Politics

Edo 2020: I want INEC to conduct free, fair elections — Gov. Obaseki

Published

4 years ago

September 14, 2020

Maritime First

ASUU strike has worsened drug abuse – Gov. Obaseki

…PDP says Edo people will determine their governor with PVCs***

… As Ologbondiyan says Edo people will resist attempt to tamper with scheduled date of election***

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the Edo governorship election, Gov. Godwin Obaseki, on Sunday expressed the belief that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), would conduct free, fair and credible elections in Edo.

Obaseki stated this when he played host to the Senate Committee on (INEC), on a courtesy visit to the government house in Benin.

According to him, as a government, we have made all the resources at our disposal available to all agencies of government that are going to handle the conduct of the election whether INEC or the security agencies.

“We want to believe that INEC, the umpire, will conduct a free, fair and credible election.

“However, the perception with the public and our people is that the election will be manipulated.

“This has been the rhetoric of the opposition.

“And that it doesn’t matter what happens in the polling units, because of what they term federal might, and that federal might may be deployed to the state.

“Fortunately, also that perception has been reinforced by the caliber of people who are leading the campaign on the side.

Obaseki made references to Kano, Imo and Kogi and the alleged roles their governors were playing in Edo.

Source: CHANNELS

“The governor of Imo came into the city with a full convoy of military men two days ago.

“So, with those kind of people around it doesn’t help the confidence.

“There is a massive fear that Edo election will be manipulated.

Obaseki also alluded to some survey reports that showed the respondent’s belief that they will not get fair outcomes.

Also read: Edo governorship election: Police, Navy, DSS embark on combined ‘Show of Force’

“INEC has to convince the people even when they had made all preparations and put all the process in place.

“The issue of perception must be addressed. INEC must come out very clearly to prove that they are truly independent.

“Even when we are the opposition party at the national level, it does not mean that we will not get justice.

“The other area of concern to us is the issue of security.

“We had the opportunity to visit Inspector General of Police after our ward-to-ward rally and also to present a report to him.

“There were about 12 attacks on us the PDP.

“I appealed to him to make sure that people are apprehended and prosecuted, but if these people are not being prosecuted they may just do same during the election,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman Senate Committee on INEC, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, said that the visit was part of its oversight function to see how prepared INEC had been before the election.

“We went round the INEC headquarters in the state, and we plan to visit one of its local government offices to see how prepared they are.

“They told us that all the necessary materials are 90 per cent ready and they are expecting more of these materials before Thursday.

“We, the members of the committee, have seen and from the record they gave us I believe that they are ready for the elections.

“We have some of the areas that are riverine that they have already deployed boats that will be used in such areas.

“We are concerned about the issue of security, we expect there should not be any form of violence during the election.

“The governor here is the chief security officer in the sate, but here they are bringing more security officers into the state to assist him in maintaining peace.

“We will not tolerate any violence in the state, we will not tolerate any trouble because we believe that if there is any violence INEC will postpone the election which will not be good for us as Nigerians.

“Therefore, I am appealing to government and the people and all political parties to make sure that the election is trouble-free, violence-free so that people can go and exercise their rights to vote for whom they want.

In a related development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo chapter on Sunday said the people of the state would determine who governs them for the next four years with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Mr Chris Nehikhare, Chairman, Publicity and Media Committee, Edo governorship campaign council, said this during the party’s weekly media briefing to appraise the party’s campaign.

Nehikhare said that Edo was a proud race that could not be colonised by anybody or coerced into going against their convictions.

He noted that in view of this, Edo people would resist every form of intimidation on Sept. 19, as well any other template other than their PVCs to determine the governor.

He stressed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), must therefore abide by their oath of office and be neutral, transparent, fair and honest.

Nehikhare appreciated PDP supporters across the state as well as residents of the state for their support, requests and demands.

He noted that the requests were the government responsibilities, and that the Obaseki-led administration was up to the task.

He maintained that although the party had taken the election very seriously it was, however, not a do or die for the PDP candidate.

