Politics

2023 Poll: One Election, Many Violence, As Families Lament Woes In Edo

Published

2 years ago

May 17, 2023

2023 Poll: One Election, Many Violence, As Families Lament Woes In Edo

THE much anticipated 2023 General Elections may have come and gone, but the scars still lingers three months after in many families in Edo State, following alleged attacks and counter attacks on members of their families.

The elections which came with its pre-hype expectations were characterised with violence in some areas of the state, ranging from ballots snatching to voters’ intimidations by thugs suspected to be loyal to different political parties involved in the elections.

Suspected pre-elections killings were also not left out, as some families members also lamented and cried for justice for their loved ones who were allegedly attacked, killed over their support for their parties.

Prior to the elections, many political analysts including this writer never gave the Labour Party (LP), a chance as it was widely believed that the party was just in name and without structure, hence, it was not expected to make significant impact in the elections.

But one thing that baffles many event observers not just in Edo State alone but across the street was the strong belief exhibited by members and supporters of the Labour Party, who keep believing that their party will pull major upset in the elections.

Their stand for the party as well as their aggressive membership mobilisations drive for the Labour Party exhibited by supporters of the LP pitched them against the other interested political parties, who may have viewed their actions of canvassing votes particularly for the LP’s Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi especially with the Obidient movement slang in their lips as threat to their candidates.

One of the 2023 pre-election casualties was the family of one Okoeguale, Mr. Okodugha and Mrs. Elizabeth Okodugha, who reportedly lost two of their loved ones Mr Okodugha Aged 61 and his wife Mrs Elizabeth Aged 55. (husband and wife) on February 20, 2023 to suspected political assassins in Edo Central Senatorial District of the state.

The husband and wife as well their son, Lawrence Okodugha, who disappeared for fear of being killed along with his parents whereabouts is causing fear amongst family members.They were scooped to have been strong pillars of support for the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the Edo Central Locality.

Mr and Mrs. Okodugha’s alleged assassinations according to family sources could not be unconnected with their refusal to jettison their support for the Labour Party for one of the major political parties’ (name withheld) who contested the elections in the country.

A family source who simply identified herself as Dorothy, wept profusely at every interval while speaking to this writer, alleged that some persons who she claimed belongs to a certain political party had few weeks before the elections approached the two deceaseds with a monetary offers, apparently to woo them to their party, but the offer was rejected by the deceased couples.

Another of casualties of the Presidential election was A 33-year-old graduate of Mythological Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo,was allegedly shot dead by suspected political thugs during the February 25, Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Edo.

The deceased, simply identified as Festus Idahosa, was reportedly shot dead alongside three others when some unknown gunmen attacked a polling unit at Ogheghe, a suburban community in Oredo Local Government Area of the state, where he went to vote.

Speaking shortly to journalists after laying the deceased to rest, his Uncle Kenneth Aigbe, said Idahosa left his residence at Nomayo, Upper Sakpoba area to Ogheghe at ward 5, unit 9 where his voting center was located.

Aigbe said he was shocked when he received a call that his nephew, Idahosa, was shot dead, lamenting that the Mythological Engineering graduate was an entrepreneur and has concluded plans to study in the UK for his master’s degree programme.

According to him, “I was called at about 8:pm that he was shot dead where he went to exercise his franchise.

“He left home to cast his vote at Ogheghe Ward 5, Unit 9 and since that day, I have not been myself as it has been a very terrible experience”.

While further lamenting Festus’ death, the uncle, however, appealed to the Federal and Edo State Governments, as well as security agents to arrest and bring the Killers to book.

A friend of the deceased, David Jaja, and his elder sister, Eunice Imatitikua, described Festus’ death as sad and hard to believe.

They commended the deceased for his patriotic tendency, especially after leaving his abode in Port-Harcourt to Benin to cast his vote.

It would be recalled that Festus Idahosa, left his base in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to vote in his hometown in Benin City.

A stray bullet was said to have hit Idahosa who hailed from Egbokor Community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State and a mother of two, Elizabeth Owie, as they reportedly died on the spot, while one other victim was said to have died on the way to the hospital.

