ThePen

31/05/2026

OYO APC GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARIES: WE CANNOT BUY INTO VISUAL MANIPULATION

We, the undersigned aspirants and committed members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State, address the public today with deep disappointment and a profound sense of injustice regarding the use of audio and visual contents to placate and manipulate the conscience of the people and democracy in our party. What should have been a celebration of our party’s democratic values turned into an exercise marked by deceits, manipulations, trial balloon, maneuvering and other irregularities that undermine fairness and public trust.

From the outset, the process of the primaries failed to inspire confidence among party members.

Rather than display actions that encourage inclusivity and respect for the collective sensibilities.of every party member, some fast legs are acting the sleight-of-the-hand game. We do not know where in their sense of judgement they think they can be more of partymen than the rest of us. We do not know how our commitment to justice and concensus be brazenly tested without an attendant recompense.

We have faithfully and severally indicated several flaws in the way some people are going about this matter as they represent a confederacy that resides APC in their pockets. Now they result to pictorial intimation. We cannot be intimidated.

Reports from various voting centers confirmed that the guidelines of our party were not followed. This created an atmosphere of pressure and disenfranchisement for members who came to exercise their constitutional right.

We witnessed, firsthand, party members being pressured and sidelined by certain actors within the process. Many loyal party members who have served the APC for years were denied access or treated as inconsequential. Such conduct is alien to the culture of inclusion that our party preaches and must not be allowed to become the norm.

Voting procedures were ignored or altered in several locations. Accreditation was rushed, ballots were mishandled, and in some cases, the sequence of voting was changed without notice. These actions deprived delegates of a free and orderly process and cast doubt on the credibility of whatever figures were later announced.

The results declared bore no resemblance to the will of the people on the ground. Aspirants were denied the dignity of a fair contest, and the voices of thousands of members were silenced. These actions contradict the principles of internal democracy, justice, and equity that the APC has always claimed to uphold at the national level.

For these reasons, we cannot in good conscience accept or endorse the outcome announced. To do so would be to betray not only ourselves, but the thousands of party members who believe that every vote must count. Democracy loses meaning when the process is compromised, and we refuse to be part of endorsing injustice.

We therefore urgently call on our party leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene before this anomaly escalates. If the party desires victory in Oyo State, this matter must be addressed with sincerity. Many aggrieved members are already expressing frustration and speaking of casting protest votes, which will only weaken the party in the general election. We need a candidate that can unify and stabilize the party. This will return the lost confidence.

However, we rely on President Tinubu's eventual judgement as the end of our agitations believing that he will make the right concensus over this matter. Whoever he picks is not an imposition but evidence of conscientious concensus.

We want our supporters and the general public to know this clearly: we were not defeated, we were denied. The process did not reflect the choice of the people, and no photo opportunity on social media can confer legitimacy on an flawed exercise. We remain committed to a consensus choice that reflects the voice of the President and the collective will of our party members.

Because we believe in justice and the rule of law, we will be seeking redress through appropriate legal channels. We will ask the court to nullify this tainted process and order a fresh, credible, and transparent primary that truly reflects the voice of APC members in Oyo State. The future of our party is at stake when candidates are imposed across the board without due process.

We call on all who believe in fairness to remain calm, peaceful, and steadfast. The right thing must be done, and it must be done transparently for the good of our party and our state. Our resolve is strong, and our faith in justice, in the APC, and in the wisdom of our leaders remains unshaken.

Signed:

1. H.E. ENGR RAUF ADEREMI OLANIYAN

2. BARRISTER AKEEM AGBAJE

3. PRINCE MUSBAU ASATOLA ASANIKE

4. DR. OLOLADE USMAN BAKARE

5. ENGR. HAKEEM OYEDELE ALAO

31/05/2026

“I had to walk away from DJ Cuppy because of something that didn’t sit right with me.” ~ Ryan Taylor 🗣️

To be honest, she wasn’t comfortable with people from her own country. It felt strange to me. She would come into my business and didn’t want me to hire Nigerians. Even when we were out together, like at the mall, people would leave their shops to greet us or ask for help, and she didn’t like it.

At some point, I realized our values were different, and that was something I couldn’t ignore.

Still, I believe everything happens for a reason. The way we met and the time we shared was meant to be. I don’t regret anything - I just learned from it and moved on.”

~ Cuppy’s ex-fiancé, Ryan Taylor once revealed on why their relationship ended.

