The political atmosphere in Osun State heightened on Thursday as the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, exchanged words over Governor Ademola Adeleke’s screening ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

DAILY POST gathered that Governor Adeleke was screened at the PDP National Secretariat, Legacy House, Abuja, alongside other aspirants of the party.

The screening, which was held behind closed doors, had in attendance top party leaders, including the South West Vice Chairman, Kamarudeen Ajisafe; Osun State PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi; Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye; and Commissioners Dr. B.T. Salami and Rev. Bunmi Jenyo.

After the exercise, Governor Adeleke told reporters that his administration had delivered on its promises to the people of Osun State and was confident of victory in the forthcoming polls.

The governor added that his administration’s performance had earned it widespread public support.

“We have delivered good governance to our people in Osun. Our records and popularity are unrivalled. So we are ready for victory come 2026.

“We have the full backing of the people. Election is about voters and we know our people love us. We have strong faith in God and the people that we are going to secure re-election overwhelmingly,” he stated.

He also expressed confidence in the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring a credible process.

“Our popularity is known nationally due to our excellent records of performance within less than three years in office. We are confident the will of the people will prevail in the best interest of democracy,” Adeleke noted.

However, in a swift reaction, the Osun State chapter of the APC described the PDP screening as a face-saving move following what it alleged was Adeleke’s failed attempt to defect to the opposition party.

The APC urged the governor to begin preparing his handover note ahead of the 2026 election.

In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC accused the governor of running a shallow and mediocre administration.

The statement alleged that over ₦60 billion had been spent on the Governor’s Office in 35 months “without recruiting a single teacher into the state’s schools.”

The APC claimed that Adeleke’s administration had failed to adequately fund education, forcing tertiary institutions to increase fees arbitrarily.

“No fewer than 32,000 citizens were duped of their hard-earned money under the guise of teacher recruitment,” the statement alleged.

The opposition party maintained that Adeleke’s re-election bid was doomed, describing his performance as “riddled with misgovernance, misplaced priorities, vengeance, and wastage of resources.”

It also alleged that the governor had made fruitless efforts to defect to the APC, claims the PDP and Adeleke’s camp have repeatedly denied.

According to the APC, “Today’s kangaroo screening is a mere smokescreen to save Adeleke from the embarrassment his rejection by the APC generated. Information available to us confirms that he was still found last week loitering around Aso Villa, begging and genuflecting for a soft landing to join the APC.”

The party asserted that “no political party under which he may contest next year’s election would save him from defeat. The people of Osun had already “screened him out” based on his record in office.

“The major problem that Governor Adeleke is contending with is the fear of the array of super-qualified governorship aspirants in our party who are all individually capable of defeating him.”

The APC said it was ready to reclaim Osun in 2026, declaring that “the forthcoming election is for Adeleke and his rudderless party to lose, considering the poor and unfriendly public perception of their government.”

Prominent public commentator and activist, Mahdi Shehu, has once again taken a swipe at Nigeria’s political class, describing the country’s political system as one built on greed, deceit, and inhumanity.

In a detailed post on X on Thursday titled “DNA Sketching of Political Parties and Other Groups in Nigeria,” Shehu likened Nigeria’s major political parties to scriptural figures and institutions driven by selfish ambitions and betrayal.

According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is largely made up of individuals whose conduct mirrors the scripturally detailed Pharaoh, whose reign was characterized by terror, greed, deception, dictatorship, and blind ambition to last forever.

He added that while there might be a few good ones among them, the preponderance of the party’s members reflects wickedness and a delusional pretense to be God.

“Naturally there will be few good ones, even if unknown and silent but preponderance of the party congregants are a clear reflection of the scripturally detailed PHAROAH whose reign was characterized by terror, greed, deception, dictatorship. wickedness and blind ambition to last forever and a delusional pretence to be God. Recall how PHAROAH was subsumed and Humiliated.”

Turning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Shehu described its members as repentant wolves still looking for sheep to feast on, adding that the party has become severely self-injured, with karma visiting them all year through, gasping for oxygen and surely going to die with neither an Imam nor a Priest willing to preside over the burial.

For the Labour Party (LP), Shehu said while there are good people within the party, it is full of envy, greed, backstabbing, and treachery.

He accused some members of betraying their cause for money, saying a section of them have a price tag and have already collected and swallowed the forbidden fruit of dollars and naira.

He described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as made up of strange bedfellows and sworn enemies united by desperation for power.

According to him, the party is filled with people with daggers at hand and hate in their hearts, proudly carrying a sense of entitlement.

Commenting on other smaller parties, Shehu said they are a mixture of the good, the bad, the greedy, and the afflicted by poverty .

He added that many of them are rarely popular outside their localities and are often waiting for election time to cash out and later cry foul after elections are rigged.

Citing a verse from the Bible, James 4:1-4, he noted that the root of Nigeria’s political crisis lies in the selfish desires and greed of those in power.

“You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight,” the verse reads in part.

