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Tag: Ondo guber

  • ONDO guber: Aieyedatiwa votes, confesses he’s at advantage

    ONDO guber: Aieyedatiwa votes, confesses he’s at advantage

    Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has voted in the Ondo governorship election. The governor also confessed he is at advantage in the ongoing election.

    Aiyedatiwa cast his ballot at his Polling Unit 5, Ugbo Ward, 4 Obenla community in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state at around 8:50 am.

    After voting, he described the election as peaceful, hailed the turnout of voters for the exercise, and was confident of winning the election.

    With what we have done for the last 10 months, the populace, the voters, like I said, they know who they want,” the governor said.

    “I believe I’m in an advantaged position to win this election because of the work that I have done in the last 10 months since I assumed office as the governor of the state. We traversed the entire 18 local governments; and visited communities all across.”

    In my community, it is peaceful and turnout is very, very encouraging. And I want to believe that the same situation would be at other locations across the state. It’s peaceful here,” he said.

    According to him, security operatives deserve commendation for their role in the conduct of the election.

    I want to commend the security agency, the police, the civil defense, and the military in the background. They are heavily deployed to be able to attend to any security threat and I believe the people comport themselves,” the governor said.

    “We are peaceful people in Ondo state. Ondo State has been judged to be one of the most safest and peaceful states in Nigeria.”

  • INEC trains 17,705 ad-hoc staff the nation-icon ahead of Ondo Guber

    INEC trains 17,705 ad-hoc staff the nation-icon ahead of Ondo Guber

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has trained 17,705 ad-hoc staff and 11,799 security personnel ahead of next Month’s governorship election.

    It said less than 4000 persons collected their Permanent Voters Card even as 295, 603 cards were yet to be collected.

    Ondo Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, who spoke at a press briefing in Akure, said the training exercise was to ensure a smooth, credible, free, fair, peaceful, transparent, and inclusive election.

    Mrs. Babalola said the official register of voters would be presented to political parties on Tuesday (Today) in line with the provisions of section 10(4) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

    She said the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise recorded a significant increase in registered voters across the state:

    The Ondo REC insisted that the number of registered voters in Ondo State remained at 2,053,061.

    According to her, “Register of Voters is a vital document that contains the details of all eligible voters for the election. The register is the foundation of electoral credibility. It plays a pivotal role in ensuring that every eligible voter can exercise their civic duty.

    “The training of security personnel aims to equip our security agents with the necessary knowledge and skills to handle the unique challenges that may arise before, during, and after the election.

    “At the end of this training, they are expected to cascade the training down the line having acquired the requisite skill and knowledge to effectively bring out the best and enhance a high-level spirit of professionalism in security personnel deployed for the election.”

     

  • Ondo guber: Jegede sheathes sword, Congratulates Akeredolu after S’Court verdict

    Ondo guber: Jegede sheathes sword, Congratulates Akeredolu after S’Court verdict

    Mr Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Governor Rotimi Akeredolu following the judgement of the Supreme Court on the Ondo State governorship election.

    Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and PDP’s candidate in the election, made the gesture on Wednesday despite his loss to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate at the apex court.

    “Now that we have explored the grievance procedure permitted by the constitution and the law, it is time to give glory to God,” he said in a statement personally signed by him.

    The senior advocate added, “With this outcome, our respect and reverence for the judiciary and our justices of the supreme court has not diminished.”

    He also thanked the legal team, led by Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), for their commitment, industry, and dedication to the cause, as well as for their sacrifice.

    Jegede commended the people of Ondo for their steadfastness, saying the decision to approach the apex court was for service and the collective interest of the majority of the people.

    “The outcome of today’s judgement should not deter good and well-meaning individuals from aspiring for leadership in our state and in our country. For all our people who have stood strong, we salute you.

    “We thank the national and state leadership and the generality of the members of PDP for providing us with great support. For our governors who provided the required leadership and kept faith with our aspiration, gratitude, history will judge you right,” said the PDP candidate.

    Jegede and his party had asked the Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State capital to sack Akeredolu, saying his nomination form was signed by a sitting governor, Mai Mala Buni (of Yobe State), who doubled as the Acting National Chairman of the APC.

    The appeal was filed in line with the constitutional provision that forbade a sitting governor from holding executive positions outside their statutory position as governors.

    But the appellate court struck out the appeal for lack of merit – a decision which made the appellants seek redress in at the Supreme Court.

    On Wednesday, a seven-man panel of justices of the Supreme Court had upheld the re-election of Governor Akeredolu in a majority judgement of four against three.

