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Tag: Ize-Iyamu

  • Edo polls: Tribunal releases results of recounted ballot papers

    Edo polls: Tribunal releases results of recounted ballot papers

    The Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal has released results of the recounted ballot papers used for the September 28 governorship election.

     

    In its ruling on February 9, 2017, the three-man tribunal headed by Justice Ahmed Badamasi granted the prayers of the People’s Democratic Party and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu by ordering the recount of ballot papers in Egor, Akoko-Edo, Etsako West and Etsako East local government areas.

     

    The APC won in all the four local government areas where the ballot papers were recounted.

     

    However, the ballot papers which held for two days could not be concluded following the expiration of the period given to the petitioners to prove their cases.

     

    From the results released, only eight wards were counted in three local government areas while no ballot papers were recounted in Estako East local government.

     

    In the report signed by the Assistant Secretary to the tribunal, Buhari Sani, and given to parties in the case, the recounting exercise was concluded in Wards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in Etsako West Local Government Area, Wards 1 and 2 in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area and Ward 1 of Egor Local Government Area. 

     

    The recounting from Estako West showed that Ward 1 had 1,281 votes, Ward 2 had 1,542 votes, Ward 3 had 1,490 votes, Ward 4 had 1,994 and Ward 5 had 3,025 votes.

     

    In Akoko-Edo, Ward 1 had a total of 3,206 and Ward 2 had a total of 3,849 votes.

     

    The only ward counted in Egor local government had 3,217 votes.

     

    Sani said the recounting stopped at 1pm by the tribunal on the application of Counsel to the Governor Godwin Obaseki.

     

    The tribunal resumes sitting on Friday with INEC opening its defence of the case.

  • Tribunal declines PDP’s, Ize-Iyamu’s bid to bring new evidence

    Tribunal declines PDP’s, Ize-Iyamu’s bid to bring new evidence

    The Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin, the state capital, yesterday ruled against a bid by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to introduce fresh evidence, besides those deposed to by their principal witness (PW) 13, Alhaji Mohammed Shaibu.
    In his earlier deposition, Shaibu, a resident of Okugbe-Okpella in Etsako East Local Government, said his complaints stemmed from accreditation alone.
    But during cross-examination, he said: “I voted in Unit 9 and no voter was accredited via the voters’ register. I complained.”
    Asked if he would be surprised to see that his name was not on the voters’ register, Shaibu said: “My name is there. I agree that I must accredit before I vote, and anyone who is not registered in a particular polling unit cannot vote there.”
    When the witness was shown the voters’ register for Unit 9, where he claimed to have voted, he expressed shock that his name was not on the register.
    The only Mohammed on the list was Mohammed Awosetu.
    The petitioners’ lawyer Denwigwe (SAN) argued that Shaibu was a registered voter, adding that he voted.
    The lawyer asked the witness to tender his voter’s card.
    The defendants’ lawyer Tunji Oyeyipo opposed the attempt to make the witness tender his voter’s card as evidence of voting, after agreeing that his name was not onthe voters’ register.
    Oyeyipo prayed the court to reject the move since it was not pleaded in the witness’s deposition.
    Tribunal Chairman Justice A. T. Badamasi said it was trite law and an attempt to introduce fresh issues.
    He said: “He (Shaibu) could not point his name in the voters’ register. The petitioners could have raised the issues in their pleadings. It is our view that your plea is lacking in merit and it is hereby refused.”
    Other witnesses from Estako East who testified are: Etame Oshiomah, Alhaji Mohammed Shaibu, Yusuf Seidu Abu and Ekpomiri Henry.
    They said there was no accreditation in some polling units, adding that there was over-voting at other polling units.
    The three-man panel, headed by Justice Ahmed Badamasi, was on break at the time of filing filing this report.

  • Edo poll: 400 witnesses to testify for Ize-Iyamu

    Edo poll: 400 witnesses to testify for Ize-Iyamu

    Over 400 witnesses are to testify for Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in the September 28, 2016 governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, at the hearing of the petition against the victory of Godwin Obaseki.
    Some witnesses, who testified before the three-man panel, insisted there was no accreditation before voting at their polling units.
    The former ward agents of PDP in Akoko-Edo Local Government said they used incidence forms after Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) Card Readers malfunctioned.
    They said there way over-voting during the poll.
    The witnesses are: James Mayaki, Charles Osagbemeh, Richard Olori and Ayeni Sunday.
    During cross-examination by prosecution lawyers, James said he voted, even though he was not accredited.
    He said there was no accreditation at units 2, 9, 11, 12 and 14 of Ward 2 in Akoko-Edo Local Government.
    Richard said party agents in Ward 5 signed the unit results, adding that he examined the pink copies of Form EC8A before he handed them over to the party chairman.
    Hearing was still ongoing at the time of filing this report last night.

