The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo

  • Our biggest headache for Edo, Ondo Gov elections, by INEC

    Our biggest headache for Edo, Ondo Gov elections, by INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that one of its major challenges ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections is the likely activities ot non-state actors and armed groups who may want to disrupt the exercise.

    Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who raised the concern when he led National Commissioners to brief the National Peace Committee in preparation for the election, however assured that security agents in the two states have assured of their preparedness to ensure a peaceful exercise.

    Yakubu called on the National Peace Committee (NPC) to support its appeal to stakeholders in the electoral process to allow peaceful elections in Edo and Ondo states.

    While appreciating the NPC for its contribution to peaceful elections, Prof. Yakubu noted that  since its debut and support for peaceful elections, the Commission’s elections have become more peaceful than before. He urged the Committee not to relenting in its peace efforts.

    Speaking on preparations for the September and November elections in the two States, the INEC Chairman said the Commission has successfully undertaken nine out of 13 activities outlined in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Elections, which was released in September last year.

    He said the next activity which is the 10th, would be carried out on Tuesday next week when the Commission will present the Register of Voters to all the political parties fielding candidates in Edo state.

    According to him: “All the activities that INEC is supposed to conduct have been conducted without hitches. Not one activity has been adjusted for one day. All these activities are going to coalesce on Election Day on the 21st September and the Election Day is beyond the responsibilities of INEC alone.  The political parties, observers, the media, the security agencies, and everybody have a role to play.  

    “The biggest challenge we have been facing in the management of elections is what happens on Election Day. That is why the role of the National Peace Committee becomes pertinent in terms of appealing to all the actors, as we build up to the election, during the election, and also after the election.”

    Speaking on the Commission’s anticipated concerns ahead of the polls, the INEC Chairman once again raised the issue of the involvement of state-controlled security outfits, such as the Edo State Security Network, and possibly the Amotekun in Ondo state. 

    He however said that the Police in both states have given the assurance of their non-participation in the elections.

    He also expressed concern over the activities of none state actors and armed groups who are capable of disrupting the peace and electoral process before it is concluded in the two States.

    Yakubu said the Commission had raised such concerns at the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICESS) meeting held recently, and would continue to engage with security agencies to get responses on what action has been taken.

    On the Commission’s strategy to ensure that citizens in Edo and Ondo States are able to pick up their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before the elections, the INEC boss He affirmed that the Commission has printed the PVCs for 119, 000 new registrants and voters that made transfer requests or applied for replacement of lost or damaged cards.

    He said: “The total number of PVCs printed is 184,000 for all categories, and I am happy to say that all the cards have arrived in Edo State since Monday. They are currently being sorted out by Local Government, Ward, and polling unit.”

    The INEC Chairman said personalised messages will be sent to the new registrants to pick up their PVC, adding that the list of all new registrants in Edo state will be published on the Commission’s website by next week, to enable voters to check for where to collect their cards.

  • 11 cult-suspects paraded in Edo

    11 cult-suspects paraded in Edo

    The Edo State Special Task Force on Anti-Cultism yesterday paraded 11 suspected cultists that were arrested at Auchi Polytechnic in Edo North Senatorial District and Sakponba in Benin, among others.

    The task force, chaired by the state Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), warned that there would be no hiding place for cultists. 

    A member of the task force, Chris Nehikhare, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, addressed reporters in Benin, during the parade.

    Read Also: Cult-suspects kill journalist, others

    Nehikhare said: “The task force was created by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led state government, in response to increasing cult killings, which had claimed many youthful lives across the state. The directive was clear – crush cultism with an iron fist.

    “Since the inauguration of the task force, it has demonstrated commitment to rid Edo State of cultism. Initial efforts focused on education and persuasion, engaging with communities and stakeholders to dissuade the youths in particular from joining cults. Beyond persuasion,  the task force has made many arrests of key cult members across board, through painstaking intelligence procurement.

  • JUST IN: New CP assumes duty in Edo

    JUST IN: New CP assumes duty in Edo

    A new commissioner of police, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, has assumed duty in Edo state.

    Edwin-Iwo, according to the newly-appointed Edo police public relations officer, Moses Joel Yamu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), yesterday in a press statement, hails from Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    Yamu said of the new Edo police commissioner: “He holds a B.A. (Hons.) degree in History from the University of Port-Harcourt (UNIPORT) and a Master’s in Industrial Relations from the University of Ibadan (UI).

    “He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force in 1992 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police and rose through the ranks. Over the last three decades in the force, CP Nemi Edwin-Iwo has attended many tactical and leadership courses within and outside the country.

