Features

Political events that shaped 2018 in Kwara

 

As the curtain draws on 2018, HEAD POLITICS, MUMINI ABDULKAREEM chronicles the major political events that shaped the outgoing year

January

Politics of recall takes centre stage 

Some members of Eesa/Shawo/Igbodun state constituency in the Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State led by Hon. Mufutau Adeyemo said they have commenced the recall process of the majority leader of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Hassan Oyeleke over disagreement on issue of representation. But Oyeleke described the recall attempt as a gang up aimed at discrediting his political image and career, adding that his people were aware of his empowerment activities and were not complaining stating that the plot had already failed even before it started. The purported recall of Senator Rafiu Ibrahim and Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki also didn’t fly.

IEDPU rejects FG’s zoning of Kwara to South West

The Ilorin Emirate Descendant Progressives Union (IEDPU) rejected the zoning of the Ilorin emirate and the state to the south west by the Federal Government.

Reading its communiqué at the end of its 2017 National Conference held in December, the President of the union, Amb. Sheikh Uthman AbdulAzeez said the Emirate remain part and parcel of the Northern region and the North Central.

He cited the inclusion of Ilorin under Ibadan Zone of the Electricity Distribution Company (EDC), the zoning of the Emirate and the state by the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) under Ibadan among others as reason for its rejection.

Kwara Assembly calls for ban of live political programmes 

The Kwara State House of Assembly called for a ban of live partisan political programmes in January through a motion that was moved by Barrister Kamaldeen Fagbemi via a motion on the Need for broadcast stations in Kwara to comply with NBC codes and regulations then as an APC lawmaker.

February

ACPN sacks Kwara Excos

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) dissolved the State Executive Committees of Kwara among other states for alleged anti-party activities.

Ganiyu Galadima, the ACPN National Chairman, who spoke with journalists at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, announced the reconstitution of a caretaker committee for Kwara State chaired by Issa Aremu. Galadima said the dismissed Osun State party officials backed the candidates of the ruling APC in the just concluded local government elections against the wish of the ACPN.

Ajidagba appointed REC

The Senate confirmed the appointment of former Chairman of Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr Uthman Ajidagba as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Nasarawa state.

Moshood Mustapha summoned

In its first official response, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Alanamu ward summoned former legislative aide to Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Hon Moshood Mustapha over alleged anti-party activities when they were still in the APC. He was given up to the first week of March, 2018 to respond

KWHA passed bill to stop Ex-Governors, deputy’s pension

The Kwara State House of Assembly passed the bill to stop the payment of pension to former governors and their deputies in Kwara State, the first legislature in the country to do so, sponsored by Hon Moshood Bakare (Omupo).

March

Saraki opens 52 constituency offices

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki opened 52 constituency offices in Kwara Central, the first of its kind by any lawmaker in the country.

Shake up in Saraki’s camp

Senate President, Bukola Saraki carried out a shakeup in his political camp by appointing Alhaji Musa Abdullahi to replace Hon Wahab Issa as Director-General of his Mandate Constituency Office.

Appointment 

The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) rejected the list of nominees sent in by various local government caucuses for consideration in the new cabinet being compiled by the party after the governor sacked the former appointees. But most of the councils returned former commissioners and special advisers that were recently dropped by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. The party however ordered the compilation of new list.

April

Opposition parties moot consensus candidate 

The opposition parties in Kwara state reportedly commenced the process of picking a single candidate to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 governorship election. Tagged “coalition project”, which is the brain child of major opposition alliance in the state was reportedly aimed at presenting a “carefully selected but charismatic” candidate that will be acceptable to all the parties and considered strong enough to lead them to victory. The chairman of the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Parties (PDP), Iyiola Oyedepo confirmed the development during a telephone chat.

APC suspends Moshood Mustapha for 6 months

The Kwara state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Alanamu ward announced the suspension of Hon Moshood Mustapha over alleged anti-party activities and failure to honour the party’s summon for the second time within a month.

Kwara Hausa community decries marginalisation in political offices

The All Progressive Congress (APC) of the Hausa community in Ilorin decried alleged marginalisation of its people in the appointment of political offices.

One of the group’s chieftains, Mallam Jibril Dan-Bingar, who spoke to newsmen explained that despite having 18% of the state population, political appointments have not been commensurate.

May

APC hold wards congress

The APC held its wards congresses in Kwara and across the country with peaceful exercise recorded in the state. The party also held its local government congresses during the month that saw the emergence of the two factions led by Ishola Baogun-Fulani and Basheer Bolarinwa respectively.

Saheed Popoola in alleged scandal over issuance of dude cheques

The lawmaker representing Ojomu Central B of Offa Local Government in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Saheed Popoola was accused of allegedly issuing fake cheques to some of his creditors. But the former chairman of Offa council described the issue as a lie from the pit of hell. He was said to have reportedly issued some of the cheques for the payment of various sums he owed some persons in the state.

