News
Edo Poll: LP Urges Residents to Disregard Purported Call On Akpata To Stay Off Guber Race
…says Originator Of Report Expelled Long Ago
The Labour Party in Edo State (LP) has urged residents of the state to disregard a purported call on Olumide Akpata, one of the party’s governorship aspirants to stay off the gubernatorial election slated for September, 2024.
One of the national dailies and some other online platforms had published a statement signed by one Dr. Abayomi Arabambi,yesterday, December 27, 2023, wherein the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president was warned to stay off the gubernatorial race, claiming that Akpata was a mole.
But reacting to the publication, State Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Sam Uruopa, said the so-called Arabambi who signed the said statement had been expelled from the party, adding that the statement never emanated from the State Working Committee of the party, neither did it emanate from the national secretariat.
While noting that Arabambi has no locus standi to determine who should aspire to be the governor of Edo State, Uruopa said: “The man who signed the statement is not a member of Labour Party, he has been expelled from the party long ago.
“More so, he is not an indigene of Edo State nor a registered voter from Edo State, hence he has no locus standi to determine who should aspire or not aspire for governor of Edo State come 2024.
“I want to state it unequivocally that Labour Party ably led by Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi in Edo State did not in any point issue warning to Barrister Olumide Akpata or any other aspirants to stay of the governorship race.”
Uruopa, who said Akpata, like every other aspirant is very qualified to test his popularity at the party primaries, appealed to party members and supporters of the party to give the needed support to any aspirant they believe in.
Further expressing shock on how some persons are hell-bent in spoiling people’s chances, Uruopa said: “Anyone who read that publication should be able to design that it can never come from our party.
“But we are not distracted, and we can never be distracted by the publication. I believe the man concerned will never be distracted too. So, let us put the said publication behind us and move on.
“What we are more concerned about delivering good governance to the good people of Edo State after winning the September 2024 election.
“I want to, therefore, appeal to residents of Edo State to, as usual, give their support to our party before, during and after the election. By the grace of God we will occupy Osadebey Avenue next year and give them the real dividends of democracy they have been yearning for,” Uruopa added.
A new documentary on the life and political struggle of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola is set to premiere in Nigerian cinemas in October.
Titled MKO, the 108-minute film is directed by Ose Oyamendan and produced with American documentary filmmaker Mark Jonathan Harris. It explores the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as free and fair, Abiola’s subsequent detention, and the controversial circumstances surrounding his death in custody in 1998.
The documentary features interviews with key figures including former military rulers Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Abiola’s running mate Baba Gana Kingibe, members of the Abiola family, journalists, and diplomats.
Oyamendan, who worked as a young journalist during the June 12 crisis, has described the film as an investigative documentary that examines Nigeria’s unfinished democratic journey. It had its world premiere earlier this year at the Sheffield DocFest in the United Kingdom.
The Nigerian cinema release is scheduled for early October, with some reports linking the premiere to Independence Day on October 1.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results of underage candidates for viewing.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Board’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB defined an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise as any candidate who will be less than 16 years old as at September 30, 2026.
Benjamin said the results were released primarily to enable candidates and their parents or guardians to know their performance in the examination. However, he stressed that the release does not confer eligibility for admission on all underage candidates.
According to him, the results cannot be used for admission or any other official purpose, except by candidates who satisfy the stringent requirements prescribed for exceptionally performing underage candidates.
Candidates can check their results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM card with which they registered for the UTME.
JAMB reiterated that only underage candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and maturity will be considered for admission through a rigorous, multi-stage assessment process. Key requirements include a minimum UTME score of 320, at least 80 per cent performance in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects where applicable, satisfaction of the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions, and a final assessment conducted by experts.
Veteran journalist Mr. Ohi Odiai and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai, today mark their 17th wedding anniversary, a milestone that highlights an enduring partnership built on mutual support, professional excellence, and family.
Mr. Odiai serves as Deputy Head of News at Arise News TV, one of Nigeria’s leading television networks. He is also the CEO and Chief Editor of Ohibaba.Com, the online news platform he founded and continues to steer as a key voice in digital journalism. His career spans years of impactful reporting, newsroom leadership, and media innovation.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai is the owner and founder of Bukbeth Concepts Classic, a business reflecting her entrepreneurial drive and creative vision. Together, the couple has built a home grounded in shared values and quiet strength.
The family is blessed with three children — two boys and a girl — who form the heart of their journey.
Friends, colleagues, and well-wishers describe the Odiais as a model of resilience and partnership in both public and private life.
As they celebrate 17 years of marriage today, September 5, 2026, the couple is receiving warm congratulations from across the media and business communities. Their story stands as a reminder that lasting unions thrive on commitment, respect, and the everyday work of building a life together.
Happy anniversary to Mr. Ohi Odiai and Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai.
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