    “The new CP is a hardworking, versatile, and dedicated law enforcement officer, who has held many command positions. An urbane officer, with career experience – spanning across administration, intelligence, operations, and public relations.

    Read Also: Edo/Ondo elections: Don’t take our commitment to peace for weakness, Ribadu warns

    Internationally recognised cop, who served in the United Nations (UN) Peace Keeping Missions in Kosovo, Sudan, and Darfur.

    “Until his present posting, he was the Commissioner of Police in charge of Intelligence at the Force Intelligence Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja.”

    The PPRO also added that the new Edo police commissioner is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and he is married with children.

  • Students top list of 4.68m voters in Edo, Ondo polls

    Students top list of 4.68m voters in Edo, Ondo polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday released the final figure of registered voters in Edo and Ondo states ahead of the September 21 and November 11 governorship elections in the two states.

    The final figure showed that 2,629,025 persons registered to vote in Edo State, while 2,053,061 registered to vote in Ondo State.

    A statement by the National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, explained that out of the figure, students constitute 868,764 and 694,938 in Edo and Ondo states, making a total of 1,563,702.

    The statement said a breakdown of the figure on the basis of local government had been uploaded on the commission’s website.

    The commission promised to announce the date for the collection of the permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) in the next few days.

    The statement reads: “The commission met today, Tuesday, August 6, 2024, and approved the final register of voters for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. The register integrated new voters from the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) as well as the figures of successful applicants for transfer from other states of the federation to the two states.

    Read Also: Six prominent Nigerians who died in july

    “The Edo State now has 2,629,025 registered voters. Of this figure, 1,370,061 (52.11 per cent) are male, while 1,258,964 (47.89 per cent) are female. Youths (18 – 35 years) account for 983,133 (37.4 per cent), followed by 914,806 middle aged (36 – 49) persons. Together, they constitute 1,897,939 (72.2 per cent) of registered voters in the state.

    “In terms of occupation, 868,764 students constitute the majority of voters (33.05 per cent). There are 4,199 (0.16 per cent) Persons with Disability (PWDs).

    “The new register represents 4.9 per cent increase over the 2023 general election figure of 2,501,081.

    “Ondo State now has 2,053,061 registered voters. Of this figure, 1,034,006 (50.36 per cent) are male while 1,034,964 (47.89 per cent) are female. Youths (18 – 35 years) account for 726,944 (35.41 per cent), followed by 721,982 (35.17 per cent) middle aged (36 – 49) persons. Together, they constitute 1,448,926 (70.57 per cent) of registered voters in the State.

    “In terms of occupation, 694,938 students constitute the majority of voters (33.85 per cent). There are 1,782 (0.09 per cent) Persons with Disability (PWDs).

    “The new register represents a 3.0 per cent increase over the 2023 General Election figure of 1,191,344.

    “The detailed breakdown of the register for each state by local government areas, gender, age, occupation and disability has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information.

    “In the next few days, the commission will release the timetable for the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for the two states for all categories of voters, including new registrants from the last CVR, voters that applied for transfers, replacements and uncollected cards from previous registrations.”

  • Edo, Ondo get additional 177,914 registered voters

    Edo, Ondo get additional 177,914 registered voters

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Monday that about 177,914 will be added to the list of eligible voters for the off cycle governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States later in the year. 

    The figure released by the Commission showed that about 92,098 out the 269,992 citizens that showed up for the exercise did not meet the requirements for registration during the exercise and were screened out of the register

    The statement said that the final list of eligible voters and date for the collection of PVCs in the two states will soon be made public. 

    A statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, said the figure did not include the 8,847 applications for transfer into Edo State and the 3,132 into Ondo State from other States because they are already part of the voters register. 

    Before the Continuous Voter Registration(CVR), which ended on June 9 ahead of the elections in the two states, there were 2,501,081 registered voters in Edo state out of which, 2,128,288 collected their Permanent Voters cards. 

    Ondo State had 1,991,344 registered voters out of which, 1,729,641 collected their permanent voters cards. 

    The statement reads: “Nigerians may recall that in our press Statement on Tuesday 11th June 2024, we released the preliminary figures of newly registered voters for the forthcoming Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections before the period for claims and objections, followed by the cleaning up of the data using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS). These processes have now been concluded.

    Read Also: Edo 2024: LP’s Imansuangbon seeks Akpata’s disqualification

    “The number of new voters for Edo State is 119,206 and 58,708 for Ondo State. These figures do not include the 8,847 applications for transfer into Edo State and the 3,132 into Ondo State from other States of the Federation. 

