National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Yusuf Dantalle, has expressed concern over the rising cases of electoral violence in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
DAILY POST reports that several local government areas in the state have been identified as hotspots for potential election-related violence ahead of Saturday’s poll.
Dantalle cautioned politicians against perpetrating violence against the same citizens they seek to govern, citing the destruction of lives and property in different parts of the state.
Speaking in an interview with Arise News, the IPAC chairman said the council had condemned the incidents and warned key stakeholders, including political actors, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies and traditional rulers, to prioritise the interests of the people of Osun State.
He said, “We have continued to condemn these actions and also alert various stakeholders, including political actors, INEC as the electoral umpire, security agencies and traditional leaders, on the need to prioritise the interests of the people of Osun.
“It is unacceptable to harm the people you intend to govern. There have been several incidents involving the destruction of lives and property, as well as protests and counter-protests.
“We want to advise all stakeholders involved in the Osun election that this is a deviation from the principles and ethics of democracy, which is fundamentally about allowing the people to freely and fairly choose their leaders, with the outcome respected and accepted by all.
“This situation is indeed troubling, and I would like to use this opportunity to urge all stakeholders to exercise caution.
“Those who use state institutions to intimidate or harass political opponents must desist and allow the people to make their own choices.
“If we allow such actions to continue, we must consider their implications for the general elections just a few months away. It could be a foreshadowing of what we may encounter in the 2027 elections.
“We must exercise extreme caution to avoid undermining the progress we have made.”
Ahead of the 2026/2027 NNL season, teams have intensified preparations with the recruitments of new players and officials, as well as, engaging in trial games.
Lagos based NNL side Smart City Football Club, are leaving no stones unturned as it has doubled up its preparations to ensure it gets the much desired ticket to the topmost cadre of Nigerian football, Nigeria Premier Football League.
Speaking exclusively with Sports Chronicle Magazine, Abiodun Obafemi, who is the sporting director of Smart City FC, disclosed that the team is well prepared and better motivated ahead of the season’s task.
“We’re presently done with recruitments, we rounded up everything last week. So, we’re basically in the last phase of our preparations, with grade A friendly games lined up,” he disclosed.
Speaking on the targets of the management, Abiodun Obafemi, MON and a 1996 Olympic games gold medalist, said, “the target of all, including coaches, players and the leadership of team, of course, is to pick the sole NPFL ticket in our group.”
“We don’t just want to talk the talk, we want to do it this time around to make amend for the near misses of the last two seasons,” the former Super Eagles and Stationery Stores defender was full of praises for the management of the team for its commitment to the welfare and improvement of the team, ahead of the new football league season.
“In terms of motivation, the management has usual, has done their bit. And I can say that no Smart City player or official is being own a dime.
“Muchmore, there has been additional provisions of quality training materials, as well as, world class and modern football equipment,” he remarked gleefully.
“In my roles as a senior executive of the club, I remain committed to the development of the club, as well as, ensuring that all the units of the team, functions at their best to meet our seasonal goals. And our main objective this season, is promotion to the NPFL, which is long overdue,” he added.
Smart City FC have been placed in group B, and are expected to competed for the sole ticket to the NPFL, against other teams in the group, including, Beyond Limits FC, Ekiti United, Solution FC, Akwa United, Dokkal Khairu, Abakaliki FC, Bayelsa United and Right2Win FC.
Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc alhas received its RecapitalisationCertificate from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), marking a significant milestone in the Company’s ongoing growth and transformation journey.
The certificate, issued following the Company’s successful compliance with the recapitalisation requirements of the National Insurance Commission, further reinforces Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc’s financial capacity, operational resilience and commitment to delivering sustainable value to its policyholders and other stakeholders.
Speaking on the development, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Dr. Lucas Durojaiye, expressed delight at the milestone, describing it as a testament to the Company’s resilience, strategic focus and the confidence of its stakeholders.
“The receipt of our recapitalisation certificate from NAICOM is a significant milestone for Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc. It reflects the strength of our business, the confidence of our shareholders and the dedication of our Board and employees to building a stronger and more resilient insurance institution.
“This achievement positions us for the next phase of our growth journey. We remain committed to strengthening our capacity to underwrite risks, deepening our market presence, enhancing our service delivery and creating greater value for our policyholders and stakeholders.
The recapitalisation milestone also underscores STI’s commitment to supporting the development of Nigeria’s insurance industry by maintaining strong corporate governance, improving operational efficiency and providing innovative insurance solutions that respond to the evolving needs of individuals, businesses and institutions.
With the certification, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc is poised to further leverage its strengthened capital base to pursue strategic growth opportunities, enhance its underwriting capacity and reinforce its position as a trusted partner in risk management.
The Company appreciates its shareholders, Board of Directors, management, staff, regulators, business partners, brokers, agents, customers and other stakeholders for their continued confidence and support throughout the recapitalization process.