Politics

Edo election: Security agencies should desist from intimidation of opposition parties members: Minority Caucus cautions

Published

6 months ago

September 19, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Mario Deepromoter

… ensure neutrality

…and INEC must inspire in Nigerians

As the Edo state governorship elections is few days away, the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives outrightly condemns the incessant discriminatory arrests of members and leaders of some opposition parties by the police and other security agencies.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Caucus Leader, Rep Kingsley Chinda where the Caucus expressed concern over events in Edo State.

” We are worried by the reported cases of deliberate coercion, gross harassment, and grand intimidation of some of the minority party faithful and stakeholders across the state.

“We are alarmed that the police and some security agencies in cahoot with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) have, in the past weeks being involved in serial unlawful activities which includes wanton and forceful arrests of opposition members under spurious allegations.

The caucus also condemned the unusual silence from above saying: “More disturbing is the silence of the Federal Government to the ludicrous posturing, preposterous demagoguery, and insidious shenanigans of some leaders and senior members of the APC.

” Some of these people whose penchant for garrulousness and tactless elucidation are well documented. If these anti- democratic forces are not called to order, their negative acts may deny the good people of Edo state the opportunity to exercise their civic responsibility.

“Also, the FG must as of necessity, come clean and clear doubts about allegations that it plans to rig the elections for the APC candidate.

“The Caucus criticises in its entirety this negative ploy, which will further erode citizens confidence in our electoral system. As it is, the FG’s interest and interference in the elections has created mistrust in the electoral process among some voters.

“As major stakeholders in the electoral process and advocate for odourless, and transparent elections, the Caucus strongly appeals to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a free, fair, and credible elections on Saturday. Aware of the negative narratives, and stain-riddled perception of INEC by many Nigerians, the electoral body is advised to use the Edo governorship elections to wean itself of these baggages. The INEC should grab the opportunity of Saturday’s election to embark on necessary image-cleaning, credibility re-positioning, and convince Nigerians of its independence. To achieve this, the electoral umpire should not only guarantee level playing field for all parties, and candidates, it must ensure that voters freely exercise their franchise.

“The Caucus enjoins the FG, INEC, security agencies, political parties, and other major stakeholders to play by the rules. President Bola Tinubu must ensure that the Edo governorship elections, the fourth in his administration, must be an improvement on the Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa elections. To achieve this, he must ensure that INEC is fair to all parties; guarantee the neutrality of the police, and other security agencies, and emplace protection of voters.

“The Caucus has also resolved to monitor the election to enable it take necessary and consequential legislative action.

Politics

LP snubs NLC interference, turns down merger

Published

4 hours ago

March 4, 2025

Admin

The Labour Party (LP) has cautioned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against interfering in its affairs, insisting that the union has no authority to dictate the party’s direction or leadership.

The opposition party also dismissed the possibility of a merger with any political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.

“While the party is not considering a merger, it remains open to collaborations aimed at strengthening its position ahead of future elections,” Ifoh stated.

The statement was in response to the NLC’s call for a rebranding of the Labour Party, which included the possibility of a merger or coalition with like-minded parties.

Following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, the NLC, in a communique signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, insisted that urgent steps must be taken to reclaim the party and restore its ideological foundation.

The NLC directed its National Administrative Council to initiate processes for a restructuring, coalition, or merger that would strengthen the interests of workers within the LP.

The Labour Party and the NLC remain at odds over the union’s refusal to recognize Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman, despite his re-election at the LP convention in Anambra

The lingering dispute underscores ongoing power struggles within the party as it seeks to position itself ahead of the next election cycle.

Politics

NNPP suspends Guber candidate, deputy

Published

4 hours ago

March 4, 2025

Admin

A fresh crisis has engulfed the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) with the suspension of its governorship candidate in the November 16 off-cycle governorship election in Ondo state, Olugbenga Edema.

Mr Edema was suspended on Monday along with his running mate, Rotimi Adeyemi, and another party chieftain, Israel Ayeni, over alleged anti-party activities.

The three men were suspended from the party at a meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC) held in Akure, the state capital.

Announcing their suspension during a press conference, the state chairman of the NNPP, Peter Olagookun, said Mr Edema and the other party chieftains were sanctioned for alleged anti-party activities.

Flanked by 12 other members of the SWC, Mr Olagookun said the men were also suspended for violating the party’s constitution.

“We, the State Working Committee of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Ondo State Chapter, hereby announce the indefinite suspension of the following party members: Hon. Olugbenga Edema, the governorship candidate in the just concluded Ondo State governorship election; Barrister Rotimi Adeyemi, the deputy governorship candidate; and Mr. Isreal Oluwatosin Ayeni,” he said.

The chairman added that the trio were suspended on two other grounds: “suing in the name of the party without recourse to the appropriate stakeholders at both the state and national levels, according to our party constitution.

“Suing the party without exhausting internal resolution mechanisms as provided by the party’s constitution, and involving in anti-party activities.”

Peoples Gazette could not immediately get Mr Edema’s reaction as of the time of this report.

However, one of his aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak, said his principal would respond appropriately to the suspension.

“We have read the suspension letter, but Oga (Edema) will react to it when he’s ready. I’m sure those who claimed they suspended him are just jesters. He gave NNPP a name in the state. How many people knew the party in the state before the election?” he told the Gazette.

Mr Edema lost the governorship election to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Politics

BREAKING: Ex- Lagos guber candidate Jandor dumps PDP

Published

17 hours ago

March 3, 2025

Austin Ojomah

Dr. Olajide Adediran, popularly known as JANDOR, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The 2023 Lagos governorship candidate made the announcement on Monday during a press conference in Ikeja, Lagos.

While he did not disclose his next political move, JANDOR assured that he would make his intentions known in the coming months.

His departure from the PDP comes with the backing of his supporters across the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of Lagos State.

Details to follow…