OSOGBO — The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party winner of the Osun State governorship election held on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Adeleke was declared winner at the INEC collation centre in Osogbo on Sunday, August 16, 2026, securing a second term in office.
According to the Returning Officer, Prof. Joseph Fuwape, the results are:
Adeleke won in 17 out of 30 Local Government Areas, while the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, MD of NIWA, won the remaining 13 LGAs.
1. Party Switch: Unlike his first term where he ran on the PDP platform, Adeleke contested and won this election on the Accord Party ticket.
2. PDP Absent: INEC’s published list showed that the PDP did not field a candidate for the 2026 election.
3. Voter Turnout: INEC had earlier announced that 1,906,390 PVCs were collected ahead of the poll.
There was jubilation across Osogbo and other parts of the state as supporters of the governor celebrated the victory.
The APC has not yet officially reacted to the outcome as of press time.
With this win, Adeleke becomes one of the few governors in Nigeria’s recent history to win re-election on a different party platform from his first term.
Democracy has failed in Nigeria! I fear for the next generation because we have been left behind in a world that is moving at an unprecedented speed—a world where artificial intelligence is already transforming the labour market, while we continue to produce “educated illiterates” with loads of certificates but inadequate skills for the future.
Instead of our political leaders being deeply concerned about the growing human liabilities across Nigeria, they appear consumed by the politics of power and the endless struggle for political advantage, while development takes a back seat.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has won the Osun State gubernatorial election, and the dancing continues!
Congratulations to Gov Adeleke for stopping the APC “hawks” from having their way.
However, beyond the declaration of Governor Adeleke as the winner, Nigerians must ask a more fundamental question: What is the real cost of conducting elections in Nigeria?
Nigeria is a country where millions of citizens live in poverty, yet enormous resources are deployed to finance elections. Consider the cost of printing campaign materials, mobilising supporters, providing security, and, most troublingly, the alleged buying of votes.
In my opinion, Nigeria is not practising genuine democracy. What we have is essentially a system of civil rule. It resembles an Animal Farm-like arrangement in which the political class enjoys the benefits of power while the ordinary people remain the real losers.
Why have we made public office so attractive that politics has become an avenue for wealth accumulation and personal advancement?
Until Nigerians wake up from their political slumber and begin to determine how they truly want to be governed, a small political class will continue to take the people for a ride.
I have been informed that Nigerians have begun gathering to discuss what could constitute a more suitable system of governance for the country. From Monday, 17 August to Friday, 21 August 2026, Nigerians from different ethnic groups are expected to gather in Abuja under the banner of the Citizens Assembly on Restructuring Nigeria, with the objective of charting a new political direction for the country.
I see the potential emergence of a new movement driven by Nigerians who are demanding a more responsive and accountable system of governance.
Ndigbo will reportedly be represented by Ambassador Uche Ajuluchukwu-Okeke, Prof. Obasi Igwe, Barr. Emeka Emekesiri, and several others.
Our current democratic experiment has failed to deliver the kind of country Nigerians deserve, and it is increasingly under severe strain. If we continue along this path without fundamental reforms, the system itself may eventually collapse under the weight of public frustration, poverty, insecurity and political corruption.
The time has come for Nigerians to have an honest conversation about the future of the country.
Ndubuisi Anaenugwu
Writes for Good Governance Ministry (GGM)
ggovernanceministry@gmail.com
ABUJA — August 17, 2026: The Igbo delegation to the Citizens for Restructured Nigeria (CRN), also known as the Citizens’ Assembly on Restructuring of Nigeria, has presented a comprehensive 12-point position on the restructuring of Nigeria, anchored on the principles of justice, equity, security, economic self-determination and national harmony.
The Citizens’ Assembly is being held in Abuja from August 17 to August 21, 2026, under the broad theme: “Justice for All, Harmony Nationwide.”
The Igbo position proposes a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria’s political, economic and security architecture, with a shift from the present state-centred federal arrangement to a system based primarily on regions corresponding to ethnic nationalities or groups of consenting ethnic nationalities.
