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[JUST IN] Edo Guber: ‘This Is Disrespect For People’ – LP’s Akpata Reacts As APC, PDP Candidates Shun Debate

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The debate organised for governorship candidates of various political parties on Sunday ahead of the Edo State governorship election was shunned by the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

The debate organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State council in conjunction with the Broadcasting Organisation Nigeria (BON) and the Nigerian Election Debate Group (NERD), was attended by governorship candidates of Labour Party, LP, Barr. Olumide Akpata; Action Democratic Congress, ADC, Derek Izedonwmen and Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Miss Patience Ndidi.

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The debate could not hold due to the absence of the APC and PDP candidates, but the candidates who showed up were given opportunity to speak briefly.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Sowore Released After Arrest At Lagos Airport

In his brief speech, the LP candidate, Akpata described failure by the APC and PDP candidates to honour the invitation to debate as an outright disregard not to the NUJ and BON, but Edo people, urging residents to call out the candidates and use their votes to do justice to them at the poll.

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Akpata, who claimed the two candidates depend on violence and manipulations to win the governorship election, and that that is why they did not show up, also charged media organisations and executives to condemn the action by the two candidates in their editorials, writing, among others.

The LP candidate who wondered why a candidate should intend of governing a state without coming out to tell the people what he has for them, said: “Asue Ighodalo comes from the private sector like I do, but if I may ask, as chairman of board of several companies, did he employ any intending employee without an interview? This is a simple logic.

READ ALSO: Edo Poll: PDP N’tional Chair, Obaseki Blow Hot, Say ‘We’ll Defend Our Votes With Our Blood’

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“But because they intend to win election through violence and manipulation, they feel there is no need for coming out to tell Edo people why they should vote for them. This act must stop.

“I will implore the media to condemn this. I expect to see headlines and editorials as from tomorrow condemning this total disrespect for Edo people.”

On her part, PRP’s Ndidi said people are giving these two political parties undue regards, stressing that this is why they have taken the people for granted.

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READ ALSO: JUST IN: First Set Of Trucks Begin Loading Of Fuel At Dangote Refinery [VIDEO]

For me, leadership is about the people and respect for the people. But see what has happened. This is an outright disrespect for the people. I condemn this act. By the way, people are giving them undue respect this is why they feel too important. We need to stop giving them the respect they do not deserve; The popularity they do not deserve,” she said.

ADC candidate, Izedonwmen said it’s quite unfortunate that the two political parties copied what Tinubu did in 2023, where he declined to honour debate invite but still won the election, urging Edo people to stand against this.

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Osun LG Crisis: INEC To Relocate CVR Centres, Releases Gov Poll Timetable

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The Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State said it will relocate registration points for the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration exercise from local government secretariats currently under lock.

Osun LG secretariats have been shut since February 17, 2025, due to a tussle between the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress over control of councils.

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The APC had claimed that the February 10, 2025, decision of the Court of Appeal, Akure, had returned its candidates elected in the October 15, 2022, local government elections, but sacked by the Osogbo Federal High Court in December 2022.

But the PDP insisted that the officials who emerged on February 22, 2025, are legally recognised to manage the affairs of council areas in the state.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo, the state capital, on Wednesday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke, said the affected INEC offices had been identified and would be moved to alternative locations to ensure the CVR proceeds without disruption.

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READ ALSO:INEC Gets 151 Party Registration Requests, Begins Screening

Agboke said, “The CVR will start on the 18th day of August, 2025, with online registration.

“By this, the prospective registrant will visit www.cvr.inecnigeria.org to supply the necessary information about himself or herself.

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“Thereafter, he or she will generate a slip to take to INEC local government office within his place of residence.

“Later on the 25th of August 2025, the registrant will visit the local government office for his or her biometrics, i.e the fingerprint and the facial.

“INEC offices located inside local government secretariats are not shut down.

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READ ALSO:INEC Extends Voter Registration In Anambra Amid High Turnout

“However, INEC has harvested the number of those local government offices. We want to bring them out of the LG secretariats. We are working on that. Our headquarters had requested for their details and we have forwarded to them.”

