馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
SWAGA leaders advocate for re-election of Governor Oyebanji and President Tinubu
via Punch Nigeria5 min read
The Southwest Agenda for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu SWAGA national leadership has called for the re-election of Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji and President Bola Tinubu in upcoming elections. At the inauguration of SWAGA 2.0 in Ado Ekiti, leaders from Southwest states urged Ekiti voters to support Oyebanji in the governorship election on June 20, 2026, and Tinubu in the presidential election on January 16, 2027. SWAGA National Leader and Chairman, Nigeria Ports Authority, Adedayo Adeyeye, emphasized focusing on Oyebanji's re-election first, aiming for a victory margin of 500,000 votes. He stated that after June 20, the focus would shift to supporting President Tinubu's re-election. SWAGA Convener and Managing Director, Federal Housing Authority, Oyetunde Ojo, highlighted Tinubu's performance and urged Ekiti residents to vote for Oyebanji to strengthen Tinubu's position, aiming for over 500,000 votes for the governor and more for the president from Ekiti. SWAGA National Woman Leader, Mrs. Ayo Omidiran, praised Tinubu's and Oyebanji's achievements and called for their re-election. Former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni commended SWAGA's past efforts and urged continued support for Tinubu's 2027 re-election. Governor Oyebanji, acknowledging support from the Tinubu-led Federal Government, expressed gratitude to SWAGA and set a target of 500,000 votes for his re-election, anticipating 700,000 votes for the presidential election from Ekiti.
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Nigerians residing in the United Kingdom have lauded the Federal Government's recent passport reforms, particularly the contactless renewal system, for significantly reducing delays and streamlining the passport delivery process. Introduced in November 2024, the new system enables eligible individuals to renew expired or exhausted passports from home, eliminating the need for physical visits to the Nigerian High Commission. Testimonies from various Nigerian community members across the UK, as reported by the Ministry of Interior, highlight a stark contrast to previous experiences marked by frustrating delays, extensive travel, and bureaucratic hurdles. Timileyin Gbenga, a Nigerian community figure in Birmingham, noted that while the traditional process took over six months and required travel for biometrics, the contactless method for a family member resulted in passport delivery in less than two weeks. He credited the transformation to the leadership of Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo under President Bola Tinubu's administration. Gbenga Ogunderu, based in Coventry, described the initiative as a significant digital shift, allowing applications and doorstep delivery without stress, often within two weeks. Dr. Adekunle Shonola, a senior lecturer at Coventry University and president of Nigerians in Coventry, recalled the previous necessity of traveling from Coventry to London for biometrics, a process that often took over six months. He observed that community members no