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Edo 2024: APC, PDP, LP trade tackles as parties mobilise heavy cash for vote-buying

It’s going to be cash for votes in Edo guber polls as major parties in the state mobilise cash to induce voters on Saturday.
It was gathered that the parties had started amassing “war chests” in a desperate bid to compromise voters.
A highly credible source said the Edo poll could set a new record for vote-buying in the history of elections in the country.
“A vote could go as high as between N15,000 and N20,000. There are plans by agents of some of the parties to mop up voter cards. How they intend to use the cards is what nobody knows. This is why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission are being deployed for the election,” the source added.
Another source confirmed plans by the parties for what he called “heavy vote-buying”.
“I can confirm to you that the parties are ready to do whatever it takes to win this election and that includes paying as high as N20,000 for a vote.
“Unfortunately, doling out of gift items during campaigns has become entrenched in our political system with voters themselves mortgaging their votes for a ‘pot of pottage’. The voters are all partners in crime and what they fail to understand is that collecting gift items and cash from candidates and political parties makes them vulnerable.
“They will not have the moral justification to question the government if it fails in its responsibility to provide developmental projects in the state. After all, they (the electorate) have been paid upfront.
“Unless the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies work together to ensure that citizens are discouraged from selling their votes, this might be an election where the buying of votes becomes an all-time high,” the source added.
Another source urged INEC and security agencies to monitor the activities of parties and their agents on election day.
He said, “I have spoken to some members of two of the leading parties and they said that they are preparing to bring out cash to induce voters. So INEC and security agencies should be ready to combat this.”
is why they have not campaigned on issues but have instead relied on federal might.
“In contrast, the PDP is ready for this election and any future elections because we have done our homework and the people are with us. We also have the most credible candidate, and the incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has achieved a lot, which will swing votes to the PDP.
“The APC has demonstrated a significant propensity for violence and has even recruited some members of the Nigeria Police Force into their scheme. We also know they are planning to engage in heavy vote buying, which will be resisted.”
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, also said the APC had shown signs it was not committed to a free, fair, and credible election.
He said, “Since it became evident that the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, is heading towards decisive victory, the APC and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, have become desperate, resorting to violence and intimidation to undermine the will of Edo State voters. Reports indicate that the APC has set up a torture squad to abduct innocent Edo residents and take them to undisclosed locations.
This use of violence and intimidation reveals that the APC and its ineffective candidate are intimidated by Dr Asue Ighodalo’s growing popularity in Edo State.”
Ologunagba also claimed that the APC was importing thugs from Imo State to assist in an election manipulation scheme.
He noted that residents were prepared to use every lawful means to confront and resist attempts to disrupt the governorship election.
But the APC dismissed the allegations, insisting that Governor Obaseki was plotting to rig the September 21 governorship election.
The National Publicity Director of the party, Bala Ibrahim, said, “The PDP has made a name in rigging. But because their rigging mechanism has been uncovered and defeated, everything about them falls around rigging. Now that they can not unleash their rigging tactics, they have refused to sign the Peace Accord.
“They have seen that the people are ready to protect their votes and won’t allow rigging; this is why they are making noise all over the place about arrest, rigging, vote-buying and others. This is even a sign that the PDP has lost grip and the real meaning and intent of democracy.”
Ibrahim denied that the APC had plans to buy votes, adding that the party lacked the means.
Also, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Edo State, Peter Uwadiae, said his party had no reason to engage in vote-buying.
He said, “We are not in the business of buying votes and we don’t have any reason to do such. We are not paying for votes. Buying of votes is an electoral offence and we cannot be seen to be committing an offence when we are planning to win the election.
“The only party that will buy votes is the one that feels it has not been accepted and this is a wrong step to be taken by any political party that means well for the Edo people.
“We are a decent party, we have done so well in our campaign and the people have shown that we are accepted and are ready to demonstrate that on election day.”
The Labour Party Public Relations Officer, Sam Uruopa, distanced his party from vote-buying, saying only the APC and PDP were known for such.
He said, “The APC and the PDP are the ones involved in vote-buying if what you heard is correct. That has been their practice, they also rig elections and are involved in other electoral malpractices. We are urging INEC and the security agencies to watch officials of these political parties closely, especially during the election.
“For the LP, we are not vote buyers and the people are with us. However, we are scared about this age-long practice they have been known for, that they have used to cripple this country and used to bastardise the electoral system.”
The Deputy Director General, Media, Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, Olu Martin, said parties that did not have popular candidates engaged in the practice.
He said, “I can’t speak for other parties but it is not unusual in a democracy to see people trying to induce voters, especially for parties who don’t have popular candidates.
“For us in the PDP, our fellowship is organic, our candidate is known, our manifesto is clear, we have endeared ourselves to the people. We even have people who are donating to us and ready to mobilise people to go out and vote. They are even ready to give us money to run the campaign. If you buy votes, you now become like a social contractor hoping to recoup what you have spent. It is the people that will suffer.”