    “Similarly, they do not include applications for transfer within the two States because they are already captured on the register of voters.

    “The figures of the new voters and inter-State transfers are being integrated into the existing register. In the next few days, the Commission will release the comprehensive and final register of voters to be used for the 2024 Governorship elections for each of the two States.

    “Meanwhile, the analysis of new voters for Edo and Ondo States, indicating their distribution by Local Government Areas, gender, age, occupation and disability has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information”.

  • Two suspects of looted bags of palliative rice in Edo arrested

    Two suspects of looted bags of palliative rice in Edo arrested

    The police in Edo State have arrested two suspects in connection with the looted ten-kilogramme bags of palliative rice, stored in a parked truck at Urora community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo.

    Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, made this known in Benin, the state capital yesterday at a briefing.

    On August 1, at the commencement of the nationwide protest, tagged: “#EndBadGovernance,” there was a 40-second viral video of residents looting rice from a truck parked at a warehouse in Urora, with the residents claiming that the warehouse belonged to Edo state government.

    Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Edo chapter, Dr. Irekpono Omoike, however, stated at a news conference at the Chancellery of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin that the vandalised residence, where bags of rice were looted at Urora, was owned by a vendor that was contracted by Edo CAN’s implementation committee for the Christian feeding programme.

    Read Also: Police arrest two suspects for looting bags of palliative rice in Edo

    He noted that the Christian feeding programme, in its second phase of distributing relief materials to vulnerable Christian groups, was funded by the state government with N2 billion.

    Omoike said: “There is a very important issue to correct a wrong notion that is circulating that the rice being distributed by the state government is rice supplied by the Federal Government and re-bagged. This is misinformation. It is a very wrong notion that needs to be corrected.

    “Earlier this year, the Edo State chapter of CAN had a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki, where he shared his concern on how to reach out to vulnerable persons and the poor, who are bearing the hardship of the economic downturn in the country.

    “After the meeting, an implementation committee for the Christian feeding programme was set up, where we designed a programme on how to reach out to the poor with food palliatives. The governor released the first batch of the funding for the programme, which is N1 billion, to purchase rice to be distributed. This was done, and in May 2024, we kicked off the distribution of the first phase at the Baptist Convention Ground in Benin City, with the distribution of 60,000 bags of 10kg rice.

    “For the second phase, another batch of N1 billion was released by the governor to replicate the exercise. We purchased another consignment, distributed it through the structure of CAN. This process has been ongoing since July. In the last few days, we have distributed to the churches that did not receive the first batch, across the 18 LGAs, and we were able to reach 56,250. There is another consignment in this second phase, just as we did in the first phase, meant for churches not under CAN, since this was done in partnership with CAN.”

  • Protesters defy downpour in Edo

    Protesters defy downpour in Edo

    Thousands of peaceful protesters in Benin and its environs in Edo State yesterday defied the downpour that started at 11:40am, expressing their displeasure over what they called bad governance.

    The protesters gathered at the popular Ring Road, near the palace of Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, but they were restricted to Ring Road.

    It rained heavily for about one hour, with most of the protesters remaining at the venue, while some persons, who decided to hide in front of government offices, banks and shops, among others, returned immediately the rain stopped.

    A podium was arranged at the deserted Ring Road, and music was played loudly, with the protesters dancing in a carnival-like atmosphere, amid heavy security presence, as indicated on Wednesday night by Edo Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye.

    Read Also: Police warn protesters against blocking roads, extorting passengers in Rivers

    Major roads and streets of Benin and its environs were also barricaded by the protesters, who carried placards bearing  inscriptions, thereby paralysing commercial activities, as the roads, streets, offices, banks, markets and other business places were deserted.

    Some of the placards read: “Say no to hunger”, “Take back our economy”, “We are hungry”, “Bring back our fuel pump price”, “Nigeria needs restructuring”, “End poverty in Nigeria”, “Say no to bad governance” and “We are not slaves”.

    One of the leaders of the protesters, Matthew Ojeikere, said they were not sponsored, adding that they wanted end to hunger, thereby ensuring good governance in Nigeria.

  • Truckload of rice looted in Edo

    Truckload of rice looted in Edo

    Protesters yesterday looted a truckload of rice at Urora in Ikpoba-okha Local Government of Edo State. 

    A witness said he believed the rice might have been sent by the Federal Government for Edo residents, but was diverted.

    He said the protesters vowed to search for hidden locations where Federal Government palliatives meant for Edo people were hidden.

