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Tag: Edo poll

  • Edo poll dispute: Parties to adopt final addresses March 3 

    Edo poll dispute: Parties to adopt final addresses March 3 

    The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned till March 3 for parties to adopt their final written addresses in the dispute over the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the state.

    Tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi announced the date on Thursday after lawyer to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) announced the closure of his client’s case.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the election, Asue Ighodalo are, by their petition, challenging the declaration of APC’s Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the election, arguing among others, that the electoral process was flawed.

    At the resumption of proceedings on Thursday, Orbih initially told the tribunal that hhe would not be able to proceed with the case because thr documents his team sought to tender were yet to be brought from Benin.

    Read Also: Edo poll dispute: Parties to adopt final addresses March 3

    Orbih subsequently changed his mind and said having reviewed the conduct of the case and evidence led so far, his team found no need to lead further evidence.

    The APC, which is the third respondent in tg case had promised to call 28 witnesses. It call four on Wednesday when it opened its case.

    Orbih said: “We have carefully done a further comprehensive review of the evidence led by the petitioners, evidence elicited from their witnesses under cross-examination, the evidence led so far by the respondents in this petition and the documentary evidence presented before the tribunal.

    “We have also considered the fact that time is of the essence and there is no need embarking on exercise that will not take into account that the time of the tribunal is precious.

    “Taking all these factors into consideration, we are happy to close the third respondent’s case, with the leave of the tribunal,” Orbih said.

    Lawyer to the petitioners, Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN); Kanu Agabi (SAN) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) for Okpebholo, did not object to Orbih’s application to close the case of the APC.

    The tribunal however rejected Orbih’s request that the seven days earlier allocated to the respondents to file their final written addresses should be extended by three days.

    Ruling, Justice Kpochi held that the days earlier allocated to parties could not be extended because the tribunal also requires adequate time to consider all evidence led, including documents tendered.

    He ordered the respondents to file their addresses within seven days, beginning from February 14; the petitioners to file within five days from the date of service, while the respondents shall file their replies, if any, within three days.

  • Edo poll dispute: INEC fails to call witness, closes case

    Edo poll dispute: INEC fails to call witness, closes case

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed on Thursday to call witness in support of its case in the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo , challenging the outcome of the election.

    INEC had, on Wednesday pledged to commence calling witnesses from Thursday after tendering documents, including results of the election, a certified true copy (CTC) of the declaration of the results as well as a copy of INEC’s Regulations & Guidelines for the conduct of elections, 2022

    INEC’s lawyer, Abdullahi Aliyu (SAN) told the tribunal that his client planned to call five scheduled witnesses within five days as against the 10 days earlier allocated to it.

    Aliyu said most of the witnesses would be coming from Benin, Edo State, to testify before the tribunal.

    At the resumed sitting of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Thursday, INEC’s lawyer and former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Kanu Agabi (SAN) said his client did not intend to call witness witness.

    Agabi said: “My lords, after we left you yesterday (Wednesday), we gave more thought to the matter and came to the conclusion that the sensible thing to do is to close the case of the first respondent, which we hereby do.”

    Lawyer to the PDP and Ighodalo, Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN) said he was not surprised about INEC’s decision not to call witnesses.

    Oyeyipo said: “Frankly speaking, we are not surprised and it is well within the right of the first  respondent to show such a good discretion. We are not objecting.”

    Lawyers to Governor Monday Okpebholo and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and  who appeared for Governor Okpebholo and Donald Dewigwe (SAN) said they were not opposed to INEC’s decision.

    Ikpeazu subsequently requested the court to allow his client open his case on Monday, a request the tribunal acceded to and adjourned till Monday.

    Assessing Thursday’s proceedings, a PDP chieftain and former  ex-Commissioner for Digital Economy, Science and Technology in Edo State, Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, said INEC not calling witnesses means they could not defend the victory of Okpebholo.

    Ifaluyi-Isibor argued that INEC could not afford to call any witness because they knew they cannot fine anybody to defend what is not true.

    Read Also: Edo poll dispute: INEC tenders results at tribunal

    He added: “The PDP won the election with lawful majority votes, as we have consistently maintained.”

    Meanwhile, APC chieftain and former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillip Shuaibu argued that there was nothing unusual in INEC’s decision not to call any witness.

    Shuaibu said from his experience in election litigation, a party chooses his strategy and since INEC felt it was of no use calling any witness, that should not be construed to imply that it has no defence.

