Politics

Edo Poll: PDP N’tional Chair, Obaseki Blow Hot, Say ‘We’ll Defend Our Votes With Our Blood’

Published

1 year ago

September 14, 2024

Editor

…Damagun sends message to INEC, Others

…’It’s do or die’ – Obaseki

The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Ilia Damagun, an Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State on Saturday, September 14, talked tough at a mega rally of the party ahead the September 21 Edo governorship election.

Addressing members of the PDP and supporters at the rally which took place at Garrick Memorial Secondary school in Benin City, Damagun declared that the governorship election will be a test for the country’s democracy.

The PDP Acting Chairman, while urging Nigerians to focus their eyes on the state during the mega rally attended by the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, and several PDP governors, said “You have to kill or arrest all of us if you have to take this state.

“You may have gang but we have God. To INEC, we don’t want that midnight result announcement. It is not a threat but we will defend our votes with our blood”, he said, promising that PDP will continue to give Edo State good governance.

He later presented what he called “the flag of victory” to the governorship candidate of the party, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

In his speech, Ighodalo promised to take the state to the next level, saying Obaseki has built a solid foundation for the state.

Besides, he pledged that he would be transparent and govern with integrity, adding that he believed governor Godwin Obaseki and President Bola Tinubu assurances that the election will be free and fair.

Earlier, Governor Obaseki had described the governorship election as “existential threat” adding “This election is a do or die. If they do, we will die”.

On his part, the party’s Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphous Wabara, urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, not to announce results of the election until he is sure.

He further urged the INEC boss to correct the wrongs of the 2023 general elections and go on a peaceful retirement.

Also speaking, former Vice President Abubakar and Presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 Presidential election, urged the Edo people to vote for the PDP, “defend and protect their votes”, saying that “PDP is winning next week”.

Several governors of the party from other states, who attended the campaign rally, spoke in similar vein and urged the people to vote for Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie.

Politics

2027: Jonathan Will Contest Under PDP, Return To Aso Rock — Jerry Gana

Published

14 hours ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

Former Minister of Information and Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, has disclosed that ex-president Goodluck Jonathan will contest again in 2027.

Gana made this remark while speaking to journalists in Minna, the Niger State capital.

According to him, Jonathan will contest in the next presidential election, as the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

According to him, Nigerians had experienced life under two presidents after Jonathan and were now yearning for his return.

“In 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of Nigerians,” Gana said.

“After him, another President ruled for eight years, and now another has ruled for two years.

“Nigerians have seen the difference, and the difference is very clear. Nigerians are now asking us to bring back our friend, former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as PDP candidate, and we should be prepared to vote for him to return as President again,” he added.

Politics

How I Survived Kidnap, Assassination Attempt – Rivers Speaker

Published

14 hours ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

The Speaker of Rivers House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, said he is thankful to God for surviving a kidnapping and, an assassination attempt in the past years.
Amaewhule made this known during his 52nd birthday thanksgiving service at the All Saints Anglican Church, Eliozu, Obio/Apkor Local Government Area, Rivers State.

“I am not just marking another birthday but acknowledging that many people had planned to take his life in the last one year, but God didn’t allow them,” he said.
Recounting how he survived a harrowing experience in 2008, he said that he narrowly escaped death during the incident.

Amaewhule noted that he was abducted by some unidentified gunmen at his residence as he arrived after a Sunday church service.

“Some of you were here in 2008 when a preacher was preaching right here on a Sunday service, on that faithful day, I didn’t know the people who came to kidnap me were also in the service,” he said.

“After service, they tactically followed me to my residence, tied up my security guard, and abducted me and took me to a forest where they held me hostage for five days.

“They placed thorns under my feet and inflicted several injuries on my head and body in the process of moving me from one hideout to another within the forest.

“They fed me with biscuits throughout the period even as I almost bled to death.”

The speaker, however, expressed gratitude to God for his numerous blessings, guidance, and preservation over the years.

“When God does things for you, it is important to appreciate him for more.”

Politics

Edo: Chief Ben Bowei Sworn In As Vice Chairman, Ovia South-West

Published

19 hours ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

High Chief Ben Bowei (Left) taking oath of office at the council secretariat on Monday

An Activist and politician, High Chief Ben Bowei has been sworn in as Vice Chairman, Ovia South-West Local Government Council of Edo State.

Bowei, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), deputises Hon. Nosakhare Edobor who happens to be the Chairman of the council.

The Vice Chairman, a committed member of the APC in the local government and state, is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the local government council being a former National Treasurer of the most respected youth body in west Africa — Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.

Bowei, an advocate and promoter of governance, is the founder of Niger Delta Volunteer for Good Governance, said he’s poised in promoting good governance and taking the dividends of democracy to the most interior part of the local government.

The Vice Chairman urged sons and daughters of the local government to cooperate with the council’s leadership in their bid to extend the dividends of democracy to them.

Bowei, while appreciating governor Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, for the good work the current administration has been doing in the state, expressed optimism that the current state government would perform beyond expectations.