The PDP candidate for Ogun State House of Assembly, Abeokuta South Constituency 2, Adeoye Adeniran, has maintained that while residents of the state do not oppose the aspiration of the Yewa-Awori people to produce the next governor, they would resist any attempt to impose an outsider.

Adeniran noted that the agitation for power rotation to Ogun West is legitimate, but warned against the emergence of a “non-indigene with identity crisis or a proxy sent from Lagos”.

He spoke in reaction to the Olota’s recent reaffirmation of support for Ogun West to produce the next governor during a visit by the PDP’s governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu.

DAILY POST reports that the Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege, alongside other Awori traditional rulers, reaffirmed their support for Senator Solomon Adeola as the preferred candidate for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.

The monarch stated that equity, fairness and justice require that Ogun West be allowed to produce the next governor, adding that the Awori people had resolved to support a candidate whose agenda aligns with the senatorial district’s interests.

Reacting, the PDP chieftain asserted that the issue should not be reduced to an ethnic contest, arguing that what should matter to the people is the identity, credibility, competence and genuine connection of whoever seeks to govern the state.

He said, “Truly, as a Yewa indigene, I believe it is right for Ogun West to produce the next governor of Ogun State. But we cannot, because of that legitimate aspiration, allow a non-indigene or a proxy from Lagos to lead us. If we do, we will all regret it.”

Adeoye stressed that leadership must be built on truth and transparency, declaring that anyone who could not be trusted to tell the truth about “little things” should not be entrusted with the responsibility of governing the state.

He harped on the importance of allowing citizens to freely determine who governs them rather than presenting the position of individual traditional rulers as a collective endorsement.

Adeoye also pointed to expressions of support for Adebutu among Egba communities in Sango, Ijoko and Ota, saying such developments demonstrated that political choices in Ogun could not be reduced to the position of one traditional institution or one geographical axis.

The controversy also reportedly prompted the Palace of the Olofin Adimula Oodua of Ado-Odo, Oba Olusola Idris Osolo Adebowale Otenibotemole II, to distance itself from the position attributed to the Palace of the Olota of Ota in connection with an ‘Awori Obas Forum’.

In its clarification, the palace said the visit to the Olota should not be interpreted as representing all Awori traditional rulers in Ogun State and could not be taken as the position of all Awori traditional rulers in the state.

Reacting to the development, Adeoye argued that the ongoing debate should ultimately be settled by the electorates.

He said Ogun people deserved a governor who was genuinely connected to the state, understood its challenges and could be held accountable by its citizens.

He called on residents across the three senatorial districts to look beyond ethnic, sectional considerations and examine the antecedents, identity, credibility of candidates, before making their choice at the polls.

The family home of an African Democratic Congress, ADC, member, Isaiah Thomas, in Aluu community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, has been attacked and set ablaze.

The arson attack occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, barely 24 hours after campaigns officially began for the presidential and National Assembly elections.

Speaking to newsmen, Thomas’ mother, Uchechi Thomas, alleged that the attackers arrived in large numbers, armed with guns, and set some buildings within the family compound on fire.

She said household property was also destroyed during the attack.

According to her, the attackers appeared to be searching for her son, who had hosted a meeting of ADC members at the family compound on Tuesday.

She said “the identities of those behind the attack are not known.”

Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Charles Wobodo, condemned the attack.

Wobodo said he immediately deployed his Chief Security Officer to the community for an on-the-spot assessment after receiving reports of the incident.

He assured residents that the council would work with security agencies to identify those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command says investigation is ongoing to establish the cause of the fire and determine what led to the incident.

ABUJA — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that the 2027 presidential election will be his final attempt to become Nigeria’s president, ruling out any plan to contest the office again in 2031.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, made the declaration in a Hausa-language interview on Wednesday while responding to a question on whether he would seek another presidential bid if he failed to win the 2027 election.

“No, I have said it before, right from this election, I will not contest again,” he said.

Atiku, who has sought the presidency several times, also urged Nigerians with Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, to turn out in large numbers to vote in the 2027 election, describing active participation as critical to changing the country’s situation.

He advised voters to remain at their polling units after casting their ballots and follow the counting process to ensure that their votes were properly recorded.

“First of all, I appeal to those who have voter cards, for their own sake, their families, and their future, to go out and vote. That is the solution to the problems they are facing.

“After going out to vote, they should also stay, escort, and ensure that those votes are counted,” Atiku said.

The ADC candidate also dismissed concerns about his ability to cope with the demands of the presidency, insisting that he remained physically fit and capable of governing the country.

“No doctor has declared that I am unfit in terms of health. I know my body, I know I am healthy, and I do not have a single defect,” he said.