Politics

PCV Collection: Edo LP Raises Alarm Over Attack On Members, Fingers PDP

Published

2 years ago

January 8, 2023

The Edo State chapter of Labour Party, LP, has raised the alarm that its members and supporters who turned out to collect their Permanent Voter Card, PVC, are being intimidated and attacked across the state by thugs the party alleged sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

INFO DAILY had reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had raised similar alarm of disruption of collection of PVCs in some centres and intimidation of its staffs by thugs yesterday, Saturday, January 7.

The state Publicity Secretary of LP, Comrade Sam Uroupa, who confirmed the attack in a statement made available to INFO DAILY on Sunday, said the thugs invaded various collection centres, attacked LP members and supporters who were on queue to collect their PVCs and warned INEC staffs not to attend to anyone until their members (PDP) have all collected theirs.

Uroupa who said he also witness one the attacks and he consequently received the beating of his life, added that the thugs are not just attacking LP members, but also destroying billboards belonging to Labour Party candidates.

His statement reads in part: “Report reaching the Edo State Labour Party from some PVC collection centres says that thugs allegedly sponsored by PDP are attacking and preventing Labour Party members from collecting PVCs.

“According to the report, the thugs specifically warned the INEC officials that if their PDP members have not collected, no body else will be allowed to get their PVC.

“In ward 6 Ikpoba Okha LGA, some PDP thugs allegedly led by one Apostle by name invaded the PVC collection exercise and beat up the people when they observed that majority of those on the queue are Obedient members.

” It was suspected that these were the same people who carried out the attack on LP secretariat at Ugbekun ward 7 Ikpoba Okha LGA some time in December last year to forcefully take over the office.

“In ward 9 Ogheghe Health Center, Ikpoba Okha LGA, the situation was not different as the PDP thugs in the community distrupted the exercise chasing everybody, including the INEC staffs and made away with the PVCs to prevent LP members from collecting.

“Though it was reported that they later returned the PVCs but the exercise could not continue again as the INEC staffs were apprehensive of their own safety.

“Similarly, in Oghede ward 10 Ovia North East LGA, the LP chairman was attacked by PDP thugs and his cellphone was destroyed during the PVC distribution exercise. The same PDP leaders and their thugs succeeded in taking the INEC officials to an hotel where it was suspected that some PVCs were handed over.

“In Oluku ward 6 Ovia North East LGA, the ward chairman suffered the same fate as he was attacked by hoodlums suspected to be PDP thugs.

“At some other locations it was heavy gun shots to scare people away and cause panic.

“Because the PDP have seen the handwriting, they resorted to violence against members of our great party the LP. As we speak, at Egor, over 50 (fifty) mini campaign billboards of our House of Assembly candidate for Egor constituency, Hon. Derrick Uhunmwagho has been destroyed and taken away by the PDP hired thugs because they are afraid of going into the election with all our candidates,” the statement added.

The Publicity Secretary who said Labour Party and its teaming supporters would not be deterred by intimidation, adding that the party is determined to “deliver Nigeria from the evil grip of APC and PDP, we are not going to lose focus on our rescue mission.”

“Nigerians have suffered enough in the hands of these two parties, our economy is in shambles and security of lives and property is totally zero,” he added.

While calling on the security agents to intervene, Uroupa added: “We want to use this medium to appeal to well meaning Nigerians, the security agencies, all Edolites and the general public to please call the Edo State PDP to order.”

Efforts by INFO DAILY to reach the Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state proved abortive as his cellphone number was not going through.

Politics

[UPDATED] Tinubu, APC Govs, Edo Deputy Gov, Shaibu, Meet Behind Closed-doors

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2024

Editor

President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting behind closed-doors with the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) at the, Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Though the agenda of the meeting could not be confirmed officially, it may not be unconnected to the planned nationwide protest kicking off from 1st of August.

The Chairman of the PGF and the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, led the team of governors to the President’s office, along with the Chairman of the Nigeria’s Governors Forum, Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman of Kwara State.

Also sited was the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu; Bassey Otu, (Cross River); Benue State Governor, Fr Hycinth Alia; Uba Sani of Kaduna State; Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, amongst others.

