News

Edo Assembly Impasse: PDP Wants By-election Conducted Into 14 Seats

Published

5 years ago

October 4, 2020

The Edo State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Tony Azegbiemi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-election into 14 seats of the state House of Assembly which were declared vacant in December 2019 by the factional Speaker loyal to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Hon Frank Okiye.

Azegbiemi in a television interview monitored in Benin on Sunday said the party would formally write INEC to conduct fresh elections as he said the people in the constituencies were being denied representation in the state House of Assembly.

He said, “We are very worried because about a million people have lost their voices in the House of Assembly; their voices are not being heard, nobody is talking about them; nobody is representing their interests.

“We are worried about it because these are people that voted for the party, they voted for the governor in the last governorship election and we want them to be represented in the House of Assembly, and apart from the demand we are making now for INEC to commence the process, we are going to follow it up with a latter as a party. We are going to write INEC officially to carry out its constitutional responsibility by conducting election into this 14 constituencies.”

Efforts to reach the factional Speaker, Hon Victor Edoror, was not successful as he did not pick repeated calls and same for one of the members of the factional assembly, Washington Osifo.

However, an aide to one of the members who refused to speak officially said, “You cannot declare a seat that was not occupied vacant because it was not occupied in the first place so how can you declare it vacant? They are just making noise, that is an issue already in court”

It would be recalled that Osifo said shortly after their seats were declared vacant that “It is a laughing matter, it is a joking matter, the matter is before a court and when a matter is before the court such action is prejudice. We are challenging the illegal inauguration of the house and anything put on nothing cannot stand.”

It would be recalled that a factional assembly comprising of 17 out of the 24 members was inaugurated recently where Edoror was elected as Speaker.

The factional 17 members in several their sittings declared some actions of Governor Godwin Obaseki like nomination and clearing of fresh commissioners and the move to secure loan for infrastructure from a commercial bank as illegal.

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

12 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

12 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

12 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.