The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo State

  • Edo poll: Ize-Iyamu leads protest in Benin City

    Edo poll: Ize-Iyamu leads protest in Benin City

    …Says God asks him to recover mandate

     

    Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the just concluded governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Friday joined leaders of the party to lead street protests against the outcome of the election.

    The protest began from Ikpoba slope junction along Akpkakpava Street through Second East Circular to New Lagos road and other major streets within Benin City metropolis.

    They wore black attires to mourn what they termed death of democracy.

    Addressing the protesters, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said God has told him to, “pursue and recover”, his mandate which he claimed he was robbed of by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu said he is committed to seeking justice over what he termed fake results declared by INEC.

    Ize-Iyamu vowed to pursue the case from the tribunal through the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court, if necessary.

    He said it was lamentable that those who were given victory by INEC were ashamed of celebrating the victory.

    He said, “Let me assure you that the robbery of the Edo peoples mandate will not stand. In the past few days I have been seeking the face of God. I asked him what do I do: do I leave them to their fate? Do I Walk away? And God gave me a word. He said, ‘pursue and recover’.

    “I have not come out since the fake results but many of you said, this mandate is beyond Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; ‘even if he sits at home we will not sit at home’. Because you voted and your vote must count. Despite the fake results you have refused to be violent. Properties have not been destroyed. No life is lost”.

    “Edo is in a state of mourning like a graveyard because the people’s mandate has been robbed. But let me assure you that that at the end of the day we will win, because God has said so. We will win because Edo people voted for us and we won the election”.

    State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, said the party would do everything to defend democracy.

    His words, “We are going to defend our right to freely elect our governor. We have a right as a people to decide to elect our governor. That we have done and together we are going to retrieve our mandate”.

    The protest tagged, “Mother of all Protests”, was coordinated by the Centre for Patriotic Leadership Initiative (CPLI), a leadership and rights advocacy NGO, led by Saint Moses Eromonsele.

     

  • Man bags three years for stealing motorcycle

    A 20-year old man identified as Ogie Junior has been sentenced to three years imprisonment for stealing a white Simba motorcycle.

    Ogie was jailed by an Evbouriaria Magistrate Court after he was found guilty of the two count charges preferred against him.

    Police Prosecutor, Inspector Olatoye Oluwaseun, informed the Court that the accused with others (now at large) committed the offence on August 28 at about 4:30AM at Prince Johnson Estate in Ikpoba-Okha local government area.

    Oluwaseun alleged that the accused stole the motor bike marked Auc-506-QB, with Engine No. 156FMI C1136322, Cahassis No. LAA-CAKLC5301056 valued at N150,000.

    He said the bike belonged to one Ogedengbe Ameize.

    He said the offence contravened section 516 and 390 (9) of the criminal Code.

    Presiding Magistrate, Mrs C.E Oghuma, sentenced the accused to 18 months in Count one with option of N10,000 fine and sentenced him to two years in Count two or an option of N20,000 fine.

  • PDP leader Owie blames Anenih’s impunity for Edo loss

    PDP leader Owie blames Anenih’s impunity for Edo loss

    A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Senator Roland Owie, is not on the same page with other leaders of the party on the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in last Wednesday’s governorship election, Mr.Godwin Obaseki.

    While the generality of PDP leaders have been alleging manipulation of the election result in favour of the APC, Owie, Senate Chief Whip in the Second Republic and a PDP elder in the state said Obaseki deserved his victory.

    He said the PDP could not have won with the way former Works minister, Chief Antony Anenih was playing god and imposing candidates at will.

    Anenih, he said, was wrong “to impose the deputy governor slot on Esan people after what he did with the governorship slot.” Anenih is from Uromi in Esanland.

    Continuing, Owie said: “Any leader who takes political decisions on selfish interests gets destroyed at the end. Such leader is like a spider. Whatever a spider eats turns to poison.

    “Why on earth will Chief Anenih impose a Deputy Gov on Esan people after what he did with the governorship slot?

    “He has been playing god and now God has told him that all powers belong to God.”

