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Tag: Estako

  • Who wins Estako by-election?

    Who wins Estako by-election?

    Coming after the recent governorship election in Edo State, the Estako Federal Constituency by-election scheduled to take place tomorrow is another opportunity for the two leading political parties to test their popularity once again. Though six political parties are taking part in the contest, OSAGIE OTABOR believes that it is likely to be a two-horse race. In this report, he looks at the chances of the two parties. 

    All is set for tomorrow’s Estako Federal Constituency by-election in Edo State for the  seat vacated by Philip Shaibu, who emerged as the deputy governor, following the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in September 28,2016 governorship election. A total of six political parties are fielding candidates for the by-election. Shaibu won the seat on APC platform during the 2015 general elections.

    The parties vying for the seat are the Action Congress for Democrats (ACD), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the APC, the Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The six candidates, according to the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), are: Ratitu Sule (ACD), Miminu Aliu (ADC), Johnson Oghuma (APC), Promise Mamoud (MPPP), Aishat Abu (NNPP) and Comrade Jude Imagwe (PDP).

    But, from all indications, the ruling APC and the major opposition party, the PDP, are likely to renew their rivalry at the by-election. Both parties are expected to struggle for votes in the three local government areas that made up the constituency: Estako East, Estako West and Estako Central.

    The two parties have been campaigning vigorously in the three local government areas. Leading the PDP is its state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih. Other leaders of the party are:Chief Raymond Dokpesi,Pascal Ugbome, Emmanuel Momoh, former Chief of Staff to ex- President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe among others.

    At one of such rallies, Orbih urged the people not to vote for the APC candidate, “because his eight years in the House of Assembly was a waste to Etsako Central constituency”. He described the PDP standard bearer in the election, Imagwe, as an upright, capable and vibrant young man who is poised to give quality representation to the constituency. The PDP chairman told the electorate that a vote for his party would bring integrity, unity and growth to the constituency.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki led the APC campaign for the election. Other leaders of the APC in Estako are: former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Francis Alimekhena, the Deputy Governor, Shaibu and Usman Shagadi.

    At the party’s rallies, Obaseki told the people that his administration has concluded plans to build a seaport at Agenebode, the headquarters of Estako East Local Government, with a view to fast track economic activities and create employment opportunities for the people.

    Obaseki urged the people to repeat theAPC  in last year’s governorship election and that his administration was committed to the sustenance of the growth started by the Oshiohmole’s administration.

    He said: “As you voted me and Philip (Shaibu) during the governorship election, I implore you all, our great supporters, to vote for our candidate. The party has made the right choice of candidate to fly its flag and I have no doubt that the APC will win the coveted federal seat.”

    Going by the result of the last governorship, the APC appears to have an upper hand in tomorrow’s contest. Political analysts have attributed the victory of the APC in the area during the last governorship election to the voting pattern of the people of Estako West, where both Oshiomhole and Shaibu hail from. The PDP candidate in the by-election hails from Estako East, while his APC counterpart (Oghuma) hails from Estako Central. Any candidate with the highest number of votes from Estako West will surely win the election. This is because Estako West has the highest number of registered voters in the federal constituency, compared to the other two local governments.

    The constituency has a total of 252,110 registered voters. Estako West has the largest voting population with 140,366 voters. Estako East has a voting population of 68,080.  Estako Central has 43,664 voters.

    Some analysts are of the view that it would not be an easy victory for the APC, unlike in last year’s governorship election.This, they said, is because Imagwe is popular among the youths in the locality. In the 2015 general elections, it was votes from Estako West that gave both Shaibu and Alimekhena victory, as the PDP won in both Estako East and Estako Central. In the governorship election, the APC had 57,650 votes from the three local governments.The PDP scored 32,222 votes.

    Imagwe described himself as the representative of youths in the constituency. He is just 38 years old; unlike his opponent, who is 56. Imagwe was a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and a former Senior Special Assistant to former President Jonathan. At the campaigns, he said his victory would bring even growth, peace and unity to Etsako people.

