Category: PM News

Jubilations erupted in many major towns of Osun State, most notably, Ile-Ife, Osogbo and Ede in less than one hour of declaration of Gov. Ademola Adeleke as winner of Saturday’s governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC Returning Officer for the Osun governorship election, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, on Sunday morning declared Adeleke of Accord party winner after polling 511,067 votes to defeat his closest rival, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 444,815 votes.

Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Najeem Salaam, came a distant third with 17,180 votes.

Valid votes cast were 985,079, while 20,721 votes were rejected, bringing the total number of votes cast to 1,005,800. Adeleke won in 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji recorded victory in 11 LGAs.

Jubilant residents of Ile-Ife celebrated the governor’s victory and expressed satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of election.

Osun Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Olusesan Oyedele, thanked God for the peaceful conduct of the election, without killings or destruction of property anywhere in state.

Oyedele described the election as free, fair and credible, commending INEC officials for conducting the exercise without bias and ensuring a transparent electoral process across Osun.

He also commended the electorate for their orderliness and urged them to remain law-abiding, saying peaceful participation was essential to sustaining democracy and development across the state.

Also, Mrs Busayo Arayela, an Accord Party leader, acknowledged God’s grace for allowing peace to prevail in Osun before and during the election, expressing hope it continued.

Arayela said party members and leaders were enthusiastic about the peaceful manner the electorate conducted themselves throughout the electoral exercise, describing the development as encouraging for democracy.

Arayela appealed to residents and stakeholders to maintain peace across the state after declaration of the result, urging everyone to accept the outcome responsibly and peacefully thereafter.

She also admonished Adeleke to sustain his developmental programmes across Osun, urging him not to disappoint residents but ensure delivery of democratic dividends to communities across state.

The sate’s capital, Osogbo and the governor’s hometown of Ede also witnessed wild jubilation immediately the final results were announced and Adeleke declared winner by INEC.

Supporters and residents of the towns trooped out in large numbers to celebrate the victory.

Adeleke’s supporters who had gathered at the INEC office in Osogbo as early as 5.00a.m., danced at the commission’s main entrance shortly after the declaration.

Many of the supporters and residents were seen riding motorcycles and driving around the town, singing victory songs and celebrating the outcome of the election.

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has warned the public to disregard suspicious posts from its official X account following an attempted cyberattack.

Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, disclosed the incident in a statement on Saturday.

Uba said the military detected an unauthorised attempt to compromise the account and immediately activated technical measures to secure it and prevent further access.

He added that cybersecurity personnel were working to restore full control of the account.

The Defence Headquarters warned Nigerians, media organisations and other stakeholders not to rely on unauthorised or misleading content that may appear on the account during the recovery process.

It did not disclose the identities of those behind the attempted breach or the nature of any content they may have posted.

The military assured Nigerians that it remained committed to safeguarding its information systems and providing accurate updates on the activities and operations of the Armed Forces.

Pending the restoration of the X account, members of the public were advised to obtain updates through the Defence Headquarters’ verified Facebook page, ‘Defence Headquarters Nigeria,’ its Instagram account,

Big Brother Naija Season 11 housemate, Kamsy, has been evicted from the reality TV show after three weeks of competition in the Big Brother house.

Kamsy, a 24-year-old event planner from Imo State, was among the 24 contestants who entered the house at the beginning of the season. She joined the ‘Show Ya Sef’ edition of the show, which carries a record ?160 million prize package for the eventual winner.

During her brief but eventful stay, Kamsy attracted attention not only for her personality but also for her relationship with fellow housemate Gerard.

The pair developed a romantic connection in the house, with Gerard openly showing interest in Kamsy. Their relationship, however, soon became complicated as tensions emerged over Kamsy’s interactions with other male housemates.

Gerard at one point confronted Kamsy over what he considered flirting and dancing with other men, describing the behaviour as disrespectful.

Their relationship eventually hit a major setback following Kamsi’s Truth or Dare moment with Chimsom Chuka. Gerard subsequently said he liked Kamsy but had decided to detach himself from the relationship.

The development left Kamsy visibly emotional, with reports and footage from the house showing her crying after Gerard ended their relationship. The episode became one of the more talked-about moments of her stay in Biggie’s house.

