Oba Semiudeen Kasali urges legal backing for traditional rulers as palace authority wanes since 1979 Constitution

Traditional rulers in Nigeria now hold mainly ceremonial roles without real governing authority, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom in Lagos State, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, has said. Speaking from his palace to mark his tenth year on the throne, Oba Kasali explained that constitutional changes over the decades have stripped monarchs of formal power at both state and local levels.

The monarch, a lawyer and former Lagos State Ministry of Justice counsel, traced the decline to Nigeria’s 1979 and 1999 constitutions which removed traditional rulers from legislative councils and governance structures. He noted that, unlike in the past when kings participated directly in government, local government chairmen are now the chief executives at grassroots level. “The power resides…in any local government; the chairman is the governor of that local government. There’s no power in the palace anymore,” Kasali said.

Oba Kasali added that palace decisions are often ignored because citizens can challenge them in court based on constitutional rights. He argued that this has eroded respect for traditional institutions and led to delays in resolving disputes—especially those involving land or communal matters. “Some people are not bound to obey what we say in the palace because they want to exercise their constitutional right to approach court; you cannot stop them,” he stated.

This situation has sparked nationwide agitation among monarchs for constitutional reforms. Oba Kasali supported these calls but warned that any new role assigned to traditional rulers must be meaningful and enforceable. He cited examples from Ghana, South Africa and Namibia, where chieftaincy is recognised in their constitutions. Oyo’s Oba Rashidi Ladoja and other traditional leaders have made similar appeals this year.

Kasali proposed making palace mediation a compulsory first step for certain community disputes before such cases reach the courts—restoring a practice where royal judgements stood unless they were contrary to justice or good conscience. He lamented that today even settled palace matters are re-litigated in court with some parties joining the king as a defendant.

The monarch also blamed declining values within communities, saying some kingmakers now install individuals based on wealth rather than character or heritage: “They don’t care about the implications of who occupies the seat.”

Despite reduced powers, Oba Kasali highlighted contributions by traditional rulers towards security and development—such as collaborating with police to curb crime along waterways around Igbogbo and supporting improvements in infrastructure, schools and healthcare. On recent cases of kidnappings targeting kings nationwide, he attributed this to wider insecurity rather than hostility towards monarchs specifically: “Monarchs are being kidnapped because they see us as a soft target,” he said.

As discussions on constitutional amendments continue across Nigeria, many traditional leaders insist their restoration is crucial not just for symbolism but for strengthening governance at community level.

Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/why-nigerian-kings-lost-power-oba-semiudeen-kasali-2026062212550873492

Opposition parties demand INEC publicly disclose uncollected voter cards, warn against electoral malpractice in South-West state

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party have jointly accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of making attempts to obtain unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Osun State ahead of the 15 August governorship election. The allegation was made on Saturday in Osogbo by PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi and Accord Party Chairman Pastor Victor Akande, who called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resist any pressure to release the cards outside the approved legal process.

According to a joint statement signed by both party leaders, the opposition parties claimed they received credible information that the APC was pressuring INEC officials to hand over thousands of uncollected PVCs for alleged use by individuals described as “imported illegal voters”. The parties insisted that all distribution of voter cards must strictly follow provisions in Nigeria’s Electoral Act to prevent irregularities.

The controversy comes at a time when political tension is rising in Osun, South-West Nigeria, as parties prepare for a closely watched poll. Both PDP and Accord referenced concerns from the recent Ekiti governorship election, alleging that unclaimed PVCs were misused during that exercise. They stated their intention to monitor INEC’s handling of PVCs closely in Osun and warned that any deviation could undermine public trust in the electoral process.

“We task the commission not to succumb to such illegal conduct, as distribution of PVCs has a template which should be observed to the letter,” Bisi and Akande said. They further called on INEC to publicly announce the number of uncollected PVCs once collection resumes and pledged to independently verify any figures provided. According to them, transparent accounting is essential for maintaining confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.

As at press time, neither INEC nor APC had issued an official response to these allegations. However, APC previously dismissed other claims by Accord Party—including accusations about planned violence—as false and politically motivated. The issue of unclaimed PVCs remains a sensitive one nationally, with stakeholders warning that improper handling could violate electoral laws and impact election outcomes.

Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/osun-pdp-accord-allege-apc-unclaimed-pvcs-inec-2026062212182907124

Adenike Daramola’s viral video reignites debate on housing affordability in Lagos amid minimum wage gap and rising inflation

A prominent Nigerian travel vlogger, Adenike Daramola, has sparked heated discussions after highlighting steep rent costs in Lagos compared to Malaysia, describing Nigeria’s commercial capital as ‘extremely ridiculously expensive.’ Daramola made her comments on Saturday via a social media post documenting her stay in a serviced apartment in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital.

Daramola gave a tour of her fully furnished studio apartment in Kuala Lumpur, stating that it cost about $27 (roughly ₦40,000) per night and came with amenities such as a bed, mattress, wardrobe, television, refrigerator, air conditioning, microwave and Wi-Fi. She noted that tenants also enjoy access to communal facilities like a rooftop swimming pool, gym, co-working spaces and 24-hour security—features rarely included in similar-priced rentals within Lagos.

‘In Kuala Lumpur you can rent a studio for between 1,000 and 1,500 Ringgit per month—about $250 to $350—which comes to around ₦4.2 million yearly,’ Daramola said. She emphasised that these apartments are usually fully furnished and located at the city centre. By contrast, she argued that many Lagos residents pay upwards of ₦6 million per annum for smaller, unfurnished flats lacking basic appliances or modern facilities. ‘An agent will take you to a tiny empty apartment in Lagos and confidently tell you it is ₦6 million per annum,’ she added.

Daramola further questioned why rental costs remain so high despite Nigeria’s much lower minimum wage. ‘The official minimum wage in Malaysia is about ₦600,000 monthly while here it is just ₦70,000. Yet tenants are expected to pay nearly 1,000 percent of their minimum wage on rent,’ she stated.

Nigerians have increasingly expressed frustration over soaring rents in Lagos and other major cities as inflation and foreign exchange pressures push up construction costs. Many social media users echoed Daramola’s complaints about landlords demanding millions for unrenovated properties while failing to provide adequate facilities. The federal government has yet to announce new measures addressing the affordability gap despite calls from housing rights advocates.

Industry stakeholders say unless urgent reforms are introduced—including stricter regulation of agent fees and incentives for affordable housing—the cost of living crisis may worsen for urban dwellers. Debate continues online as more residents share their experiences with the widening disconnect between earnings and accommodation expenses in Nigeria’s largest city.

Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/the-more-i-travel-the-more-i-realise-lagos-is-ridiculously-expensive-travel-vlogger-compares-rent-prices-in-lagos-and-malaysia-2026062212511330665