Shehu added that these attitudes have turned life in Nigeria into one marked by suffering, fear, instability, deceit, selfishness, and a lack of compassion among people.

“Pity, sad, disgusting, and indeed a shame,” he concluded.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has urged voters in Anambra State to shun vote buying and other inducements ahead of the November gubernatorial election in the state.

In a post on its official X handle on Thursday, the Commission cautioned the electorate against trading their votes for money or material items, stressing that such practices undermine the integrity of elections and hinder meaningful development.

“Reject stomach infrastructure. Demand real development. Say NO to vote buying,” INEC wrote, reiterating its commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and credible poll.

The Commission further appealed to political parties and candidates to engage in issue-based campaigns, focusing on policies and programmes that will improve the welfare of the people, rather than exploiting voters’ economic conditions for electoral gain.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kaduna State Chapter says Senator Nenadi Esther Usman and Bashir Saidu are leaders of the coalition in the state not ADC.

A statement issued by the ADC chairman in Kaduna State, Elder Patrick D. Ambut explained that leaders and stakeholders of several political parties, including the Labour Party, have been part of the coalition movement from inception, saying that it is meant to coordinate coalition activities more effectively in Kaduna State.

According to him, “The attention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kaduna State Chapter, has been drawn to certain misrepresentations surrounding the recent appointments of Chairman and Co-Chairman made by the Coalition Partners in Kaduna State.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the ADC as a political party maintains its duly elected leadership structure, which remains intact and unaffected by the appointments made by the coalition partners.

“The Coalition Partners is an alliance of individuals, political parties, and interest groups who have come together in a collective, patriotic effort to rescue Nigerians from the current hardship and maladministration of the rudderless APC government.”

He said that in order to coordinate coalition activities more effectively in Kaduna, it became necessary to designate leadership positions within the coalition, hence the appointment of a Chairman and Co-Chairman.

Ambut said, “These appointments are entirely separate and distinct from the leadership structure of the ADC in Kaduna State. It’s mainly to provide leadership to unite all opposition political leaders in the state. The elected State Executive Committee of the ADC remains in full charge of the party’s affairs and operations within the state.”

Accordingly, he explained that the appointment of Senator Nenadi Usman, the Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, as Chairman of the coalition efforts in Kaduna State, aligned perfectly with her party’s commitment to the coalition, adding that it is well known that the Labour Party leadership, stakeholders, and even its 2023 presidential candidate have been active participants in the collective rescue mission aimed at liberating Nigerians from the grip of the APC.

He said that the clarification had become necessary to dispel the false narrative being circulated in some quarters that Senator Nenadi Usman had defected to the ADC.

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal is coming under growing political pressure following a fresh wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, which has further weakened his base ahead of the 2027 general election.

Reliable sources in Government House, Gusau, told DAILY POST that the governor is expected to embark on a series of high-level consultations in Abuja as part of efforts to contain the crisis within his party and reassert control.

Observers believe Lawal’s Abuja consultations are part of wider efforts to manage the crisis and negotiate political protection as the APC consolidates its growing dominance in Zamfara State.

The defections, which have unsettled the ruling PDP in the state, involve key political figures, including lawmakers, ward leaders, and former aides, who accuse the governor of poor performance, neglect of party loyalists, and failure to deliver on campaign promises.

On Tuesday, Hon. Maharazu Salisu, representing Maradun II Constituency in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, officially joined the APC at the party’s state secretariat in Gusau.

His defection, along with those of five PDP ward leaders, marks another major setback for the governor, whose influence within the party continues to wane.

Lawal’s political challenges worsened last week after a PDP candidate he reportedly supported with over ₦4 billion during a by-election also defected to the APC, citing disillusionment with the administration’s performance and growing public dissatisfaction.

The APC currently controls 13 of the 24 seats in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, while reports indicate that seven more PDP lawmakers may soon cross over — a development that could leave Lawal with only four loyal members and expose him to impeachment risks.

Sources disclosed that the governor held a late-night meeting with some lawmakers on Monday, where he expressed concern over the defections and their possible implications for his political future.

According to one source, the governor admitted he might “explore international options” if forced out, referencing properties he reportedly owns in London, Dubai, the United States, and Germany.

Meanwhile, the Northern APC Stakeholders Forum has cautioned the party’s leadership against admitting Lawal into the APC, warning that his performance record could harm the party’s image in the region.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Mubarak Liman, the forum accused Lawal of presiding over one of Zamfara’s most difficult periods marked by insecurity and infrastructural decline.

“Governor Dauda Lawal has failed in critical areas of governance — security, infrastructure, and welfare. Welcoming him into the APC would be counterproductive for the party in Zamfara and the North-West,” the statement read.

The group added that the steady stream of defections from the PDP reflects the governor’s declining popularity and waning grassroots support.

Kwara State main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has strongly condemned the incident at the Government Day Secondary School, Amule, where the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWASUBEB), Professor Raheem Adaramaja, allagedly humiliated teachers.

He was said to have forced teachers, including the school Vice Principal, to sweep the school premises in the full glare of students during a supposed inspection visit.

