Politics

INEC Worries Over Pre-election Violence In Edo

Published

12 months ago

July 30, 2024

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday expressed concerns about the political tension in Edo State ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state.

Yakubu said INEC would be meeting with security agencies to address the concerns.

The INEC Chairman, speaking at the quarterly meeting with political party leaders in Abuja, on Monday, called the attention of the stakeholders to the recent attack on the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Edo State, which led to the death of a security officer.

He said with 53 days until the Edo election, some political parties had still not submitted the list of their polling and collation agents, adding that the portal would close on Tuesday (today).

Speaking on deadlines, the INEC chairman said only 14 political parties had uploaded details of the polling agents and collation agents for the Edo election.

He announced that three parties had yet to upload a single polling agent, while five parties had not uploaded agents for ward, LG and state collation centres.

“As of yesterday, Sunday, 28th July 2024, 14 political parties have uploaded the details of 38,354 polling agents and 819 collation agents for the Edo State governorship election.

“Three parties are yet to upload a single polling agent while five parties have not uploaded a single agent for ward, local government and state collation centres. The deadline is tomorrow, Tuesday 30th July, 2024 when the portal automatically shuts down at midnight. I urge you to ensure that you meet the deadline so that the commission can produce the accreditation tags and deliver them to you for distribution to your agents in good time.”

He called for compliance with stipulated rules and guidelines to ensure a smooth process.

“Campaign by political parties and candidates is in full swing in both Edo and Ondo states. This is the time for party leaders to demonstrate compliance with the commission’s regulations and guidelines for political parties, especially the aspect dealing with rallies, processions, and campaigns already available on our website.

“As a reminder, however, hard copies of the document have been included in your folders for this meeting. The campaign period has often been characterised by acrimony and tension. Sadly, it is also a period of verbal abuse and physical confrontation among parties, candidates, and their supporters.

“The commission finds the recent event in Edo State, resulting in the death of security personnel worrisome. Happily, there has been no incident known to the commission since then. Nevertheless, the commission will meet with the security agencies under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

“I want to assure you that security in Edo and Ondo will be a major issue to discuss at the meeting. We are as concerned about the safety of your candidates, agents, and supporters as we are about the security of our officials, observers, journalists, service providers, and, above all, the voters,” he said.

Speaking on the preparation for the election, the INEC chairman said, “It is now 53 days to the Edo State governorship election coming up on Saturday, 21st of September 2024.

“Our preparations are going on in earnest. I am glad to report that we have recovered from the torrential rainfall that resulted in the severe flooding of our state headquarters in Benin City two months ago.”

The INEC chairman revealed that additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines had been provided to Edo State to train election duty personnel and for contingency support on election day.

He continued, “The damage to the physical infrastructure has been fixed. Vehicles have been repaired while other movable and immovable facilities have been serviced, refurbished or are being gradually replaced.

“We have delivered additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines to Edo State for the training of election duty personnel as well as contingency for Election Day support.

“We have since published the final list of candidates but we are once again sharing the list with party leaders at this meeting, given the recent court order mandating the commission to replace the running mate of the candidate of the Labour Party. The amended list is already published on our website.”

Yakubu added that after completing the Continuous Voter Registration process, the register was displayed for claims and objections from citizens.

He explained that data clean-up was performed using the Automated Biometric Identification System and the final register for the 2024 governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states is currently being completed.

“Before the end of this week, the commission will publish the final figures of new voters in the states as well as their distribution by gender, age, occupation, and disability.

“Thereafter, the timetable for the collection of uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards from previous registration and new registrants from the latest CVR will be published.

“The commission is aware that according to our timetable and schedule of activities, the voter register will be published no later than 30 days before the date fixed for the election.

“We wish to reassure the chairmen of political parties that each party fielding candidates in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State will receive the softcopy of the register on August 20, 2024, while that of Ondo State will take place on October 15, 2024,” he said.

The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yusuf Dantalle, said as a key player in the political process, IPAC remained steadfast in its commitment to ensuring electoral integrity.

He said the organisation was dedicated to upholding the sanctity of the ballot box, respecting the will and mandate of the people, and promoting political stability and the well-being of Nigerians.

