A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Wole Olanipekun, has urged the Olu badan of Ibadan land, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to bring his wealth of experience as a seasoned administrator and foremost traditional ruler to bear in uniting traditional rulers in the Southwest region.

Advocating for a unified identity among the traditional rulers in the region, the legal luminary said traditional rulers can only advance the course of the region with unity of purpose.

Olanipekun made the plea during a courtsey visit to the Olubadan at his Oke-Aremo palace, Ibadan on Tuesday.

He urged the monarch to bring his wealth of experience as former governor, senator and entrepreneur to bear in the interest of the traditional institution in the region.

He described Oba Ladoja as a leading figure among the traditional rulers in Yorubaland, noting the history of the ancient town and the role that it played in wading off the invasion of the Fulani Jihadist.

He said, “It is of note how Ibadan warlords fought gallantly to defend the territorial integrity of the Yorubaland during Kiriji war, Ijaiye war, Jalumi to mention but few.

Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has urged leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to prepare to ally with other political parties if the national leadership fails to resolve its deepening crisis.

Lamido said he would lead the PDP in Jigawa into such alliances to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

The former governor made the declaration on Monday during a meeting held at his office with PDP leaders and supporters from all 27 local government areas of Jigawa State.

Speaking to the gathering, Lamido, who governed the state from 2007 to 2015, briefed party faithful on the leadership tussle that has effectively paralyzed the PDP national headquarters.

He revealed that the party’s national secretariat remained under a police lockdown as rival factions continue to vie for control of the National Working Committee (NWC).

Despite national paralysis, Lamido assured that the PDP leadership in Jigawa State remained “intact” and ready to act upon clear directives.

Before the meeting, he reportedly held discussions with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Senate President Bukola Saraki in efforts to explore solutions to the unfolding crisis.

Lamido said the fate of the PDP now rested with governors Bala Muhammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), as well as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

He confirmed that the party’s reconciliation committee, led by Saraki, had consulted with the governors and Wike in a bid to broker peace within the party.

Lamido, a founding member of the PDP since 1998, said a failure of internal reconciliation would make alliances with other opposition parties unavoidable.

He told the gathering, “If reconciliation fails, alliances, not coalitions, will become inevitable.

“You know there is a difference between alliance and coalition; we are going to form alliances with any of the opposition parties.”

He said the outcome of the reconciliation efforts would be communicated to grassroots leaders on Wednesday, after which the party in Jigawa would be shown “the direction to follow.”

No Merger, But Strategic Partnerships

Lamido clarified that the PDP was not considering a merger with other parties but rather a strategic alliance, a move he described as capable of reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 polls.

His comments come amid concerns among his supporters that he might defect, particularly after his inability to purchase the nomination form to contest the National Chairman post, a matter he is currently pursuing in court.

Despite his long association with the party, Lamido criticised PDP governors, lawmakers and leaders, accusing them of neglecting the party’s unity and prioritising personal interests over the collective survival of the party.

The crisis at the heart of the PDP, which has led to high‑profile defections to the APC, remains a power struggle over the position of National Chairman, with internal fractures deepening since the 2023 general elections.

A former Speaker of the Osun State Assembly, Mr Najeem Salaam, on Monday emerged as the African Democratic Congress candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Salaam secured the ADC ticket following the party’s primary held at the Ultimate Civic Centre in Osogbo.

Addressing party delegates before the exercise, the Chairman of the ADC 2026 Primary Election Committee, Mr Emeka Nwajiuba, said Salaam was the sole aspirant for the office.

“The list and information from the ADC Organizing Secretary’s Office, as well as the screening exercise conducted, indicate that Salaam is the only aspirant vying for the party’s ticket,” he said.

The 528 ADC delegates from across the 332 wards of the state then lined up to cast their votes.