We are disappointed – PDP

National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic party, Chief Olisa Metuh

The Peoples Democratic Party said on Sunday July 15, 2012, that it was disappointed with the outcome of the governorship election in Edo State.

The party said it thought its candidate, Gen. Charles Airhiavebre (retd.) would be able to defeat the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Comrade Adams Oshiomole in the election which was conducted on Saturday July 14, 2012.

It said it received the result of the election as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which declared Oshiomhole the winner, with mixed feelings.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, nevertheless  called on supporters of the PDP to accept the outcome of the election.

He said, “While we await the reports of our monitors in different locations in the state in order to determine our next course of action, we commend the people of Edo State for their enthusiastic participation in the exercise.”

The statement said the PDP in the course of its campaigns told the people that its entry into the race was not a do-or-die affair.

It said it did its best to provide a credible alternative to the people of the state.

Metuh said the PDP shared their (the people of Edo) hope for a re-entry into the main stream of Nigerian politics.

He said, “However, to our disappointment, the results as declared by INEC did not go our way.

“As a party that respects the institutions of democracy, and in demonstration of the spirit of sportsmanship which is the acclaimed principle of the PDP under the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, we call on all our supporters to accept this results as declared by INEC.

“We congratulate the winner for this victory.

“This is however, without prejudice to our right to seek redress if we observe from our field reports any foul play.

“We therefore urge our supporters to remain calm,law abiding and resist any temptation to take the law into their hands.”

Oshiomhole wins Edo polls

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole celebrated by his supporters after been declared the winner of Edo polls on sunday July 15, 2012

The Governor of Edo State , Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has been re-elected to pilot the affairs of the state in the next four years.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sunday, declared Mr Adams Oshiomhole of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as the winner of the Edo governorship election, held on Saturday.

The Returning Officer, Prof Osayuki Oshodi, who officially announced the result of the election  at INECheadquarter in Benin, said Oshiomhole scored 477,478 votes to defeat five other candidates in the election.

Oshodi said Maj.-Gen.Charles Airhiavbere of the Peoples Democratic Party   scored 144, 235 votes, while  Chief Solomon Edebiri of All Nigeria Peoples Party  scored 3,642 votes to come third.

He said Mr Roland Izeobuwe of Congress for Progressive Change came fourth with 2,793 votes and  Mr Frank Ukonga of Social Democratic Movement Party followed with  807 votes.

Oshodi, who is the Vice-Chancellor of University of Benin, further announced that Mr Andrew Igwemoh of Labour Party scored  604 votes, while Mr Paul Orunmwese of National Conscience Party scored  540 votes in the contest,

He said that Oshiomhole, who is the incumbent, won in the 18 local government areas of the state and satisfied the requirements of the law to be declared winner of the contest.

“I, Prof  Oshiodi as the returning officer, hereby certify  that I was the returning officer of the July 14 governorship election and  hereby declare that Oshiomhole having satisfied the requirement of the law and having scored the highest number of votes cast is hereby declared winner,’’ Oshodi declared. ( NAN)

 

Edo Guber Election: Early results favour Oshiomhole

Oshiomhole of ACN and Airhiavbere of PDP casting their votes Saturday

Amid initial hitches, enthusiastic voters yesterday trooped out to cast their votes in the Edo State governorship election.

Early results from some polling units in Edo Central and Edo South Senatorial Districts appeared to favour Oshomhole of the ACN.

For instance, the candidate reportedly won in seven of the 10 wards in Igueben Local Government in the Central District with a wide margin and Oredo LGA in Edo South.

Other highlights of the election included the loss of the PDP in the polling unit where its candidate, General Charles Arhievbere, voted.  The PDP also lost in the polling units where two other bigwigs – Chief Ogiadomhe, who is chief of staff to the president, and Dr. Sam Ogbemudia – cast their votes.

The poll was characterized by late arrival of voting materials in some polling centres, forcing a visibly angry ACN candidate, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to say that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had failed the people.

The PDP described the statement as hasty.
In several polling centres, the names of many prospective voters were on the register but their photographs were missing, thus creating crisis as to whether or not they could vote.

The response of INEC was that it supplied the register to the parties some four weeks ago and expected them to make their observations for correction.

The election took a tragic turn after a boat conveying voting materials to the riverine area of Ologbo in Ikpoba Okhai Local Government Area of the state capsized.

Four persons on board the boat including two inspectors, one constable and one adhoc INEC staff were reportedly killed.

`Fake Voters Register’
In Edo South Senatorial District, which has seven local governments, the turnout was impressive.
However, there was tension at the early hours of the day due to delay in delivering voting materials to the polling units. Accreditation was billed to start by 8 a.m. but did not commence until about 10 a.m.- 11a.m. particularly in Egor, Oredo and Ikpoba Okhai Local Government Councils, all in the heart of Benin City.

However, the situation was better in the rural areas such as Orhionmwon, Uhumnwonde, Ovia North East and Ovia South West. There was crisis at Garrick Memorial Primary School, Oredo in Unit 19 where two alleged fake voters registers were produced by INEC. The names in the register corresponded with the voters who insisted that they registered in the unit but their pictures were missing. Consequently, the ACN members in the unit insisted that the people who, according to them, looked strange, could not vote. This is the ward of the candidate of the PDP, Airhiavbere. Voting was initially suspended in the unit.