Dantalle stressed that IPAC’s efforts were focused on maintaining the credibility of elections and supporting the democratic process to benefit the entire nation.

He called for the immediate scrapping of the States Independent Electoral Commissions as a way of deepening democracy in the country.

“The charade called elections SIECs conduct is an aberration, dent and mockery of our emerging democracy; a waste of taxpayers’ money that ought to have been channelled to developmental projects.

“To restore confidence in the electoral system, INEC should be empowered to conduct all LG elections. Politics is local, citizens should be encouraged to actively participate in grassroots politics and contribute to building a better society.

“In this vein, IPAC calls for the amendment of the Constitution and the Electoral Act to empower INEC to conduct all LG polls. Council rejects the proposed bill by the Senate to create the so-called Local Government Independent Electoral Commission, bearing in mind that it would be another SIEC in disguise.

“It is unacceptable, ill-conceived, another electoral jamboree that will impede the nation’s democracy and waste public funds at a time when citizens demand a smaller government to reduce the cost of governance,” the IPAC chairman said.

Speaking on the elections in Edo, he said: “For the Edo State governorship election, the die is cast. There is no substitute for a free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful poll.

“The success of this election along with Ondo’s election will go a long way in restoring trust in the democratic process essential for enduring representative governance.

“Flawed elections that produced incompetent leaders are the remote cause of economic stagnation, political upheavals, and socio-religious disharmony in the polity, as the imposed leaders seek personal interests in place of national interest,” he added.

PUNCH

Politics

LP Candidate Warns Of Plot To Disrupt Lagos LG Poll

Published

1 day ago

July 10, 2025

Editor

The Labour Party, LP, chairmanship candidate for Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Engr. Seyi Ipinlaye, has raised concerns over alleged plans by certain individuals to incite violence and disrupt the upcoming Lagos State local government elections scheduled for Saturday, July 12, 2025.

In a statement made available to journalists, Ipinlaye warned of attempts to replicate the “ugly menace” of the 2023 general elections, which he described as being marred by threats, ballot box snatching, and voter intimidation.

Ipinlaye called on the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LAISEC, to ensure a free and fair election, urging law enforcement agencies to be proactive in preventing possible violence and protecting voters in Amuwo-Odofin.

“We are already seeing signs of desperation as Labour Party campaign posters and banners are being torn and defaced. If this continues unchecked, it may lead to voter suppression and possible anarchy,” he said.

Recalling LP’s victories in the 2023 general elections in both state and federal constituencies in Amuwo-Odofin, Ipinlaye expressed confidence in the party’s support base, warning that any attempts to manipulate the outcome could backfire.

He also appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State government to resist any interference in the electoral process, urging them to promote peace and transparency.

“We want the votes in Amuwo-Odofin to count, just like in Abia State where the governor allowed free and fair LGA elections without interference,” he said.

Ipinlaye concluded by calling on security agencies to remain neutral and act professionally before, during, and after the election to safeguard lives and property.

Politics

Protest Rocks Abuja Over Osun LG Polls

Published

2 days ago

July 9, 2025

Editor

Protesters under the aegis of the Nigeria Society for Democracy and Good Governance (NSDGG) and the Coalition of Civil Society for Justice and Equity (CCSJE) took to the streets of Abuja on Wednesday, demanding that the Federal Government enforce court judgments declaring the occupation of Local Government Council Secretariats in Osun State by All Progressives Congress (APC) officials as illegal.

The protest, which began at the Unity Fountain and proceeded to the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Finance, highlighted the escalating tension over the alleged disregard for judicial authority and its threat to democratic governance.

The civil society organisations urged the Attorney General, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the Minister of Finance to intervene by recognising and funding only the duly elected officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the protesters, the PDP Chairmen and Councillors were validly elected on 22 February 2025, in an election conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), in line with the Electoral Act 2022.

However, despite court rulings voiding the appointments of APC officials, the party’s functionaries allegedly continue to occupy council offices across the state.

Speaking to journalists during the protest, Chairman of the CCSJE, Comrade Collins Idowu, described the situation as a ‘profound threat’ to the rule of law and democratic governance.