EFCC, INEC warn parties
The spokesman for EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said vote buying is an economic crime and the commission would not tolerate it.
“We will not allow any kind of criminality in any form,” he stated.
“The same spirit and focus that we have been using to fight all other crimes, will be deployed be the commission to fight criminality including vote-buying.”
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the electoral body had asked security agencies to go after vote buyers.
“Therefore, it will be a big mistake for any political party to think that its members can engage in vote-buying on election day because law enforcement agents will move against them. I would strongly advise anyone thinking of doing it to have a rethink. Apart from the fact that vote-buying is an electoral offence, it will also go against the spirit and letter of the Peace Accord that the political parties and their candidates signed only on Thursday here in Benin City,” he added.
Obaseki raises the alarm
Meanwhile, the Edo State Governor Obaseki, has alleged that INEC is working in cahoots with the APC to postpone the governorship poll on the eve of the election.
A statement on Friday said the governor spoke while addressing members and leaders of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
Obaseki, who had earlier refused to sign the peace agreement, noted that the country’s democracy was at risk.
He said, “They plan to postpone the election on the eve of the election to destabilise us. But whenever they postpone the election, we will win the election. It will be a long fight but we know it’s a struggle.”
“APC has not offered us an alternative. They have not campaigned on any meaningful thing we can hold them onto. They don’t have any credible candidate but all they boast of is federal might. They say they will write the results and we can go to court. We will not go to court because they can’t write the results. If they write the results, they will meet the consequences.”
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Just in: Tinubu’s son Seyi, Tops Controversial List As Lagos Guber Race Ignites Political Wahala

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The race to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2027 is gradually gaining momentum, with political stakeholders and groups across Lagos State already rooting for their preferred candidates.
Among those generating buzz is Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives.
A growing number of party faithful and influential figures are backing him, with popular Nollywood actor and lawmaker, Desmond Elliot, reportedly leading a ‘silent’ push for Gbajabiamila to emerge as the APC flagbearer in the next gubernatorial election.
Supporters are said to be banking on his close ties to the President and long-standing political experience, which they believe make him a strong contender.
“Gbajabiamila is not just a seasoned legislator. Now as Chief of Staff to the President, he has added executive experience.
“That’s the kind of leadership Lagos needs,” said Famous Oloyede, an APC chieftain from Surulere.
However, some party members believe that by 2027, Gbajabiamila, who will be 64, may be too old to govern a complex and fast-moving state like Lagos.
“He should stay back in Abuja and continue supporting the President. Lagos needs someone younger; and besides, it’s time another administrative district takes the seat,” a senior party source revealed.
Lagos State is organised into five administrative districts, collectively called IBILE, namely Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe.
Notably, the last four governors of the state, Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have all hailed from either Lagos Island or Epe.
Even Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the state’s first civilian governor, identified as a native of Lagos Island.
The clamour for 2027 is not one-sided. Stakeholders from Epe, a region that once produced former governor Akinwunmi Ambode, are also pressing for political rebalancing.
Following Ambode’s fallout with the APC leadership, many indigenes believe Epe has been marginalised in the state’s power structure.
As a result, attention has shifted to the current Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, who hails from Epe. Many locals view him as a competent and loyal figure capable of restoring Epe’s influence in Lagos politics.
“Epe has been marginalised for years,” said Olugbede Adekalu, a strong APC member.
“Ambode was not allowed to complete his second term, unlike others before him. It’s time to correct that injustice,” he said.
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa, is also being quietly touted by political and religious circles.
A notable Islamic cleric recently expressed support for Obasa’s candidacy, citing his legislative experience and grassroots popularity.
While Obasa has yet to make a formal declaration, he recently made a subtle remark that has further fueled speculations.
Speaking during a public engagement, the Speaker said, “Also, becoming governor is secondary; it is something that I have not given serious consideration. Nevertheless, that does not mean I am too young or lack experience to run; whereas, those who have been before me are not better off.”
Observers believe Obasa’s statement was a calculated message to signal openness to the race without making an outright announcement.
Also making the rounds is the name of Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.
While he has not publicly declared interest, speculations are rife, with several diaspora groups reportedly rooting for him.
This development has placed the party and the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the APC in Lagos, in a dilemma, especially as President Tinubu has remained silent despite the growing clamour for his son’s potential candidacy.
In addition to the growing field of aspirants, fresh agitations are emerging from Ikorodu, one of Lagos State’s largest administrative districts under the IBILE structure.
Despite the fact that the current Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, hails from Iga Egbe, a traditional compound within the Ikorodu Division, many stakeholders are insisting the district is yet to be adequately represented at the top.
