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Tag: Ighodalo

  • MANI IMARU: Untold Reasons NLC, TUC Endorsed Ighodalo for Edo governorship

    MANI IMARU: Untold Reasons NLC, TUC Endorsed Ighodalo for Edo governorship

    By Mani Imaru.

    Edo State was at the weekend celebrating the popular endorsement given the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP by workers under the aegis of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC.

    The endorsement of the two labour centers was an unprecedented feat for Ighodalo. It is also a rebuke of the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebhelo. The most obvious rebuke for Okpebhelo is the fact that he is being marketed by Senator Adams Oshiomhole who acquired a national reputation as a labour leader.

    However, for the workers who Oshiomhole led at one time to openly snub him and his candidate means that either they found fault with him and his candidate or that they found some positives in Ighodalo. Or perhaps both.

    While not dwelling on the negatives associated with Okpebhelo and his lack of ideas as concerning workers’ welfare, suffice it to say that many workers would have been alarmed by his continuous repetition of the phrase that if elected that he will continue from where Oshiomhole stopped.

    It will not be forgotten that as governor, Oshiomhole embarked on the largest casualization of the work force by any state government. More than 50,000 workers who were employed through the Youth Employment Scheme (YES) in 2009, were sacked in 2015 when Oshiomhole claimed on television that he “picked them” from the “gutters.”

    If Okpebhelo wants to continue the casualisation programme of the Oshiomhole years, one would expect him to say so.

    We also are not forgetful of the fact that Oshiomhole since he joined the APC has helped to break strikes embarked upon by workers against the very things he fought against.

    Meanwhile, the shinning stars of Governor Godwin Obaseki have been echoed by labour leaders. Last Friday they marched out through the streets of Benin to openly declare why they are backing a continuity under Ighodalo.

    Not only has Governor Obaseki been proactive in considering the welfare of workers, Edo State became the first state in the country to implement a minimum wage of N70,000. That was well before the workers even entered into full negotiation with the Federal Government. Please note that federal workers and virtually many other states in the country are yet to start the implementation of the new minimum wage that has been operational in Edo State since May.

    So, when Okpebhelo said at a campaign rally in Auchi on Monday, September 9 that he was going to abolish the salary scheme being implemented by Governor Obaseki for that of the Federal Government, many workers were bound to have been shocked. How could he replace what they enjoy now with what has remained an illusion for federal workers.

    It was as such not surprising that workers decided to reject his message for the positive welfare benefits of the Obaseki administration.

    Indeed, when the workers stormed the Government House, Benin on Friday, the NLC Chairman, Odion Olaye thanked the governor for setting aside N200 million monthly to offset the backlog of gratuity in the State.

     

    He said, “The TUC and NLC are here today to thank you for what you have done for Edo State workers. Prompt payment of salaries and pensions has become your trademark for almost 8 years now.

     

    “Edo workers have endorsed the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo as we will all come out en masse on September 21st to vote for the party to ensure continuity in the State. We will vote and defend our votes.”

     

    On his part, the TUC Chairman hailed the governor’s developmental stride in the last eight years, assuring the votes of members of the TUC to thank him for investing in their welfare.

  • Edo PDP guber candidate, Ighodalo queries why INEC wants to use officers from Kogi, Imo for September 21 election

    Edo PDP guber candidate, Ighodalo queries why INEC wants to use officers from Kogi, Imo for September 21 election

    Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate in the Edo State governorship election, Asue Ighodalo has rejected the deployment of electoral officers from Imo and Kogi States to supervise the poll.

    Ighodalo made this disclosure in an interview saying that he does not have confidence in the capacity of electoral officers the states to conduct a free and fair election.

    “We are hearing rumours that INEC wants to come to our election with officials from Imo and officials from Kogi.

    “We will please implore INEC that we in Edo State want fresh officials from places that have run electoral processes that are free and fair and not places where polls have been questioned.

    “I will please appreciate if INEC doesn’t bring Kogi officials or Imo officials into Edo State.”

    On why he doesn’t want officials from the two states, he said:

    “Question marks have been placed on the processes in those two states. Edo State people are peace loving, they know light from darkness, so they don’t want any process that is going to be subverted or subversive.

    “We want a level-playing field so that the wishes of the people of Edo State is realized on September 21.”

  • Edo poll: Appeal Court dismisses suit seeking Ighodalo’s disqualification

    Edo poll: Appeal Court dismisses suit seeking Ighodalo’s disqualification

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday dismissed an appeal seeking to disqualify Asue Ighodalo as governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo.

    A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Hamma Barka, dismissed the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/863/2024.

    The appeal was filed by governorship aspirants Arthur Esene and Anselm Ojezua.

    Esene and Ojezua had, in the appeal prayed the Court of Appeal to set aside the April 17 judgment by Justice James  Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja which dismissed their suit for being statute barred.

    Justice Barka  held that the suit filed before the Federal High Court by Ojezua and four others was filed out of time and statute barred.

    He agreed with the judgment of the Federal High Court that, not  Ojezua and others fail to establish their claims that Ighodalo forged his voter’s card.