Regions to Replace States and Geopolitical Zones.
According to the position paper, the Igbo delegation proposes the replacement of the existing states, local government areas and six geopolitical zones with regions based on established ethnic-nationality identities.
The proposal envisages five coastal regions in Southern Nigeria and five regions in Northern Nigeria, with the northern regions expected to border either the Niger or Benue rivers.
The delegation argues that such an arrangement would provide stronger economic viability, political autonomy and clearer regional identities while reducing excessive dependence on the Federal Government.
Resource Control and Regional Economic Autonomy.
A major component of the proposal is the transfer of ownership and control of natural resources to the regions, with the regions contributing agreed revenues to the Federal Government.
The delegation argues that the present system has created excessive dependence by states on federal allocations and has weakened the incentive for regional economic development.
It also advocates a mixed private-public free-enterprise economy and a secular political system in which religion is separated from state and political affairs.
On foreign policy, the delegation calls for an Afrocentric, independent and non-aligned foreign policy, including opposition to foreign military bases and secret military alliances or treaties.
Defining Ethnic Nationalities.
The Igbo delegation also called for an objective definition of what constitutes an ethnic nationality before any restructuring process proceeds.
It proposed that claims of ethnic-nationality status should be supported by historical, linguistic, cultural and documentary evidence, including records from the colonial period, pre-independence Nigeria and earlier European documentation of the peoples of the region.
The delegation warned that politically created or sponsored groups should not be allowed to present themselves as historical ethnic nationalities merely to influence the outcome of a restructuring conference.
It proposed that participating groups should eventually demonstrate their historical credentials through documentary evidence.
Disputed Maps and Igbo Communities.
The delegation strongly rejected what it described as “false maps” that divide Igbo communities into separate and allegedly weak political units.
Particular concern was expressed about Igbo-speaking communities in present-day Rivers State and other neighbouring areas, including communities around Port Harcourt, Ikwerre, Etche, Oyigbo, Obio-Akpor, Okrika, Bonny and surrounding areas.
The delegation also maintained that the Anioma Igbo should not be separated from the broader Igbo identity and called for consideration of Igbo-speaking communities in neighbouring states that have expressed a desire to be grouped with their cultural kith and kin.
Consensus Rather Than Simple Majority Voting.
The Igbo position further advocates consensus decision-making, arguing that previous people-driven constitutional conferences in Nigeria relied substantially on consensus rather than simply imposing decisions through numerical voting.
The delegation maintained that restructuring should be a negotiated process capable of accommodating the legitimate interests of Nigeria’s various peoples.
Ports and Eastern Industrialization.
Economic justice is another major component of the proposal.
The Igbo delegation called for the modernization and reopening of the Eastern coastal ports, particularly Bonny, Opobo and Port Harcourt, alongside other Eastern ports.
It argued that developing these ports would reduce pressure on Lagos, lower transportation and logistics costs, stimulate industrialization and reconnect the Eastern and Middle Belt economies with international trade.
The delegation also called for deep dredging, modernization and multimodal connections involving road, rail, water, air and digital infrastructure.
It believes that an integrated transport network could revive the industrial and commercial potential of the East and strengthen economic connections extending through the Middle Belt towards the Lake Chad region.
Coastal Access for Southern Regions.
The proposal also states that Southern regions should have contiguous access to the Atlantic coast and retain their traditional coastal ports.
The document identifies various ports and coastal areas associated with Yoruba, Bini, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Ijaw, Igbo, Ogoni, Andony/Obollo and AkwaCross communities.
For Northern regions, it proposes a riparian principle based on access to the Niger and Benue river systems.
Plebiscites, Property Rights and Security.
The delegation supports history-based plebiscites and referendums, while rejecting any plebiscite or referendum conducted on the basis of ethnic cleansing.
It also calls for stronger constitutional protection of private property rights, arguing that restructuring should strengthen citizens’ rights to life and property and make those rights effectively enforceable.
On security, the delegation advocates a broader reorganization of Nigeria’s military and security architecture, with regional policing presented as only one element of a wider security restructuring.
