Ahead Edo/Ondo gov elections...

THE 14 July governorship election in Edo State will have the highest number of monitors in the history of gubernatorial election in Nigeria, including no fewer than 20 Independent National Electoral Commissioners (INEC) officials.The new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to the state, Kassim Gaidam, made this known while responding to questions during a visit to the leadership and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State council, in Benin City, on Thursday.

He assured that all logistics problems would be resolved 10 days before the gubernatorial election, adding that INEC was already mobilising vehicles from neighbouring states and was also collaborating with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), to ensure smooth transportation of personnel and materials for the election.

Gaidam also announced that ballot papers for each local government for the election would have different colours and serial numbering, to ensure transparency.

The REC added that steps were being taken to resolve all knotty issues before the election, adding that another meeting of the participating political parties had been fixed for June 18, in Abuja.



Group holds fundraising for Oshiomhole

THE Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has taken his re-election campaign a notch higher, with a fundraising held for him at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, to fund his re-election.

The governor, who promised to sustain the struggle, said his administration had succeeded because the people now determined what went on in the state.

Oshiomhole alleged that while the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had been going round the various communities, telling the people what the government had done in less than three years, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were in Abuja, perfecting plans to rig the election.

While assuring Nigerians and Edo people in particular of his determination to apply the resources of the state to improve the lives of the people, Oshiomhole said when re-elected for a second term, together with the people, Edo State would get to the next level.

The chairman on the occasion, Chief Audu Ogbeh, described Oshio-mhole as a man who had plans with the courage to follow it up, while he chided the opposition PDP for refusing to see the hope and good governance now in the state.



IGP charges police on electoral laws

AS the Edo and Ondo states gubernatorial elections draw near, the acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abu-bakar, has directed policemen in the two states to ensure that all electoral laws are strictly adhered to.

Also he ordered policemen to remain non-partisan, to ensure a hitch-free local government election in Akwa Ibom State tomorrow.

The police boss, who gave the directives while addressing senior police officers at a conference in Abuja, on Thursday, directed the commissioners of police in Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Osun states to patrol the Lagos/Ibadan, Akure to Ibadan and Shagamu/Benin expressways, to stem robberies in the states.

According to him, “we have ordered for 300 patrol vehicles,” adding that as these vehicles arrived, they would be distributed to all commands.

He also said payment of salaries of officers and men of the Nigeria Police remained a priority to the government, adding that the police had been the most affected in many security challenges facing the country.



I’ll work for PDP in Edo - Imansuangbon

A leading contender in the last gubernatorial primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Mr Kenneth Imansu-angbon, has thrown his weight behind the ticket of Major-General Char-les Airhiavbere (retd) in the July 14 election.

Imansuangbon, who was being romanced by Governor Adams Oshio-mhole ahead of the election, on Thursday, said after due consultations with his supporters, coupled with the respect he had for the leadership of the PDP, he had given his support to the candidate of the PDP.

He also said his decision was influenced by his belief in the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The aspirant said he had taken his time to consult widely among his supporters, following the outcome of the gubernatorial primary which he lost.

He equally urged all other aspirants who lost in the PDP primary to forget their personal ambition and work for the victory of the party in the July election.



Oct 20 election date not good - Ondo Muslims

MUSLIM community in Ondo State, on Thursday, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to change the October 20 date already fixed for the governorship election in the state.

The community said holding the election on the slated date would disenfranchise many Muslim faithful, who would be performing the holy pilgrimage this year.

Co-chairman of the state chapter of Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), Alhaji Ibrahim Omoloja, who stated this in Akure, after the quarterly meeting of the council, added that the Muslim community in the state had already sent a letter to the national headquarters of the electoral body on the request.

This was coming just as the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Akin Orebiyi, on Thursday, stressed the need for the establishment of voter education club in various secondary schools in the state.

Orebiyi, at a workshop organised by the INEC in the state, said the forum being canvassed would serve as a prelude to the development of a comprehensive curriculum for the teaching of voter education subject in secondary schools.



The state Commissioner for Education, Mr Remi Olatubora, said voter education was crucial to democracy and commended INEC for its initiative.Daily Jokes | Free Forex Signals | Ibadan City Network (Forum) | Small Business Guide