Connect with us

Featured

Cancel Edo Polls Results …Four Parties Demand Of INEC …Accuse Electoral Umpire Of Bias

Published

on

The Chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mr Frank Ukonga, who contested the Edo State governorship election on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and three other candidates in last Wednesday’s election have called for the cancellation of the results declared by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The NNPP candidate, the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) candidate, Mr Andrew Igwemoh, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Omorogieva Gbajumo, and Kowa Party candidate, Mr Thompson Osadolor, said INEC falsified the results to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Godwin Obaseki.
The candidates, who vowed to continue in their advocacy for the cancellation of the election so that the will of Edo people will be upheld, argued that it was the only way to sustain democracy in the country.
It would be recalled that Godwin Obaseki of the APC was declared governor-elect of the state, last Thursday, after he garnered 319,483 votes as against the 253,173 votes polled by Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
At a press conference in Benin City at the weekend, Ukonga insisted that the figures INEC declared and displayed on national television were at complete variance with those which their agents and observers obtained from the polling units across the state.
He said, “The results that INEC made public do not tally with what most, if not all, our agents came back home with. We are calling for the cancellation of the entire election because INEC gave APC the PDP votes.”
Also speaking, Gbajumo said, “Nigerians are wondering how INEC came up with about 66, 000 missing votes, whereas voters voted as soon as they were accredited.
“It is clear that the votes declared by INEC are not correct. Even parties which were not on the ballot were allocated some votes by the electoral umpire, which shows that something does not add up,” the SDP candidate added.
On his part, the Kowa Party candidate, Osadolor said that, no voter went home after being accredited to vote adding that there was generally peaceful election across the state.
Osadolor insisted that INEC had no business voiding votes, adding that, “It is a shame on INEC, and it should do the needful by ensuring that the voice of Edo people which was loud and clear on September 28, is reflected by declaring the true results of the elections.”
The Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) candidate, Igwemoh, said, there were glaring errors in the figures computed by INEC in an election that was marred by open exchange of money between party agents and the voters.
“I am calling for the cancellation of the results, especially those of Etsako West Local Government because what transpired on the field is not what INEC made public. The mathematical errors are too obvious to be ignored,” Igwemoh argued.
However, the National Conscience Party (NCP) candidate in the September 28 Edo governorship election, Pastor Peters Omoragbon, has said that the flaws committed during the election were not strong enough to cancel the exercise.
He said this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, yesterday.
Omoragbon said the Edo election was one of the best conducted so far in the country.
He added that those calling for its cancellation were doing so in bad faith.
Omoragbon noted that, “the September 28 Edo governorship election is one of the best done so far in Nigeria. The exercise was devoid of killings and fighting.
“We have witnessed other elections, including common local government election in some states where people were killed or kidnapped. No single soul was lost in the Edo election, and I think that was great.
“During campaigns and the election, I and my supporters did not receive any threat from other party members.
“There were some flaws though, but not strong enough to cancel the election. I give INEC 96 per cent for performance. Those calling for cancellation are doing so because they lost.
“If APC had lost the election, they will cry foul also, and call for cancellation. I and my supporters were on ground, the election was free and fair,” the NCP candidate argued.
Omoragbon then, congratulated the Governor-elect, Mr Godwin Obaseki, and urged him to form an all-inclusive government with the best Edolites from all groups.
The NCP candidate advised Obaseki against the winner takes all syndrome, stressing that he was elected by Edo people, and not his political party.
“Obaseki has won the election, he should carry out all his campaign promises. His victory is for Edo people,” he said.
He added that the Edo election came in as a role model for other states, and urged losers to join hands in building the state.
“Any aggrieved person should go to court. Election to serve the people should not be a do or die affair.
“Political party in power should encourage their members in authority to give dividends of democracy to the electorate.”
Corroborating Omoragbon on the election in a separate interview, the National Chairman of NCP, Malam Yunusa Tanko, said the party was satisfied with the conduct of the election.
Tanko said they were happy as the exercise was crises-free, stressing that the party had accepted the result of the election.
“There was orderliness in Edo governorship election. For us in NCP, we are satisfied with the outcome of the election.
“I commend INEC for a job well done. I give them 85 per cent for their performance. I know they can improve on this in other elections coming up.”
The NCP chairman also congratulated Obaseki for the victory, and urged him to improve on the lives of Edo people by avoiding anti-people policies.