In Orhionmwon Local Government Council, accreditation commenced at about 8:30 a.m. and was peaceful. The Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu; and the Director General of the Oshiomhole Campaign Organization, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who voted in his Ugboko ward, commended the exercise and expressed optimism that it is ACN all the way.

Also, Airhiavbere, who voted at Garrik Memorial School, told newsmen at about 1 pm. that the exercise was peaceful. When he was asked to comment on those whom ACN members insisted that they should not be allowed to vote because their pictures were not found in the voters register in his polling unit, Airhiavbere said: “I am not holding brief for anybody but don’t forget we did not do verification in Edo State.

This may have been responsible. But, we have seen a lot of good signs from the process”.  Asked to react on the alarm raised by Oshiomhole at the early hours of the day that the INEC was colluding with the PDP to disenfranchise voters in Edo South by supplying materials late, Airhaivbere said:  “It is too early for any candidate to complain. This is just 1 o’clock. That is Oshiomhole’s way of heating up the polity”.

In Uhumnwonde Local Government where the MinorityWhip of the House of Representatives, Samson Osagie, voted, he described the exercise as peaceful. Former House of Representatives member, Patrick Obahiagbon, who voted in Ward 3 unit 4, Oredo, predicted that the ACN will defeat the PDP with a large margin.In Owan West where the deputy governorship candidate of the PDP, Johnson Abulagba, hails from, there was fracas in Ward 6 where some thugs allegedly stormed the polling units and had to be stopped by the armed soldiers and policemen. The incident happened shortly after it was found out that 200 people were prevented from voting.

In Edo North Senatorial District, late arrival of voting materials was pronounced in many areas.
The situation was blamed on the insistence of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed for the election, to be paid their allowances before hand.

In some parts of Akoko-Edo local government area, some communities like Ikpeshi, Egbigere, Enwan, Atte in ward eight got their materials very late. In Ikpeshi, materials arrived 12.45, and as a result, accreditation and voting went on simultaneously to cover up the lost hours and there was no presence of policemen or even men of the Civil Defence Corps. There was fighting in Egbigere inside because of disagreement by the politicians.

But in Igarra in Akoko Edo, accreditation started as early as 8.30 am. But it was not the same case in Ibillo, Ikiran Ole, Ikiran Oke, Lampese, Ugboshi-afe and Ugboshi-ele, where materials were late, just as it was in Ibillo.
Oshiomhole angry

Piqued by the late arrival of materials at the polling centres in many parts of the state, Oshiomhole warned that they could be no winner where people were not allowed to vote.

The ACN candidate spoke with newsmen at the Iyamho Primary School, Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area  where he voted. “They plan not to bring out the voting materials on time and, as we speak, in Oredo Local government area, Benin City and Egor local government area, the heart of Benin City, materials have not got to majority of the polling booths after 11 am and  at the  New Era College, Upper Mission Road, they brought fake voters register different from the one the people registered,” he said.

According to him, “if accreditation is to stop by 12pm and by 11 am, it is after 11 am now, there are no materials  in some polling booths, it then means Prof. Atahiru Jega and INEC  have no plans to conduct election. The whole  idea is to frustrate the people so that they will not be able to vote, and they will declare a fake result.

“Prof Jega and INEC have been an embarrassment to the nation. I am in shock with all the arrangements they have made sensitizing the people, and I told them, INEC need to be sensitized.  INEC is the weakest link in the Nigeria democratic chain. I have no faith in what INEC is doing in Benin City.

“This is designed for where majority of the people are denied the right to vote and this time around I have told them this country either decides on whether to move on or move back, I see sponsored editorials saying whatever happens we will go to court, but today we have to sort out the issues once and for all.”
Oshiomhole said he held Jega responsible for the failure of the election and for disenfranchising the people as INEC has connived with the PDP to perpetrate  in scientific rigging.

“They planned it and executed it this way. It is a shame that they have programmed this to embarrass the Nigeria nation. If INEC do not allow the people to vote and they pronounce the winner there will be trouble .He said,  “fifty five percent of voters are in Edo South and forty percent in Benin City, and they think they can deprive the people the opportunity to vote,” the can candidate said.

“ Prof. Jega has failed up because I wrote a petition that they are buying voter’s cards. We will all go to court before God. They know that if it is two people remaining, they will not vote for them.”

Governor’s condemnation  hasty-PDP
Director of Publicity of the PDP in Edo State, Mr. Okharedia Ihimekpen, who reacted to Oshiomhole’s condemnation of the process, said the governor had seen the writing on the wall and was trying to raise  unnecessary alarm in order to rationalize his eventual defeat at the poll. Ihimekpen said that Oshiomhole had suddenly realized that “the security and the electoral body are insisting on accreditation of voters whose names are in the voters register in line with the one man, one vote mantra.” He went on: “Reports that reached us from Oshiomhole’s area in Edo North indicated that under-age voters and persons without voter cards were not allowed to get into the premises of the polling station by security men.

