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Edo Tribunal: Obaseki Knows Fate From January 11 Next Year

Published

5 years ago

December 16, 2020

The governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, and three other respondents in four of the five petitions filed at the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin, will know their fates from January 11 next year.

Other respondents in the petitions are Obaseki’s deputy/running mate, Philip Shaibu; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The four other petitions before the tribunal were filed by Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its governorship candidate, Iboi Emmanuel; Action Peoples Party (APP), without joining its governorship candidate, Amos Areloegbe; Allied Peoples Movement (APM), excluding its governorship candidate, Igbineweka Osamuede; and Tracy Agol, without joining her political party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The Justice Yunusa Musa-led three-member tribunal at Wednesday sitting within the premises of Edo State High Court on Sapele Road, Benin, disclosed that hearing in the four petitions would separately be on January 11, 12 and 13, 2021.

Chairman of the tribunal at the sitting revealed that APP and Agol would have the trial in their petitions on January 11, with the trial in APM’s petition to be on January 12, while trial in ADP’s petition would be on January 13 next year.

The four petitions sought the nullification of the September 19 re-election of Obaseki and Shaibu, while calling for fresh election by INEC, but to exclude PDP, Obaseki and his running mate, in view of the call for their disqualification over alleged forgery of their certificates.

ADP and its governorship candidate, in the petition with reference number: EPT/ED/GOV/01/2020, with INEC, PDP, Obaseki, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as respondents, prayed the tribunal to disqualify Obaseki over his controversial first degree certificate from the University of Ibadan (UI).

The ADP and its governorship candidate is also praying the court to nullify the votes cast for him, thereby ordering INEC to conduct a fresh election involving all other qualified governorship candidates, excluding PDP and Obaseki.

On the other hand, the APM filed a petition with reference number: EPT/ED/GOV/04/2020, excluding its governorship candidate, Igbineweka Osamuede, with INEC, PDP, Obaseki and Shaibu as respondents, while alleging irregularities during the September 19 governorship election and that Obaseki and Shaibu were not qualified to contest the poll.

The party also prayed for an order nullifying the entire governorship election of September 19, 2020 in Edo State, for substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, and the extant Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, thereby ordering a fresh election.

The petition from Agol, with reference number: EPT/ED/GOV/05/2020, without joining her political party, the NNPP, with INEC, PDP and Obaseki as respondents, while insisting that Edo governor was not qualified to contest the September 19 election.

Agol’s sole ground for filing the petition was that Obaseki, at the time of the poll, was not qualified to contest the election, quoting Section 138 (1) (a) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended.

She also alleged that Edo governor presented forged/false certificate to INEC, contrary to Section 182 (1) (J) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended.

The NNPP’s governorship candidate also prayed for an order to compel INEC to conduct fresh election involving all the qualified candidates, excluding PDP and Obaseki, whom she alleged were constitutionally disqualified from contesting the 2020 governorship election, while the certificate of return issued to Obaseki by INEC must also be nullified.

Agol, alternatively sought a declaration that Obaseki’s participation in the election should be declared null and void, having participated in the primary election process of the APC and later the PDP, in respect of the same governorship election in Edo state.

The APP on its part in the petition against Obaseki, PDP and INEC as respondents, with reference number: EPT/ED/GOV/02/2020, claimed that it was unlawfully excluded.

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Food Security: 14,000 Smallholder Farmers To Benefit From N4bn Smart Agriculture Training In Bauchi

Published

28 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Editor

The Heineken Africa Foundation, through Nigerian Breweries Plc is investing N4 billion to train 14,000 smallholder farmers on smart agriculture across seven Local Government Areas of Bauchi state for three years.

Mr Chukwuemeka Aniukwu, Head of Public, External and Government Affairs, Nigerian Breweries Plc, disclosed this in Bauchi on Thursday during the official Launch of the ‘empowerment of Smallholder farmers to thrive and build climate resilience through regenerative agriculture’.

Aniukwu, who explained that the foundation is in collaboration with the Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS), added that the investment builds on the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to improving access to healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene across Africa.

“Our decision to invest in Bauchi is both deliberate and strategic. Bauchi is home to resilient, resourceful, and industrious smallholder farmers whose contributions are essential to Nigeria’s food security.

“The strength of your farming communities, combined with the natural potential of this land, gives us confidence that meaningful and lasting impact can take root here. We are here because we believe in the people of Bauchi.

“This project is designed to strengthen the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, particularly women and young people, by enhancing their capacity to generate sustainable income.

“It will deliver training, access to quality inputs, stronger market linkages, and opportunities across the agricultural value chain,” he said.

Also, Dr Isaiah Gabriel, Executive Director, Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS), explained that the farmers would receive hands-on training through Farmer Field Schools and demonstration plots in.

According to him, out of the 14,000 smallholder farmers, 60 per cent were women and 40 per cent of youth.

