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Tag: Council

  • APC faults Ondo SIEC on council poll

    APC faults Ondo SIEC on council poll

    he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has described the just-concluded local government election as a fraud perpetrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, said if forensic investigation is conducted on the ballot papers used, it will reveal they were thumbprinted by just a few people.

    Speaking during the reception for PDP members who joined the APC, Kekemeke said the figure of over 600,000 released by the State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) as the total number of voters in an election reported as having widespread voters apathy is far from being credible.

    He wondered why the PDP decided to rig an election in which it was the only contesting party.

    The chairman said in the last governorship election with large voters turnout, the total number of votes amassed by the then leading Labour Party(LP)under which Governor Olusegun Mimiko contested was a little above 200,000 votes.

    He said the combined votes of the LP, the PDP and that of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was just 400,000.

    Kekemeke wondered how the PDP-led government came about 600,000 in an election with very low turn-out of voters.

    The APC chairman said: “The polling unit where Mimiko was reported to have voted had only 21 voters, and this number of voters multiplied by the total polling units across the state would give you about 45,000 votes. How do you explain the difference?”

    “What we have now in Ondo State is a union of people who can no longer endure the pain and hardship caused by this PDP government.

    “Today is a manifestation of the willingness of Ondo  people to change the PDP.

    “I want to assure members that there shall be no imposition of candidate.”

    He cautioned some party members, who are abusing party aspirants on social media to desist.

  • Council deliberates on education

    Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) gathered stakeholders, philanthropists, donors, Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) and community leaders to deliberate on how to move education forward in the council during its 2016 Education Forum last Thursday.

    The forum gave participants the platform to address educational challenges affecting the Oshodi-Isolo community.  They were also able to share success stories.

    In his welcome address, the Education Secretary of the LGEA, Honorable Lekan Adekoya, said the forum was necessary to create awareness about issues in education in the area, especially at the primary school level.

    “Today’s event is a particular one. We call it education forum, where all stakeholders in the education family, starting from the School Based Management Committees (SBMC), LGEA, Council are invited to discuss the importance of education in Oshodi-Isolo, especially the primary schools. We are talking about the infrastructure, the quality of teachers input among others,” he said.

    Assistant Head of Service, Oshodi-Isolo Social Mobilization Section, Mrs Adenike Olufehinti, who shared the recent SBMC achievements, thanked them for efforts to improve learning outcomes of the pupils.

    “When SBMC came on board, we realised that many things that had been left undone, they have been doing it.  They have been raising the standard of education in OShodi-Isolo as a whole. A situation where the pupils are comfortable, they will be able to learn very well; teaching and learning will take place,” Adenike said.

  • PDP wins Ondo council polls

    PDP wins Ondo council polls

    •Our boycott justified, says APC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the chairmanship seats and 202 out of 203 councillorship seats in last Saturday’s council polls in Ondo State.

    Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) Prof Olugbenga Ige said the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPA) won the only councillorship seat in ward nine, Oba-Ile in Akure North Local Government.

    The chairmen-elect are Arowolo Johnson (Akoko North East); Aladetimehin Joseph(Akoko North); Agunloye Babasola (Akoko South East); Ogunbi Abiodun (Akoko South West); Bandele Babalola (Akure North); Adebayo Alarapon (Akure South); Sobijo Timiminiwei (Ese-Odo); Akingbaso Festus(Idanre) and Sola Adu (Ifedore).

    Others are Omowomo Agunola (Ilaje); Gbemigbade Folasade (Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo); Julius Elumaro (Irele); Raphael Ademulegun(Odigbo); Larry Ogunsere (Okitipupa); Akinkuolie Kafaru(Ondo East); Ogunya Victor(Ondo West); Awodeyi Ojo(Ose)and Folahanmi Oluwole(Owo).

    Ige said certificates of return would be issued today at ODIEC’s office in Akure.

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko voted at Unit 20, Ward 07 in Ondo town, saying the exercise was fair.

    He hailed the electoral body for conducting free and fair election, adding that “any individual or political party has the right to boycott elections, since there is no law against it”.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said it had been vindicated by its boycott of the election.

