ENUGU, friday, August 14, 2026, the National Democratic Party, NDC, hosted thousands of their members in the monthly Enugu East Senatorial zonal meeting of party held at 37 Park Avenue GRA, Enugu.

Present at the meeting, beside NDC Party faithfuls, were Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, the 2027 NDC governorship candidate for Enugu state, and Princess Ada Ogbu, the NDC Enugu East Senatorial candidate. Other candidates were House of Reps candidates, Hon. Maduka Arum (Enugu South/Enugu North federal constituency), Hon. Ike Chinaemerem El-Shaddia (Nkanu West/Nkanu East federal constituency), Hon. Nnaemeka Obuna (Enugu East/Isiuzo federal constituency).

In attendance also were the State House of Assembly candidates who included Rev. Emmanuel Nnamani (Nkanu West), Hon. Patrick Chukwuma (Nkanu East), Mrs Ngozi Agbo (Enugu South Urban), Pastor Nnaemeka Johnson Okwor (Enugu South Rural), Barr. Odinaka Ugwu ( Enugu East Rural), Hon. Chijioke Ugwu (Enugu East Urban), Hon. Henry N. Nnamani (Enugu North), Hon. Chinemere Ikeoha (Isiuzo).

The party chairmen and the exco of each of the six local government areas (Enugu North, Enugu East, Enugu South, Nkanu East, Nkanu West, Isiuzo) that make up Enugu East Senatorial Zone were all in attendance and duely recognized. Similarly the NDC Ward Excos of the 77 political wards in the senatorial zone were on hand and equally recognized.

Speaking to party faithful, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, went down the memory lane of his career in the public service that spanned from Enugu state Treasury, culminating in his appointment as Accountant General of the state, to the federal civil service where he retired as a super Permanent Secretary. He strongly dispelled the rumor hitherto making the rounds that he was a place-holder for any politician while stating that he won the NDC gubernatorial primary fair and square and that his name has been uploaded to INEC portal as the NDC 2027 governorship candidate for Enugu state.

He expressed appreciation to them for standing with him in the gubernatorial primaries that saw to his emergence as the party’s governorship flagbearer. He called on the people to remain steadfast and unwavering on their commitment to the principles of NDC on good governance and the NDC preparedness to win the 2027 Enugu governorship election, stressing that his campaign manifesto would be unveiled the moment it is time for the governorship campaigns.

Sir Chinyeaka went biblical on what he called the challenges currently facing Ndi Enugu as he cited the famous biblical quotation, Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”

He criticised some of the policies of the present government, particularly its tax regime, which he described as burdensome and called for greater consideration of the welfare and economic wellbeing of the people.

“He went further to reiterate that the power lies on the electorates to hire and fire their leaders at each election cycle.

Other key leaders of NDC were in attendance included Barr. Emeka Okeke, former Enugu state commissioner for Labor/Chieftaincy Matters, Barr. Chika Smart Ogbe, former Enugu state Commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Barr. PC Eneje, former Leader, Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Wilson Okenwa, retd Permanent Secretary, Chief Chukwujekwu Nebo, State Secretary of NDC and a host of others.