    He promised to provide employment opportunities for the youths, educational scholarship for students, as well as skills acquisition for the army of unemployed youths.

    He added: “The period of poor representation of Estako at the National Assembly is over. We will attract development. We will make sure we have a perfect skill acquisition centre to create employment opportunities for our youths. I am going there to represent everybody.”

    at the primary.

    He promised to continue from where Shaibu stopped at the National Assembly. He said his previous achievements would secure victory for him.

    As part of its preparedness for the election, INEC said it has recruited and trained 1,622 ad hoc workers including members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). It said sensitive election materials would be deployed to the three local government areas today.

    The commission’s Administrative Secretary, Mr. Oscar Lee-Amaechi, who spoke to The Nation, said INEC was ready to conduct the election.He added that it would be peaceful and transparent. He said voting and accreditation will be done simultaneously, as in previous election and that materials will be deployed to polling centres on time.

  • Estako by-election: PDP, APC return to trenches

    Estako by-election: PDP, APC return to trenches

    On January 28, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) will renew their battle for supremacy during the House of Representative by-election in Estako Constituency. The previous occupant, Hon Philip Shaibu, is now the Edo State deputy governor.

    Politician who have represented Estako since 1999 are late Dr. Austin Obozuwa on the PDP from 1999 to 2003. Hon Abubakar Momoh between 2003-2007. Hon Abbas Braimah was at the National Assembly between 2007-2011. Hon Abubakar Momoh was re-elected in 2011. Shaibu won the 2015 election to represent Estako.

    The Estako by-election will be the first test of the ability of Governor Godwin Obaseki to provide leadership for the ruling APC. The PDP, Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, will have the opportunity to prove critics wrong that he has not won any election in his domain since he emerged chairman of the party.

    Estako Federal Constituency is made up of Estako East, Estako West and Estako Central local government areas. It is the constituency with the largest population in Edo North senatorial district. Estako West has the highest voting population among the three local governments. In the 2015 general elections, the votes from Estako West secured victory for the APC in the senatorial district.

    The PDP has always lost election since 2008 when it lost power in the state to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) under former Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    The January 28 date fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appeared to have taken the political parties by surprise as both the PDP and the APC had to fix their primaries on the same day. The PDP, which expressed reservations on the date, accused INEC of fixing the date to catch other political parties unawares.

    Its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, said was a confirmation of an unholy alliance between the electoral body and the APC.

    Nehikhare, however said that the PDP was not deterred by the date fixed by INEC.

    He said: “We are pleased to inform the good people of Estako Federal Continuency and by the extension, the good people of Edo State, that many people from that Continuency have signified interest to participate in the party primaries forced on us by INEC, scheduled for Saturday irrespective of the very short notice.

    “PDP will be presenting a strong, viable and grassroots evolved candidate to represent the good people of Estako Federal Continuency.

    INEC and APC cannot stop the emergence of a PDP candidate to win and represent Estako Federal Continuency.”

    Three aspirants picked the nomination forms of the PDP. They are Mike Abekhe from Okpella in Estako East, Victor Okhamo from Iyamho in Estako West and Prince Musa Braimoh from Uzarue also in Estako West.

    However, the party caucus opted for a former President of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) Comrade Jude Imagwe. Comrade Imagwe was later picked after the initial favoured aspirant, Victor Okhaimo stepped down. Imagwe emerged through a consensus agreement by party delegates.

    The race by members of the APC began immediately Shaibu was sworn-in as the deputy governor. Six persons, including a son of Oshiomhole, Dr. Cyril, indicated interest in the race. Others were John Akhigbe, Johnson Oghuma, Joseph Ugheoke,  Professor Waziri Erameh and a former governorship aspirants of the APC, Blessing Agbonmhere.

    The campaign posters of the APC aspirants flooded nooks and crannies of the three local government areas.

