The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo poll

  • Edo: INEC yet to receive security report

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday said it was yet to receive a formal report from the security agencies, calling for postponement of the Edo governorship poll.

    The INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said the commission plans to go ahead with the election because  it is yet to receive any report from security agencies.

    Osaze- Uzzi said, “We haven’t received any formal report to that effect.  So we are proceeding as if election was going to take place. It is when we receive a formal report that we will consider whether to continue with the election or not. But for now we have not received any formal report. So we are going ahead. But we believe they will inform us formally and we can then take a decision on the matter.”

  • Wike, Okowa, Makarfi storm Edo for governorship poll

    Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi, arrived Edo State on Tuesday in readiness for the September 10 governorship election in the state.

    Also in the state are Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, his Delta State counterpart, Ifeanyi Okowa; Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin and the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd), amongst others.

    Wike, who spoke at a meeting of PDP leaders, said the party’s candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, will win Saturday’s election but cautioned that “the battle will not be an easy one.”

    The governor urged PDP members to be united and committed in order to win the election.

    He said Saturday’s election is a battle to liberate Edo and urged party supporters to be wise in their relationship with security operatives and endeavor to do the right thing at every polling unit so that the true results will come out.

    He said, “PDP is on ground in Edo and therefore we should not be intimidated. We have come to give you the moral support so that you will emerge victorious. But you must be united and work as a team because this is your last opportunity.

    “Freedom is not easy to get. When you want to get freedom, you must make sacrifice. The election in Edo requires sacrifice and commitment. You will be intimidated, therefore prepare yourself.”

    Wike asked PDP party agents at all polling units to be alert and attentive throughout period of the election.

     

  • Nigeria will be out of economic recession soon – Buhari

    Nigeria will be out of economic recession soon – Buhari

    President, Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday told Nigerians that their sufferings occasioned by economy recession will soon be over.

    Buhari assured Nigerians that his administration will make the country great again.

    The President spoke in Benin City, Edo State, at the final mega campaign rally of the All Progressive Congress (APC) ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

    He said Nigerians will be proud of their country again, adding that the country is almost out of its security problem.

    He paid tribute to the late Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa, whom he described as a man of foremost integrity and forthright.

    He said, “Oshiomhole has reminded you of what we have gone through from 1999 to 2015. We have seen development more than what it used to be when Edo State was created. It was at that time that I met with the Oba who has joined his ancestors, and I saw a man with great integrity and there is no doubt that there is hardly any traditional ruler which is foremost and forthright like him.”

    “Edo people are lucky because as long as Nigeria exists, we will continue to play our role in stabilizing Nigeria. We are a nation of great human and material resources especially the youths. Please sit down and reflect and remember what I said years ago that there is no other nation like Nigeria. We will remain one together because no matter where you go the colour of your skin will be a problem for you.

    “I congratulate Obaseki and I recommend him to you. He is a seasoned man so that you will continue to grow in Edo state. You have a credible team, you better hold them tight and ensure that Obaseki succeeds.

    “I assure you that we are going to get out of our economic problems. We are almost out of our security problem and we are going to make Nigeria greater again. We are going to be very proud of our country once again, our size, our resources will not be for nothing. We will continue to grow.”

  • Edo can be another Lagos – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, said the giant strides and economic growth recorded in Lagos in the last 16 years could be replicated in Edo if the people vote for continuity.

    Ambode, who is the Chairman, National Campaign Council for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the September 10 poll in Edo, spoke at the party’s final rally in Benin, on Tuesday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    He said the Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s administration had recorded remarkable progress in the state in the last seven years and this should be sustained by electing the APC candidate as governor on Saturday

    Ambode said the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, was a trustworthy, reliable and God fearing person, who would bring his wealth of experience as a financial expert to bear in the governance of Edo.

    He said Edo, with its vantage position, as well as its human and natural resources, has the potential to be greater.

    “We are happy for the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari in our midst and it is a pointer to the importance of Edo State to Nigeria’s economic development.

    “Edo State has witnessed tremendous progress under Oshiomhole this last seven years, and more than it achieved in the last 10 years of the previous government.

    “Oshiomhole has laid the foundation for the progress of the state.

    “Edo can be like Lagos State, it has all the potential to be great, and we need Godwin Obaseki to make it greater,” he said.

     

  • No going back on Edo poll, says INEC

    No going back on Edo poll, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said the Edo State governorship election will hold on Saturday as planned.

    The electoral agency noted yesterday’s  protest by students who complained that the poll will clash with the General Certificate Examination (GCE) organised by the West African examination Council (WAEC).

    INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu’s media aide Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, who spoke on telephone, said the commission, the political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders were ready for the poll.

    He said while the INEC sympathised with the affected examination candidates, the poll cannot be shifted because the stage is already set.

    Oyekanmi recalled that during the last stakeholders meeting in Benin City, the state capital, involving INEC officials, security agents and representatives of parties, the Edo State Commissioner of Police raised the issue.

    He said: “There was a security meeting attended by the stakeholders. The Edo State Commissioner of Police who briefed the meeting said the WAEC would have to move its candidates outside the state. It is an election day and there will be restriction of movement. Free movement cannot be permitted because we don’t have to allow room for problems. The police was in contact with the WAEC. But, as at last week, the WAEC had not got back to the police.

    Oyekanmi explained that although polls were shifted in the past under the Jonathan administration, the reason given by the top security personnel was insecurity.

    He said if the poll is shifted, the commission will have to contend with bigger implications, adding that the guidelines, security arrangements and the implementation of the electoral law may be affected.

