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  • Edo 2024: Why I support PDP’s Ighodalo, by Ambrose Alli’s son

    Edo 2024: Why I support PDP’s Ighodalo, by Ambrose Alli’s son

    Andrew Alli, former CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and son of the late Prof. Ambrose Alli, one of Edo state’s most notable governors, has shared his reasons for backing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo in the forthcoming governorship election.

    Alli, a seasoned finance expert with over 30 years of experience in African infrastructure and energy projects, pointed to his long-standing personal and professional relationship with Ighodalo as the main reason for his endorsement.

    “I’ve known Dr. Ighodalo for decades as a man of integrity. He genuinely cares about Edo State and is eager to give back. While there are other strong candidates, Asue stands out as the best, which is why I’m endorsing him today,” Alli said.

    In an interesting twist, it was revealed that Ighodalo’s father, Jeremiah Ighodalo, stepped down for Ambrose Alli during the UPN governorship primaries 45 years ago, paving the way for the elder Alli’s tenure as governor.

    This connection has added a layer of historical significance to the younger Alli’s support for Ighodalo in the current race.

    Alli’s endorsement comes shortly after international music star Davido publicly backed Ighodalo, adding celebrity appeal to the growing support. Notably, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also endorsed Ighodalo, further boosting his campaign.

    Political analysts suggest that with high-profile endorsements from figures in entertainment, business, and politics, Ighodalo’s chances in the election are increasingly favourable.

    Read Also: Ighodalo, PDP chairman refuse to sign peace accord

    During his tenure at the Africa Finance Corporation, Alli managed $4.5 billion in investments across Africa, directing funds into crucial infrastructure projects.

    His expertise in finance and his dedication to Edo state’s development were said to have lent significant credibility to Ighodalo’s leadership potential.

  • Ighodalo, PDP chairman refuse to sign peace accord

    Ighodalo, PDP chairman refuse to sign peace accord

    • Abdulsalami Abubakar insists no cause for alarm

    Seventeen  of 18 political parties participating in next week’s governorship election in Edo State yesterday signed a peace accord organised by the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee.

    The event took place at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, on Airport Road, Benin, and it was witnessed by the former Head of State (Abubakar); the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Egbetokun; the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; and the Convener of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Bishop Matthew Kukah; among other eminent personalities.

    The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) boycotted the signing of the accord to protest the idea of deploying Dr. Anugbum Onuoha and Nemi Edwin-Iwo, associates of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and the Commissioner of Police respectively.

    PDP chairman Dr Tony Aziegbemi and the party’s flag bearer, Dr Asue Ighodalo were present at the venue from the beginning to the end, but they refused to sign, insisting that they were at the event to register their protest before the peace committee about the arrest and detention of 10 of their members who they insist are deliberately being kept out of circulation until after the election.

    Dr Aziegbemi and the PDP candidate initially moved at 12:25 p.m. to the podium, where the peace accord was being signed, but they gently protested to Bishop Kukah, who was coordinating the signing. They also moved to where Gen. Abubakar was seated and repeated the protest.

    Gen. Abubakar later announced that Aziegbemi and Ighodalo gave some conditions (undisclosed) that they insisted must be met before they sign the accord later in Abuja.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki, the leader of the PDP in Edo, had on Wednesday indicated that the party might not sign the peace accord, because the agency (the police) responsible for enforcing the accord had, through their action, shown that they were acting in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and waging war against the PDP.

    Obaseki spoke when he received Gen. Abubakar, who was on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Benin.

    The signing of the accord was also witnessed by the reinstated Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, who recently defected from the PDP to the APC; and former APC National Chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole.

    Gen. Abubakar said the signing of the peace accord was not just a ceremony, but an important commitment to uphold the peace, unity, and democratic values.

    He said the signing of this peace accord signifies the readiness of the political parties and their candidates to place the interest of the people they intend to serve above their individual or party ambitions.

    He added: “It is a commitment to conduct campaigns free of hate speech, incitement, and violence, and to accept the outcome of the votes, as long as it is adjudged to be free, fair and credible. Elections are a pillar of democracy, and in democracy, there are no losers; only participants who play their part in advancing the will of the people they represent and serve.

    “I appeal to the esteemed candidates, parties and their supporters to remember that peace is the foundation upon which progress and development is built and established. Without it, none of the promises made to the people of Edo state can be fulfilled.”

    Bishop Hassan Kukah charged the candidates to see peace as a foundation for a credible election. He said that the task before the committee was to support INEC to ensure a peaceful election devoid of violence. He added: “We should be thankful for our country because some other African countries are in crisis because of unresolved political issues. Let us thank God that we have the opportunity in Nigeria to stretch our hands in search of justice.”

