News

#EdoDecides2024: Tension As Police Walk Obaseki Out Of INEC Office

Published

10 months ago

September 22, 2024

The political atmosphere in Edo State became tense Sunday morning, when the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki was walked out of the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Frank Mba.

Channels Television gathered that Obaseki who had stormed INEC’s collation centre unannounced around 2 AM, was walked out around 4:10 AM.

Obaseki was there to protest anomalies in the collation of results of some local government areas including his Oredo.

He was, however, told that his presence was not needed there.

At about 3 AM, a combined team of policemen led by DIG Mba and personnel of the Nigerian Army entered the premises and by 4:10 am, escorted Obaseki out of the premises.

Minutes before Obaseki was led outside by Mba and other policemen, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretary, Surajudeen Basiru, told journalists that the governor had no reason to be on the premises.

Basiru said, “He is not a candidate. He has no reason to be here”, describing the governor’s action as an abuse of office.

Earlier, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo was also sent back.

Members of the APC led by Monday Okpebholo’s running mate, Honourable Dennis Idahosa, also led protesters to demand the exit of Governor Obaseki from the premises at about 3:30 am on Sunday.

This is as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is mounting pressure on INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Anugbum Onuoha, in Edo State to suspend the collation of Saturday’s governorship election results.

“Intelligence available to the PDP indicates that the APC is mounting pressure on the INEC Chairman and Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to suspend the collation process so as to make way for the manipulation of the INEC Portal and replace the real results from the Units with fabricated figures in favour of the APC,” PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba said in a statement.

The PDP charged the commission to resist “pressure by the APC and ensure that nobody tampers with the results as obtained from the Polling Units”.

In a statement on Saturday, INEC also said it received allegations of wrong figures entered into polling unit result sheets in the ongoing election.

The commission, however, vowed to investigate the infractions.

“This is the second complaint we have received out of the 4,519 polling units used for the election. The Commission will immediately investigate the matter and deal with any proven infraction,” it wrote.

News

Edo To Dredge Ikpoba River For Revenue, Flood Control

Published

14 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

Edo State government has proposed the dredging of Ikpoba River to curb flooding and exploring potentials for enhancing revenue generation in the state.

The state Commissioner for Mining, Hon. Andrew Ijegbai, disclosed this when he led a delegation on an inspection of the river in Benin City.

According to him, the initiative was to find a lasting solution to the incessant challenges of flooding and river overflow on the busy road.

He added that his team was on the ground to assess the condition of the river to get a firsthand observation of its impact on communities near its bank.

Also speaking, Director of Mining in the ministry, Mr. Omoruyi Ihianle expressed the state government’s determination to turn challenges into successes.

He stated that the primary objectives of the project were to generate revenue for the state government through mining and to mitigate flooding in the host communities.

“As a government, we have found a way of converting our challenges until success.

“As a result of the silted river channel, the host communities have been suffering from flooding, hence the Edo State Government is stepping in to desilt while raising revenue for the State Government,” he said.

News

JUST IN: Ex-Eagles Goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, Is Dead

Published

15 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

Peter Rufai, the former Super Eagles goalkeeper, has died.

Waidi Akanni, a former teammate and associate, confirmed the legendary goalkeeper’s death to TheCable on Thursday.

Rufai, affectionately nicknamed Dodo Mayana, died at 61 after a reported battle with long-term illness.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria also announced the demise of the former goalkeeper on the team’s official X account.

“Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana. We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion,” the post reads.

“Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond.”

Rufai is regarded as one of the best football goalkeepers Nigeria has ever produced. He was the Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper when Nigeria won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

He also represented Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the US and the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Rufai had over 60 caps for the Super Eagles over the course of a decade with the team.

News

AMCON Sells Ibadan DisCo For N100bn

Published

19 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

The Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) has announced the sale of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) for N100 billion.

AMCON’s Managing Director/CEO, Gbenga Alake, disclosed this at a media parley on Thursday.

Apart from IBEDC, AMCON also manages other distribution companies, including the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, and Kano Electricity Distribution Company.

Alake said, “Today, I announce to you that Ibadan DisCo has been sold. When we came in, it had already been sold, but we renegotiated the price and got almost double of what it was initially going to be sold for.”

Regarding ongoing legal issues, Alake stated, “We have sold it, and whatever is still happening in court, we will face it.”

However, officials of IBEDC did not respond to inquiries about the sale.