The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the ongoing governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has lamented the security threats to party members.

Ighodalo on Saturday morning alleged that the police had arrested a party member in Ward 8 Uromi Unit 3 of Edo.

“In Uromi unit 3, one of our supporters was arrested there about an hour ago by men in mufti carrying guns. Nobody should carry guns into a polling unit,” he said. 

“That is against the law. But you just see people behaving indiscriminately, oppressing and trying to intimidate our folks.”

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are reportedly absent at Ighodalo’s polling unit.

According to reporters on ground in Edo State, Idinrio in Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area (LGA) is yet to witness any election activities as the community is calm and quiet as a graveyard.

As at the time of this report, there was no sign of INEC officials and other political party stakeholders at Ighodalo’s polling unit.

An update from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also confirmed the absence of INEC officials at the polling unit of the LP candidate.

It added that Ighodalo is expected to vote at Okaegben ward one, polling unit 3, located at a vocational centre in Ewohimi, Edo Central Senatorial District.

An angry voter, Christopher Adoghe was also said to have been heard slamming  INEC officials over delay in the start of accreditation and voting at wards 1, unit 3.

“We have been here since 7 O’clock yet, no sight of INEC officials. This is almost 10 and nothing is happening. We no go gree o! We no even see INEC,” Adoghe lamented. 

“We no see anybody. Only security men. See as everybody sat but no sign of INEC. No accreditation, nothing is going on.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has insisted that Senator Monday Okpebholo is still its candidate for the governorship election in Edo State on Saturday.

The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka clarified the position of the party in a statement from Abuja in the early hours of Saturday.

According to Morka, the clarification is very important after fake news emerged that a magistrate court had disqualified Okpebholo from contesting.

“In the final hours of the Edo gubernatorial election scheduled to hold Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, certain political parties have desperately resorted to forgery and disinformation on our candidate,” he said.

“The blackmail is to the extent of circulating a fake magistrate court ruling purportedly disqualifying Sen.Okpebholo, the APC gubernatorial candidate in the election.

“The circulated ruling is fake, a fabrication and an act of pure desperation in the face of their imminent defeat at the polls,” Morka said.

He said the magistrate court that purportedly issued the fake ruling had issued a disclaimer, stating categorically that it did not emanate from him.

Morka added that the fake ruling meant to sow seeds of doubt about the APC candidate, was a blatant and calculated attempt to subvert the will of the Edo electorate.

“We call on our law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate and bring the perpetrators of  this falsehood to book,” he said.

He, therefore, urged Edo voters to remain vigilant and resolute in the exercise of their democratic rights at the polls.

He expressed trust that Edo people would ignore this and other illegal devices by desperate candidates and their parties to subvert the election.

“Sen. Monday Okpebholo is and remains, the standard bearer of the APC in Edo gubernatorial election,” Morka stated.

Senator Dino Melaye has dropped a hint of his likely defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Melaye dropped the hint via a post he shared on his verified X account on Monday morning, accompanying it with a picture of the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagun.

“INITIAL PUBLIC OFFER: New Listing on the Stock Exchange: DAMAGUN; Price: Highest Bidder. Opens 2022, Closing with Highest Bidder’ Price. Issuing House: Wadata Unlimited,” he wrote.

The PDP on September 12, 2024 took swift action against one of its prominent members, Senator Melaye from Kogi State, suspending him over alleged anti-party activities.

This decision was made by the ward party executive committee in Ayetoro/Iluagba Ward 1 after reviewing the report of the disciplinary committee set up to investigate his actions.

The Ward exco explained that he was suspended for anti-party activities and alleged misconduct. It was signed by the Ward Chairman, Abayomi Osamika and Ward Secretary, Yodson Dayo.

The resolution sighted online reads: “Senator Dino Melaye’s conduct has brought embarrassment and disrepute to the party and his continued membership is no longer tenable.

“Therefore, the Ward party exco hereby suspends Dino Melaye from the Peoples Democratic party, effective and immediately.

“The suspension is in line with provisions of Article 59 (1) of the PDP constitution which empowers the Ward party excos to take disciplinary actions against erring members.”

Labour Party (LP) chieftain, Peter Obi has said that he is not desperate to become president but determined to see Nigeria work.

Obi said this in a post he shared on his verified X account on Saturday morning following media reports about an interview he granted.

“I have been inundated with calls and concerns regarding the interview I granted to News Central TV,” he said.

“In that interview, I took the opportunity it provided to explain my position in detail. However, some fifth columnists have resorted to propaganda, deliberately distorting the narrative.

“Let me reiterate clearly what I said, which is on record. I do not want to be one of those preoccupied with 2027 while Nigerians are suffering from hunger, poverty, insecurity, and other pressing challenges.

“When I was asked about collaboration, I explicitly stated my openness to working with others, provided their intentions were not centred on state capture.

“I emphasized my commitment to partnering with those who share my vision for advancing Nigeria’s progress.

“I also made it clear that I remain committed to the Labour Party, and if anyone wishes to negotiate or join forces, they must disclose their true intentions.