Kamsy’s eviction comes after she was among the 16 housemates nominated for possible eviction in the third week of the competition. She had faced the public vote alongside Gerard, Abi, Bells, Goddessa, Barry, Araga, Oyin, Nomy, Sheba, Keivo, Temi Nkem, Sultex, Ricky, Tram and Yusuf.

With her exit, Kamsy’s journey in the BBNaija house has come to an end, while the remaining housemates continue their battle for the ?160 million prize and the coveted Season 11 crown.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has signed 26,272 Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) in the first three years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the minister on Public Communications and Social Media, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Olayinka said the move was aimed at improving ease of doing business in the FCT, in line with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the figure surpassed the 8,697 C of Os produced and signed between 2010 and 2023.

According to him, 5,500 C of Os were signed during the five-and-a-half-year administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, while 3,197 were produced and signed during the eight-year administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said many allottees who benefited from the 26,272 C of Os obtained their land allocations more than 10 years ago.

Olayinka said C of Os served as collateral for commercial loans, mortgages and business expansion.

He said the inability of property owners to obtain C of Os when needed remained a challenge for small and medium-sized businesses, as it restricted access to funding.

‘To address this challenge, the FCT Administration under President Tinubu has streamlined the process to enable land allottees receive their documents within two weeks of completing payments.

‘The moment necessary payments are made, land allottees can now get their C of O within two weeks.

‘Also, automated notifications have been introduced to ensure that land allottees are informed when their documents are ready for collection,’ Olayinka said.

He attributed previous delays to inefficiencies that discouraged landowners from completing their payments.

Olayinka said, in addition to the 26,272 C of Os, the FCT Administration granted 2,521 Consents to Assign and 177 Consents to Mortgage in the last three years.

He said this compared with 753 Consents to Assign and 180 Consents to Mortgage granted during the Jonathan administration, and 684 Consents to Assign and 164 Consents to Mortgage under Buhari.

He explained that Consent to Assign was a legal document required for the transfer of property ownership, while Consent to Mortgage was required before a property could be used as collateral for a loan.

The Opposition Coalition and Civil Society Alliance, OCCSA, has declared that the outcome of the recent Osun State governorship election will not track negatively against the re-election prospects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Instead, the coalition asserts that the dynamics of the poll will enhance his electoral standing nationwide ahead of the next general elections.

In a Press Release on Sunday after the general meeting of the Coalition’s national exco, the coalition Chairman, Comrade Mark Adebayo, stated that the election serves as ultimate litmus test for Nigeria’s evolving democracy. Rather than weakening the ruling Party’s Federal trajectory, the local outcome offers critical strategic insights that will fortify the President’s political framework moving forward.

The coalition further emphasized that the conduct and atmosphere of the Osun poll have indubitably proven that President Tinubu is a true democrat. By resisting the temptation to deploy ‘Federal might’ to aggressively tilt the local results, the President has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to electoral integrity, institutional independence, and the sanctity of the ballot box.

‘President Tinubu has shown that he prioritizes the growth of sub-national democracy over desperate partisan expansion,’ the statement read. ‘This rare display of democratic maturity refutes the narrative of authoritarian overreach. It builds immense trust among the electorate, which will ultimately yield significant political dividends for his re-election campaign.’

The opposition coalition concluded by urging political actors to view regional election outcomes through the lens of national democratic consolidation rather than isolated partisan losses.

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate for Oyo Central Senatorial District, Amb. Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has congratulated Osun State Governor and candidate of the Accord Party, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in the governorship election held on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

Ajadi, in a congratulatory message, described Adeleke’s victory as a reflection of the confidence and affection the people of Osun State have for the governor, urging him to reciprocate the gesture by delivering purposeful, inclusive and people-oriented governance during his second term.

According to him, the people have spoken through the ballot and given Adeleke another opportunity to lead the state, adding that the renewed mandate should inspire the governor to work even harder to improve the lives of residents and accelerate the development of Osun State.

‘I congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke on his victory in the Osun State governorship election. The people of Osun have spoken clearly through their votes, and their decision must be respected,’ Ajadi said.

‘The massive support he received is a demonstration of the love, confidence and trust the people have in him. I therefore urge him to reciprocate this love by running a government that will touch the lives of the people, regardless of their political affiliations, religion, ethnic background or social status.’

