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Tag: Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu

  • Obaseki: Oshiomhole hands-over Friday

    Obaseki: Oshiomhole hands-over Friday

    Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole will on Friday hand-over power to the Governor-elect, Mr Godwin Obaseki.

    Obaseki and his Deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu will, however, be sworn-in on Saturday at the Dr Samuel Ogbemudia stadium by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Cromwell Idahosa.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the  Edo University, Iyamho, Oshiomhole confirmed he will hand over on Friday.

    He said God has answered his prayers to finish well and to finish strong.

    Several flagship projects of the Oshiomhole administration including the new 200-bed Central Hospital, 6-lane Siluko road; Samuel Ogbemudia College, reclaimed Queen Edo gully erosion site, the Ugbegun-Ujiogba-Ebudin-Igueben-Ewohinmi road, Edo University, Iyamho, Second East Circular road and schools have been inaugurated since on Monday.

    Obaseki polled 319,483 votes to defeat Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party who got 253,173 votes.

  • Tribunal orders substituted service on Obaseki, APC

    Tribunal orders substituted service on Obaseki, APC

    The Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin City has granted an order for the People’s Democratic Party and the Young Democratic Party to serve court processes on the All Progressive Congress and governor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, through substituted service.

     

    By this order, the court processes would be assumed served once they are pasted on the walls, or gate of the Edo APC secretariat and the residence of Obaseki.

     

    The tribunal granted the order following a motion exparte filed separately by Counsels to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the YDP.

     

    Lead Counsel to Pastor Ize-Iyamu and the PDP, Kingsley Obamogie, said the motion exparte was filed in pursuant of the First Schedule, Paragraph 47 of the Electoral Act as amended.

     

    Obamogie told the tribunal that the Edo APC secretariat along the Airport road has been shut down since October 20, 2016.

     

    He said the shutting down was to frustrate attempt to serve court processes on them.

     

    Obamogie urged the tribunal to grant the motion because it has become impossible to serve Obaseki and to enable them make progress in the petition.

     

    Ugo Nwafor, Counsel to YDP and its candidate, Nurudeen Inwanfero, in the motion sought the tribunal leave to serve the APC and Obaseki by substituted service.

     

    In his ruling, Chairman of the tribunal, Justice A.T.Badamasi granted the motion saying it was in line with the Electoral Act as amended and section 6(5) of the Federal High Court procedural rules.

  • Declare me winner, Ize-Iyamu tells tribunal

    Declare me winner, Ize-Iyamu tells tribunal

    The People’s Democratic Party and its governorship candidate in the September 28 governorship polls in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has filed a petition against the outcome of the election.

     

    In the petition, Pastor Ize-Iyamu is asking the tribunal to declare him winner of the election.

     

    Candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, was declared winner of the election after polling 319,483 votes against 253,173 votes garnered by Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

     

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu beat the deadline by filing the petition at about 4:45pm even though party supporters and reporters had waited at the tribunal since 12noon.

     

    He was accompanied by the state party leaders and supporters. 

     

    State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, said they filed the petition within the stipulated time as defined by the Electoral Laws.

     

    Chief Orbih said they presented what he termed ‘a very good case’ before the tribunal.

     

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu said they are asking the tribunal to declare him winner of the election.

     

    His words, “We just filed and in the next few days, you will begin to get brief about what is at stake. We are asking the court to declare us as the rightful winner of the election. 

     

    “Edo people know who won the election. We are law abiding despite the injustice. I thank Edo people for their patience despite their anger against the results announced by INEC. 

     

    “Throughout the campaigns, our people kept asking us if we were ready to defend the votes they are going to give to us. We assured them and they came out to vote for us. Democracy will not thrive if you allow people to allocate votes. Our case is a strong one and by the time sitting will start, Edo people will be amazed at the impunity to win at all cost.”

  • Edo poll: Ize-Iyamu set to file petition 

    Edo poll: Ize-Iyamu set to file petition 

    Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, will Wednesday file his petition against the outcome of the September 28 governorship polls at the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal.

    The deadline for the filing of petition is 12 midnight Wednesday.

    Reporters who waited at the tribunal till 9pm on Tuesday when rumors filtered in that Pastor Ize-Iyamu was on his way to file the petition were told the petition will be filed Wednesday.

    Sources said necessary payment has been made at the tribunal ahead of filing of the petition.

    Aides close to Pastor Ize-Iyamu said the payment was to prevent any possibility of declaring Wednesday a public holiday by the state government with a view to argue that the petition was filed out of time.

    It was confirmed to our reporter that the petition will be filed Wednesday.

  • Tribunal grants Ize-Iyamu order to inspect election materials

    Tribunal grants Ize-Iyamu order to inspect election materials

    Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin City has granted an order for the People’s Democratic Party and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to inspect all the electoral materials used by the Independence National Electoral Commission for the conduct of the September 28 Edo State governorship election.

    Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressive Congress was declared winner of the election after he polled over 319, 483 votes to defeat Pastor Ize-Iyamu who polled 253,173 votes.

    The order by the tribunal followed an ex-parte motion filed by Counsel to the PDP and Pastor Ize-Iyamu, Barr. Kingsley Obamogie

    Barr. Obamogie said the motion was in compliance with section 151 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended which he relied on to pray the court to grant them the order to inspect the INEC materials.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Hon. Justice .A. Badamasi granted the order after listening the argument of Obamogie.

    Other members of the tribunal are Justices E.A. Ade Sodun, and Hon. Khadi Adamu Usman who are to serve as members.

    Obamogie said, “In compliance with the section 151 of the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended, we have approached and pray the court to grant us the permission to inspect all the Electoral, materials used by INEC in the just concluded Edo State Governorship Election”.

