The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner in Edo state, Dr Anugbum Omuoha, has vowed that the commission would not fail Edo people.
Omuoha stated this during his opening remarks to commence the collation of results for the Saturday governorship election.
He assured the people that the election had been conducted and concluded.
He said the results will reflect the people’s will.
The REC called for patience and understanding.
Olumide Akpata, Labour Party (LP) candidate in the Edo Governorship Election, has lost his polling unit to candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo.
According to the result announced at Polling Unit 11, Ward 06, Oredo Local Government Area, Ighodalo polled 41 votes while Akpata trailed with 32 votes.
Monday Okpebholo of the All Progress Congress (APC) came third with 19 votes.
After casting his ballot earlier on Saturday, Ighodalo had boasted that he would win the governorship election by landslide.
“We will win this election by landslide and move our state forward by God’s grace. If there is anybody at home, please come out and cast your vote. We are not comfortable with the little shenanigans that is going on particularly from the APC guys.This is a single state election and INEC has all the time to prepare, so there was no need for the delay.
“There are rumours that they are trying to undermine the election process. Many of them have been caught with ballot papers, PVC’s.
“The worst is that they go round trying to buy votes. They buy votes for N15,000 to N20,000. They are trying everything to subvert the process.”
He noted that the Nigerian military has take charge and shown that they can protect the people.
He said are not worried about the election because they have spent 10 months talking to people, telling them what we will do for them if they elect us.
“The people believed us and have accepted us all over the state. I don’t know the magic anybody will perform.The kind of numbers I am hearing from Edo North, Edo Central, Edo South, overwhelms me. You know in Nigeria, funny things happen. I don’t know the magic anybody wants to perform.
“I believe INEC will deliver a free and fair election until they prove otherwise. We will win hands down in this election.
“We are not happy about a few ongoing in some places but we will remain confident. One of our supporters was arrested at Uromi by some people with security outfit,” he said.
The INEC’s resident electoral commissioner (REC) in Edo, Anugbum Onuoha has revealed that ongoing governorship election results will be transmitted electronically, saying only a poor network can stop the electronic transmission of results.
Onuoha made this known in an interview with Arise Television on Saturday, where he also disclosed that INEC has implemented contingency plans of 660 BVAS as a backup.
“You know that we have 4,519 pulling units across the 18 local governments, and so far we have deployed 4,622 BVAS to the various local governments. And we also have a backup of 660 BVAS,” he said.
“We have trained the operators for the BVAS. They are set. BVAS is to accredit the voters, to know the total number of voters that will vote at that level, that pulling unit.
“After that, then the voters will now start voting. At the end of the day, they will count the results, and it will be uploaded to our IReV.
“That is the state we are now. To be rest assured that we’ll conduct an election that we can call our own.
“I just want you to confirm. So are you saying that this election is going to be, the results will all be transmitted electronically? Is that what you’re saying? Yes. Thank you.
“Yes, unless there is no network in that place. If not, it will. We will transmit it.”
The Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, Olumide Akpata, has been defeated in his polling unit.
Leading reporters reported that Akpata alongside the candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress are the leading contenders of the Edo State number one sit.
The PDP candidate scored 41 votes to beat his closest challenger, Akpata who scored 31 votes in his own PU.
The APC recorded 19 votes.
PDP: 41
LP: 32
APC: 19
Upon casting his vote, Akpata had described his voting experience as “seamless”.
He, however, said that his wish is that every other voter in the state will have the same seamless experience as he did.
The ongoing governorship election in Edo State was disrupted in Ward 8, unit 1, Orhionmwon, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state as voters protested the absence of result sheets.
In a video currently making the rounds, the voters were seen demanding for the election results sheets.
Unfortunately, the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC were unable to provide the sheets, saying “they are bringing it”.
Angered by the development, the voters who were already queued up for the exercise, said they cannot participate in an election where there is no result sheets.
Leading reporters gathered that that prior to the election, there were reports that some political parties were planning to forge results.
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Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested one Ujunwa Una ‘f’ and Chinelo Igbechionwu ‘f’ for conspiracy and child sales.
The suspects were arrested by patrol officers from Ojodu Division stationed at Berger bus-stop, an entry point into Lagos State, whom had earlier been alerted about the suspects by a Good Samaritan. The suspects were found with two newborn baby girls, approximately six-days old, while traveling from Abia State on September 9, 2024.
Investigations revealed that the suspects were en route to deliver the babies to one nurse in Lagos State whom the mother of the babies promised to link them up with only after they had arrived Lagos.
