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14 Political Assassinations Recorded In Anambra In Two Years

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No fewer than 14 cases of political assassinations were recorded in Anambra State between 2022 and 2024, according to a report by the Cleen Foundation.

The report cautioned that the killings could pose serious threats to the conduct of the November 2025 governorship election in the state.

The organisation’s Director of Programmes, Salaudeen Hashim, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the presentation of the foundation’s 2025 Anambra Governorship Election Security Threat Assessment Report.

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Citing the report, Hashim said Anambra witnessed no fewer than 14 cases of politically linked killings in the last two years, a trend he described as “a disturbing element that requires urgent attention.”

He noted the killings were taking place against a backdrop of widespread insecurity, proliferation of small arms, kidnappings and the activities of armed groups, all of which pose risks to the coming election.

READ ALSO:Anambra Govt Insists Ekwunife Retracts Defamatory Statements Against Soludo, Wife

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Within the last two years, some really disturbing trends have emerged in Anambra, particularly political assassinations. 213+ deaths linked to violence from 2022 to 2024, nine INEC facilities attacked, and 14 political assassinations were recorded, among others.

“To have this number within such a short period is something that requires serious attention,” he said.

He added that local political structures in the state had been “deeply politicised,” while rivalries among major political parties had often turned violent.

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Hashim said the report also flagged the activities of non-state armed groups, youth gangs, drug abuse, misinformation and disinformation as threats likely to escalate electoral violence.

“Existing criminal threats combined with fierce political competition will create heightened risks. One key element blinking very strongly is the issue of small arms. There are a lot of reports about possession and usage of small arms in local areas,” Hashim stated.

READ ALSO:Fake Madman Arrested For Cultivating Cannabis Farm In Anambra

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Hashim urged security agencies to pay attention to local government areas such as Ihiala, Onitsha North, Ogbaru, Orumba North, Nnewi South, describing them as high-risk LGAs.

“The high-risk LGAs are Ihiala, Ogbaru, Nnewi South, Orumba North and Onitsha North.
They have recently recorded violent incidents. We urge security agencies to pay attention to these LGAs, ” he said.

He, however, said the foundation plans to open an Electoral Security Support Centre on November 7 to monitor developments before, during and after the election, while also engaging security agencies to mitigate threats.

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Acting Executive Director of the foundation, Peter Maduoma, said the report was part of efforts to provide early warning signals and support election stakeholders to respond effectively.

READ ALSO:Police Arrest Ex-Soldier, Four Others Over Armed Robbery, Kidnapping In Anambra

We are looking forward to an election where the system will work. If security is well managed, Anambra can produce one of the best elections,” Maduoma said.

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The Anambra governorship election is scheduled for November 8, 2025.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, a total of 2,802,790 voters are on the register for the State governorship election.

There have been cases of political assassinations in the state. In May 2022, a lawmaker representing Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s constituency, Okechukwu Okoye, and his aide, Cyril Chiegboka, were gruesomely murdered after being kidnapped by gunmen along Aguluzigbo Road in Anaocha Local Government Area.

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Similarly, Justice Azuka, the member representing Onitsha North 1 state constituency, who was abducted on Christmas Eve, was later found dead on February 6, 2025.
(PUNCH)

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FULL LIST: Borno Tops In Voter Online Pre-registrations

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Borno State has recorded the highest number of voter online pre-registrations nationwide as of Week Nine, according to newly released data from the Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday.

Out of a total of 8,003,196 Nigerians who completed the pre-registration process, Borno accounted for 826,130 entries, the highest figure recorded across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Osun State follows with 646,580 pre-registrations, while Lagos is next with 604,819. Kebbi registered 581,135, slightly ahead of Kaduna, which recorded 510,490. Ogun is close behind with 510,062, and Kano comes next with 421,941. Kogi also posted high numbers, registering 361,233, while Zamfara and Yobe followed with 304,065 and 292,714, respectively.

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Jigawa added 284,384 pre-registrations, with the FCT recording 228,264. Oyo followed closely with 224,713. Katsina registered 205,933, while Sokoto and Nasarawa posted 209,392 and 183,519, respectively.

READ ALSO:Tinubu Nominates New Minister

Bauchi recorded 181,671, ahead of Delta, which registered 160,188. Kwara contributed 142,084, followed by Cross River with 119,773 and Ekiti with 114,244.

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Imo State recorded 109,245 pre-registrations, with Niger adding 107,153 and Gombe logging 103,150. Plateau followed with 93,963, while Rivers and Adamawa registered 82,840 and 80,556, respectively. Taraba posted 65,684, Akwa Ibom 60,638, Benue 53,747, and Bayelsa 52,957.

At the lower end of the table, Enugu registered 25,541 voters, followed by Ondo with 17,618, Ebonyi with 13,979, Edo with 11,570, and Abia with 11,221, the lowest figure in the country.

Also, INEC announced that a total of 1,710,450 voters have completed their CVR nationwide as of week eight, combining both online pre-registration (956,566) and physical registration (753,884).

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READ ALSO:Acting INEC Chair Outlines Preparations or Anambra Poll

In accordance with Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC confirmed that registration activities in Anambra State remain suspended until after the governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025.

