Politics
To Get It Right In Edo
We’re back to the
starting block for the 2016 Edo State governorship election. Two weeks have passed since the original date was blown away and a new date of Wednesday, September 28, 2016 decreed. No one may have computed how much was lost to the decision to cancel the September 10, 2016 date but it does not require mathematical wizardry to understand that the Independent National Electoral Commission, the political parties, the candidates, the civil society and other observer groups, the Edo people and the country at large must have lost huge scarce resources to that decision. Of course, this has not helped our unenviable reputation for wastage of resources in Nigeria, even in lean times, as we are currently in.
All that is behind us now and the mobilisation of needed resources for the conduct of the election has started all over again in earnest.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Edo State, Mr. Sam Olumekun has already told a stakeholders’ meeting that the commission would on Monday, September 26, begin the distribution of sensitive materials for the conduct of the election. To this end, Mr. Olumekun has invited political party agents, collation officers and security agencies to be at the Central Bank, Benin City to observe the distribution.
While this is a strong suggestion that INEC is fully prepared on its part, the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has declared Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2016 as work free days.
Announcing the public holidays during an event organised in his honour by the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in Edo State, on Saturday in Benin City, the governor said the action was to enable all eligible voters to have ample time and freedom to move to their respective registration areas where they will be expected to cast their votes.
Force Public Relations Officers, Donald Awunah, told newsmen in Abuja last Friday that advance units of the police force had already moved into Edo while others had been scheduled to move in stages.
According to the police image maker, t he force is deploying 25,000 personnel consisting of the Police Mobile Force, the Counter Terrorism Unit, the Anti-Bomb Squad, the Marine Police, Conventional Policemen, the Armament Units, personnel from Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Force Intelligence Bureau and the Sniffer Dog Section.
“In addition, helicopters and gun boats, 10 additional Armored Personnel Carriers and 550 patrol vehicles would be deployed to cover all the polling units, RAC centres, collation centres, riverine areas and difficult terrains,” he said, adding that a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police and three Commissioners of Police will head the operations.
Awunah promised neutrality of the police and warned of severe consequences for anyone or group caught in any act that will be inimical to the smooth and peaceful conduct of the election.
Speaking with The Tide on the issue in Port Harcourt, the spokesman of the Civil Society Platform in Rivers State, Comrade Christian Lekia, urged the political parties, especially the major ones, and their candidates in Edo State to put the overall interest and wellbeing of the State ahead of their personal and party ambitions.
The civil society activist cautioned the major political actors in Edo State to exercise restraint in their utterances and also rein in their supporters to focus on issues and the conduct of the polls in an atmosphere that is devoid of violence, thuggery and other forms of electoral fraud.
Comrade Lekia who is also the President, Niger Delta Coalition Against Violence charged the people of Edo State to cooperate with the security agencies not only to achieve a hitch-free election but also to ensure their overall security and safety of lives and property.
He advised INEC to assert its authority over the process and to jealously guard its independence and impartiality in order to give credibility to the exercise and win back the confidence of the people.
Comrade Lekia said INEC must rise up to the challenge of effectively coordinating all other agencies and personnel and materials to minimize sabotage and discredit the eventual outcome of the poll.
“Edo State people should understand that it’s all about Edo State,” he stressed, adding that it will not serve the interest of the state and the people if anything is done to undermine a smooth and orderly conduct of the election again.
Exchanging views on the same issue with The Tide, the State Director, National Orientation Agency, NOA, in Rivers State, Mr. Oliver Wolugbom, urged INEC not to leave anything to chance in tis preparation and prosecution of the Edo governorship election on Wednesday this week.
“I think that INEC should be very mindful of what they’re going to do in Edo,” he said. He reiterated that “they should be more careful and more cautious so as to get it right this time around and redeem itself from the unsavoury reputation of conducting inconclusive polls.
“They must come clean this time around and in coming clean, they must ensure that they drive the process that will be transparent,” he emphasised.
To achieve the overriding goal of a free, fair, peaceful and credible electoral contest, the NOA boss urged the electoral commission to take firm control of the process and effectively coordinate all other supporting agencies as well as its personnel.
“I want to encourage Nigerians to help them. But I also want to say that if there are some characters among them that have not come to terms with how elections should be conducted, I think such people should be given orientation,” he said, pointing out that “the unity of this country is at stake if they make mistakes.”
The NOA State Director encouraged the people of Edo State to cooperate with INEC in order to achieve a result that will truly reflect their wishes and aspirations by strictly adhering to the guidelines of the commission.
“If they cooperate with INEC, the result will be good for all of us,” he noted and advised that those that are eligible to vote should restrict themselves to their polling units on election day while those who are not qualified to participate in the process should not get involved.
“To me, what should preoccupy Edo people is for their votes to count,” he said, reminding them that the validation of the expression of their will is a direct function of their comportment as they go about exercising their civic responsibility on the election day.
Yes, INEC, the security agencies, the political parties, their candidates and supporters and the generality of Edo people may collectively hold the key to the eventual outcome of the gubernatorial poll on Wednesday, September 28, 2016, but that outcome will have far reaching implications for the electoral process in Nigeria.
Opaka Dokubo
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.
Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.