“The governor gave himself away as a possible beneficiary of votes by these unqualified voters when he claimed that voters in the area have been disenfranchised.  Is he saying those not qualified to vote should be allowed to do so?”  Ihimekpen stated that the governor’s claim that INEC planned to rig the election in Edo South was also ridiculous and patently deceptive, pointing out that “Edo South is the stronghold of the PDP governorship candidate, Major General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) and a majority of his supporters are from the zone. “If Oshiomhole is claiming that INEC is planning to rig election in Edo South, it stands to reason that the rigging is being done against our candidate whose stronghold is Edo South.

Is Oshiomhole saying that Edo South people will reject their son?” He, however, said that “reports that have reached us thus far from Edo South Senatorial Zone did not suggest any manipulation by the INEC.  The report was that the electoral body had been on top of some minor hitches in the distribution of materials in some isolated polling units, about two or three and the issue had been resolved and the process was progressing smoothly.” Ihimekpen advised that rather than resort to these “frenzied and desperate antics of intimidation and blackmail against the INEC, the parties must do all within their powers to assist the electoral body to deliver on a credible election.”

`Election free, fair’
Speaking on the Edo poll, yesterday, the PDP Director of Mobilistion, Paschal Ugome (Ominimini) described it as free and fair.  He said the result appeared to have “reflected the minds of the people of my  area and other places where I monitored”

He added: “The conduct of the election was very credible”.

Early results

In Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area, ACN won the results so far released. In Ward 2, Unit 7 ACN won by 169 to PDP’s 129. Ward 2 Unit 7 is the ward of Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, Chief of Staff to the President.

In Ward 2, Unit 8 in Fugar, ACN won by 141 to PDP’s 87 votes. In Ward 2, Unit 1, ACN got 133 votes while PDP got 96 votes.

In Adohan, Orhiomwon Local Government, ACN won by 259 votes to PDPs 44 votes. At Idunokhoi, also in the same Local Government, ACN won by 171 to PDP’s 39 votes.

At Orhiomwhon, Urhonigbe North, Polling Unit 7, ACN polled 116, PDP 36, at Ward 04, ACN 117, PDP 27. At Okhwae, ACN polled 221, PDP 71.

At Umuakpe in Oredo Local Government Area, ACN polled 173 to PDPs 20.

In Ozalla, Owan West Local Government Area, ACN won all the units of Ward 1 with total of 1137 for ACN and 599 for PDP. Jubilations akin to a festivity now ongoing at Ozalla.

At Okada Grammar School, ACN won by 265 to PDPs 62

At Eweka primary School at Egor local Government, ACN polled 300 to PDPs 17; at the Oba Market in Oredo ACN polled 404 to PDPs 54.

At the S&T in Egor Local Government, ACN polled 200 to PDPs 25.

The Ward 6, the total sum of Units 1 to 10 in Niger College, Ikpoba Okha LG indicates that ACN won by 1575 to PDPs 54.

In Ovia North East, Ward 1, Unit 3: ACN 256, PDP 52.

Etasko east ward 10 unit 1: ACN 400, PDP 28.

Egor, Unit 11, Ward 9 ACN 75, PDP 9; Ovia North East, ACN 149, PDP 12; Gapiona Oredo Local Government, ACN 897, PDP 10.

Ugonoba Orhiomwon LG, ACN 293, PDP 82

Egor Ward 3 unit 18 ACN 367, PDP 9; Unit 19 ACN 339, PDP 14

Ayua Etsako West Ward 9, Unit 13; ACN 494, PDP 51; Unit 14 ACN 767, PDP 15

Ekpoma, Unit 7, ACN 144, PDP 122; Unit 8 ACN 118, PDP 130; Unit 9 ACN 148, PDP 142; Unit 10 ACN 147, PDP 126 total ACN 557, PDP 520

Ugonoba in Orhiomwon LG, ACN 293, PDP 82 EZOMO PRY SCH OREDO WARD 3 UNIT 8, ACN – 183, PDP – 30, CPC – 5
UNIT 9, ACN – 202, PDP – 55, CPC – 1; UNIT 10, ACN – 192, PDP – 31

Uhiele – Ekopma: PDP- 616, ACN – 54, Igueben local government. ACN so far won 7 of the 10 Wards in the local government, ACN leading in Ubiaja, Ohordua, Ewatto, Ugboha and Ewohimi in Esan-South East local government, AC N leading in Ward 1 and Ward 11 in Esan West local government area.

 

3 police officers, INEC official feared dead

Burial ground

… voters protest

BENIN CITY- THREE police officers and an INEC registration official were feared dead Saturday at the riverside community of Ajoki, near Ologbo, in Edo State, when the boat with which they were transporting electoral materials for Saturday’s governorship election capsized.

The police officers involved in the tragedy were two inspectors and one constable. The entire electoral materials were however, destroyed during the incident, throwing the community into mourning.

Meanwhile, over 300 eligible voters protested the exclusion of their names and photographs from the INEC voter’s register  at Unit 17, Ward 12 in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo state, during Saturday’s governorship election.

