Politics
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and members of the Commission, meet with Media Organizations at the ongoing quarterly consultative meeting in Abuja, ahead of the 2024 Edo and Ondo States Governorship Elections on Wednesday, May 15th, 2024.

Published
9 months agoon
By
Ekwutos Blog
The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists
President and Council Members of the NIPR
Senior Officials of the Nigerian Guild of Editors
Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC)
Media Executives and Heads of Various Media Organisations
Editors and Senior Journalists
National Commissioners of INEC
The Secretary and Other Senior Officials of the Commission
Members of the INEC Press Corps
Ladies and Gentlemen
1. It is my pleasure to welcome you all to our second regular quarterly consultative meeting for this year. You may recall that our first meeting for the year was held about two months ago on Thursday 21st March 2024 at which we briefed you about the 9 bye-elections and 38 re-run elections in 26 States of the Federation held on 3rd February 2024. We would like to further inform you that with the exception of two State Assembly constituencies in Enugu and Kano States disrupted by violence and thuggery, winners have emerged in 45 out of 47 constituencies. Following extensive consultation with stakeholders in the two States, the Commission is remobilising to conclude the outstanding re-run elections in Enugu South 1 State Constituency of Enugu State and Ghari (formerly known as Kunchi Local Government Area) for the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State. We similarly briefed you on the forthcoming off-cycle Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.
2. Early this week, the Commission announced the plan to resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) as part of our preparations for the Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections. As you are aware, the Edo State Governorship election is holding in the next four months on Saturday 21st September 2024 while the Ondo Governorship election holds in the next six months on Saturday 16th November 2024.
3. The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the two States will enable eligible citizens who are not registered voters to do so. Similarly, registered voters also have the opportunity to transfer their registration from other States of the Federation to Edo and Ondo States or from one location to another within the States. Lost or damaged voters’ cards will be replaced during the exercise. The CVR will take place simultaneously in the two States from Monday 27th May 2024 to Wednesday 5th June 2024 from 9.00am to 3.00pm daily including the weekend. Let me reiterate that the CVR is only open to new registrants and those who seek to transfer their registration. Persons who are registered as voters should not attempt to register again as double or multiple registration is illegal.
4. Taking into consideration the limited time to the Governorship elections, the Commission has decided to conduct the registration at Ward level and our State headquarters instead of our Local Government offices and a few designated centers as was the case in the past. This means that there will be 192 Ward registration centres in Edo State and 203 centres in Ondo State in addition to our State offices in Benin City and Akure, making a total of 397 walk-in registration centres in the two States. There will be no online pre-registration option in the two States because of time constraint. Each centre will be managed by two officials drawn from our regular staff and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In the next few days, the Commission will commence the training of at least 794 officials for the exercise. The locations of the registration centres as well as other relevant information have been compiled in a detailed 28-page document included in your folders for this meeting. The same information has already been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information.
5. The Commission therefore appeals to the media to join us in mobilising prospective registrants for the exercise, particularly on the need to register early and not wait until the deadline approaches when the registration centres will be inundated by eleventh hour registrants.
6. In addition to the registration of voters, the Commission will also make available the uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for collection during the CVR. In the coming days, the list of uncollected PVCs will be published in our offices in the two States and simultaneously uploaded to our website. We believe that doing so will make it easier for voters to know the availability of the cards and identify the locations to collect them. However, no PVCs will be collected by proxy. Registered voters should come in person to collect their cards. Again, we seek for the support of the media in encouraging voters to locate and pick up thier PVCs as was done in the past.
7. Still on our preparations for the two Governorship elections, the Commission has published the final list of candidates for Edo following the conclusion of party primaries and the end of the period for withdrawal and substitution of candidates as provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election. Campaign in public by political parties commenced on Wednesday 24th April 2024 and will end at midnight on Thursday 19th September 2024 i.e. 24 hours before the date fixed for the election as provided by law. We look forward reading your monitoring reports of the campaigns as some of you have done in the past.
8. As we move closer to Election Day in Edo State, it is also imperative to request media organisations to submit applications for accreditation to report on the election in earnest along with the required documentation for individual journalists and support staff. Doing so will enable the Commission to produce and deliver the identity cards for journalists covering the election in good time. The Commission will not entertain requests outside the deadline for the receipt of applications from interested media organisations or process requests that do not meet the criteria for accreditation.
9. Turning to outstanding bye-elections, the Commission would like to inform you about the existence of vacancies in four States of the Federation involving three State Assembly constituencies and one Federal Constituency as a result of death or resignation of Honourable Members. As soon as preparations are concluded, the Commission will announce the dates for bye-elections in Khana 2 State Constituency of Rivers State, the Bagwai/Shanono State constituency of Kano State, the Zaria Kewaye State Constituency of Kaduna State and the Garki/Babura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.
10. On this note, I once again welcome you all to this meeting. I thank you and God bless.
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Politics
APGA announces re-commencement of membership registration, revalidation

