Politics
Edo govt blames APC for voter registration violence
The Edo State government has accused the All Progressives Congress of disrupting the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise in the state.
Before the commencement of the registration, the acting state chairman of the APC, Jarret Tenebe, in a statement on Sunday, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to cancel the exercise due to the damage to its state headquarters, materials and equipment after a downpour at the weekend.
Not deterred, INEC, in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, announced the relocation of the exercise to its secretariat at Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.
At an earlier press conference on Friday, the APC alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party and INEC were conniving to manipulate the CVR in favour of PDP.
But the allegation was quickly rebuffed by the Edo chapter’s Head of Voters Education and Publicity of INEC, Timidi Wariowei, who described it as unfair.
Following the development, the Edo State government, in a press statement by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, condemned the alleged action of the APC.
It also accused the party of stirring violence and causing crisis in the state, in a move to halt the ongoing CVR.
The government said since the party was not able to halt the exercise, after a failed call on the INEC to do so, it now resorted to violence across the state.
It also condemned the shooting at Idia College, leading to the injury of an innocent student, wondering why an opposition party would choose violence to sell its candidate.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Edo State government has been drawn to deliberate attempts by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stir violence and cause crisis in the state, in a desperate move to halt the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“The state government strongly condemns the recent attack and shooting at Idia College a couple of days ago, which led to the injury of an innocent student.
“To say the least, this is most troubling, disheartening, and shameful and is never a way to play the opposition role expected of a responsible opposition party.
“It is utterly appalling that a political party would resort to attacking a CVR centre to obstruct eligible voters from registering to participate in an election that it is contesting. One is left to wonder how the APC plans to get the electorate to vote for its candidate.”
The state government called on the security agencies to rein in those it termed as agents of violence in the state.
“We say no to such shenanigans and resort to violence by the APC and its agents and call on security agencies to rein in these agents of violence.
“We thank God there was no loss of life from the reprehensible act and are, therefore, warning the APC to desist from this dishonourable conduct and rather embrace democratic norms.
“If the APC has a candidate to sell and believes in the viability and credibility of its candidate, the party should get more people to register and should also campaign to convince the people to vote for him, instead of resorting to attacking Edo people and disrupting the peace in the state,” the statement added.
The government, therefore, urged the people of the state not to be discouraged by the desperate antics of the APC and its agents but to leverage the opportunity of the CVR exercise to register for their Permanent Voter Cards and participate in the September 21 gubernatorial election to ensure a free, fair, and violence-free electoral process.
Reacting, a source close to the APC said the party would make a statement when necessary.
He noted that the police and the Department of State Service were already investigating the matter.
“The APC will come out with a reaction to this allegation when it necessary. Right now, the police and the DSS are already investigating the matter,” the source said.
Senator Ned Nwoko has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The move, confirmed through reliable sources, has sparked discussions within political circles about its potential implications for the 2027 elections.
According to reports, Senator Nwoko’s decision to join the APC is influenced by speculation that former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is eyeing a Senate seat in the next electoral cycle.
This development is said to have prompted the senator to reconsider his political alliances, aligning with a party that may better support his future ambitions.
Senator Nwoko, who has been a prominent figure in Delta State politics and a key member of the PDP, is known for his strong advocacy for developmental projects and his stance on national unity.
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election, Dr Asue Ighodalo on Friday, opened his case challenging the victory of Sen. Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by tendering over 1000 documents used in the election, in support of his petition.
Ighodalo and th PDP in a petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024 are contesting Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Okpebholo, winner of the election alleging that there were irregularities during the exercise.
Ighodalo claimed that he scored the highest valid votes and not Okpebholo and wondered why the INEC would declare him the winner.
When hearing resumes on Friday, the Lead counsel to the Petitioners, Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, tendered from the bar Certified True Copy (CTC) of Form EC8E which is the INEC’s final declaration result sheet of the poll in support of the petitioners’ cases.
Kenneth Mozia, who conducted the presentations at the instance of Oyeyipo also tendered CTC of Form EC8D; the summary of results from Local Government Areas Collation at the State Level.
Other documents tenders were Certified True Copies of Form EC8Cs, covering the 18 Local Government Areas in the state, CTC of Forms EC8B (Wards Results Sheets) used for the conduct of the election in the 192 Wards in the state were also tendered by Mozia, all in support of the petitioner’s cases.
The petitioners further tendered in evidence 320 Certified True Copies of Form EC8A documents (polling Units results sheets),
While presenting before the court 318 CTCs of INEC’s Polling Units Booklets, each containing Form EC25D, Mozia, again, tendered in court 58 CTCs of Form EC8A (IREV).
Reacting, counsel to INEC, Governor Monday Okpebholo and APC (1st to 3rd respondents), Kanu Agabi, SAN, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, and D.C. Denwigwe, SAN, who held the brief of Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, objected to the admissibility of the documents
The respondent’s counsel told the court that they would be abducing reasons for their objections to the petitioners’ CTC documents at the final address stage of the petition.
Justice Wilfred Kpochi led the tribunal in response provisionally admitted all the documents tendered in evidence and marked the same as exhibits.
“Learned counsel to the respondents shall state their reasons for their objections at the address stage”, Justice Kpochi held.
Hearing on the petition continues tomorrow, Saturday, December 18, 2024 as the petitioners are expected to tender more documents in support of their petitions.
There was confusion at the entrance of the courtroom where the Edo state Governorship election petition Tribunal were sitting as youth leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC chased out private security men believed to have been contracted by the Governorship aspirant of the PDP in the just concluded Edo Governorship election.
The drama started at the corridor leading to the courtroom when the APC youth leaders and their supporters were prevented from gaining access, before they mobilized their supporters to chase the security men who were dressed in black away.
Speaking to newsmen, two of the APC youth leaders identified as Comrade Kelly and Tony Kabaka, said they have to chase them away as only the DSS and policemen were permitted to provide security at the court.
Meanwhile, former deputy governor of Edo state Comrade Philip Shaibu and Asue Ighodalo of the PDP were present inside the courtroom while the drama lasted.
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