    He was even more damning in his assessment of the votes garnered by the PDPP in the election.

    His words: “the higher percentage of the votes our PDP got in this election were votes against hunger and hardship brought by the APC federal government and not for the PDP.”

    “I hope Chief Anenih will enter his house now and allow people of goodwill to re-organize the PDP. I congratulate Godwin Obaseki and not the APC because there is hunger and hardship in the land.”

    Chief Anenih who is fondly called Mr. Fix-it by his admirers on account of his political dexterity is the PDP leader in the state.

    Soon after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC declared Mr. Obaseki winner on Thursday, Governor Adams Oshiomhole named Anenih as one of the political godfathers humbled by the APC victory.

    He said: “In Esanland, the senatorial zone of the PDP godfather, we won two out of the five local governments.

    “We gave him a fight that he managed to escape. He used the factor of his age to play on the emotion of the people.

    “Edo people are now proud they can now determine who rules them and no one godfather can choose a leader for them.”

  • Buhari congratulates Obaseki, Oshiomhole on victory at poll

    Buhari congratulates Obaseki, Oshiomhole on victory at poll

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday congratulated the government and people of Edo State on the successful conclusion of the gubernatorial election and the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Godwin Obaseki at the polls.

    In a telephone call to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, President Buhari commended the well-articulated campaign programme of the APC in the state, the doggedness of the governor, governor-elect and party members in going round the state to reach the people with records of good governance over the years and a promise of continuity.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said that the outcome of the election clearly reflected the mood of the people to sustain the pedigree of responsiveness, forthrightness and diligence that Governor Oshomole brought into the service of his people.

    ‘‘The victory is good for democracy, for Nigeria and the people of Edo State,’’ he said.

    President Buhari also said that the victory was well-deserved as the campaign train, which he joined, worked hard to sell its people-centered manifesto.

    He applauded the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, corps members and electorate in ensuring a peaceful election.

    INEC had announced that Obaseki won the majority of the votes cast, with a total of 319,483 votes, and he was closely followed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP, who polled 253,173 votes.

  • Tension as Edo awaits election results

    Tension as Edo awaits election results

    …Igbinedion denies arrest
    There was huge turnout of residents in Edo State Wednesday as they trooped out to elect the next governor of the state.

    Contending candidates for the election were Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the People’s Democratic Party and Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressive Congress.

    In Edo South, the election was generally peaceful as accreditation of voters commenced as early as 8am.

    The card reader performed well across the seven local government except in few cases where the card readers stopped working and they were replaced.

    As at press time, leaders of both the PDP and APC are laying claim to victory in the keenly contested election.

    Unconfirmed report from 1100 out 2,627 polling units across the state placed the APC ahead with 78837 votes while the PDP ahead 62649 votes.

    Collation of results were still being done as at press time.

    A former lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Hon Rasaq Bello Osagie, described the call by candidate of APGA, Osaro Onaiwu, for the cancellation of the results as a defeatist comments.

    Hon Bello-Osagie said anybody who felt sub-changed should go to the court of law.

    Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency, Omosede Igbinedion, has denied being arrested by the police.

    Information that trend on the social media said Omosede, a daughter of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, was held for attempting to vote with a fake voter register.

    Omosede stated that it was the police that tried to intimidate and harass her.

    She alleged that ballot boxes were snatched in some parts of Ovia.

  • Edo governorship poll marred by violence in parts of Edo central

    The 2016 Edo State governorship election in Edo Central Senatorial District was marred with violence , allegations of vote rigging, scattered incidents of malfunctioning card reader and vote buying and ballot snatching.

    Although electoral officials were at the various polling booths as early as 8.00am,the malfunctioning of card readers delayed the process of accreditation and voting.

    At ward 8,unit 5 , Ujemen Primary School, Ekpoma, Esan West L.G.A violence broke out after angry youths attacked officials of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) for allegedly attempting to influence voters.

    A voter who pleaded anonymity said the NSCDC official attempted to coerce voters to vote a particular party.

    The situation became rowdy as a free-for all ensued as voters scampered for safety, but the situation was brought under control after reinforcements of the Nigeria Police Force stormed the venue.