    He added: “INEC has done what I expected it to do. It declared results and tendered the results yesterday. And that is all.”

  • Edo poll dispute: PDP, APC chairmen hopeful of positive outcome

    Edo poll dispute: PDP, APC chairmen hopeful of positive outcome

    The Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Chief Anthony Aziegbemin and his counterpart in All Progressives Congress (APC), Emperor Tenebe, have expressed optimism about a positive outcome when Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivers  its verdict.

    Both parties and their candidates in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo (PDP) and Monday Okpebholo (APC), are locked in a legal battle at the tribunal on the outcome of the election.

    The petitioners – PDP and Ighodalo – concluded presentation of their case on Monday, with the APC hopeful of beginning its defence later this week.

    Reviewing proceedings so far, Aziegbemin said the petitioners, through their lawyers, had done justice to the case.

    He said: “We think the case is pretty straight forward, we think it is documentary-based, we think it is specific, we think the judiciary will give it some judicial cognisance of what we tendered before them.

    “We believe they have all they need from us and all what we should produce, I think we have given it to them. And we expect them to look at them and see how it goes.

    “But suffice to say that it is not a petition as we used to have it in the country, where you call a lot of witnesses.

    “We didn’t need to call a lot of witnesses. We called the witnesses that we needed to prove our case and make our case more solid.”

    Aziegbemin said he was surprised that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) objected to the admissibility of its own documents, adding that it “gives us and Nigerians something to think about. Why will INEC oppose the documents it certified to the petitioners to be tendered in the open court?

    Read Also: Edo poll dispute: PDP, APC chairmen hopeful of positive outcome

    “I think the tribunal will look into that and see why they are objecting. Although they said they will give reasons at the address stage, it is strange. It doesn’t add up,” the Edo PDP chairman said.

    Tenebe faulted the manner the petitioners conducted their case, accusing them of dumping election documents on the tribunal and allegedly walking away without explanation.

    He said there were consequences for submitting documents to the court ‘’without properly linking them to your specific claims or providing necessary explanations.’’

    Tenebe said: “Dumping of documentary evidence occurs when a party in a case submits a large volume of documents to the court without properly linking them to specific aspects of their case, through witness’ testimony or legal arguments.

    “It typically happens when due diligence is not followed. Ighodalo failed to explain the relevance of the documents he presented in court. There is no proper analysis or connection between the documents and the issues in dispute,” he said.

    Tenebe added that “the documents have been left for the court to interpret without guidance from the party presenting them.

    “What the PDP has done is simply to dump the documents in court, and there will be consequences for that.”

  • Edo poll: Tribunal admits 148 BVAS machines in evidence

    Edo poll: Tribunal admits 148 BVAS machines in evidence

    Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has admitted in evidence, 148 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices used during the last governorship election in the state on September 21, 2024.

    The devices were tendered during yesterday’s proceedings in the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, by a Senior Technical Officer in the ICT Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Anthony Itodo.

    Itodo, who featured as the 15th petitioners’ witness, said the 148 BVAS machines were used at 133 polling units in the state.

    The witness added that INEC was subpoenaed by the petitioners to produce the devices in furtherance of their case, in which they alleged, among others, over voting.

    Although there were arguments about the actual number of the devices, the tribunal led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi admitted them in evidence despite the objection raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC), its candidate, Governor Monday Okpebholo and INEC.

    Earlier, two ward collation agents of the PDP – Eseigbe Victor and Uyide Imasuem – testified and justified their decision to decline to sign result sheets of the election.

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    In his testimony, Victor, who identified himself as a farmer and politician, said he was the agent for Ward 9 in Akoko-Edo Local Government of the state, which he said had 36 polling units.

    He added that he received copies of polling unit results contained in Forms EC8A, from polling unit agents of the party, during the governorship election.

    On cross-examination, the witness, told the court that he did not sign the Form EC8B for Ward 9 owing to the discrepancies he noticed in the results that were collated.

    “When the election was going on, I discovered incorrect computation and refused to sign. My lord, if you check, you will see that no agent signed the result,” he said.

    Victor agreed that although there was nothing on the face of the document before the tribunal to confirm that he actually served as a ward collation agent of the PDP during the election, he presented a tag, which he said was issued to him, which the panel admitted in evidence.

    The witness confirmed to the tribunal that results of the election he received from the polling unit agents of the party, were all signed.

    He said: “The election at the polling unit level was okay. Our only complaint is on wrong computation of the results.”

