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Edo govt crackdown on elected Council chairmen: HoR Minority caucus blows hot, says it’s desecration of democracy

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..demands Tinubu’s intervention

…counsels gov, agencies to avert breakdown of law

…threatens to use legislative instruments to curtail situation

Peeved by the manner elected local government chairmen and vice chairmen are being treated as if they are errand boys, the House of Representatives Minority caucus has condemned such acts that desecrates democracy.

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To this end, the Caucus in a statement jointly signed by Rep. O. K. Chinda
Minority Leader , Hon. Dr. Ali Isa J.C Minority Whip, Hon. Aliyu Madaki ,Deputy Minority Leader and Hon. George Ozodinobi
Deputy Minority Whip demand an immediate intervention by President Bola Tinubu.

The Caucus also called on the state governor, Senator Monday Okpebolo and agencies to wave the big sticks they’re carrying with caution to avert breakdown down of law and order in the state.

In the statement, it outrightly condemned growing actions by the Edo state Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and some of his appointees to forcefully remove from office constitutionally elected Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of LGAs.

The Caucus declared: “It is disheartening that the Edo State Government (EDSG) has embarked on illegal, and unconstitutional methods ranging from coercion, intimidation, lawlessness, and propaganda to eject these elected officers which is tantamount to extermination of constitutional democracy.

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“These acts of brazen executive recklessness, gross abuse of office, and disrespect for Nigeria’s constitution, if left unchecked, can lead to breakdown of law and order in the state.

“It is highly preposterous, and shamelessly ludicrous that the EDSG; governed by a lawmaker, with senior appointees who have legal backgrounds have the effrontery to disrespect the court judgement delivered by the state Chief Judge; Justice Daniel Okungbowa which upheld that the state (and/or it’s agencies) have no legal right to suspend or dissolve elected government councils.

” Indeed, it is very disturbing that even when the EDSG knows that Justice Okungbowa in his ruling, cited, and aligned with the Supreme Court judgement delivered in July 2024, in a suit filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, and Minister of Justice; Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria which declared unconstitutional, null and void attempt by any state government or state House of Assembly to dissolve or suspend elected LGA Councils, the EDSG is bent on having its way.

The Caucus is deeply concerned that the flagrant disregard for judiciary, continued unlawful actions, and the deliberate disrespect for Nigeria’s constitution portends grievous threat to democracy.

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” The serial harassment, coercion, intimidation, and forceful attacks on the LG Councils executives, party leaders, officials, members, and supporters across the state is a dangerous precedent that may snowball into constitutional crisis, and affect the peace, and unity of the state.

“Worried about the dangers of the illegal and unlawful actions of the EDSG, as well as the likely damage it may have on the image, and credibility of the present administration, the Caucus appeals to President Bola Tinubu to urgently call Governor Monday Okpebholo to order, and stop him from bringing our nation’s democracy to the gutters, and global disrepute. Mr. President needs to take immediate actions to rein in Governor Okpebholo, and take other measures that will inspire confidence in the minds of Edo state indigenes and residents; majority of who are terrified, apprehensive, and disillusioned about the growing tensions across the state.

“From various reports of the incidents, officers and men of the Nigerian Police, and other security agencies are allegedly being used by the EDSG, and other state actors to perpetrate these undemocratic actions, and unlawful shenanigans across the state.

“The Caucus charges the Inspector-General of Police; Kayode Egbetokun, and the leadership of other security agencies to intervene by giving marching others to their personnel to play their roles as unbiased enforcers of law and order.

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Finally, as a responsible and responsive group, the Caucus reiterates that it may resort to legislative actions against further illegal and unconstitutional methods to forcefully remove elected LG Councils members from office by the EDSG, and rubbish democratic ethos.

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BREAKING: Jubilation As PDP Wins All 30 LGs In Osun State(See winners)

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC, has announced that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won all the local government and councillorship positions in the just concluded local government elections in the state.

The Chairman of the Commission, Hashim Abioye, made this announcement via a Facebook Live broadcast on Saturday evening.

Abioye stated that PDP candidates secured all the councillorship seats in all 332 wards in the state, as well as the chairmanship elections in all 30 local government council areas.