    There were unconfirmed reports of ballot box snatching at Ewohimi, Esan South East L.G.A.

    The gubernatorial polls witnessed a large voter turnout at many polling centres, with many voters present at polling centres as early as 7.00am.

    At Ikekwanlen Primary School, Ward 9, Unit 8, Okpojie, Irrua, Esan Central, Senator Clifford Odia,representing Edo Central Senatorial District accused the All Progressive Congress (APC) of electoral malpractice, adding that fake soldiers were brought to disrupt polls.

    His words, ‘Security is a major problem in Ward 9, Unit 8.The APC brought fake soldiers and the paramount ruler of a community are terrorising voters and preventing them from voting.

    Another PDP chieftain and former Federal Commissioner, Federal Population Commission, Dr Peter Otaigbe decried the malfunctioning card reader,stressing that the card readers should be scrapped.

    His words, ‘I am satisfied with voter turn out,although there were small skirmishes,but all will be taken care of with the reinforcement of security agents.Card reader is poor,it could not capture my wife and my fingerprints. The two voters behind me suffered the same fate.’

  • Lagos debunks rumour of Ambode in Edo

    Lagos debunks rumour of Ambode in Edo

    The Lagos State Government has dismissed allegations made by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu alleging that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his Kaduna State counterpart, Nasir El-Rufai were in Edo State for the election.

    In a statement signed by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde on Wednesday, the government described the allegations by the PDP candidate as reckless and disgraceful.

    Mr. Ayorinde while clarifying the position of the government said Governor Ambode was presently overseas for an official assignment and in any case had no business being in Edo State on Election Day.

    “The Lagos State Governor served as the chairman Campaign Council constituted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his duty ended 24 hours before the election because no campaign was supposed to hold 24 hours to the election and having completed his assignment which included appearing with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Grand Rally in Edo State earlier in the month, Governor Ambode has no reason to return to Edo State on election day and for this sort of lie to have been peddled by a candidate who is supposed to be a pastor, is reckless and disgraceful.

    Mr. Ayorinde said Governor Ambode had clearly enumerated his position on the election during the Grand Finale of the campaign when he said that like Lagos where continuity has moved perfectly well, Edo State also deserves continuity in governance.

    “That message has been passed and has been accepted by the majority of Edo indigenes and therefore there would not be any need for the Governor to return to Edo on Election Day. The general public and security operatives are hereby advised to ignore the desperate lies of Pastor Ize-Iyamu,” Mr. Ayorinde said.

  • Edo: Oyegun debunks allegation of thugs importation

    Edo: Oyegun debunks allegation of thugs importation

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Oyegun on Wednesday debunked the allegation that the APC imported thugs for the ongoing gubernatorial elections in Edo State.

    Oyegun, who spoke to journalists after voting at ward ll, unit ll, denied reports that the party gave bribe to Edo people to secure their votes during the governorship election.

  • #EdoDecide: Police deploy sniffer dogs, surveillance aircrafts

    #EdoDecide: Police deploy sniffer dogs, surveillance aircrafts

    …Gunboats to man waterways as DIG talks tough

     

    No fewer than seven sniffer dogs have been deployed to Edo State from Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, ahead of Wednesday’s election.

    The sniffer dogs from the K-9 units were brought in from both states to augment the ones in Edo for enhanced security during the polls.

    The police also deployed surveillance helicopters, gunboats manned by armed Mobile Policemen and operatives of the Marine unit across the waterways and crime mapped places.

    This is just as the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Operations, Habila Joshak said at least five policemen would man each of the 2,627 polling units across the state to prevent invasion by militants, aliens.

    Joshak stated this on Tuesday evening at the Edo State Police Command headquarters in Benin City.

    He said that 2,000 soldiers were deployed to man the outer corridors of the state especially the highways, adding that restriction of movement would take effect from 1am.

    According to the DIG, security agencies were prepared to meet force with force, warning anyone who has no legitimate business with the election to stare clear.

