Don’t set Oyo on fire, Makinde tells Wike

Amid the political crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, not to destabilise Oyo State.

The plea comes as Wike threatened to plunge the states of governors who support Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, into crisis and political upheaval.

Makinde spoke during the Ijaw World Congress reception in Port Harcourt on Saturday, organized in honour of Wike.

He said: “I came from Oyo to identify with my brother and the celebrant of today (Nyesom Wike).

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“When I showed up in Rivers yesterday (Friday), I told him that I brought a peace offering because he has been boasting that he would put fire in some states. I told him, please, don’t set fire in Oyo State.”

The governor’s remarks were made in response to Wike’s earlier comments, in which the FCT minister allegedly warned that he would “put fire” in states of PDP governors who backed Fubara’s administration.

During the event, Governor Makinde also praised Wike for his work during his tenure as Rivers State governor, particularly in the area of infrastructure development.

“Let me say on behalf of other governor colleagues and past governors here that you have done well for your people, and since I came, I have seen projects that were done during your eight-year tenure as governor,” Makinde said.

Don’t set Oyo on fire, Makinde tells Wike

I’m bigger than all PDP govs backing Fubara – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has lambasted Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors who are supporting Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.

Wike stated that the governors are sick if they don’t recognise his status and capacity as an heavyweight that is way above their league.

Speaking when he was hosted by the Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress on Saturday in Port Harcourt, he asserted that the governors are no match for him as he towers above them all.

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Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and other members of the former G5 were present at the grand reception in honour of Wike.

Wike said the governors are issuing empty threats, adding that the structure of the PDP in Rivers State can’t be taken away from him.

“Don’t ever think they are fighting me; they are not fighting me. I’m too big,” Wike said while addressing the crowd at the event.

“If you don’t recognize someone who is bigger than you, then you are sick. I’m far far (bigger than) all of them put together.

“Let nobody threaten anybody; all those threats are empty. Soon we will know who is relevant.

“I said nobody will take over the structure of the party. You can have all the money; if it didn’t dey, it didn’t dey.”

I’m bigger than all PDP govs backing Fubara – Wike

How INEC bungled Edo gov election at collation, by observer groups

A total of 25 observer groups have said last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State fell short of expectations.

The group supported the position of Yiaga Africa, which said the Edo election lacked credibility because the results were fraught with alteration of figures.

They particularly noted the election was bungled by the poll umpire at the collation of results which did not comply with the Electoral Act, 2022.

Also, some 30 civil society organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of Citizens Memorandum for Electoral Reforms have presented 37 draft electoral recommendations to the National Assembly to help in the review of the 2022 amended electoral laws.

A statement by Mrs. Rose Akhigbe, Comrade Peter Nwokolo, Anyasor Gabriel, and Sunny Elekwa, on behalf of the observer groups, rejected the collation of ward and local government results at the INEC state collation centre in Benin City, saying it is contrary to the law.

They however said they were satisfied with more than 4,500 polling units’ results at the election.

The statement said, “We reject the result declared because there are two sets of result sheets. One was taken to the field and another one to APC in Edo North, some parts of Edo South and Edo Central.

“We also observed that the military and police disrupted collation of results at the wards and local governments collation centres, including intimidation of INEC officials that collated results, contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines. There is significant concern about the credibility of the results collation process.

“We totally reject the result of the election, which declared the All Progressive Congress APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo. There was militarisation and use of impunity at wards, local governments and state collation centres.

“INEC, military and police have clearly violated the provisions of Electoral Act 2022 concerning the collation of results in governorship election. Results were only collated at units and some wards.”

At another press conference on Wednesday, the 30 other CSOs, under Citizens Memorandum for Electoral Reforms, said the country was at a crossroads and needed a quick electoral reform to address issues arising from the elections.

The press conference was addressed by Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) ElectHER, International Press Centre (IPC), International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), and Justice, Development and Peace Makers Centre (JDPMC), Osogbo.

Others were Justice Development and Peace Movement (JDPM), Oyo; Justice Development and Peace Initiative (JDPI), Ekiti; The Kukah Centre; Nigeria Women’s Trust Fund (NWTF); Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC); SOS Children’s Villages (SOS); TAF African; and Yiaga Africa.

The CSOs said, “The proposals encapsulated in this memorandum stem from a comprehensive analysis of the pressing challenges that have plagued our electoral system for too long.

“They are the product of extensive research, input from key stakeholders, and, importantly, the reflections drawn from our experiences during the 2023 general elections.

“We have also incorporated valuable recommendations from domestic and international election observers, who have called attention to areas requiring urgent reform if we are to restore public trust in our democratic institutions.

“As the National Assembly embarks on yet another round of electoral reforms, we present this Citizens Memorandum for Electoral Reforms as a crucial resource, which serves as a roadmap designed to guide lawmakers and all election stakeholders through priority areas in need of immediate attention.

“These amendments are strategic in their scope and assess, ambitious in their vision, yet they are also rooted in practicality, responding to the realities of our current electoral system.”

The groups said the memorandum focused on “three core pillars of the electoral legal framework for the conduct of elections: the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Elections.”