Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has formally welcomed former ward leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) from Ijebu North, Ijebu East, Ijebu North-East and Odogbolu Local Government Areas of Ogun East Senatorial District into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at a meeting with the defectors in Abeokuta on Wednesday evening, Governor Abiodun, who described the APC as the party to beat in Ogun State, said he found it difficult to understand why people continued to remain in opposition parties despite their repeated electoral defeats.

“We don’t make noise, we don’t drink whisky or Hennessy; we work to ensure the continuous development of the state.

“Those of you who are still with the Peoples Democratic Party, I find it difficult to understand why you are still there. In 2019, they lost; in 2023, they lost again. What are you still doing there?

“Even in Ijebu North, Ijebu East and Waterside, where you had the highest political office holder in the state in the National Assembly at that time, Hon. Adegbesan, who was a former member of the State Assembly, they still lost. So, what are you doing in the PDP? What does ADC have to offer you?” he asked.

The governor said his administration would continue to prioritise the completion of projects abandoned by previous administrations, noting that such projects were funded with taxpayers’ money and should not be allowed to waste.

“This is the first government that has completed abandoned projects from previous administrations. Doing that is part of my vow because they were not embarked upon with anybody’s father’s money; they were funded with our taxes. So, we have to finish them.

“Even though we were not the ones that started the hospital and the Buhari Estate, we finished them. Somebody may build a hospital like he is building a house, but a building is not a house. You can build a building and it might not be a home. You can build four walls without a roof on it. It is when it is properly completed that you can finally start to receive the praise you deserve,” he said.

Governor Abiodun urged the new APC members to become apostles of the party and the Renewed Hope Agenda, assuring them that a proper rally would soon be organised to formally celebrate their entry into the ruling party.

He also assured the defectors that they would not be put to shame, saying they would soon begin to enjoy the dividends of democracy under the APC-led administration.

The State Chairman of the APC, Chief Yemi Sanusi, expressed delight at the decision of the defectors to join the ruling party, describing it as a wise one.

Sanusi said the APC remained an accommodating political platform capable of providing opportunities for all members to contribute to the development of the state.

In their separate remarks, former PDP Chairman of Ward 2, Ijebu North, Hon. Adebowale Emmanuel; Chairman of Ward 6, Ijebu North, Prince Adeyemi Adewale; and Ajibandele Ward Chairman in Ijebu East Local Government, Hon. Adedokun Kazeem, said it was time to leave the opposition and join what they described as the train of development under Governor Abiodun.

The Secretary of the ADC in Ijebu East Local Government, Chief Michael Bakare, thanked Governor Abiodun for giving the people of Imobi the honour of having a traditional ruler, saying their decision to join the APC was a decision to leave retrogression behind and embrace progress.

Also, the ADC Chairman in Ijebu North-East Local Government, Hon. Erinle Opeoluwa Samuel, commended the development taking place across Ogun State, saying the decision to join the APC was one they ought to have made a long time ago.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, an All Progressives Congress, APC, aspirant for the Benue South Senatorial District, Daniel Onjeh, has withdrawn his support for President Bola Tinubu and Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia.

Onjeh announced his decision on Thursday while sharing footage of his recent meeting with the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, also declared his support for the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, stating that he is “humbly Obidient”.

In a post accompanying the footage, Onjeh said his principles had been misunderstood by the APC leaders, adding that he had now embraced the Obidient movement.

He wrote, “They misconstrued my principles as stubbornness. Now, I’m humbly Obidient. You go where you’re valued.”

Although Onjeh did not disclose the reason for his decision, the development may not be unconnected to his failure to secure the APC senatorial ticket ahead of the January election.

Onjeh had been a strong supporter of President Tinubu and Governor Alia before the APC primary election held in May 2026.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced September 19, 2026, as the date for bye-elections to fill two vacant seats in the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

The polls will be held in Sakwa State Constituency, Zaki Local Government Area, and Disina State Constituency, Shira LGA.

The Bauchi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Ibrahim, announced the date on Wednesday at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Electoral Security in Bauchi.

He said the commission would issue the notice of election on August 20, ahead of political party primaries scheduled for August 21 to 25.

Ibrahim said the submission of nomination forms would open online on August 29 and end at 11:59 p.m. on September 2. The final list of candidates is expected to be published on September 8.

He added that parties had until September 10 to submit the names of their polling agents, while campaigns would close by midnight on September 17.

The REC disclosed that Sakwa Constituency has 100 polling units spread across five wards, while Disina has 95 polling units across five wards.

He called on political parties and candidates to adhere to the electoral guidelines and avoid actions capable of disrupting the exercise.

The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, who co-chaired the meeting, assured stakeholders that the command would remain neutral and professional throughout the electoral process.

Aliyu asked political parties to provide their campaign schedules ahead of time to enable the police to make appropriate security arrangements.

DAILY POST recalls that the Sakwa seat became vacant following the death of its occupant, Wanzam Zaki, who also chaired the House Committee on Budget and Appropriation. He died on June 21, 2026.

In Disina, the vacancy followed the resignation of Saleh Hodi, the former representative of the constituency and Majority Leader of the House, to contest the Shira Local Government chairmanship election.