    He allayed fears that students writing the General Certificate Examination (GCE) may miss Wednesday’s papers, disclosing that their examinations would hold as scheduled.

    He said: “There has been enhanced security deployment across board. We have zeroed on each of the polling booth and deployed at least five security personnel per unit. In terms of preparation and observation through the aeriel patrol of Ekpoma, Irrua and Auchi, I observed that deployments have been done and there are intervention forces in each of the local government areas.

    “In each local government, we have at least 10 patrol vans for reinforcement. For the waterways, we have had effective five gunboats and the soldiers brought in four making nine. I know that in Agenebode, we have gunboats. At the boundary between Ondo and Ogelegele waterside in Ovia Northeast, we also have there.

    “We have had to deploy gunboats manned by armed Mobile Policemen with Marine operatives on all the areas crime mapped. The personnel are to ensure that those making use of the waters are intercepted and identified. Their reasons for movement must be known. Those that are fishing identified.

    “Those of them that cannot give good explanation and identity would be brought for further interrogation. You can be sure there is adequate security. We have said that we have outer condoning. It is done by the military.

    “They are contributing about 2,000 soldiers and they are going to man the outer condoning. From 1am on Wednesday, there would be restriction of movement, particularly on the highways. People must identify themselves and subject themselves to some search because the issue of invasion by armed uniformed men that want to come and truncate the election has kept recurring.
    “We are not going to trample on people’s rights. But we would definitely restrain and ensure that those allowed moving, doing so. The security deployment is not heavy and so, citizens are excited that their security is guaranteed. It is not an invasion and we won’t have any negative effect.

    “We planned with INEC. The future of our children cannot be trampled or rescheduled because of election. We have the capacity to manage both the election and the students writing examinations. This is GCE. It is an external examination, not for all the schools. It is also an isolated examination. So, we have looked at all the schools and the places they are. We would let the students go to their centres and write their examinations, while elections are ongoing.

    “We have demonstrated and simulated what would come to play.  We discovered there is nothing negative and we can manage the two. INEC has keyed in and accepted. From all issues placed on the table, voting won’t take place where examinations are holding.

    “We have also directed that students should get to their centres as early as 6am or 7am. We have publicised among security agencies that students be allowed to go to their centres and they should go in group, in a bus that would be identified. There should also be a means of identitifaction to avoid any problem.

    “Never again should we allow election to be inconclusive as a result of security challenges. Never should we allow people using their position as cultists, hooligans, and thugs to ruin elections. This time around, force would be met with force. Those who use force and arms won’t be allowed to go scot free.”

  • Edo poll: We don’t envisage any problem – INEC

    Edo poll: We don’t envisage any problem – INEC

    …Says election going to be historic
    With all the arrangement put in place ahead of Wednesday’s governorship election in Edo state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it was not envisaging any problem that could lead to an inconclusive election.

    The election which was earlier scheduled for September 10th was however postponed on the advice of the security agency to Wednesday.

    Speaking to our Correspondent, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi said report from all quarters have been encouraging, despite the allegations by both parties.

    Oyekanmi also based the confidence of the commission on the assurances from the security agencies that Edo election will be historic.

    He said, “My dear brother, by the special grace of God there shall be no incident that will lead to inconclusive election. We have assurances from security agencies. The Nigerian police has promised to deplore 25000 men and they also have other agencies that are also co tributing men for the purpose of the election and I believe in the new commissioner of police in Edo, who gave assurances yesterday that they will decisively deal with anybody that tries to engage in any act that is capable of derailing the election in all the 18 local government areas of the state.

    “And so far we have not seen any intention of from the political gladiators to cause mayhem. There has been exchanges here and there, allegations and also of that, but we hope that this will not degenerate.

    “From the point of INEC, we have prepared for this election since March, remember that September 10th was the initial date, and we were for the advices from security agencies that persuaded us to postpone the election.

    “So we are really keen and hoping that as I speak, a lot of deployment is going on, a lot of personal and materials deployment. We are monitoring everything in real time and there had been no problem and I hope that tomorrow we will have a fantastic time and it will be a historic election. So we don’t envisage any problem.”