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Edo poll: How APC allegedly offered witnesses N30m bribe
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The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, on Thursday, alleged that the All Progressives Congress attempted to bribe his witnesses at the tribunal with N30 million.
Ighodalo, however, expressed gratitude to his witnesses for their perseverance and loyalty to the cause, vowing to take the battle to the Supreme Court to “claim his mandate.”
Speaking at the PDP stakeholders’ meeting in Benin, Ighodalo stated that he, his running mate Osarodion Ogie, and other party members in the state would continue the fight despite the tribunal’s verdict, which he believed sought to undermine justice.
“We will fight this battle to the end. Many of our supporters left their homes to be here. All our witnesses have been steadfast, despite being offered N30m to sway them. They stood firm with the party, and I thank everyone,” he said.
In the election held on September 21, 2024, APC’s Monday Okpebholo won with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who garnered 247,655 votes.
Dissatisfied with the result, the PDP and Ighodalo filed a petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission, Okpebholo, and the APC at the tribunal.
On April 2, 2025, the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed the petition and upheld Okpebholo’s victory.
Unfazed, Ighodalo and the PDP proceeded with an appeal.
At Thursday’s stakeholders’ meeting, Ighodalo stated, “The tribunal’s verdict was not fair. We’ve appealed, and we’ll take the case to the Supreme Court. We are confident that God will intervene because He is just. We must remain strong and focused, despite everything happening around us.”
Ighodalo promised that once they reclaim the mandate, they would build upon the foundations laid by former Governor Lucky Igbinedion.
“When we get our mandate, we will pick up where leaders like Lucky Igbinedion left off. After our eight years in office, everyone will be comfortable, except those unwilling to work. God has been teaching us humility and strength of character. If we had been sworn in after the election, we would have made a big mistake by appointing the wrong people. The loyalty of party members will be rewarded when we take office,” he said.
A party leader and former Minister of External Affairs, Chief Tom Ikhimi, accused the APC of attacking the PDP to pave the way for a one-party state.
He expressed confidence that Ighodalo and Ogie had won the election, asserting that the “stolen mandate” would be retrieved.
“The PDP kickstarted this Fourth Republic, and I’m glad to see the first governor and deputy governor of the state here with us. Their presence provides leadership to the party, and it is commendable. The PDP is a family, and despite the current challenges, we will prevail. The APC has been hijacked and is now serving personal interests. The best way forward is to ensure the survival of the PDP,” he said.
Edo State PDP Caretaker Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, acknowledged the party’s current struggles but expressed optimism that these difficulties would bring out the best in the PDP.
He assured that the majority of the state still supported the party.
“We may be facing challenges, but we are the majority in the state. The quality of people in this party will shine through when we face adversity. If the APC is using coercion to bring in PDP members, it only shows the weakness of the APC at the national level,” Aziegbemi said.
Igbinedion, former governor of the state, emphasised that there were only two political parties in Nigeria: the PDP and everyone else.
He urged Edo State PDP members to focus on marketing the party and building support.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, admitted that the party was facing difficult times, but reiterated that the challenges were not new.
“Every serious political organisation with a mandate to serve must occasionally pause, reflect, and recommit to its core values. That’s exactly where we are today,” he stated.
The Police Command in Kwara has condemned the killing of three worshippers and abduction of 15 others at a prayer ground in Ekiti Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on Sunday in Ilorin, said that the incident occurred at Ori-Oke Ajaiye, on the outskirts of Ikiran Village in Ekiti LGA.
The Police spokesman stated that the incident was reported on Sunday by Pastor Adebayo Abiodun of Ijo Ajaye Ati Igbala, Ekerin Village, Ekiti LGA.
She said that the pastor reported that armed men invaded the prayer ground during a vigil on Saturday at about 8:30 p.m., firing sporadically and killing three persons while abducting 15 others to an unknown destination.
“Upon receipt of the distress report, the Divisional Police Officer in Ekiti Division immediately mobilised operatives to the scene.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, directed a comprehensive tactical and intelligence-driven operation involving the Police Drone Team, PMF personnel, intelligence units and other operational assets for a coordinated rescue mission,” Ejire-Adeyemi stated.
The CP described the attack as barbaric, callous and unacceptable, assuring families of the victims that the command was committed to rescuing those abducted and apprehending the perpetrators.
He also assured residents of Ekiti LGA and the state of ongoing security operations, including bush combing and intelligence gathering, to track down the assailants.
Adekimi urged members of the public to remain calm and vigilant, and to provide credible information that could assist ongoing operations.
(NAN)
Nigeria’s pioneer Head of Mission to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ambassador Sani Bako, has stated that diplomatic relations between the two post-colonial states, which began as political solidarity 50 years ago, have evolved into a partnership delivering results in trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
The partnership deepened with the establishment of resident missions. Nigeria opened its Embassy in Hanoi, the administrative capital, in 2007, and Vietnam reciprocated by opening an Embassy in Abuja in the same year.
Reflecting on the 50th anniversary of Nigeria-Vietnam relations, which took effect on 25th May 1976, Ambassador Bako noted that the volume of trade between the two countries stood at $1 billion as of 2024.
“Vietnam currently exports electronics, garments, textiles, and other consumer goods to Nigeria, while importing crude oil, cashew nuts, and several raw materials,” he said. “Interestingly, the trade balance favours Nigeria.”
He stressed that the time has come for economic ties between both countries to evolve into a partnership that would lead to technology transfer, manufacturing, and agricultural investment. He added that Vietnam has expertise in modern agriculture that Nigeria could leverage.
Ambassador Bako, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria-Vietnam Trade and Cultural Association (NVETCA), added that the association is facilitating private sector engagement to deliver visible partnerships in farming, manufacturing, and other ventures that will strengthen economic ties in the near future.
He recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a recent meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador Bui Quoc Hung, emphasized that Nigeria is open for business with Vietnam. “Vietnam is a partner we want to grow with,” the President stressed.
Ambassador Bako also noted that Ambassador Hung has called on Nigeria to address lingering visa obstacles affecting officials and business travelers. He pointed out that a 2019 visa waiver agreement reached by both countries has not been fully implemented, adding that resolving this would be critical to sustaining momentum in bilateral relations.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has clinched the APC presidential ticket for 2027 after a landslide win in the party’s primaries held Saturday across 36 states and the FCT.
The results were declared Sunday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja. Tinubu polled 10,999,967 votes, defeating sole challenger Stanley Osifo who got 16,504 votes.
Osifo failed to register a single vote in 21 states and the FCT. His only recorded vote came in Edo State.
His best showings were in Niger with 5,248 votes, Kano with 2,675, Bauchi with 2,650, and Abia with 1,007.
Tinubu swept every state, with his highest tallies in Lagos at 814,988, Adamawa at 644,149, Kaduna at 618,914, and Imo at 582,960. Kano delivered 500,852 votes, Katsina 467,003, and Gombe 450,517.
Other notable results:
– Bayelsa: 227,192
– Delta: 407,646
– Borno: 414,988
– Enugu: 383,382
– Akwa Ibom: 389,197
– Benue: 374,787
– Ogun: 322,485
– Kwara: 310,990
– Sokoto: 301,000
The party said the primaries covered all 484 wards in Kano, where Tinubu also swept every ward.
With the outcome, Tinubu is now the official APC candidate heading into the 2027 general election.
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