    He told the tribunal that at the ward collation centre, the BVAS machines and hardcopies of the election results were presented for reconciliation.

    When shown copies of extracts from the INEC’s IReV portal and reports of accreditation from the BVAS, which were tendered by the petitioners, the witness acknowledged that there were discrepancies in the figures.

    Imasuem, who featured as the 14th petitioners’ witness, said he served as PDP’s ward collation agent in Oredo Local Government of the state.

  • Edo poll: parties adjourn inspection of electoral materials till Oct 14

    Edo poll: parties adjourn inspection of electoral materials till Oct 14

    • Allegations of BVAS smuggling baseless – INEC

    Representatives of six of the eighteen political parties that took part in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State have adjourned the inspection of electoral materials at the  headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin, till October 14.

    The political parties’ representatives jointly took the decision yesterday after a crucial meeting.

    The election petitions tribunal-ordered joint inspection of election materials faced challenges in the last few days, but the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Edo, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, assured that all the hitches had been resolved for the exercise to progress as planned.

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    Representatives of the political parties, however, noted that their decision to shift the joint inspection till Monday was based on INEC’s inability to commence the inspection yesterday.

    The resolution was signed by representatives of six political parties that participated in the election won by Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The representatives were Obodeje Oghorin, counsel to All Progressives Party (APP); Kenny Isokpan, Edo Chairman of Boot Party (BP); Osahon Obamogie, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Sylvester Ugberase, counsel to Action Peoples Party (APP); Dr. Bishop Akahaime, of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP); and Jarret Tenebe, Edo Chairman of APC.

    The representatives also indicated that the rescheduled inspection of electoral materials would commence at 11 a.m. at the  headquarters of INEC, thereby obeying the order of the tribunal.

    Meanwhile, INEC has debunked the allegations of BVAS machine smuggling in Edo, describing it as baseless, unsubstantiated and without merit.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) had, in a petition to INEC on October  10, alleged that PDP members had smuggled BVAS machines and voter registers into INEC’s office in Benin.

    However, in a statement in Benin yesterday, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Anugbum Onuoha, said that the commission had completed its investigation into the allegations and found it to be baseless, unsubstantiated and without merit.

    Onuoha reassured the public that at no time were BVAS machines or voter registers compromised or unlawfully accessed by any political party or external party.

    He said that INEC remained fully committed to safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.

    “Recognising the seriousness of these claims, the commission conducted its investigation with the highest level of rigour, professionalism and impartiality.

    “As an institution tasked with ensuring free, fair and credible elections, INEC will not tolerate any form of malpractice.

    “The integrity of all electoral materials, including BVAS, remains fully intact and secure,” he said.

    Onuoha stated that in compliance with a recent court order, INEC was ready to facilitate the inspection of election materials and would ensure transparency in the handling of the BVAS machines and adherence to the rule of law.

    He urged all political parties to cooperate during the inspection process.

    The REC also advised political actors to focus on strengthening democratic principles and avoid actions that could erode public confidence in the electoral system.

    He said that the commission remained steadfast in its commitment to neutrality and excellence in electoral administration, and ensuring credible outcomes in all elections.

  • Edo poll: Diri should respect Dickson

    Edo poll: Diri should respect Dickson

    ijaw Renaissance Network (IRN) has advised Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, to reflect on the outcome of Edo State governorship election and stop disrespecting Senator Seriaki Dickson that made him governor against all odds.

    The advice was contained in an open letter signed by Chief Timi Samson and Joseph David, president and secretary.

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    They urged the governor to befriend Dickson, the lawmaker representing Bayelsa West, for the benefit of Ijaw nation and Niger Delta.

    The body said its main concern “is for Senator Diri to distance himself from sycophants. Those people, who will not remind him of how Senator Dickson appointed him into top government offices that included deputy chief of staff, and helped him to get elected as a member, House of Representatives and a senator.’’

  • Edo poll: the morning after

    Edo poll: the morning after

    No one in Edo State thinks Governor Godwin Obaseki is a democrat or a liberal. His loss of the September 21 governorship election, much more than the loss by Candidate Asue Ighodalo, is a fitting rebuke to his person and politics. No one will shed a tear for him, or for the fractious and divided Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which reluctantly rallied behind the governor and the party’s candidate. In the weeks ahead, Mr Obaseki will discover how severely isolated he is and how vulnerable he has become in ‘enemy’ territory, especially after he ill-advisedly drew the ire of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. Edolites were not in any confusion as to how deeply they resent Mr Obaseki’s politics; but they appeared somewhat uneasy about the seemingly genial Mr Ighodalo. However, convinced they could not isolate the candidate from his backer, they opted to err on the side of caution by throwing both of them out two Saturdays ago. It is good riddance.