The angry citizens caused a rowdy scene at the voting centre as they said INEC should produce the voter’s register that was used for the last Presidential elections, which contained their names and photographs.

Some of them said the use of a voter’s register that did not have their photographs and names for the election was a plan to defraud them and insisted on the old register.

INEC’s Resident Commissioner in the state, Mr. Kassim Gaidam, later rushed to the unit to pacify the citizens, who insisted that the old register with their names and photographs should be produced.

INEC could not, however, produce the voter’s register in question, but the agents of the political parties subsequently agreed that only the 66 persons whose names and photographs were found in the register should vote.

Below are live updates of the governorship elections in Edo state.

Voters, exercising their rights in Edo State

5:20pm:
Citizen Wolbum’s’ election results for Ward 6, Oredo LGA Sapele road,  Benin.   Unit 33 ACN 194;  PDP 16;  Unit 34: ACN, 199; PDP 13 , Unit 35 ACN 183; PDP 23 ; Unit 36: ACN 213; PDP 18 ,
Unit 37: ACN 188; PDP 11;  Unit 38: ACN 139; PDP 10;
5:10pm:  Tension in George Idah Primary School, Oredo LGA as youths threaten violence because of the refusal of the PDP AGENT IN Unit 4 to sign the result sheet. Meanwhile, ACN scored 388 to PDP’s 54.
Soldiers have been called in to help resolve the dispute. The PDP agent is said to be missing, but youths have mounted vigil that the PDP agent must sign to authenticate the result.
5:03pm:  Another result from Oredo: Unit 05, Ward 02 Oredo LGA: ACN 282, ANPP 4, PDP 55
4:55pm:  More results of Edo governorship elections:
ACN wins at Iguoshodin nigbemaba unit in Ovia North East LGA: ACN 232, PDP 5, ANPP 0
4 45pm : ACN wins at Unit 35 Ward 2, Uroma Primary Sch. GRA Oredo LGA: ACN 216, ANPP 2, PDP 18
4: 31pm: 3 police officers, INEC official feared dead as boat capsizes
4:30pm: ACN wins at Unit 4 Ward 2 Oredo LGA:  Result: ACN 388,ANPP 0, CPC 1, PDP 54
4:15 : Edo governorship Election results have  started trickling   in : Ward 2, UNIT 003 Ebenezer Primary School Ihama Road, Benin :  ACN 126,  ANPP 3,  PDP 24
3:10pm:  INEC says, a boat carrying Policemen,INEC officials and election materials was reported to have capsized at Ologbo riverine… as it seeks further information from the public on the incident.
2:45pm: In many polling centres, activists for the two major parties, ACN and PDP after casting their votes are waiting behind at the polling units, to as they claim, “Protect our votes”.
2:34pm:  Citizen reporters say there is fighting in Ikoha Polling Unit in Ugbogui ward, Ovia South West Local Government Area.
1.12 pm:  The strong man of Edo Chief Anthony Anenih cast his vote at about 1.12 pm at Uzenema Primary School, Uromi and described turnout as impressive. He said he would not make any comments until later.
1:00p.m., while voting had begun in some parts of the state, voters at the Oredo centre  had yet to be accredited and the Resident Electoral Commissioner , Mr Kassim Gaidam, moved in to deal with the issue.
12:52 pm:  Voting starts in UNIT 4 Ward 2 OREDO
12:45pm:  High turnout of prospective voters in Edo central senatorial zone. At Iruekpen, Ekpoma, Irrua and Uromi, accreditation was orderly and peaceful.
12 :15  At ward 2 Unit 7 Oredo LGA with Registration of 1350, as many as 400 names cannot be found on the INEC register.
12: 10pm : Voters heave a sigh of relief as the clouds lift up and those who ran for cover take their positions on the line in the polling units at George Idah Primary School, GRA, Benin
11: 25am:  Former Governor OSEHREINMEN Osunbor commends exercise, but urges that the judiciary should not truncate the mandate of the people.
11.45 a.m: Gov Adams Oshimhole  was accredited at Iyamo Ward 10, in Etsako East Local Government Area and voted shortly afterwards as he  expressed  disappointment at the conduct of the election by INEC.
11:37 am:  High turn out of voters but irregularity in the registers is disenfranchising many in Oredo LGA.
In Ward 2 Unit 07, Ebenezer Primary School, Ihama Road, GRA, Benin more than 400 names missing in the register that has 1350 names.
10:00am: Chief Tony Anenih, PDP Chieftain and former Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, was accredited at Uzenama Primary School Centre, Arue, Uromi, Etsako Northwest Local Government Area.
8:00am:  Accreditation of voters begins. Officials had no problems attending to the potential voters as they conducted themselves orderly by queuing up to be cleared for the exercise.

