak growth, breakage and shedding.

Dandruff and other forms of scalp build-up can also interfere with healthy hair growth, she said.

Adeola said the broader objective should be to give women the knowledge and confidence to manage their natural hair themselves.

She said once women understand how to care for their hair and keep it healthy, they are more likely to wear it confidently instead of automatically turning to wigs and extensions.

The instructor also argued that professional hair treatment should be viewed as part of maintaining healthy hair rather than an unnecessary expense.

She said women who desire healthy, well-maintained hair should be willing to invest in its care, while noting that professional services can be affordable.

For women who repeatedly rely on extensions, the warning is that covering damaged hair does not address the underlying problem. Proper moisturisation, gentle handling and attention to the scalp remain central to maintaining healthy natural hair.

Aminat Akinsola, woman living with disability, and Pa.Isaac Adeniran Adesanmi, a 97 year old man have commended the peaceful conduct of the ongoing Osun State governorship election.

Akinsola, who cast her ballot at Ward 4, Unit 6, Ilupeju 1, in Ejigbo Local Government Area, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc personnel treated her with respect and courtesy.

She was the first voter accredited at the polling unit and expressed satisfaction with the process, describing the atmosphere at the centre as peaceful.

Also, Adesanmi, a nonagenarian, was among elderly voters who turned up at NUD Primary School, Collation Centre, Unit 1, Ward 4, Ilase Ijesa, in Obokun Local Government Area, to exercise their franchise.

The 97-year-old, who was brought to the polling unit by his relations, said he had continued to participate in elections since he began voting during the era of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

However, his accreditation was delayed after the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) initially failed to capture his face and fingerprint, but was asked to be patient while another attempt was made.

Adesanmi, whose name appeared as number 116 on the voters’ register, urged Nigerians, particularly youths, not to abandon the electoral process, saying voting was necessary for citizens to choose their preferred leaders.

‘I will advise Nigerians particularly the youth to vote because if they do not, the kind of leaders they want will not be there,’ he said.

No fewer than 143 persons suspected of being electoral mercenaries have been arrested by the Osun State Police Command at the residence of a serving member of the State House of Assembly, Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area.

Inaolaji, who represents Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, was also arrested during the police operation on Friday night, while more than 200 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were reportedly recovered.

In a video clip, the lawmaker identified himself and allegedly stated that he facilitated the movement of the 143 suspects into Osun State from neighbouring states to participate in the governorship election.

Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were recruited from Ondo to Osun State to participate in unlawful electoral activities.

Some of them allegedly told investigators that a The suspects reportedly told investigators that they were recruited by a yet-to-be-identified politician, who allegedly facilitated the procurement of voters’ cards for them and instructed them to vote in exchange for financial rewards.

Confirming the arrest, Abiodun Ojelabi, the Police Public Relations Officer, said investigations had commenced to identify other persons allegedly involved in the operation.

He said the investigation would seek to establish the full extent of the alleged network and apprehend other accomplices still at large, particularly those linked to the alleged recruitment of electoral mercenaries, voter inducement and other related offences.

When viral creators Peller (Habeeb Hamzat) and Jarvis (Amadou Elizabeth) exchanged vows on August 8, 2026, in Lagos, the event was guaranteed to make headlines.

But as photos hit the timeline, the conversation quickly centred around a single, mesmerising focus: Jarvis’s avant-garde bridal gown.

Blending high fashion with her signature AI persona, the look was a triumph of Nigerian haute couture. Designed in collaboration with powerhouse stylists like Veekee James and featuring a bespoke OVEM robe, the outfit wasn’t just tailored-it was engineered.

Every stage of the process reflected extreme craftsmanship:

Thematic Vision: Translating digital persona into physical luxury through precision sketching.

Structural Foundation: Drafting a heavy-duty internal corset to carve a flawless silhouette while supporting massive beadwork weight.

Artisanal Detailing: Ditching standard lace in favour of hand-cut glass, acrylic, and metallic hardware applied manually.

Textile Manipulation: Hand-pleating layers of silk organza to create fluid, sculptural movement against the rigid corsetry.

Crystal Embroidery: Meticulously lining every seam and neckline with dense crystal work for a luminous finish.

The result was an unforgettable fusion of identity, romance, and luxury tailoring that has Nigerian pop culture talking-and won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

It’s been exactly one year today since I lost my husband. Sometimes, I still cannot believe I am saying those words.

Eben was my comfort. My peace in a troubled world. My calm after life had dealt me one hard blow after another.

We were married for fifteen beautiful years and for most of those years, I thought I had finally been rewarded for everything I had survived.

Eben was my biggest support system and my loudest cheerleader. He helped me complete my university education and later obtain my master’s degree. He never allowed me to settle for less than I could become. He pushed me to dream bigger, do better and believe in myself.

I often told him that much of the woman I became was because he believed in me.

I met Eben at one of the darkest points in my life. By then, I had already lost so much. I remember the day clearly.

I had gone to a pharmacy to get medication for my brother, only to discover that I did not have enough money to pay for them. I was explaining my situation to the pharmacist when I noticed a man sitting nearby. He was visiting the pharmacist, his friend, and had overheard our conversation.

That man was Eben.