    Read Also: Abure: Yesufu, Ighodalo, others ran Obi campaign funds

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Joseph Eboigbe, expressed concern over the continuous detention of PDP members in Abuja.

    He, however, assured the Peace Committee of the safety of all stakeholders during and after the election.

    IGP Egbetokun assured that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, would be supporting INEC to conduct a hitch-free election. He said: “I am here today to reaffirm our commitment to a peaceful and secure electoral process. We recognise the importance of this movement, and the trust placed in us to protect the integrity of this election.

    “We will remain impartial, professional and vigilant while providing a level playing ground for political parties and their candidates. I urge all stakeholders to embrace peace, tolerance and respect for the democratic process.”

    The INEC chairman, Prof. Yakubu reiterated that four years ago the NPC took a historic decision to devolve the signing of the peace accord beyond the presidential election to include off-cycle governorship elections, given the tension and violence often associated with the build-up to and conduct of such elections.

    He said: “The first peace accord outside Abuja was signed on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, here in Benin City, ahead of the last governorship election, held on September 19, 2020. Happily, political parties and candidates adhered to their commitments under the terms of the peace accord and the election was held peacefully, despite the tension during the pre-election campaign activities.

    “Once again, we are here in Edo State, on the eve of another governorship election. As the election management body, I want to assure political parties and candidates that we will continue to play our part, according to the law and best practice, as articulated in the clauses of the National Peace Accord that we are about to commit ourselves to.

    “I appeal to political parties and candidates to note that it is not your signatures on the peace document that will guarantee peaceful election; it is your commitment to its implementation that is critical.”

  • Esan group rallies support for Ighodalo

    Esan group rallies support for Ighodalo

    An Esan-centric socio-cultural group, the Esan4OsadebeyHouse2024Team, has called on Esan indigenes to join hands and vote for the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 election in Edo State, Dr Asue Ighodalo.

    The group emphasised the need for Esan people to act as a united family, and avoid the possibility of splitting their votes, because of the potential danger and inherent disadvantages of doing so. 

    The group, yesterday in a communique released at the end of its emergency meeting in Benin, titled: “Unity and Support for Asue Ighodalo – A Call to Action,” and signed by Patrick Okpebholo, aka Patsbolo, argued that Esan was at a critical juncture in its history, stressing that the opportunity to produce the governor of the state, in the person of Ighodalo, had been presented to Esan.

    Read Also: Police arrest woman for trafficking, rescue 16 children in Rivers

    It noted that should Esan people allow themselves to be led by emotion, rather than reason, it could become counterproductive for Esan nation.

    The group said: “We, the Esan people, stand at a critical juncture in our history. The upcoming Edo gubernatorial election presents a rare opportunity for our community to produce a governor, Asue Ighodalo, who has demonstrated respect, commitment, and dedication to our welfare.

    “We, however, face a danger that threatens to undermine our progress: division and split votes. If we allow emotions to dictate our actions and fragment our support, we risk inadvertently contributing to the victory of opposing forces, specifically the Labour Party (LP).”

  • UPDATED: Appeal Court rejects Esene, Ojezua’s case to disqualify Ighodalo

    UPDATED: Appeal Court rejects Esene, Ojezua’s case to disqualify Ighodalo

    …Awards N3m cost against appellants

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday struck out the appeal by governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Arthur Esene and Anselm Ojezua seeking to disqualify the party’s candidate in the forthcoming September 21 governorship election, Asue Ighodalo.

    Esene and Ojezua had, in the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/863/2024, prayed the Court of Appeal to set aside the April 17 judgment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja which dismissed their suit for being statute barred.

    Justice Omotosho had also held that not only did they fail to prove their claim that Ighodalo forged his voter’s card, but the non-possession of voter’s card did not constitute a disqualifying factor under the Constitution and the Electoral Act to deny a candidate from contesting election.

    On Friday, the Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgment of a three-member panel affirmed the April 17 judgment by Justice Omotosho and awarded a N3million cost against Esene and Ojezua, in favour of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP and Ighodalo.

    The appellate court, which determined all the five issues identified for determination, against the appellants, held that not only was the suit, from which the appeal emanated, statute-barred, having been instituted outside the 14 days allowed for pre-election cases, it was without merit.

    Justice Hamma Barka, who authored and read the lead judgment held that the issue in contention in the case was pre-election in nature and therefore fell under the provision of Section 285(9) of the Constitution, which mandates the filing of a pre-election cases with 14 days from the date of the occurrence of the event or action complained of.

