News

Lift Ban On Edo State Security Network, CSO Urges IGP

Published

2 years ago

September 26, 2024

Editor

A group, Edo State Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO), lon Thursday, urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Agbetokun to consider lifting the ban on the Edo State Security Network (ESSN), now that the state governorship election is over.

The group made the call in Benin while speaking on the aftermath of the Edo 2024 governorship election.

Recall that prior to the September 21 governorship election, the Inspector General of Police, Agbetokun had announced a ban on the activities of the ESSN.

The group, through its Coordinator General, Comrade Omobude Agho said the presence of the network has helped reduced crime and criminality since its creation in the state.

“We appeal to the Inspector-General of Police as a matter of urgent security importance to reinstate a date for the resumption of our suspended local vigilante known as ESSN whose suspension was due to the election which is now concluded”, Agho appealed.

Agho, while commending the peaceful conduct of the governorship election in the state, faulted the major political parties for engaging in votes buying which, according to him, undermined the electoral process.

“The polls were opened without violence as voters took their turns to vote.

“However, in several units, vote buying and selling became a common sight, security personnel didn’t act in enforcing the law against such an act.

“Votes were freely sold and bought by the two major political parties between the sum of N10,000 and N20,000 or even far less depending on the location or environment.

“All these were carried out in a very agreeable and peaceful atmosphere. In some cases, some voters returned home without casting their votes when they couldn’t get a satisfactory bargain from the buying of the votes”, Agho added.

He ,however, faulted the way and manner security agencies allegedly took materials away from their collation centres without allowing the various party agents to go in with them.

“It should be noted that, at the close of polls in some voting centres like Garrick Memorial School on Ekehuan road in Oredo and Western Boys high School in Ikpoba Okha, security agencies forcefully moved INEC officials and materials to INEC headquarters for collation which is against the usual process, whereas in the proper order, collated results are moved from units to local government collation centre from where it will be moved to INEC headquarters for final collation and announcement.

“While these collation abnormalities were going on, over 70% of results from polling units have already been received and registered in the INEC IREV portal by officials of INEC.

“It was also shocking to observe that party agents and accredited observers were barred from entering the INEC headquarters to monitor the materials that were brought in by the heavily armed soldiers and other security agencies who had barricaded the entire area, which event raised protests around INEC headquarters.

“This action of the security agencies and INEC gives room for suspicion, compromise and partisanship that makes the election not to pass the integrity test and leaves a taste in posterity.

The Coordinator General of the group, while also congratulating the governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo and his deputy-elect, Dennis Idahosa for their victory at the poll, enjoined all aggrieved parties to seek redress through all legal and constitutional means without resorting to self help.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.