    The Deputy Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, said the election was fraudulent and unconstitutional.

    He urged the people to remain steadfast and prayerful for a better government that would bring them comfort.

    Some civil servants said they could not vote on empty stomachs since they received their last salaries in November.

    The party said the election was a mere selection process as those said to have been elected had been selected beforehand.

    A statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, noted that the PDP was the only party which fielded candidates and contested against itself.

    It said: “Even when it was evident the election is no contest, they still rigged to create the impression of impressive turnout.

    “All the names of the 18 chairmen along with their councillors had been written down and handed over to Prof. Ige, before the election.

    “We are glad to see that our calls for the people to shun the election resonated well with them.

    “The politically discerning people have also come to realise that Mimiko prefers government by oligarchy.

    “This election has turned out to be a charade and a mockery of our democracy where millions of taxpayers money was wasted. We would, however, like to reiterate our position to use all legal means to challenge this illegality as perpetuated by Mimiko.”

    The statement hoped that at the appropriate time,it would right the wrong done to the people by committing these present sets of selected chairmen and councillors to appropriation and also conduct a free, fair and credible local government election.

    A lawyer, Morakinyo Ogele, said the PDP allegedly manipulated the results.

    The lawyer observed that there were no other party agents, except PDP agents, at the various units.

    He praised the people for massively boycotting the whole process, saying the election is rated as the greatest deceit of the year.

    Ogele, however, advised the elected chairmen and councilors to refuse to be sworn-in.

  • Kano iron dealers, council split over market master plan

    Business activities have been very low lately in Kofar Ruwa Iron and Rod Market, Kano State following the conflict between members of the iron dealers association (KRIRDA) and the authorities of Dala Local Government Council where the market is located.

    The Nation gathered that trouble started when the Dala Council chairman built more lock-up shops inside the market, a decision which did not augur well with traders in the over 45-year-old market which has been serving not only customers from the North but also businessmen and rod dealers from neighbouring countries like Niger, Chad, Sudan and Cameroon.

    KRIRDA  has called on Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to intervene in the dispute with Dala Local Government Area over plan to build additional shops in the already jam-packed rod market. Speaking to reporters on the issue, KRIRDA president, Chief Anayochukwu Ike described as improper, the unilateral decision of the Chairman, Dala Local Government Area to build lock-up shops in front of their shops.

    According to him, embarking on such a project will not only disorganise the entire market, but will also hinder access to trailers bringing in their goods to the market, stressing that the frontage of their shops remains the only space they display iron and rods.

    Chief Ike, who said members of his association pay all taxes and levies to the state and local government as at when due, lamented that erecting another structure within the market means getting them out of business.

    “If there are plans to relocate us, they should come out clear and explain to us. There is no way we can remain in this market with those structures there, unless they have decided to get us out of business; may be, because they don’t like our face. We have been in this market for a very long time. We have maintained cordial relationship with the authorities of Dala Local Government.

    “We have been generating revenue for the development of the Local Government and Kano state government. We now wonder why they want to stampede us out of business,” Chief stated.

    According to him, after exhausting all possible means of negotiation, “while they remained adamant, we went to Court and got an injunction restraining the Council authorities and their representatives from erecting any structure within the market, but immediately the injunction expired, they started digging holes in front of our shops.

    On Friday, 8 April, they came with Yandabas (area boys), armed with arrows and knives as they were digging foundation in front of our shops. That action generated unprecedented tension within the market and the entire state as many of us hurriedly locked our shops and ran for our dear life.”

    Chief Ike lamented that despite several appeals by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG)  in charge of Zone One, Dala Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Suleiman Dan Isli  remained adamant and went ahead erecting illegal lockup shops in the market, blocking shops and offices.

    He, however, appealed to Governor Ganduje and other stakeholders, as well as opinion leaders in Kano state to intervene and stop the erection of more structures in Kofar Ruwa rod market, “because if they go ahead to build that shop, they have crippled our markets. “Besides, we all know the dangers inherent in jam-packed markets.

