Politics
2023 Elections: International Group Lists Four Priorities For successful Polls
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
The International Crisis Group (ICG) has urged the Nigerian government, political parties, electoral and security agencies to step up efforts on four priority issues to ensure peaceful and credible elections in 2023.
A backgrounder to the elections, titled “Countdown Begins on Nigeria’s Crucial 2023 Elections,” was released on Friday.
The Brussels-based conflict prevention and peacebuilding group said the issues include improving security in North-West and South-East zones, particularly around the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices.
ICG demands curbing the toxic altercations between the major parties, which are fuelling tensions that could escalate to wider violence during and after the polls.
The third priority is for INEC to firm up arrangements, especially by ensuring a clean voters’ register and seamless electronic transmission of results in real-time nationwide.
Furthermore, ICG urges anti-corruption agencies to forestall vote buying, through intensified surveillance of politicians and banks.
The statement highlighted the several challenges that are unprecedented in terms of their spread across the country.
“These include the decade-long jihadist insurgency in parts of the North-East, diverse armed groups in the North-West and North-Central zones, and violence by armed groups associated with, or impersonating, Biafra separatist agitators in the South-East.
“Activities of these groups, particularly their attacks on INEC’s offices but also on highway travels, are hampering election preparations in many areas and could depress voters’ turnout or mar the ballots entirely in some constituencies.”
ICG decries the surge of misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and bullying on social media, and activities of hired thugs and vigilantes intimidating opposition candidates in some states.
READ ALSO: 2023: Atiku Abubakar Campaign Office Sealed Off In Rivers
The body expressed concern about the disclosure by the national security adviser, retired Major General Babagana Monguno, that police recorded 52 incidents of election-related violence in 22 states between 28 September and 11 November 2022.
“The elections may witness vote buying on an unprecedented scale. With INEC’s newly introduced safeguards against vote rigging, some politicians and their parties are now devising new schemes to buy votes and even voters’ cards from poor and vulnerable citizens.”
Noting that the 2023 elections – marking 24 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria – will be an affirmation of democratic progress, ICG urged citizens to exercise their rights and advised all stakeholders to play by the rules.
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Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Saturday, said there will be a total collapse of the opposition in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He stated this during the flag-off of the campaign for the August 16th Senatorial by-election in Edo Central Senatorial District in Uromi.
He urged the candidates of the opposition parties to decamp to the ruling All Progressive Congress and join him in developing the State.
The governor was accompanied by the chairman of APC, Jarrett Tenebe, to receive decampees at the event. He expressed happiness that members of all other political parties are joining APC to ensure that development continues.
READ ALSO:Okpebholo Must Apologise For Threatening Peter Obi – Rights Group
The decampees from PDP include Alhaji Esiwele Musa, Abraham Osazuwa, Sunny Ejie, and Robert Okoneme, amongst other PDP leaders across the 51 wards.
He said, “This is a test for 2027. I can tell you that 2027 is sure. Before 2027, there will be no opposition in Edo State anymore as all will join the APC because of the developmental achievements in the state.
“Hon. Joseph Ikpea will take over from me in the Senate. In this election, we will win five local governments out of five. We must win the entire 51 wards in the five local governments that make up the Senatorial District.
“I understand that it is only the candidates in the other parties that have not decamped to our party, the APC. I advise them not to waste their money but to join our party. If they give you money, take it and vote for the APC. The money is our money.
READ ALSO: APC Now Mourns Buhari After Blaming Him For Failures—ADC
“We promised to give the President 2.5 million votes, and we are ready to deliver on our promises. We will not talk much because the election is a done deal. This is the first test for us as we do not have any opposition in the State anymore,” he said.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor of the state, Dennis Idahosa, urged Esan people to support Okpebholo as he has brought development to the state due to his relationship with President Bola Tinubu.
He noted that the election is the first step to appreciate the president.
He said, “The President sees our Governor as his son, and the State enjoys the dividends of democracy. This is the first step to appreciate the governor and the president. We would not accept anything less than 90 per cent victory in the election.”
The APC party Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, who presented the party’s flag to the party’s candidate in the Senatorial by-election, Hon. Joseph Ikpe,a encouraged him to ensure he continues from where the Governor stopped in the Senate.
READ ALSO:Okpebholo Inaugurates Boundary Dispute Committee In Edo
He noted that the governor, as a Senator, brought development to the Senatorial District.
Presenting the party’s symbol, which is the broom, to decampees at the event, Jarrett Tenebe thanked the governor for duly informing the Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area about the flag off of the day, saying that it was the right thing to do.
He urged the decampees to join and support the party, and the Governor to ensure the developmental strides continue in Edo State.
The Director General of the Edo Senatorial by-election and former Speaker Edo State House of Assembly, Victor Edoror, commended the people for coming out en masse. He urged them to make sure they keep the spirit of the door-to-door campaign for the candidate of party and the election to ensure victory.