    The PDP knew they went into the election a divided house, with the legacy PDP, upon which Mr Obaseki clumsily grafted his defection, alienated and resentful of his obtruding style. They also knew that the itinerant and defecting members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with whom he rode dashingly into the PDP had been left disgruntled. But despite the transparency of the defeat and the irrefutable manner the cards were stacked against Messrs Obaseki and Ighodalo, party leaders, including Adamawa State governor Umaru Fintiri, nevertheless went through the routine of nitpicking the election to fulfill all righteousness and to give the impression that their defeat at the hands of the disfavoured opposition was caused by factors completely extraneous to the poll itself. But defeat is defeat, especially when irregularity alleged by the ruling party in the state has been difficult to substantiate. Mr Obaseki’s attempt to transmute into a godfather of his own came a cropper thereby taking with him campaign funds he will find difficult to balance or reconcile in the books as well as dooming the chances of the hapless PDP candidate.

    After eight years of orchestrating a thoroughly unpopular and antidemocratic government in Edo, Mr Obaseki and his supporters should be ashamed of the stories the election tells beyond revealing the losers and winners, not to say the quantum of disgrace they will face in the weeks ahead. Eight years of Mr Obaseki’s damning and depressing rule, yet only about 11.67 percent of Edo’s 4. 8m population felt enthusiastic enough to vote. Even as a percentage of those who registered to vote, only about 25 percent of 2.249m mustered the will to vote. But it gets much worse. As a percentage of Edo population and percentage of registered voters, only 5.18 percent and about 11 percent respectively endorsed Mr Obaseki’s candidate and point of view, while about 6.11 percent of the total population and about 13 percent of registered voters voted APC. Should the statistics be interrogated further, of those who voted PDP, whether as a percentage of total population or registered voters, fewer than one-quarter would be willing to fight to reclaim what party leaders said without evidence was a stolen election.

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    While the APC victory is emphatic, at least vis-à-vis the PDP loss, it is still not flattering overall that less than 13 percent of registered voters and 6.11 percent of total population endorsed APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo. In the foreseeable future, the contest in the state, and in the entire country, will be generally limited to the two leading parties. The Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections was an upstart and a spoiler, probably more the latter than the former. But as this column has maintained, the LP, regardless of the outcome of the internecine conflict in the party, will be an insignificant factor in the next elections. Its former presidential candidate, ex-Anambra governor Peter Obi unleashed the demons of religious division from the pit of hell to savage the ballot last year. He failed, though he and his running mate, the cantankerous and hysterical Datti Baba-Ahmed, mendaciously argued they won. In every election since that 2023 debacle, the LP has foundered badly. Once again, in the Edo governorship poll, the LP and its convivial candidate, Olumide Akpata, experienced a shellacking, beaten black and blue with only 22,763 votes out of 561,704 votes secured by the first three parties. The LP’s taking of 1.01 percent of registered voters or 0.48 percent of Edo population was a humiliating and devastating loss. The party has no future in the state, and it is not too early, especially in light of its lack of ideology and unity, to prognosticate that it has little future elsewhere.

    By repudiating Mr Obaseki and his candidate, Edo sends a clear signal about the kind of politics they expect of their leaders. In 2020, when former governor Adams Oshiomhole plotted to deny the governor a second term, Edolites were swindled by Mr Obaseki’s pithy catchphrase ‘Edo is not Lagos’ to submit to the fear that the former governor was a true mimic of the classical godfather. But in the September 21 poll, the state saw through the gimmickry, judged that their governor lacked the democratic ethos and unifying politics to govern the state, and were also dismayed by his highhandedness and aloofness. If Mr Okpebholo disappoints them in the years ahead, they will also punish him. Their voting record may have been awkward in the past, being a mixed grill of electoral adroitness and blatant self-immolation, but today, Edolites seem prepared to slay their giants in equal measure with punishing their minions. For Mr Akpata, he obviously exaggerated the value of Mr Obi in the poll. After September 21, he and perhaps the former LP presidential candidate must have come to the painful reality that Edolites suffer from no such exaggeration, nor indeed suffer fools gladly.