The farmers, he said, would also be trained on regenerative and climate-smart agriculture, soil and water conservation, pest and disease management, crop diversification and post-harvest handling, among others.

“The project supports the restoration and protection of natural resources by promoting regenerative farming that rebuilds soil fertility, efficient water management and irrigation practices, and adoption of drought-tolerant crop varieties.

“We are here to make smallholder farmers big players and our target is to increase incomes by at least 30 per cent, but our dream is bigger.

“This programme spans seven Local government areas of Katagum, Shira, Jama’are, Giade, Itas-Gadau, Zaki, and Gamawa. Women and youth are not an afterthought, they are at the heart of this intervention because the future of agriculture depends on their strength, creativity, and leadership,” he said.

The Executive Director commended the Bauchi state government for its partnership, support and provision of an enabling environment and promised that the programme would be effectively implemented.

In his address, Mr Iliyasu Gital, Bauchi state’s Commissioner for Agriculture commended the foundation for bringing the programme to the state and expressed the state government’s commitment to support the training in every capacity.

Some of the beneficiaries commended the gesture, adding it would transform agriculture and encourage productivity towards achieving food security in the country.

Maimunatu Sani, a farmer, who had benefited from the programme in Kano state, said that she learnt how to recycle farm residues and transform it into an effective organic fertilizer, calling smallholder farmers in the state to key into the programme.

She said she acquired practical skills to improve her farming activities and increase output.

Another farmer from Kano, Mama Mairam, said the introduction of new techniques assisted farmers to significantly reduce wastage and increase yields per hectare.

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Edo Govt Bars Ijaw Communities From Laying Claim To Disputed Forest Reserve

Published

57 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Editor

The deputy governor of Edo state, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, says the disputed forest reserve between Abere and Ajakuruma Ijaw communities of the Ovia South West Local Government Area belongs to the state government.

The deputy governor who is the chairman of the state boundary committee subsequently barred members of the two communities from laying claims to the forest reserve.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, the deputy governor declared the disputed reserve as “Bona Vacantia” on Wednesday when he met with both communities.

He directed both communities to maintain peace and adhere to the resolution of the state boundary committee on the disputed forest reserve.

Idahosa explained that it was criminal for either of the communities to go into the forest reserve to take ownership of the landmass as the area in dispute was not “Bona vacantia.”

He noted that documentary evidence available suggests that the area in question belongs to the government of Edo state.

“You cannot fight over what doesn’t belong to you. Documentary evidence showed that the landmass in question belonged to the state, a process verified through the use of digital Coordinates.

“Whatever we have done here today is in line with the law. Go back to your communities and ensure that there is peace. Anybody that wants to foment trouble should be ready to face the wrath of the law,” he emphasised.

The deputy governor commended the Ovia South West council chairman, Mr Nosakhare Edobor, for averting crisis that would have led to loss of lives.

Edobor, who said the issue had been on for about seven months now, appealed to communities in the local government to always embrace dialogue in resolving contentious matters.

News

Edo Journalist Hospitalised After Being Attacked By Political Thug

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Editor

Juliet Asein, a female journalist with the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), has been hospitalised after she was allegedly assaulted by the suspended Coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team (PSRT), Kelly Okungbowa, widely known as Ebo Stone.

The incident occurred on Wednesday inside the Edo State Government House, where Juliet who covers the Office of the First Lady was said to have been shoved and slammed against a wall during a confrontation with Ebo Stone.

The violence reportedly stemmed from a disruption at an empowerment programme for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), organised by the First Lady’s Office and held within the Government House.
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Trouble reportedly broke out when some PWDs stormed the venue’s entrance, protesting alleged exclusion from the programme.
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‎In the commotion, an EBS cameraman attempting to film the scene was allegedly harassed by Okungbowa, prompting Juliet to intervene, which reportedly led to her being physically attacked.

READ ALSO:NUJ Reacts As Sacked Edo Taskforce Boss Assaults EBS Staff
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‎Okungbowa, a chieftain of the ruling APC and the former PSRT coordinator, previously faced public backlash after the taskforce he headed was linked to a tragic incident in which a two-year-old girl died in a crash involving team members.
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‎The public outcry that followed led Governor Monday Okpebholo to suspend him from the role.

Confirming Juliet’s state of health, a family member Andrew Enabulele, said she began experiencing severe pains later that night and could not sleep.
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According to him, ‎she was taken to a private clinic on Thursday before being referred to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for further medical care.

READ ALSO:Iran Has Executed At Least 841 People This Year — UN
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‎He said: “We took her to a private clinic where doctors said she may have suffered muscle spasms.

“She has now been referred to UBTH, where she is receiving treatment. She is a mother of twin toddlers, so we are praying for her quick recovery,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Ebo Stone had visited the NUJ Press Centre, Benin on Thursday, where he reportedly apologized to leadership of the Council after the Union had condemned the act, threatening a press conference to that effect.

After meeting the Chairman and the Secretary of the council for the apology, the NUJ Chairman urged members to sheath the sword.