The APM candidate stressed that winning an election should not be seen as the end of a political contest but as the beginning of a greater responsibility to serve the people. He urged Adeleke to use his second term to consolidate on his achievements and pursue policies capable of expanding economic opportunities, improving infrastructure, strengthening education and healthcare, and creating jobs for young people.

Ajadi also called on the governor to build bridges across political divides and bring together stakeholders who supported him as well as those who backed other candidates, saying that the development of Osun State should remain the collective responsibility of all citizens.

‘Now that the election is over, there should be no victor and no vanquished. Governor Adeleke is now the governor of all Osun people, including those who did not vote for him. He must therefore extend the hand of fellowship to everyone and unite the state for development,’ he said.

He further urged the governor to pay particular attention to the youth population, describing them as critical drivers of innovation, entrepreneurship and economic transformation. Ajadi said investment in digital skills, technology, education and employment opportunities would enable young people to contribute more meaningfully to the state’s growth.

The congratulatory message also marks a continuation of Ajadi’s longstanding goodwill towards the Adeleke family. In 2022, following Adeleke’s first governorship election victory, Ajadi, who was then a chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), congratulated the Adeleke family and urged the governor-elect to unite the people of Osun State.

At the time, Ajadi also called for the deployment of technology to create opportunities for young people, improved electricity supply to attract investors and stronger efforts to transform Osun into a model state. He had similarly appealed to music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, to support his uncle’s administration with his exposure and international experience.

Four years later, Ajadi said his latest congratulatory message was borne out of the same belief that political leadership must ultimately translate into better living conditions for the people.

‘Leadership is not about winning elections alone. It is about what you do with the mandate after the election. The people have given Governor Adeleke another opportunity, and I believe this should be an opportunity to do more for Osun State,’ he added.

Adeleke was declared winner of the August 15, 2026 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), securing 511,067 votes and winning 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas. His closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, polled 445,815 votes and won 11 local government areas.

Ajadi congratulated the people of Osun State for participating in the democratic process and urged all political actors to accept the outcome peacefully while working together to advance the interests of the state.

He wished Governor Adeleke a successful second term in office, stressing that the true measure of the renewed mandate would be the extent to which the people of Osun experience the dividends of democracy through improved governance, economic opportunities and a better quality of life.

The Allied People’s Movement (APM) says the outcome of the Osun governorship election is a warning that President Bola Tinubu could lose the 2027 presidential election to its candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Abubakar, on Sunday, said the result showed growing dissatisfaction with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

It argued that the defeat of the APC in Osun, which it described as a state with strong political ties to Tinubu, demonstrated that voters could reject an established political structure.

‘The triumph of the people over the All Progressives Congress in Saturday’s governorship election in President Tinubu’s home state, Osun, not only foretastes the defeat that awaits President Tinubu in 2027 but also firmly establishes Makinde’s people-driven position that every political establishment seems unbeatable until the people decide otherwise,’ the party said.

The APM also cited the reported booing of APC leaders during their departure from Osun, saying it reflected growing public anger.

‘Judging from the disposition of Nigerians as witnessed in the booing of APC leaders, President Tinubu and his party will struggle to command any genuine audience during the upcoming campaigns,’ Abubakar said.

The party said economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and poor governance could further weaken the APC’s chances in 2027, while portraying Makinde as an alternative with a record of performance.

‘Nigerians are gravitating toward Seyi Makinde because they see in him the right presidential candidate with the desired track record of performance, practical blueprint, competence and youthful commitment to reset Nigeria to a nation of our collective dream,’ the statement said.

Makinde, who has governed Oyo since 2019, is expected to complete his second term in 2027.

The APM urged the APC not to attempt to manipulate the next presidential election, warning that Nigerians would resist any effort to undermine their votes.

‘Our party therefore cautions the APC to read the handwriting on the wall and perish any thoughts of rigging the 2027 presidential election, as any attempt to subvert the will of the people will be firmly resisted by Nigerians on the platform of the APM,’ Abubakar said.

The party said the Osun result had strengthened its determination to challenge the APC at the federal level in 2027.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has apprehended one Umar Muhammadu for allegedly mixed loading a Mitsubishi Canter with no fewer than 15 persons and 8 motorcycles concealed under its trampoline.

This is contained in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Osondu Ohaeri.

According to Ohaeri, FRSC personnel intercepted the vehicle, registration number GDD 815 ZP, after professional suspicion prompted a closer inspection of its sealed trampoline.