By Emmanuel Igwe
ABAKALIKI, Ebonyi State — The people of Ori Agba zone in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have declared their unalloyed support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency, Chief Hon. Egah Paul Chidiebere, popularly known as Double Chief, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The declaration was made yesterday when political stakeholders and residents from Ntezi, Okpoto and Agba communities gathered at the country home of Hon. Agu Chigozie Agu, the PDP contestant for Ishielu South State Constituency and Chairman of the PDP in Ishielu Local Government Area.
The gathering provided an opportunity for stakeholders from the Ori Agba zone to express their concerns over what they described as years of inadequate representation and marginalisation of Ishielu Local Government Area in the distribution of constituency projects and other dividends of democracy.
Addressing the gathering, members of the group argued that the federal constituency, which comprises Ezza North and Ishielu Local Government Areas, should benefit from equitable political representation and development.
They particularly expressed concern that Ezza North has occupied the federal constituency seat for about 12 years and indicated their desire for Ishielu Local Government Area to have an opportunity to produce the representative.
According to the stakeholders, the issue was not about antagonising Ezza North but about ensuring fairness and rotation between the two local government areas that make up the constituency.
The group therefore rallied behind Chief Egah Paul Chidiebere, describing him as a candidate capable of providing effective representation and attracting meaningful development to the constituency.
The political gathering also witnessed a wider endorsement of the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi State, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii.
The Ori Agba stakeholders said their decision to support Odii was aimed at pursuing what they described as a strategic political objective—ensuring that the people of the area secured effective representation at both the federal and state levels.
They maintained that the emergence of Odii as governor in 2027 would provide an opportunity for a new approach to governance and development in Ebonyi State.
The stakeholders expressed optimism that an Odii-led administration would promote equitable development across the state and ensure that rural communities and constituencies receive greater attention in the implementation of government programmes.
They subsequently urged voters across Ntezi, Okpoto and Agba communities to remain united and mobilise massively for the PDP candidates in the 2027 elections.
The endorsement is expected to add another dimension to the emerging political contest in the Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency, particularly as stakeholders continue to debate the principle of rotation and equitable representation between the two local government areas.
For the Ori Agba stakeholders, however, the message from the gathering was clear: they want greater political representation for Ishielu and are prepared to support candidates they believe can deliver that objective.
The group also called on PDP supporters in Ishielu and across Ebonyi State to remain committed to the party and work collectively towards its success in the 2027 general elections.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party have been accused of engaging in widespread vote-buying across Osun State, with agents of both parties allegedly offering voters between N10,000 and N20,000 ahead of today’s governorship election.

Unlike previous elections, the alleged vote-buying reportedly began six days before the poll.

Some voters claimed that the parties also collected the bank account details of thousands of voters about a week before the election, with plans to transfer money to them after they cast their ballots.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party is being challenged by Bola Oyebamiji of the APC, Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and nine other candidates.

A total of 1,906,390 registered voters who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are expected to participate in the election.

Findings by our correspondents revealed that agents of both Accord and the APC allegedly began distributing cash between Monday and Tuesday.

In some cases, the alleged inducement involved the distribution of food items and cash, with beneficiaries reportedly being asked to swear oaths promising to vote for the candidate of the party providing the items.

Our correspondents also came across viral videos purportedly showing supporters of Adeleke and Oyebamiji distributing cash, salt, rice and other items while urging beneficiaries not to betray them at the polls.

Ilesa

Voters in Ilesa alleged that the APC was distributing N20,000 to voters across polling units in Ilesa East, Ilesa West and Atakunmosa East Local Government Areas.

According to some beneficiaries, the money was being distributed at the residences of designated APC chieftains in various polling units.

The voters said the alleged distribution began on Tuesday and continued until Friday.

One beneficiary, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “I collected my N20,000 at the Bonnke area of Ilesa on Wednesday. The cash was in N1,000 and N500 denominations. We had over 200 voters and it was done unit by unit. I collected mine around 11am at the bungalow belonging to one of the APC chieftains in our unit.”

A human rights activist in Ilesa, who also spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, corroborated the allegation.

“At the Coca-Cola area, people were given N20,000 each at one particular storey building. But you have to show your voter card before being paid.

“At Abiola Avenue, APC members gave N20,000 to each voter. I was there. The storey building where the money was shared belongs to an APC leader in the area,” he alleged.

At Iroye and Imo areas of Ilesa, it was further alleged that APC supporters distributed rice and an undisclosed amount of money to voters.

“I saw them. They are APC supporters. They provided money and rice, but I don’t know the exact amount they were distributing. They were cursing the beneficiaries, saying it would not be well with them if they failed to vote for AMBO after collecting the money,” a student leader in Iroye said.