    For the purpose of balance of power, the APC zoned the seat to Estako Central since Estako East produced the senator representing Edo North while Shaibu hails from Estako West.

    Two days to the primary, four aspirants stepped down from the race after a meeting with Hon Shaibu. Oshiomhole’s son was asked to withdraw from the race since he hails from Estako West. Those that stepped down were John Akhigbe, Johnson Oghuma, Joseph Ugheoke,  Professor Waziri Erameh.

    Agbomhere and Oghuma contested the primary, which was won by Oghuma, despite protest the by Agbomhere. Agbomhere alleged that the primary was rigged in favour in his opponent. He later stormed out of the venue and ordered his supporters to go out.

    Oghuma polled 334 votes to defeat Agbomhere, who garnered 75 votes.

    But, Agbonmhere later asked his supporters to vote for the APC. He said his decision was because he is a loyal party man and believes in the growth of the APC.

    The chances of the PDP are very slim in the by-election. It was in the 2015 general elections that the PDP attempted dislodge the APC, but it was stopped by votes from Estako West, the local government where both Oshiomhole and Shaibu hail from. It performed woefully in last year’s governorship election as the APC won in the three local governments.

  • Estako by-election: Agbomhere urges APC to declare him winner

    An aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Estako Federal Constituency by-election to replace Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu in the National Assembly, Mr. Blessing Agbomhere, has urged the party’s appeal panel to declare him winner of Saturday’s primaries.

    Agbomhere, who stormed out of the venue of the primaries, got 75 votes against the 334 votes Johnson Oghuma got.

    Addressing reporters yesterday after submitting his petition to the party’s appeal panel, Agbomhere said he was already leading before the election was manipulated in favour of his opponent.

    The politician accused the election committee’s panel, headed by Senator Ibn Na’Allah, of disallowing constitutionally recognised delegates from participating in the party primaries.

    He said the APC constitution provided for 26 party executives at the ward level to vote in the primaries while the panel allegedly reduced the number to 12 executive members.

    But the former APC governorship aspirant urged his supporters to vote for the party during the by-election.

    Agbomhere said: “The process was changed to favour my opponent. If they had followed the party’s procedures, I would have won. I got the 75 votes while I was in the field.

    “My prayer is for the party to declare me winner. I am a party faithful and I believe in democracy. I am asking my supporters to vote for the APC because I know I will get justice.”

    APC State Chairman Anselm Ojezua said he monitored the primaries and it was transparent.

    Ojezua said: “Yesterday’s (Saturday’s) primary was transparent, free and fair. Strangely enough, in his (Agbomere’s) written petition, he did not accuse the panel of manipulating the process; he only said the list it used was short of the requirement.”

  • PDPsupporters protest in Estako West

    Supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Estako-West Local Government of Edo State yesterday marched on the streets of Auchi to protest the April 20 local government elections.

    The protesters walked through Auchi Polytechnic Road, Igbe Road, Warrake Road, Igarra Road and the Benin-Auchi-Okene Highway but were stopped from entering the council secretariat by soldiers.

    They called for a cancellation of the elections.

    The PDP chairman in the area, Sheriff Idenebomhe, said those sworn in as chairman and councillors were not the representatives of the people.

    Sheriff alleged that the electoral body brought incomplete materials to the locality and that the process was manipulated.

    He called on Nigerians to prevail on Governor Adams Oshiomhole to conduct a free and fair election.

    But the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader in the area, Abubakar Akokhia, said the elections were free and fair.

    “I don’t call them protesters; they are robbers. What are they talking about, that there was no election? If you watched the news, you saw the governor and the ACN chairmanship candidate, Hassan Kadiri, casting their votes. That tells you that there was an election in Estako West, apart from the two wards that were cancelled, which is obvious.”

    Kadiri said the PDP was responsible for the cancellation of elections in the wards.

    “We conducted elections before and we defeated them, this time around they are calling for the cancellation of the elections, it simply means that they are not on ground,” he said.