The APC candidate in the Senatorial by-election, Joseph Ikpea, thanked the party for the trust and promised to continue with the developmental strides the Governor brought to the Senatorial District as a Senator.
The APC Edo Central Senatorial leader, Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd); APC Edo South leader, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; Deputy State Chairman of APC, Sylvester Aigboboh; and other leaders, urged the people to all come out en masse to vote for the APC candidate in the by-election.
Politics
Anambra guber: Soludo Raises Alarm, Alledges Plot By APC To Manipulate Election
Published
7 hours agoon
August 3, 2025By
Editor
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the forthcoming November 8, 2025, governorship election in Anambra State.
He also warned candidates from Anambra South vying for the governorship seat against destabilizing the state’s political balance.
The governor made the allegation while speaking at a massive All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) rally held at Ekwulobia Urban Stadium on Saturday. He stated that Anambra is “too big for charlatans” and must not be distracted by what he described as impostors and unserious aspirants.
He vowed that “street urchins won’t govern a state that produced Zik, Nwafor Orizu, Ojukwu, Achebe,” as he rallied party faithful in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.
READ ALSO:IPOB Faults Soludo For Linking Igbo Youths To Kidnapping
Soludo dismissed as deceitful the promises made by some candidates to serve only one term, insisting that such individuals require “psychiatric evaluation.”
“Anambra doesn’t need street urchins as governor. This is the state that produced the likes of Zik of Africa, Dr. Nwafor Orizu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and Prof. Chinua Achebe, among others. It is too big for charlatans,” he declared.
He further alleged that some candidates were merely using their campaigns to extort money from unsuspecting businessmen and the public. According to him, the achievements of his administration over the past four years justify his bid for a second term.
In a renewed call for peace, Soludo again offered amnesty to armed groups hiding in the forests, urging them to surrender and embrace rehabilitation or face the full weight of the law.
READ ALSO:Any Politician Promising Single Term Needs Psychiatric Test – Soludo
Visibly impressed by the turnout at the rally, the governor noted that he had not yet officially launched his campaign but was humbled by the support.
He revealed that the rally was entirely organized and funded by party members determined to see him re-elected.
The rally, which took place on August 2, 2025, endorsed Soludo for a second term in office and adopted Chief Emma Nwachukwu as APGA’s candidate for the Anambra South senatorial by-election scheduled for August 16, 2025.
READ ALSO:Soludo Wins ‘Governor of the Year’ For Transformation of Anambra
It drew an impressive crowd of party loyalists, traditional rulers, community leaders, and political stakeholders.
Also in attendance were the APGA National Chairman, state and local government executives, and former Deputy Governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba.
In a show of solidarity, APGA stakeholders in Anambra South presented a N100 million donation to support the governor’s campaign. Traditional rulers in the senatorial district also honoured Soludo with the “Olu Atuegwu” chieftaincy title — a title that has already been conferred on him in Anambra North and Central, respectively.
Politics
Edo LG Poll: My Ambition Driven By Commitment To Fast-track Grassroot Development – Aspirant
Published
9 hours agoon
August 3, 2025By
Editor
As local government election in Edo State draws nearer, a chairmanship position aspirant in Ovia South West Local Government Council, Kelvin Omoruyi, said he’s driven by his commitment to fast-track grassroot development in the area.
Omoruyi, who spoke on his aspiration while fielding questions from journalists in Benin, said governance at the grassroot must be felt, stressing that it remains the closest to the people.
He added that Ovia South West is endowed with agricultural potential that requires the right leadership to harness it for the benefit of the people and the state.
READ ALSO: Complete Road Repairs Before Rainy Season, Okpehbolo Directs Contractors
Omoruyi, who is vying on the platform of the All Progress Congress, APC, noted that if given the party’s ticket and eventually won the chairmanship seat, his administration will focus on peoples oriented programmes.
He lauded the developmental trajectory of Governor Monday Okpehbolo and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa in setting the state on the path of progress after many years of bad and retrogressive governance.
The young entrepreneur and grass root mobilizer said his seven points agenda will focus on rehabilitation and grading of rural roads to link wards; installation of solar power, education and youth empowerment, renovation of dilapidated primary and secondary schools, agricultural and local economy, women and grassroot empowerment among others.
READ ALSO: After Media Reports Of Locking Out Supporters From Govt House, Okpebholo Hits Security Personnel
He said, “Basically, my mission is improving the overall well-being of our people through purposeful and value driven and people oriented programmes and project.
“Since I understand the yearnings of our people, I deem it fit to come out and offer myself for service of my people and contribute my quota.
“My blue print is to bring governance closer to the people because politics is about the grassroot. Also to make the people understand that governance is about them.
“I understand that politics is very local, and that has been my driving force for vying for the position of the Executive Chairman,” he said.
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