Three former members of the Osun State House of Assembly have resigned their membership of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The former lawmakers, Lekan Oyediran, Aleem Bakare and Folorunso Oladoyin, submitted separate resignation letters addressed to the APC chairmen in their respective local government areas.

The resignations occurred between June 1 and June 2, according to letters obtained by DAILY POST.

While Bakare cited the absence of internal democracy within the party as the reason for his departure, Oyediran and Oladoyin did not disclose any reasons for resigning from the APC.

Oyediran represented Odo-Otin State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2003, while Bakare served as the representative of Ejigbo State Constituency from 2003 to 2007.

Oladoyin represented Ife South State Constituency between 2011 and 2019 before serving as Commissioner for Education under the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola until the end of the government’s tenure in November 2022.

Bakare also served in the Oyetola administration as Special Adviser on Land Matters.

The three former lawmakers have been linked politically to former APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who has maintained a low profile within the party since the APC governorship primary election held in December 2025.

Speaking on the development on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Senator Iyiola Omisore Campaign Organisation, Jamiu Olawumi, acknowledged that the former lawmakers were close political associates of Omisore.

Olawumi, however, denied claims that Omisore directed them to leave the APC, saying “their decisions were personal and based on their individual political calculations.”

He said, “The anxiety is unfounded and baseless. We support Iyiola Omisore for his governorship ambition. Anyway, we went for him, we saw his capacity and capability, that is why we went to invite him to come and contest.”

He added, “If the outcome of the contest amounts to our strongest defence line being removed, people who cannot withstand the shock could leave the party, and could also leave his camp to join the winning camp. That does not mean Omisore is leaving the party, because Omisore was not our breadwinner. We are political associates.”

Olawumi argued that the departures should not be interpreted as a sign that Omisore was planning to leave the APC, stressing that those who resigned included individuals who had also served in the administration of former Governor Oyetola.

Reacting to the resignations, Osun APC spokesperson Kola Olabisi said the party was not worried by the development and described the action of the former lawmakers as an exercise of their constitutional right to freedom of association.

“In a democracy, there is a free exit and free entry into politics, and one can exercise one’s fundamental freedom of association at any time. You can’t begrudge anybody,” Olabisi said.

He maintained that the APC in Osun had recently attracted several notable politicians from other parties and urged members to remain focused on strengthening the party ahead of future elections.

Members of the Kebbi State House of Assembly on Wednesday unanimously elected the member representing Sakaba Constituency, Salisu Muhammad Dangoje, as the new Speaker of the Assembly.

Dangoje’s emergence comes about two months after the death of former Speaker, Muhammad Usman Zuru, who passed away on April 6, 2026, in Cairo, Egypt.

His nomination was moved by the member representing Ngaski Constituency, Adamu Muhammad Birnin-Yauri, and seconded by Lauwal Haruna Gele during plenary.

Lawmakers subsequently endorsed the nomination unanimously, paving the way for Dangoje’s election and swearing-in by the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Suleiman Shamaki.

Speaking after taking the oath of office, the new Speaker thanked members of the Assembly for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to provide inclusive leadership.

He assured lawmakers of his commitment to carrying every member along in the discharge of his responsibilities and strengthening unity within the House.

“I pledge to uphold the confidence reposed in me, strengthen the unity of the House and work in harmony with the executive arm of government for the development of Kebbi State,” Dangoje said.

He also extended condolences to the family of the late Speaker, Muhammad Usman Zuru, the people of Zuru Emirate and residents of the state over the loss.

Dangoje, who hails from Kebbi South Senatorial District, has served in the Assembly for about 11 years and previously chaired the House Committee on Information.

The new Speaker pledged to work closely with lawmakers and other stakeholders to strengthen the legislature and promote good governance in the state.

His emergence fills the leadership vacuum created by the death of Zuru, who led the Assembly until his demise earlier this year.

The Accord has disowned Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as its presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The Party said it did not produce a presidential candidate at the close of sale of expression of interest and nomination forms and did not screen any aspirant neither did it conduct a primary election for the position.

Accord said that its scheduled presidential primary election was cancelled as there was no aspirant within its electoral guidelines timeframe and that the Independent National Electoral Commission was duly informed.

The party said it had instructed the bank to reverse Olawepo-Hashim’s payments for the expression of interest and nomination forms, insisting that the payment was made after the prescribed deadline and when the process has been concluded.

Accord’s statement signed by Barrister Maxwell Mgbuden, National Chairman, its National Chairman, said that the purported presidential primary where he emerged as the presidential candidate was not conducted by the national leadership of the party and has no effect whatsoever, adding that it was a fanfare by his supporters.

The statement said, “Accord did not have a presidential aspirant let alone a presidential candidate within the party’s approved Guidelines, Timetable, and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of the presidential nomination process, as duly communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The party upholds strict internal democracy in its activities including nomination process.

“While numerous aspirants rushed to purchase Accord’s expression of interest and nomination forms for Governorship, State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate, no aspirant purchased expression of interest and nomination forms for President within the party’s electoral guidelines timeframe. Accordingly, the electoral umpire was duly notified of the cancellation of the party’s scheduled presidential primary.

“On 26th May 2026, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim wrote the party expressing interest in contesting for president which was received after the expiration of the approved timeline which could not be processed as a valid application under the party’s presidential nomination process.

“It was after the elapse of the party’s timeframe for the purchase of the expression of interest and nomination forms as well as the screening of any aspirant for president that Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim paid for the said forms into the party’s bank account. In keeping with the Accord’s cherished principles of transparency, accountability, and due process, the party instructed its bankers to reverse the payments of N10,000,000.00 and N40,000,000.00 expression of interest and nomination forms fees respectfully to the originating bank.”

The party said it turned down Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim’s request to be declared the party’s presidential candidate on the basis that no other aspirant presented himself for nomination, as eligibility to participate in the nomination process was predicated upon full compliance with the requirements contained in Accord’s guidelines, including collection of expression of interest/nomination forms, filling and timely submission of the forms on or before the scheduled screening date and participation in the approved timeframe.

“The absence of other aspirants would not dispense with these mandatory conditions nor confer automatic entitlement to nomination,” it added.