    We don’t sell Cray fish, what we sell are iron and rods, which are naturally packed in open space, now if you block that space, simply because you want to generate revenue, how and where do we then pack our goods; we are very much disturbed and therefore we are calling on Governor Ganduje to use his good office to save our business,” he appealed.

    Also speaking on the matter,  Chief Alphonsus Ubaneche, member, Board of Trustees (BoT), Kofar Ruwa Iron and Rod Dealers Association, (KRIRDA), whose office is located on the affected Alphamic line speaks on the need for Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and other stakeholders to stop the chairman of Dala Local Council from altering the original master plan of Kofar Ruwa iron and rod market.

    His words: “I am deeply disturbed and surprised over what is happening. I keep on wondering why Dala Local Government chairman is taking this action. I have been in this Kofar Ruwa market since 1987, that is over 29 years; and I am aware that this market has existed for the past 35 years.

     

  • CU inaugurates PG Student Council

    CU inaugurates PG Student Council

    Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, has inaugurated a  postgraduate  Student Council for its School of Postgraduate Studies.

    The initiative is coming 14 years after the establishment of CU’s School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS).

    Delivering his opening speech at the inauguration, held at the university chapel, Dean, SPGS Prof Shalom Chinedu, said: “This year makes it the 14th of the existence of the School of Postgraduate Studies and   through   the   years   we   have   been   able   to   graduate   students   on schedule.

    “In 2010, we started to accept external students and this year, the fact that 90 per cent of our intakes came from outside makes it  imperative for effective leadership among students. The caliber of members underscores the importance of the student council.”

    The Council, Chinedu added, serves as a bridge between the students and the management.

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Taiwo Abioye, who reeled out the names of members of the student council, charged them to remember the university’s core values while carrying out their responsibilities.

    The   Vice-Chancellor,   Prof Charles Ayo,   praised   the board members of SPGS  for the “enormous work done.”

    “I congratulate you on your appointment,” he said. “We know you will succeed, there’s nothing mystical about excellence.

    “If you look at promises made, we know we are not there yet but we are committed.  And   it’s not one-sided, it takes a   collective   responsibility.

    Seeing students come around   here, it  is   my   duty   to   make   them confortable.”

    The 16-member Council, has Julius Oladipupo as Chairman and   Comfort Samuel as Secretary. Other members are:  Aboderin Deborah, Awodeyi   Afolabi,   John   Temitope,   Igboko Harriet, Akpabio Ifiom, Uwagharen Efosa and Ugboko Esther.

    They also include: Osuji Chizoba, Obaseki Samuel, O. Romanus, Olaolu Adeyemo, M. Ruth, Owuama Ebere and Enefusu Emmanuel.

    In another development, CU has underscored the importance of its core values during orientation   programme   for its new employees held   inside   the   university’s   African Leadership Development Centre.

    Prof Ayo, who highlighted the pride of place that Spirituality occupies among the core values of the university, urged them to see their presence in the institution as an opportunity to contribute their quota to the school’s ambition of being among the Top 10 universities in the world by year 2022.

    “Spirituality”, he said, “is a major determinant of students admission and staff employment, and its vision is driven by the faculty, the staff and the students.”

    He continued:  “The uniqueness   of the university as the best private university   in   Nigeria,   most   preferred   private   university   by   aspiring undergraduates, pioneer of entrepreneurship study and prime mover for abolition of the pass degree, has continued to attract students, as well as teaching and non-teaching staff to the school.”

    Earlier, Prof  Taiwo  Abioye, and  Registrar Pastor Olamide   Olusegun,   had   tasked   the   new   faculty   and senior non-teaching staff on work ethics and administrative processes and procedures.

     

  • Council organises training for staff

    The Head of Administration, Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Prince Adegbola Olujobi, has advised revenue collectors to be civil.

    Olujobi, who spoke at the two-day training organised for the members of junior staff in the council, said the training was aimed at acquainting them with civil service rules and norms.

    He stressed that the programme was in conformity with the directive and policy of the local government service commission, which specifies a quarterly and regular training and re-training of members of the junior staff of every local government in order to maximise productivity.

