News

Edo To Establish Forestry Protection To Fight Banditry

Published

4 years ago

August 27, 2021

The Edo State government has disclosed plans to establish forestry protection force to fight banditry across the State forest reserves, which have illegally converted as bases for kidnappings and other nefarious activities.

Governor Godwin Obaseki revealed this while flagging-off 10 million tree planting programme at Upper Sokponba forest reserve in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the State.

He said the initiative would help to keep the forest and our land safe by ensuring that bandits cannot use the forest as bases to foster criminality with the support of forest guards, security agencies, Edo State Vigilante Network.

According to him, “Along with our forest regeneration drive, we also want to keep our forest and our land safe. With your support and all other security agencies in the State, we will be reestablishing a forestry protection force to ensure that bandits cannot use our forest as bases to foster criminality.

“As a government, which is committed to the security of lives and property of its citizens, we are determined to keep the feat which we have already recorded in terms of security in the State and ensure that kidnappings, armed robbery, land grabbing and other criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum.

“Our security strategy is hinged on the collaboration between the national security and the Edo Sate Vigilante Network so that Community participation is a key driver of our security plan.

Speaking on the essence of the tree planting programme, Governor Obaseki, said due to environmental degradation arising from adverse weather conditions and threat to livelihoods, his government is collaborating with private sector and all Communities to regenerate degraded and depleted forest reserves in the State for environmental sustainability.

The Governor said discussions are ongoing to establish Bendel Commission, which will help to foster mutual cooperation collaboration on economic, security, cultural and environmental matters between Edo and Delta States.

He recalled the history of the creation of Edo State and highlighted his economic intervention plan towards repositioning the State Civil and Public Services on the path of greatness including EDOBEST programme and Edo Jobs.

“We must balance environmental sustainability with livelihood and quickly reclaim our expansive forest land for the present and future generation.

“We are therefore commencing discussion to establish Bendel Commission. This Commission will foster mutual cooperation collaboration on economic, security, cultural and environmental matters between Edo and Delta States”, he said.

Obaseki who described Coronavirus pandemic otherwise known as one of the greatest threats in nation’s history due to global death toll, appealed to residents of the State inoculate themselves against Covid-19 vaccine in order to attain head immunity against the deadly virus.

“We have have continued to invest in our youths through various programme spearheaded by the Edo skills and Development Agency and Edo Jobs, which have given birth to numerous enterprises in the Edo production hub to the Edo tech hub and Edo creative hub.

“In the next few decades, Edo State will become a tech hub in Nigeria as we create more partnership to tonnes of young people as competent software developers and tech solution providers.

“Although some of the challenges that beset us today may be different from the ones that beset our forebears, however, concerted and sustained efforts to overcome adversity is very much assured.

“In the face of difficulty, we remain bold, decisive and united as these values have always guaranteed our survival, advancement and triumph”, according to him.

Earlier in a remark, the Chairperson, Edo at 30 programme, Mrs. Julie Odigie-Oyegun, described the tree planting as a mark of a glorious future and significant.

She commended Governor Obaseki for prioritising the welfare of the people and for helping to preserve nature.

News

Anambra Poll: CDD Releases Post-election Findings, Recommends improved INEC’s Operational Capacity

Published

3 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Editor

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), has released its post-election findings on the just concluded Anambra governorship election, recommending improvement in INEC’s operational capacity, prioritised voter education, issue-based campaigns, amongst others.

In a post-election press briefing held in Akwa on Sunday, the CDD said the “2025 Anambra election reveals that Nigeria’s electoral challenges are deeply linked to wider governance failures; weak institutions, elite dominance, economic hardship, insecurity, and lack of accountability continue to shape voter behaviour and electoral outcomes.”

In the post-election statement signed by Dr. Dauda Garuba, Director, CDD, and Professor Victor Adetula, Chair,
CDD-West Africa Election Analysis Centre, recommended that the “ongoing electoral reforms must target improving INEC’s operational capacity through timely funding, decentralised planning, and consistent communication.

“Such operational issues include logistics, mandatory real-time result publication via IReV, early voting for essential personnel and adequate personnel training.”

The CDD, while urging political parties to prioritise voter education and conduct issue-based campaigns, the organisation urged politicians to uphold internal democracy and adhere to transparent campaign financing.

“Elections cannot be treated as temporary security events. The government at all levels must develop a more sustainable security architecture that addresses root causes and provides year-round safety for residents.

“Only then can we safeguard electoral processes without relying on massive deployments that strain national resources and offer no long-term protection.”

The CDD, while decrying the prevalent of vote trading in the election, said conscious steps must be taken to discourage this “through deliberate efforts to deliver good governance while promoting civic education across all strata of society to discourage transactional politics.”

“The National Orientation Agency must take centre stage on this. Ongoing reforms of the electoral act must take into consideration the need to arrest and prosecute electoral offenders.”

The CDD said that “as the country prepares for the 2026 off-cycle elections and the 2027 general elections, these reforms must be prioritised.”

It added: “Nigeria’s democratic survival depends not just on voting but on the strength of the institutions and the governance practices that surround it.”

News

UPDATED: INEC Declares Soludo Winner Of Anambra Guber Poll

Published

10 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has been declared the winner of the Saturday, November 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election by the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Edoba Omoregie.

Soludo, who polled a total of 422,664 votes, defeated his closest rival, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Nicholas Ukachukwu, who scored 99,445 votes, while the candidate of the Young Progressives Party, Sir Paul Chukwuma, came third with 37,753 votes.

According to INEC, a total of 16 candidates from various political parties participated in the election.

The state had 2,788,864 registered voters, out of which 598,229 were accredited. A total of 595,298 votes were cast, while 11,244 votes were rejected across the 21 local government areas.

From the results announced, Soludo of APGA won in all 21 local government areas of the state in a landslide victory.

Announcing the results at the INEC headquarters in Awka on Sunday, Omoregie said, “The number of registered voters was 2,788,864, while accredited voters were 598,229. The total valid votes stood at 584,054, rejected votes were 11,244, and the total votes cast amounted to 595,298.”

He added, “After collating the results as tallied into Form EC8E, it is now my privilege to declare the figures each candidate scored according to their political parties.

“There were a few areas affected by incidents, leading to cancellations in some wards across Anambra West, Anaocha, Awka South, and Onitsha South LGAs, amounting to 10,481 affected votes. However, the margin of lead between the top candidates did not affect the overall outcome of the election.

“I, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, Returning Officer for the 2025 Anambra State Governorship Election, hereby declare that the election was peaceful. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, having scored 422,664 votes — the highest number of valid votes cast and having satisfied the requirements of the law — is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”

Breakdown of results:

Total registered voters: 2,788,864

Total accredited voters: 598,229

Total valid votes: 584,054

Rejected votes: 11,244

Total votes cast: 595,298

Votes by political parties:
A – 224
AA – 1,145
AAC – 292
ADC – 8,208
APC – 99,445
APGA – 422,664
APM – 892
APP – 73
BP – 126
LP – 10,576
NNPP – 525
NRM – 36
PDP – 1,401
SDP – 241
YPP – 37,753
ZLP – 453

News

BREAKING: Soludo Sweeps Anambra Guber Election

Published

14 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Anambra governorship election, Prof. Charles Soludo has been declared winner of the poll.

Returning Officer of the election, Prof. Edoba declared Soludo winner having polled
422,664 votes to defeat his closest opponent.

More details coming