Niger Delta
Edo Polls: INEC Commends Security Agencies
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday commended security agencies and civil society organisations for their role in the successful conduct of the governorship election in Edo.
INEC National Commissioner, Mr Ishmael Igbani, gave the commendation in an interview in Abuja.
He said the two groups rendered selfless service during the conduct of the poll.
He said the commendation was in view of the fact that Edo used to be a volatile state with death-related incidents during elections.
Igbani, who is also the chairman, Election Monitoring and Observation Committee, said “there is no doubt that the political environment in the state before the election was very tense and emotional. “
He said the inability of the country to conduct free, fair and acceptable elections in the past was a source of concern to major stakeholders in the political process.
Igbani criticised the political class, whom, he said, had refused to play by the rules of the game over the years.
He admitted that: “There were issues of logistics during the Edo election but they were just isolated incidents, because it was not that the materials did not get to all the required polling units on time.
“The delay in delivery of electoral materials could be narrowed to a local government area.
“There were justifiable reasons why that happened and INEC was aware. It was due to administrative and operational issues.
Our correspondent recalled that there were reported cases of deficiencies of late arrival of materials, delayed commencement of accreditation and voting and discrepancies in voter registration statistics noticeable during the election.
He said the problem was not due to lack of planning, but it was because materials arrived at remote area first.
He said in Edo the materials arrived on time but the corps members in some of the units particularly in Oredo Local Government Area refused to participate in the exercise.
He said they insisted that their allowances be paid.
Igbani said the problem was between some NYSC members of staff and INEC personnel and that INEC was addressing it adequately to prevent future occurrence.
He said the intervention of INEC officials eased the crisis.
Investigation byour correspondent revealed that the issues bordered on administrative and operational issues.
It was learnt that some of the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) were posted to Edo on Thursday and most of them did not get to their stations until almost mid-night on Friday.
A reliable source at INEC said that the policemen already there were waiting for directives from the DPO before leaving for their various beats for the election.
The source said police could not mobilise for a very long time, even though the posting was done with the best of intention by the Inspector General of Police.
According to the source, military men set up series of road blocks and asked for identity cards and security escorts, hence, “if you don’t have them you cannot go.”
The source said there were lots of delays for these reasons, yet the election was free and fair.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.
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