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Foreign Observers Group Vows To Expose Malpractices In Edo, Ondo Governorship Elections

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The Edo State governorship election has been scheduled to be held on 21 September 2024, while that of Ondo State would be held on Saturday, 16 November 2024.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has shortlisted the International Police Chaplain Sustainable Development and Law Enforcement Inc. as one of its foreign election observers ahead of Ondo and Edo states governorship elections.

The Africa Director of the observer group, Ambassador Blessing Akinlosotu in a statement signed on Saturday and sent to SaharaReporters, assured INEC and the respective states of upholding the organisational integrity to report with all sense of prudence during the elections.

He urged the citizens to be law-abiding, while urging security agencies to continually focus on their job just as always during elections.

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“In 2023 general elections, we observed the elections across the federation, and our report was objective. We will do same in these state elections as well, and Nigerians would be proud we observed the elections,” he added.

While speaking on the importance of election observation, he noted, “Election observation is of great importance in Nigeria due to several reasons: Ensuring transparency and credibility: Election observation plays a crucial role in promoting transparency and credibility in the electoral process. Observers, both domestic and international, monitor different stages of the election, such as voter registration, campaign activities, voting, and vote counting.

“This helps to identify any irregularities or malpractices, thereby reassuring the public of the fairness and integrity of the elections.

“Detecting and preventing electoral fraud: Election observation helps in detecting and preventing electoral fraud, including voter intimidation, ballot stuffing, multiple voting, and other forms of misconduct Observers can raise alarms and report such incidents, which can lead to investigations and appropriate actions to rectify the situation.

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“Promoting accountability: Election observation encourages electoral stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, and election management bodies, to perform their roles responsibly. Knowing that their actions are being closely watched, these stakeholders are more likely to adhere to ethical standards and follow the prescribed electoral laws and regulations.

“Building public confidence: By providing credible and independent assessments of the electoral process, election observers enhance public confidence in the outcome of elections. This is particularly important in Nigeria, where there have been past instances of disputed and violence-prone elections. By mitigating electoral disputes and ensuring transparency, election observation contributes to peace, stability, and public trust in the democratic process.

“Strengthening democracy: Through election observation, Nigeria can strengthen its democratic institutions and processes. Observation reports often provide recommendations for improving future elections, such as reforms in electoral laws, increased training for electoral officials, and voter education efforts. Implementing these recommendations can lead to more inclusive and representative democratic systems.

“Overall, election observation is crucial in Nigeria as it promotes transparency, prevents electoral fraud, enhances accountability, builds public confidence, and strengthens democracy. Its significance lies in ensuring that the will of the people is effectively and fairly represented through the electoral process.”

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Politics

Ondo 2024: INEC pledges to improve on logistics distribution, result management

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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, said on Monday that the commission would need to improve on two critical areas of logistics and results management, in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.

He said the commission had learned some lessons from the shortcomings in the Edo State election, and that correction would be made in the coming election.

Mr Yakubu, a professor, spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while assessing the state of readiness for the election.

He said: “We are here, essentially, to observe what is happening and to acknowledge the good work that the office has done.

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“Over the next few days, we will be meeting with political parties, civil society organisations, the media, and security agencies.”

He said one of the planned activities ahead of the poll is the conduct of mock accreditation of voters, “which will take place in 16 polling units across six local government areas within the three senatorial zones of the state.”

“This is primarily why we are here. Additionally, as part of the activities already outlined, we will hold a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday, and the following day, the National Peace Committee will invite all stakeholders to participate in the signing of the National Peace Accord. This is the essence of our visit,” he added.

On the lessons learned from the Edo State governorship election and previous elections, Mr Yakubu said, ” I have learned valuable lessons, not only from the last election but also from previous ones. Essentially, there are two key challenges.

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“The first is logistics — ensuring that polling units open promptly on election day. The second challenge is result management. My assurance to voters in Ondo State is that they will witness significant improvements in these areas.”

He added that one of the activities he would also observe is the mock accreditation of voters.

