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Cancel Edo Polls Results …Four Parties Demand Of INEC …Accuse Electoral Umpire Of Bias

Published

8 years ago

October 3, 2016

The Chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mr Frank Ukonga, who contested the Edo State governorship election on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and three other candidates in last Wednesday’s election have called for the cancellation of the results declared by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The NNPP candidate, the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) candidate, Mr Andrew Igwemoh, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Omorogieva Gbajumo, and Kowa Party candidate, Mr Thompson Osadolor, said INEC falsified the results to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Godwin Obaseki.
The candidates, who vowed to continue in their advocacy for the cancellation of the election so that the will of Edo people will be upheld, argued that it was the only way to sustain democracy in the country.
It would be recalled that Godwin Obaseki of the APC was declared governor-elect of the state, last Thursday, after he garnered 319,483 votes as against the 253,173 votes polled by Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
At a press conference in Benin City at the weekend, Ukonga insisted that the figures INEC declared and displayed on national television were at complete variance with those which their agents and observers obtained from the polling units across the state.
He said, “The results that INEC made public do not tally with what most, if not all, our agents came back home with. We are calling for the cancellation of the entire election because INEC gave APC the PDP votes.”
Also speaking, Gbajumo said, “Nigerians are wondering how INEC came up with about 66, 000 missing votes, whereas voters voted as soon as they were accredited.
“It is clear that the votes declared by INEC are not correct. Even parties which were not on the ballot were allocated some votes by the electoral umpire, which shows that something does not add up,” the SDP candidate added.
On his part, the Kowa Party candidate, Osadolor said that, no voter went home after being accredited to vote adding that there was generally peaceful election across the state.
Osadolor insisted that INEC had no business voiding votes, adding that, “It is a shame on INEC, and it should do the needful by ensuring that the voice of Edo people which was loud and clear on September 28, is reflected by declaring the true results of the elections.”
The Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) candidate, Igwemoh, said, there were glaring errors in the figures computed by INEC in an election that was marred by open exchange of money between party agents and the voters.
“I am calling for the cancellation of the results, especially those of Etsako West Local Government because what transpired on the field is not what INEC made public. The mathematical errors are too obvious to be ignored,” Igwemoh argued.
However, the National Conscience Party (NCP) candidate in the September 28 Edo governorship election, Pastor Peters Omoragbon, has said that the flaws committed during the election were not strong enough to cancel the exercise.
He said this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, yesterday.
Omoragbon said the Edo election was one of the best conducted so far in the country.
He added that those calling for its cancellation were doing so in bad faith.
Omoragbon noted that, “the September 28 Edo governorship election is one of the best done so far in Nigeria. The exercise was devoid of killings and fighting.
“We have witnessed other elections, including common local government election in some states where people were killed or kidnapped. No single soul was lost in the Edo election, and I think that was great.
“During campaigns and the election, I and my supporters did not receive any threat from other party members.
“There were some flaws though, but not strong enough to cancel the election. I give INEC 96 per cent for performance. Those calling for cancellation are doing so because they lost.
“If APC had lost the election, they will cry foul also, and call for cancellation. I and my supporters were on ground, the election was free and fair,” the NCP candidate argued.
Omoragbon then, congratulated the Governor-elect, Mr Godwin Obaseki, and urged him to form an all-inclusive government with the best Edolites from all groups.
The NCP candidate advised Obaseki against the winner takes all syndrome, stressing that he was elected by Edo people, and not his political party.
“Obaseki has won the election, he should carry out all his campaign promises. His victory is for Edo people,” he said.
He added that the Edo election came in as a role model for other states, and urged losers to join hands in building the state.
“Any aggrieved person should go to court. Election to serve the people should not be a do or die affair.
“Political party in power should encourage their members in authority to give dividends of democracy to the electorate.”
Corroborating Omoragbon on the election in a separate interview, the National Chairman of NCP, Malam Yunusa Tanko, said the party was satisfied with the conduct of the election.
Tanko said they were happy as the exercise was crises-free, stressing that the party had accepted the result of the election.
“There was orderliness in Edo governorship election. For us in NCP, we are satisfied with the outcome of the election.
“I commend INEC for a job well done. I give them 85 per cent for their performance. I know they can improve on this in other elections coming up.”
The NCP chairman also congratulated Obaseki for the victory, and urged him to improve on the lives of Edo people by avoiding anti-people policies.