 

Tension in Edo, as ACN, PDP mobilize for support

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the ACN

…As armed soldiers take over streets
BENIN CITY- POLITICAL tension heightened in Edo state, as leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), relocate to their villages ahead today’s governorship election in the state.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the ACN will be slugging it out with Gen. Charles Airhiavbere of the PDP and Solomon Edebiri of the ANPP. But a public opinion poll on the Edo State governorship election conducted by an Abuja-based Centre for Public opinion and Media Research has placed Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the ACN ahead with 75.8 per cent.

The straw poll in which 2, 920 respondents who are registered voters were sampled in 30 towns and villages across the three Senatorial Districts in the State, placed the PDP and its candidate, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd)  second with 14.1 percent.

The ANPP and its candidate, Chief Solomon Edebiri came third with 1.2 percent while the CPC candidate, Elder Roland Izevbuwa who has already stepped down for Governor Oshiomhole, came fourth with 0.3 percent.

Voters who could not make up their minds were 8.1 percent or 236 of the population sampled.Of the total figure sampled, 532 were from Edo North, 247 from Edo Central and 1,433 were from Edo South.

Analysis of the figure shows that 58.7 of those sampled were males while 40.8 percent were females. Besides, 77.3 percent of the respondents believe that INEC will conduct free and fair election while 22.7 said no. Also, 63.3 percent of the respondents said they have no reason to fear violence at the election, while 36.7 percent entertain fear at the election.

In order of preference, the respondents considered health issues first with a percentage of 30.9, Education followed with 23:1, Job creation, 20.3; security 8.2, Roads, 14.1 and others 3.4 percent.

According to the project consultant, Mr. Tony Abolo 118 interviewers drawn from the University of Benin, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and Auchi Polytechnic carried out the straw poll.

Managing Director of Agama Environment and Energy Services Limited, the firm that carried out the poll, Mr. Peter Ritchie explained that the poll has an error margin of between 10 – 15 percent.

However, some ACN youth leaders have gone under ground following threats that they will be arrested and flown to Abuja few hours to the election. The opposition see those youth leaders as troublesome and decided to get ride of them to ensure that they are caged before the election.

There was a reported clash at the early hours of yesterday at Owan West Local Government Council of the state following attempts by some security agents to arrest some ACN youths. One of the youth leaders (names withheld) who was detained but later released after the ACN youths in the area vowed to engage the security agents in a physical fight if the youth leader was not released, told our source that “the opposition brought their Federal might to arrest some of us so that we will not be around for the election.

“They threw up charges against us but we insisted that it will not happen. They held me for few hours before I was left alone”.

Meanwhile, some people involved in the buying and selling of voter`s cards in Edo Central were arrested Thursday night. However, the national leader of one of the contending parties fought doggedly for their release.

Our source observed that the camps of Oshiomhole and Airhiavbere are mobilizing their men both financially and otherwise to ensure victory for their respective camps. It was observed that the two political parties screened their agents carefully in order to avoid any form of sabotage.

But the ACN is seriously being threatened in Oredo and Ovia North East, due to the presence of the Business mogul, Captan Hosa Okunbor and the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion respectively in those councils.

However, information available to our source indicates that the leadership of the ACN are aware of the problem and are making frantic efforts to ensure they defeat the PDP in these areas. Oredo is the heart of the city but it has always been an ACN territory. But the PDP governorship candidate, Gen Airhiavbere will vote here today in his ward one.

As the people of Edo state go  to the polls today, Oshiomhole is expected to cast his vote in his village in Iyamo while the ANPP candidate Edebiri will be voting in his Igbogbe ward in Uhunmwonde.

The state Commissioner of Police, Femi Adenaike, said the police command is ready for the polls. “We are ready, look around and see policemen every where. We are going to police the 192 wards in the state and any body trying to make trouble should have a rethink because we will not tolerate any form of thuggery like the Inspector General of Police warned when he visited the state”.

There is military presence every where in the state and soldiers are expected to man strategic points in the state, particularly areas considered as flash points. Oredo, Ikpoba Okhai, Ovia North East, Owan East and West, Ekpoma, Igueben,  Ubiaja and Etsako Central are areas considered as flash points in today’s polls (July 14, 2012) .

 

Chief Solomon Edebiri, ANPP`s candidate

Nigerian Soldiers

Gen. Charles Airhiavbere of the PDP

EDO STATE: JULY 13 DECLARED HALF WORKING DAY FOR CIVIL SERVANTS AHEAD OF JULY 14 POLLS

Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo state,
EDO - AHEAD of the Edo State governorship election tomorrow, the state government has declared a half working day for all workers in the state civil service today.
Workers in the state civil service are expected to resume work at 8.00 a.m and close at 12.00 p.m today.

The development, according to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Peter Okhiria, was to enable the workers to prepare for the election tomorrow.

The statement urged the people to come out en masse on the election day and be orderly as they exercised their franchise.

Oshiomhole, Airhiavbere divide Ijaws in Edo
Meanwhile, the people of Ijaw in coastal communities of Ovia South West and Ovia North East local government areas of Edo State are now divided over which candidate to support in the election tomorrow.

While the camp of leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari and presidential aide, Joseph Evah, were rooting for the re-election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, thousands of the people of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, on Thursday, declared support for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (retd).