It argues that regional responsibility for security could help address terrorism, arbitrary arrests, detention, extortion, highway robberies and what it describes as inappropriate military operations in built-up communities.
Open and Transparent Proceedings.
The Igbo delegation called for the proceedings of the restructuring conference to remain open to the press and civil society.
It urged organizers to allow delegates to present their positions freely and warned against any process perceived as predetermined or designed merely to endorse an already established outcome.
The delegation stressed that genuine consensus requires openness, dialogue and respect for divergent perspectives.
Restructuring Before 2027 Elections.
Another major proposal is that the restructuring process should be completed before May 2027.
The delegation proposed that elections could be temporarily suspended through an appropriate legal mechanism if considered necessary, with subsequent elections conducted under the new constitutional and regional framework.
It suggested that implementation could commence through an Executive, Parliamentary or civil-society-sponsored Bill.
Release of Political Prisoners.
The Igbo delegation also called for the unconditional release, rehabilitation and reintegration of political prisoners and persons it describes as political detainees as a confidence-building measure for the restructuring process.
It argued that releasing such detainees would help generate goodwill and create a more conducive atmosphere for national dialogue.
“Justice for All, Harmony Nationwide”
The delegation emphasized that its support for restructuring is not intended to consolidate injustice or advance an exclusively Igbo agenda.
Rather, it described restructuring as a pathway towards justice for all Nigerians, greater regional economic development, improved security and a more balanced federation.
In its concluding remarks, the delegation expressed appreciation to Deacon Oladejo Owolabi and the TRG, CRN, CCA, C-RAIN and other associated teams for organizing the Abuja gathering.
The Igbo delegation said it hopes that the deliberations will produce a just and reasonable framework that can subsequently be presented to Nigerians and placed before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government for consideration and implementation.
The position was signed on behalf of the Igbo delegation by Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke, Dr. Katch Ononuju and Prof. Obasi Igwe.
The Abuja assembly is expected to continue its deliberations through Friday, August 21, 2026, as participating groups debate possible pathways towards a restructured Nigerian federation.
Kidnapped Anambra businessman, Joseph Ezeokafor chairman of Jezco Group of Companies, popularly known as Jezco, has regained his freedom. According to a social media Facebook post by Fred Chukwuelobe, versatile journalist and public affairs commentator, Ezeokafor was released near the boundary between Enugu and Anambra States, close to Ebenebe, near Awka. He was subsequently picked up late at night (Friday) by a family member.
Ezeokafor, the father of popular social media personality Jowi Zaza, was abducted in the early hours of Tuesday while on his way to a prayer ground in Awka, Anambra State.
His release came after days in captivity, during which his abductors reportedly established contact with his family and initially demanded a ransom of N700 million before allegedly raising the demand to N1.5 billion.
Details surrounding his release, including whether any ransom was paid and where he was released, were not immediately available as of the time of filing this report.
The development is, however, a major relief to the family, friends and associates of the businessman, whose abduction had generated widespread concern across Anambra and beyond.
Ezeokafor is the founder of Jezco Oil and Lubricants, a business he established in 1980 and subsequently expanded into other areas of manufacturing and business
LAGOS — A Facebook post by Ezeokafor Blessing has gone viral after she accused her brother, popularly known as “Jowizaza”, of exaggerating the family’s wealth online and putting their father’s life at risk.
In two separate posts on Thursday, Blessing said the social media “noise” about money that the family does not have is attracting the wrong attention.
*”My brother, u are the cause of this madness. Social media noise. When we don’t have that money, u use audio money to make hudroms think the money is available,”* she wrote.
She alleged that the family is facing serious financial problems, claiming: *”We are owing bank FCMB 40 billion naira… U are owing union bank. No hope to pay.”* She also mentioned debts to an American company, “Feedco”.