He appealed to the people of the state not to indulge in violence, and the party’s supporters not to retaliate any act of violence.

Nehikhare said it was shameful that some persons were propagating the template of vote-buying and rigging that should best be left to the relics of Nigeria’s political history.

He noted, “We are sure that the resort to this despicable tactic is because the party is certain of defeat at the poll and is only trying to save face.

“The people have been unanimous in their support for the candidate of the PDP and no matter the underhand tactic the will of the people must surely prevail.”

In the meantime, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Sunday said that the people of Edo state would resist any attempt by anybody to tamper with the state governorship election scheduled for Sept. 19.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja alleged that there were plots by certain interests to use frivolous lawsuits to scuttle the scheduled date.

“The PDP revealed that the said interests masquerading through certain political groups were seeking to blackmail the judiciary and stampede the court to violate the clear provisions of the Electoral Act and illegally halt the Edo election.

“Nigerians are already aware that section 87(10) (11) of the Electoral Act, clearly prohibits the courts from restraining the conduct of party primaries and general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“This section of the Electoral Act has put paid to situations in the past, where groups or individuals who have no real stake in elections were used as canon fodders by selfish individuals and groups to manipulate the courts and frustrate electoral process against the interest of the people,’’ Ologbondiyan said.

He said that the PDP stood with the people of Edo state in condemning the plot to derail the democratic order, scuttle the governorship election and create an emergency situation in the state.

“Our party, therefore, cautions such unpatriotic persons to note that the people of Edo state are ready to go to the poll on Sept. 19 and will vehemently resist any attempt by anybody to tamper with the schedule of election or attempt a forceful takeover of their state.’’

Ologbondiyan also alleged that the PDP had been informed of the drafting of soldiers to the residence of an APC chieftain in GRA Benin and Iyamho, ahead of the state election.

He urged President Mohammadu Buhari to immediately withdraw the alleged deployed troops to their constitutional duty posts in the interest of Nigeria.

The PDP spokesman also condemned the fire incidence at INEC head office in Akure, Ondo state.

He said that the destruction of INEC sensitive equipment was to frustrate the conduct of credible, free and fair governorship election in the state.

Ologbondiyan alleged that it was not by accident that the fire occurred in no other place than the facility where sensitive materials, such as card readers were stored.

He recalled that the fire incident lead to the destruction of no fewer than 5,141 card readers meant for the election.

He called on security agents to prevent any further attacks on other INEC facilities in the state to cripple the commission and impede the conduct of a credible poll.

Ologbondiyan said that the PDP would intensely monitor the process of replacement of the burnt card readers by INEC.

This according to him is to ensure that those behind any plan do not succeed in their plots to manipulate the programming of the new card readers to suit their plots of compromising sensitive data in the existing voters’ register in Ondo State.

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Bandit Leader, Bello Turji, Denies Being Sponsored By Matawalle

Published

4 hours ago

October 8, 2024

Maritime First

Bandit Leader, Bello Turji, Denies Being Sponsored By Matawalle

The Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, has denied that his group is being sponsored by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

He however maintained that his group’s operations were divinely ordained.

Turji’s declaration comes amidst a public dispute between Matawalle and his successor, Governor Dauda Lawal, as the two traded accusations of who supports terrorism in Zamfara State.

A situation watcher opined that Turji’s assertion clearly exonerated the minister even a cross-section of Nigerians believe the two politicians’ exchange of accusation and counter-accusations was politically motivated.

It would be recalled that some politicians have exchanged accusations, with Matawalle recently daring Lawal to swear on the Quran that he is not connected to the state’s banditry crisis.

In response, Turji denied any involvement of Matawalle in the ongoing banditry, rejecting claims that his group is receiving political backing from the former governor.

In his latest video, Turji stated that “Governor Dauda Lawal accusing Bello Matawalle of being a terrorist sponsor won’t solve anything.

“When Matawalle was governor, who was sponsoring us? Likewise, when Abdulaziz Yari was governor, who was sponsoring us? No one is supporting us except God,” he said.