    Olujobi also reiterated that elements of patience, persuasion and lobbying are essential in achieving the desired results of improved revenue profile of the council which will enable the council to meet the ever-increasing social demands of the people.

    He revealed that the council has maintained its motivational and incentive-based strategies, as panacea to boost productivity and output of members of staff. He promised to provide the enabling environment that will promote greater efficiency and productivity.

    He said as part of measures to create comfortable working environment for workers of the local government, the council has concluded plans to move relevant departments and personnel to the newly constructed complex within the local government premises.

    Present at the programme were Deputy Secretary, Hon. Oyewuwo, other members of the transition committee and the Human Resource Officer, Mr Victor Alivide, among others.

  • CU PG council inaugurated

    Covenant University has inaugurated a Postgraduate Student Council for its School of Postgraduate Studies.

    This is coming 14 years after the establishment of CU’s School of Postgraduate Studies.

    Speaking at the inauguration at the University Chapel, the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Prof Shalom Chinedu, said the essence of the event cannot be overemphasised.

    “This year makes it the 14th year of the School of Postgraduate Studies and through the years we have graduated students on schedule.

    “In 2010, we started to accept external students and this makes it imperative for effective leadership among students.”

    The Council, Chinedu added, serves as a bridge between the students and the university management.

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof TaiwoAbioye urged them to remember the University’s core values.

    The 16-man council has Julius Oladipupo as Chairman and Comfort Samuel as Secretary. It also has Aboderin Deborah, Awodeyi Afolabi, John Temitope, Igboko Harriet, Akpabio Ifiom, Uwagharen Efosa and Ugboko Esther as members.

    Others are Osuji Chizoba, Obaseki Samuel, O. Romanus, Olaolu Adeyemo, M. Ruth, Owuama Ebere and Enefusu Emmanuel.

  • Council tackles crime

    The Executive Secretary of Coker/Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Ismail Bello has said the council will fight crime head on, even as he said efforts have been made to engage youths in positive ventures.

    He explained that it was worrisome that miscreants were in the habit of robbing people going to their places of work early in the morning in the Orile-Iganmu area of the council.

    He added that the council had donated power motorcycles and other security gadgets to the police, stressing that the gesture would assist their operations in flushing out criminals from the area.

    Bello further explained that it was easy for criminals to operate in the area because of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway which separated the police station from the criminal’s hideout.

    He said: “I have received series of complaints about breakages into people’s homes. People are robbed on their way to work in the morning and late in the night when they are returning from work.

    “The boys usually come out in the morning to carry out their evil acts. I can assure you that we are on top of the matter. The police have pledged to live up to their duty in the entire community. We have secured a parcel of land and we are equally trying to see how we can erect a police post in Opeloyeru area. The post will help the security agents to apprehend these boys and detain them before they are transferred to the divisional office.”

    Bello said the council has recorded some improvement in its development strides, noting that government would do everything possible to ensure that tax payers’ money are well expended.

    “The period we assumed office was very close to the election period, so we have embarked on rehabilitation work on some of the dilapidated roads within the council. We carried out some empowerment programmes for the aged and skill acquisition for the youth. Honestly, it has not been easy.

    “We equally provided utility vehicles for the market women. They have been agitating for it for several years. The agitation has been on since the creation of the council. We acquired a bus for the Department of Environment for enhance revenue collection for the council,.

    “Currently, Orile Primary Health Care (PHC) which was built before the creation of this council and which lacks necessary facilities for upgrading has been rehabilitated by the council. The administration has made everybody to feel a sense of belonging through its people-oriented programme,” he said.

    Continuing, he said: “Revenue collectors in the council are well trained. They don’t intimidate anybody. They explain things clearer to the tax payers before collecting the taxes. The people must see reason why taxes have to be paid.”

     

  • ‘PDP ready for council election’

    ‘PDP ready for council election’

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Sunday Menukuro, who is the Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on Social Media and Communications, has said there is no legal hurdle or restriction against the proposed local government election.