    Read Also: Advocates for Freedom and Democracy (AFD)

    The protesters made a video of the looting from the truck, which was said to have broken down.

    Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, in a statement, denied that the rice belonged to the state.

    He said: “Edo State Government has received information about the looting of bags of rice from an unidentified truck and homes in parts of Benin City in the wake of ‘EndBadGovernance protests.

    “The video making the rounds is said to have emanated from the Urora axis of Ikpoba Hill, Benin, and the government does not have a warehouse in that location.”  

  • International police Chaplain to observe Edo, Ondo gov polls

    International police Chaplain to observe Edo, Ondo gov polls

    Int’l Police Chaplain Sustainable Development and Law Enforcement Inc has been shortlisted as a foreign election observer ahead of Ondo and Edo governorship elections 

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) accredited International Police Chaplain Sustainable Development and Law Enforcement Inc as one of its foreign election observers, going by the organisations integrity and objectivity over the years. 

    Making this known, the Africa Director and Commander-in-Chief, Amb. Col. Blessing A. Akinlosotu assured INEC and the respective States of upholding the organizational integrity to report with all sense of prudence what his observed during the elections.

    “In 2023 General elections, we observed the elections across the federation, and our report was one of the best because it was objective. We will do same in these state elections as well, and Nigerians would be proud we observed the elections, “he added.

    On the importance of election observation, he said: “Election observation is of great importance in Nigeria due to several reasons: Ensuring transparency and credibility: Election observation plays a crucial role in promoting transparency and credibility in the electoral process. Observers, both domestic and international, monitor different stages of the election, such as voter registration, campaign activities, voting, and vote counting. This helps to identify any irregularities or malpractices, thereby reassuring the public of the fairness and integrity of the elections.

    “Detecting and preventing electoral fraud: Election observation helps in detecting and preventing electoral fraud, including voter intimidation, ballot stuffing, multiple voting, and other forms of misconduct Observers can raise alarms and report such incidents, which can lead to investigations and appropriate actions to rectify the situation.

    “Promoting accountability: Election observation encourages electoral stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, and election management bodies, to perform their roles responsibly. Knowing that their actions are being closely watched, these stakeholders are more likely to adhere to ethical standards and follow the prescribed electoral laws and regulations.

    “Building public confidence: By providing credible and independent assessments of the electoral process, election observers enhance public confidence in the outcome of elections. This is particularly important in Nigeria, where there have been past instances of disputed and violence-prone elections. By mitigating electoral disputes and ensuring transparency, election observation contributes to peace, stability, and public trust in the democratic process.

    “Strengthening democracy: Through election observation, Nigeria can strengthen its democratic institutions and processes. Observation reports often provide recommendations for improving future elections, such as reforms in electoral laws, increased training for electoral officials, and voter education efforts. Implementing these recommendations can lead to more inclusive and representative democratic systems.

    “Overall, election observation is crucial in Nigeria as it promotes transparency, prevents electoral fraud, enhances accountability, builds public confidence, and strengthens democracy. Its significance lies in ensuring that the will of the people is effectively and fairly represented through the electoral process.”

    He urged the citizens to be law-abiding, praying security agencies to continually focus on their job just as always during elections.

  • Edo indigenes in Germany, Italy, England endorse Asue, deputy for gov

    Edo indigenes in Germany, Italy, England endorse Asue, deputy for gov

    Edo State indigenes residing in Germany, Italy and England have endorsed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September governorship election, Asue Ighodaloans his deputy, Osarodion Ogie.

    President of Edo State indigenes in Europe, Emmanuel Odigie stated that Asue and Ogie were the right individuals for the job.

    He said the overwhelming support from the Edo diaspora community reflected their belief that Ighodalo and Ogie’s candidacy resonated with the values of excellence and meritocracy that the Edo people held dearly.

    Odigie expressed unwavering confidence in the duo’s capabilities and their commitment to realising the true potential of Edo state.

    Read Also: Ini Edo congratulates Sharon Ooja on wedding ceremony with lover

    The statement said: “Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, resonate with the values of excellence and meritocracy that the Edo people hold dear. Their unmatched experience and intellectual capacity set them apart from other political candidates in the field.

    “The confident endorsement of Asue Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie by the Edo diaspora showcases a strong belief in their ability to deliver on their mandate and elevate Edo state to new heights.

    “As Edo2024 approaches, the groundswell of support and enthusiasm for the candidacy of Asue Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie continues to strengthen, reflecting a shared vision for progress and prosperity among the Edo people.”