The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Kwara State, Yakubu Salihu-Danladi, has dismissed claims that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq imposed him on the party ahead of the 2027 election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Salihu-Danladi, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, said his seven years leading the legislature demonstrated his competence and readiness to govern.

In a video clip Punch obtained on Monday, the Speaker urged critics to assess his leadership record rather than attribute his emergence to the governor’s influence.

“I’m not brought in by the governor. You engage me, you will know whether I am competent or not. If I am not competent, my good friends, my colleagues, 23 of them; they would have removed me for the last seven years,” he said.

The APC candidate argued that managing lawmakers with different interests without major disagreements proved his leadership ability.

“An individual to manage legislators, to manage the legislative arm of government for seven years without rancour, no problem, things are moving, you will know that that person is capable and competent,” he stated.

He also claimed to possess greater experience than his rivals in the governorship race.

“People I am contesting with today, sincerely, I have more experience than any of them,” he said.

Responding to criticism of the Assembly’s relationship with the executive, Salihu-Danladi rejected suggestions that lawmakers had abandoned their oversight duties.

He maintained that legislative independence did not require confrontation with the governor over decisions lawmakers considered appropriate.

“What is rubber stamp? If you are doing the right thing and you say this is the right thing, must I fight you? If the executive governor is doing the right thing, what is the essence of the legislator fighting the executive?” he asked.

The Speaker said lawmakers should advise the executive where policies or proposals needed adjustment, rather than oppose government actions merely to demonstrate independence.

He also defended consultations between the two arms of government before proposals reached the Assembly.

“There is nothing this governor will bring to the Assembly that we were not carried along; before he even brings it, so what makes it a rubber stamp?” he queried.

Salihu-Danladi urged critics to consider the state’s development under AbdulRazaq when assessing the legislature’s performance.

“If they are saying rubber stamp, is there development in Kwara? If yes, why are they calling the Assembly a rubber stamp? If no, that’s when they will challenge us. We have a lot of things to show that yes, we are not rubber-stamped. We have a goal,” he said.

Salihu-Danladi, who is the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, said his seven-year record of leading the legislature demonstrated his leadership skills and preparedness to govern the state.

In a video clip obtained by The Punch on Monday, the APC candidate urged his critics to evaluate his performance rather than suggest that he secured the party’s ticket through the governor’s influence.

“I’m not brought in by the governor. You engage me, you will know whether I am competent or not. If I am not competent, my good friends, my colleagues, 23 of them; they would have removed me for the last seven years,” he said.

He argued that successfully managing lawmakers with different interests over seven years without major disagreements was evidence of his competence.

“An individual to manage legislators, to manage the legislative arm of government for seven years without rancour, no problem, things are moving, you will know that that person is capable and competent,” he stated.

Salihu-Danladi also claimed that he had more political and leadership experience than his opponents in the governorship race.

“People I am contesting with today, sincerely, I have more experience than any of them,” he said.

Salihu-Danladi Defends Assembly’s Relationship With Executive

Addressing criticism of the relationship between the state legislature and the executive arm, the Speaker dismissed claims that lawmakers had abandoned their constitutional oversight responsibilities.

He argued that legislative independence did not mean lawmakers had to engage in unnecessary confrontations with the governor over decisions they considered appropriate.

“What is rubber stamp? If you are doing the right thing and you say this is the right thing, must I fight you? If the executive governor is doing the right thing, what is the essence of the legislator fighting the executive?” he asked.

According to him, lawmakers should offer advice and recommend adjustments when government policies or proposals require improvement, rather than oppose the executive simply to demonstrate independence.

He also defended consultations between the executive and the legislature before government proposals are formally presented to the Assembly.

“There is nothing this governor will bring to the Assembly that we were not carried along; before he even brings it, so what makes it a rubber stamp?” he queried.

The APC governorship candidate further urged critics to consider the level of development recorded in Kwara State under AbdulRazaq when assessing the performance of the legislature.

“If they are saying rubber stamp, is there development in Kwara? If yes, why are they calling the Assembly a rubber stamp? If no, that’s when they will challenge us. We have a lot of things to show that yes, we are not rubber-stamped. We have a goal,” he said.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has appointed Bashorun Akinwale Akinwole, popularly known as Wolekanle, as his new Chief of Staff.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The governor also named Mrs Aderonke Adedayo as the Director-General of the Oyo State Due Process Office.

The appointments take immediate effect, according to letters signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Musibau Babatunde.

Akinwole, a grassroots politician, previously served as chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission.

Adedayo, meanwhile, will combine her new position with her existing role as Special Adviser on General Intervention and Donor Agencies.

Congratulating the appointees, Makinde expressed confidence in their ability to perform their duties effectively and contribute to the success of his administration.

He urged them to carry out their responsibilities with “loyalty, commitment, and dedication to the service of Oyo State”.