  • Guber poll: Pastor Ize-Iyamu, others testify at Edo tribunal

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 28, 2016 governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on Monday testified at the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu told the tribunal to declare him winner of the election because he scored the highest number of lawful votes cast in the election.

    He gave his testimony in the ongoing hearing in the petition filed by the PDP and Pastor Ize-Iyamu against the declaration of Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as winner of the election.

    During cross examination by defence counsels, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said he was not challenging results in all the polling units where Obaseki was declared winner.

    He told the tribunal that his agents reported to him what happened at various polling units across the state.

    He stated that he relied his deposition on documentary evidence and not hearsay.

    The PDP candidate informed the tribunal that he did not sign or prepare the materials he tendered as evidence.

    He said all the facts in his affidavits were correct.

    Another witness called by the PDP, Mr. Anthony Lawani, said he was the PDP collation agent in Ward One, Akonofua-Edo local government area of the state.

    Lawani told the tribunal that he monitored what happened in all the polling units in the Ward through phone calls.

  • Edo polls: PDP, Ize-Iyamu tender 2,531 forms EC8A

    Edo polls: PDP, Ize-Iyamu tender 2,531 forms EC8A

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 28 governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, yesterday tendered 2,531 forms EC8A as evidence before the State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
    Forms EC8A are the units’ results of the 18 local government areas in the state.
    Ize-Iyamu, through his petition, is asking the tribunal to declare him winner of the election.
    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Godwin Obaseki, winner with 319,483 votes as against 253,173 votes Pastor Ize-Iyamu polled.
    At the resumption of hearing yesterday, lawyer to the petitioners, Mr. Yusuf Ali (SAN), told the tribunal that the petitioners had 2,531 copies of form EC8A for the 18 local governments.
    He said they would be tendered with voters’ registers for two of the 18 local governments.
    Ali said voters’ registers for the remaining 16 local governments had not been sorted out by both parties.
    The lawyer requested the tribunal to grant the parties two days to sort out the voters’ registers for the remaining 16 local governments.
    As at press time yesterday, forms EC8A for six local governments had been tendered, admitted as evidence and marked exhibits by the tribunal.
    The six local governments are: Akoko-Edo with 142 copies, Egor (170), Etsako Central (78), Igueben (46), Etsako East (78) and Etsako West (126).
    The tribunal adjourned sitting till January 19 to enable the parties sort out voters’ registers for the remaining 16 local governments.

  • Ize-Iyamu vows to recover mandate

    Ize-Iyamu vows to recover mandate

    Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 28 governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has vowed to recover his mandate through the tribunal.

    He has already filed a petition before the tribunal asking the tribunal to declare him winner of the election.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu spoke yesterday while appealing to all his supporters to remain calm, non-violent, hopeful and prayerful during the inauguration of the Edo Mandate Recovery Centre by his supporters.

    Ize-Iyamu said he was committed to the actualization of the mandate freely given to him by the people of the state.

    He said: “I will do everything to ensure the actualisation of the mandate they gave to me. I cannot be compromised, I cannot be bought and I have faith in the judiciary, I have faith in God”.

    “Edo people should also have faith, and on no condition should they resort to violence. It is going to be a long road and in the course of this journey, a man who did not win will be temporarily sworn in; but we must not leave the State. The will of God will be done at the end of the day”.

    Head of the Recovery Group, Barrister Daniel Ogbegie, said the platform was to galvanise Edo people who would want to contribute their quota towards recovering Ize-Iyamu’s mandate.

    He said: “We honestly believe that the movement to reclaim this mandate has gone beyond the PDP and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

    “As part of recovering this mandate, it is pertinent to also monitor the Government that is being inaugurated today at the Ogbemudia stadium and to hold them to account to the people throughout the short period they will superintend over the affairs of the State”.

  • Group urges Ize-Iyamu to accept defeat

    A social-cultural and political monitoring group, the Edo Lens, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the September 28 election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to accept the outcome of the poll.

    Its spokesman Elder Destiny Evbakoe told reporters at the weekend that the call became necessary because Edo Lens’ findings revealed that the party’s poor preparation before the election caused its defeat.

    Evbakoe said the findings also revealed that many supposed supporters of the PDP deceived the party’s leadership by voting for continuity, which led to the victory of Mr Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Evbakoi said those persuading Ize-Iyamu and the PDP leadership to challenge the poll at the Election Petitions Tribunal were only interested in what to gain.

    He said: “It was actually the period his arch enemies had been waiting to pay him back for his atrocities of the past, including being rude and disloyal to their mentor and godfather.

    “The ill-conceived and sponsored protest, which was organised by the PDP against the outcome of the most credible, transparent, free and fair election ever conducted in the history of Edo State, has further infuriate Edo residents.”

