Latest News
FEATURES
How my child’s father was caught in scandalous act of infidelity on the day I went into labor – Actress Kemity (VIDEO)
AFOLABI
Nollywood’s vibrant comic actress and filmmaker, Ariyo Oluwakemisola Apesin, widely known as Kemity, recently dropped a bombshell about her chaotic romantic life that left jaws dropping.
In an electrifying live session with the fiery content creator Neecee Boss, streamed on her page, Kemity opened up about the tumultuous realities of love, marriage, and the men who have come and gone in her life.
Kemity, a mother of two, with a voice heavy with emotion, revealed a heart-wrenching experience involving her baby daddy that shattered her world.
According to her, while she was in the throes of labor at the hospital—teetering between life and death and fighting to bring her daughter Ifeoluwa into the world—her baby daddy, the very man who was supposed to be her pillar of support, was caught in a scandalous act of infidelity.
This follows the Yoruba movie star’s December 2023 announcement that she is officially off the market after sharing a video of herself proudly wearing her engagement ring.
Kemity revealed that she said “yes” to her boo and promised to share more details about their engagement.
In the heartwarming proposal video shared by one of her colleagues, Kemity looked stunned as her partner popped the question beside their Christmas tree, both dressed in matching Christmas pajamas.
Celebrating with her on Instagram were stars like Funke Akindele, Biola Bayo, Omowunmi Ajiboye, Yetunde Barnabas, Afeez Owo, Itele, and Bukola Adeeyo.
Media
Nigerian musician Paul Okoye, aka Rudeboy of the P-Square duo, has insisted on splitting with his twin brother, Peter Okoye.
Recalls that the crisis between the two brothers became public after Paul, in an interview, accused Peter of petitioning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to arrest him.
However, expressing his frustration during an Instagram live session on Wednesday, Paul claimed he did most of the work while others benefitted.
Speaking in pidgin, he said: “Those days of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop, I no dey do again. So I would rather continue working for myself. Every time, only me dey sing all the songs. I no dey do again.”
The singer had recently noted that the rift between him and his brother is more complicated than it is viewed.
P-Square first split in 2017 and reunited in November 2021.
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, declined assent to the Presumptive Tax Bill passed by the state House of Assembly, citing the current plight of the people.
Makinde rejected the bill on the grounds that it would impose additional burdens on the poor, stating that the people were already struggling due to the current economic reality in the country.
“Anything that will put money in the pocket of the people is what I am interested in, so they can use it where it is needed most. At this time, I’m not interested in any policy that will empty their pockets. I’ll continue to fight poverty and not fight the poor,” the governor said.
Makinde expressed his position on the bill while recognising the Speaker of the Oyo Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin, during the flag-off of the upgrade of Samuel Akintola Airport to an international standard.
He stated that he would not implement the bill for the moment.
The governor, however, praised the Assembly for the initiative, which he believed was aimed at increasing the state’s Internally Generated Revenue.
Last week Thursday, the Oyo State House of Assembly passed the State Presumptive Tax Bill, 2023, which provides for the imposition, administration, and collection of presumptive tax on individuals and entities whose income cannot be ascertained due to lack of financial records.
The bill outlines various presumptive tax rates for different enterprises, including artists and sign writers, barbers, bricklayers, carpenters, grinding mills, gas refilling depots, hairdressers, horticulturists, photographers, plank sellers, plumbers, welders, mechanics, block makers, saw millers, book stores, and typing studios.
Under the section of the law titled: “Oyo State Negotiated Presumptive Tax Rate,” owners of adult wear boutiques are liable to pay a minimum of N10,000 yearly and maximum of N50,000; barbers to pay from N3,000 to N10,000; artists and sign writers to pay from N5,000 to N50,000; bicycle repairers to pay between N2,000 and N10,000; bookshop/stationary stores to pay a minimum of N10,000 and maximum of N20,000; bricklayers to pay from N10,000 to N30,000; sellers of building materials to pay from N15,000 to N50,000; furniture makers to pay N25,000 to N40,000; carpenters are to pay between N10,000 and N35,000; gas station operators are to pay between N25,000 and N45,000; while photographers to pay between N2,000 and N5,000.