DJ Cuppy why nahhh❓

31/05/2026

Oyo APC Guber Aspirants Reject Unofficial Primaries Outcome, Alleged Alli’s Endorsement, Call on Tinubu for interventions

No fewer than five gubernatorial aspirants under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC have rejected the unofficial outcome of the primaries and alleged endorsement of Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli as the governorship candidate for Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The five aspirants; Engr Rauf Olaniyan, Engr Hakeem Alao, Barr Akeem Agbaje, Ololade Usman Bakare and Prince Musbau Asatola Asanike in a statement joined issued on Sunday distance themselves from unofficial outcome of the primaries and alleged imposition of Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the governorship candidate.

The G-5 lamented that the primaries were flawed, marred with irregularities and injustice.

Below is the full statement

We, the undersigned aspirants and committed members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State, address the public today with deep disappointment and a profound sense of injustice regarding the use of audio and visual contents to placate and manipulate the conscience of the people and democracy in our party. What should have been a celebration of our party’s democratic values turned into an exercise marked by deceits, manipulations, trial balloon, maneuvering and other irregularities that undermine fairness and public trust.

From the outset, the process of the primaries failed to inspire confidence among party members.

Rather than display actions that encourage inclusivity and respect for the collective sensibilities.of every party member, some fast legs are acting the sleight-of-the-hand game. We do not know where in their sense of judgement they think they can be more of partymen than the rest of us. We do not know how our commitment to justice and concensus be brazenly tested without an attendant recompense.

We have faithfully and severally indicated several flaws in the way some people are going about this matter as they represent a confederacy that resides APC in their pockets. Now they result to pictorial intimation. We cannot be intimidated.

Reports from various voting centers confirmed that the guidelines of our party were not followed. This created an atmosphere of pressure and disenfranchisement for members who came to exercise their constitutional right.

We witnessed, firsthand, party members being pressured and sidelined by certain actors within the process. Many loyal party members who have served the APC for years were denied access or treated as inconsequential. Such conduct is alien to the culture of inclusion that our party preaches and must not be allowed to become the norm.

Voting procedures were ignored or altered in several locations. Accreditation was rushed, ballots were mishandled, and in some cases, the sequence of voting was changed without notice. These actions deprived delegates of a free and orderly process and cast doubt on the credibility of whatever figures were later announced.

The results declared bore no resemblance to the will of the people on the ground. Aspirants were denied the dignity of a fair contest, and the voices of thousands of members were silenced. These actions contradict the principles of internal democracy, justice, and equity that the APC has always claimed to uphold at the national level.

For these reasons, we cannot in good conscience accept or endorse the outcome announced. To do so would be to betray not only ourselves, but the thousands of party members who believe that every vote must count. Democracy loses meaning when the process is compromised, and we refuse to be part of endorsing injustice.

We therefore urgently call on our party leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene before this anomaly escalates. If the party desires victory in Oyo State, this matter must be addressed with sincerity. Many aggrieved members are already expressing frustration and speaking of casting protest votes, which will only weaken the party in the general election. We need a candidate that can unify and stabilize the party. This will return the lost confidence.

However, we rely on President Tinubu’s eventual judgement as the end of our agitations believing that he will make the right concensus over this matter. Whoever he picks is not an imposition but evidence of conscientious concensus.

We want our supporters and the general public to know this clearly: we were not defeated, we were denied. The process did not reflect the choice of the people, and no photo opportunity on social media can confer legitimacy on an flawed exercise. We remain committed to a consensus choice that reflects the voice of the President and the collective will of our party members.

Because we believe in justice and the rule of law, we will be seeking redress through appropriate legal channels. We will ask the court to nullify this tainted process and order a fresh, credible, and transparent primary that truly reflects the voice of APC members in Oyo State. The future of our party is at stake when candidates are imposed across the board without due process.

We call on all who believe in fairness to remain calm, peaceful, and steadfast. The right thing must be done, and it must be done transparently for the good of our party and our state. Our resolve is strong, and our faith in justice, in the APC, and in the wisdom of our leaders remains unshaken.

Signed:

1. H.E. ENGR RAUF ADEREMI OLANIYAN

2. BARRISTER AKEEM AGBAJE

3. PRINCE MUSBAU ASATOLA ASANIKE

4. DR. OLOLADE USMAN BAKARE

5. ENGR. HAKEEM OYEDELE ALAO

30/05/2026

SOCIAL COMMENTARY: Veteran Nollywood actress Shaffy Bello has said she understands why some young women engage in transactional relationships popularly known as “runs”, but urged them not to remain in the lifestyle.