There was something about me that caught his attention. I did not know what it was. He simply offered to pay for the medication. I was grateful, thanked him and left.

I did not know that I would see him again. The next time I went to the pharmacy, Eben was there.

He remembered me. He asked about my brother. I told him I had lost him.

He was visibly saddened and tried to console me. What surprised him was how calm I appeared. My brother had only died recently, yet I seemed almost too composed. I told him that losing people no longer shocked me. It was a strange thing to say, but it was the truth.

I had become familiar with grief.

I had lost my parents. I had lost my siblings. One after another, the people I loved disappeared from my life.

Although I tried to look strong, Eben saw what I was trying to hide. He saw the pain in my eyes. They were beautiful eyes, people often told me that, but then they carried a sadness that no smile could completely conceal.

When he finally made me smile, he noticed my dimples. And he was smitten. He wanted to see me again. He suggested lunch and I agreed because I felt I owed him for what he did for me the other time. I did not know that lunch would change my life.

He was a good listener and very easy to talk to. I told him everything about myself.

I even told him how my extended family members had begun to think there was something wrong with me. Some believed I was possessed. Others thought I was jinxed and somehow responsible for the deaths around me.

After losing my brother, I had reached my limit. I was tired. I was only waiting for death to come for me too.

I did not think I could survive losing another person….then I realized, that was even possible anymore. I had lost everyone. I was alone.

For some reason, I felt safe with Eben.

I had spent years learning how to hold myself together but that day, I finally let my guard down. And I broke. I cried.

He did not try to stop me. He simply sat there and let me cry until I had nothing left. Then he politely asked if he could hold me. I nodded. And he pulled me into his arms.

I cried for so long that I eventually became too tired to keep my eyes open.

The next thing I knew, I had fallen asleep in his arms.

Eben noticed that I had gone completely quiet. When he looked down, he realized I was asleep. He could have woken me up, but he didn’t.

There was something peaceful about my face, perhaps because it was the first time in a very long while that I had allowed myself to rest.

Some of the restaurant staff had seen me crying. They understood that I needed the sleep and did not disturb us.

I occasionally stirred to make myself more comfortable in Eben’s arms and each time, he thought I fit perfectly there. I slept for almost two hours.

When I woke up, it was already getting dark.

For a few seconds, I had no idea where I was. Then I remembered.

I was embarrassed but Eben made me feel as though I had done nothing wrong.

I told him I could not remember the last time I had slept that peacefully.

I did not know it then but I had just met the man who would become the safest place I had ever known.

When Eben discovered that I had deferred my university admission to take care of my brother, he refused to let me give up on my education.

He encouraged me to go back.

He supported me in every way he could.

And on the day I graduated, he proposed.

We got married after my youth service.

For fifteen years, Eben made it his mission to make life easier for me.

He was my rock.

He was an intentional husband and a present father to our three children.

He was everything I had once thought I would never have.

After years of losing people, I finally had someone who stayed. He was my reward. My blessing.

Together, we built a home that felt like a safe place from the rest of the world.

We had plans.

So many plans.

We had our whole lives ahead of us.

That was why his death broke something inside me that I have not been able to explain.

That night, Eben led our family in prayers before we went to bed. He was healthy.

He exercised. He ate well. He took care of himself. There was absolutely no reason for me to think anything was wrong.

I woke up during the night to use the bathroom. When I returned to the room, I saw him sprawled across the bed.

I tapped his leg.

I asked him to sleep properly.

He did not respond.

I tapped him again.

Still nothing.

Eben was not a deep sleeper, so I thought he was pretending.

I tried to push him towards his side of the bed. That was when I realized something was terribly wrong. He was lifeless. I had left him for only a few minutes. And he was gone.

I remember staring at him and thinking it had to be a mistake.

Eben could not just die like that.

Not Eben.

Not the man who had rescued me from the darkest parts of my life.

Not the man who had taught me that life could still be beautiful.

But it was true. He was gone. And I was left behind.

The days that followed were the worst days of my life. I had known grief before, but this was different. This grief had no bottom. It cut deep.

I was numb.

I barely ate. I barely slept. I did not want to see anyone.

I had no desire to continue living.

What was life without Eben?

He had been my peace for fifteen years.

My safe place.

My person.

And now I was expected to wake up every morning and somehow continue without him. I could not understand how the world was still moving when mine had completely stopped.

One afternoon, I sat alone in the house, surrounded by memories of the life we had built together.

And then I remembered something someone in my family had told me years ago. I had been told to go and find out why I kept losing everyone I loved.

Back then, I had ignored it.

But sitting there alone after Eben’s death, those words returned to me.

They would not leave my mind.

For the first time, I began to wonder if there was some truth in them.

What if they were right?

What if there really was a reason why everyone I loved kept dying?

And for the first time since Eben’s death, something other than grief began to take root in my heart.

Fear!!!

I tried to dismiss the thought, but it stayed with me. That night, I opened an old box containing photographs of the people I had lost.

I spread them across the floor and stared at them one after another.

My parents.

My siblings.

Eben.

There was something unsettling about seeing all their faces together.

Then I noticed something I had never noticed before. Every photograph had been taken shortly before their deaths.

And in every single one, there was a strange woman standing somewhere in the background.

I froze.

I had never noticed her before until that night.