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Tag: edo

  • One reported dead during cult initiation in Edo

    One reported dead during cult initiation in Edo

    One person has been reported dead following alleged drilling during a cult initiation process at Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo .

    A source told NAN that the victim died on Sunday following repeated drilling during the initiation exercise.

    The victim, simply identified as Prosper, was said to have approached a family member identified as Cosmos of his willingness to join the Aye confraternity group.

    Cosmos, said to be a senior member of the cult group, reportedly linked him with other members to take him to the initiation venue as he wasn’t attending himself.

    But tragedy struck as Prosper was said to have died during the initiation following repeated drills by members.

    When contacted, CSP Moses Yamu, spokesperson of the Police Command in Edo confirmed the incident  in Benin on Monday.

    According to him, one suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident.

    “The deceased slumped during the initiation and was rushed to a hospital at Jattu, where he was confirmed dead.

    “The suspect is in police custody while investigation on the matter is ongoing,” he said.

  • Edo gov, Okpebholo suspends oil, gas adviser

    Edo gov, Okpebholo suspends oil, gas adviser

    Gov. Monday Okpebholo has suspended his Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, Felix Osemwengie Isere, for alleged unauthorized fundraising over an upcoming Oil and Gas summit in Edo

    The suspension was announced in a statement issued the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Ikhilor, on Tuesday in Benin.

    The SSG said the governor also announced the immediate halt of the planned summit, scheduled to begin on Aug. 7.

    “Due to the breach, the proposed summit is suspended, and Isere is directed to refund all monies collected from donors for the event.

    “Prospective donors are hereby advised to stop all dealings with the suspended adviser,” Ikhilor said.

  • Restriction order on Obi in Edo undemocratic, unacceptable – ADC

    Restriction order on Obi in Edo undemocratic, unacceptable – ADC

    African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the restriction order issued on the 2023 Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi in Edo, describing it as unacceptable.

    ADC’s National Spokesperson, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, stated during a news conference in Abuja on Sunday.

    Abdullahi said that the pronouncements credited to Gov. Monday Okpebholo that Obi or opposition leaders were not welcome in their state was undemocratic.

    “This is not democratic and it’s a very dangerous pattern. Nigeria is a free country, and every citizen of Nigeria has the right to go anywhere in this country.

    “We don’t need a visa in our country. We don’t need anybody’s permission to go to any part of our country,” he said.

    Abdullahi stated that ADC believed that it could only get worse, if it’s not nipped in the board.

    “We in ADC are alarmed; we are worried that we have not even started big political activities.

    “We have not started campaigns and already our governors are saying that some leaders of our party are not welcome in their respective states,” he said.

    According to him, no state belongs to any governor but the people, noting: “We will go  anywhere we want in Nigeria. Nigeria is a free country.

    Meanwhile, Abdullahi has said that he has not heard any of the coalition leaders insisting he must emerge as ADC presidential candidates in 2027.

    “Whether it’s Obi or Abubakar or any other aspirant on the platform of ADC, understand that this is democracy, and we are not going to anoint any aspirant or candidate.

    “Like our chairman has emphasiised, we don’t have a pre-determined agenda. We don’t have any favourite candidate.

    “We are going to provide a level-playing ground and a transparent process for the emergence of our presidential candidate,” he said.

    Abdullahi said while the supporters could say whatever they wanted, it didn’t necessarily represent the sentiments of the people that they claimed to support.

    He advised anybody with a preferred aspirant to get ADC membership card to enable him vote for such an aspirant when the time comes.

    On whether any individual had taken the new ADC leadership to court, Abdullahi said he was not aware of any of such.

    He insisted that the new leadership of the party followed due process in taking over the party, saying it did not just happen overnight.

    “It’s possible that such people threatening to go to the court may not have the correct information. We are confident that we are on solid legal grounds in everything that we have done,” he said.

    Asked while some of the coalition leaders have yet to join ADC, Abdullahi said that he could only speak in respect of Obi and Malam Nasir El-Rufai in that regard.

    “They were granted leave to complete the process of elections, the by-election and the election of their governorship candidates, like the case of Mr Obi in their legacy parties.

    “They have people who have obtained nomination forms to contest election on the platform of those parties.

    “So it’s only logical and fair that they are allowed to complete that process. But they are solidly in the coalition.

    “As soon as that process is completed, they will move in fully,” the ADC spokesperson said.

  • Another headache for PDP as Edo only HoR Member resigns eyeing APC

    Another headache for PDP as Edo only HoR Member resigns eyeing APC

    It is another major headache for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as the House of Representatives from Edo State resigns eyeing the ruling APC.

