Elections

Ondo 2020: OAU Vice-Chancellor Not Our Returning Officer – INEC
Elections, News, Nigeria

Ondo 2020: OAU Vice-Chancellor Not Our Returning Officer – INEC

  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday denied appointing the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, as the Returning Officer for tomorrow's Ondo Governorship election. Mr. Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner, and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, denied the story in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja. Okoye said INEC’s responded to claims made during a press conference addressed by the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Campaign Council and Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, on Thursday in Akure where he alleged that the Commission has appointed Ogunbodede as the Returning Officer for the Ondo election. Makinde had alleged that Ogunbodede is an ally...
Ondo2020: INEC to Adopt No-face-mask-no-voting  
Covid-19, Crime, Elections, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Security, Transportation

Ondo2020: INEC to Adopt No-face-mask-no-voting  

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has directed the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce no-face-mask-no-voting rule in the Saturday governorship election in Ondo State. The PTF National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu said this during a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday. Aliyu expressed the determination of the taskforce to ensure that elections are conducted under safe environment. He said that Ondo state boasts of over 1.5 million prospective voters in 3,000 polling units which makes the election a huge exercise which would also come with its risk. Speaking on the resumption of international flights, Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha said that there has been an increase in the nu...
Fayose Should Look Far Away from Oyo State in Search of His Enemies – Makinde
Elections, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Fayose Should Look Far Away from Oyo State in Search of His Enemies – Makinde

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has distanced himself from allegation by Ayo Fayose, that he sponsored the attack against him at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign grand finale in Ondo on Wednesday. Makinde disclosed this in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, noting that the former Ekiti State governor perpetually desires being in the spotlight even when such is not desired. The statement read, “I believe that ex-governor Fayose and his handlers need to look far away from Oyo state in search of their enemies. “Governor Makinde has no link whatsoever with the incident Fayose’s aide was talking about. “We expect all right-thinking members of the PDP to join the Governor of Oyo State in the prosecution of the noble and demo...
Ondo2020: I Have no Doubt that Our Candidate is a Good Brand to Market- Buhari
Elections, News, Nigeria

Ondo2020: I Have no Doubt that Our Candidate is a Good Brand to Market- Buhari

Ahead of Ondo State governorship election on Saturday, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed optimism that the All Progressive Congress (APC), candidate, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu will be re-elected. President Buhari gave the assurance yesterday while delivering a virtual speech at the grand finale of the APC governorship election campaign in Akure, Ondo State. He pledged that security personnel will discharge their duties credibly to provide a conducive atmosphere for a free and fair election. A host of APC stalwarts led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were at the Akure Township Stadium to drum support for the re-election of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. Buhari in his record speech rallied support for the party’s flagbearer, Akeredolu, saying that he deserves a second tenure so ...
Ondo 2020: NSCDC Deploys Sniffer Dogs, 7,079 Personnel
Elections, News, Nigeria, Security

Ondo 2020: NSCDC Deploys Sniffer Dogs, 7,079 Personnel

  The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 7,079 personnel, sniffer dogs, alongside mobile surveillance vans to ensure security during the governorship election holding in Ondo State on Saturday. Commandant-General (CG)  of the Corps, Mr. Abdullahi Gana disclosed this in a statement by spokesman Emmanuel Okeh, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja. Gana said the deployed personnel were drawn from Lagos, Edo, Kwara, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Kogi states. He said they were drawn from the SWAT unit, Counter Terrorism unit (CTU), Chemical Biological Radioactive Nuclear and Energy unit (CBRNE), Kernnel (K9), Disaster response unit, Medical, Crisis Management, Special Force, Anti-vandalism unit and Critical Protection Unit (...
Ondo 2020: Credible Election Dependent on Peace, INEC Chief Says as Aspirants Sign Peace Accord
Elections, News, Nigeria

Ondo 2020: Credible Election Dependent on Peace, INEC Chief Says as Aspirants Sign Peace Accord

Ahead of the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State, candidates of political parties expected to participate in the poll have signed a peace accord. The Peace Accord was signed in Akure, Ondo State capital on Tuesday. According to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), the accord was to ensure a violence-free election. Candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Rotimi Akeredolu and Eyitayo Jegede were among those that signed the peace accord. Candidate of the Zenith Labour Party and Akeredolu’s deputy, Agboola Ajayi was also among those that signed the accord facilitated by the National Peace Committee. INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu while speaking at the ceremony said, “Without peace, our deployment plans, new inno...
Ondo Election: US Sues for Peaceful and Credible Election
Elections, News, Nigeria, United States of America

Ondo Election: US Sues for Peaceful and Credible Election

The United States has urged all the stakeholders in the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election to take concrete steps to ensure a peaceful election that reflects the will of the people of the state in the October 10 election. This was contained in a statement issued by the US Mission in Abuja on Tuesday, calling on stakeholders such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, and the security agencies to continue to work towards free, fair, transparent and peaceful election in the gubernatorial poll. “The United States urges all stakeholders to continue to work toward free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections in Ondo State. “We reiterate our hope that all participants in the democratic process, including the INEC, political parties, and ...
Ondo2020: INEC Flags 270 Coastal Polling Units as Hotspots
Elections, News, Nigeria

Ondo2020: INEC Flags 270 Coastal Polling Units as Hotspots

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed plans to utilise the country’s security outfits to quell threats to the peaceful conduct of the Ondo State governorship election especially in riverine areas and other hotspots in the state. According to INEC, Ondo has 62 creeks and over 270 Polling Units in the fluvial areas of Ese-Odo and Ilaje Local Government Areas of the state. Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee told Punch in an interview that the commission has enlisted the services of the Nigerian Navy and Marine Police safeguard the personnel and materials to hotspots. He said the commission would deploy all of its assets to prevent rigging and violence in the October 10 election. Condu...
Edo 2020: Do Not Rejoice Yet, Ize-Iyamu Tells Gov Obaseki
Elections, Judiciary, News, Nigeria

Edo 2020: Do Not Rejoice Yet, Ize-Iyamu Tells Gov Obaseki

The All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate in the recently concluded Edo State governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has dismissed claims that the party will not contest the outcome of the election, saying a decision will be taken after collating facts. Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Godwin Obaseki was declared winner of the gubernatorial poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after garnering 307,955 votes across 18 local government areas while Ize-Iyamu polled 223,619 votes. Ize-Iyamu in a congratulatory message to the people of the state on the occasion of the country’s 60th Independence Anniversary said many people had inquired his reaction to the outcome of the since announcement of the results. “The question is after Septembe...
Breaking: Appeal Court Affirms Gov. Diri’s Election
Breaking News, Elections, Judiciary, News, Nigeria

Breaking: Appeal Court Affirms Gov. Diri’s Election

The Court of Appeal in Abuja today has upheld the election of the Bayelsa State governor, Duoye Diri. The court set aside the August 18, 2020 verdict of the Bayelsa State Governorship Petitions Tribunal which had ordered a fresh poll to be conducted within 90 days. The Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP), had petitioned the court over alleged unlawful exclusion of its candidate, King George from the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The tribunal had in a split decision of two-to-one, voided the November 16, 2019 Bayelsa State governorship poll. However, a five-man panel of the Court of Appeal headed by Justice Adeliza  Mshelia upturned the lower court’s verdict and validated Diri’s election. The PDP and INEC had filed separate appeals agains...