A peace accord is also expected to be signed among political parties and their candidates.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Agboola Ajayi, had earlier called for the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Toyin Babalola, saying she would not be fair during the election because of her birthplace.

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But INEC dispelled the allegations, saying Mrs Babalola is not from Ondo State and would not be partial in the polls.

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APC Slams Seyi Makinde Over 2027 Presidential Ambition

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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a swipe at Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, whom it described as the leading but rather shoddy drummer for his 2027 political ambition.

Makinde is said to be nursing a presidential ambition on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the incumbent President Bola Tinubu also from the South-West geopolitical zone like him, in the next 2027 election cycle.

But, APC said while Nigeria’s democracy affords Makinde the liberty to his political aspiration, however, engaging in reckless executive flippancy, at the expense of the job he was elected to do as governor, was a disservice to the good people of Oyo State.

The ruling party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Sunday, said the Oyo State governor had at a recent event in Ibadan, blamed APC for the turmoil in his party, the PDP and other opposition parties.

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Morka said, at the same time, Makinde bragged that a decision to cooperate with his Osun State counterpart to advance the interest of his “moribund party” in South-West would be beyond the influence of APC.

“If Makinde knew how best to keep APC’s influence at bay, exactly why has he not executed that strategy in “protection” of his party nationally? Like the proverbial bad workman that blames his tools, Makinde and his co-confused leaders of the PDP should quit pointing fingers at the APC and take full responsibility for their disgraceful failure to handle the party’s implosion and decay.

“Makinde’s unhinged 2027 ambition cannot be founded upon his unguarded and unjustified attacks against our great Party or the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that has launched the boldest and most ambitious reform effort in history to transform our country’s economy and build a solid foundation for progress.

“Governor Makinde has failed to prove himself as an effective leader. His lackluster performance as Governor speaks for itself, and undermines his credibility. Instead of prioritizing the needs of Oyo people who elected him to tackle their local issues, he has chosen to divert his attention and squander the state’s resources in pursuit of unhinged 2027 ambition. Makinde must know that Nigeria’s scale and complexities demand more than his vain and self-indulgent ambition.

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“Makinde cannot even speak for the people of Oyo state regarding their future electoral choices or decisions let alone speak for Nigerians. Makinde and his partisan cohorts are only worried stiff that the looming transformation and prosperity from President Tinubu’s economic policies will consign their 2027 ambitions and calculations into the trash-bin of political irrelevance.

“We urge Nigerians to continue to stand firm in support of President Tinubu as the administration’s reform policies begin to yield the desired benefits for all Nigerians,” APC spokesman Morka stated.

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Ebonyi PDP elects new EXCO, vows to dislodge APC in 2027

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State has elected Mr Peter Nwele as the new chairman.

Nwele stated that he would start bringing those that left the party back to form a formidable force to take over the state in 2027.

He noted that Ebonyi has been a PDP state and that the party will bounce back in 2027.

Nwele spoke during the state congress at the weekend in Abakaliki.

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The congress was supervised by a seven-man committee from the National secretariat of the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as security agencies.

“Ebonyi State is PDP right from time and it will continue to be PDP. People say that there is crisis in PDP, there is no crisis in the party.

“The only thing we want to do now is to embark on bringing those who left the party back.

“PDP is a very large family that will accommodate all of us. So we are ready to start bringing everyone back home.

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“We are for forgiveness, we make peace for people to come back home so that we take back our lost mandate,” he stated.

Ugonna Ogbonna, Chairman of the Congress Committee, described the exercise as peaceful and transparent and commended members of the party for conducting themselves orderly.

On his part, the National Vice Chairman, South East of the party, Chief Ali Odefa said the enthusiasm and love for PDP in the state and the country in general was still very strong.

He opined that the party was putting things together to wrest power from APC in 2027.

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He dismissed any crisis in the party, saying “there has been total reconciliation, the NWC is one, we are one”.

Odefa implored the new executives of the party in the state to embark on total reconciliation.

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