    Oyekanmi stressed: “The election cannot be shifted. There are bigger implications as well. Politicians may begin to accuse the INEC of a hidden agenda. We have the electoral law we have been following. We have a time-table we are implementing. INEC, security agencies, parties and other stakeholders are set. I sympathise with the candidates for examinations. It is a very difficult situation.”

     

  • INEC accredits 44 observer groups for Edo poll

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has accredited 44 observer groups for the September 10 gubernatorial election in Edo.

    The INEC Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs. Prisillia Sule, confirmed this in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Saturday.

    Sule said the commission accredited 37 domestic observer groups and seven foreign observer group that would participate in the poll.

    The spokesperson, however, urged all the accredited groups to deliver credible and reliable information to members of the public during and after the election coverage.

  • PDP inflicted hardship on Nigerians – Oshiomhole

     

     Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Tuesday described the present hardship experienced by Nigerians as a direct result of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 16 years misrule.

    Oshiomhole stated this at a campaign rally for the All Progressive Congress governorship candidate in the state, Mr Godwin Obaseki, at Ikhin and Amoya, Owan East Local Government Area of the state.

      He said the PDP leadership used funds meant to develop the country to line their pockets.

    He urged the people to be patient with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, saying the government  is working hard to fix the problems.

    He urged the Edo people to punish the PDP with their votes.

    “The PDP caused this hardship we are all going through. They pocketed the money meant to buy arms to prosecute the Boka Haram urgency in the Northeast.

    “They also stole funds meant to construct roads, build airports and hospitals. They also caused the dollars to be far higher than the naira.

    “But while we are pained, I will urge you all to continue to punish them with your votes,” he said.

     

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  • Iduoriyekwemwen is PDP candidate in Edo – Sheriff

    Iduoriyekwemwen is PDP candidate in Edo – Sheriff

    The factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has insisted that Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen is the party’s authentic candidate for the September 10 governorship election in Edo State.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already approved the candidature of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for the contest.

    Ise-Iyamu was presented by the Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee.

    Sheriff spoke in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving a delegation of party women from Edo State.

    The women thanked him for allowing Iduoriyekemwen to choose Mrs. Herberta Okonofua as his running mate.

    Sheriff told the women that a Federal High Court in Abuja had given him the go ahead to submit the names of the party’s governorship candidates for Edo and Ondo States.

    “The court also said that starting from the date of last convention, May 21, 2016 in Port Harcourt, any document signed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi is illegal, null and void.‎ So I don’t know why they are deceiving Nigerians,” Sheriff added.

  • INEC lists 19 candidates, parties for Edo poll

    … Obaseki’s name missing from election list

    A former Managing Director of Daar Communications, Don Pedro Obaseki, may not participate in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State unless he gets a vacation judge to vacate a court order barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting his name as candidate of the Accord Party.

    Obaseki and the Accord Party were conspicuously missing in the list of 19 candidates and political parties released by INEC on Wednesday.

    A factional chairman of the party, Dr. Samson Isibor, had reportedly secured a Federal High Court order barring INEC from accepting Obaseki’s name for the election.

    Dr. Isibor had named Obaseki, Lawal Muhammad Nalado, Mr. Nureni Adisa and INEC as defendants in the suit.

    In a telephone chat with our correspondent, Obaseki said he was not aware of the suit until INEC was served the injunctions granted by the court.

    The ex- Daar Communications chief said he could not get a counter order because courts have gone on recess till September.

    He stated that the party has started searching for a vacation judge that would hear the defendants’ argument and vacate the order.

    He said, “Paid apologists have taken me and INEC to court and they got a court order to stop me from running. INEC in obedience to the court order has not published my name.

    “Yet, I can’t get a counter-order as the courts have gone on recess till September. Is this fair? Is this the fate of our state? Who is afraid of an ordinary man who dares to dream?”

     

  • Edo: APC governorship aspirants back Obaseki

    Edo: APC governorship aspirants back Obaseki

    The aggrieved Edo State governorship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have all thrown their weight behind the successful candidate at the primary election, Godwin Obaseki.

    This was disclosed by some of the aspirants at the end of a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal and other APC leaders on Thursday night.

    The aspirants said they decided to close ranks and support Obaseki in order not to lose the only South South state controlled by the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September governorship election.

    Speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting, one of the candidates, Blessing Agbomhere, said: “I was very critical of the process before the elections and anybody will attest to the fact that I was a very vibrant aspirant during the contest. But you see, I am a man who is loyal to the party and this administration run by the APC.

    “I agree that Obaseki has won and as a member of the party, I will do everything possible to support him to ensure APC wins Edo State and why I must make that sacrifice is the peculiar nature of Edo State.

    “It is the only APC state in the Niger Delta and I believe we cannot afford to let PDP take over Edo State looking at the threat this administration is getting from the Niger Delta. Thus as one of the supporters of President Buhari, I don’t have any option but to work with my party and Obaseki to emerge as governor of Edo come September 10.

    “I am fully in support of him, I will work for him and promote him. He is our candidate and I don’t want to talk about the past. I am a man of few words and I want to talk about the reality, the reality is that Obaseki is our candidate.”

    Another aspirant, Peter Esele, a former President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said, “It’s a family meeting, the process is ongoing.

    APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Segun Oni, said: “It’s a family meeting, you can see the smile on everybody’s face. Don’t call anybody aggrieved. We can have disagreement as members of the same family and we will resolve our disagreement and work together.”

     

    He said they were still in the process of resolving all disagreement arising from the primary election.