  • Tension, fear, spin, counter accusations herald Edo poll

    Tension, fear, spin, counter accusations herald Edo poll

    • Tinubu sues for peace, civility   

    • IGP bans VIP’s security aides, escorts

    • Police in show of force round Benin; military deployed for security

    • REC to critics: Tell me what I’ve done wrong

    • PDP, APC trade words over alleged rigging plot

    From Benin to Auchi, Ekpoma, Irrua, Igueben, Uromi and other towns and villages in Edo State, it was all tension and fears yesterday as residents prepared to vote in today’s off-cycle governorship election.

    Armed police personnel stormed the streets in a show of force to warn miscreants and other potential peace breakers to keep off.

    The Defence Headquarters said soldiers were being deployed to join the police and other security agents to keep the order.

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are also on the ground to stop politicians from influencing the election with money.

    Two of the leading candidates Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Olumide Akpata of Labour Party (LP) became subjects of some drama ahead of the polls.

    President Bola Tinubu urged respect for the democratic process during the election while officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared that they are up to the task.

    The election follows several weeks of intense campaigns, exchange of brickbats and crisscrossing of Edo State by the various political parties.

    Although 18 parties nominated candidates for the election, the race appears, from all indices, to be a three-way fight between APC’s Okpebholo, Asue Ighodalo of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Akpata of LP.

    Over two million and six hundred residents are eligible to vote across the 18 local government areas of the state today, according to INEC records.

    Tinubu yesterday urged the candidates, the political parties and their supporters to respect the democratic process and the will of the people.

    They should conduct themselves peacefully and sportingly, he said in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

    He expressed the belief that the voters have the ability to make “informed decisions about their future leaders.”

    Democracy, he stressed, “thrives on civility, tolerance, patience and respect for the rules of the game,” noting that INEC has committed to “conducting a free and fair election and urges all stakeholders to work together to ensure a successful and peaceful process.”

    He commended the governorship candidates and political parties for their campaigns, which “have focused on issues that matter most to the people of Edo State, including improving livelihoods, promoting economic growth, and contributing to national development.”

    He asked the citizens to “resolve any disagreements amicably through the constituted authorities” and expressed confidence in the professionalism and integrity of security agencies and INEC officials.

    He urged them to remain impartial and avoid any actions that could compromise the integrity of the electoral process.

    IGP bans VIP’s security aides, escorts

    Police Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun has banned  all security aides and escorts from accompanying very important personalities (VIPs) to polling booths and collation centres today.

    Similarly, unauthorised security personnel and quasi-security outfits are prohibited from operating during the election.

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    Also forbidden is the use of sirens by unauthorised vehicles.

    The police boss also ordered the restriction of all vehicular movement on roads, waterways and other forms of transportation from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, however said “exceptions will be made for essential services, including accredited media, electoral officials, ambulances and emergency responders.

    “Furthermore, the IGP has mandated that special attention be afforded to individuals with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers, aged, and those with mobility challenges, ensuring that polling stations in both urban and rural settings are accessible to all.”

    The Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) in charge of the election, Frank Mba, appealed to citizens to refrain from making prank calls to control room and designated help numbers, highlighting that text messages are more effective for operational purposes.

    “The designated election lines for inquiries and reporting are: DIG Election DIG Frank Mba, mni; 07025000383 and AIG Election AIG Benneth Igwe, mni; 09085000029, while the general control room numbers are 08077773721 and 08037646272. The already activated joint control room is manned by police and relevant agencies engaged in the electoral process.

    “Citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious activities or incidents that may jeopardise the integrity of the electoral process or cause disorderliness in any part of the state. The Inspector-General of Police underscores the necessity of adhering to these directives to avert any undue interference and intimidation during the election”, he added.

    The police pleaded with the political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly and in compliance with electoral laws, as any violations or attempts to disrupt the electoral process will be met with the full weight of the law.

    They reaffirmed their dedication to promoting a safe and democratic environment.

    “Through collaborative efforts, we can guarantee that the forthcoming elections in Edo, specifically and the future, are held fairly and peacefully,” the police said.

     INEC: We’ll be fair to all

    Officials of INEC say they will do only that which is lawful during the election.

    INEC National Commissioner in charge of the Edo poll, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said yesterday that she was not available for inducement from any quarters.

    “I cannot take bribe no matter how much…I don’t have to take a N1 billion to do what is right,” she said on Channels Television.

    She added: “I will do right. Nobody will try to induce me.”

    Forget my relationship with Wike, I’m competent for the job, says REC

    Also speaking on Channels Television, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Anugbum Onuoha, said what counts ultimately in the election is his competence and not his relationship with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.

