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Obaseki runs one of Nigeria’s most transparent govts, APC transition c’ttee dazed by documentation of projects, others, says Nehikhare

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…says Okpebholo’s team digging for dirt where there’s none, laments absence from meetings

The Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, has said the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki runs one of the most transparent and prudent governments in the country, noting that the members of the transition committee of Senator Monday Okpebholo are only dazed and overwhelmed by the documentation of projects and other achievements of the incumbent government.

Nehikhare, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital, decried the absence of Okpebholo’s transition committee for the second consecutive day from the joint transition session with the team of the State Government.

He said the narrative that Okpebholo’s team boycotted the joint sessions over failures of the government’s team to provide necessary documents was false, noting that the government had provided both digital and hardcopy documents to the APC team who are only overwhelmed by the level of documentation of projects and achievements in the last eight years.

Raising and showing some of the hard copy documents that have been made available to the APC transition team, Nehikhare insisted that the team must realize that they are a transition and not an inquisitive committee.

He said, “We are here again for another transition committee meeting, and as we have noticed yet again that it’s only the Edo State Government Transition Team that is present while that of the APC are yet to arrive at the venue of the meeting after over two hours of waiting.

“Before the transition meeting started, we had to basically harass the APC to send us a list of their members and it took them days to respond. The Edo State Government did all that because it’s the civilized thing to do. If a government is leaving power, it hands over power smoothly and orderly to the next government.

“When handing over power, you are not just handing over the instrumentality of power but everything you have done while in Government, to showcase what you have done, the achievement and challenges faced while in power.

During our inaugural meeting, we listed out the timetable of how this committee was going to meet because creating a transition Committee when a government is changing hands is crucial for ensuring a smooth transfer of power. We are only having this problem because our brothers from the other side most likely are not prepared for the kind of projects and achievements they saw in our documentation.”

Displaying the documents, the Commissioner stated, “These are the hard copies of Edo State Government thematic pillars which were put in place in our normal way of working digitally. But our brothers said it’s too complicated for them that they want hardcopy. We have made hard copies of these documents in 24 places but they later informed us that they have increased their membership to 27. We have yet again printed more copies.”

He added: “A transition government like ours, we are very proud of what we have done and achieved and we have asked the incoming government to come and inspect what we have done. We have asked them to look at our projects and what we claim to have done but they have refused to even look at the documents.”

Noting that they were only dazed by Obaseki’s performance in the last eight years, Nehikhare said during the last gubernatorial election, the APC made spurious claims and peddled lies that the government had no projects but they are today “overwhelmed with documentation, pictures, facts, and data of the governor’s projects and achievements.”

He further noted, “Instead of them to face the issue of transition, they have turned themselves into inquisition team. They are asking questions only the Chief Executive can pass to the next Chief Executive. We have answers to all their questions in the document we are presenting to them.

“They have a list of about 24 questions they want us to answer as if they are the ones dictating the transition but I would like to remind them that until after November 12th, 2024, Obaseki and this team are in power and are the team in government.

“The Edo State Government does not take orders or instructions from members brought in for transition issues. We are not worried about financial data or Edo State assets, they are all documented. Edo State Government has developed the Edo State Government Asset Register as all assets owned by the Edo State Government both in the State and outside the State are all listed in the register. This is available for all Edo people to see.”

According to him, “We are the ones transiting and would give them all the information they need. It’s not true and quite embarrassing to say the PDP government can’t provide them with documentary evidence of financial transactions. Sen. Monday Okpebholo will receive a very detailed handover note from Governor Godwin Obaseki.

“Also on the e-gov platform in the office of the governor, all financial transactions, and bank statements, among others are on the governor’s dashboard. The transition committee is not the incoming governor but is sent to verify what we have done.

“We are here every morning at the recommended time to provide them with what we have done in our transition committee’s report. We will not tolerate lies from them as this government has been very transparent in all we have done and have received countless awards.”

He reassured, “We are here to reassure Edo people that the Edo State Government is committed to a smooth handover as we will be here on a daily basis to provide the APC transition team with whatever information they require. The governor will give a detailed handover note to his successor as it’s a standard practice all over the world.

“As a government, we have provided documentation in digital forms but they said they want it in hardcopies and we have done the same. We have nothing to hide as we are ready to help them visit sites and projects undertaken by this administration.”

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Aiyedatiwa, Ajayi, others sign peace accord

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Candidates of political parties seeking to be elected Ondo Governor in next Saturday’s governorship polls have signed the peace accord.

Among candidates that signed the peace accord were Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Agboola Ajayi, Olugbena Edema, Dr. Abbas Mimiko, amongst others.

They signed the peace accord in Akure and supervised by the National Peace Committee headed by General Abdulsalam Abubakar.

Abubakar urged all politicians who signed the accord to fully commit themselves and their parties to the letter and spirit of the accord.

