News
EDHA: Edo APC Accuses State Govt of Recruiting Fake Military Personnel To Disrupt Saturday Elections
….. Allegations Baseless -Crusoe
The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, alleged that the state governor, Godwin Obaseki of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has made available military and police uniforms, arms and ammunition, for both the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) and thugs to cause mayhem at the various polling units where the APC is winning in the state on election day.
The party, through its chairman, Col. David Imuse rtd. made the allegation while speaking with newsmen in Benin City.
He said the party is voicing out due to the reliable information available to it.
According to him “As a party, we have privileged and credible information indicating that the Edo State Governor has procured military and police uniforms, arms and ammunition, for both the Edo State Security Network (Vigilante), known PDP thugs, members of secret cults, and NURTW under one Mr. Odion Olaye, with plans for them to disrupt the House of Assembly elections.
“Their modus operadi is as set out herein under amongst other: Those with military uniforms will be on patrol, pretending to be soldiers.
“Those on Mufti will queue up with voters.
“They will be armed by the Governor with procured and licensed pump action rifles.
“They are to destroy ballot boxes and other electoral materials in any unit where they are not winning especially during counting of votes.
“They have been given clear orders to shoot when necessary as the Governor has assured them of adequate protection.
“The Governor has allegedly procured the NURTW under the leadership of Mr. Odion Olaye to transport election materials to unknown destinations where rigging can be carried out.
“This violent operation is to be ‘carried out especially in Eco Central and Edo South”, Imuse Alleges.
He Imuse said the deployment of the local vigilante for the purposes of elections have been seriously opposed to by the Inspector General of Police Akali Baba adding that the he must swing into action immediately in order to prevent the governor for truncating the smooth processes of the election.
“This contravenes the order of the Inspector General of the Nigerian Police that all thugs, vigilantes, poachers and fake state sponsored security services such as the Edo State Security Network are disqualified to be anywhere near any polling station and collation center on election day.
“With this information, we urge the State Police Command to remain vigilant so that the Edo state government troublemakers da not make the state Ungovernable.
“It is also a call to other security agencies deployed in the state to be aware of their responsibility to avoid a backlash from these criminals.
“Finally, we would like to warm that if these thugs are allowed to express themselves, the state will come under severe pressure.
“We therefore urge heads of state security agencies not to give in to the state government financial incentives, which may reduce the election to one of Obaseki’s PDP versus the Edo people’, Imuse said.
Reacting to the allegation, Odion Olaye said the governor has not called him for such an assignment and that the APC has been the ones moving from one community to the other asking them to vote for the APC with the aim of impeaching the state governor.
Also refuting the allegation, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media Projects , Crusoe Osagie said all their allegations were lies.
He said the state governor is committed to free, fair and credible elections in the state.
…..Party Rescinds Sanctions
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rescinded sanctions slammed on former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, and ex-Senate President, Pius Anyim, over alleged anti-party activities.
Benue Governor Samuel Ortom, Ibrahim Shema of Kastina state and other party Chieftains also sanctioned got soft landings after a crucial meeting of the national working committee of the party yesterday in Abuja
Recall that the party top shots were suspended by the embattled Iyorchia Ayu leadership over alleged anti party activities
But in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, yesterday Thursday, March 30, the party announced that its National Working Committee,NWC, has reversed the suspension of the party’s chieftains.
Ologunagba noted that the PDP NWC also reversed Governor Ortom’s referral to the party’s disciplinary committee.
He said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its meeting today, Thursday, March 30, 2023, extensively discussed recent developments in the party.
“The NWC recognised the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive Party in the overall interest of our teeming members and Nigerians in general.
“Consequent upon the above, the NWC reverses the referral of the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee.
“The NWC in the same vein reverses the suspension of the following members of our great party: H.E Ibrahim Shema (Katsina State); Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State); Sen. Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State); Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State); Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State).
“This decision is without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take necessary disciplinary action against any member of the party at any time pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our party across the country to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity, and harmony in our party at this critical time.
“The PDP must remain focused as we continue to take every necessary action to recover the stolen mandate freely given by Nigerians to our party and presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal,” the PDP spokesperson stated.
Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA), yesterday said there was nothing wrong in applying legal means to stop the inauguration of the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023 because the February 25, 2023 election that produced him is still being actively challenged in court by leading candidates in the poll.
HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the so-called alarm raised by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday that some politicians are plotting an interim government should not be used as an obstacle to stop the petitions filed by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) challenging Tinubu’s Victory
The DSS warning followed a petition by the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo that the DSS should invite Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, over their rejection of Tinubu as the President-Elect.
Similarly, Atiku had earlier in March led a protest to the Abuja office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject the result of the February 25 poll declared by the electoral umpire.
Both Atiku and Obi alleged electoral malpractices in the poll and are in court to challenge the declaration of Tinubu as President-Elect by INEC.
HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “The Department of State Services should not rope in powerful opposition forces such as Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar with a view to finding some frivolous charges to hang on their necks to frustrate their formidable petitions against the outcome of the February 25 presidential poll.
“The DSS must work for all of Nigeria and not work as errand boys of Tinubu and his allies who only recently made claims that some persons want to stop his swearing in. By the way, there is nothing wrong in applying legal means to stop his inauguration because the election is being actively challenged. Nothing should be used as obstacles to obstruct Obi and Atiku’s petitions.
He advised that ,“The DSS should go after arm smugglers, kidnappers, bandits and terrorists and leave politicking for politicians.”
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council has felicitated with Solomon Arase, a retired Inspector General of Police on his appointment as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
In a statement signed by the union Chairman, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, the union described the appointment as well deserved.
The union expressed optimism that Arase will bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new assignment to his father land.
The union prayed God Almighty to grant him the knowledge and wisdom to reposition the Police Service Commission for better service delivery.
-
News1 week agoRamadan : Church Donates Food, Cash To Muslims
-
News4 days agoOf Araraume’s Conundrums And Staying Power
-
News3 days agoAyu Is An Evil That Befell PDP…….. Sen Nnamani
-
News1 week agoBreaking: It’s Victory For Ademola At Appeal Court
-
News1 week agoRamadan: Prince Agba Greets Muslim Faithful, Sues For Peace, Religious Tolerance
-
News4 days agoShaibu Mourns Oladipo Diya
….recounts their meeting in detention camp. -
News1 week agoEdo State HoA Election Results : Angry Protesters Storm INEC Office in Benin*
-
News1 week agoJust In:CBN Confirms Evacuation of Banknotes to Commercial Banks Nationwide