Ijaws drawn from over 40 clans scattered across Edo and Ondo states, under the umbrella of Ijaw Progressive Agenda for Change, at a press conference in Benin City, the Edo State capital, passed a vote of no confidence in Oshiomhole and his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), for labelling them settlers.

They also said their areas of abode had not witnessed any meaningful development, contrary to what they posited were claims by the state government to massive infrastructure development in the parts of the state.

President of Ijaw Agenda for Change, Money Goddey, said “recently, they have been seeing the political development in Edo State and people erroneously believe that the Ijaws have pitched their tent with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, but today, as a group and as far as I am speaking for my people (Egbema, Olodiama, Gbara, Propa and Okomu Ijaw), we are going to stand here and pass a vote of no confidence in Oshiomhole.”

He also said the coming of Dokubo-Asari and his group to Edo State for the purpose of election was to present the Ijaws as thugs and hoodlums, adding that this was unacceptable.

Reps back Jonathan on deployment of soldiers
In another development, the House of Representatives, on Thursday, backed down on its decision to have closed door head count on the deployment of about 3,500 soldiers in Edo State by President Goodluck Jonathan, ahead of the gubernatorial election tomorrow.

Honourable Bimbola Daramola had, on WednesdayJuly 11, 2012, raised a motion under matter of urgent public importance on the deployment of soldiers by President Jonathan to help maintain law and order in the July 14 election.

But the Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal had ruled against the motion, but later reversed himself and apologised to his colleagues for the wrong ruling.

However, hardly had the plenary session began on Thursday when Honourable Gbajabiamila stepped down his point of order to take a physical count of members.

He then told the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over the session that he had a personal explanation in line with Order 8, House rule 47, adding that if the physical count was conducted, it was capable of introducing “dangerous lines” among members.

Meanwhile, in a move to douse ethnic tensions, the House stayed debates on the upsurge in deadly attacks that had rocked the Plateau State capital, leaving in its wake many deaths, maimed scores and displaced thousands.

New Edo CP warns politicians
The new Edo State Commissioner of Police, Femi Adenaike, on Thursday, said no highly placed politicians or government officials would be allowed to go about with their security details or be accorded special treatment during the governorship election tomorrow.

Adenaike also re-affirmed the readiness of the police and other security agencies to the provision of adequate security for lives and properties during the election.

He warned all politicians and government officials not to go to polling centres with their security.

 

We’re ready for Edo guber poll – Jega

Professor Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman

BENIN CITY— CHAIRMAN of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, yesterday, arrived Benin City, Edo State, for a stakeholders’ meeting ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state and assured Nigerians of the resolve of the commission to conduct a free, fair and credible election.

Jega who arrived Benin Airport at 3:15pm, also gave reasons why some civil society organisations were not accredited to monitor the poll, saying that those complaining that they were not accredited either did not meet the requirements of the commission or they failed to apply within the stipulated time.

Readiness of the Commission

On the readiness of the Commission to conduct a free and fair election in the state, Jega said “we are in Edo State in fulfillment to the promise  we made to Nigerians in general and the people of Edo State in particular to ensure free, fair and credible election.

He said: “We have been working day and night and we have been doing our best to ensure that there was indeed, a free, fair credible and peaceful election in Edo State. We have done everything possible based on the rules and regulations to promptly accredit observers for the election in the state. Our mission here is to ensure peaceful election. I am here to make sure that things were done as planned before the election on Saturday.

Meeting with stakeholders

“We are also to meet with the stakeholders because we normally do so. Before elections, we meet with stakeholders, brief them on our last minute preparations and if they have any last minute questions or complaints, we address them.”

Civil society groups

On why some civil society organisations in the state were not accredited, the INEC boss explained, “we had used the same procedures to accredit observers in all the elections we held in INEC since the April 2011 elections. We applied that criteria rigorously, we normally advertise and people are given time within which to apply.

“Any body who did not apply within the time allocated will not be considered and that was what  happened in this regard. We did not deliberately exclude any body, any body who had not been accredited to observe the Edo election or indeed all other elections, it was because they had not satisfied the requirements for accreditation for the elections. We heard stories being bandied about, that we did not accredit any Edo civil society organisation, that is false, we have accredited many Edo civil society organisations.

“But some did not meet the requirements, it is either they did not meet on time, or the criteria we set out, they did not meet it. Any body who did not comply with that criteria, we did not accredit. It is not the first time we are doing so. we have done it in all previous elections. We only accredit people who met the criteria we set for the elections,” he said.

 

It’s in the interest of North not to field a candidate against Jonathan in 2015 – Asari Dokubo

Asari Dokubo

Alhaji Asari Dokubo, a former President of the Ijaw Youth Council and leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF).

In this interview with Asari Dokubo, he bared his mind about current political situation in the country, saying that the people of the South South are prepared to protect the Presidency of Goodluck Jonathan, and warned the North against fielding candidates in 2015.

He insisted that after the tenure of Jonathan, the presidency must move to the South East for the interest of peace and harmony.