    An official of the tribunal would only be inaugurated only when petitions have been filed by aggrieved parties and their candidates that participated in the governorship election.

    He noted that aggrieved parties have 21 days within which to file petitions.

    However, there was a heavy presence of security personnel within and outside the tribunal premises.

    Their presence was to forestall any unforeseen circumstance within the court.

  • Edo poll: Ize-Iyamu leads protest in Benin City

    Edo poll: Ize-Iyamu leads protest in Benin City

    …Says God asks him to recover mandate

     

    Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the just concluded governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Friday joined leaders of the party to lead street protests against the outcome of the election.

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

    They 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.

    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 to 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’.

    “I have not come out since the fake results but many of you said, this mandate is beyond Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; ‘even if he sits at home we will not sit at home’. Because you voted and your vote must count. Despite the fake results you have refused to be violent. Properties have not been destroyed. No life is lost”.

    “Edo is in a state of mourning like a graveyard because the people’s mandate has been robbed. But let me assure you that that at the end of the day we will win, because God has said so. We will win because Edo people voted for us and we won the election”.

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

    His words, “We are going to defend our right to freely elect our governor. We have a right as a people to decide to elect our governor. That we have done and together we are going to retrieve our mandate”.

    The protest tagged, “Mother of all Protests”, was coordinated by the Centre for Patriotic Leadership Initiative (CPLI), a leadership and rights advocacy NGO, led by Saint Moses Eromonsele.

     

  • Edo guber poll: Ambode congratulates Obaseki

    Edo guber poll: Ambode congratulates Obaseki

    …Says Edo people have made the right choice

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday congratulated the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki for his victory at the just concluded gubernatorial election, saying that the people of the State have made the right choice.

    Obaseki, who was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), defeated his closest rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with 319,483 votes to 253,173 votes.

    Governor Ambode, in a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said the development was not just a victory for democracy but the people who he said would experience continuity in terms of dividends of democracy.

    The Governor, who was the Chairman, APC National Campaign Committee for the election, said the people of Edo have voted for continuity of people-friendly policies and programmes, and urged all the relevant stakeholders in the affairs of the State to accept the verdict of the people and work with Obaseki to move the State forward.

    “Like I said during the grand rally of our great party – APC, at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin some weeks back, Edo State, being the heartbeat of the South-South region, has all it takes to become another Lagos, and the decision of the people to speak with their votes in support of Obaseki is a signpost of their readiness for greatness and a testament to the monumental successes recorded in the last seven and half years by the incumbent Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    “We are enjoying the dividends of democracy in Lagos today because of the decision of the people to vote for continuity of good governance and I am glad that the people of Edo have also toed that path and the result will definitely translate to improved social services and welfare of the people,” Ambode said.

    The Governor said judging by the antecedents of Obaseki, he was certain that Edo State is set for transformation and consolidation of the achievements of the outgoing administration in the State.

    According to him, “Governor Oshiomhole has laid the right foundation for progressive governance. He has been responsive, progressive and totally committed to the needs of the people. With the decision to vote Mr Obaseki who is equally people-friendly, reliable, trustworthy, and has the fear of God, the people have made the right choice and I can only urge them to continue to support him to deliver on the campaign promises.

    He also congratulated the people of Edo State for comporting themselves peacefully throughout the period of the election, while urging those aggrieved with the result to channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters rather than resort to self-help.

  • Edo: Heavy rainfall greets Obaseki’s victory

    Edo: Heavy rainfall greets Obaseki’s victory

    Heavy fall of rain is currently being experienced in Edo State after the keenly contested gubernatorial election between candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Mr. Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Our correspondence reports that Benin City is witnessing a heavy rainfall after the announcement of Mr. Obaseki as the winner of the election.

    Details shortly….

  • Edo poll: Obaseki leads Ize-Iyamu with 62,300 votes

    Edo poll: Obaseki leads Ize-Iyamu with 62,300 votes

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate in the Edo governorship election, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, currently ahead of his closest rival from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, with 62, 300 votes.

    The APC has polled 306,663 votes, while the PDP garnered 244,363 in all the local government areas where results have been officially announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Results of 17 out of 18 LGAs in Edo State have been announced by INEC.

    The APC won in 12 LGAs, while PDP triumphed in five.

    Ovia South West is the only local government whose results have not been declared.

  • Edo poll: Ambode not in Edo state – Ayorinde

    Edo poll: Ambode not in Edo state – Ayorinde

    The Lagos State Government on Wednesday dismissed allegations made by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu alleging that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his Kaduna State counterpart, Mallam Nasir El Rufai were in Edo State for the election.

    In a statement signed by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, the government described the allegations by the PDP candidate as reckless and disgraceful.

    Ayorinde while clarifying the position of the Government said Governor Ambode was presently overseas for an official assignment and in any case had no business being in Edo State on Election Day.

    “The Lagos State Governor served as the chairman Campaign Council constituted by the All Progressives Congress  and his duty ended 24 hours before the election because no campaign was supposed to hold 24 hours to the election and having completed his assignment which included appearing with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Grand Rally in Edo State earlier in the month, Governor Ambode has no reason to return to Edo State on election day and for this sort of lie to have been peddled by a candidate who is supposed to be a pastor, is reckless and disgraceful.

    Ayorinde said Governor Ambode had clearly enumerated his position on the election during the Grand Finale of the campaign when he said that like Lagos where continuity has moved perfectly well, Edo State also deserves continuity in governance.

    “That message has been passed and has been accepted by majority of Edo indigenes and therefore there would not be any need for the Governor to return to Edo on Election Day. The general public and security operatives are hereby advised to ignore the desperate lies of Pastor Ize-Iyamu,” Ayorinde said.