“As I have always maintained, I am not desperate to become president, but I am determined to see Nigeria work.”

Likewise, Obi said he is not desperate for any position at all as he believes he can make contributions as he is already doing without occupying any.

He stated that when 2027 arrives, if he decides to run for any office, it will not be with those whose sole aim is state capture or merely winning an election.

Obi added that he wants them to explain how they will ensure that no child is left behind and how they will bring millions of out-of-school children back into classrooms, ensure healthy living and pull people out of poverty.

The former governor of Anambra State said his statement was unequivocal and he is genuinely surprised by the misrepresentation of his words.

“For the avoidance of doubts, I never stated at any time that I would be vice president to anyone and it’s unequivocal,” the LP chieftain said.

“I have consistently maintained that I am open to working with those committed to building a new Nigeria.

“My commitment to Nigeria remains steadfast, and I even believe it is possible to contribute to its progress without occupying any office as I am already doing.”

Well-known Islamic cleric and musician Ibraheem Abdulhameed, commonly referred to as Labaeka, has stepped down from his position as Special Assistant on Artiste Matters to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

In a resignation letter dated September 12, 2023, Abdulhameed conveyed his dissatisfaction with the position, pointing out the absence of defined responsibilities and the limited chance to fulfill his role effectively.

Labaeka disclosed that, in the absence of a clear timetable or assigned tasks, he was unable to defend continuing to earn a salary without carrying out any duties.

He said, “I am writing this letter with all sense of humility and gratitude for giving me the opportunity to serve as the Special Assistant, Artiste, in your cabinet.

“Having served in this capacity for a period of 1 year and 7 months, I wish to respectfully tender my resignation.”

Abdulhameed continued, “Your Excellency, as you may recall, I was offered an appointment to serve as your Special Assistant, Artist, on 6th January 2023. I accepted the offer because I saw it as a call to service and an opportunity to showcase my talents. Regrettably, I have not been able to achieve any of these things. Aside from the fact that I don’t have a specific schedule of duty, circumstances have not availed me the opportunity to perform my responsibilities maximally.”

He added, “Since my appointment is based on public trust, I cannot continue to break that trust by taking a salary for doing nothing. As an Islamic cleric, it is against my beliefs, and I haven’t been at peace with myself. So, I want my salary to be stopped immediately.”

Abdulhameed concluded, “I am grateful for the confidence reposed in me, and I hope that one day, I will be able to fully utilize my talents for the development of our state.”

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has vowed to uphold the integrity of the September 21 governorship election in Edo state.

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the vow on Tuesday, assuring the people of Edo state that the commission will do everything possible.

Yakubu addressed the media in Benin City after monitoring the mock accreditation exercise aimed at test running facilities for the election.

According to him, the task of electing the next governor of the state tests solely with the people of Edo.

He expressed the readiness and strong commitment of the commission to conducting a free fair and credible election in the state, saying INEC was not a political party and did not have a candidate in the election.

The INEC chairman called all registered voters in the state to come out en masse to vote for the party and candidate of their choice, saying the commission would always protect the integrity of the process and uphold the choice of the people

Prof Yakubu led some national commissioners to visit some polling units in three local government areas (LGAs), Oredo, Egor and Ikpeoba Okha.

He expressed satisfaction with all the levels of preparation at the INEC offices as well as the two centres visited for the mock accreditation exercise, stating that the commission was good to go.

“My assurance to everyone in Edo state is, on the part of the commission, we keep saying this. INEC is not a political party therefore we don’t have a candidate in this election,” he said.

“The responsibility of choosing the next governor of Edo state is entirely in the hands of Edo voters and our assurance to all the registered voters in Edo state is to troop out to vote for the party of their choice and the candidate of their choice and the commission will always protect the integrity of the process and uphold the choice made by the electorate.

“We are satisfied with the level of preparation of our local government offices in the three offices we have visited- Oredo, Egor, and Ikpeoba Okha- as well as the two centres we have visited for the mock exercise. I think we are good to go.”

Yakubu admitted some logistic challenges need to be addressed, explaining that his meeting with the electoral officers in the 18 LGAs of the state was aimed at harvesting the issues to address them.

“Well, there are little, little issues that we are going to address, like some of the non-sensitive materials but with the 11 days to the election, I’m absolutely certain that by the end of this week, we will address those issues,” he stated.

“In addition, I’m also going to speak with all the EOs in the 18 local government, not just the local government we visited and this is going to happen on Thursday after the signing of the national peace accord.

“So, I am going to speak with all the EOs and we will harvest all the concerns. That’s why we are here ahead of the elections so that we can respond to any issues that they may raise.

“It has always been the intention of the commission to organise good elections and I’m giving you assurances on the level of preparation. That is why I’m personally here in Edo state and let me seize this opportunity to appeal to other stakeholders as well.

“Election is a multi-stakeholder activity including the security agencies, the political parties, the candidates, the observers, even you the media, so you should report us very well.”