The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Edo State office, has called on young female voters to be ambassadors of the commission ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the State.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, made the call in Benin at a one-day awareness campaign for young female voters to actively participate in the election.
Onuoha said as ambassadors of the commission, they were critical stakeholders who should sensitise their peers, parents and acquittance to shun violence and not engage in vote buying or selling.
He also urged them to sensitise the electorate on the need to vote for a candidate that they thought could bring development to the State.
“All of you are young girls and my advice to you is that your conscience should always be alive. If you sell your votes, you sell your future.
“Let us have an election that we will call our own. Election that will emanate from the collective will of the people.
“Let us have an election that is free and people will adjudge that, indeed, the election was free and fair.
“Even though the losers will always complain, let the majority of the people say this election was free and fair”, he said.
According to him, as you go to your various destinations, please, be an ambassador of INEC, take this message to every nooks and crannies of this State.
“That, this upcoming election, there should be no vote buying, and that nobody should use money to buy people’s conscience”, he added.
Onuoha, however, assured that INEC would conduct the election in line with the mission and vision of its mandate to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
Earlier, Victoria Eta-Messi, Director, Gender Relations, INEC said statistics showed that more males voted in the 2023 general election than the females.
She noted that young female voters were often marginalised in the political sphere due to restrictive laws, institutional barriers and discriminatory cultural practices.
According to her, this awareness campaign was part of effort to ensure that they understood their rights and the power of their votes.

The Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam, has reaffirmed his dedication to the welfare and academic success of students from the area.
He made the promise during a courtesy visit by the Executives of the National Union of Opobo Students (NUOS) at his Port Harcourt residence.
Hon. Cookey-Gam, who emphasised his commitment to annual bursary payments, with the next round expected in 2025, clarified that bursary payments are an annual exercise, saying the last disbursement was in January 2024.
He disclosed plans to upgrade the student union secretariat, with the council’s engineer, Dandeson Diri, set to collaborate on the project.
The chairman directed the NUOS President to nominate a graduate for the position of Special Assistant on Student Affairs, while also pledging to consider the union’s request for an 18-seater bus to aid students’ transportation.
The NUOS National President, Comrade Noah Brown, along with other student leaders, expressed their gratitude and noted the significance of these initiatives to students’ welfare.
Also, the NUOS Senate President, Comrade Felix Toby, urged for continued efforts to ensure student needs are met, stressing that financial challenges should not hinder education.
Chief of Staff and IYC students representative, Comrade Clifford Oko Jaja, on his part, commended the students for their dedication and representation of the LGA in various campuses.
He noted that Hon. Cookey-Gam’s “ongoing support underscores his commitment to the educational advancement and overall wellbeing of Opobo/Nkoro students”.

Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso

The Rivers Bridge Initiative (RBI), a Rivers-based civil society organisation, has urged the State Government to extend the deadline for commercial drivers to repaint their vehicles with the authorised colours of the State.
The government had set an August 1 deadline to taxi and bus drivers to repaint their vehicles blue and white, drawing criticism for the short notice.
RBI Chairman, Rufus Oba, told The Tide’s source in Port Harcourt that many drivers cannot afford the immediate expense of painting their car with only a week’s notice.
He called on the State Government to allow more time for compliance with the directive.
“While the aim of enhancing security and order is commendable, the tight deadline and its economic implications call for a more considerate approach.
“In countries like Singapore and the United Kingdom, taxi operators were given a gradual phase-in period along with stakeholders’ consultations before new regulations were implemented, minimising service disruptions.
“In contrast, the Rivers state government has only provided a seven-day notice for thousands of commercial vehicles to repaint”, he said.
Oba warned that the policy could worsen existing economic hardship, resulting in higher fares or reduced services, which could escalate tensions.
“RBI recommends a more gradual implementation, allowing vehicle owners adequate time to repaint and raising awareness about the new policy.
“We also advocate for engagement with industry stakeholders, gradual introduction regulations, and provision of subsidies or temporary waivers to aid compliance”, he advised.
He emphasised that a compassionate approach would ease the transition, reduce economic challenges, and help sustain the state’s appeal as a tourist destination.