Politics

Edo Poll: Yakubu Allays Fear Of System Breakdown, Promises, Free, Fair, Credible Election

Published

1 year ago

September 10, 2024

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has allayed concern over possibilities of system failure during the Edo State governorship election.

Yakubu gave assurance of no system breakdown on Tuesday in Benin, when he paid a visit to assess the preparedness and readiness of the Commission for the election.

Disclosing the preparedness of the Commission to newsmen, Yakubu said: “We have inner backup. For instance, all the machines we use fot the mock in 12 polling units across three senatorial districts in Edo State will not be used for the election, so, the BVAS to be used for the election are different from beavers for the mock.

“Similarly, the beavers that are going to be used for training will not be deployed for the election. For this off-circle election, we have enough system to go round. I want to assure you that the integrity of the system is protected,” he assured.

Ahead of the 21 September governorship election in Edo, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),

Speaking further, the INEC Chairman said to have an itch-free election in Edo State, the Commission had released all funds for the conduct of the election to the state office.

He further disclosed that the visit would afford the Commission opportunity to test run materials received so far.

Yakubu was accompanied on the visit to Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba/Okha local government areas by the National INEC Commissioner supervising Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa States, Prof Rhoda Gamus; the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Anugbum Onuoha and the Administrative Secretary, INEC, Edo State, Emmanuel Ogbodu.

Commenting on the readiness of the Commission for the election, the INEC chairman said: “This is a readiness assessment visit to Edo state and the purpose is to visit some of the local government areas. We have visited three to assess the readiness in terms of the level of preparation, the materials received so far and how they are organising the election in the next 11 days.

“Funds have been made available, nobody is complaining. All the funds have been made available to the state and the state has made the funds available to the local government areas.

“We have already visited two centers to observe a mock accreditation exercise intended to test run the integrity of our systems ahead of the election, both for voter accreditation as well as upload of the results to IREC porter.

“We have observed, and so far, so good in terms of readiness of our local government offices for the election and also in terms of the technology we are deploying for the election.

“We are satisfied with the level of preparation by the local government offices in the three offices we have visited, namely, Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba/Okha, as well as the two centers we have visited for the mock exercise. I think we are good to go,” he said.

He stated further: “My assurance to everyone in Edo State is: On the part of the Commission, we keep saying this: INEC is not a political party, therefore, we don’t have a candidate in this election.

“The responsibility of choosing the next governor of Edo State is entirely in the hands of Edo voters.”

He appealed to all registered voters in Edo to come out to vote for the party of their choice and the candidate of their choice, assuring that the Commission will protect the integrity of the process and uphold the choice made by the electorate.

The INEC boss assured that the Commission will do everything possible to ensure a free, fair and credible election come 21 September.

“In addition, I’ve also come to speak to all EOs [Electoral Officers] in all the 18 local government areas and we are going to harvest all their concerns. That is why we are here well ahead of the election so that we may respond to any issues that they may raise.

“It has always been the intention of the Commission to organize good elections, and I’ve given assurances on the level of preparation on the part of the Commission. That is why I’m personally in Edo State,” he said.

Related Topics:#edo poll #INEC Edo Guber

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Politics

BREAKING: Nigerian Senate Approves Tinubu’s N1.15tn Loan Request

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Senate has approved the request of President Bola Tinubu to raise N1.15 trillion from the domestic debt market to cover the unfunded portion of the 2025 budget deficit.

This comes after the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt during plenary on Wednesday.

According to the committee, the 2025 Appropriation Act provides for a total expenditure of N59.99 trillion, representing an increase of N5.25 trillion over the N54.74 trillion initially proposed by the Executive.

The expansion created a total budget deficit of N14.10 trillion. Of this, N12.95 trillion had already been approved for borrowing, leaving an unfunded deficit of approximately N1.15 trillion (N1,147,462,863,321).

In a related development, a motion by Senator Abdul Ningi was adopted, directing the Senate Committee on Appropriations to intensify its oversight to ensure that the borrowed funds are properly implemented in the 2025 fiscal year and used strictly for their intended purposes.

Recall that President Tinubu had on November 4th requested the approval of the National Assembly for a fresh N1.15 trillion borrowing from the domestic debt market to help finance the deficit in the 2025 budget.

