The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Governorship election

  • Edo 2016: Police deploy marine boats to riverine areas

    Edo 2016: Police deploy marine boats to riverine areas

    …As INEC temporarily relocate headquarters to Edo

     

    The Nigeria Police on Wednesday said they have deployed Marine Boats with their Operatives in conjunction with the Nigeria Navy to man the riverine areas before, during and after the Governorship Election of Saturday, September 10th, 2016.

    This was disclosed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, in charge of operations, Mr. Joshak Habila who was deployed by Inspector General of Police to supervise the Edo state Governorship Election.

    He said the police and other sister agencies will not compromise the sanctity of the election, and therefore warned any trouble makers to stay clear of any polling booth.

    The DIG, operations said their men in collaboration with the Nigeria Navy have effectively trained to monitor the waterways across the state.

    He said their concerns is to ensure that the election is free, fair, credible and conclusive and also ensured that the voters are safe before, during and after the election.

    Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has temporally relocated its Headquarters to Edo state ahead of the September 10Governorship Election.

    This was disclosed by the National Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu at the stakeholders meeting held at SIO events centre, Benin City.

    He said the personnel have been trained to adequately handle election matters, same he said of its ad-hoc staff, adding that the police have already deployed their operatives to all their offices across the state.

     

  • Buhari, Osibanjo, APC governors storm Edo for APC rally

    Buhari, Osibanjo, APC governors storm Edo for APC rally

    President Mohammadu Buhari, his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, All Progressives Congress Governors and the National leadership of the party will on Tuesday relocate to Edo state capital, Benin city for the grand rally for the Governorship Election of September 10.

    Speaking with journalists in Benin on Monday, the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Barrister Anselm Ojezua said anytime the APC is holding rally, there is always mass mobilization, saying “once the people know that the president is coming our people will be so excited to receive him,  celebrate and crown our efforts of moving round the entire state for the past few weeks.

    Ojezua said the National campaign Council for the APC Governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki, Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos state and his team are already in Benin to ensure smooth rally.

    He said all logistics to ensure free movement of the visitors and party supporters across the state are also be perfected.

    The APC Chairman therefore called on all Edo people in respective of party affiliation to come out emass to welcome Mr. President to the state.

    Meanwhile, the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in central city of Benin City is wearing a new look ahead of the President Mohammadu Buhari visit to Edo state.

    When our reporter visited the stadium, Soldiers, Department of State Security Services, Anti-Riot Policemen and other Security agencies has taken over the stadium and all the major roads leading in and out of Stadium Area.

    The Airport, Golf course road, and the Edaiken N’uselu palace where the President and his entourage visit had also been taken over by Soldiers and other Security agencies.

  • Ondo Poll: SDP to hold primary August 20

    Ondo Poll: SDP to hold primary August 20

    Ahead of November 26, governorship election in Ondo State, Social Democratic Party (SDP) Friday announced August 20, for the conduct of its primary election.

    This contained in a statement issued and signed by the party Secretary, Hon. Oladele Ogunbameru.

    Two aspirants, a former Minister for Power and Steel, Dr. Olu Agunloye and a legal practitioner, Bar. Pius Daodu are jostling for the ticket.

    The party said aspirants are expected to pay a total sum of N2million to obtain their expression of interest form each.

    It added that each of the aspirants is also expected to pay N500, 000 for party development and administrative fee, while N5million nomination forms.

    The party however said it prepares for the poll and also looking toward producing the best candidate.

     

  • Edo 2016: Esan Youths allege marginalization

    Edo 2016: Esan Youths allege marginalization

    The Esan Youth Movement have raised alarm over marginalization of Edo Central Senatorial district since 1999 in the sharing of political positions in the state.

    It said for equity and justice to prevail in the politics of Edo state, political parties in the state should pick the next governor from Esanland

    President of the group, Mr Kingsley Ohens, who spoke at a world press conference Tuesday in Benin City, said Edo south and Edo North have had their fair share of power as producing governors but Edo Central was not privileged.

    Ohens noted that it was time for the injustice to be rectified.

    He said Governor Oshiomhole made nonsense of the federal character principles as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution ‎and succeeded in keeping Esan people out of his government without any explanation.

    He pointed out; “Esan has credible, reliable and dependable candidates that have what it takes to take Edo state to the next level. All Esan people must unite and bring this injustice to an end.”

    “Edo south has since 2008 held on to the deputy governor, Chief judge, Head of Service,  accountant-general, auditor-general, Attorney-general, solicitor-general ‎as well as chairmen, Judicial  service Commission, law Review Commission, Oil and gas Commission among others”.

    “Edo North has held on to the Governorship, the SSG, ‎chairmen, board of Internal Revenue, Universal basic education, Local government service commission, Executive Director, ICT, Directors of Edo state Liaison Office in Abuja and Lagos, State Security Adviser and Principal Security Officer among others.”

     

  • Oshiomhole’s successor must have courage, personal convictions – Ogbemudia

    Oshiomhole’s successor must have courage, personal convictions – Ogbemudia

    Former governor of defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia has said that the successor to Governor Adams Oshiomhole must be somebody who could combine knowledge and ability to take the state to the promise land.