    The judge stated that the current position of the law is that the date to be reckoned with in computing the 14 days is the date of the occurrence of the event, decision or action complained of and not the date the aggrieved person became aware of the event, decision or action.

    Read Also: ‘PDP’s Ighodalo going nowhere, ignore Ologunagba’s boasts’

    He added that: “the date the appellants in this appeal became aware of the particulars the fifth respondent (Ighodalo) submitted to INEC is irrelevant for the computation of the limitation period.

    “The time began to run when the fourth respondent submitted the fifth respondent’s for EC9 to INEC (the third respondent) being the 24th of March 2024 as held by the lower court.

    “A simple calculation from the 24th of March to the 12th of April, when this case was instituted at the lower court will surely yield more than the stipulated 14 days, thereby rendering any action and indeed, this action, generating the instant appeal, statute barred.”

    In determining the case on merit, Justice Barka agreed with the findings of the Federal High Court that, not only did Ojezua and others fail to establish their claim that Ighodalo forged his voter’s card, but their suit was bereft of any merit because it was based on a flawed assumption that non-possession of a voter’s card constitutes a ground to disqualify a candidate from contesting election.

    He found that the appellants failed to appeal the findings of the trial court that upon Ighodalo’s application, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) actually transferred his registration from Ikoyi, Lagos State to Edo State and that INEC confirmed issuing a voter’s card to Ighodalo.

    Justice Barka held that in view of these findings, the lower court’s position that the appellants did not prove their allegation of forgery could not be faulted.

    He further held that the position of the law is that “where the alleged falsified document is not a qualifying factor under the Constitution, its presentation cannot disqualify an otherwise qualified person.”

    The judge noted that, as rightly held by the lower court, going by the provision of Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, to disqualify a candidate for falsification, the false information complained of must relate to the constitutional requirements for qualification to contest election to the office in dispute, which, in this case, is that of the governor of Edo State.

    He held: “The lower court was on the right footing in reaching the conclusion that voter’s card was not a constitutional requirement to be qualified to contest election to the office of the governor of a state under the contemplation of Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act.”

    “All issues, having been resolved against the appellants, means that this appeal is devoid of any scintilla of merit and undeserving of success. Not only is the case statute-barred, but it is also lacking in merit.

    Justice Barka proceeded to strike out the appeal for being without merit and proceeded to award cost of N3 million against the appellants and in favour of Ighodalo, PDP, and INEC.

    Other members of the panel – Justices Usman Musale and Okon Abang – agreed with the lead judgment.

    Reacting to the judgment, Ighodalo’s campaign organization said “with these legal hurdles out of the way, the coast is now clear for Asue Ighodalo to contest the forthcoming September election as the flag bearer of the PDP.”

  • BREAKING: Appeal Court rejects Esene, Ojezua’s case to disqualify Ighodalo

    BREAKING: Appeal Court rejects Esene, Ojezua’s case to disqualify Ighodalo

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday struck out the appeal by  governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Arthur Esene and Anselm Ojezua seeking to disqualify the party’s candidate in the forthcoming September 21 governorship election, Asue Ighodalo.

    Esene and Ojezua had, in the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/863/2024, prayed the Court of Appeal to set aside the April 17 judgment by Justice James  Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja which dismissed their suit for being statute barred.

    Justice Omotosho had also held that, not only did they fail to prove their claim that Ighodalo forged his voter’s card, non-possession of  voter’s card did not constitute a disqualifying factor under the Constitution and the Electoral Act to deny a candidate from contesting election.

    In the lead judgment of the Court of Appeal on Friday, Justice Hamma Barka affirmed the judgment by Justice Omotosho and held that the suit filed before the Federal High Court by Ojezua and four others was filed out of time and statute barred.

    Justice Barka also agreed with the finding of the Federal High Court that, not only did Ojezua and others failed to establish their claim that Ighodalo forged his voter’s card, their suit was bereft of any merit because it was based on a flawed assumption that not possession of a voter’s card constitutes a ground to disqualify a candidate from contesting election.

    Read Also: ‘PDP’s Ighodalo going nowhere, ignore Ologunagba’s boasts’

    He found that the appellants failed to appeal the findings of the trial court that Ighodalo actually applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the transfer of his registration from Lagos State to Edo State and that INEC issued a voter’s card to Ighodalo.

    Justice Barka proceeded to strike out the appeal for being without merit and proceeded to award cost of N3million against the appellants and in favour of Ighodalo, PDP and INEC.

