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N27m Running Cost: Obasa Continues Frantic Efforts To Clean Up Implicating Documents

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Exclusive: Why Lagos Speaker, Obasa Sacked His Chief Of Staff, CPS, Two Other Aides

…How Lagos Speaker Owed Aides For 9 Months

These are surely not the best of times for embattled Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa after recent reports emerged of how he diverted funds meant for the daily upkeep of his office for personal use.

An online newspaper had alleged that Obasa had been spending N17million monthly on maintaining his private residence and the GRA guest house.

However, during Monday’s plenary session in the Assembly, Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni denied the allegation leveled against the Speaker that he has been spending N17million monthly on the maintenance of his private residence and the Speaker’s Guest House situated at Herbert Macaulay Street, GRA, Ikeja.

Sanni claimed that the money was basically used to cater to the various expenditure of the full offices, which include the office of the Chief of Staff and Special Advisers on Budget and Political Matters.

“In fact, it is dated back as far as 2012 when it was N27million monthly and I have the document here to show that the expenditure had been in existence since 2012.”

But a credible source who spoke to our correspondent disclosed that Sanni’s defense of the allegation against Obasa was an attempt to deceive Lagosians.

“They said the amount was formerly N27million but that Obasa reduced it 17million, that also is a lie. It has been N27million and it still remains N27million.

“The Clerk said what he was instructed to say. What Obasa has done with that money was to slash it into two parts, using N17million to maintain his personal houses and the guest house.

“During the time of Ikuforiji, the N27million is what they use in running the office of the Speaker. It’s from the money they maintain the houses; pay for running costs of all the offices under the Speaker’s office.

“Also, all the aides working with the Speaker get their running costs from this amount, all the security within the Speaker’s office and the Assembly are paid from this amount. It’s from this money they fuel the vehicles of the House and those of the Speaker. So it’s meant for running cost.

“But what they are claiming now is that they are using N17million as running cost for the Speaker’s office instead of N27million. Out of the N27million, the Speaker is only spending N10million to do running cost of his office.

“You can go and confirm from some of those working with him, a lot of them didn’t get paid since they started working with him until very recently. He has some aides who are not on the state government’s payroll and since they started working with him, they didn’t get paid until about two months ago”, the source said.

The source, who attested to the reports of the online newspaper, also confirmed that the Speaker has been making attempts to cover up for his lies by destroying key documents that could implicate him. It was further revealed that some members of the Assembly are aware of the allegations but their loyalty to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has made majority of them keep mute.

“He has been destroying documents that could implicate him but he doesn’t know that the EFCC has some of these documents already, I am sure the anti-graft agency is waiting for the right time to strike”.

In a bid to paint himself clean, the Speaker during Tuesday’s session broke his silence on the issue and told members of the Assembly that he has not been reckless in his spending.

“As rightly put by the Clerk, this is an expenditure that has been existing before 2015 and he has been able to trace some document to 2012, 2013, 2014, so it shows SaharaReporters and its co-travelers would not get anywhere and we are not ready to join issues with them.

“I agree with you that we don’t have to waste our time on them. We remain resolute,” said the Speaker.

It’s not clear for how long the embattled head of legislature in Lagos State will hold on to power despite his battles with many forces in the State.

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Over 43,000 new voters register in Adamawa CVR exercise – INEC

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The ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise in Adamawa State, organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, has recorded 43,380 new registrations as of July 7, 2026.

Local government-by-local government registration data made available to Saturday PUNCH by the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Mohammed Nura, showed that as of July 2, 2026, women accounted for 22,527 registrations, while men recorded 20,853, bringing the total to 43,380.

The REC, who was the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Yobe State in 1994, said that the CVR exercise was organised to ensure that citizens who attained the age of 18 after the last general election are able to participate in future polls.

He said, “The main purpose of the CVR exercise is to ensure that youths who could not participate in the last general elections because they were underage are given the opportunity to participate after attaining the constitutional voting age of 18.

“We were supposed to end the exercise on July 7, 2026, but I still believe the headquarters may approve an extension since the elections are still some time away.”

Nura said the CVR exercise also enables those who have changed their place of residence to transfer their voter registration to their new locations, while those who have lost their Permanent Voter Cards can apply for replacements during the exercise.

He further stated that the exercise was designed to ensure that all eligible Nigerians are registered to participate in the general elections and elect their leaders.


The REC called on political parties in the state to mobilise members who are yet to obtain their voter cards to take advantage of the exercise and register.

Nura assured Nigerians that the commission was prepared to conduct one of the best general elections in the country’s history.

