The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ondo poll

  • Ondo poll: CPC candidate barred from tribunal venue

    Ondo poll: CPC candidate barred from tribunal venue

    Drama ensued at the venue of Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday as men of the State Security Service barred the governorship candidate of Congress for Progressive Change in the state last gubernatorial poll, Prince Soji Ehinlanwo, from entering the court room.

    Ehinlanwo, who led the state executives of the party to the tribunal sitting, was among the four petitioners challenging the victory of the Labour Party Candidate, Dr.Olusegun Mimiko.

    The CPC flagbearer arrived the court premises in time, but was prevented from entering the court room despite identifying himself as CPC governorship candidate who should show his appearance to members of the election panel before the commencement of proceedings.

    This development led to uproar between the SSS and supporters of CPC, who alleged that the security operatives had been selective in their screening, by giving undue advantage to the LP members.

    It took the intervention of some senior officials at the tribunal before Ehinlanwo and the party executives were allowed entry into the court room.

    Speaking with our correspondent shortly after the session, Ehinlanwo, who condemned the attitude of SSS, said he didn’t understand why the security operatives wanted to bar him from the tribunal sitting.

     

  • Ondo poll: Ministries, banks close at noon

    Ondo poll: Ministries, banks close at noon

    Ahead of today’s governorship election , ministries, banks and some other institutions, yesterday, closed for the day at about 12 p.m in Akure, the state capital, and some other parts of the state.

    This was in compliance with the state government’s directive declaring half day for workers to enable them prepare adequately for the election.

    The Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Dr Rotimi Adelola, had said in a statement on Thursday, that the gesture was to allow the workers participate in the election.

    He said government took the decision having realised that some citizens of the state had to travel to where they registered for the election.

    “The government thought there is need to give our people the chance and the opportunity to get to where they can exercise their franchise,’’ he said.

    By 12.30pm, the state government secretariat, local government secretariats, banks, as well as some other institutions were practically empty by 12:30 p.m.

    A civil servant, Mr James Olowoyo, said that civil servants were happy about the decision as it would allow them to prepare for the election.

    The Abuja and Lagos motor parks in Akure were empty by 2: p.m.

    A commuter, Mrs Grace Jinadu, who was at the Abuja motor park, said she was disappointed that she could not get a vehicle to Lokoja at 2: p.m.

    Business activities were, however, not interrupted in Akure, Owo, Ondo and other major towns in the state.

    Commercial motorcyclists in the state capital made brisk business with many of them increasing their fares by as much as 50 per cent due to heavy human traffic.

    It was also observed that there were long queues at ATM machines in most of the banks’ premises due to the early closure of banks to customers.

    A resident, Mr Busari Adekola, expressed surprise that his bank had closed for business as at early afternoon.

    ‘’Thank God, I was able to cash some money with my ATM card for the use of the family during the weekend,’’ Adekola said.

  • Ondo: Rowdy session as journalists besiege INEC for accreditation

    Ondo: Rowdy session as journalists besiege INEC for accreditation

    It was a rowdy session as journalists from various local and international media organisations gathered at the Independent National Electoral Commission office in Akure, on Friday to get accredited for Saturday’s election.

    In what many considered a wrong decision, INEC left the accreditation till Friday when it could have taken place earlier in the week.

    Journalists were required to send in a prior application on a duly signed letter-headed paper.

    This, The Nation learnt, is to weed out fake journalists, said to have filled the town.

    Most applications from unknown news organisations were turned down by INEC officials.

    The accreditation, which commenced at about 12pm, was rowdy and largely unorganised.

    Some journalists engaged officials in a shouting match over conflicting methods of application.

    The room provided for the accreditation exercise was too small to contain the pen-pushers.

    Some journalists insisted their identity cards were enough to identify them, but officials said they must bring their company’s introduction letters and passport photographs.

    At the end, no photographs were attached to the tags for those who finally got theirs at the time of filing this report.

    Meanwhile, at INEC headquarters, a large detachment of armed policemen were seen huddled together in a meeting in the morning.

    Others stood by the gate, frisking and searching those coming in.

    Several men of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) were also at INEC’s office, clutching automatic machine guns.

    A police anti-bomb squad stood guard at the gate.

    At the main road leading to INEC office, armed soldiers mounted a blockade, turning vehicles back except those on election-related duty.

    They were only allowed in after a thorough search.