Upon questioning, the suspects confessed to the crime, stating that they were paid the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (₦150,000) for transportation of the babies to Lagos. The suspects added that the mother of the babies sold the babies because she could not give them proper care.
The case was transferred to the Gender Unit of the Command from where the newborns were placed in the custody of a motherless babies home for proper care and medical evaluation.
While investigation is ongoing to arrest other conspirators, the arrested suspects were arraigned on Thursday, September 19, 2024.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State says he does not regret saying that the September 21 Edo governorship election is a do-or-die affair.
LEADING REPORTERS recalls that the governor had recently made the statement, which has made him come under heavy criticism, especially from members of the opposition party a few days ago.
Obaseki, while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, maintained that the election is a do-or-die affair because the Edo people will be doomed if the All Progressives Congress, APC takes over the state.
According to him, the opposition party has perfected plans to rig the election in their favour on Saturday, warning that the state’s people would resist them.
Obaseki also expressed his lack of confidence in the police before the election, accusing them of bias.
“It’s a do-or-die affair because if they do, we die, the level of impunity, the level of recklessness we see in the opposition party if they take over Edo state, is finished – that is the end.
“If you see the evidence of what they have done, the blatant way they have gone about it. It is like they forget that the police are being funded by taxpayers’ money, Nigerians taxpayers’ money. They should just be a bit more professional and unbiased,” he said.
The Nigerian Communications Commission is set to unlock the 6GHz frequency band for unlicensed Wi-Fi use, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s push to enhance connectivity across the country.
By opening this spectrum, the commission says it is empowering faster, more reliable wireless internet access, paving the way for innovations in smart technologies, improved digital experiences, and bridging the digital divide.
The commission stated that the strategic move promises to boost network capacity, lower latency, and fuel Nigeria’s digital economy, fostering greater internet access for businesses, homes, and public spaces across the country.
Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida while speaking at the Annual Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies in Lagos, highlighted the growing strain on current Wi-Fi frequencies due to rising demand
emphasizing that the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, commonly used for Wi-Fi 5, are becoming overwhelmed.
Maida represented by represented by Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner of Technical Services, stated that operators are pushing for public-private partnerships (PPPs) to capitalize on this moment, aiming to expand their networks into underserved and vulnerable regions. They see it as an opportunity to bridge gaps in connectivity and provide crucial services where they’re most needed.
He noted that as internet usage surges, the need for additional frequency bands to ease the burden on existing ones is becoming increasingly urgent, emphasizing the importance of exploring new spectrum options for future connectivity needs.
Nigeria is set to join a growing number of countries leveraging the 6GHz band for Wi-Fi 6 technology, according to Maida. She highlighted that the 6GHz band, spanning from 5925 MHz to 7125 MHz, will unlock a vast new spectrum.
This expansion is crucial for accommodating the increasing demand for high-speed internet and advanced applications, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s digital evolution.
The police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Thursday night, confirmed the arrest of an alleged internet fraudster, otherwise known as “Yahoo Boy,” who confined a young lady for money rituals in Abuja.
The suspect was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement, said the police are currently awaiting the NSCDC to hand over the suspect to the command.
Social media was awash on Thursday after a video clip showed the young lady confined in a room with her legs tied.
It was learned that she was allegedly confined by her boyfriend at the Top View Hotel, Wuse, Abuja, for a money ritual.
SP Adeh said, “Findings revealed that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has taken the suspect into custody and are yet to hand over to the police for diligent investigation.
“The FCT Police Command, for all intents and purposes, awaits the NSCDC to hand over all parties for the commencement of diligent and discreet investigation.
“Further developments will be communicated in due course.”
A petrol station owned by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, Pinnacle Oil, was torched along Agbani Road, opposite Roban Stores.
Unknown hoodlums carried out the arson attack, sparking concerns about the safety and security of businesses and infrastructure in Enugu State.
Governor Mbah, founder and CEO of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd., is a prominent figure in the oil and gas industry.
His company has achieved notable milestones, including developing Single Point Monitoring and Conventional Buoy Mooring facilities in the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
The incident’s details are still emerging, but sources confirm the attack was perpetrated by unidentified individuals. The motives remain unclear, fueling speculation and worry.
An investigation is likely underway to identify the perpetrators and their intentions. The incident has sparked heated discussions, with some attributing it to political tensions or revenge missions.
As the investigation unfolds, concerns about business and infrastructure security in Enugu State persist. The incident highlights the need for increased vigilance and cooperation to prevent similar incidents.
