A faction within the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has demanded that the National Assembly initiate impeachment proceedings against President Bola Tinubu, citing alleged conflict of interest surrounding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

The group’s leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, voiced strong criticism during an interview with DAILY GAZETTE on Saturday expressing disapproval over Tinubu’s public remarks in which he referred to Gilbert Chagoury—the head of Hitech Construction, the firm executing the project—as his “partner.”

During the commissioning of Phase 1, Section 1 of the 30-kilometre highway last Saturday, Tinubu had praised the contractor, stating, “To the contractors and my partner in daring, it was tough for us… We came together to tame the Atlantic.”

He described the project as a “symbol of courage and commitment.”

Hitech Construction, a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group, is also the developer behind Eko Atlantic City—an upscale real estate venture established on reclaimed land from the Atlantic Ocean.

Reacting to the president’s comments, Oba Olaitan alleged a clear breach of ethical standards.

“All President Tinubu is doing is building a road to his own Atlantic City. He openly said the contractor is his partner. That means he awarded a federal contract to himself,” he stated.

He continued, “That road was not advertised for public bidding. It is a national shame. If we had a truly independent and vibrant National Assembly, they would have begun impeachment proceedings immediately.”

Oba Olaitan further questioned the partial nature of the road’s launch, suggesting that the limited segment might be the only portion completed, primarily because it serves the interests of a private development.

“Why commission just four per cent of the road? That road leads straight to their private development. If that part is done, they may abandon the rest. This is a clear conflict of interest,” he maintained.

Calling for decisive action, the Afenifere factional head declared, “The National Assembly must prove that it is not complicit. If they are truly independent, they must act now. We cannot condone this. This is not how to run a democracy.”

“The president has admitted to a breach of public trust.”

He added, “I am calling on the National Assembly to start the impeachment process now if they are a truly independent and vibrant national assembly and if they are not equally complicit. We can’t condone such a thing.”

In response, the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress dismissed the calls as baseless and politically motivated.

Spokesperson Seye Oladejo described the allegations as a serious misinterpretation of the President’s remarks.

“I will just regard that as a joke taken too far. Maybe they need to consult their dictionary to understand what ‘partner’ means.”

“Did he say business partner? He didn’t say they have any relationship or any incorporated firm where they both have shares. He called them ‘partners in daring’; people who believed in his vision and joined in pursuing it,” Oladejo explained.

He further asserted that the contract was lawfully awarded, saying, “Relevant authorities handled the contract process. If there’s any issue, it should be addressed through the appropriate channels, not through calls for impeachment.”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has kicked off a nationwide consultation aimed at strengthening its political base and advancing coalition integration ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the party, the consultation will span all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), forming a key part of a grassroots initiative to enhance ADC’s visibility and build deeper connections across Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, ADC National Chairman, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, said the initiative goes beyond routine political activities.

“It is a deliberate grassroots movement to solidify its grassroots presence and deepen coalition integration ahead of the 2027 general elections.”

The consultation is designed to facilitate the gathering of ADC’s coalition partners under a unified platform.

“This historic program is scheduled to run across all 36 states of the federation from Monday to Saturday within the first week of June 2025,” Nwosu explained.

He said each state capital would host a convergence, following a resolution by the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the support of the National Working Committee (NWC).

“It will bring together political parties, civil society organizations, labour unions, and well-meaning patriots who have consistently demonstrated interest in joining forces with ADC’s coalition framework.”

“The idea is to take the vision, mission, and rescue agenda of ADC and its partners to the people, where it truly belongs.”

Nwosu further emphasized the decentralized nature of the initiative:

“The coalition movement is no longer a project centered in Abuja. The time has come for Nigerians to own this mission.”

Describing the gatherings as “a convergence of equals,” he said it reflects the original principles upon which the coalition was founded:

“Every member, from national to ward level, should now be fully adjusted to the tradition that ADC is co-owned by the coalition. This is a shared journey.”

He also reinforced the importance of the party’s symbolic “handshake” tradition:

“It is a symbol of warmth, unity, and total inclusivity,” he said, adding that members must “lead and live by ADC’s DNA of openness, compassion, and solidarity.”

The party is focusing on unifying its message and leadership structure across all tiers:

“Known coalition spokespersons and grassroots mobilizers will play central roles in shaping how the coalition’s core values and agenda are communicated across communities.”

“We are developing a framework for bottom-up communication, ensuring our message resonates deeply with every Nigerian, regardless of geography.”

“The program also introduces a new paradigm: resource development and mobilization from the grassroots up.”

Nwosu revealed that the decision to activate the state-level meetings was reached during an emergency session at ADC’s Global Campus National Headquarters in Abuja.

He ended on a note of urgency, calling for immediate collective political action in response to Nigeria’s challenges:

“There is an urgent need to rescue Nigeria from the grips of nepotism, hunger, impunity, corruption, insecurity, insurgency, and poor governance. We cannot afford to treat this as business as usual. This is a national emergency.”

The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has dismissed all petitions filed against the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the November 16, 2024 governorship election.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by the three-member panel, Justices Imelda Etiape, Daurabu Sikkam, and Benson Ogubu, the tribunal rejected the petitions brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied People’s Movement (APM), and Action Alliance (AA).

The suits, which had challenged the legitimacy of Aiyedatiwa, his deputy Dr. Olayide Adelami, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were found to be without merit.

The tribunal struck out all claims, including the PDP’s allegation that Deputy Governor Adelami submitted a forged WAEC certificate.

The panel ruled that the issue had already been addressed in previous court proceedings and was a pre-election matter, not within the scope of an election petition.

On complaints regarding electoral malpractice, such as over-voting and result sheets missing serial numbers, the tribunal concluded that petitioners failed to supply credible evidence to back their claims.

The court also held that the Action Alliance lacked the locus standi (legal standing) to challenge the outcome, having failed to field a candidate in the election.

In dismissing the cases brought by the APM and SDP, the tribunal found them to be entirely unsupported by evidence.

The SDP’s petition, in particular, was described as “baseless and a waste of judicial time.”

Present in court, Governor Aiyedatiwa welcomed the ruling with gratitude and called for unity among political stakeholders in the state. He said:

“We have always extended a hand to the opposition. Their ideas are welcome if aimed at developing the state.”

He dedicated the victory to the people of Ondo State and thanked them for their continued trust and support.

Meanwhile, PDP Secretary Oluseye Olujimi responded to the verdict by affirming respect for the court but hinted at a possible appeal:

“We respect the tribunal’s decision but reserve the right to appeal after reviewing the judgment.”

On the other hand, APC State Chairman Engineer Ade Adetimehin congratulated the governor and urged opposition parties to shift focus from court battles to collaboration:

“They should] support efforts to advance the state’s development rather than pursue further litigation.”