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Abiodun presents Adeola to Ijebu royal fathers

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…Seeks support for APC ticket ahead of 2027 governorship election

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Friday formally presented the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, and his running mate, Mrs. Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun, to the Ijebu Traditional Council, seeking the support and blessings of the royal fathers ahead of the 2027 governorship election.


The presentation, held at the Awujale’s Palace in Ijebu-Ode, marked another major political consultation by the governor following the emergence of Senator Adeola as the APC standard-bearer.

Addressing the traditional rulers, Governor Abiodun said his choice of Senator Adeola as his preferred successor was informed by the twin principles of equity and competence, stressing that the Ogun West Senatorial District deserves the opportunity to produce the state’s governor for the first time since Ogun was created 50 years ago.

He said his search was not for a third term by proxy, but for a capable leader who would consolidate on the achievements of his administration and sustain the state’s developmental momentum.

“I was not looking for a third term, but for somebody who would comfortably step into my shoes and continue to build on what we have achieved from day one,” the governor said.


“I was looking for that person from Ogun West because it is only fair and just. In the last 50 years since the creation of Ogun State, no son of Ogun West has had the opportunity to serve as governor. In Senator Solomon Adeola, I have found all the qualities I have been looking for.”

Governor Abiodun recalled the prayers and support he received from the traditional institution when he sought their blessings ahead of the 2019 election and appealed for the same goodwill to be extended to the APC governorship candidate.

“The same way you prayed for me in 2018 and have continued to support me over the past seven years, I ask that you extend the same prayers and support to him. I can confidently assure you that he will not disappoint the people of Ogun State,” he said.


The governor also canvassed support for the deputy governorship candidate, Mrs. Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun, describing her as an accomplished professional whose corporate experience would complement Senator Adeola’s leadership.

Highlighting his administration’s achievements in Ijebuland, Governor Abiodun said the promises he made to the traditional rulers before assuming office had either been fulfilled or were at various stages of implementation.

He listed the reconstruction of the Ijebu-Ode-Epe Road, the Federal Government’s takeover of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), and the ongoing transformation of Ogun Waterside through strategic infrastructure and economic projects as evidence of his administration’s commitment to the area.


The governor also noted that Ogun Waterside, which had suffered years of neglect under previous administrations, was now receiving the attention it deserved.

In his remarks, Senator Adeola pledged to consolidate on the achievements of the Abiodun administration and pursue major economic projects capable of unlocking the vast potential of Ogun Waterside.

He said his administration would work towards making Ogun an oil-producing state through commercial oil exploration, facilitate the establishment of a deep seaport, and revive the Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (OKLNG) project.

The APC governorship candidate also pledged to support the agitation for the creation of Ijebu State while ensuring that Ijebuland receives its fair share of development and government attention.

“I appreciate the support our traditional rulers have given Governor Abiodun over the past seven years, and I assure you that we will build on his achievements while advancing projects that will accelerate the development of Ogun State,” Adeola said.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Acting Chairman of the Ijebu Traditional Council and Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba, assured Governor Abiodun that the royal fathers would support Senator Adeola’s governorship aspiration.

He also pledged the support of the traditional institution for Governor Abiodun’s Ogun East Senatorial bid, expressing confidence that continuity in leadership would guarantee the execution of more developmental projects across the senatorial district.

The event, attended by APC leaders and stakeholders from the three senatorial districts of the state, climaxed with special royal blessings offered by the traditional rulers for Governor Abiodun, Senator Adeola and Mrs. Adegunwa-Balogun ahead of the 2027 elections

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NDC urges Nigerians to register for PVC ahead of 2027 elections

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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing Permanent Voter Card (PVC) registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.


The party also called on eligible voters to support its preferred presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in the next election.

This was contained in a statement issued by the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Osa Director, following the party’s PVC registration mobilisation exercise.


According to the statement, Osa Director described the PVC as the most important tool for citizens to determine the country’s future through the ballot box.

He urged Nigerians, particularly young people and first-time voters, not to miss the opportunity to register and collect their voter cards.


“The PVC remains the most powerful instrument for every citizen to determine the future of Nigeria through the ballot box,” he said.

The NDC spokesman said the country needs citizens who are ready to participate actively in the democratic process, stressing that meaningful change begins with voting.

He added that the time had come for Nigerians to unite in building a New Nigeria, where hope is restored to the hopeless, justice prevails, opportunities are created for all, and good governance becomes the standard.


Osa Director also encouraged Nigerians who desire positive change to vote for the party’s preferred candidates in the 2027 presidential election.

According to him, “Peter Obi and Dr. Musa Kwankwaso are leaders with the vision, integrity and capacity to transform Nigeria.”

He reaffirmed the NDC’s commitment to promoting credible leadership, national unity, economic growth, security and good governance.

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