Also, plumbers are to pay between N2,000 and N10,000; welders to pay from N5,000 to N20,000; fruit sellers to pay from N1,000 to N5000; sallers/repairers of handset to pay between N2,500 and N4,000; shoemakers to pay between N500 and N2,000; laundry shop owners to pay from N1,000 to N2,500; block makers to pay between N15,000 and N25,000; vulcanisers to pay between N2,500 and N7,500; mechanic/welder/rewire are to pay between N1,500 and N5,000 and plank sellers to pay between N2,500 and N10,000.
The bill stipulates that a taxable person who fails to make the payment of the tax shall be liable to pay the sum and a penalty equal to 10 per cent per annum, while those who maintain up-to-date records and file returns within the stipulated period shall be granted a rebate of two per cent of the tax payable.
The law also specifies that persons subject to presumptive tax must file returns on or before 90 days from the commencement of each year.
Upon payment of all tax assessments, taxable persons will be issued a tax clearance certificate.
The Federal Government has called on agencies recruiting for the private sector to adhere to the N70,000 minimum wage, warning that any deviation would not be tolerated.
According to the FG, the new minimum wage is necessary to address the current economic reality, emphasising that no Nigerian worker, whether in government or private employment, should be paid less than the minimum wage.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju, stated this on Wednesday while speaking at the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria, held in Ikeja, Lagos.
Daju, who was represented by the Director of Employment and Wages of the ministry, John Nyamali, said, “The minimum wage is now a law, and as a result, it is a punishable crime for any employer to pay less than N70,000 to any of its workers.
“The private employment agencies should make it compulsory in any contract they take from their principal that their workers should not earn less than the minimum wage. The least paid worker in Nigeria should earn N70,000, and I think that should be after all deductions.
“The minimum wage is a law, and you can be jailed if you fail to implement it. The Federal Government is committed to ensuring that the least paid worker goes home with N70,000.”
In his remarks, the President of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria, Dr. Olufemi Ogunlowo, asked the government and Nigeria Labour Congress to clarify whether the N70,000 minimum wage is net or gross, stating that all ambiguities in the Act should be highlighted and explained.
According to Okoye, the EAPEAN is already committed to the minimum wage, as well as providing decent jobs for Nigerians and guarding against the exploitation of human resources.
“As a labour union in the private sector, we are committed to the implementation of the minimum wage. We are a law-abiding and guided association. Our principals and clients have also keyed into the minimum wage.
“However, the government must clarify whether the N70,000 minimum wage is net or gross. The government and NLC should address all ambiguities in the minimum wage,” he stated.
Speaking at the programme, the Chairperson of the NLC, Lagos State chapter, Funmilayo Sessi, said the prevailing hardship had made a mess of whatever income any worker was earning in Nigeria, calling on private employers to ensure the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage.
She said: “The N70,000 isn’t enough in the current economic realities. By the time the consequential adjustment is concluded, all private employment agencies should immediately start paying their workers the N70,000 minimum wage.
“The NLC in Lagos State will see to the strict enforcement of the minimum wage. EAPEAN should avoid confrontation with the NLC on the minimum wage.”
Two mortuary attendants arrested for selling human parts, corpse water to ritualists in Osun
AFOLABI
The Osun State Police Command on Wednesday said it had arrested seven suspects for selling human parts and water used to bathe corpses in the state.
A statement signed by the acting Police Public Relations Officer for Osun State Police Command, Mr. Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, said the suspects arrested included two mortuary attendants -Johnson Daniel, aged 43, and Adetunji Okunade, aged, 42 years.
Giwa-Alade, who listed others arrested for the crime as, Olaniyan Azeez, Balogun Temitope, Oladapo Hammed, Kazeem Rasaq, and Asaka Rauf, said the suspects were arrested upon credible information from a good-spirited individual that, Daniel, a mortuary attendant at lpetu-ljesa was selling remains of corpses deposited at the mortuary where he worked to native doctors.
“The said suspects use these remains from the mortuary attendant (Johnson Daniel) for different ritual purposes. Daniel also confessed that he conspired with one other mortuary attendant named Adetunji Okunade ‘m’ to sell the remnant of water used in bathing corpses to interested native doctors.
