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

PDP Issues Certificate Of Expulsion To Wike, Fayose, Anyanwu, Others

Published

2 days ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it has issued certificate of expulsion from the party to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other 10 members earlier expelled from the party.

The party National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen after the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The other members, according to him, include the embattled National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the Legal Adviser, Kamarudeen Ajibade, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

They also included Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah Nnanna, George Turna and Chief Dan Orbih, expelled during the party National convention in Lagos.

Turaki said that the original copies of the certificate had been dispatched to the owners through a courier service to serve as proof that they were expelled from the PDP.

“We have taken note of the fact that Nigerian law frowns on dual membership of political parties, and so we have sought to make it easy for them.

“Now that they are no longer members of our party, and now that the National Convention, which is the highest decision-making organ of our party, has expelled them, we have decided to issue them certificates of expulsion.

“So, when they go to register with other political parties in Nigeria, they will show these certificates as proof that they are no longer members of the PDP.

“By that, those parties will not accuse them of trying to belong to more than one political party,” he said.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, and other government agencies, to take note.

“Very soon, members of the society will be informed via proper disclaimers that any person henceforth who decides to do business with them, any or all of them, does so at his or her own risk.

“They are no longer members of the PDP. They have been expelled,” he added.

He added that the NWC also reviewed some of the cases filed against the party and lawsuits instituted by the party, particularly the one that related to the “unlawful and illegal” closure of the party’s national Secretariat, the Legacy House, and the Wadata Plaza.

“The brief we received from our lawyers is that we are on sound ground, and that very soon, the law will take its course,” he said.

Turaki said the NWC was prepared to be saddled with the responsibility of performing its functions as the leading opposition party in Nigeria.

“We are going to provide a credible alternative to Nigerians. We are going to provide credible leadership to Nigerians by the special grace of God from 2027,” he said.

Politics

Adebayo Adedamola Wins Osun PDP Governorship Primary

Published

3 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola, popularly known as FRYO, has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the August 8, 2026 governorship election in Osun State.

The primary election took place in Osogbo on Tuesday amid heavy security presence.

Announcing the result, chairman of the primary election committee, Humphrey Abba, stated that Adebayo secured 919 votes out of 957 accredited ballots, giving him a clear victory in the contest.

Explaining that there were 20 void votes following the withdrawal of one of the candidates, believed to be Governor Ademola Adeleke, Abba added, “The candidate that got the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes and he stands elected and returned.”

DAILY POST reports that despite announcing his resignation from the party, Adeleke’s name appeared on the ballot paper for the PDP governorship primary.

Party officials said the exercise was conducted in accordance with established guidelines, with accredited delegates participating in the voting process.

Adeleke announced his resignation in a letter dated November 4, 2025, and addressed to the PDP leadership at his ward.

On Monday, Osun PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, had announced that the governorship primary slated for Tuesday, December 2, 2025, has been postponed due to leadership crisis at the national level.

But a faction of the party went ahead with the exercise in Osogbo on Tuesday.

Politics

Gov Adeleke Resigns From PDP

Published

4 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial primaries of the party.

Adeleke’s resignation letter, dated November 4, 2025, sighted by Tribune Online was addressed to the PDP ward chairman for Ward 2, Sagba Abogunde, Ede, Osun State.

According to the letter, the governor’s resignation was based on “the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”

According to the letter, titled: “Resignation of my membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’ read, “Due to the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my Membership of the People’s Democratic Party with immediate effect.

“I thank the People’s Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the People’s Democratic Party.”