Politics

Edo Poll: Golden Opportunity For INEC To Redeem Its Image, CSO Tells Yakubu

Published

9 months ago

September 20, 2024

A group, Edo State Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO), yesterday, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to use the September 21 Edo State governorship election to write the name of the commission in gold by conducting a free, fair and credible poll in the state.

The group, through it Coordinator General, Comrade Omobude Agho, disclosed this while addressing Journalists on “Edo State 2024 governorship election and matters arising in Benin City.”

He said anything fall short of a free, fair and credible election would further discourage people from exercising their franchise in the nearest future.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission, must not further discourage genuine voters by their actions or inactions in this Saturday’s Edo state governorship election.

“Tomorrow Saturday 21st September 2024 presents another golden opportunity for the commission to redeem its image.

“The INEC chairman, Professor. Mahmud Yakubu must give Nigerians the assurance of purpose to further trust our electoral processes going by previous questionable and controversial outcome of elections conducted by INEC.

“The continuity of this democracy in Nigeria going forward, rests on his shoulders as head of the commission.

“An umpire must be neutral, just, fair and trustworthy to earn the confidence of the people”, Agho added.

Comrade Agho, while commending the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun for temporary putting a ban on the Edo State Security Network (ESSN), said that the police and other security agencies must be above board in this election.

He maintained that they must truly give protection to citizens and not look away at distressed calls.

According to him: “They must not be seen as being partisan by their activities.

“They must do everything within their powers to protect and defend our democracy.

“They must strongly adhere to the respect for human rights and the dignity of persons throughout this election period”,.

He also called on the the citizens of the state to come out en-mass for the election. “Your PVC is all you need to cast your vote, that PVC is your ultimate power and your fundamental human right.

“Do not mortgage or sell it for any amount whatsoever.

“And as citizens, vote without selfish emotions, sentiments, hatred or coercion. Your vote should be well informed with consideration to your future and that of your children.

“Our young men must see themselves as honourable citizens of the federal republic of Nigeria and should not allow themselves to become willing tools in the hands of self serving politicians to be recruited or employed only during electioneering period like this to serve as thugs, armed with guns and other dangerous weapons for the purpose of ballot snatching or destructions of same for a one-time-off meal.”

Related Topics:#edo poll Edo Guber EDOCSO

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Politics

2027: Drama As Two ‘ADA’ Emerge In INEC’s List Of 110 Party Registration Bids

Published

11 hours ago

June 26, 2025

Editor

Two political associations seeking registration as political parties have submitted identical acronyms to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

According to Vanguard, the first is the All Democratic Alliance, ADA, being promoted by Chief Akin Ricketts and said to be one of the special purpose vehicles that the anti-Tinubu coalition is seeking to use as a platform in the 2027 general election.

While the Ricketts ADA is 109 on the INEC list, the other ADA, Advanced Democratic Alliance, is 110, the last one the list unveiled by the electoral umpire.

This second ADA has Alhaji Ahmadu Suleiman as Protem Chairman and Zipporah Pius Miracles as Secretary.

The Ricketts ADA has its national headquarters at Ground Floor, UAC Complex, Plot 273 Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun Street, CBD, Abuja, FCT.

Suleiman’s ADA has its national headquarters at 1 Frandriance Close, Off Oda Crescent, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, no fewer than 110 political associations have written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seeking registration as political parties.

Politics

Damagum Is PDP’s Problem – Ex-Benue Gov Suswam

Published

22 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

Former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, on Wednesday declared that the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Damagum, is the problem of the party.

Suswam, who insisted that Damagum is not a leader, said the party has been drifting downwards since he assumed the role of acting National Chairman.

Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former governor said, “There is no integrity in the leadership of PDP, I’m happy that Wike said it.

Politics

Confusion In PDP As NWC Counters Damagum, Rejects Anyanwu’s Reinstatement

Published

23 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dismissed claims that the party’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Monday, June 30, 2025, has been postponed.

A statement signed by key members of the NWC on Wednesday also denied reports that Samuel Anyanwu has been reinstated as the party’s National Secretary.

The NWC said the statement comes in response to a press briefing earlier in the day by the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.

DAILY POST reports that Damagum had announced the postponement of the NEC meeting and said Anyanwu is to resume as National Secretary.

Rejecting Damagum’s declarations, the NWC said his pronouncements were contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which scheduled the next NEC session for June 30 and referred all matters concerning the National Secretary’s office to that meeting.

“The pronouncements by the Acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the Party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC),” the statement read.

Citing Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), the NWC emphasized that NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party after the National Convention and that its resolutions are binding on all members and organs of the party.

The NWC described the announcement regarding Anyanwu’s resumption as “misleading” and reaffirmed that the matter remains under the jurisdiction of the forthcoming NEC meeting.

The statement was jointly signed by Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, Acting National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, National Treasurer, Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Auditor, Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, and National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, among others.