“In the course of an investigation, a search was conducted at the residences of these suspects which led to the recovery of fragments of substances suspected to be a human skull at Asaka Rauf ‘m’ and Oladapo Hammed ‘m’’s residences, while a female pant and a notebook containing instructions on ritual practices were recovered from Balogun Temitope Asimiyu’s residence,” Giwa-Alade said.
The Osun Police Command spokesperson also said three people were arrested for canvassing support for the Yoruba Nation in the state.
According to him, Oluwafemi Fagbuyi, who was picked up at Obada Market in Ikire, where he was addressing people, told his audience, “to denounce their allegiance to Nigeria as a nation. He claimed that Nigeria ended in 2014 after 100 years of amalgamation.
He displayed the Yoruba Nation’s flag in the process.
“The case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department after preliminary investigation. Through diligent investigation, Joy Faseyiku, ‘F’, 63 years and Alabede Janet, ‘F’, 64 years were arrested in Osogbo and Ikire town respectively in connection with the crime. Investigation has been concluded and the suspects have been charged to Federal High Court accordingly.”
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has urged members of the party’s recently dissolved National Working Committee (NWC), led by Julius Abure, to put aside their differences and collaborate with the National Caretaker Committee to rebuild the party.
Obi made this appeal through Datti Baba-Ahmed during the inaugural meeting of the caretaker committee held in Abuja on Tuesday night. He emphasized the importance of unity within the party as it navigates its restructuring phase.
The former governor categorically stated that it was the party’s constitution that led to the unseating of Abure following the expiration of his tenure, reaffirming the legitimacy of the caretaker committee’s formation.
Obi’s call for reconciliation comes at a critical time for the Labour Party as it seeks to strengthen its foundations and prepare for future electoral challenges.
Obi said, “Listen, my friend, no governor unseated Abure; the constitution unseated him. Abure’s time elapsed. Nobody unseated him. As of today, Abure is our good friend and a loyal member. We want him back in the fold; we have roles for him to play.
“We didn’t have crisis. We managed a transition that was a bit bumpy and that was it. I tell you, no other political party of our size could do that in the time and manner that we did.
“We are a political party who went all the way to the Supreme Court claiming our 10 million votes. They were only able to give us six million votes. So we are a force to contend with in Africa. What we’ve done has never been done before. When PDP came, they had the military. We had nothing.”
Obi noted that the opposition party was ready to repeat and surpass the feat recorded during the 2023 elections in 2027 by producing a majority in the National Assembly and winning the presidential seat in 2027.
Earlier, the chairman of the Labour Party National Caretaker Committee, Senator Nenadi Usman, assured party members of the committee’s determination to rescue the party from the current challenges and restore and rebuild it as a veritable alternative platform for Nigerians.
She assured the committee’s readiness to lead the party on the path of reconciliation within the short time of its assignment.
Usman stated, “We are on a rescue mission, not just for the Labour Party, but I tell you for our dear nation, Nigeria. The interest this committee has generated extends beyond party lines.
“The number of telephone calls I have received not just from Labour Party members, but people from other political parties who told me that if we get this thing right, we will walk together. So we have a huge task.
“Our party, by the grace of Almighty God, will become a platform for all disenfranchised and unhappy Nigerians. People who are not happy with the way things are going, we are going to be the platform for them by the grace of God. Therefore, we must view this as a significant national assignment.”
The Lagos police command says it has launched an investigation into a viral video of an officer involved in an altercation with an elderly woman.
POLICE COMMENCE INVESTIGATION INTO VIDEO OF POLICE OFFICER IN ALTERCATION WITH ELDERLY WOMAN
On Sunday, a video showing a police officer manhandling an elderly woman in her car began circulating on social media.
The officer was said to have demanded N250,000 from the woman which she refused to pay, before the altercation began.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the police spokesperson in Lagos, in a statement on Wednesday, condemned the action of the officer, noting that the inspector and his supervising deputy superintendent have been brought in for questioning.
Hundeyin said the incident took place in the Alagbado area of Lagos in the first week of September.
He assured the public that the investigation would be “swift, thorough and conclusive”.
“The command condemns the unprofessional conduct of the Inspector as it does not represent the ethics and operational standards of the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement reads.
“The command equally assures Lagosians that the investigation will be swift, thorough and conclusive.
“We will ensure that the officers are disciplined as appropriate, and members of the public are updated accordingly.”