Until recently, states in the South-West, particularly Osun, Lagos, and Ogun, had consistently led the CVR process since the exercise commenced on August 18, 2025.

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However, recent data indicated an uptick in participation from northern states, especially Borno and Kebbi, amid renewed mobilisation campaigns.

It was reported that community-based organisations, religious leaders, and local officials in several northern states intensified sensitisation efforts to boost awareness and encourage eligible residents to register.

 

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Tenebe Fingers Edo APC Chieftains As Plot To Replace Him As Chair Thickens

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Plot to replace Jarrett Tenebe as State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State is gathering momentum going by series of social media posts shared by Tenebe, as monitored by our correspondent.

It was gathered that Senator representing Edo North at the red chamber, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and Minister of Regional Development, Hon. Abubarkar Momoh, are not keen to support Tenebe’s re-election as Edo APC Chairman.

Tenebe’s absence at last week’s empowerment programme of Senator Oshiomhole gave credence to the cold war in Edo North APC.

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However, as the plot to remove Tenebe gathered moment, the Edo APC chair, it was gathered, is fighting back following suspension of Etsako East Ward 9 Chairman of the party, Mallam Adamu Ototobor, who is a loyalist to those opposing Tenebe’s return as APC Chairman.

READ ALSO:By-elections: Edo APC Tackles PDP Over Call For REC, Others Redeployment

The cold war amongst the Edo APC bigwigs became evident when Tenebe, in series of social media posts, made allusion to the plot to replace him as Edo APC Chairman by accusing Momoh of scheming to take control of the Edo APC by working with a ‘dangerous click’.

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Tenebe had said in one of his posts: “Minister of Regional Development, Hon Abubakar Momoh, I have led the party to the best of my ability, I can as well leave the party to you and your dangerous click, there is already a place in history for people like me.” (Sic)

The APC chairman further posted: “I supported you during your House of Representatives election when you were rigged out by this new click.

“If that was a crime, just know that there is a place for people like me and I know that was why I helped you.

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“I encouraged people from other political parties who lost their ways to swell our fold in APC. If that’s my crime, Abubakar Momoh, I will leave the party for you and your new click, just know I am fulfilled.

READ ALSO:Jonathan’s Ex-aide Dumps PDP For APC

In this party, I have lent a voice to those who cannot speak; I have fought for the oppressed, possibly the reason why Momoh and his ‘usl…’ click wants me out.

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“During the last local government council organised by Governor Godwin Obaseki, I traveled with my team on canoe, which could have capsized but this time, Abubakar Momoh was moving from one air condition office to his air conditioned home with his family.
“Today all is set, Jarrett is no longer capable, him and his ‘usel…’, wicked click wants me out. I will leave so that peace will reign.”

Momoh, in his reaction, said Tenebe should be allowed to exhaust himself, adding that he would not join issues with the Edo APC chairman.

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Okpebholo’s Eight-year Tenure Non-negotiable, Says Commissioner

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Edo State Commissioner for Youth, Honourable Charity Amayanvbo, has said that Governor Monday Okpebholo’s eight-year leadership mandate is non-negotiable, describing his administration as one that has rekindled hope and unity among Edo people.

Amayanvbo made the statement in Benin City during a courtesy visit by Comrade Kelly Okungbowa, popularly known as Ebo Stone, founder of the Youth for Youth movement.

According to the Commissioner, both the Binis and Edo youths are solidly behind Okpebholo, whose leadership style, he said, has restored dignity to traditional institutions and reaffirmed respect for the revered Oba of Benin Kingdom.

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READ ALSO:Stop Using Edo Money For Federal Roads, Residents Tell Okpebholo

Governor Monday Okpebholo has restored the confidence of the people in government. He has brought back dignity to our traditional institutions and rekindled the hope of Edo youths. His eight years in office are non-negotiable,” Amayanvbo asserted.

The Youth commissioner commended the governor for what he described as “unprecedented infrastructural strides, especially in Edo South, citing major projects such as the Ramat Park Flyover, the Second Flyover at Adesuwa Road, and the ongoing statewide road rehabilitation as clear evidence of visionary leadership.”

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He also lauded the governor for restoring the authority of the Benin Traditional Council and for his bold call to the Edo State House of Assembly to investigate the Mosium for West Africa (MOWA) projects — a move Amayanvbo described as “transparent and accountable governance in action.”

READ ALSO:Okpebholo, Idahosa Bag UNIBEN Distinguished Service, Leadership Awards

Comparing Okpebholo’s performance with that of his predecessor, former Governor Godwin Obaseki, Amayanvbo remarked that Okpebholo had “done what a Benin man could not achieve.”

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He urged Edo youths to rally around the governor, pledging continued support for his developmental vision aimed at building a greater Edo State.

In his response, Comrade Kelly Okungbowa (Ebo Stone) hailed Hon. Amayanvbo for his fatherly leadership and reaffirmed his movement’s loyalty to the Governor.

He pledged to mobilize Edo youths to deliver a 2.5 million-vote bloc in support of both Governor Okpebholo and President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assuring that the Youth for Youth movement would stand firmly behind the Governor’s “non-negotiable mandate.”

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