    The politician said what appears like a legal obstacle against the  election has been resolved by the court.

    He said the High Court and the Court of Appeal have validated the decision of Governor Olusegun Mimiko on the dissolution of the Local Government Councils hurriedly inaugurated by the preceding government.

    Menukuro said: The plaintiff in this said matter, that is the PDP, which was the party that took the matter to the court ab initio, is now both the plaintiff and the defendant in the suit, which has made the matter to settle itself naturally with the collapse of the Labour Party into the state chapter into the PDP, by forming a mega party under the leadership of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

    “Those tangentially affected in the suit, that is, the Local Government Chairmen and the councillors, who were said to have been elected on the platform of the PDP cannot proceed to any other political platform to prosecute their litigation other than the PDP that produced them in the first place.

    “Now, what finally put paid to the lingering litigation was an amicable settlement of a win-win situation whereby the prayers of the plaintiffs were reviewed at the Supreme Court such that conciliatory measure will be put in place to compensate the aggrieved persons in a friendly family affair.

    “This development therefore, culminated into the leeway ODIEC action to conduct the election is predicated. It could be recalled that Prof. Olugbenga Ige who is the chairman of ODIEC categorically affirmed this on the day he briefed all the political parties on ODIEC preparedness to conduct the said Local Government election in Ondo state.

    “It is only those in the opposition, who are not prepared for the election, that would tell you that there is encumbrance. They are jittery about the great failure that is staring them in the face. hence, their clinging onto anything,  like a drowning man, in order for their weaknesses not to be exposed to their leaders outside the state, whom they have been deceiving of their hyped phantom status, especially as the governorship election is at the corner.

    “Do you know that by the time it is known to their party leaders that they don’t have anything to deliver here in the state, the expected patronage from that quarters will cease to come.

    “Funny enough, at the time the main issue was still in the court, the singsong of these people was that Mimiko refused to conduct the local government election for quite a number of years into his government.

    “This is to let you know that these opposition parties in Ondo state dont have tap roots in the state hence their fallacious campaign strategy ostensibly to whittle the influence of the ruling party in the state.

    Menukuro added: “You should ask them why now that the election is to be conducted that they say they want to boycott it. Can you see their hypocrisy? Ask these people in the APC if they were the ones who went to the court at that time.

    “ Why is it that they are the ones making the only noise about the case in the court when they didn’t go to court for any reason.

    Like their national chapter, the only thing they live on is deceit and outlandish distortion of facts.

    “You can see all what they said during their campaigns and compare it with what they are doing now that they have won the election at the centre. They promised us one naira to one dollar among other things, we are all witnesses to their blatant lies which they are trying to replicate in Ondo State.”

  • Crisis over council poll in Ondo

    Crisis over council poll in Ondo

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are quarelling over the proposed local government elections in Ondo State. Correspondent DAMISI OJO examines the bone of contention and its implications for grassroots administration. 

    Eight years ago, the elected local government administration was dissolved in Ondo State by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    Since then, grassroots democracy has been stalled. The councils have been at the mercy of caretaker committees set up to run them.

    The Adedayo Omolafe-led Committee of Council Chairmen inaugurated by Agagu sued Mimiko for the dissolution of the democratic structures. The case is still in court.

    For seven years, Mimiko turned a deaf ear to the agitation for council polls. But, as the government is winding up, he suddenly changed his mind. The governor directed the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission(ODIEC) to conduct the poll, few months to the governorship election. On April 23, voters will choose new local government chairmen and councillors, who will run the councils for the next three years. This will be the first time in nine years that such election will be taking place.

    Mimiko has inaugurated members of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission. It is headed by Prof. Olugbenga Ige.

    The last council poll was conducted in December 2008. But, the elected officers only spent few months in office because they were sacked by the governor. The embattled council chairmen and councillors, who were mainly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenged their dismissal in the court. But, they lost out at the High Court and the Appeal Court. The matter is still pending at the Supreme court.

    Mimiko had hinged his refusal to hold another poll on the litigation. Thus, the sudden change of mind by the governor has raised suspicion, not only among party chieftains, but also among the generality of the people.