Blessing expressed fear that the online hype has made people believe the family is rich, saying: *”Now ur madness has made people think we have money. Kidnappers they don’t have money. It is audio money, pls leave my dad alone.”*
She added that her father needs medication and pleaded: *”If anything happens to my dad, I will hold u responsible… I don’t want anything to happen to my dad.”*
In a follow-up post, she defended speaking out: *”So u want those kidnappers to think we have money and refuse to give them and kill him there.. I will now become fatherless.”* She also warned bloggers: *”Any blogger that I see exaggerating us again will have questions to answer.”*
She concluded that “coming to Facebook was the biggest mistake my brother made” and insisted “we have simple life not exaggerating wealth.”
The posts have sparked reactions online, with many calling for the family to resolve the matter privately while others expressed concern over the safety of their father.
As of press time, “Jowizaza” is yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
OSOGBO — All is set for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, confirmed the arrival of sensitive materials in Osogbo.
The materials arrived at the Central Bank of Nigeria facility ahead of the August 15 poll. INEC also announced that *1,906,390 Permanent Voter Cards* have been collected, while *432,843 PVCs* remain unclaimed.
President Bola Tinubu has assured voters of adequate security across the state. The PDP has endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke for a second term, while the APC raised concerns over alleged political thugs linked to the Accord Party.
Both major parties have intensified campaigns in the final hours, with security agencies deployed to flashpoints.
The Osun election is being watched nationwide as a key test ahead of 2027. Voting will hold across all 30 LGAs on Saturday.
The kidnappers of Jezco Group Chairman, Chief Sir Joseph Ezeokafor, have reportedly increased their ransom demand from N700 million to N1.5 billion for his release.
A source close to the family said the abductors initially demanded N700 million, which the family reportedly agreed to negotiate, but later raised the demand to N1.5 billion.
The source said the family remained willing to negotiate, but the kidnappers have reportedly stopped communicating with them, leaving the family deeply worried.
Ezeokafor was reportedly kidnapped around 2am on Tuesday after leaving his home for a prayer ground for his annual spiritual rejuvenation. He was said to have left his security details behind when he stepped out.
The abduction has continued to generate concern among his family, associates and members of the community, while the Anambra State Police Command and state government have yet to publicly comment on the incident.
ABUJA — The camps of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso have dismissed reports of a rift between them over the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, campaign council ahead of 2027.
Both sides said the claims are “not true” and that consultations between the Obi and Kwankwaso teams are still ongoing.
The speculation started after reports emerged of disagreements on appointments and structure for the NDC campaign team.
Spokespeople from both camps said they remain committed to working together and that no final decisions on the campaign council have been made yet.
The NDC, formed as a coalition platform, is positioning itself as a major opposition force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political analysts say unity between Obi and Kwankwaso will be key to the party’s chances, given their strong support bases in the South-East and North.
OSOGBO — The Osun State Police Command has summoned Senator Francis Fadahunsi of the APC, representing Osun East Senatorial District, over a viral threat to “kill Accord members”.
The invitation comes amid rising political tension in Osun ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
Senator Fadahunsi has since clarified the remark, saying he was referring to “defeating” Accord members politically, not violence.
Meanwhile, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has raised an alarm over an alleged plot to arrest leaders of the Accord party and has demanded the Senator’s arrest.
Police have not released details of the charges, but confirmed the Senator was invited to explain the statement made in the viral video.
The incident has sparked reactions across the state as parties gear up for 2026.
ABUJA — Millions of Nigerians say living standards have worsened over the past three years as inflation and government reforms continue to bite.
A Reuters report released today highlights the struggles of workers like Abuja NGO staff Grace Adama, who earns ₦135,000 monthly. She says her salary “stays for just one week” due to rising costs of housing, electricity and food.
Data shows the price of making staple jollof rice has more than doubled since President Tinubu took office. Petrol prices are now *6 times higher* following the removal of fuel subsidy and naira devaluation.
The World Bank estimates that just over *50% of Nigerians lived in poverty last year*, up from 42% in 2022.
Despite the hardship, government officials and investors defend the reforms as “tough medicine” needed to prevent a fiscal crisis. The policies have earned Tinubu the nickname *”T-Pain”* among citizens frustrated by the rising costs.
The presidency maintains that the economy is improving and the benefits of reforms will be felt in the long run.