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The names of the PDP chairmanship candidates and their respective local government council areas:

Babalola Wasiu Kayode – Boripe

Okunade Oluwafemi Adesanya – Egbedore

Adeyenuwo Rotimi John – Ife Central

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Agboola Francis Olajire – Obokun

Azeez Lateef Adeniran – Isokan

Aina Abayomi Adesina – Boluwaduro

Sodiq Samuel Oluwapelumi – Ola Oluwa

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Ajibade Oluwatoyin S. – Irepodun

Adebanjo Oladiti Tunmininu – Ilesa West

Ibironke Alade Adegboye – Atakumosa East

Aroke Muyiwa Aderemi – Ife South

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Kolade Obafemi Kolawole – Olorunda

Moshood Adekunle Kabiru – Iwo

Awotunde Abiodun Sarafadeen – Ifelodun

Akande Taiwo Adekunle – Osogbo

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Dada Feyisayo Ajibola – Atakumosa West

Amodu Taiwo – Ede North

Atolagbe Kayode Olayinka – Ifedayo

Akande Michael O. – Ife North

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Adeyekun Taiwo Adebayo – Oriade

Adeniran Adenike Felicia – Ayedaade

Afolabi Oyekola Lukman – Ede South

Odunyemi Haruna Bukola – Ife East

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Jooda Ambali Babajide – Irewole

Adewale Adeyinka Oluwaseun – Odo Otin

Ogunbiyi Solomon Akinyemi – Ayedire

Raimi Adenike Nafisat – Ejigbo

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Adebisi Jayeola Nasir – Ila

Ilesanmi Taiwo Sunday – Ilesa East

Alade Aderemi Fatai – Orolu

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DSS arrests three for assaulting operatives during LSHA crisis

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested three persons linked to the alleged assault on its officers during the crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly, following the removal Mudashiru Obasa, as Speaker

Apparently sensing danger, some lawmakers had mobilized their supporters to the Assembly Complex, but these supporters allegedly attacked some DSS officers who were invited by the Assembly leadership to secure the facility. Security sources revealed that “after extensive analysis of CCTV footage, we were able to clearly identify three of the suspects”.
“The suspects, Ibrahim Olanrewaju Abdulkareem, a photographer and two others attached to the Assembly’s Seargent at Arms, Adetu Adekunle Samsudeen and Adetola Oluwatosin Fatimoh, a lady, were consequently tracked and arrested during the week in different parts of Lagos,” The trio have since confessed to the crime and will soon be charged to court, the source said.

It would be recalled that the Lagos Assembly had in a leaked memo dated 14th February, 2025 and addressed to the DSS Director in the State, and Heads of other Security Agencies in Lagos State, told the Security Agencies in Lagos that, there was credible information to the effect that, Obasa had planned to forcefully reinstate himself today, February 18, 2025.
Accordingly, the Assembly management, held the view that, the development posed “a potential security threat” to it and its members.

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Police seal OSSIEC office, officials nabbed, says chairman

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), Hashim Abioye, has claimed that the police have sealed off the headquarters in Osogbo.

In a video post on the OSSIEC X handle, Abioye accused the police of also arresting election officials and blocking journalists from covering the local government election.

According to him, several OSSIEC officials were detained while on their way to polling units on Saturday.

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Attempts by our correspondent to reach Abioye for further details proved abortive as his telephone line was switched off.

The OSSIEC chair, in the post, assured voters that materials had been deployed to affected areas.

So far so good, the reports have been positive and the conduct has been very smooth and peaceful as against the false alarm raised by the police. Everywhere is calm,” Abioye said.

“The only thing is that in some of the areas in which materials are supposed to have arrived for voters to cast their votes, we had reports of police arresting our officials.

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“I don’t know on whose order because there is no court order that warranted the arrest of officers of our officials.

“As it is, we have deployed materials to those units because we have enough on the ground.

For our people in the media community, I want to apologise for the inadequacy of the tags and the jackets because we have enough but the police sealed our office and that was not warranted at all.”

Abioye’s comments come after police had called for the local government election to be called off by the state government, citing a security threat.

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In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Friday, the Police said it received credible intelligence indicating a likelihood of violence and significant security threats should the planned elections proceed.

The police explained that reports gathered from joint intelligence gathering revealed that various groups, including political elements and other interested parties, are mobilising to instigate unrest, disrupt public peace and undermine the democratic order.

However, the Osun State government acknowledged the police’s advice but insisted on going on with the election.

Channels Television reports that the election eventually went on as scheduled on Saturday.

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