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Edo Polls: Protest Rocks APC Headquarter in Abuja over alleged Election Irregularities
A member of the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa, alongside the Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Anthony Edun, popularly known as Tony Kabaka have led supporters to protest at the party’s Headquarters in Abuja on Saturday against the primary won by Senator Monday Okpebholo, which they tagged election irregularities.
The protesters could be seen carrying placards with different inscriptions including, ‘Our mandate cannot be stolen or monetised’, ‘Mr President, call APC NWC to order’, ‘NWC, reward loyalty in Edo APC’ and ‘We say No to fictitious results.’
Three of the aspirants were claiming to have won the just concluded primary conducted to produce candidate for the governorship election scheduled for September 21.
Idahosa appealed to President Bola Tinubu to call the National Working Committee (NWC) to order, while threatening to drag the APC to court if justice is not done.
Idahosa said he has submitted a protest letter to the APC Governorship Appeal Committee, adding that he will take his time to go through the process after which he would proceed to court to fight for his right against the party.
His statement reads: “I am not here to make trouble, I am a lawmaker but one thing is that we want is justice. Today, I might be a young man but it might be the children of NWC members tomorrow. We have to do the right thing, if we continue to do what is wrong as a country, we are not going to move forward.
“So I am calling on Mr. President to call the NWC to order. Elections were held on February 17 what they did on 22 was just selection. I challenged one of the LGA returning officers to give me, show me a picture of him in the Local government Headquarters where he said he collated the results and he was just blabbing, there was nothing because I know that they were in the same Hotel in Benin, that’s where they wrote all the results.
“So my fellow party members, I am not here to make trouble, I am only here to seek justice, whatever they have done, if it is not properly managed, I have written yesterday to the appeal panel committee and I know they will do justice, even if whatever they did, I just want to go through the process, having exhausted the party’s resolve mechanism, I will go further, I will seek justice in the court of law and I will not allow this to stand.”
Also speaking, a lawyer and chieftain of the party from Edo State, who accompanied Idahosa alongside other party members, Bernard Ekun, said the party was trying to deliberately avoid APC from providing or getting a candidate for the election.
According to him, when something is inconclusive, it invariably means some places have been identified for primaries to be done in those places, adding that sadly enough, first, nobody came to the field from the other end.
He said, “The Governor who was in charge of the purportedly selection primaries said that it was going to be a fresh election. Between me and you, when you know the issue of INEC, there is supposed to be 21 days notices from INEC for that primary. Nothing of such and we are out of time.
“Are you people saying that the selection process you have done, which you called a fresh election should be acceptable to us? No. Our demands is that the 17 February 17 primaries stands. That is known to Law. What they have done is kangaroo selection.
“What these people have done is that they have sold their responsibility, the excellence in them, they have sold as reasonable men. They have sold it for a Chinese Cuisine, they have sold it for egg fries. But if you want to go to the Bible, they have sold it for a pot of porridge. And it will not stand!
“People were in the hotel sleeping, how will they have been able to get a result? Even INEC did not observe this selection, kangaroo thing they said they were doing. So what you have seen is that there is no election, we stand on 17th because that is the only one that is duly observe and fallen between the ambit of the law.
No fewer than 40,000 families may benefit from the Aliko Dangote Food Intervention Programme.
Borno State Governor Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum said the donation of 40,000 bags of 10kg rice to the people of Borno State by the Aliko Dangote Foundation(ADF) will help cushion economic hardship in these families.
The Governor made the statement at the flag-off of the Food Intervention Programme on Wednesday in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation penultimate week commenced the distribution of one million bags rice worth N16billion across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
The Governor was represented by the Director General of Borno State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA) Mr. Ali Abdullahi Isa.
He said: “Today marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to alleviate the suffering of our people, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.”
The Governor said the generous donation is a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and promoting social welfare.
“We are deeply thankful to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the entire foundation for their kindness and philanthropy.
”He urged the people of Borno State to continue to pray for peace, stability, and prosperity of the state and country.
In his early remarks, representative of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Mr. Usman Muhammad, said the gesture is aimed at supporting government effort, adding that the Foundation focuses on improving the living conditions of Nigerians.
Mr. Muhammad said the donation is targeted at the poor and the vulnerable persons in the State.
A beneficiary, Ms Aisha Modu, 50, said as a displaced person, the donation of rice by the ADF will go a long way in alleviating her economic hardship.
In the same vein, another beneficiary, Umaru Aliyu, 60, said he will use the rice to feed his six children, while praying God to continue to bless the chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed condolences to Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, wife of the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, over the passing of her daughter, Mrs. Bisola Kola-Daisi.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the death as an unexpected and heartbreaking loss.
“In a poignant conversation with the bereaved mother on Thursday, President Tinubu conveyed his deep sympathy to the family during this time of profound loss, acknowledging the unexpected and heart-wrenching departure of a cherished daughter, devoted wife, and mother of three,” the statement read.
The President also extended his prayers and support to Mrs. Kola-Daisi’s husband, family, friends, and associates, describing the deceased as warm-hearted, industrious, and charitable.
Highlighting her achievements, Tinubu noted her contributions as a successful businesswoman and trusted public servant.
“Her wise counsel in budgeting and finance was invaluable,” the statement added.
Tinubu prayed for divine comfort and strength for the bereaved family while asking God to grant the deceased eternal rest.
“President Tinubu prayed for Almighty God’s grace to receive her soul and provide comfort and strength to her survivors,” Onanuga stated.
Mrs. Kola-Daisi’s passing has been met with widespread condolences from family, friends, and political associates, many of whom have described her as a compassionate leader and dedicated professional.
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Governor Oyebanji Raises State’s monthly Subvention By N438.9 million
Similarly, the Governor has also approved payment of the outstanding 2020 leave bonus to local government workers
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has approved a major increment in the monthly subvention to the Judiciary and the legislative arm of government as well as the subvented institutions in the state.
The increment which amounts to N438.9 million monthly is to enable the institutions take care of the new minimum wage and the attendant consequential adjustment for workers.
In a statement,Olayinka OyebodeSpecial Adviser (Media) to the Governor, disclosed that the
beneficiaries of the increment include the Ekiti State Customary Court of Appeal, Ekiti State High Court of Justice; Ekiti State Judicial Service Commission, and Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commission.
Others are Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, (EKSU); Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH); Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Ikere Ekiti; Ekiti State Polythecnic, Isan Ekiti; College of Health Technology, Ijero-Ekiti and Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and associated Institutions.
Similarly, the Governor has also approved payment of the outstanding 2020 leave bonus to local government workers, in fulfilment of his promise to defray all outstanding entitlements of workers inherited from previous administrations.
While restating the commitment of his administration to the wellbeing and welfare of workers and retirees, Governor Oyebanji says efforts are being made to ensure payment of all outstanding entitlements including gratuities in line with the continuity and shared prosperity agenda of the government.
He urges workers in the state to remain focused on excellent service delivery and to see themselves as strategic stakeholders in the Ekiti Project.
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