Published
6 hours agoon
February 17, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has announce the re-commencement of its membership registration and revalidation exercise.
A press release by National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Ejimofor Opara said the exercise which was flagged off on June 1, 2024 is aimed at strengthening the party’s grassroots structure and updating its membership records.
The release reads, “Old and new members are encouraged to participate in this exercise by visiting their respective wards to collect membership forms from their ward Chairman.
“Alternatively, they can register online. Note, however, that those who had registered earlier via the online platform do not need to register again.
“The membership registration and revalidation exercise will last for a period of 30 days, commencing from the date of this announcement.”
Politics
OSUN LG SAGA: POLICE CONDEMNS VIOLENCE, VOWS TO DEAL WITH PERPETRATORS. As IGP Orders Deployment of Additional Tactical Squads to Restore Normalcy in Osun

Published
7 hours agoon
February 17, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
PRESS RELEASE
OSUN LG SAGA: POLICE CONDEMNS VIOLENCE, VOWS TO DEAL WITH PERPETRATORS.
As IGP Orders Deployment of Additional Tactical Squads to Restore Normalcy in Osun
In response to the ongoing violence in Osun State, the Nigeria Police Force has condemned, in strong terms, the incidents that have disrupted peace and safety in the state, and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. These violent actions had disrupted the peace, leading to the destruction of property, and the unfortunate loss of innocent lives.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., has taken decisive action by ordering the deployment of additional tactical squads to Osun State to bolster security and restore law and order.
The Police recognizes that violence undermines the democratic process and threatens the wellbeing of the citizens, and hereby affirms its commitment to identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators of these acts and caused them to face the full weight of the law.
The IGP issues a stern warning to those who threaten the peace and stability in Osun State, as the Force will not tolerate any act of lawlessness, hooliganism and anarchy in the state. The perpetrators of these criminal acts will be fished out and be caused to face the consequences of their unwarranted ill-fated acts. Citizens must remain calm as normalcy is being restored. Osun indigenes, leaders, and stakeholders are hereby urged to shun violence and go about their legitimate businesses. The judiciary remains the ultimate arbiter of all electoral disputes and political actors must respect and abide by its rulings, upholding the rule of law and democratic principles. Citizens are advised to go about their lawful business.
The Force reiterates its commitment to clamping down on any violent actors who bent on creating brouhaha and breakdown of law and order in any part of the country. The situation in Osun will be closely monitored, and measures will be enforced to ensure a safe environment for all residents.
ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCA,
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA.
17TH FEBRUARY 2025
Politics
‘Stop bloodshed’ – Gov Adeleke issues directive over Osun LG violence

Published
7 hours agoon
February 17, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has ordered an end to the bloodshed in the state.
Adeleke’s directive followed the breakout of deadly violence that erupted in local government secretariats across the state.
The governor confirmed that five members of the Peoples Democratic Party were killed during the crisis, while several others were injured.
On Monday, violence broke out when loyalists of the All Progressives Congress attempted to reinstate their local government chairmen, who were removed by a court ruling in 2022.
The opposition by PDP supporters led to chaos and a violent outbreak.
In the course of the violence, the reinstated chairman of Irewole Local Government Area, Mr. Remi Abass, was killed.
Reacting via a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke accused the APC of trying to take over the local governments illegally.
He said: “PDP lost five members, with several others wounded.
“Two were killed in Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government. Another two died in Ola Oluwa Local Government, and one was killed in Ikire. This bloodshed must stop.”
Adeleke directed residents and politicians to stay away from the local government secretariats as a way to prevent violence.
He added: “Governor Adeleke has directed all Osun residents to avoid the LG secretariats to prevent more violence and protect public property.
“Since the local government workers are on strike, security agencies will take full control of the secretariats.”

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