    Other members of the panel – Justices Usman Musale and Okon Abang – agreed with the lead judgment.

    Details shortly…

  • New Market traders endorse Ighodalo

    New Market traders endorse Ighodalo

    The New Benin Market traders in Benin, the state capital, have endorsed the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

    The endorsement followed Ighodalo’s mid-morning visit to the market, which turned into a carnival-like show, as the traders danced and showed support for the candidate, who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo.

    Coordinator of New Benin Market Christian Traders Fellowship, Mr. Ero Amienghomwan, who introduced Ighodalo to the cheering crowd, prayed that by November 12, 2024, the standard bearer of the PDP would be at Osadebey Avenue, seat of Edo State government, in the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin.

    President of the State Market Women/Traders’ Association, Mrs. Blacky Ogiemen, urged the traders to support for Ighodalo.

    Read Also: Obaseki, Ighodalo, Ikimi, others kick off PDP campaign in Ubiaja

    She thanked the women for coming out to receive the candidate, while urging the traders to come out en masse on September 21 to vote PDP, with the umbrella as its symbol.

    Ogiemen told the traders that Ighodalo was their son, as he was born in the New Benin area, and they should be proud of him.

    According to her, the traders and other women in the state, had resolved to vote for PDP and defend their votes, while admonishing them not to fear, and that there would be nothing like intimidation.

    She said that Ighodalo had the capacity to further the peace and development being currently enjoyed in Edo.

    Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, who expressed gratitude for the warm reception accorded her husband and his entourage, and assured the traders that her husband would not abandon them, if elected.

    Ighodalo’s wife stated that whatever her husband promised, he would fulfil, stressing that if he failed to fulfill his promises, she would be the only person who could force him to do the needful.

    Mrs. Ighodalo distributed aprons and wrappers to the women.

    The candidate in his address, promised the traders that he would work assiduously for the growth and development of their businesses and promote prosperity for all.

    He promised to ensure that those who called themselves lions and tigers would never return to the markets to harass or intimidate the traders.

    Ighodalo noted that there was the need to work together as the election closes in, for the progress and development of Edo.

  • ‘Will secure victory in Oredo local govt’

    ‘Will secure victory in Oredo local govt’

    The Edo Governorship Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, will record a landslide victory in the election.

    Crusoe Osagie, Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the council in Oredo stated this at a news conference on Monday in Benin.

    Osagie, who is also the Special Adviser on Media Project to Gov. Godwin Obaseki, described Ighodalo as the most viable candidate.

    “We are just waiting for the day of the election and Edo people will massively vote for Asue Ighodalo because of the achievements of the PDP-led government.

    “We are also calling on other people in the three senatorial districts and across the 18 LGAs to join us to ensure we massively vote for the right person in office.

    Read Also: Local govt commissioner condemns anti-Igbo post

    According to Osagie, the state needs a candidate with pedigree, intelligence and experience to pilot the affairs of Edo at this critical period in our nation’s socio-economic and political life.

    He said Ighodalo was a successful businessman, who before now, had been advising the state government on economic policies since the time of former governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    Osagie said that PDP’s candidate would use the debate being organised by the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Sept. 15 to showcase the full package of programmes for Edo, if elected.

  • My campaign will be issue-based, says Ighodalo

    My campaign will be issue-based, says Ighodalo

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 election in Edo State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has disclosed that he promised himself to always place emphasis on issue-based campaigns, while declaring that no circumstance will make him derail.

    Ighodalo disclosed this in Benin, while reacting to trending videos on social media, containing the remarks, at campaign rallies, of a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adams Oshiomhole, an ex-Governor of Edo state, who currently represents Edo North Senatorial District.

    Oshiomhole reiterated that Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, who hails from Ewohimi in Esan Southeast Local Government Area in Edo Central Senatorial District, could not speak his Esan language, despite his claiming to have grown up in his hometown, thereby needing an interpreter in Ewohimi, unlike the standard bearer of APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, also an Esan indigene, who currently represents Edo Central Senatorial District, and speaks Esan language fluently.

    Read Also: Appeal Court affirms Ighodalo as PDP candidate

    The former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC (Oshiomhole), also claimed that Ighodalo had no house in Ewohimi. The governorship candidate of PDP in Edo, however, stated that Oshiomhole had visited his house in Ewohimi on many occasions.

    He said: “Someone will stand on a podium, regardless of his age, and lie through his teeth, and we think that people should believe.