Ogunwuyi Resigns As Makinde’s Chief Of Staff

The appointments follow the resignation of Segun Ogunwuyi as Chief of Staff to the Oyo State Governor.

Ogunwuyi, in a resignation letter dated Monday, October 12, 2026, stated that his decision took effect from the date of the letter.

He expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve the people of Oyo State and contribute to the achievements of the Makinde administration.

However, he did not immediately disclose a specific reason for his resignation.

Ogunwuyi previously served as a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly and the House of Representatives.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has cautioned judges against conduct or associations that could call their impartiality into question as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Kekere-Ekun stressed that judicial officers must remain neutral when handling election-related disputes and avoid any actions that could create the impression that they support a particular political party or candidate.

The CJN gave the warning on Monday in Abuja during the opening of the 2026 Legal Year of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

She noted that electoral disputes often generate intense emotions and political pressure because of their potential consequences for individuals, political parties and the country.

According to her, judges must approach such cases with composure and uphold the law, just as they would in other legal disputes.

“Judicial officers must remain conscious that every word they speak and every action they take during an electoral period will be subjected to scrutiny,” she said.

The Supreme Court chief urged judges to exercise restraint, steer clear of political associations and remain faithful to their oaths of office and the provisions of the Constitution.

She also called on lawyers to demonstrate greater professional responsibility when handling cases arising from political and electoral disputes.

Kekere-Ekun expressed concern over the practice of forum shopping, whereby litigants seek out courts they believe may favour their interests or institute similar cases in different courts.

She warned that such practices could produce conflicting court orders and weaken public confidence in the judicial process.

According to her, forum shopping may also create the impression that litigants are pursuing favourable outcomes from selected courts rather than seeking justice in accordance with the law.

The CJN further warned that the increasing volume of political cases could delay the determination of other matters pending before the courts.

She said the urgency and public attention surrounding electoral disputes should not come at the expense of other litigants who also deserve timely justice.

Kekere-Ekun urged lawyers to disclose related cases pending before other courts and respect the jurisdiction and procedures of those courts.

She maintained that legal practitioners had a responsibility beyond securing immediate advantages for their clients, stressing that they must also protect the integrity of the justice system.

CJN Calls For Protection Of Judicial Appointment Process

The head of the Supreme Court also called for safeguards to protect the process of appointing judicial officers, describing the responsibilities of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) as crucial.

She said the appointment process must remain transparent and credible to sustain public confidence, noting that judges exercise constitutional authority on behalf of the people.

Kekere-Ekun explained that recent judicial appointments had involved structured assessments, professional and peer feedback, background checks and opportunities for members of the public to comment on the integrity and professional standing of shortlisted candidates.

However, she warned against the abuse of the process or its transformation into a platform for public trials and the settlement of personal or professional disputes.

The CJN also condemned the increasing use of social media to attack, ridicule, threaten and harass members of the legal profession.

She said complaints concerning court judgments, professional misconduct or the conduct of judges and lawyers should be addressed through established channels.

“The administration of justice cannot be left to anger, intimidation or trial by social media,” she said.

Kekere-Ekun insisted that judges must be able to deliver decisions without fear of retaliation, while lawyers should be free to present legitimate legal arguments without intimidation.

She added that court personnel must also be allowed to carry out their duties without harassment.

According to her, preserving the dignity of the legal profession is a shared responsibility of both the Bench and the Bar.

Supreme Court Handled 2,456 Matters In 2025/2026 Legal Year

Meanwhile, Kekere-Ekun expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s performance during the 2025/2026 Legal Year, while acknowledging that further efforts were needed to improve the administration of justice.

She disclosed that the court handled 2,456 matters during the period and delivered 411 judgments.

The cases included 1,179 general civil motions, 573 criminal motions, 13 Sharia-related motions and 676 appeals.

The appeals comprised 433 general civil appeals, 212 criminal appeals, 19 political appeals, 12 Sharia appeals and 10 originating summons.

She compared the figures with those recorded during the preceding Legal Year, when the court handled 2,280 matters and delivered 369 judgments and rulings.

The CJN said the statistics reflected the court’s workload but did not fully capture the challenges involved in reducing delays and addressing the growing number of pending cases.

She recalled that during the opening of the previous Legal Year, she had emphasised the need for deliberate case-management strategies to speed up proceedings and clear outstanding matters.

According to her, the court has since introduced measures to address the problem.

Kekere-Ekun disclosed that between March 23 and December 17, 2026, the E-Diary Office scheduled 1,385 matters for regular court sittings. These comprised 1,021 motions and 364 appeals, including 733 older cases deliberately brought forward for hearing.

She added that the court disposed of 178 dormant matters in Chambers and identified 125 cases that had already been concluded, removing them from the active caseload.

The CJN said the measures were part of ongoing efforts to strengthen case management and ensure that pending cases received the necessary attention.