The Nation Newspaper

Category: Edo 2020

  • NBA denies endorsing any candidate

    NBA denies endorsing any candidate

    By Robert Egbe

    Chairman of the Benin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Pius Oiwoh on Wednesday refuted social media reports that the branch had endorsed a candidate for Saturday’s governorship election.

    He said the NBA could not have endorsed anyone because it was an observer in the election, adding that as chairman of a branch, he was also estopped from taking sides.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is challenging incumbent Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday.

    A report had been making the rounds, especially on WhatsApp and Facebook that Oiwoh had given Ize-Iyamu his backing for the election.

    Reacting to the claim in a statement, Oiwoh said: “My attention has been drawn to a false, mischievous statement circulating on the social media, that I, Mr. Pius Oiwoh, the chairman of NBA, Benin branch, have endorsed the candidate of the APC, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, in the coming governorship election in Edo State.

    “I wish to make it clear that I nor the branch did not endorse any candidate. In fact, the candidates of the two major parties in the coming governorship election visited the Bar secretariat on different days when they were hailed for their support to the Bar and the Judiciary, while their attention was drawn to areas of intervention if elected.

    “I even resisted the urge to grant a motion calling for endorsement of the candidate of the APC.

    “At the end of such engagements, we urged members to go and vote for a candidate of their choice.

    “The NBA is an observer in the election and as chairman of a branch; I am estopped from endorsing a particular candidate

    “I urge the public to disregard the aforesaid online publication.”

  • PDP hails Buhari for deploying security for poll

    PDP hails Buhari for deploying security for poll

    From Bisi Olaniyi, Benin

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State chapter, has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for deploying security in the state ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

    The party, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, while speaking with reporters in Benin, said with the massive deployment of security personnel, the poll would be crisis free.

    It said: “The efforts put in place by the Buhari-led government to ensure security and safety of Edo people, before, during and after the election, deserve commendation.

    “With the massive deployment of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the military, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies in Edo State to supervise Saturday’s election, we are confident that the poll will be crisis-free.

    “President Buhari’s commitment to the safety and security of voters will bolster confidence among voters and impact positively on voters’ turnout.”

  • How to conduct credible poll in Edo, by CODER

    How to conduct credible poll in Edo, by CODER

    The Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) has listed conditions for a free and fair governorship election in Edo State.

    Its national coordinator, Temitope Shaba, and spokesman, Ayodele Adewale, told reporters in Benin-city, the state capital,the exercise will be peaceful and credible, if participants play by the rules of the game.

    CODER is accredited CSOs for the Edo poll.

    It   has been monitoring political developments in the state, particularly the trend of violence, vandalism or destruction of property associated with candidates, stock piling of small arms and light weapons and recruitment of armed thugs or militia groups.

    Shaba hailed the intervention of the Oba of Benin and the peace accord signed by candidates.

    He appealed to political actors in the two dominant political parties to sue for peace and allow the people to speak through the ballot.

    Shaba said: “The Nigerian Police Force and other security personnel on election duty must maintain their neutrality and be ready to arrest anyone that commits electoral offense.

    “INEC on the other hand must be seen to play its role as an unbiased umpire in the entire process to increase people’s confidence and trust in both the electoral process and the electoral management body.

    “CODER has mobilized 50 trained and duly accredited observers by INEC for Edo governorship election.

    “These observers will in turn oversee the activities of citizen observers across the 18 local government areas of Edo state earlier trained by CODER.

    “With this structure in place, CODER will provide real time updates on activities during the election and will stay in touch with INEC, Security agencies and other CSOs on online platforms for timely interventions where necessary.”

     

  • Voting pattern in previous Edo elections – Study

    Voting pattern in previous Edo elections – Study

    By Raymond Mordi, Bisi Olaniyi and Precious Igbonwelundu

    If the voting pattern in previous elections in Edo is anything to go by, Edo South Senatorial District, which is the Bini-speaking part of the state, may likely determine the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election.

    A detailed study by the non-governmental organisation, YIAGA Africa has given an overview of what to expect, going by the patterns in previous elections.

    In 2016, the highest proportion of votes came from Edo South; 49 per cent of the votes cast during that election came from the district.

    This is compared to Edo North and Edo Central, with 32 per cent and 19 per cent of the votes cast respectively.

    Similarly, in 2019 general elections, 47 per cent of the valid votes cast came from Edo South while Edo North and Edo Central recorded 34.4 per cent and 18.2 per cent respectively.

    Six local governments — Oredo, Ikpoba/Okha, and Egor in Edo South and Etsako West, Akoko Edo, and Owan East in Edo North — accounted for half of total votes cast (50 per cent).