He said that marshals discovered 15 persons and eight motorcycles dangerously concealed among goods, beneath the covering in clear violation of road safety regulations and with grave implications for the safety of the occupants and other road users.

‘The driver, who allegedly attempted to sway an FRSC Marshal with N500 and could not produce a valid driver’s licence, was arrested.

‘The vehicle and its occupants were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, Mararaba, for further investigation and prosecution, following the directive of the Sector Commander, RS7.1 FCT, CC Tijjani Iliyasu,’he said.

The CPEO also said that similarly, in Abia, a Mobile Court sitting and presided over by Magistrate C. E. Nwankpa, sentenced Azubuike Dominic to one month imprisonment at the Afara Correctional Centre after he was apprehended for driving without a valid driver’s license.

He said that Dominic was driving a Toyota Hiace commercial vehicle, registration number GWB 298 XY, without a valid driver’s licence and absconded while being escorted to court.

‘The driver was re-apprehended several kilometres away following a coordinated pursuit involving FRSC personnel and the military.

‘The development underscores the corps’ determination that enforcement actions will not be frustrated by attempts to evade lawful arrest or judicial proceedings,’ the CPEO said.

According to him, the corps views the incidents as compelling evidence that its enforcement architecture is moving beyond routine interception to intelligence led, evidence based and technology conscious road safety enforcement.

He said that in the enforcement, professional observation and adherence to Standard Operating Procedures were deployed to uncover concealed violations and protect lives.

He also said that the the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, had consistently charged personnel to remain vigilant, professional and uncompromising in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities, while strengthening inter-agency synergy.

Ohaeri warned motorist, particularly commercial vehicle operators, against attempting to evade enforcement, concealing passengers or motorcycles, overloading vehicles or driving without valid licences.

According to him, any of these offences will attract appropriate sanctions.

‘The corps will continue to combine intelligence, professional enforcement, mobile courts and strategic inter-agency collaboration to protect road users and make Nigeria’s roads safer,’ he said.

He emphasised that there would be no hiding place for reckless and dangerous driving on the road to a safer Nigeria.

The Kogi State Police Command has arrested a man, Jacob Irewa, over the alleged attempted killing of his wife, Berida Irawo, in Lokoja.

The incident occurred on Friday, August 14, 2026, at Oworo Estate, Felele, according to the command’s spokesperson, Salisu Afusat.

Afusat said the B Division Surveillance Team received a report of the incident at about 8.30pm and quickly moved to the scene, where Irewa was arrested.

She said the preliminary investigation indicated that the incident followed a domestic dispute after Irawo allegedly burnt some of her husband’s clothes which she believed he was no longer using, without seeking his permission.

‘The suspect subsequently threatened her, fetched petrol from his motorcycle and proceeded to set her ablaze,’ she said.

The victim survived the attack and is currently receiving treatment at Honey Gold Hospital, Felele.

According to Afusat, ‘The suspect, in his statement to the Police, admitted to setting his wife ablaze. The Command has commenced a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and gather further evidence.’

The Commissioner of Police in Kogi, Naziru Bello Kankarofi, condemned the incident and reaffirmed the command’s opposition to violence, particularly domestic abuse.

He advised members of the public to resolve domestic disagreements through lawful means rather than resorting to acts that could put lives at risk.

The commissioner added that the suspect would be prosecuted after the conclusion of investigations.

‘The Kogi State Police Command remains committed to protecting lives and property and ensuring that persons responsible for violent crimes are brought to justice,’ the PPRO added.

The Borno State Police Command has recovered an unexploded hand grenade from a drainage slab in the Moduganari area of Maiduguri.

Police spokesperson Nahum Daso disclosed this in a statement, saying the command received information about the suspicious object at about 12:40 p.m. on Saturday.

Following the report, Commissioner of Police Naziru Abdulmajid directed operatives of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal-Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Base 13 to proceed to the location.

The operatives secured the area and safely removed the grenade.

Daso said the explosive had been secured for further examination, while an investigation had commenced to determine its origin and the circumstances surrounding its discovery.

The commissioner commended residents who alerted the police and reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Borno State.

The police warned members of the public not to touch, move or tamper with suspected explosive devices.

Residents were advised to maintain a safe distance and immediately report suspicious objects or activities to the appropriate security agencies.