Continue Reading

Featured

Rivers Capable Of Delivering Massive Votes For Tinubu, Chinda, Others -Fubara …Charges APC, Rainbow Coalition To Embrace Team Work

Published

on

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the  State is capable of delivering massive votes for President Bola Tinubu,  the  All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda and other candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in the 2027 general elections.

Fubara, who stated this yesterday at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Port Harcourt, said the surest path to victory is for the  members of the Presidential Campaign Council drawn from the APC and the Rainbow Coalition to embrace the spirit of teamwork.

He said what the state was witnessing in the current political season is a repeat of the successful mobilization done in 2022 and 2023, when a large campaign council worked in unity to deliver victory for him and for President Tinubu.

He added that the present council is bigger, wider and better coordinated and should therefore achieve even better results.

He noted that the beauty of the new council is the fact that some persons who were in the opposition camp during the previous elections are now part of the team, saying their inclusion has made the task easier, provided everyone works as one team and with sincerity of purpose.

The governor thanked the  Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council for Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, and other leaders who worked tirelessly to bring the council to fruition, stressing that nothing  is impossible especially when people work together for a common purpose.

He expressed optimism that with seriousness and commitment, the state would record a higher number of votes than it recorded in 2023.

Fubara, while congratulating members who made the list, appealed to those whose names were omitted not to be discouraged, as there are still sub-committees to be constituted and the list can still be updated, even as he warned against double loyalty.

He said the state has gone past the stage of division and is now looking to the future and what God holds for Rivers people, expressing confidence that with the strategy already put in place, the APC and the Rainbow Coalition would come out victorious in 2027.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Coordinator of the Campaign Council, Chief Nyesom Wike, while  inaugurating the Council, lauded Fubara for finding time to attend the ceremony and other engagements of the Council in spite of his busy schedules.

Wike, who is also the National Leader of the PDP/ Rainbow Coalition, reminded members of the Council that they were chosen based on their capacity to participate  in the activities of the group and deliver positive results.

He charged them to work hard to win votes for the candidates of the APC and the Rainbow Coalition for the Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly as well as State House of Assembly elections next year.

He disclosed that apart from the Presidential Campaign Council and its sub-committees, the Local Government Campaign Councils will soon be inaugurated to ensure better coverage of the grassroots during the current campaign season.

 

 

Continue Reading

Featured

RSG Floats MNET Culture Content Promo

Published

on

The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism  has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.

He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.

He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.

“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.

Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.

The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.

On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.

Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.

With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers  State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.

He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.

Kevin Nengia

 

 

 

Continue Reading

Featured

APC Presidential Campaign Storms PH, ‘Morrow

Published

on

Barring last minute changes, the presidential campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will storm Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, tomorrow.

This is according to a campaign timetable released by the APC Campaign Council last month.

The Tide reports that the APC presidential campaign kicked off in Kaduna on October 24 with President Bola Tinubu in attendance.

The campaign train later moved to Cross River, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Ekiti on November 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima representing the President at the rallies.

President Tinubu is personally scheduled to attend 12 states including Rivers, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos.

The Rivers State rally, scheduled to hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, is expected to witness a large crowd of party supporters drawn from a coalition of political parties in the State.

The party is expected to round off its presidential campaign in Lagos State on January 9, 2027.

The Tide reports that Tinubu has not visited Rivers State as President since he assumed office in May 2023. His last physical visit to the State was before his inauguration on Wednesday, May 3 – Thursday, May 4, 2023, when he was hosted by then Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the Magistrates’ Court Complex.

Tomorrow’s visit will be his first to the State since assuming office.

 

 

 

Continue Reading

Trending