    Hon. Marcus Onobun, who represents the Esan West/Esan Central/Igueben Federal Constituency, expressed dismay over the persistent crises within the PDP, stating that the party’s internal wrangling has made it difficult to pursue collective goals and deliver effective representation to his constituents.

    In his resignation letter, Onobun he cited a lack of cohesion, poor leadership direction, and unending factional struggles as key reasons for his exit.

    The lawmaker noted that despite his efforts to foster unity and progress within the party, the worsening situation has made it impossible to continue under the PDP platform.

    Political observers view Onobun’s resignation as a major blow to the PDP in Edo State, particularly as the 2024 off-cycle gubernatorial election looms. His departure adds to the growing list of defections the party has suffered in recent months.

    Reliable sources within political circles suggest that Onobun is set to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that could significantly realign the political structure in the state.

  • Edo: Gunmen kidnap Chief Imam of Uromi

    Edo: Gunmen kidnap Chief Imam of Uromi

    The Chief Imam of Uromi and President of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Edo-Delta Chapter, Sheikh Murtadho Muhammad, has reportedly been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

    The incident occurred at about 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Angle 90 area of Uromi, in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo.

    Eyewitnesses said the Islamic cleric was abducted shortly after observing one of the daily prayers.

    He had reportedly stepped out to buy food for his family when he was forcefully taken away near his residence.

    Confirming the incident to NAN, Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Abdulazeez Igbinidu, described the act as inglorious and unacceptable.

    He strongly condemned the abduction and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the Islamic leader.

    “I am hearing that they are asking for a very big amount of money and we don’t have such. Even if you have, if you do such a thing, you are encouraging them,” he said.

    The chairman called on the Edo government to measure up and do everything possible to protect the ordinary citizens in the state.

    “They are the ones that have the apparatus for security. So they should do everything possible to ensure that Imam is released unconditionally and without harm.

    “Government should also put up all efforts to ensure that the citizens are able to sleep well with the two eyes closed and work freely without fear of kidnapping or assassination,” he said.

    A family source told NAN that the suspected kidnappers had since reached out, demanding a ransom of N30 million.

    The incident has sparked widespread concern among the Muslim community in the state, considering the abductee’s dual role as both a revered religious leader and an advocate for youth development.

    The Police Command spokesperson in Edo, CSP Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident to NAN, said, “It was reported to us on Thursday.

    “Efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims and track down the culprits,” he said.

  • It was a robbery, feel betrayed by Supreme Court judgment – PDP’s Ighodalo

    It was a robbery, feel betrayed by Supreme Court judgment – PDP’s Ighodalo

    Mr Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Candidate in the September 2024 governorship election in Edo, says he feels a deep sense of betrayal in the Supreme Court judgment delivered today.
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    ‎Ighodalo, in his reaction to the apex court verdict, on Thursday, said though he accepted the finality of the judgment, “I do not and cannot pretend that what was delivered amounts to justice.”
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    ‎He spoke in a statement he personally signed and a copy made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
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    ‎”My dear people of Edo State, today, the Supreme Court has ruled.
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    ‎”What happened in the September 2024 Governorship Election was not a contest.
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    ‎”It was a robbery. Coordinated. Deliberate. And now, tragically validated by the highest court in the land.
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    ‎”While I will not and can not obstruct any judicial pronouncement, no matter how flawed, I must never fear to speak truth to power,” he said.
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    ‎According to him, like you, I feel a deep sense of betrayal.
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    ‎”Not just by those who rigged the process, but by the very institutions we trusted to protect our democracy.
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    ‎”You came out in hope. You voted tor competence, for progress, for prosperity.
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    ‎”And now, we are told that your voice does not matter.
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    ‎”That your freely given mandate can be trampled without consequence.
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    ‎”I feel your pain. I share your anger. And I will never forget your courage.
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    ‎”To every young person who saw in this moment the birth of a new Edo.
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    ‎”To every elder who longed to see our state rise again.
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    ‎”To every woman and man who prayed, campaigned, and voted.
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    ‎”We may not have won the office, but we won something greater.
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    ‎”We found one another. We discovered our collective strength.
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    ‎”Though this painful chapter closes today, our beautiful story does not end,” he said.
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    ‎Ighodalo, however, said that he would not relent in his effort at ensuring a better Edo.
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    ‎”The struggle to reclaim the soul of our beloved state continues.
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    ‎”Yes, dark days may lie ahead. The weight of this illegitimacy will, unfortunately, echo beyond the halls of the Supreme Court.
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    ‎”I fear Edo will feel it in the absence of leadership, in the poverty of policy, and in the daily suffering of her people.
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    ‎”But we are neither a fearful nor a broken people. We may be wounded. But all wounds heal.
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    ‎”So let this be our vow. We will not retreat. We will not be silenced. And we will never forget,” he said.
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    ‎The PDP candidate, therefore, advised Gov. Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner of the election, to govern the state aright.
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    ‎”‘To those who now hold power undeserved, lead with humility.
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    ‎”Govern with conscience. History sees what the courts may not.
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    ‎”And one day, it will deliver its own verdict,” he concluded