    The Edo State Chairman of PDP Tony Aziegbemi had called for Onuoha’s redeployment from the state because he is cousin of the minister.

    But the REC challenged critics to show evidence against his competence.

    “From my background, I am an Associate Professor of Law. People should now ask if I have done this job before. Yes, I was an electoral commissioner in Rivers State. Nobody has complained.

    “I am coming from the university. I am not a politician. The mere fact that I am a cousin to Wike does not preclude me from being appointed,” he said.

    Continuing, he said: “Am I not a Nigerian? Nigerians should have gone beyond this level.

    “It is a fact that I am a cousin to the minister. Before my appointment, I was invited by the Senate. It screened me, and I was confirmed. I was sworn in by Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, and posted to Edo.

    ‘Since last year, nobody complained that I am a cousin to the minister. Of course, I am a cousin to the minister. What we should be talking about at this time is the capacity to conduct the election.

     “I challenge all the political parties in Edo State to tell me what I have done wrong so far.

    “I am ready for the Edo election, and I will not favour any political party. At the end of the day, the people of Edo will have an election that is free.”

    Military, EFCC join police to ensure free, fair process

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said yesterday that soldiers had been ‘strategically deployed’ to ensure that the election is violence free, fair and credible.

    It said the troops’ role was to support the police to ensure voters’ safety and security.

    The military high command, which spoke through the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, said troops’ presence was to thwart the activities of criminal elements bent on fomenting crisis during the elections.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said separately that its operatives have been deployed to all local government areas of the state to tackle voters’ inducement in the governorship election.

    Chief spokesman for the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, said the commission was committed to the attainment of electoral integrity across the country by insulating voters from every form of financial inducement in exercising their franchise.

    NSCDC, police identify flash spots

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it had identified 60 flash spots in state ahead of the election.

    Mr Gbenga Agun, the state Commandant of the NSCDC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the spots cut across the three senatorial districts.

    Personnel of the corps have been deployed to those areas for maximum security, he said.

    Similarly, Mr. Frank Mbah, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the election, said that the state command of the Police Force had identified some flash points and black spots.

    Mbah told NAN that in order to mitigate the likely consequences of those discoveries, the force had carried very specilaised and specific target-oriented operations aimed at dealing with those challenges.

    ‘’But you will understand that some of these operations are classified and so, I may not be giving you details more than what I have just told you. But you can be sure that we have our eyes on those areas.

    “We are carrying out the perceived intelligence-driven operations around those areas, and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that we are able to deliver an atmosphere that is peaceful enough for this election to take place.”

    Armed mobile policemen were seen parading some streets of Benin, the state capital yesterday in a show of force.

    NYSC seeks protection for corps members working as ad hoc staff

    The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen Yusha’u Ahmed, called for maximum security for all corps members and NYSC officials being deployed for electoral duties today.

    He made the appeal during his advocacy visit to 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Benin City, where he was received by the GOC, 2 Div Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Maj-Gen. O.G. Onubogu, who is on election monitoring in Edo State.

    At Edo State Police Command Headquarters in Benin City where he was received by DIG Frank Mba, who is coordinating policemen on election duty, the Director General said the scheme holds the security and welfare of its corps members as top priority.

    In a statement by the Acting Director, Information and Public Relations at the NYSC, Caroline Embu, the director-general added that the deployment of corps members, being the majority of the ad hoc staff for the election, was a testament to the tremendous successes NYSC has recorded through its participation in previous elections in the country.

    Traffic to Edo central swells as citizens prepare for voting

    Vehicular and human traffic to Edo Central Senatorial District yesterday increased  ahead of today’s  election.

    The APC and PDP candidates are from that part of the state.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited motor parks in Benin, observed a high turnout of passengers heading to the senatorial district.

    Mr Inegbedion Usuagba, a passenger, said the election meant a lot to the people of Edo Central District, which he claimed has been marginalised for 25 years.

    “Since Former governor Osunbor left, Edo Central has never been governor. So this election means a lot to us Esan people. I am traveling so that I can vote,” he said.

    Another passenger, who identified himself as Edward Imosi, said one of the candidates hails from his community.

    “By God’s grace, this is the first time we will be producing a governor for the state. I know he will win.

    “So, I want to be part of this historic election. That is why I am traveling home to vote,” Imosi added.

    Mr Monday Isibor, a driver at one of the parks expressed joy over the patronage, saying the number of passengers traveling to the senatorial district could only be compared to festive season.