Ahead the July 14, governorship election in the state, he expressed optimism that President Jonathan will ensure a free and fair election.He also warned that the people of Edo State and the Niger Delta will resist any attempt to rig the election in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Excerpts:

Few months ago the PDP in Edo State threatened to take you to court after you endorsed Governor Adams Oshiomhole,and warned against rigging?

They say clear conscience fears no accusation. The warning was not directed to any particular party. It was made in the direction of any body who attempts to manipulate the election. But if the PDP believe that it was directed at them so be it because the people of Edo State cannot afford to go through the trauma that they went through the last time when their mandate was stolen and it took them time, as they went through pains and people even died to reclaim the mandate. I think the PDP should be calling for free and fair election. If there is no PDP Federal Government I don’t think the PDP will be playing God in Edo state or else where.

The truth is that without a PDP Federal Government I don’t think the PDP can contest election in Edo state and hope that they can win up to five per cent of the votes because of their antecedent in the state. Benin City is like my second home after Warri. For eight years that the PDP was here they destroyed the state, there was nothing to show that there was government. Today, the people can see the difference between Adams Oshiomhole and the rest. After Dr Ogbemudia and Alli the state was dead, every body went to sleep.

But Adams has rejuvenated the state, he has woken the people up. If it was in a society where opinion polls matters, by now we would have known the loser and the winner. Oshiomhole would not even go through the rigours of campaigning. There is a new Edo State today and any body who cannot see it is not fair to the people of the state and the people of Edo state should reject such person.

So the PDP knows that they do not have any locus to take any body to court, I am free to say any thing I want to say, go any where I want to go to as long as I don’t flout the law of the land. And what I have said in this particular situation is very very true that no body should attempt or even think of rigging this election. The people will not allow this election to be rigged, the peoples votes must count.

But there is this talk about Jonathan deploying the Federal Might in Edo state to capture the state for his party the PDP?

I am a supporter of Goodluck Jonathan and the Goodluck I know cannot do such a thing. However, some people change when they get into office. But it is not to the advantage of Goodluck to rig the election in Edo state for PDP because it will cause a serious problem in his base if he allows the unity that was there before his election to be eroded due to pressure from  few cabals.

The whole people of the South South got up to say to hell with tyranny, they look at arrogance eye ball to eye ball and told them you don’t have the powers to stop us and they voted for Jonathan. We said we will stand you and any thing you bring we are ready to bring to fight.

Even though Oshiomhole is an ACN man,  though Alhaji Dokubo is not a PDP man, came together with one voice and brought Jonathan. It was not PDP that brought Jonathan to power, Jonathan enjoyed the popular vote of the people. Our people in the South South did not protest during the fuel subsidy removal because we are aware that some people said if they don’t produce the president they will make the state ungovernable for Jonathan and they have been doing that.

We did that because Jonathan is our own. And if Jonathan with all these now decides to support those who want to steal the mandate Edo people will freely give to Oshiomhole, then I think people like us will start to question our support for Goodluck Jonathan.Then he will no longer be representing the collective interest of the people of the South South and the Niger Delta and the South East and all the oppressed people.

Our support for Jonathan was not because he is Jonathan, our support was that look for the first time after June 12, we are confronting tyranny and telling tyranny that you cannot cross this line.For the first time after June 12, we are confronting arrogance that we are born to rule, that this line you cannot cross it, we dared them and they could not cross the line. Jonathan may not be the best in the South South but he represents the symbol of our freedom.

If after the people made this sacrifice, then Jonathan will now turn round and connive with some people who for ten years, held the people of Edo State hostage, held the people in darkness, poverty and penury, then some of us will say no, you are no longer representing the interest of the South South, the oppressed people.

Look when people talk about money, I laugh because Jonathan will give me more money than any thing I can get from Edo state or Oshiomhole. But the battle we fight people don’t understand, some people sat down some where to say we are minority and we asked, where have scientific census been held to determine who are minority and who are majority.

That you have the right to perpetually subjugate us, to take our resources, to destroy our environment, murder our leaders and nothing will happen. Jonathan did not fight to become President, it was the collective struggle of the totality of the people of the South South, the people of the Middle Belt, the South East who has been considered as second class citizens in a country that belongs to all of us.

And it will be  very wrong for Jonathan to pay back to the people of Edo State, by backing any plot to rig Oshiomhole out of power when the entire people of the state appreciate his performance. If that happens, people like us will say you no longer represents our interest so go and use your federal might to confront those who think that they are born to rule, they have the exclusive preserve for power, if you can go and confront them without our support we will say okay go.

I don’t believe that there is any might that can stand against the might of the people when the people have spoken. And I don’t think Jonathan will buy that because he is too intelligent for that.

Of what political value are these so called god fathers in Edo State other than they will manipulate the electoral process to rig election. Will Jonathan be interested in seeing the blood of the people who voted for him to flow? Because I know that the people of Edo State, the people of the South South who sees what Oshiomhole represents will resist them. I don’t think Jonathan is ready to gambel with the good will he enjoys from the people, he will not.

June 12 and renaming of UNILAG after MKO Abiola

I think the renaming of UNILAG is a very small start. It is a step in the right direction but one comes to question the sincerity of those who has been crying all these about Abiola. Some of us now come to see that the MKO who we supported with out lives, that some people especially his people were only using his name, to get power. The decision of President Jonathan clearly exposed their hypocrisy. But I think it is not enough.