According to party insiders, there is mounting support for either Rep Babajimi Benson or Hamzat himself to emerge as the next governor.
However, should neither of them clinch the ticket, strong lobbying is ongoing for Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, former House of Representatives member and current Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, to be considered for the position of deputy governor, especially if the governorship goes to another district.
“Ikorodu deserves a real shot at the governorship. It’s one of the most loyal and populated zones in Lagos, yet we’ve never truly had our turn,” said a party source.
While some argued that Ikorodu had a brief taste of power through Abiodun Ogunleye, who served as deputy governor during Tinubu’s administration, a party member countered that Ogunleye’s tenure, just 14 days between May 15 and May 29, 2007, was too short to be considered meaningful representation.
A party insider from Ogolonto, a community in Ikorodu, stated:
“Ogunleye’s 14-day tenure was purely symbolic. You can’t call that real representation. That’s not power-sharing, it was a token gesture. Ikorodu deserves more than a fleeting appointment.
“Serving just 14 days as deputy governor hardly qualifies as meaningful leadership. Ikorodu deserves more than a fleeting appointment.”
Reflecting growing calls for more equitable power rotation across Lagos, some party members have maintained that adjoining districts long overlooked deserve a turn in the executive seat.
“Power should shift to Badagry now. They’ve never produced either a governor since 1999,” another party member told DAILY POST.
Another name quietly gaining traction within APC circles is that of Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo (Tokunbo) Abiru, who currently represents Lagos East Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
This district encompasses the local government areas of Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Ikorodu, Kosofe and Somolu
With many zones clamouring for recognition and no clear frontrunner emerging yet, one thing is clear: the contest for the soul of Lagos in 2027 will be one of the most keenly watched and hotly contested in the state’s recent political history.
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Just in: FG receives Wigwe’s helicopter crash report from NTSB

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Director-General of the Nigeria Safety and Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Alex Badeh, has confirmed that the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shared the final report on the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, former NGX Group Chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and two pilots.
Recall that the tragic crash occurred on February 9, 2024, when an Airbus EC130B4 helicopter operated by Orbic Air, LLC crashed near Halloran Springs, California.
The NTSB’s final report outlined the primary causes of the crash, identifying “pilot disorientation” and a violation of flight protocols as key contributors to the tragedy.
Specifically, the report pointed to the decision to proceed under visual flight rules in instrument meteorological conditions as a significant factor in the crash.
Badeh stated, “The NTSB shared the report directly with the NSIB as we are interested parties and in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 protocols.
“We do not necessarily comment on accident reports as they are not meant to apportion blame but to improve safety and prevent reoccurrence.”
When asked if the NSIB was satisfied with the findings in the NTSB report, Badeh emphasised that the NSIB does not engage in commenting on accident reports.
He clarified that the primary purpose of such reports is not to assign blame but to ensure that measures are put in place to enhance safety in the aviation sector.
“The report’s essence is to improve safety across the sector. The NSIB is not the head of aviation in Nigeria,” Badeh reiterated.
Badeh further confirmed that the family of the deceased had been in communication with the NTSB throughout the investigation process, from the time of the crash until the final report was released.
“The family of the deceased has been in contact with the NTSB at the time of the accident till the close of the investigation,” Badeh stated.
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Insecurity!Six Terrorists Silenced, Camps Destroyed as Troops Sweep Sokoto, Zamfara Forests

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
In a daring continuation of Operation of Troops FANSAN YANMA Phase V, the troops have penetrated deep into terrorist strongholds across parts of Sokoto and Zamfara States, dismantling layers of insurgent infrastructure and recovering weapons.
The multi-day operation, which began with swift assaults on identified camps, saw troops advancing through highly hostile territory, including Gidan Madi, Tsamiya Village, Tudun Ruwa, Alela, and several forested areas notorious for harbouring terrorist cells.
Security sources told Akelicious that the troops encountered multiple ambushes laid by fighters of the Lakurawa terror faction, a splinter group known for its entrenched operations in the North West region.
Despite the resistance, the troops pressed forward, clearing key hideouts beyond Alela village, including the Areo general area, Damoria, Tumuna Village, and the densely wooded Goboro Forest.
“These locations have been long used by terrorists as logistics hubs and operational bases for launching attacks on civilian communities and security convoys,” a senior military source familiar with the operation said.
The military offensive did not come without cost. One soldier was wounded in action (WIA) during the series of engagements, while a vigilante supporting the operation paid the ultimate price. The wounded soldier was promptly evacuated to the 8 Division Military Hospital (8 DMSH) in Sokoto for treatment.
Troops also neutralised six terrorists affiliated with the Lakeurawa faction during the operation. Several others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds, fleeing into the surrounding forest areas
Among the arms recovered from the cleared camps were various weapons, magazines, two handheld radios, and motorcycles which were some of the items believed to have been used for communications and mobility within the camps
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