According to credible eyewitnesses, Adaramaja, allegedly accused the teachers of keeping an unkempt environment, and ordered them to pick up dirts within the school premises, despite explanations that the students had just returned from break time.

A statement by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, viewed Adaramaja’s action “not as an enforcement of discipline, but as a severe abuse of office and a public degradation of our dedicated educational professionals who are operating under harsh working environments.”

The party asked Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq if this is the new standard for the teaching profession in Kwara.

“To have a Professor who himself was a teacher before access to public office, strip teachers of their dignity and compel them to perform tasks that belong to labourers, all in the presence of the students they are meant to inspire.

“This act, coming from Adaramaja stands as a symbol of arrogance, insensitivity, and moral bankruptcy,” the party noted.

The party called on the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), to immediately rise in defense of their members and ensure that the dignity of teachers is never again trampled upon by power-intoxicated government officials.

“Adaramaja must immediately issue an unreserved public apology to the teachers of Government Day Secondary School, Amule, and the entire teaching community in Kwara State for his shameless act.

“We also call on Governor Abdulrahman to publicly condemn this action and sanction the SUBEB Chairman if truly Governor is not in the know of this so that the dignity of civil servants is protected in Kwara State,” the party added.

In a reaction, chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Ilorin East branch, Comrade Saka Saafi Adanla, sympathized with the management and staff of the school over the unfortunate incident during the subeb chairman’s visit to the school on Monday.

“I want to express my deepest sympathy and solidarity with you over the unfortunate incident that occurred during the SUBEB Chairman’s visit to your school.

“The humiliation and disrespect meted out to you by the chairman is totally unacceptable and uncalled for. I assure you that the State Leadership of NUT Kwara State Wing is fully aware of the situation and is working tirelessly to address this issue.

“We condemn this behaviour in the strongest terms and demand an apology from the SUBEB Chairman.

“Please be assured that we are on top of the situation and will ensure that your rights and dignity are protected,” the branch Union chairman stated.

Human rights activist and public commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has warned that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may soon face the same downfall that befell the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying power built on arrogance and injustice cannot last forever.

Shehu made the remark on Tuesday morning on his official X handle.

He drew a sharp comparison between the PDP’s fall from power after 16 years and what he described as the APC’s growing disregard for Nigerians.

According to him, “Whatever goes up must surely come down. Just as PDP rose and fell after its years of pride and betrayal, APC is now walking the same path.”

He recalled how the former PDP National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, once boasted in 2008 that the PDP would rule Nigeria for 60 years, but the party later collapsed under its own weight.

“God showed them who truly owns power. The same will happen to APC if they don’t change,” he added.

Mahdi Shehu accused the APC of destroying institutions, intimidating citizens, and taking the country for granted.

He warned that such arrogance always ends in disgrace.

Quoting the Bible, he said, “Psalm 37:10 says, ‘A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.’

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has extended the ongoing collection of the Permanent Voter Card, PVC, in Anambra State to November 2, to enable eligible voters collect their cards.

Director, Voter Education and Publicity in the state, INEC, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, made the disclosure in a statement on Monday in Awka.

“The INEC has approved the extension of the ongoing collection of PVC in Anambra from October 29 to November 2.

“The decision was reached at a meeting of the commission held on October 27, following several appeals from citizens and stakeholders requesting additional time to enable eligible voters to collect their cards,” she said.

Eta-Messi stated that registered voters who have not collected their PVCs are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to do so at the designated collection centres across the 326 Registration Areas (Wards) in the state.

According to her, the exercise covered persons who registered during the recent Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, in the state.

The Director further stated that the collection of the PVCs must be in person, as no collection by proxy would be allowed.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa State has inaugurated a caretaker executive committee to steer the party’s affairs until a new leadership is formally elected.

Presiding over the inauguration, the North East Zonal Vice Chairman of the ADC, David Lawal Babachir, said stakeholders agreed to constitute the interim team to stabilize the party and prepare it for the 2027 general elections.

Babachir, who served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) during Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, explained that the new structure was approved by the National Working Committee (NWC) after due consultation and compliance with the party’s constitution.

“The leadership you see today is legitimate because it followed due process in line with the party’s constitution,” Babachir said. He emphasized that indiscipline or defiance would not be tolerated in the party.

According to him, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to uphold its constitution, warning that anyone opposed to its guiding principles “has no place in the ADC.”

He also called for harmony among members, saying, “Every politician must expect criticism, but that should not change our character or commitment to the party.”

In his acceptance speech, the new interim chairman, Barrister Sadiq Dasin, expressed appreciation to party leaders for their confidence in his team. The former federal lawmaker and one-time Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly promised to unite the party and give special focus to women and youth participation.

Describing his emergence as “a child of necessity,” Dasin urged all aggrieved members to support the new leadership. “As we assume this responsibility, I assure you that 60 percent of elective positions in the forthcoming congresses will be reserved for women and youth because of their vital role in our success,” he said.

He further pledged to ensure that all future congresses in the state would be transparent, fair, and credible.