During the conduct of Edo State House of Assembly elections In Eresonyen Primary School at Uhuogua Community, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, some Unknown Gunmen also invaded the voting center and carted away election materials.

The gunmen suspected to be political thugs invaded with a no numbered black Audi Car between 10 and 11:am when voting had commenced and carted away some of the thumb-printed booklets

Voters who saw the danger made attempts to scamper for their safety when they were stampeded, resulting in varying degrees of injuries sustained.

One of the caregivers of the IDPs, Pastor Evelyn Omigie who gave accounts of the incident, said the Eresonyen Primary School is part of Iguoshodin wards, where voters from the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, and other inhabitants of Uhuogua community cast their votes.

According to Pastor Omigie, the gunmen numbering about four, shot sporadically into the air apparently to scare unsuspected voters, in order to disrupt the conduct of the March 18 state house of assembly election in Uhuogua Community.

Another casualty of the 2023 pre-election casualties was the family of one Okoeguale, Mr. Okodugha and Mrs. Elizabeth Okoeguale, aged 61 and 55 respectively who reportedly lost two of their loved ones (husband and wife) respectively, on February 20, 2023 to suspected political assassins in Edo Central Senatorial District of the state.

The husband and wife as well their son, Okoeguale Okodugha, whose whereabouts is causing fear amongst family members just now were scooped to have been strong pillars of support for the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the Edo Central Locality.

Mr and Mrs. Okoeguale’s alleged assassinations according to family sources could not be unconnected with their refusal to jettison their support for the Labour Party for a major political parties’ (name withheld) who contested the elections in the country.

A family source who simply identified herself as Ernest Okoeguale, wept profusely at every interval while speaking to this writer, alleged that some persons who he claimed belongs to a certain political party had few weeks before the elections approached the two deceased with a monetary offers, apparently to woo them to their party, but the offer was rejected by the deceased couples.

Politics

Enugu Gov Mbah Set to Dump PDP

Published

39 minutes ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah is set to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, next week.

National Chairman and Deputy National Chairman, South-East, of the APC, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and Emma Eneukwu, respectively, broke the news in Abuja on Friday.

The APC national leadership revealed Mbah’s imminent defection to the ruling party while swearing in the newly inaugurated members of the Enugu State caretaker committee, led by former state chairman, Ben Nwoye, at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The governor is expected to announce his defection at an event schedule to hold in the state next week.

Chairman of the newly inaugurated caretaker committee, Nwoye, who confirmed the development, said the governor will join the ruling party alongside all his appointees.

There are speculations that Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, is also set to join APC.

Politics

Makinde Calls Out Umahi Over Coastal Highway Cost Analysis

Published

4 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has weighed in on the cost of the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project that was approved by President Bola Tinubu.

Makinde, who spoke at an event in a viral video on Friday, said there was no need for the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to be “dancing around the cost” of the project.

The governor was reacting to a heated exchange that unfolded live on television between Umahi and Arise TV presenter Rufai Oseni on Tuesday.

Oseni had requested the minister to analyse the cost of the project, kilometre by kilometre.

The request didn’t sit well with Umahi, who declared himself “professor” of practice in engineering while elaborating that the costs of the road in kilometres are not the same and would be too complicated for the journalist to understand.

He said, “These are elementary questions. And it makes no sense (sic). A process is ongoing, payment has been made, and you are saying, ‘how has this money been utilised?. The money is meant for the project, and it will be paid according to the work done.

“When a certificate is generated, and it is approved through a process in the Ministry of Works, it will then be given to the funders, who will, in turn, check if the works were done. How can you be asking for cost of kilometre? The prices are different. The next kilometre is different from the next kilometre.

“Keep quiet and stop saying what you don’t know. I’m a professor in this field. You don’t understand anything. I understand engineering very well. You have no knowledge of what you ask. You have no knowledge of what you’re asking.”

Oseni, who also refused to back down, responded, “Minister, it’s alright, keep dignifying yourself, and let the world know who you truly are.”