    In addition, the judge held that their suit was bereft of any merit because it was based on a flawed assumption that not possession of a voter’s card constitutes a ground to disqualify a candidate from contesting election.

    He found that the appellants failed to appeal the findings of the trial court that Ighodalo actually applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the transfer of his registration from Lagos State to Edo and that INEC issued a voter’s card to Ighodalo.

    Justice Barka therefore strike out the appeal for being without merit and pto awarded cost of N3 million against the appellants and in favour of Ighodalo, PDP and INEC.

  • Ighodalo can’t speak his own language, not electable – Oshiomhole

    Ighodalo can’t speak his own language, not electable – Oshiomhole

    Fomer Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole has played down the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo of becoming the next governor of Edo in the forthcoming election.

    Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show, Oshiomhole who is also the senator representing Edo North Senatorial District said: “Asue Ighodalo is not electable; he can’t speak his own language. He went to his village but couldn’t sleep there because of witches and wizards. Edo people are wiser now.”

    Oshiomhole stated that Ighodalo lacks the qualities necessary for the Edo people to elect him as governor.

    He also revealed that he has forgiven the embattled Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu.

    The lawmaker confirmed that he has welcomed Shaibu back into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said, “Shaibu came and knelt down before me; I didn’t ask him to do that. We have welcomed Shaibu back into the APC family. I have forgiven him and hope he has learned his lesson.

    “If I don’t forgive him, why would I ask God to forgive me? Can I trust his future loyalty? That’s a matter of time.”

  • Court dismisses suit seeking Ighodalo’s candidature invalidated

    Court dismisses suit seeking Ighodalo’s candidature invalidated

    A Federal High Court in  Abuja on Wednesday, dismissed a suit by impeached Deputy Governor of Edo, Phillip Shuaibu and others seeking to invalidate Asue Ighodalo’s nomination as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election in Edo.

    The off-cycle elections are to hold on Sept. 21 in Edo.

    Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment held that the suit, which challenged Ighodalo’s disqualification on the grounds of alleged forgery of voter’s card, was statute barred.

    Justice Omotosho held that the suit, being a pre-election case, was filed outside the 14 days allowed under Section 285(9) of the Constitution.

    The judge also held that even though forgery or non possession of voter’s card was a disqualifying factor under Section 182 of the Constitution, the plaintiffs failed to prove that Ighodalo forged his voter’s card as alleged by the plaintiffs.

  • Edo: Ighodalo’s candidature not affected by judgment – PDP reacts

    Edo: Ighodalo’s candidature not affected by judgment – PDP reacts

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo says the Federal High Court’s judgment on its primaries does not affect its governorship candidature in the coming governorship election in the state.

    The party stated in Benin on Thursday that Dr Asue Ighodalo remained the PDP governorship candidate in Edo.

    Dr Tony Aziegbemi, the state PDP chairman, said that Ighodalo’s candidature for the 2024 election remained intact.

    “The PDP is aware that certain elements who are scared of the soaring popularity of our candidate are going about peddling rumours that  Ighodalo candidature has been nullified.

    “Let it be on record that Ighodalo is the PDP flagbearer for the 2024 governorship election in Edo,” he said.

    It would be recalled that the Federal High court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, voided the PDP primary election conducted on Feb. 22.

    The judgment was voided on grounds that the 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primaries were unlawfully excluded by the  PDP.

  • Edo: Ighodalo denies alleged involvement in Shaibu’s impeachment

    Edo: Ighodalo denies alleged involvement in Shaibu’s impeachment

    The PDP governorship candidate in the Sept. 21 governorship election in Edo, Dr Asue Ighodalo has denied any involvement in the impeachment of a former Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu.

    Ighodalo made the denial in statement issued by his media campaign team and made available to newsmen on Monday in Benin.

    Recall that on April 8, Shaibu was impeached, following the adoption of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the state House of Assembly to probe allegations of misconduct against him.

    The governorship candidate, however, said that he neither played any role nor was he involved in any form whatsoever in the process leading to Shuaibu’s impeachment and his subsequent removal from office by the state House of Assembly.

    He urged the public to disregard claims purportedly linking him to the impeachment.

    Ighodalo described the allegation as a clear attempt to unjustly tarnish his reputation and divert attention from the actual issues at hand.

    He said that he remained focused on running a governorship campaign based on issues and devoid of distractions.

  • I won’t betray your trust – Ighodalo promises groups

    I won’t betray your trust – Ighodalo promises groups

    PDP governorship candidate in Edo, Dr Asue Ighodalo, has promised not to betray the trust of the people if voted as the governor in the forthcoming Sept. 21 election.

    Ighodalo gave his word on Saturday at his campaign office at Aguobasemwin, GRA, Benin, while receiving the different groups drumming support for his aspiration.

    He expressed his appreciation for the groups’ show of love and promised to do everything to make the people proud of making him their choice.

    He, however, warned that the task ahead was enormous and must not be treated with levity or complacency.

    “I am, actually, overwhelmed and I want to thank you sincerely for coming. Some of you have put in so much effort and also sacrificed time to be here.