June

APC inaugurates state excos, council chairmen

The Kwara state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) inaugurated the new executive members of the party. The party also inaugurated all the sixteen local government chairmen of the party at a brief ceremony held at the party’s secretariat, GRA, Ilorin. A state counsel, Barrister Olanrewaju Afeez Yusuf administered the oath of office on the 36 members of the state executive and 16 local government chairmen of the party.

Court strikes out PDP suit against Kwara Assembly over Political Broadcast

A federal high court in Kwara State presided over by Justice N.I Afolabi struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction and failure to properly filed the application. A cost of 5,000 was also awarded in favour of the respondents (Kwara Assembly).

July

APC sets up 30-man sensitization c’ttee on 2019

The Kwara state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) set up a 30-man sensitisation committee to liaise with party stakeholders on the way forward for the party as regards the next year general elections scheduled for February. The committee, which cut across the three senatorial districts is chaired by the senatorial chairmen for Kwara Central, Alhaji Jimoh Adesina, his Kwara North counterpart, Alhaji Isiaka Oniwa and Alhaji Jimoh Balogun for Kwara South. The committee which was inaugurated by the chairman of the party, Hon Ishola Balogun- Fulani at the party secretariat recently was given the mandate to discuss with the grassroots and stakeholders in the party with a view to harnessing the pool of opinions gathered for harmonisation on the party’s next move based on .the political situation in the county.

August    

Kwara Speaker, Ali Ahmad, 22 lawmakers dump APC for PDP

23 members of the Kwara state House of Assembly formally announced their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC). The action came less than two weeks after Kwara Senators and House of Representatives members together with some of their other colleagues at the National Assembly dumped the ruling party for the opposition PDP. Saheed Popoola  (Offa) was the only lawmaker that didn’t defect.

Kwara Fed board appointees in dilemma following Saraki’s defection

Appointees of federal board and parastatals from Kwara state were thrown into dilemma following the defection of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). After the Senate President publicly dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the affected individuals saw the need to seek audience with Saraki on the issue for the “way forward”. According to a member of one of the boards who confided in our reporter on the issue, there is need to harmonise a position regarding their decision for it not to trigger another round of agitation and discontent.

Kwara PDP Harmonisation C’ttee dumps Nat’l sharing formula for consensus

The Kwara state harmonisation committee set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to look into the sharing of positions between the old and new members dumped the 60-40 ratio sharing template approved by the national leadership of the party. The decision, it was gathered,  to abandon the arrangement for a more robust arrangement was based on the magnanimity of the Senate President and national leader of the party, Dr Bukola Saraki.

Kola Shittu emerges PDP chair

Former House of Representative member and onetime Commissioner for Works in Kwara state, Engr Kola Shittu, emerged chairman of PDP in the state. Rasaq Lawal, a former Commissioner for Special Duties during late Gov Muhammed Lawal admistration, also emerged as the PDP’s secretary after the party appointed new officials to pilot the affairs of the party after its merger.

September

PDP aspirants signified interest for Kwara governorship contest

In September, many gubernatorial aspirants joined the PDP gubernatorial contest in the state. They include former chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Ladi Hassan, former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Saka Isau (SAN), former Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, Speaker Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad and chairman House of Representative Committee on Justice, Hon Razak Atunwa among others.

Kwara youth hold 1milliom-man match for Saraki

Thousands of youths from various associations and groups in Kwara state held a one-million man match rally to support the ambition of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki’s third term senatorial bid. The rally was led by an aspirants of the PDP into the House of Representative for Ilorin West/Asa, Olanrewaju Oba. They went through major streets in the state capital and ended the match at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaj Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

Omotoshe emerged factional APC Guber candidate

A former journalist with ThisDay newspaper and former Majority Leader of Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Kayode Omotoshe emerged the candidate of the Balogun-Fulani led APC in an exercise that was conducted at the party’s secretariat at GRA, polling a total of 981 votes to defeat his opponent, who include son of late former Governor, Alhaji Akeem Lawal, AbdulRazaq AbdurRahman among others, according to the party.

Atunwa emerge PDP gubernatorial candidate

Former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Razak Atunwa emerged the governorship candidate of the party in a contest that was held at the state Banquet Hall. He defeated former Governor and Senator, Shaaba Lafiagi after most of the other candidates stepped down. The event initially inconclusive but was concluded the next day after the intervention of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

500 district heads write Saraki, demand Kwara central candidate

The Magajis and Alanguas Forum in Kwara state wrote Senate President and national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki demanding for the next gubernatorial candidate to come from the senatorial district. Their letter was rooted through the ABS constituency office in Ilorin.

October

PDP zones Dep Gov ticket to Irepodun

The Kwara state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoned the Deputy Governorship seat to Irepodun in Kwara South. Five members of the community who included a two-term member of the House of Representatives and Deputy Chief of Staff to Senate President, Gbenga Makanjuola, former Commissioner III in the Local Government Service Commission and immediate past secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state before the defection of the Senate President, Chief Bode Adekanye and former member of the state House of Assembly in the seventh legislature, Elder David Bamidele signified interest for the race.

