A former governor of Edo State and an aspirant in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, has disclosed his resolve to return to the state government house to complete his mission and contribute to the state development.

Osunbor made his intention known in Benin, Tuesday, when he paid homage to the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, and also seek for the Monarch’s prayers and support in his endeavour.

Professor Osunbor recalled that he was the governor of the state for a short period “so it is my desire to come back and complete my mission and also to contribute in my own way to assist Your Royal Majesty in developing our state to a very enviable level.

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“To a level beyond what it is now. I know it is in the interest of Your Royal Majesty that whoever is coming to govern the state should be somebody who has the interest of the state and is prepared to do what is required to be able to elevate Edo State to an enviable level.”

Prof. Osunbor disclosed that he is imbued with traits of excellence and that his slogan while campaigning to govern the state in 2007 was ‘Edo for Excellence’.

He asserted that within the short period of his stay in office he exhibited excellence in governance.

Going further into his background he disclosed that he scored a first class in his Law programme the first Nigerian to achieve that feat at the University of Nigeria.

“I proceeded to the Law School and emerged as the best student in the Nigeria Bar examination in 1976. Without doing a Masters I proceeded to do a Ph.D and in three years completed my Ph.D and started lecturing. In just eight years I applied for a position of Professor and I was appointed a Professor with just eight years teaching experience. This is very rare,” Professor Osunbor submitted.

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He recalled that in his days as governor he initiated a very successful students bursary scheme and ensured that pensioners were paid their pension arrears while ensuring that none of them was owed.

Receiving Professor Osunbor and his entourage of All Progressives Congress (APC) bigwigs, Omo N’Oba stated that the capability of the ex-governor was never in doubt. The monarch went down memory lane to recall how his guest then a Senator went the extra length to make him comfortable during the process of his screening in the Senate chambers as an ambassador designate.

He promised him that a prayer team with be made to always put him in prayers so that he would be free from any harm and can achieve his heart desires.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has fixed September 21 next year for the governorship election in Edo State, and November 16 for that of Ondo State.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed in Abuja, on Tuesday.

He explained that the tenure of the governors of Edo and Ondo states will end on November 11, 2024 and February 23, 2025, respectively.

Olumekun said as provided in Section 178 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), election into the said offices shall be held not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the tenure of` the last holder of the office.

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According to him, the latest date for election to the office of governor, Edo State, is 12th October 2024, while that of Ondo State is 24th January 2025.

Similarly, Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 requires the Commission to publish Notice for the Election not later than 360 days before the date of the election.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, the Commission issues the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections as follows:

“The governorship election will hold on Saturday 21st September 2024.

“Party primaries will hold from 1st – 24th February 2024 while the submission of the list of nominated candidates via the online portal will start at 9a.m. on 4th March 2024 and close at 6pm on 24th March 2024.

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“The final list of candidates will be published on 23rd April 2024, while campaign in public by political parties commences on 24th April 2024 and ends 24 hours prior to election day on 19th September 2024.

“The governorship election will hold on Saturday 16th November 2024.

“Party primaries will hold from 6th – 27th April 2024 while the submission of the list of nominated candidates via the online portal will start at 9.00am on 29th April 2024 and close at 6p.m. on 20th May 2024.

“The final list of candidates will be published on 18th June 2024, while campaign in public by political parties commences on 19th June 2024 and ends 24 hours prior to election day on 14th November 2024.

“The detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the two elections have been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms.

“By this ample notice as required by both the Constitution and the Electoral Act, the Commission appeals to political parties and candidates to note the activities in the timetable for strict compliance,” he added.

The Speaker of the Ondo state House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, has raised the alarm that his life is under threat over the impeachment notice served to the deputy governor of the state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over alleged gross misconduct.

Oladiji raised the alarm in Akure after some fetish objects were dumped in front of the gate of his residence, at midnight on Sunday

The fetish objects were dumped at the gate of the Speaker’s lodge, ahead of the plenary to commence the impeachment of the deputy governor, tomorrow ( Tuesday)

This development created apprehension in the state, as residents discuss it in hushed tones.

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Following the scary development, the speaker, has called on the security agencies to save his soul and that of other members of the House following threats to their lives since the commencement of the impeachment process against the State’s Deputy Governor,

According to him, “Early this morning, his attention was drawn together a ritual sacrifice placed In front of his official lodge.”

The lodge which “requires renovation is only used sometimes for Parliamentary meetings.

“I have not been using the place except sometimes for parliamentary meetings. At least, we have been there for more than two times for meeting but I don’t sleep there because the place requires overhauling with its present state.

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“Early this morning, we discovered that a sacrifice was placed in the lodge. Aside that, I have been receiving strange calls from strange people threatening my life and other members. There have been a lot of pressure on me.

“I am using the medium to tell the world that my life is under threat. I call on the security operatives to checkmate these people who have been threatening my life and other members.

“This threat started since the day we began the impeachment notice . I have already reported to NSCDC among others security agencies”

The Speaker, also debunked the rumour that the lawmakers collected N5 million to initiate the impeachment process

Oladiji said that the 10th Assembly under his watch will not compromise on such sensitive matter.

“Whenever there is an impeachment case like this, people think that the executive must have lured the legislature to begin the process.

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” I want to tell the whole world that we did not receive any gratification from anybody or anywhere. We are doing our work as lawmakers

“We appropriate and at the same time, monitor what we appropriate. Let me tell you, 26 lawmakers have now signed the letter which we will serve the deputy governor today”

“The House will today serve the Deputy Governor of the State, Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa a letter on the alleged gross misconduct.”

The Speaker noted that the House was unable to serve the Deputy Governor the Notice since the commencement of the process last week.

He, however, said that the house has now secured court affidavit which gives the house a legitimate right to serve the Deputy Governor.

According to him “all the 26 lawmakers have appended their signature on the petition. The Deputy Governor is expected to reply the house within seven days of notice.”