The President’s request was conveyed in a letter. According to the letter, the proposed borrowing is intended to bridge the funding gap and ensure full implementation of government programs and projects under the 2025 fiscal plan.

Politics

Agege LG Chairman Resigns

Published

1 week ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

Agege Local Government
Mr. Tunde Azeez Disco has stepped down as the Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government, citing persistent health challenges as the reason for his resignation.

The former chairman submitted his resignation letter to the Agege Local Government Legislative Arm.

He noted that his health status had significantly impacted his ability to effectively discharge his official duties.

The legislative house, while acknowledging Azeez Disco’s dedication to public service, quickly accepted the decision. Following a thorough deliberation, a unanimous resolution was passed, accepting the resignation with immediate effect.

The council wished the outgoing chairman well in his future endeavours, with the event underlining the necessity for public officials to prioritise personal health and well-being.

Ganiyu Obasa, son of the Speaker, Lagos State Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, is the Vice chairman of Agege Local Government.

In May, residents of Agege, under the banner of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the local government election in Agege.

They claimed that Obasa allegedly plans to foist his surrogates as candidates in the local government and councillorship elections.

In a meeting held in response to the announcement of candidates for the chairmanship and vice-chairmanship of the Agege Local Government and Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the aggrieved residents alleged that those shortlisted as candidates to represent the area were handpicked by Obasa.

They said the process was void of internal democracy and collective participation.

Addressing the media, Kamardeen Sabitu, chairman of the PCC for Agege and Orile-Agege, alleged that Obasa did everything possible to manipulate the political structure in the area for personal gain.

During the protest, demonstrators carried placards reading “Red Card, Obasa O to ge, (it is enough). They also chanted songs such as “Enough is Enough, this suffering is enough, Tinubu, rescue us.”

Politics

JUST IN: Reps In Rowdy Session, Reject Key Motions

Published

1 week ago

November 4, 2025

Editor

The plenary session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday turned rowdy after members voted against some motions of urgent public importance, which bordered on the protection of lives and key government assets.

With the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, presiding, the session became rowdy, as members dissolved into a closed-door session to restore order.

It all started when the member representing Somolu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Ademorin Kuye, drew the attention of his colleagues to what he called the illegal allocation of lands within the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex and prayed the House to refer the matter to the Committee on Public Assets for investigation.

Kuye, a member of the All Progressives Congress is the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Assets.

Proposing an amendment to the prayers, Delta lawmaker and Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, argued that though the matter brought before the Green Chamber is urgent enough, the Committee on Commerce, not Public Assets, should be in charge of the investigation.

Waive was supported by Akwa Ibom lawmaker, Mark Esset, who argued that “It is the Committee on Commerce that should take responsibility on this matter.”

On the other hand, Yusuf Gagdi representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Plateau State, supported Kuye, stating that the Public Assets Committee should be allowed to take charge of investigating the allegation of illegal land sale and submit a report to the House.

With no end to the back-and-forth argument in sight, Gbefwi Gaza (SDP, Nasarawa) on the advice of Kalu, proposed the constitution of an Ad-hoc Committee comprising members of both Committees (Public Assets and Commerce) to conduct the probe.

When subjected to a voice vote, almost an equal number of lawmakers voted in support and against the motion.

Not sure whose voices were louder, Kalu gave it to the nays, sparking unrest in the chamber.

Next on the order of urgent motions was Mohammed Bio representing Baruten/Kaima Federal Constituency, Kwara State.

Bio who lamented the worsening security situation in his constituency, prayed the House to urge the military to establish a base in the crisis-prone areas to stem the tides of attacks.

This time, more lawmakers voted against the motion, to the surprise of Kalu and the Kwara lawmaker.

It became clear to Kalu that members had resolved to frustrate the day’s session owing to the rejection of Kuye’s motion.

So, when again voices thundered against Ayodeji Alao-Akala’s motion which drew members’ attention to the need to address Nigeria’s description as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the United States President, Mr Donald Trump; Kalu allowed the motion to pass, forcing members to openly oppose the decision.

Voices of dissent rent the chambers and the plenary was suspended for a closed-door session.

…Details later