Others include a two-time Special Adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Labour Matters and Students Affairs, Comrade Bisi Fakayode and another Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Rural Water Support Service, Anu Ibiwoye.

Prof Oba seeks Labour Party platform     

A aggrieved aspirants of the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship primary, Professor AbdulRaheem Shuaib Oba sought partnership with the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the state, Comrade Issa Aremu following the crisis of governorship primarily rocking the APC.

November

Police Deploy Helicopter to Omu-Aran for bye-election

The Police headquarters in Abuja reportedly deployed a helicopter with registration N0 5N-GEJ, and Police boldly written on it in Omu-Aran for the bye election in Irepodun. The chopper landed at the open field of St. Paul Primary School, along Egbe road in Omu-Aran. The arrival of the helicopter of the APC led President Buhari administration around 6:30pm reportedly caused panic among residents of the community. The party was accused by the opposition of using the action to intimidate electorate to undermine the election in their favour.

INEC declares Ajulo-Opin winner of By-Election

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Raheem Tunji Olawuyi Ajulo-Opin was declared winner of the bye-election into the vacant seat of Irepodun/Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Isin federal constituency. He defeated the PDP candidate, Alhaji Jimoh Alatise with over 3,000 votes

December

Gov Ahmed steps down from the race

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state announced he was stepping down for Senator Rafiu Ibrahim in the spirit of equity and fairness to allow the Ibolo speaking axis in the state complete their slot of two term following intervention from traditional rulers and top stakeholders from the zone.

AbdurRahman picks Kayode Alabi as Dep Gov, snubs Oyedepo, Fagbemi

The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) snubbed the former two factional chairmen of the party before their defection to the PDP, Iyiola Oyedepo and Prince Sunday Fagbemi to pick a school principal and choice of his elder brother, Kayode Alabi as his running mate for the race. The action however caused disquiet in the party.

PDP flags off North Central rally in Ilorin

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagged off its North-Central Presidential campaign in Ilorin with massive turn out at the Metropolitan Square. Other officials of the party which include its Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar were led to the event by the Director-General of its Presidential Campaign Council and Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

PDP inaugurates 50-man campaign c’ttee for Kwara governorship

The Kwara state chapter of the PDP, inaugurated a 50-man Campaign Council for the governorship election in the state at the ABS Constituency Office, Ilorin. The former Minster of National Planning, Prof Suleiman Abubakar was appointed the DG of the council.

Scores injured, hospitalised as Lola Ashiru, Saheed Popoola supporters engage in bloody clash in Offa

The crisis rocking the state of the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) deepened as supporters of Lola Ashiru and Saheed Popoola reportedly clashed during a ward meeting in Offa leaving scores of party members injured and hospitalised. Ashiru and Popoola are the senatorial and House of Assembly candidates of the APC respectively from Offa. Some of the victims who sustained varying degrees of injury were rushed to the Offa General Hospital where they were treated.

Kwara High court sacked Bolarinwa led APC executive

A Kwara High court presided over by Justice Taoheed S. Umar sacked the Basheer Bolarinwa led All Progressives Congress (APC) executive in Kwara state and recognised the Ishola Balogun Fulani led faction. The court further ordered the APC national leadership to recognise the faction of Balogun Fulani and rendered all actions and activities prior the judgement by the BOB faction as null and void. The BOB faction said it has appealed the judgment.

Police debunks Kwara APC’s security report claim over postponed campaign flag off 

The Kwara State Police Command through his spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi debunked the allegation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that his campaign and manifestoes launched at Kosubosu in Baruten was postponed because of security report. Okasanmi said the party should tell Kwarans how it came about such narrative. The PDP however accused the party of postponing the event because of perceived low attendance feared by the APC.

Oyedepo dissociate self from alleged new PDP in Kwara

Former factional chairman of the PDP and now member of the APC dissociated himself from the emergence of a new PDP in Kwara state. some online reports said Oyedepo has approached the court to challenge the Bukola Saraki leadership of the PDP, saying his executive remains the authentic one in the state because it has not been dissolved by the PDP’s national leadership.

Balogun-Fulani led APC appoint 10-man campaign committee for Omotoshe

Following the High Court judgment that sacked the Bahseer Bolarinwa-led faction of the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the court recognised faction of Ishola Balogun-Fulani-led executive announced a 10-man campaign committee for its governorship candidate, Hon Kayode AbdulaWahab (Omotoshe) led by Alhaji Jimoh Balogun as the Director-General.

Others are Director of Publicity, Dr Dele Kayode (DELKA), Women Affairs, Hadjia Tolani Ibrahim, Finance, Hajia Ajibike Alabi, Youth Affairs, AbdulMumini Mohammed, Security, Alhaji Yusuf Morocco and Organistion, Hon Raheem Bello.

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