Latest News

#EndBadGovernance: Court Admits 10 Protesters to N10m Bail Each

Published

4 weeks ago

September 11, 2024

Maritime First

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday admitted 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters charged with treason to a N10 million bail each with one surety each like sum.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on their bail applications, agreed with the submissions of the counsel for the defendants.

Justice Nwite ordered that each of the defendants’ sureties must own a landed property in Abuja and submit the property documents to the court’s registrar.

The press reported that the Federal Government had, on Sept. 2, arraigned the protesters on counts bordering on treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspiracy to commit felony and inciting mutiny, among others, which are punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.

The Federal Government, through the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, filed the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024 on Aug. 30 against the defendants.

10 of the 124 persons arraigned included Michael Adaramoye also known as Lenin; Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khakis and Abdusalam Zubairu.

It was also reported that some youths staged a nationwide protest against economic hardship in the country between Aug. 1 and Aug. 10.

The demonstration turned violent in some parts of the country, with looting and vandalism recorded in some states.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.

Maritime

Gov. Makinde Begins Annual Leave Aug. 5; APC Begs Nigerians To Shun Protest

Published

2 months ago

July 26, 2024

Maritime First

Gov. Makinde Begins Annual Leave Aug. 5; APC Begs Nigerians To Shun Protest

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has written to the State House of Assembly to inform it of his intention to embark on his annual leave.

The governor’s letter was read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, during Thursday’s valedictory plenary held in honour of Mrs Yetunde Awe, the House Clerk.

The governor also indicated in his message his desire to transfer executive powers to his Deputy, Mr Bayo Lawal.

Lawal is to serve in an acting capacity in Makinde’s absence, and Makinde’s leave will begin on Aug. 5 and end on Sept. 6.

“Based on Section 190 sub-section 1, I hereby transmit that during the period indicated above, Deputy Governor Lawal shall be the acting Governor.

“I shall be back from the vacation on Sept. 7,” Makinde said in the letter.

Similarly, the House also swore in Mrs. Taiwo Muraina-Akinola, who was formerly the Deputy Clerk, as the Substantive Clerk of the House to replace Awe who is retiring from the state civil service. Her swearing-in followed her recommendation by the House of Assembly Commission.

In another development, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has appealed to Nigerians, especially the youths, to shun the planned nationwide protest.

Oyintiloye urged Nigerians to continue to keep faith in President Bola Tinubu-led administration in its ability to revamp the economy.

The APC chieftain, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), appealed while speaking with newsmen on Thursday in Osogbo.

He urged Nigerians to see a promising future in the government’s framework capable of pulling the country out of the current economic quagmire inherited from the past administrations.

He said that Nigerians’ expectation to get dividends of democracy was high owing to their trust in the president’s pedigree as an astute manager of men and resources.

Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said that the government was working tirelessly to meet the expectations and yearning of Nigerians.

He said that the intention of the president by removing the fuel subsidy and merging the foreign exchange rates, among other policies was to improve the economy and not to inflict pain on Nigerians.

The APC chieftain said that Nigerians should give more time for the president to fully develop the economy, which is going through the recovery process.

“With all sense of humility and modesty, we must appreciate the people of this country for their endurance, perseverance and unflinching support as we are passing through the dark tunnel.

“But one certain thing is that after these temporary pains, we shall all live in abundance.

“Although the task is herculean, but we are gradually navigating through the storm and challenges the country is passing through.

“In the real sense of it, this present government is working tirelessly on how to stabilise the economy, foreign exchange rates, inflation, and price control.

“With the initiatives and programme designed for good governance by the president, we are getting to the coast of self-sufficiency and economic stability.

“Our people should believe in the leadership of the president and the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration, in due course, we shall laugh last.

“I strongly believe that with a little patience from Nigerians, we shall soon live in abundance. Let’s exercise a little patience, he said.

Oyintiloye, who noted that the president felt the pains Nigerians were passing through, said that was why he pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with him.