The former Head of State urged them to shun violence and intimidation as well as demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship.

He called on all stakeholders to work assiduously in their capacities to ensure that peace reigned supreme during the election and that Ondo state off-cycle election sets a precedent for other off-cycle elections to emulate.


According to him: “While I commend INEC, for the work done so far, | call on them to continuously live up to their responsibilities in ensuring that eligible voters exercise their franchise peacefully and that the remaining electoral processes are credible free, and fair.

“It is the sincere hope of the National Peace Committee that the Ondo state elections will be free, fair, credible, and peaceful.”

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbedokun, said a total 43,157 security personnel would be deployed for the Ondo election.


Egbedokun said the Nigeria Police would deploy a total of 34,657 personnel to the polling units, wards/LGA collation centers as well as other strategic locations.

He said 8,500 personnel would be deployed from the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The IGP stated that threat analysis of flash/vulnerable points in Ondo State was being constantly reviewed to enable the Force deploy both human and material assets effectively.

According to him, “The Police will timeously provide enough Armoured Personnel Carrier (APCs), Trucks, Patrol Vehicles, Buses for covert operations, Ambulances, Helicopters, Drones, K9 and anti-riot equipment to complement the strength of Ondo State Command.”

National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mamoud Yakubu, said the electoral body has taken measures to address election day challenges, especially the perennial challenge of logistics.

Prof. Yakubu said there would be remarkable improvement in election day logistics.


He said, “Voters in Ondo State should also expect to see similar improvement in result management.

” I will not be tired of appealing to political parties and candidates to note that your signatures on the Peace Accord document alone will not guarantee a peaceful election.

‘ The Peace Accord is not an automated, self-activating document. Your commitment to its implementation is critical. Therefore, as you sign the Peace Accord, you should commit yourselves to its implementation and pass the message to your supporters at all levels for compliance.”


Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa pleaded with all stakeholders to play by the game and stay true to the peace accord they have signed.

“We will all abide by the tenets of the peace accord. Election will come and Ondo State will remain and be peaceful. After the election it should be peaceful and that can only be if we abide by the outcome of the election.”

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2027: Nigerians Looking To PDP For Direction – Makinde

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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, says the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will do everything within its power to fix the party and Nigeria.

Makinde made this statement on Thursday in Abuja at the inauguration of the Board of Governors and the unveiling of the Roadmap for Peoples Democratic Institute, PDI.

Recall that PDI is the research arm of PDP established in 2000 to promote a new democratic culture in Nigeria and Africa through the provision of value-added education, training, capacity building, research, and documentation programmes.


Makinde said they will fix the PDP, which would in turn fix Nigeria.

“We will fix PDP and then PDP will fix Nigeria, which will be the basis of real hope for the people of Nigeria.

“As we approach 2027, it is clear that the PDP has to provide real hope for Nigeria. By revitalising the PDI that real hope is being provided for our people.


“Our country needs direction. Nigerians are looking up to the PDP to provide an ideological foundation.”

According to him, with the inauguration of the board, PDP was moving a step closer to defining the ideology it stood for.

He urged politicians and leaders who were given the opportunity to serve to always ask themselves what they want to be remembered for.


The Oyo governor reiterated his commitment to strengthening the country’s democracy and PDP.

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Ondo poll: Sensitive materials to arrive Tuesday, says INEC

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Ahead of the November 16 Ondo governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission confirmed on Thursday that sensitive election materials will arrive in Akure by Tuesday, November 12.

Addressing stakeholders at a pre-election meeting held in Akure, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu announced that all sensitive materials, including ballots and result sheets, would be delivered to the
Central Bank of Nigeria’s Akure branch by early next week.

According to Yakubu, the election materials will be inspected by political party representatives and other stakeholders to ensure transparency before being distributed to local governments and wards across the state.

Yakubu stressed that INEC is committed to a well-organised and credible election process, noting that all logistical arrangements for the safe delivery and distribution of materials have been completed.


“We have arranged for the delivery of sensitive materials for the election to arrive as early as Tuesday next week.

“We will invite political parties and other stakeholders for the usual inspection of the materials at the Central Bank here in Akure, and throughout the movement of sensitive materials to the local governments and the ward centres,” he stated.

To support the timely deployment of these materials, Yakubu highlighted that INEC has arranged for both land and maritime transportation to reach all areas of Ondo State, ensuring access to polling units across the region.

“We have made arrangements for land and maritime transportation of personnel and materials,” he noted.

INEC has also engaged security agencies to protect the sensitive materials and personnel involved in the election process.

With the countdown to election day in full swing, INEC has been conducting final preparations, including a mock accreditation of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System in select locations across Ondo State.

Yakubu assured the public that INEC is ready to conduct a fair, secure, and transparent election.

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