However, justifying the journalist’s question to the minister, Makinde said, “They asked a minister how much is the coastal road is, and then you (Umahi) are dancing around and going to say that no, the next kilometre is different from the next kilometres. Then what is the average cost?

“When we did the Oyo to Iseyin road then, it was about N9.99 billion, almost N10 billion. About 34 or 35 kilometres, average cost is about N238 million per kilometre.

“But when we did Iseyin to Ogbomoso, that was 76 kilometres, it was about N43 billion, average cost is about N500 million per kilometre. And we had two bridges, one over the Ogun river and then one at Ogbomoso end.”

The PUNCH reports that last year, the Federal Government announced the commencement of construction work on the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which spans nine states and includes two spurs leading to the northern states.

Umahi made the announcement during the official handover of the first phase of the project, made up of 47.47 kilometers of dual carriageway, to Hitech Construction Company Limited, and which is to be constructed in concrete pavement.

This was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser (Media), Uchenna Orji.

According to him, the Minister who was in company with the Federal Ministry of Works’ Controller in charge of Lagos State, Mrs O. I. Kesha, emphasised the need for all contractors handling Federal Government’s road projects to deliver within a record time, noting that the government would not allow variation arising from delays or slow pace of work once mobilisation had been done.

Politics

2027: Oyo Gov, Makinde Speaks On Successor

Published

18 hours ago

October 9, 2025

Editor

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said that the choice of who would succeed him in 2027 rests solely with the people of the state, not with political godfathers or entitlement claims.

Makinde said this on Thursday in Ibadan while flagging off the zonal stakeholders’ consultative forum and engagement meeting on the 2026 Budget.

According to the governor, the decision of who becomes the next governor of Oyo state rests on all eligible voters in the state.

“Oyo State has gone beyond the era of politics based on entitlement or propaganda.

“Rather, the people of the state are now more politically enlightened and they will only support leaders who present credible plans and demonstrate capacity for development,” he said.

Makinde, while reflecting on his own experience before coming into office in 2019, noted that leadership must be about accountability, not entitlement.

He recalled that many people doubted his capability when he first sought the governorship position, because he had not held any political office.

“In 2018, when I was consulting to become governor, there was no yardstick to measure me. I had never been a councillor or a local government chairman, but I asked the people to trust me and judge me by my actions,” he said.

The governor urged political leaders to focus on policies and projects that directly impact the lives of citizens rather than engaging in political theatrics.

He said his administration’s approach to challenges has been to present a clear roadmap for Oyo State’s development, “one that people can read, evaluate, and hold us accountable to.”

Makinde expressed optimism that the people of the state would continue to support leaders who prioritise progress, inclusivity, and the well-being of citizens over personal ambition.

Speaking at the 7th Stakeholders Consultative Forum, the governor said that his administration would continue to consult and engage with residents of the state on the making of the state’s annual budgets, with a view to knowing their aspirations and prioritising their needs.

He maintained that the stakeholders’ engagement was to enable his government to serve the residents of the state better through a bottom-up approach to development, noting that his administration began the tradition in 2019.

According to him, his government first separated the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning from the Ministry of Finance in order to ensure better management of the state’s resources and to avoid discrepancies.

He stated that the stakeholders’ engagement had resulted in better budget performances and economic development of the state.

Makinde reiterated that his government would continue to serve the interests of the people of the state by putting in place institutions that would ensure that the environment was safe and ready to attract investments.

He added that the state was growing rapidly and that this development had stopped rural-urban migration with the construction of Moniya-Iseyin Road, Iseyin-Ogbomoso Road, Oyo-Iseyin Road, among other infrastructural projects, which have opened rural communities.

Makinde is currently serving as governor for the second time.

The governor, whose term ends in 2027, had earlier this month advocated a single term of five or six years for elected political office holders across all levels of government in Nigeria, against the current double term of four years each.

He said a single term of five or six years is enough for any government to focus and serve the people and deliver on its mandate.

(NAN)