    Five per cent of total votes cast were declared rejected votes in the 2016 governorship election.

    In 2016, the turn out was 32 per cent, while the percentage for 2019 general elections was 28 per cent.

    Edo North, with 486,969 registered voters, had 199,500 voters or 41 per cent accredited for the election.

    This is in contrast to the situation in Edo South which had the highest voting population.

    The district had 1.09 million registered voters then, but only 303,148 or 27.8 per cent of them were accredited to vote during the contest.

  • Edo registered voters, PVCs collection by LGAs

    Edo registered voters, PVCs collection by LGAs

    By Raymond Mordi, Bisi Olaniyi and Precious Igbonwelundu

    Edo South is the dominant district in terms of registered voters and PVCs collection.

    Edo South has 1,281,414 registered voters, according to YIAGA, quoting INEC figures.

    In the zone, 78.1 per cent of the PVCs have been collected.

    Conversely Edo North has 564,122 registered voters; 84 per cent of the PVCs have been collected.

    In Edo Central, the total registered voters is 364,998; out of which 74.4 per cent have been collected.

    Edo South
    Oredo:
    Registered voters 313,553;
    PVCs collected 240,197

    Ikpoba/Okha:
    Registered voters 315,410;
    PVCs collected 214,822

    Egor:
    Registered voters 219,832;
    PVCs collected 158,817

    Ovia Northeast:
    Registered voters 143,009;
    PVCs collected 113,167

    Ovia Southwest:
    Registered voters 96,409;
    PVCs collected 77,468

    Orhiomwon:
    Registered voters 118,672;
    PVCs collected 102,739

    Uhunmwode:
    Registered voters 74,529;
    PVCs collected 57,290

    Edo North
    Etsako West:
    Registered voters 160,137;
    PVCs collected 128,188

    Etsako East:
    Registered voters 81,639;
    PVCs collected 67,715

    Etsako Central:
    Registered voters 84,245;
    PVCs collected 42,042

    Akoko Edo:
    Registered voters 119,254;
    PVCs collected 115,343

    Owan West:
    Registered voters 61,193;
    PVCs collected 46,245

    Owan East:
    Registered voters 91,841;
    PVCs collected 77,827

    Edo Central
    Esan West:
    Registered voters 99,983;
    PVCs collected 83,467

    Esan Central:
    Registered voters 50,058;
    PVCs collected 42,042

    Esan Northeast:
    Registered voters 84,245;
    PVCs collected 66,790

    Esan Southeast:
    Registered voters 76,842;
    PVCs collected 58,802

    Igueben:
    Registered voters 46,828;
    PVCs collected 34,988

  • Edo 2020: Group identifies potential flashpoints of violence

    Edo 2020: Group identifies potential flashpoints of violence

    By Raymond Mordi, Bisi Olaniyi and Precious Igbonwelundu

    A non-governmental organisation, the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa has identified potential hotspots and flashpoints of violence ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State.

    Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, the Chairman of YIAGA Africa’s Edo 2020 Election Observation Mission, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi said based on the report of the group’s observation carried out ahead of the poll, two-thirds of the local governments in the state are potential flashpoints of violence.

    These, she said include Etsako West, Etsako East, Etsako Central, Owan West, and Akoko Edo, all in Edo North Senatorial District.

    Others are Oredo, Orhiomwon, Egor, Ovia Northeast, and Ikpoba/Okha in Edo South, as well as Esan Central, Esan Northeast and Esan West in Edo Central.

    Dr. Abdullahi said YIAGA Africa’s study suggests that the spare of violence and insecurity in the pre-election period may discourage voters from turning up on Election Day.

    She said the state is witnessing a surge in cult groups’ activities, especially in Ikpoba/Okha, Etsako Central, Owan West, Esan West and Ovia Northeast local governments.

    She added: “This is mainly attributable to an entrenched subculture of violence built around well-known strongmen, thugs, touts, gangsters, and cultists on the one hand, and widespread belief that elections cannot be won or smooth governance guaranteed without strong-arm tactics and the support of potential thugs.

    “The situation is direr because of the proliferation of small arms and other weapons, which is evident in the free use of firearms at campaign venues.”

    The group’s report also condemned physical violence towards women in Etsako Central, vandalism or destruction of property belonging to a candidate or his/her supporters in Oredo, Orhiomwon, Igueben, Etsako Central, Esan Northeast, Ikpoba/Okha, Egor, and Esan Southeast local governments.

  • Benin City in festive mood ahead of guber poll

    Benin City in festive mood ahead of guber poll

    By Raymond Mordi

    Two days to the governorship election in Edo, the atmosphere on the streets in Benin City, the state capital, is electric.