He emphasised the financial and constitutional dangers of the ongoing crisis, calling on the Minister of Finance to withhold further allocations to illegally occupying APC officials and instead channel funds to the duly elected PDP Chairmen and Councillors.

“The current situation in Osun State is not merely a political issue; it is a profound threat to the rule of law and democratic governance.

“Despite clear court judgments that have invalidated the APC officials’ claims to their positions, they continue to occupy Local Government Council Secretariats, undermining the very foundation of our democracy. This blatant disregard for judicial authority and electoral integrity is alarming and poses significant financial implications for the state and its citizens,” Idowu said.

On his part, the spokesperson for the NSDGG, Ambassador Usman Saidu Calculus, also described the situation as a threat to democracy.

He warned that continued financial support to those without a legal mandate sets a dangerous precedent and may trigger instability and chaos at the grassroots level of governance.

“The NSDGG stands firm in its commitment to promoting democracy and good governance in Nigeria, and we believe that your actions in this matter will reflect the government’s dedication to upholding the rule of law and the principles of democracy.

“We demand that the government act decisively to rectify this situation by recognising the rightful representatives of the people and ensuring that public funds are allocated accordingly. The citizens of Osun State deserve to have their voices heard and their choices respected,” he said.

The protesters submitted letters to the offices of the Attorney General and the Minister of Finance, demanding strict adherence to the rule of law and the full implementation of valid court rulings.

Politics

ADC Unveiled In Benue, Woo Gov Alia

Published

2 days ago

July 9, 2025

Editor

The Protem State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Benue State, Chief Terngu Tsegba, has said Governor Hyacinth Alia is welcome to join the party if he so desires.

Speaking to newsmen Wednesday in Makurdi shortly after the unveiling of the party and his emergence as the Protem State Chairman, Chief Tsegba stated that members of other political parties were already collapsing their structures into the ADC and more were being expected.

He said: “Members of other parties are collapsing into the ADC, and anybody from any party that wants to join the ADC is welcome,e including the Governor of Benue state. If he wants to join the ADC, he is welcome provided he satisfies the requirements of the party.”

The former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Speaker Pro tempore of the House of Representatives explained that they had already resigned their membership of the PDP and were in the ADC to change the fortunes of the people of the state and Nigerians at large.

While expressing optimism that the ADC would take Benue State, Chief Tsegba said an ADC-led government in the state would frontally address the issues of insecurity in the state.

“For us in Benue state, if there is security,y the farmers can go to their farms, small businesses will thrive, and of course, everything will go as planned. So the first issue we are going to confront as a party and as a government is to arrest the insecurity in the state, return our people to their ancestral homes and then grant autonomy to local governments.

“If the Local Government are receiving their allocation directly from the Federal Government I believe most of the things the state cannot do at the local government level, the Local governments would be able to handle them.

“And to do that we will scrap the Bureau for Local Governments and return the allocation to the local governments.”

Unveiling the party earlier, former Governor of the State, Senator Gabriel Suswam stated that the coalition was born out of necessity, as the PDP, APC, Labour Party, LP, and other parties had been plagued by perpetual internal crises prompting the coming together of like minds in the ADC.

Meanwhile the PDP has described its members who joined the ADC as nomadic politicians seeking to destabilise the PDP for personal gains.

The party in a communique at the end of its Benue North West Senatorial District or Zone ‘B’ Stakeholders meeting held in Makurdi cautioned its members against joining any coalition.

Part of the communique read: “On the excitement over the new political platform, the PDP leaders describe former members of the party who have joined the coalition as an assemblage of nomadic politicians who are only seeking to destabilize the party for their personal and political gains.

“They are aggrieved because they were out manoeuvred when they attempted to seize the structures of the PDP for merchandise. They have no capacity to rescue anyone from anywhere. It is a truism that the PDP remains the only party committed to protecting our heritage, land, and people.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP in Zone B remains one and indivisible and rooted in the ideals of our founding fathers. We have no dealing with any coalition or the purported new political party in the name of ADC.

“We are not in any coalition with any political party or parties. We therefore encourage our members to disregard any speculations of any coalition at any level. Those championing the coalition are the disgruntled and self-serving elements amongst us who have long enjoyed the support of PDP but now seek to undermine the party’s unity and progress.”
(VANGUARD)