    The opposition parties are  worried. They believe that the governor is setting a trap for them, ahead of the governorship poll. They said one of the major claims of Mimiko was that the pending case on the local government election had rendered him incompetent to conduct the poll since he was sworn-in 2009. They became more cautious because the litigation is not yet over at the  Supreme Court.

    Already, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) have distanced themselves from the poll.

    The APC Chairman, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, described the election as illegal and a sham, maintaining that it is a trap. He accused the members of ODIEC of partisanship, saying that they are PDP members.

    Kekemeke said: “Our participation or otherwise has been thoroughly discussed at the Central Working Committee, the state executive committee and the expanded executive.

    “The conclusion reached was that the election is a sham meant to trap our party. It is an illegal ‘election’ about to be conducted when there is a subsisting case on the matter at the Supreme Court.

    “Besides, Mimiko’s ODIEC is composed of LP/PDP card carrying members. Worse still, this LP/PDP government is highly deficient in character, integrity and fairness that it cannot be trusted to midwife any free and fair process”.

    A House of Representatives member from Akoko South West/Akoko South East, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde, said the poll will be a fruitless exercise. He said: “Governor Olusegun Mimiko has concluded plans to write the results from his Alagbaka home and if the APC participates or not, that does not change anything. So, I will advise the party leaders not to allow our members to participate in the election”.

    Also, the SDP, led by Chief Olu Falae and Dr. Olu Agunloye, who are allies of the governor, explained why it will not participate in the poll.

    The party said the preparation by the government indicated that the ODIEC was not independent and therefore, could not be fair in the conduct of the election.

    The Chairman of the SDP, Korede Duiyile, said  no credible opposition party will participate in the election.

    The SDP leaders alleged that the composition of the electoral body favoured the ruling PDP.

    Duyile added: “We believe that, as a principled political party, the SDP should not participate in the election because it would be more of an appointment exercise rather than an elective process.”

    Agunloye described the poll as a waste of resources and another way of compounding the hardship in the state.

    According to the former minister, conducting an election when workers have not been paid for over four months is not a wise decision.

    CNNP said its withdrawal became inevitable, owing to the abnormalities in the government’s decision to conduct the poll, seven years after Mimiko became governor.

    It said its decision was hinged on the prevailing poor state of the economy that has rendered government machinery incapable paying salaries of workers regularly.

    The CNPP advised the PDP-led government to use the money earmarked for the election to pay workers’ salaries  and retirees’ allowances.

    But, the PDP Chairman, Mr. Clement Faboyede, described the APC and others parties, who are boycotting the poll, as cowards.

    He said the PDP was already coasting to victory, judging by its popularity among the people.

    Faboyede said the opposition parties were only crying foul and afraid of participating in the elections because of losing out completely to the ruling party.

    He said the APC has no political relevance, adding that it caanot match the PDP at the polls.  He added: “There is no APC in Ondo state as far as I am concerned? and they are only clamouring on the case before the court which was not instituted by them.

    “The sacked local government chairmen had gone to the court demanding for reinstatement but now they are pleading for compensation since the matter had been taken to the Supreme court.”

    Faboyede said the PDP has started mobilising grassroots people for the election, urging other parties to take a cue. He said nothing would stop the ODIEC conducting the exercise.

    Mimiko is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that his right man emerges as the next governor. One of his strategies, according to sources, is the conduct of local government polls.

    The source said: “Since last year, he has been appointing so many people as political aides. As at now, he has over 120 Special Assistants.

    “Majority of them have no offices and they are not delegated for any special assignments, but they are just collecting salaries and they have been directed by the governor to start mobilizing for the party ahead of governorship poll.

    “He is also conducting the local council poll so that he would be able to plant is loyalists in the grassroots ahead of the gubernatorial poll”, the source disclosed.

    Opposition parities have been commended for boycotting the exercise. A stakeholder, Mr. Femi Obada, said: “There is no how APC and other parties participate in the poll and win a council or ward because the ruling party has power over members of the ODIEC”.