The Osun State chapter of the Labour Party has appealed for calm following recent incidents of political violence, including reported gunshots and killings in parts of the state.

The state chairman of the party, Mustapha Adebayo Muhydeen, made the appeal in a statement issued on Thursday, expressing concern over what he described as a disturbing rise in politically motivated violence.

Muhydeen said the development was a source of worry and urged political stakeholders and their supporters to embrace peace as political activities continue ahead of future elections in the state.

He recalled that during his inauguration as the chairman of the Labour Party in Osun on April 25, 2026, he had stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence among residents before, during, and after the August 15 governorship election.

According to him, “the recent incidents threaten the stability and democratic progress of the state and should not be allowed to continue.”

“The Labour Party in Osun State is deeply concerned about the recent spate of violence, including gunshots and reported loss of lives in some communities. We call on all political actors and their supporters to exercise restraint and allow peace to prevail.”

The party chairman urged security agencies to intensify efforts to maintain law and order across the state and ensure that those responsible for acts of violence are identified and prosecuted.

He maintained that political competition should not degenerate into violence, adding that democracy can only flourish in an atmosphere of peace, tolerance, and mutual respect.

Muhydeen stated, “No political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen. We urge all stakeholders to put the interest of Osun State above partisan differences and ensure that peace is not compromised.”

He also sympathised with families affected by the recent violence and called for justice and support for victims of the unrest.

The Labour Party chairman advised youths across the state not to allow themselves to be used by politicians as agents of violence, warning that such actions could have lasting consequences for their future.

Muhydeen reaffirmed the party’s commitment to peaceful political engagement and urged residents to remain calm while relevant authorities address the situation.

He stressed that dialogue and lawful engagement remain the appropriate means of resolving political differences in a democratic society.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Dr Jelili Akinola, has described corruption as the biggest obstacle holding Nigeria back.
Akinola made the assertion while assessing 27 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Thursday.

He said that decades of democratic governance in Nigeria have been a mix of progress and missed opportunities due to the high rate of corruption.

According to him, decades of mismanagement and diversion of public funds have slowed growth in road infrastructure, healthcare, education and other sectors across the country.

He maintained that the nation has recorded significant achievements compared to the state of affairs before 1999.

“But the way public funds keep disappearing into private pockets is hindering the nation’s progress,” Akinola said.

The PDP chieftain urged the federal government to strengthen institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau.

He also called for the non-selective prosecution of corrupt officials.

According to him, political will and transparency in governance remain critical if Nigeria is to meet its development goals.

The PDP chieftain also called on citizens to demand accountability from elected leaders, adding that voter apathy during elections creates room for bad governance.

He noted that development starts with honest leadership and a people who refuse to accept excuses for stolen money.

Akinola said that though democratic consolidation since 1999 has been uneven, it has made irreversible progress when compared with the era of military rule.

According to him, the biggest gain since the return to civilian rule is the culture of regular elections and peaceful transfer of power.

“Since 1999, we have moved from one civilian government to another without military interruption. That alone is consolidation.

“Nigerians now expect elections every four years, and that expectation was not there before,” he said.

Akinola, however, noted that the quality of democracy remains weak.

He urged the National Orientation Agency to launch nationwide campaigns to encourage citizens to shun corruption and embrace patriotism.

Akinola also advised Nigerian leaders to lead by example and govern the country with the fear of God.

The PDP chieftain further called for collaborative efforts to address the security challenges confronting the nation, noting that no meaningful development can be achieved in the face of insecurity.

NAN

National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, says every donation to the party must be domiciled in party’s bank account.

Speaking at the party’s stakeholder’s meeting, Dickson said no party official, including himself can spend the party’s money.

He said he wants the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to audit the party’s account according to the law, adding that they don’t want individuals to use the party’s money to buy private houses and new cars.

“We direct that every donation should go into the party’s designated account so that it can be audited and handled by INEC that has the power to audit it when necessary.

“We’ll even tell the public so that people who are donating to support will know that the money will not be spent by the chairman or national leader or secretary.

“I was in parties, we raised money for party. Before you know, you would hear that there’s no money again. We don’t want NDC to follow that road. So people should bear with us. These are the systems we are creating,” he said.