She made the remarks during an interview on The Morayo Show, which later went viral after clips circulated on social media platforms.

Speaking on self-worth, pressure, and online validation, Bello said women do not need to expose their bodies or chase attention to be considered attractive or successful.

She said: “There are too many children out there… that need my voice… that need to hear that the seeds that you sow matter.”

She added: “No, you don’t have to show your b***s to be sexy… No, you don’t have to shake your bum bum to go viral or get attention.”

Addressing women involved in transactional relationships, she said she was not judging them, noting that many are driven by financial hardship.

She stated: “And if what you’re doing now is being a runs girl to make money, you don’t have to stay there. I understand it. I’m not knocking you. I never judge.”

Bello explained that some women take such paths to support their families, adding: “Some girls are doing it because they need to feed mum… send their aburo to school. I understand it.”

However, she encouraged them to think beyond the situation: “However, my darlings, don’t stay there. You are more than that.”

On her career, she said she remains focused on acting and purpose-driven work: “I’m an actor. Every actor doesn’t have to be a producer. I face my lane… money is not everything.”

The interview has continued to generate widespread reactions online, with users debating her views on survival choices, self-worth, and societal pressure.

📰Emma Courage

30/05/2026

Ololade Bakare Commends Remarkable Strides of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Third Year in Office

Oyo State All Progressives Congress, APC gubernatorial aspirant, Ololade has joined millions of patriotic Nigerians in congratulating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the remarkable strides his administration has recorded in repositioning our Nigerian for sustainable growth and prosperity.

Bakare praised President Tinubu that despite inheriting enormous economic and security challenges, the president has continued to demonstrate courage, vision, and strong commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda. Bakare said his administration’s bold economic reforms, though demanding, are already laying the foundation for a more stable and self-reliant economy. He noted that the removal of fuel subsidy and ongoing fiscal reforms have helped redirect national resources toward infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and social investments aimed at improving the lives of ordinary people.

"Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has witnessed renewed efforts in road construction, railway development, power sector improvement, and support for local industries. His administration has also prioritized youth empowerment, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship through various intervention programmes designed to create employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth”.

“In the area of security, the government has continued to strengthen the capacity of security agencies, leading to significant progress in the fight against banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities across several parts of the country. The renewed confidence of investors and the increasing international engagements of Nigeria further attest to the growing global trust in President Tinubu’s leadership.

As a progressive leader and firm believer in good governance, I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his resilience, political will, and dedication to national development. His administration’s commitment to rebuilding the economy and promoting unity among Nigerians deserves support from all well-meaning citizens.

“On this milestone of three years in office, I pray that Almighty God grants Mr. President more wisdom, strength, and good health to continue steering Nigeria toward greater peace, stability, and prosperity”.

The cyber security expert said that under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has witnessed renewed efforts in road construction, railway development, power sector improvement, and support for local industries. He reiterated that Tinubu’s administration has also prioritized youth empowerment, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship through various intervention programmes designed to create employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth.

“As a progressive leader and firm believer in good governance, I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his resilience, political will, and dedication to national development. His administration’s commitment to rebuilding the economy and promoting unity among Nigerians deserves support from all well-meaning citizens.

“On this milestone of three years in office, I pray that Almighty God grants Mr. President more wisdom, strength, and good health to continue steering Nigeria toward greater peace, stability, and prosperity.

Congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on this significant achievement”.

28/05/2026

Serena Williams said Drake just dated her for fun with no real future in it.

According to her: “The relationship was very sweet, but never really direct.”

“He was always around in his own way, coming to matches, posting about me, even mentioning me in songs. It felt like support, maybe even something more. But he never actually said it straight to me.”

“I think I just outgrew the ambiguity. I met someone who was intentional, who knew what he wanted and wasn’t afraid to commit. That’s what led me to where I am now.”

“Sometimes, attention isn’t the same as action.”

More like Drake just wanted to play around with w0men and didn’t want to commit. Now he’s pushing 40 with no relationship, yet he was asking when Kendrick Lamar would marry the girlfriend he’s been engaged to for over 10 years.

Your thoughts❓

28/05/2026