    APC raises the alarm over fake news about Okpebholo

    The National Publicity Secretary of  APC,  Mr. Felix Morka, in a statement yesterday alleged that “certain political parties have desperately resorted to forgery, disinformation and blackmail by circulating a FAKE Magistrate court ruling purportedly disqualifying Senator Monday Okpebholo” from the election

    He described the circulated ruling as fake, a fabrication and “an act of pure desperation in the face of their imminent defeat at the polls. The Magistrate Court that purportedly issued the FAKE RULING has issued a disclaimer stating categorically that the FAKE RULING did not emanate from that court.”

    He added: “The FAKE NEWS meant to sow seeds of doubt about the APC candidate is a blatant and calculated attempt to subvert the will of the Edo electorate and must be thoroughly rejected by the good and discerning people of Edo State.

    “This illegal and underhand tactic of the parties involved constitutes a despicable attack on our electoral democracy. We call on our law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate and bring the perpetrators swiftly to justice.

    We urge voters in Edo State to remain vigilant and resolute in the exercise of their democratic rights at tomorrow’s (today’s) polls. We trust that the Edo people will reject this and other illegal devices by desperate candidates and their parties to subvert this important election.”

    Akpata debunks stepping down from Edo governorship race

    On his part, the LP candidate, Mr. Akpata, insisted he is still in the race to become governor of the state.

    Akpata was debunking a publication that he had stepped down from the governorship race.

    He said the publication was the handiwork of fraudulent politicians.

    He urged Edo people to disregard the publication.

    His words: “I have been inundated with a flood of calls and messages from friends and supporters, which constrains me to release this statement to dispel the wicked rumour circulating that I have decided to step down and support the PDP candidate in tomorrow’s governorship election.

    “The notion that I would step down on the eve of the election after the overwhelming support received from the good people of our state borders on delusion.

    “This pathetic attempt at deception is so amateurish that the “Oluwole” forgers could not even get the date right, leaving “July 29, 2024″ on their fraudulent document.”

    He urged journalists to report the facts accurately and diligently verity information before publication.

    He also vowed to fish out the architects of the forgery, saying: “I will not rest until I uncover every individual involved in this criminal act.”

    PDP, APC trade words over alleged rigging plot

    The PDP alleged that some leaders of the APC in the state were planning to rig the election.

    Crusoe Osagie, the Special Adviser on Media Projects to Governor Godwin Obaseki, claimed that the APC chieftains were plotting to rig the election by compromising sensitive electoral materials.

    However, the spokesman for the APC Campaign Council Prince Kassim Afegbua, dismissed the allegation as untrue.

    Afegbua, a former Edo Commissioner for Information, said: “The story is not true. Figmentof their imagination. Desperados at work. Conquistadorial and dictatorial tendencies. Very unfortunate.”

    The APC chieftain (Afegbua) also urged Edo residents to continue to give peace a chance.

  • Edo poll: PDP, APC trade blames over policeman’s death

    Edo poll: PDP, APC trade blames over policeman’s death

    All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State have traded blames over the death of a policeman in Benin City, Inspector Akor Onu.

    PDP demanded that APC and its candidate for the September 21 governorship election, Monday Okpebholo, must face investigation for alleged roles in the violence that resulted in the death of the policeman on July 18.

    Responding to the allegation made by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, in a statement yesterday, APC governorship campaign spokesman in Edo State, Mr. Sebastine Ebhuomhan, expressed shock that the PDP national headquarters was just reacting to the unfortunate incident solely to distract police investigation.

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    In his statement in Abuja yesterday, Ologunagba condemned APC leaders for giving scholarships to the children of the slain policeman, after allegedly orchestrating the violence that caused his death.

    He said: “PDP maintains that APC leaders must not be allowed to hide under the guise of the scholarships to cover their complicity, manipulate and discourage the family of the slain police officer and the unsuspecting public from insisting on full investigation and prosecution of APC leaders implicated in the dastardly act.

     “From their conduct, it is clear that the APC leaders have no value for human life and believe they can sweep the matter under the carpet and walk away from their crime.

     “Our party restates its call on the Inspector General of Police to investigate with the preponderance of pictorial and video evidence, which show that thugs allegedly mobilised by the APC to escort its governorship candidate and other APC leaders from the Benin Airport into the city were responsible for the violence that claimed the life of the police officer.”