Also spotted the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Ministers of Finance and Budget & Economic Planning, Wale Edun and Abubakar Bagudu, respectively, arriving at the President’s office.

The ongoing meeting is coming after an earlier meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), which held on Wednesday evening and comes after the cancellation of the National Economic Council (NEC)meeting earlier scheduled for noon Thursday.

Politics

BREAKING: Tinubu In Closed-door Meeting With APC Governors

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Editor

President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) at the State House, Abuja.

Although the agenda of the meeting could not be confirmed officially, it may not be unconnected to the planned nationwide protest on August 1.

The chairman of the PGF and the Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, led the team of governors to the President’s office, along with the chairman of Nigeria’s Governors Forum, Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman of Kwara state.

Also sighted was the reinstated deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu; Bassey Otu, (Cross River); Benue State Governor, Fr Hycinth Alia; Uba Sani of Kaduna State; Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, amongst others.

Also spotted the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Ministers of Finance and Budget & Economic Planning, Wale Edun and Abubakar Bagudu, respectively, arriving at the President’s office.

The ongoing meeting follows a previous gathering of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) held on Wednesday evening.

It comes after the cancellation of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting that was scheduled for noon on Thursday.

Details shortly…

Politics

Place Obaseki On Security Watch List, Edo APC Urges FG, As State Govt Kicks

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Editor

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on the Federal Government to put the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, on a security watch list, ahead of the proposed August 1, 2024, nationwide protest.

The State Chairman of the APC, Jarret Tenebe, in a statement made available to INFO DAILY, said the call became necessary following his (Obaseki )alleged threat to burn down the country if the Federal Government fails to arrest APC members who allegedly carried out an attack at the Benin Airport recently.

In the statement titled, ‘The All Progressives Congress, APC, Alerts Federal Government to Put Governor Obaseki on Security Watch’ Tenebe said the call was to “alert the security agencies that facts have emerged of an engagement between Obaseki and an alleged section of the Civil Society Group drawn from Edo State and cultists from neighbouring states, with the sole aim to recruit them for any protest that may be in the offing.”

The APC chairman alleged that the “aim of the governor’s plan was to create anarchy in Edo State, and the five other South-South States and blame the APC for the destruction that would follow the protest.”

According to him, “it was embarrassing and worrisome that the Edo State House of Assembly has turned a blind eye to the danger Obaseki has become, as the Speaker and members had refused to condemn the serious security breach the governor has committed.

“The prevailing circumstance is worrisome and demands urgent action that will frustrate the plan Obaseki has made with Edo State Security Network (ESSN), PUWOV and thugs from the five other South-South States of Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Bayelsa”, he said.

He, however, called on the National Security Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to carry out an urgent and comprehensive investigation of the recent meetings that were allegedly held by Governor Obaseki within and outside Edo State.

Tenebe also urged the National Security Adviser to withdraw or change the governor’s security details as the day for the planned protest draws nearer.

He also demanded restriction to the governor’s movement before the planned protest, especially on the protest day.

Tenebe further demanded the resignation of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, for allegedly being partisan in the Benin Airport attack incident that led to the killing of a Police Inspector attached to the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

“Finally, worried by the open partisan role the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye has played in recent times, we request that he should emulate his counterpart, Kimberly Cheatle the United States of America Secret Service Chief, who has resigned for failing to prevent Donald Trump’s assassination attempt.

“In the event he fails to take this honourable path, Mr Adegboye should be transferred out of Edo State, because his action is capable of bringing the force to disrepute.

“The consequences of ignoring this timely call is capable of leading to subsequent breakdown of law and order in Edo State and Nigeria,” he added.

But in a swift reaction, the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, described the call as unfortunate and disgusting.

“It is rather surprising that the APC is calling on the Presidency to put Governor Obaseki on the watch list when there are obvious pictures and videos of APC members wielding sophisticated weapons in the presence of policemen, breaching public peace and unleashing mayhem on the people of the State, and are still walking free.

“Their names are not on any watch list and they have not been arrested and prosecuted. What an irony”, he stated.