    The three justices disagreed with the majority judgement, stressing that Akeredolu’s candidacy in the October 10, 2020 poll was a nullity.

    They held that the appeal filed by the appellants had merit and ought not to be struck out by the appellate court.

    Governor Akeredolu polled 292,830 votes to defeat Jegede who scored 195,791 votes, and Agboola Ajayi of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) who came third in the election with 69,127 votes.

    It was the second time the governor would defeat his PDP rival candidate.

  • Ondo Guber: Akeredolu’s aide resigns appointment, hints on joining deputy

    Ondo Guber: Akeredolu’s aide resigns appointment, hints on joining deputy

    Ahead of the Oct. 10 governorship election in Ondo State, Mr Andrew Ogunsakin, the Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters (South) to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has resigned his appointment.

    The resignation letter signed by Ogunsakin, dated Sept.18, 2020 was made available to newsmen in Okitipupa on Friday.

    However, his resignation is unconnected with the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.

    Ogunsakin said that the call by his constituents to join a common train of aspiration. which seeks to challenge the Akeredolu government and his party was responsible for his resignation.

    “Permit me, your Excellency, to use this medium to convey my irrevocable decision to resign my office as SSA, Political (South) to the governor of Ondo State with effect from today, Sept.18.

    “The call of my constituents on me to join the train to actualise our common aspiration different from what is offered by your government and your party stands at the root of my decision to quit at this point.

    “Being an appointee, this will necessarily conflict with the performance of my duty to you, hence my resignation.

    “I thank your Excellency for the appointment offered me to serve the good people of Ondo State as SSA, for the period I was in office.

    “Once, again sir, please accept my appreciation and very high regards,’’ Ogunsakin said.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Akeredolu the incumbent governor is also candidate of the All Progressives Congress seeking a second term in office in the October 10 governorship election in the state, while his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, is the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party.

    TNG reports that Ogunsakin hails from Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state.

  • Ondo guber: INEC releases final list of candidates

    Ondo guber: INEC releases final list of candidates

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of nominated candidates for the Ondo State governorship election slated for October 10.

    A statement by National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, disclosed that four political parties that earlier made valid nominations have substituted their candidates.

    According to the statement, “the Independent National Electoral Commission held its weekly regular meeting on Thursday 20th August 2020 and deliberated on the conduct of the Ondo Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday 10th October 2020 as well as other outstanding elections.

    “It will be recalled that on 31st July 2020, the Commission published the provisional list of candidates for the Ondo Governorship election comprising 17 political parties. In accordance with section 35 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and as provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released on 6th February 2020, withdrawal and substitution of candidates ended at 6.00pm on 18th August 2020”.

    It added that, “four political parties that earlier made valid nominations have substituted their candidates. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Democratic Party (ADP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) withdrew and substituted their Deputy Governorship candidates while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) substituted both its Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates.

    “Consequently, the Commission has published the final list of nominated candidates in our State and Local Government offices in Ondo State. The list is also available on our website and social media platforms.

    “Political parties, candidates in the election and members of the public are advised to check the final list of candidates and be guided accordingly.”

  • Ondo guber: PDP extends sale of nomination forms

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has extended the sale of its nomination forms for the Ondo state governorship election.

    The party announced this in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, on Monday in Abuja.

    Ologbondiyan said that the deadline for the sales of the form had been extended by two days, from June 22 to June 24.

    “By this, the party extends the last day for the sale of nomination forms from the earlier announced date of Monday, June 22, to a new date of Wednesday, June 24.

    “All other time frames related to the nomination processes for the Ondo state governorship election remain as earlier announced.

    “All leaders, governorship aspirants, critical stakeholders and members of our great party in Ondo state should be guided accordingly.”

  • INEC fixes Imo, Bayelsa Plateau bye-elections ahead of Edo, Ondo guber polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has assured that the nation’s democracy and electoral process cannot be truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Commission therefore insisted that all elections will go on as scheduled despite the Coronavirus scare, adding that “while the Commission takes the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, our democracy and electoral process cannot be truncated for this reason, particularly because health authorities have advised on measures to protect the public from the virus, including all those involved in elections.”

    The Commission also disclosed that it will conduct the Bayelsa Central, Bayelsa East, Imo North and Plateau South, as well as other bye-elections ahead of the two major Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.

    Outstanding bye-elections include Nasarawa Central State Constituency, Cross River North Senatorial District, Nganzai and Bayo State constituencies of Borno State and Bakori State constituency of Katsina State.

