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Ondo Guber: Learn From Lapses In Edo Election, Make Correction, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Cautions INEC

Published

9 months ago

November 15, 2024

Editor

By Joseph Kanjo|Akure

Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to correct the “generally acknowledged lapses” in the last Edo State governorship in the Ondo State election scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 16, 2024.

The Situation Room, a coalition of civil society organisation, in a pre-election statement signed by Yunusa Ya’u, Convener, Nigeria Situation Room, and Mimidoo Achakpa, Co-converner, Nigeria Situation Room, said since INEC has acknowledged the lapses and has promised to learn from the lessons gathered from the Edo election, it should show the willingness and capacity to live up to that promise.

Speaking further on the election, the coalition of civil society organisations urged INEC to ensure that polling units open on time, warning that delay can disenfranchise voters and undermine the credibility of the election.

“Inefficient logistics, such as election officials arriving late or being misdirected, have hammered previous elections. INEC must ensure vehicles and personnel are adequately briefed on their routes to avoid delays. INEC should also ensure that materials already deployed to the RACs and super RACs are moved to the polling units,” the situation room advised.

The added: “The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is expected to function optimally based on the report from the Mock test. INEC must ensure that the trained personnel are readily available to handle technical issues swiftly, ensuring that voters are not disenfranchised due to faulty equipment.”

The Situation Room further urged INEC to ensure that people with disability and other vulnerable persons like pregnant women and aged are accorded priority attention at polling units.

The coalition of civil society organisations said INEC must “ensure that the collation process is transparent and venues are made accessible to observers and fully lit to avoid the incidents that happened in the Edo election where collation of results in some wards were done in darkness or relocated to the local government centres.”

Speaking on security, the Situation Room, while appreciating the Nigeria Police Force for its assurance of providing adequate security during the election, called on security agencies to be visible without intimidation and be professional and accountable.

It further appealed to security agencies to provide adequate security in polling units, collation centres, and for the transportation of election materials.

“We equally call on security agencies to be vigilant while manning the entry points to polling units to apprehend would-be hoodlums commissioned to disrupt the election process. We insist on transparency during collation, and any form of exclusion of accredited agents and observers must be avoided to ensure trust in the process.”

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

13 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

13 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

13 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.