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Independence Anniversary: RSG Sets Up Planning Committee

Published

1 day ago

September 20, 2024

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee (CPC) to organize the celebration of Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day.
Inaugurating the committee in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Tammy Danagogo, maintained that the committee was constituted to plan and execute all approved activities marking the 64th Independence celebration of Nigeria in the State.
According to the SSG, there will be no time lost in preparations as Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has already approved the programmes for the 2024 Independence Day celebration.
He emphasised that the events will begin with Juma’at Prayers on Friday 27th September while an Inter-Denominational Church Thanksgiving Service will hold on Sunday, 29th September.
The grand-finale according to him, will hold on Tuesday, 1st October, at the Sharks Stadium with spectacular parade and performances.
He appreciated the security agencies and MDAs for partnering the State Government to always ensure seamless celebration as he further tasked members to deploy their expertise in the areas of their operations.
He noted that the committee will meet regularly prior to the Grand-finale.

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NECO Releases 2024 SSCE Results

Published

1 day ago

September 20, 2024

The Tide

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters in Minna, Niger State, yesterday.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.55 per cent.
Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
“ During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
“ They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
“ Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.

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Pensioners Urge Labour To Renew N250,000 Minimum Wage Demand

Published

1 day ago

September 20, 2024

The Tide

Pensioners in the South West yesterday rejected the N70,000 minimum wage newly signed into law by President Bola Tinubu following a recent increase in the price of premium motor spirit also known as petrol.
The pensioners, under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Southwest Zone, in a communique at the end of their zonal meeting held in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, called on labour to renew demand for N250,000 minimum wage because of the current economic realities.
NUP Southwest Publicity Secretary, Dr Olusegun Abatan, who read the communique to journalists, also demanded that implementation of local government autonomy should not disrupt the payment of pensions of council pensioners/retired primary school teachers and salaries of local government workers/primary school teachers.
Speaking on the minimum wage, Abatan said, “We found out that before the N70,000 was even implemented, the Federal Government has gone ahead to further increase the price of petrol, and we concluded that the two labour centres that went into that negotiation went there blindfolded and naïve.
“The Federal Government took advantage of the naivety and inexperience of Comrade Joe Ajaero, and Festus Usifo, by tricking them into accepting N70,000 and that it would not increase fuel price, but no sooner they agreed to kowtow what was said about N70,000, the Federal Government went ahead to increase fuel price.
“To that extent, the Southwest is rejecting the N70,000 minimum wage that Labour has negotiated and advised that Labour should go back to the negotiating table and insist on the N250,000 they initially wanted.
“Before you know it, the N2,000 that the Federal Government said it was going to increase the fuel price to will eventually emerge. Labour should go back. The value of the N70,000 is just about 60 litres of fuel.
“Labour should go back to negotiate N250,000 minimum wage. They have our backing on whatever is involved even strike to achieve a realistic minimum wage,” the pensioners said.
They praised the governors in the zone for improvement in their attitudes toward senior citizens through various efforts on pensions and gratuities in the different states.
However, Abatan who said that only Ondo State had effected 33 per cent pension increase for its pensioners, appealed, “We want our state governments in the remaining Southwest states to implement 33 per cent pension increase and consequential adjustment which was done for workers in the year 2019.
“If these 33 per cent increases and consequential adjustments are not implemented before the new minimum pension or minimum wage, all pensioners in the country would be shortchanged. So, we appeal to our governors to do the needful”.
Abatan, who said that the pensioners supported local government autonomy, however, said, “The arrangement being put up at the federal and state levels should not tamper with payments of the pensions of retired primary school teachers and pensioners at the local government level.
“The salaries of teachers should also go on. The salaries of workers at the local governments should also go on. The allowances of the chiefs and obas should also be taken care of as first-line charges,” the communique stated.
The pensioners called on the government at the federal and state levels to be proactive to ensure there would be no crisis from the wholesome implementation of the local government autonomy by ensuring there was no return to the era of zero allocation to the councils after the deduction of salaries and pensions.