    Dr. Ogbemudia said the successor should not take the state back to Egypt and should be somebody that has the courage of personal convictions.

    Ogbemudia urged the people to listen to Governor Oshiomhole “so that we can journey to the land of our dreams.”

    The former governor spoke Wednesday at the first lecture series organised by the Edo Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

    Dr. Ogbemudia described Oshiomhole as a man that knows where the shoe “pinched yesterday, is pinching today and likely pinch tomorrow.”

    According to him, “All through human history, when a people were faced with challenges for survival, everyone made sacrifices. We will be told later what is expected of us. My appeal will be that all hands must be on deck in our quest for survival and this state must lead the way.”

    Chairman of the occasion, Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin urged the Nigerian press to support anti-corruption crusades of the Federal Government.

    Chief Edebiri noted that President Mohammadu Buhari has shown the zeal and political will to prosecute the anti-corruption war to its logical conclusion.

    He said, “I am convinced that the change revolution of President Buhari is still very much on course despite the initial hiccups created by some members who had laid an ambush for the new administration in order to achieve their personal desires.”

  • Edo 2016:Lawmaker warns APC against implosion

    Edo 2016:Lawmaker warns APC against implosion

    The lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Peter Akpatason, has warned that the current tension within the All Progressive Congress (APC) over who gets the party’s governorship ticket might lead to implosion of the party in the state.

    Hon Akpatason urged the APC  leadership at all levels to guide against any implosion in the party after a candidate has been elected.

    Akpatason who described the tension generated over the governorship ticket as a “normal practice” in Nigerian politics urged the party leaders to begin reconciliation process immediately after the party primaries.

    Speaking with reporters in Benin City, Akpatason said consultation with the various interests groups in the APC would increase the party’s chances of winning the governorship election.

    According to him, “what is keen and important is for the leadership of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) to be able to manage the situation in such a way that it does not lead to implosion. I believe that the situation is not out of hand.

    “After the primaries, the onus is on the leaders to quickly call everybody together and start the process of reconciliation and appease those who may feel aggrieved at that point in time because they did not win the primary election or their Candidates did not win the primaries. So that at the end of the day, the party would come out stronger and more United,” he said.

  • Breaking News: Supreme Court upholds Ortom’s election

    Breaking News: Supreme Court upholds Ortom’s election

    The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the election of Governor Samuel Ortom as governor of Benue state.

    In his ruling which lasted about 10 minutes, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta dismissed the appeal brought by Terhemen Tazoor, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the April 11, 2015 governorship election.

    Details later…

  • Wike heads to Supreme Court 

    Wike heads to Supreme Court 

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has instructed his lawyers to appeal Wednesday’s judgment of the Court of Appeal which ordered fresh governorship election in the State.

    In a statement  issued  by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, Governor Wike  stated  that  he disagrees with the judgment, hence his decision  to  exhaust  his constitutional right by challenging  the Appeal Court  judgment  at the Supreme Court.

    Governor Wike called on all his supporters and the people of Rivers State to remain calm as Justice will be done at the end of day.

    He assured  the  people  of  the  state  that he will use all constitutional processes to protect the mandate they freely bestowed on him, hence his decision  to  approach the  Supreme Court for further adjudication.

    The governor  said  that he still remains  the  duly elected governor  of  Rivers State  pending the  determination  of  his appeal  by the Supreme Court.

    Governor Wike assured the people of Rivers State that all ongoing development  projects will continue  while his administration  will  continue  to  promote  the  security of lives and property  across  the  state.

  • Bayelsa: Voting commences in most polling units

    Voting has commenced in most polling units in the Bayelsa governorship election.

     

  • We are committed to free, fair election, says Dickson

    We are committed to free, fair election, says Dickson

    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has assured the international community of his administration’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful election in the state on December 5.

    The governor who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election spoke on Thursday when the US Consul-General in Nigeria, John Bray, visited him to discuss issues bordering on the poll.

    Dickson said as part of his preparations for the election, he was on a campaign and sensitisation tour of communities across the state.

    The governor said he was also using the opportunity to educate the people on the essence of a violence-free election, describing himself as an advocate of free, fair and credible polls.

    He accused the opposition of boasting to use federal might and other various agencies of government to rig the poll.

    He further claimed that the opposition was using intimidation and threats of violence to scare the electorates.

    Dickson warned anti-democratic forces against destabilising the state, stressing that, Bayelsans would resist any attempt to sabotage the forthcoming poll.

    He called on security forces to take appropriate action against persons involved in any form anti democratic ctivities during the period.

    He said: “My duty is to sensitise the people on their rights and I have been going round to sensitise the people, not to be involved in violence, not to be  intimidated, turnout en masse and vote massively for the PDP, because we are a peaceful party as against the opposition that is known for violence.

    “Our government is known for stability, peaceful co-existence, the protection of the democratic rights of the citizens, observance of the rule of law, a record of performance, belief in the principles of free, fair and credible election which the is not known for.”

    But Bray said he came to inform Dickson of US plans to send an observer mission to monitor the poll.

    The consul-general also said he was in the Government House to share ideas with Dickson on how to conduct a free, fair and credible election.