The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reinstated Olorunfemi Festus as the Labour Party (LP) candidate for the Ondo State governorship election taking place today (Saturday). In a post shared on its X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, INEC announced that the reinstatement was based on a Court of Appeal ruling, which dismissed Olusola Ebiseni as the party’s flagbearer. The New Daily Prime earlier reported that the Court of Appeal…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has pledged the federal government’s full backing for Nigeria’s campaign to secure an Academy Award, offering access to the $618 million Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises Programme (iDICE). This support is aimed at propelling Nigeria’s Oscar entry, ‘Mai Martaba’, directed by Prince Daniel, to clinch a nomination in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Academy Awards. Speaking at a meeting with the…

The family of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has dismissed reports claiming they endorsed Bamidele Akingboye, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, in the upcoming Saturday’s governorship election. Reports had circulated suggesting that the Akeredolu family, alongside a group called ASEI Human Rights of Nigeria, threw their support behind Akingboye. However, Vanguard reported that during a press conference in Akure, Oba Adewuyi Babalola, the National President of ASEI Human Rights,…

Ahead of the upcoming off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State on Saturday, President Bola Tinubu has urged all political stakeholders and voters to maintain peace and decorum while fulfilling their civic duties without fear, both before and after the polls. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu expressed his expectation for a democratic process that will truly reflect the will of…

Just about 24 hours to the Saturday’s governorship poll in Ondo State, three candidates have stepped down for the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ayedatiwa, confirmed on Thursday that Dr. Ajibola Falaye, Hon. Jenyo Ataunko, and Olaide Ibrahim of the Accord Party, the National Rescue Movement, and the African Democratic Congress, respectively have dropped their…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed in a statement that 17 candidates from different political parties are running for the Ondo State governorship election. The election is scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024, with a diverse slate of candidates vying for the top position. Below is a summary of the 17 candidates and their respective parties competing to lead Ondo State for the next four years. 3 Ajayi…

The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, has approved the deployment of 1,500 personnel and 25 patrol vehicles for the Nov. 16 governorship election in Ondo State. This is contained in a statement issued by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Thursday in Abuja. The FRSC boss said the move was part of the efforts to enforce restriction of movement and other electoral…

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has introduced extensive security measures to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible gubernatorial election in Ondo State on November 16. In a statement, police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi revealed that the IGP has assigned DIG Sylvester Alabi as the Coordinating DIG for the election. Alabi will oversee the implementation of security strategies to maintain law and order throughout the electoral process. Additionally, AIG Bennett…

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) held a grand rally in Akure on Wednesday. The event, which took place at the Democracy Park, was headlined by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima and attended by governors, ministers, lawmakers, and other senior party officials. The final campaign rally saw a united APC presenting a strong and energetic push to secure victory. Speaking to a large…

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has presented a total 2025 budget sum of ₦678.086 billion (N678, 068 767 332.18) to the Oyo state House of Assembly for legislative consideration and approval. While capital expenditure as contained in the budget takes 51 percent of the total budget, recurrent expenditure stands at 49 percent. The governor, in his address before the presentation on Wednesday, November 13, tagged the 2025 budget “Budget…

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday celebrated the triumph of democratic ideals as Monday Okpebholo and Dennis Idahosa were inaugurated as Governor and Deputy Governor, respectively. Speaking at the ceremony, President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, assured Nigerians that the nation’s most challenging economic hurdles were now in the past. In his inspiring address, Tinubu hailed the occasion as a testament to “democracy in its truest form,” emphasising the…

The newly sworn-in Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has appointed Musa Ikhilor as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). He also announced the appointments of Samson Osagie as the Attorney-General and Cyril Oshiomhole as the Health Commissioner-designate. The governor revealed these appointments in a statement issued on Tuesday in Benin by his spokesperson, Fred Itua. According to the statement, the nominations of Messrs. Osagie and Oshiomhole are subject…