    INEC National Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who gave the hint in his remarks during the maiden virtual meeting with States Resident Electoral Commissioners, stated that “the Commission has directed the RECs for the nine States where the bye-elections will hold to begin preparations in earnest”.

    He added that, “the same time, we are also studying reports of recent elections conducted under the COVID-19 pandemic”,

    According to Yakubu, “it is my pleasure to welcome you to this historic meeting. This is the first time the Commission is holding a formal meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners without anyone of you leaving your States of deployment. I am glad that all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) are connected to this meeting.

    “I must quickly add that with today’s virtual meeting with you, the deployment of communication technology will increasingly become the dominant means of information dissemination within the Commission in particular and the management of the electoral processes in general, including future engagement with stakeholders”.

    He continued that, Today’s meeting is holding against the background of the global health challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in which no country around the world is unaffected. Our country’s national effort to combat the pandemic is coordinated by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on whose request the Commission has made available a number of vehicles from our fleet to support the emergency response.

    “The majority of these assets were deployed to Lagos, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which have so far recorded the highest number of reported cases in the country.

    “Like every national institution in Nigeria, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our activities. For instance, further engagement with the National Assembly and stakeholders on electoral reform as well as the conduct of some off-season elections had to be suspended because of the global health emergency. Happily, the PTF has issued Guidelines on protective measures for the gradual restoration of normalcy nationwide. On that basis, the Commission recently released its own policy on conducting elections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission is convinced that electoral activities can resume but in full compliance with the advisory issued by health authorities.

    “Consequently, the end of tenure Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States scheduled for 19th September 2020 and 10th October 2020 respectively will proceed as planned. Already, some of the registered political parties have notified the Commission of the dates for their party primaries leading to the nomination of their candidates for the two elections.

    “While the Commission takes the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, our democracy and electoral process cannot be truncated for this reason, particularly because health authorities have advised on measures to protect the public from the virus, including all those involved in elections.

    “In addition to the two Governorship elections, the Commission is also making preparations to conduct nine legislative bye-elections. Already, vacancies have been declared by the Senate President in respect of four Senatorial Districts (Bayelsa Central, Bayelsa East, Imo North and Plateau South). Similarly, the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has declared the seat for Nasarawa Central State Constituency vacant. Information reaching the Commission also indicates the existence of vacancies for the Cross River North Senatorial District, Nganzai and Bayo State constituencies of Borno State and Bakori State constituency of Katsina State.

    “The Edo and Ondo Governorship elections as well as the five Senatorial and four State Assembly bye-elections are spread across nine States of the Federation involving a cumulative number of 62 Local Government Areas (LGAs); 687 Registration Areas (RAs); 9,149 Polling Units (PUs) and 6,454,950 registered voters. Put in the context of our sub-region, the number of registered voters for these off-season elections is equivalent to holding General Elections in Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde put together. Full delimitation details for the elections have been uploaded on our website and social media platforms.

    “The Commission is determined to hold some of the bye-elections ahead of the two major Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States to enable us test run and fine-tune our modified processes in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Already, the Commission has directed the RECs for the nine States where the bye-elections will hold to begin preparations in earnest. At the same time, we are also studying reports of recent elections conducted under the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in places such as Mali and South Korea, for any lessons that will strengthen our processes and protect all those involved.

    “At this meeting, we will receive the input of our RECs to the new policy with particular reference to its implementation in the areas of recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, logistics for the deployment of personnel and materials, the conduct of party primaries and nomination of candidates, the submission of the names of polling agents by political parties, the accreditation of observers and the media, the security of the electoral process, polling unit management and the collation and declaration of results.”

  • COVID-19: INEC clears air on alleged plans to shift Edo, Ondo governorship polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described as unfounded and misleading, reports that it will shift the Edo and Ondo governorship elections slated to hold later this year.

    INEC had fixed September 19 and October 10 for the elections before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    There had been multiple media reports that the commission will shift the dates of the governorship elections as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    But the commission described the report as speculative and incorrect, saying it gives a wrong impression.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC National Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said that the decision to change the dates already announced for the elections was a serious matter, which only the commission could take.

    He said: “Let me state here that the decision to change the dates already announced for the two elections is a very serious matter. Only the commission can take that decision and it has to be officially communicated via a press statement.

    “However, it appears that what some editors are really looking for is for INEC to declare that it is postponing the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. But they cannot and should not put words in the commission’s mouth! There is nowhere in Okoye’s response where he expressly declared that the elections will be postponed.

    “So casting the headline:’ INEC to Shift Edo, Ondo Guber Polls’, is speculative and incorrect. It gives a totally wrong impression. A lot of people will believe the headline without reading the story”.