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Cancel Edo Polls Results …Four Parties Demand Of INEC …Accuse Electoral Umpire Of Bias
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.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has dissolved the State Executive Council.
The governor announced the cabinet dissolution yesterday in a statement titled ‘Government Special Announcement’, signed by his new Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi.
Governor Fubara directed all Commissioners and Special Advisers to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most Senior officers in their Ministries with immediate effect.
He thanked the outgoing members of the State Executive Council for their service and wished them the best in their future endeavours.
The three-paragraph special announcement read, “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has dissolved the State Executive Council.
“His Excellency, the Governor, has therefore directed all Commissioners and Special Advisers to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most Senior officers in their Ministries with immediate effect.
“His Excellency further expresses his deepest appreciation to the outgoing members of the Executive Council wishing them the best in their future endeavours.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday told the National Assembly that it requires N873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections, even as it seeks N171bn to fund its operations in the 2026 fiscal year.
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the projected cost for the 2027 general elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.
According to Amupitan, the N873.78bn election budget covers the full conduct of national polls in 2027.
An additional N171bn is needed to support INEC’s routine activities in 2026, including bye-elections and off-season elections, the commission stated.
The INEC boss said the proposed election budget does not include a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps seeking increased allowances for corps members engaged as ad-hoc staff during elections.
He explained that, although the details of specific line items were not exhaustively presented, the almost N1tn election budget is structured across five major components.
“N379.75bn is for operational costs, N92.32bn for administrative costs, N209.21bn for technological costs, N154.91bn for election capital costs and N42.61bn for miscellaneous expenses,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chief noted that the budget was prepared “in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the Commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before the general election.”
On the 2026 fiscal year, Amupitan disclosed that the Ministry of Finance provided an envelope of N140bn, stressing, however, that “INEC is proposing a total expenditure of N171bn.”
The breakdown includes N109bn for personnel costs, N18.7bn for overheads, N42.63bn for election-related activities and N1.4bn for capital expenditure.
He argued that the envelope budgeting system is not suitable for the Commission’s operations, noting that INEC’s activities often require urgent and flexible funding.
Amupitan also identified the lack of a dedicated communications network as a major operational challenge, adding that if the commission develops its own network infrastructure, Nigerians would be in a better position to hold it accountable for any technical glitches.
Speaking at the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) said external agencies should not dictate the budgeting framework for INEC, given the unique and sensitive nature of its mandate.
He advocated that the envelope budgeting model should be set aside.
He urged the National Assembly to work with INEC’s financial proposal to avoid future instances of possible underfunding.
In the same vein, a member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, Billy Osawaru, called for INEC’s budget to be placed on first-line charge as provided in the Constitution, with funds released in full and on time to enable the Commission to plan early enough for the 2027 general election.
The Joint Committee approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the Commission’s annual budget.
The committee also said it would consider the NYSC’s request for about N32bn to increase allowances for corps members to N125,000 each when engaged for election duties.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Along, assured that the National Assembly would work closely with the Commission to ensure it receives the necessary support for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, also pledged legislative support, warning INEC to be careful about promises it might be unable to keep.
He recalled that during the 2023 general election, INEC made strong assurances about uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing portal, creating the impression that results could be monitored in real time.
“iREV was not even in the Electoral Act; it was only in INEC regulations. So, be careful how you make promises,” Balogun warned.
The N873.78bn proposed by INEC for next year’s general election is a significant increase from the N313.4bn released to the Commission by the Federal Government for the conduct of the 2023 general election.
President Bola Tinubu yesterday expressed grief over the death of a former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities and one of Africa’s foremost literary scholars, Professor Emeritus Biodun Jeyifo.
Jeyifo passed away on Wednesday, drawing tributes from across Nigeria and the global academic community.
In a condolence message to the family, friends, and associates of the late scholar, Tinubu in a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, described Jeyifo as a towering intellectual whose contributions to African literature, postcolonial studies, and cultural theory left an enduring legacy.
He noted that the late professor would be sorely missed for his incisive criticism and masterful interpretations of the works of Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.
The President also recalled Jeyifo’s leadership of ASUU, praising the temperance, foresight, and wisdom he brought to the union over the years.
Tinubu said Jeyifo played a key role in shaping negotiation frameworks with the government aimed at improving working conditions for university staff and enhancing the learning environment in Nigerian universities.
According to the President, Professor Jeyifo’s longstanding advocacy for academic freedom and social justice will continue to inspire generations.
He added that the late scholar’s influence extended beyond academia into political and cultural journalism, where he served as a mentor to numerous scholars, writers, and activists.
Tinubu condoled with ASUU, the Nigerian Academy of Letters, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Oberlin University, Cornell University, and Harvard University—institutions where Jeyifo studied, taught, or made significant scholarly contributions.
“Nigeria and the global academic community have lost a towering figure and outstanding global citizen,” the President said.
“Professor Biodun Jeyifo was an intellectual giant who dedicated his entire life to knowledge production and the promotion of human dignity. I share a strong personal relationship with him. His contributions to literary and cultural advancement and to society at large will be missed.”
Jeyifo was widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential literary critics and public intellectuals. Among several honours, he received the prestigious W.E.B. Du Bois Medal in 2019.
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