  • Ize-Iyamu: we need fair-minded judges at election tribunal

    Ize-Iyamu: we need fair-minded judges at election tribunal

    Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the September 28 election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has said he expects fair-minded judges to be appointed into the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and not those with a particular mindset.

    He said God remains his last hope in his quest to retrieve his mandate.

    Ize-Iyamu spoke at the Trinity Sanctuary of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Benin, the state capital, during his family’s thanksgiving for a violence-free poll.

    The PDP chieftain noted that although the Judiciary remained his last hope to get justice, he always knew that God would remain true to his word and answer his prayers.

    Insisting that the PDP won the governorship poll, the politician said God also knows the winner even when “INEC announced a fraudulent result”.

    He said: “We are hopeful and praying too that God will enable the hope of fair-minded judges for the election tribunal which will be set up. We are looking forward to men and women of credibility, those who are not coming with a mindset but will be fair-minded.

    “God knows everything about me. He knows my heart towards Him that it is filled with thanksgiving. So, I am thanking God for so many things. He is the God who puts kings on the throne. He is all-powerful and we cannot just thank Him enough for His goodness and mercies.”

    Also, PDP State Chairman Dan Orbih said the arrest of some judges was a bad omen for democracy.

    The PDP chairman urged Nigerians to condemn the alleged harassment of the judges “like common criminals”.

    He said: “We are not living in a jungle. By now some people expect that our democracy would be growing and all tendencies of dictatorship would be giving way. The Judiciary has a role to play to sustain our democracy. Judges cannot be treated in such a way.”

    The Provincial 2 Pastor of the RCCG Mr Bode Olajide said he was certain that Pastor Ize-Iyamu would be back in the church for another thanksgiving because “the connivance against the mandate of God cannot stand”.

    Olajide said: “I trust God that His counsel concerning Edo State will come to pass. People are hungry for a better change. Very soon, God will put in our mouths the real smile that we are expecting.”

     

  • Edo polls: Ize-Iyamu leads protests, says God asks him to recover mandate

    Edo polls: Ize-Iyamu leads protests, says God asks him to recover mandate

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just-concluded governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, yesterday joined other leaders of the party to lead a street protest against the outcome of the election.

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

    The protesters 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 (INEC).

    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 and 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’.

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

    Meanwhile, the governor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, while reacting, lampooned Ize-Iyamu for relying on results from the social media to brag about that the PDP won the election.

    Obaseki said he and the APC would not succumb to blackmail, as they have moved on as part of the progressive continuity to deliver on the promises of good governance to the people.

    Speaking through the media coordinator of his transition committee, Mr. John Mayaki, Obaseki said it was laughable for the PDP to parade themselves as winner of the election when Edo people gave their mandate to him.

    “I am sure they want us to throw a lavish party in the manner of Chief Osawaru Igbinedion who would organize parties for the space of a whole month across the world. But the governor-elect is a responsible person.

    “What the PDP is doing is to incite the people to create violence. But Edo people are peace loving and would not succumb to political skullduggery of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

    “We would not join issues with Ize-Iyamu and the PDP since they want to continue to dwell in the past. The campaign is over and the Governor-elect is focused. We are very confident that whichever avenue they want to seek redress, the APC and the Governor-elect wont succumb to blackmail.

    “The PDP as a party relied on social media results, which they manipulated and published to delude themselves. But we are confident that the people cannot be blackmailed. The people have chosen the path of progressive continuity, good governance and won’t go back to the era of pestilence

  • PDP rigged Edo election – Oshimhole

    PDP rigged Edo election – Oshimhole

    Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has fired back at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, saying they were the actual riggers of the September 28 governorship election in the state.

    He said Pastor Ize-Iyamu could not have scored more than 50,000 votes if the election was not rigged.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke while addressing the All Progressive Congress (APC) youths during a road show, said he was prepared to meet the PDP in court and show how the party and its candidate rigged the election.

    The governor said: “We are happy with the outcome of the election. We have gone to present the candidate to the Crown Prince, the Edaiken N’Uselu, and he (Obaseki) has been very well received.

    “Thank you for coming out to celebrate. I am sure we encouraged our opponents to go to court. We will be able to lead evidence to show how much they profited from electoral fraud because the Ize-Iyamu that I know is not worthy of 50,000 votes.”

    “So, it’s like an armed robber rushing to the police station with bullet wounds and claiming that he has been shot, whereas he was the one who opened fire on very innocent people. We will expose them where it matters in our courtrooms. Remain firm and resolute.

    “For me, I am happy. The political funeral of the godfathers is final. There is nothing they can do to turn the will of God. So, this is our finest hour and I can’t wait to meet them in court.”