For those of us who believe in what Abiola did, some body who was close to MKO Abiola, I believe the President of Nigeria should go on and restore to MKO the status of a former President and pay all his entitlements for four years to his family.

Then June 12 should be declared an Abiola national public holiday and it is easy to do it through an act of parliament. This will not totally remove the injustice but it will go along way in mitigating the injustice that was done to MKO Abiola and Nigerians. And again those who are responsible for the annulment of June 12 election should be brought to book.

President Jonathan will take his two terms

Ordinarily it will be too early for any one of us to be talking of 2015. But I was the first to say in public  that Jonathan has no right to say he was not running because we in the South South are entitled to two terms. And Jonathan is in the best position as a sitting President to run for that two term.

That is the tradition every where. But I want to say it is premature for any one to start talking about 2015 now, Jonathan has just been in government for one year and he has to show reasons why the people should re-elect him. and these reasons will be based on his developmental achievements, fighting corruption, enhancing democratic values, for me these are the issues.

But for now because of the arrogance every body has taken a very rigid stand, we have been forced to take a stand. Jonathan is from the South South and as his people we have been forced to take a stand. So you now find out that judging Jonathan’s administration based on performance is no longer there, people are now saying since you have decided we have decided too.

The situation has come to monkey no fine but the Mama like am. You cannot ask me now to access Jonathan’s government based on performance, we have passed that stage because the day we decided to be fair, the Northerners are not ready to be fair. And you cannot sell your brother. So all of us have staked all that we have, all that we have laboured for all these years because we believe that the collective interest of our people is greater than our individual interest. And Jonathan today represents the collective interest of the Oshiomholes, Timi Sylva, Peter Odili, Dokpesi and so on, the collective interest of our people.

For over the years people have been feasting on us and insulting us. Now instead of discussing about our economy, no what they are saying is the right of the North to rule. No no, it is not your right. You don’t contribute any thing to this fraudulent union.

These are the issues, but Jonathan has been there in one year and you expect him to clear all the rots of over 50 years. He is not Prof. Peller or TB Joshua, he is not a miracle worker. The rot has been there, but that does not mean that we are encouraged by what is happening no, but we cannot come out to say it because the battle line has been drawn. We cannot leave our flanks open because the enemy will infiltrate.

They said Boko Haram, how does Boko Haram affects me? If they are doing Boko Haram where they are and they don’t come to my place to do their Boko Haram, that is not my business. But if we are living in a good society where every thing is fine, then we would have started making some comments that this thing is wrong or this is good. But we are no longer there. The North has created an atmosphere of a failed society where every body now is in the trenches to defend his or her territory.

I am not apologetic about it. So until the North goes beyond the stupid arrogance we cannot be united. No body will accept this arrogance. As far as I am concerned if there is a realistic census the South will be five times more populated than the North because there is no where in the world where the desert part of the world will be more populated than the tropical savanna, it is not possible.

As long as I am concerned there are more Ijaw people than Fulani people in this country because I have traveled to see Ijaw people every where. Ijaw people are migrant people as the Fulanis are also migrant people, so why should they call us minorities. So for me, 2015 Goodluck Jonathan does not have the right to say he is not running for presidency. It is our right to have two terms and they have to respect that right.

They have to wait for us to run our two terms but if they want to disrupt the polity by saying that they want to run, let them go ahead, we are ready for them and we are waiting for them. We are not going to let our right go because some people think they can kill, are they the only people who can kill? This killing business there are professionals in it o, if they feel they can kill we too can kill, we are not afraid of that.

It is to their interest that they should not disrupt the polity and that they don’t attempt to run in 2015 because we the people of the South South must complete our two term and Jonathan is in the best position as the sitting President to ride on.

But are you not scared the insecurity will be worst if Jonathan decides to run for another term?

If we are living in a normal society, yes every body should be bothered about the carnage being masterminded by Boko Haram, it is lives of our brother and sisters that are being lost every day. But we are now living in a very rigid society where every body is standing on his own, you can no longer see what is right or what is wrong. For us the people who instigated this crisis in the North are there and I think the government of Jonathan has not done enough to bring these people to book.

These people openly told us that if you win the PDP primary we are going to fight you and that if you win the general election we are going to make the country ungovernable and that is what is happening. There is no smoke without fire. So when Azazi said that PDP is part of the problem, people started criticizing him but it was actually PDP that started the issue of zoning. The North said if they don’t have power back every body will die but we confronted them that we are all human beings, if you have life and we have life so if we are going to die you too will die, there is nothing you can do.

The senseless  killing in the North does not represent Islam, it represents the narrow interest of a section of the North which I feel does not represent the totality of the interest of the people of the North.

It is the interest of the people of the North after criminally seizing power, appropriated the totality of the power of the people for over 30 years, it is in the interest of the North to relinquish power to the people of the South South and South East who has never tasted power in a country where they contribute over 80 per cent to the sustenance.