    Security has been deployed in several parts of the city ahead of the contest.

    It is evident that an important event is impending.

    For instance, the road that leads to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), where the sensitive materials that would be used for the election are being kept, have been cordoned off with traffic restricted to one part of the road.

    These developments, in addition to increasing floods caused by torrential rainfall in the city, has led to heavy traffic in different parts of the city.

    On Wednesday evening, a group of women spotting a uniform made from ankara fabric, were seen along Federal Avenue, GRA, Benin City, carrying bags with the logo of a particular political party.

    One of the passers-by on the street said they had just been mobilised to go out and canvass for votes in their respective areas.

    There is heavy vehicular movement on major roads in the capital city, particularly the Airport Road with the increasing influx of people into the state for the election.

  • Edo professionals call for peaceful poll

    Edo professionals call for peaceful poll

    By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Editor

    A group, ‘The Association of Edo Professionals (Edo Professionals),’ on Wednesday called for a peaceful governorship poll in Edo State.

    The association advised politicians and voters to shun thuggery and violence in the interest of the state.

    The election, said the group, should not be a do-or-die affair.

    Its Secretary, Clifford Enobun, in a statement thanked the Oba of Benin, Ewuare 11 and the National Peace Committee led by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, for dousing intra-party crisis in the state.

    However, he flayed some traditional rulers for meddling in politics.

    Urging the stakeholders to respect the peace accord, Enobun advised them to shun character assassination, defamation, peddling of fake news, half-truths and falsehood.

    He said thuggery before, during and after the election is an anti-democratic tendency that is inimical to democratic culture.

    Enobun urged security agencies to offer “uncompromised watertight security networks” during the exercise.

    Hr also advised the Independent National Electoral Commission to transparently play the role of an umpire.

    Enobun said: “We urge all citizens duly registered to come out with their PVCs to cast their votes for their preferred candidates and political parties.”

  • Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu clash over projects

    Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu clash over projects

    From Bisi Olaniyi, Benin

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has said the projects of the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki are failing because he is not consulting the required experts.

    He made the disclosure on Wednesday morning when he appeared in a conversation on Arise Television’s Morning Show, anchored by Dr. Reuben Abati, which ought to also feature Obaseki, but he did not show up for the two hours that the programme lasted.

    Edo APC, through the Chairman of its Media Campaign Council, Prince John Mayaki, said yesterday was the third time that Obaseki would avoid a similar debate.

    He accused him of having nothing to offer.

    The PDP in Edo, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, however, described Ize-Iyamu, Mayaki and other leaders of APC as propagandists.

    The governorship candidate of APC said: “Obaseki’s government lacks transparency. We need to set up agricultural clusters in Edo State, to make maximum use of what we have. The potential is huge. Funds collected on behalf of Edo farmers are being diverted. Obaseki’s government wasted close to N2 billion on Sobe farm project, which is a joke and it has failed. The N2 billion has gone down the drain. The Obaseki government’s rice project of over N5 billion in Agenebode also failed.

    “The projects are failing because they are not consulting the required experts to handle them. I will not do projects without bringing in professionals, because I know my limitations. If you have professionals guiding you, things will work.

    “Honestly speaking, I do not even need to look outside for professionals. Edo State is blessed with enough manpower. We need to cash in on the availability of professionals and use them for consultancy. Since they are from Edo, they will be passionate about the development and progress of their state, and they will be able to do the consultancy at less cost and they will be more committed.

    “Edo State has not made progress in almost four years. Obaseki’s government is a joke. Nothing is happening at the Industrial Park, Benin. We need to diversify the state’s economy. My SIMPLE agenda will address the challenges. My administration will also set up economic management team. My job is not to lament, but to move Edo State forward.”

  • Ndigbo rally support for Ize-Iyamu

    Ndigbo rally support for Ize-Iyamu

    Agency Reporter

    All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate Osagie Ize-Iyamu have received a major boost, as the Ndigbo in Edo State have urged the electorate to shun the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship candidate in Saturday’s election, Godwin Obaseki.

    This was as the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dimm Uche Okwukwu, enjoined Ndigbo in Edo State to support the candidature of Pastor Ize-Iyamu, citing offending acts of Governor Obaseki as part of the body’s reasons.

    Okwukuwu said: “Any organisation that strays from political election is doomed and not worthy to exist. This realisation informed my timely mobilisation of the Igbo in Edo State. The Igbo in Edo State include indigenes and non-indigenes. The Igbanke are indigenous; just as we have a large population of non-indigenous Igbo.”