    “Oshiomhole said, l do not have a house in Ewohimi, but he came to my house when my father died. He was there, and he spoke at my father’s funeral, eulogising my family. He came and stayed in my house. When his (Oshiomhole’s) wife died, he and some of his guests stayed in my house at Ewohimi.”

  • N65b will solve Edo water crisis, says Ighodalo

    N65b will solve Edo water crisis, says Ighodalo

    The standard bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has revealed that it will require between N60 billion to N65 billion to solve the water crisis across the three senatorial districts of the state.

    Ighodalo, a lawyer, made the disclosure in a programme on national television. He said the estimate was based on a recent assessment of the water reticulation project. He listed tourism, agriculture and manufacturing sectors, and an increase in Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) as sources of funds for the project.

    He revealed that financing government projects would not be a challenge to his administration, because of his background as head of key institutions and corporate entities, and as an investment expert.

    Read Also: FIRS establishes anti-corruption unit to combat corruption

    The PDP candidate said: “Our recent assessment suggests that we would probably need between N60 billion to N65 billion to solve the water problem in Edo State. The issue is where are we going to get the money from? I have spent part of my life raising money for corporate and institutions. So, I know where the money is.

    “The issue is, for those who have the money, use the money for the things you said you were going to use it for effectively. Edo State earns revenue of N15 billion to N17 billion at peak times in a month. We need to build the big pie. So, we should be looking at Edo State that doubles or triple that as quickly as possible.”

    Ighodalo also assured that he would win the governorship election if a level playing ground was provided for the contest.

  • Appeal Court affirms Ighodalo as PDP candidate

    Appeal Court affirms Ighodalo as PDP candidate

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the nomination of Asue Ighodalo as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the governorship election scheduled for September 21 in Edo State.

    A three-member panel of the court held, in a unanimous judgment yesterday, said that the appeal by a governorship aspirant of the party, Anselm Ojezua, was without merit.

    The appellate court resolved the two issues raised for determination by the appellant against him and in favour of the respondents.

    Respondents in the appeal, marked:CA/ABJ/CV/775/24 are Ighodalo, the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The court held that Ojezua did not present any evidence before the court to show that he first exhausted the internal dispute resolution mechanisms of the PDP as required by the party’s Electoral Guidelines, before rushing to court.

    It noted that all the correspondences which he co-signed with some other aggrieved aspirants do not qualify for formal complaint or petition to the PDP Governorship Election Appeal Panel, within the contemplation of the Electoral Guidelines and constitution of the party.

    Ojezua had, in the appeal,   sought to reverse the judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which earlier struck out the suit for being premature.

    Ojezua had prayed the Federal High Court to invalidate Ighodalo’s nomination, claiming among others that the primary election process was manipulated.

    Justice Peter Obiorah, who authored and read the lead judgment of the Court of Appeal on Monday, affirmed the finding of Justice Egwuatu that Ojezua’s suit was premature and the condition precedent to the exercise of the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction on the suit has not been met.

    Although Justice Obiorah faulted Justice Egwuatu for not determining the suit on the merit, he however, declined to invoke the power of the court under Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act to hear and determine the suit on the merit, as prayed by the appellant.

    Justice Obiorah held that, having affirmed the finding of the lower court that it lacks jurisdiction, the suit being premature, it was impossible for the Court of Appeal to assume jurisdiction to hear it when the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the suit.

    He proceeded to dismiss the appeal and affirmed the June 26, 2024 judgment by Justice Egwuatu.

    In four earlier judgments, the Court of Appeal set aside the July 4 judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja faulting the conduct of the governorship primary of the PDP in Edo State, which produced Ighodalo as the party’s candidate in the forthcoming election.

    Read Also: Wike vows to curb one chance menace in FCT

    The appellate court equally reversed the ruling delivered by Justice Ekwo on the same day in which he held that Hon. Kelvin Mohammed and two others, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the 378 PDP ad-hoc ward delegates elected on February 4, who alleged exclusion from the party’s governorship primary, have the locus standi to sue on the issue.

    Justice Usman Musale, who authored and read the lead judgments in the four appeals, held that they were all meritorious and proceeded to allow them.

    Meanwhile, a PDP party chieftain has hailed the verdict.

    The Deputy Director-General, Media and Publicity, Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council of PDP in Edo, Rev. Olu Martins, noted that the judiciary had closed the back door for any political party, especially the APC, to gain entrance into the Government House on Osadebe Avenue, Benin, by the judgment of the appellate court.

    Olu, also admonished Edo electorate to be ready to massively vote for the cerebral Ighodalo on September 21, in order to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki on November 12 this year, so as to continue to transform the Southsouth state, and ensure good governance.