    “This suggests to me that you are more than ready to support us to the very end.

    “What I want to assure you is that I will not disappoint you; I cannot afford to fail you. I promise I will make all of you proud,” he said.

    According to him, with the cooperation of all, his mantra, which promises to move Edo forward to a level of prosperity for all; a level of being the best subnational government, is achievable.

    “The way to achieve this is to work together. It is not enough to say we want the government of the people for the people and by the people, or chorus fairness, equity and justice.

    “We must all come together and work as one to achieve our goal. Every vote is very important. It is not going to be a walk in the park.

    “So, ensure you talk to people about this project. I want to thank all of you for coming,” he said.

    The groups, announcing their unflinching support for him, stated they acted based on their convictions.

    The groups present are the Edo Market Women Association from the three senatorial districts of the state, Edo Queens’ Political Support Group, and the Asue-Ogie Support Movement (AOSM).

    Others are the Asue Ighodalo Youth Movement, Coalition of Ethnic Nationalities of Nigeria (COAOEN), and Edo Women for Good Governance among others.

  • PDP issues certificate of return to Ighodalo for Edo poll

    PDP issues certificate of return to Ighodalo for Edo poll

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday issued a certificate of return to Dr Asue Ighodalo, as its candidate for the Sept.21 Edo governorship election.

    The PDP acting National Chairman, Malam Umar Damagum, presented the certificate at a ceremony at the National Secretariat of the party in Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

    “PDP is one and the party organised and recognised only the primary election which took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin and produced Ighodalo as its candidate,” he said.

    “Edo is an easy ride for us.

    “We will emerge victorious. What we should be focused on now is uniting our party and bringing all stakeholders together to ensure we retain our seat at Osadebey Avenue.

    “You have to put in your all going forward. I wish to use the opportunity to congratulate our party’s gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, and wish you success as you go around the state during your campaign,” he said.
    Damagum added: “The PDP is one and we organised and recognized only one primary in Edo which produced Dr Asue Ighodalo.

    “There are rules and guidelines in line with our party’s Constitution. We set up an electoral committee led by the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal as Chairman, and the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwhori as the committee’s Co-Chairman.

    “They held the primary in a transparent, fair, and credible process which was live on several television stations. To the glory of God that primary election produced Dr. Asue Ighodalo as our party’s candidate.”

    The party’s National Organising Secretary (NOS), Mr Umar Bature, also said that the party was fair to all aspirants in the conduct of the primary election.

    “You can disagree with us but history will prove us right that we have done the right thing,” he said.

    Also speaking, Ighodalo commended all stakeholders of the party for their support, promising to transform Edo to a first-world economy if elected as governor.

    “I thank our party members and leaders as well as other stakeholders of the party, especially the youths, who took me through the length and breadth of Edo State during my consultation to become our party’s candidate.

    “I am extremely proud to be a member of this party. I also appreciate our women for their love and support. They carried me on their back from day one.

    “I am grateful for the fairness and transparency of the national leadership of the party. I salute the National Working Committee (NWC) for the transparent and fair manner in which it conducted the primary election in Edo.

    “The MKO Abiola election of 1993 was the closest to what we recorded at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Thursday, Feb. 22,” he said.

    He added: “To youths, it’s our time. By the grace of God and the will of the people of Edo State, we will run a government upheld by youths and with youths. Together, we will turn Edo into a state that everyone will be proud of.

    “I will show leadership and direction. Our youths have promised that they won’t fail.

    “We will show the rest of the world what we can achieve together as a people. We can become a first-world sovereign in Africa. I have seen the path and together, with your support and collaboration, we will achieve this.”

    Ighodalo called for a united front ahead of the September election.

    “I can’t complete this gratitude without acknowledging my co-aspirants, especially those who stepped down for me from the beginning of this process up to the day of the primary election, particularly Omosede Igbinedion,  who stepped down for me on the day of the primary.

    “The contest is over. Let’s come together as one. We need to work together as one team. We must unite to retain our seat at Osadebey Avenue and drive the progress of our state.

    “I promise that this ticket is for all of us. I will take your advice; we will work together in the interest of our people.

    “You’re all great men and women with varying capabilities and capacities. We You’re all great men and women with varying capabilities and capacities,” he said.

  • LIVE account: Ighodalo received loudest ovation at ongoing PDP primary

    LIVE account: Ighodalo received loudest ovation at ongoing PDP primary

    …three aspirants step down

    …Dan Orbih missing

    From all indications, Asue Ighodalo seems to be coasting to victory as his speech attracted a standing ovation from all delegates.

    National Vice Chairman of PDP, Dan Orbih, and other critical stakeholders were missing in action as the PDP guber primary enters voting stage.

    From this early stage, it is clear the train is going to move in a single direction in favour of Obaseki’s anointed aspirant.

    Igbinedion’s daughter drops out of race, endorses Asue Ighodalo as Ogbeide-Ihama becomes the third aspirant to withdraw.

    Chief Onaiwu Osaro comes in late and simply said: “Do we want PDP to continue in Edo state? On PDP l stand and drops the microphone

    Voting commences…

    More shortly…