It was also alleged that while the APC was offering N20,000, Accord was distributing N10,000 to voters.

At Olowu Village in Atakunmosa East LGA, Accord was reportedly distributing N10,000 and asking beneficiaries to swear an oath of allegiance. A community leader said the alleged distribution began about three weeks ago.

The community leader further claimed that Accord leaders were distributing the money openly and without apparent fear of arrest.

Other residents in Ilesa also alleged that the ruling party had begun distributing N10,000 in Ifofin, Iloro, Okesa and other parts of the city since Tuesday.

Ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, the journey of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s governorship bid is one marked by a narrow defeat, a rerun loss, a legal battle and, ultimately, a major comeback.

Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, first contested the Osun governorship election in 2018 under the Peoples Democratic Party.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola
The election produced a remarkably tight race between PDP’s Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.

At the initial count, Adeleke polled 254,698 votes, while Oyetola scored 254,345 votes, giving the PDP candidate a lead of just 353 votes.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the election inconclusive after cancelling 3,498 votes in some polling units across Ife North, Ife South and Orolu Local Government Areas.

Explaining the decision, the Returning Officer, Prof Joseph Fuwape, said the margin between the two leading candidates was lower than the number of cancelled votes.

“Since the margin between the two leading candidates was lower than the registered cancelled votes, the election had to be declared inconclusive,” Fuwape said.

INEC consequently scheduled a rerun in seven polling units.

The rerun that changed everything

The rerun was held across four local government areas on September 27, 2018.

Oyetola won the rerun, polling 1,160 votes against Adeleke’s 325 votes.

The additional votes overturned Adeleke’s initial advantage, and Oyetola was eventually declared governor-elect.

Oyetola finished with 255,505 votes, while Adeleke ended with 255,023 votes — a difference of just 482 votes.

Adeleke rejected the result and vowed to challenge it.

Speaking through his brother, Dele Adeleke, he insisted that the PDP would seek legal redress.

“Adeleke’s mandate can’t be stolen, it will be retrieved. The wish of the people will stand at the end,” he said.

The defeat did not end Adeleke’s governorship ambition.

Four years later, Adeleke returned

Adeleke returned to the race in 2022, again facing Oyetola, who was then the incumbent governor.

This time, however, the result was different.

In the July 16, 2022 governorship election, Adeleke secured 403,371 votes, defeating Oyetola, who polled 375,027 votes.

Adeleke won 17 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyetola won 13.

The result gave Adeleke a margin of 28,344 votes, a sharp contrast to the 482-vote difference that separated the two men four years earlier.

Declaring the result, the Returning Officer, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said:

“I declare Adeleke Ademola Jackson Nurudeen, on behalf of the chairman of INEC, of the PDP, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and he is returned elected,” Ogundipe said.

Adeleke was subsequently sworn in as governor on November 27, 2022.

The battle was not over

Oyetola and the APC challenged Adeleke’s victory at the Election Petitions Tribunal, alleging irregularities in the conduct of the election.

The legal battle lasted several months.

In January 2023, the tribunal annulled Adeleke’s victory after deducting votes it considered affected by over-voting and declared Oyetola the winner based on its recalculation.

Adeleke rejected the judgment and described it as a “miscarriage of justice”, saying the tribunal’s decision represented “an unfair interpretation against the will of majority of voters.”

He subsequently appealed the decision.

Appeal Court restores Adeleke

The Court of Appeal later overturned the tribunal’s decision and restored Adeleke as governor.

Oyetola, however, proceeded to the Supreme Court.

In March 2023, the Supreme Court upheld Adeleke’s victory, bringing the legal battle over the 2022 Osun governorship election to an end.

Now, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, Adeleke is seeking another term in office as the Accord candidate, with other candidates including APC’s Bola Oyebamiji also competing for the Osun governorship.

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