Agboke also announced that activities for the August 8, 2026, Osun governorship election have officially begun, with notices posted in all INEC LG offices.

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Party primaries are scheduled between November 24 and December 15, 2025, while submission of candidates’ particulars will run from January 15 to February 9, 2026.

He stated, “This is necessary to enable political parties democratically nominate candidates for the election as required by section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022. The submission of forms EC9 ( personal particulars of candidates) and EC9B (Names/list of nominated candidates) online at the nomination portal of the commission at 9 am on the 15th day of January, 2026, to 6 pm on the 9th February 2026.

READ ALSO:INEC Opens Window For New Registration In Anambra

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Access code for the submission of nomination forms shall be available for collection on 15th December, 2025, at the headquarters of the commission. I implore all the political parties and other stakeholders to follow the timetable for the 2026 Governorship Election for Osun State with a view to tracking the various activities contained therein. Copies of the timetable shall be made available to the political parties at this meeting in a short while. The 2026 Governorship election shall be conducted on the 8th day of August,2026.”

He appealed to political parties and other major stakeholders to work against the menace of vote buying, saying the electorate should be educated not to sell their votes.

The REC also called on all stakeholders to continue supporting INEC in the state for it to deliver a credible election, noting that the commission alone cannot deliver a peaceful and successful election without their cooperation.
(PUNCH)

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JUST IN: Total Loyalty Non-negotiable, PDP Tells Members

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The Peoples Democratic Party has warned that it will not tolerate disloyalty from any member, stressing that total commitment to the party’s cause is non-negotiable.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba said the party will rely on its constitution to ensure members remain committed to its cause.

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READ ALSO:Alleged ₦3.51bn Travel Expenditure: Ignore PDP’s Claim On Okpebholo, Edo APC Tells Residents

Responding to a question about the recent conditions set by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for the success of the November 15 and 16 National Elective Convention, Ologunagba emphasised that the PDP is about the people, not any individual.

He said, “We have zero tolerance for anti-party activities. We expect and demand total loyalty from all our members. Anything short of that will not be tolerated, and we shall invoke the relevant sections of the party’s constitution to enforce this.”

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By-Election: APC Correcting PDP 8 Years Of Underdevelopment In Edo, Days Idahosa

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The deputy governor of Edo State, Hon. Dennis Idahosa says the Monday Okpebholo-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the state is correcting the eight years wrong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Idahosa, however, urged more support for the administration and the APC to attract more developmental projects across the nook and cranny of the state.

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Idahosa made this statement when the campaign train stormed Usen and Ugbogui wards of Ovia South West Local Government Area.

He urged the people to come out enmass to exercise their civic duty on Saturday in support of the APC candidate, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion.

READ ALSO:By-Election: Idahosa Assures Of More Infrastructural Development In Ovia

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Idahosa said support for the party would mean more developmental projects for the area that had lacked same from the immediate past administration of the PDP.

The present APC government led by Sen. Monday Okpebholo is the one that has started transforming your area within nine months in the office.

“He can only do more with your support, especially by voting for his party’s candidate on Saturday,” he pleaded.

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On her part, the APC candidate, Omosede Igbinedion, promised to synergise with the governor his deputy to attract more developmental projects to the constituency.

READ ALSO: Edo Bye-Elections: Show You Are On Ground, Idahosa Tasks APC Leaders

Similarly, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, said the government has put measures in place to ensure no students is sent home for want of school fee.

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According to him, the state government has concluded plans to pay bursaries for students while market women would enjoy soft loans.

Meanwhile, Elawure of Usen, Ovia south west local government ,have advised Politicians to be united in their pursuit of common goal of delivery dividends of democracy to the people.

READ ALSO: Idahosa Optimistic Shaibu Will Perform As National Sports Institute DG

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Oluogbe II gave this advise when he received the campaign team of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the state deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa.

The traditional ruler expressed joy in the unity between Idahosa and the APC candidate for the Ovia federal constituency bye-election scheduled Saturday, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion.

He noted that the present unity and synergy between the former political foe would bring nothing but victory for their party, as well as development to the people of the federal constituency.

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