  • Edo loses 75-year-old female pilgrim in Saudi

    Edo loses 75-year-old female pilgrim in Saudi

    A 75-year-old female pilgrim from Edo, Mrs Adizatu Dazumi, has died at the ongoing 2025 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia after a brief illness.

    The late pilgrim was from Jattu Uzairue in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo and passed away on Monday at the King Fahad General Hospital, Makkah.

    Malam Musah Uduimoh, Chairman of the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, confirmed the incident on Tuesday.

    According to him, Dazumi fell ill shortly after performing Tawaaf- the circumambulation around the Kaaba- and was admitted to the hospital on Sunday.

    The board chairman said the pilgrim, however, died the following day.

    “In line with Islamic tradition, she was buried in Makkah on the same day she passed and her family in Jattu Uzairue had been duly informed of the development,” Uduimoh said.

    He expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and reassured other pilgrims that the board remains vigilant in safeguarding their health and welfare.

  • Okpebholo demands arrest of Neo Black Movement leader

    Okpebholo demands arrest of Neo Black Movement leader

    Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has urged the police authorities  to arrest Neo Black Movement (NBM) president, Ese Kakor.

    The call followed allegations that Kakor forged documents falsely authorising him to assist schools in the Edo South Senatorial District.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Benin by Mr Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to the governor.

    Okpebholo described the alleged forgery as fraudulent and an attack on Edo’s official administrative procedures.

    He claimed the act was criminal and deceitful, allegedly committed in collaboration with junior civil servants in the state bureaucracy.

    According to him, those civil servants have been identified, detained, and are under police investigation.

    The governor stressed that anyone found guilty would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

    He also revoked land titles held by NBM for its headquarters, citing alleged links to violence and criminal activity.

    Okpebholo urged the police and DSS to intensify crackdowns on suspected criminal groups and ensure swift justice for offenders.

  • PDP takes responsibility for defection of Edo Lawmakers to APC

    PDP takes responsibility for defection of Edo Lawmakers to APC

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has acknowledged its failure to retain several of its lawmakers, including the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee in Edo, made the statement on Thursday in Benin while addressing the recent wave of defections by PDP lawmakers to the ruling APC.

    Just a day prior, Speaker Agbebaku and four other PDP legislators formally announced their move to the APC.

    Aziegbemi revealed that the party had held over 20 meetings with the lawmakers in a bid to persuade them to stay, but ultimately could not convince them to remain in the fold.

    “As a party, we always strive to engage with our members and offer them a sense of belonging, regardless of the circumstances,” he said. “We, alongside the party’s candidate and deputy governorship candidate, had numerous meetings with the lawmakers to urge them to stay. We emphasized that remaining with the party was in their best interest and that of their families.

    “However, it appears our efforts weren’t enough. We take full responsibility for not being able to retain them,” Aziegbemi admitted.

    Commenting on the broader issue of political defections in Nigeria, Aziegbemi argued that the country’s core problems are not limited to corruption but are deeply rooted in a lack of integrity and shame among those in positions of power.

    “We often blame corruption, but the real crisis in this country is the absence of shame and integrity among our leaders,” he said. “These ongoing defections reflect a broader failure in leadership values like honesty, kindness, and decency—traits that are unfortunately missing in many of today’s political actors.”

  • APC welcomes mass defection of Lawmakers from Delta, Edo PDP

    APC welcomes mass defection of Lawmakers from Delta, Edo PDP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially welcomed a wave of high-profile defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), marking a significant political shift in the South-South region.

    In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party applauded the defection of six members of the House of Representatives and all 22 members of the Delta State House of Assembly including Speaker Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor from the PDP to the APC.

    In a parallel development, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, and several of his colleagues have also joined the APC, bolstering the party’s influence in the region.

    “The entrance of these leaders and their supporters into our Party attests to the transformational leadership of President Bola Tinubu,” the statement read, citing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and ongoing economic reforms as driving forces behind the shift.

    The APC further assured the incoming lawmakers of “cooperation and accommodation” as they transition into what the party described as its “political family.”

    This wave of defections signals mounting political realignment ahead of future electoral contests, with the APC positioning itself to consolidate power in historically PDP-dominated territories.