    Reacting in a statement, APC governorship campaign spokesman in Edo State, Ebhuomhan, condemned the PDP national headquarters for attempting to sell ‘an ill-motivated afterthought’ to knowledgeable people of Edo State, saying PDP appeared to have suddenly woken up from slumber to try and distract police investigation into a killing that occurred weeks ago.

    “PDP statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, calling for the investigation of the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the party members over the death of the gallant Police Inspector Akor Onu is a calculated distraction to the investigation of the Edo State Police Command, ordered by the Inspector-General of Police. It should be condemned by all democratic and peace loving citizens.

    “How long has it taken Ologunagba and his PDP at the Federal, Edo State and governorship campaign levels to formally admit to the murder of Onu? None of these authorities, including the state government, deemed it reasonable to even mention the death of Onu in their past statements, only to now come out with this bizarre statement three weeks after the murder.

    “During the long time, the same desperate and violent Edo State government and PDP rushed an untruthful petition to the police as well as an unsigned, illegal advert to media organisations to blackmail selected APC leaders and members at airport on the day of the murder. Almost all the organisations that published that blackmail have since apologised. This shows the extent of the evil party called PDP.

    “It is good that Okpebholo, characteristically, has not abandoned the family of his friend and protector, Onu, even in death, unlike Governor Godwin Obaseki and his puppet, Mr. Akintunde Ighodalo, who often uses and dumps their helpers when they are still alive. Edo people are happy to hear that Okpebholo did not only visit Onu’s family, but also assumed the huge responsibilities the slain bread winner left behind.

     “Lastly, PDP and Edo State Government need not distract police investigation of Onu’s murder; the evidence of how Obaseki’s Edo State Security Network (ESSN) and Edo State Public Work Volunteers (PUWOV) personnel murdered Onu and injured others is very clear.

    “Those who shot and killed Onu have since taken refuge under Obaseki’s executive immunity after police invitation letters were served on them through the government. After all, everybody saw Obaseki threatening Edo State and Nigeria after receiving the letters.

     “Okpebholo needs not remind anybody that Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Funsho Adegboye, was not far away when ESSN murdered Onu,” the APC governorship campaign spokesman alleged.

  • Edo poll: INEC to publish final list of voters this week

    Edo poll: INEC to publish final list of voters this week

    •’78 observer groups yet to upload data of personnel’

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to publish the final list of voters as well as the number of registered voters for Edo State governorship election before the end of this week, its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said.

    The commission also said about 1,766 election observers drawn from 78 observer groups may miss the opportunity to monitor the September 21 off cycle election.

    Yakubu, who made this known at the regular quarterly meeting with civil society organisations (CSO) on preparation for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, said as at July 29, only 56 organisations had uploaded the list of 894 observers on the INEC portal.

    He said the portal for observer accreditation would automatically shut down at 6pm today.

    The commission had announced that about 134 local and international observer groups applied to monitor the elections in Edo and Ondo states.

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    The INEC chairman said: “It is now 52 days to the Edo State governorship election coming up on September 21. Our preparations are going on in earnest. I am glad to report that we have recovered from the torrential rainfall that resulted in the flooding of our state headquarters in Benin City two months ago.

    “The damaged physical infrastructures as well as movable and immovable facilities are being repaired. Some of the facilities are being replaced. We have delivered additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to Edo State for the training of election duty personnel as well as contingency for Election Day support.

    “We have once again published the final list of candidates in compliance with the recent court order mandating the commission to replace the running mate to the governorship candidate of the Labour Party. The amended list is already published on our website.

    “Following the conclusion of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), the display of the register for claims and objections by citizens, and further data clean-up using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), the final register for the forthcoming governorship elections, is being finalised.

    “Before the end of this week, the commission will publish the final figures of new voters in the two states as well as their distribution by gender, age, occupation and disability. Thereafter, the timetable for the collection of uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) from previous registration, and new registrants from the latest CVR, will be published. Based on the information provided by the commission, we look forward to your partnership in encouraging citizens to collect their PVCs.

    “As the Edo State governorship election approaches, I wish to remind CSOs to submit the list of their observers by uploading the required information, including photographs, to the dedicated portal.

    ‘’As at July 29, 2024, 56 organisations have uploaded the details of 894 observers for the Edo State governorship election, representing 33.6 per cent of the expected 2,660 observers. The deadline is Wednesday July 31, 2024 when the portal automatically shuts down at 6pm. I urge you to ensure you meet the deadline so that the commission can produce the accreditation tags and deliver them to you for distribution to your observers in good time.’’