Media
The police man allegedly requested for 250k from this man and this happened…. pic.twitter.com/MUaegzy2q8
— Oyindamola? (@dammiedammie35) September 15, 2024
The faction of the Labour Party (LP) led by Julius Abure says Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the party in 2023, and Alex Otti, governor of Abia state, have betrayed it.
The faction is miffed at both men because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refused to recognise Abure as LP national chair.
INEC’s position was contained in a counter affidavit filed in the Abuja federal high court.
The counter affidavit was in response to a suit filed by the Abure-led LP faction which is challenging its exclusion from uploading the names of its party agents on the INEC website for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
The electoral commission said Abure’s tenure as national chair of the opposition party expired in June 2024.
In reaction to the development on Wednesday, Obiora Ifoh, spokesperson of the faction, said some of the people who want Abure out did not have money to purchase nomination forms in the build-up to the 2023 election.
“As you are aware, the party has since sued INEC challenging its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections,” Ifoh said in a statement.
“However, INEC had in a counter-affidavit, filed in response to our suit argued that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Julius Abure, is now invalid, stressing that it does not recognise the party’s March 2024 National Convention, which re-elected Abure as chairman.
“The leadership of the Labour Party is however miffed by the actions of our leaders including our former presidential candidate Peter Obi and the only Labour Party governor, Dr. Alex Otti who should be defending the party at this auspicious and trying moment.
“They ought to know that the Labour Party is going through these challenging times simply because of its role in defending both leaders during the 2023 general election.
“For the benefit of hindsight, not a few Nigerians will forget how the Labour Party reduced its guards in accommodating some of these leaders when they were denied tickets in their former political parties.
“Today, these leaders are now dancing ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ with us. What a shame, what a betrayal.”
Nenadi Usman, a former senator, has since been appointed as national chair of the LP caretaker committee, following a party stakeholders meeting called by Otti recently.
Obi, and Datti Baba-Ahmed, LP vice-presidential candidate in 2023, were among the top party members that attended the meeting.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu over the ₦30 billion street fencing project in Sokoto metropolis.
Speaking via a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinawal, the party argued that the project was reckless and a waste of funds.
They subsequently called for an immediate probe into the financial practices of the state government.
The PDP stated its readiness to face any scrutiny regarding the activities of the immediate past administration of Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
The party stressed that the former governor, his executive council, and senior officials were prepared to appear before the state’s Commission of Inquiry whenever summoned.
The call for an EFCC investigation follows a petition by the Sokoto State government to the Commission of Inquiry over the alleged diversion of ₦16.1 billion in shares by the previous administration through the state’s investment company.
Counsel to the commission, Amanzi Amanzi, revealed that the proceeds from the sale of government shares between 2018 and 2023 were allegedly unaccounted for.
In response, the PDP decried what it termed the “financial recklessness” of Governor Aliyu, accusing him of spending billions on unnecessary projects such as wire fencing in one of the states hardest hit by the nation’s economic challenges.
The party also pointed to the ₦1.2 billion spent on repairing 25 boreholes as another example of mismanagement.
“The people of Sokoto have not yet recovered from the N1.2 billion spent on repairing 25 boreholes, and now the governor has embarked on another wasteful project of fencing streets with an outrageous budget of N30 billion,” the statement read.
The PDP accused the governor of attempting to deflect public attention from his administration’s shortcomings by making false allegations against Senator Tambuwal and his cabinet.
The party maintained that Tambuwal’s administration was the most transparent in Sokoto’s history, as recognized by global assessment agencies.
Nollywood actor, IK Ogbonna has condemned the influx of fake miracles in churches.
Speaking via a post on his Instagram page, the thespian warned that deceiving and exploiting vulnerable people stains the true essence of Christianity.
Ogbonna emphasised that using God’s name for falsehood is a betrayal of the gospel and warned that the consequences of such actions are broken trust, lost lives, and faith manipulated for profit.
He also cautioned against getting carried away by social media trends that disrespect and ridicule faith, stressing that Christianity should never be used as a tool for likes, views, or viral content.
Ogbonna called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the government to step up, regulate, and hold accountable pastors engaging in fraudulent activities.
He wrote: “Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows he will also reap. Fake Miracles Are Mocking Christianity.
“It’s heartbreaking to see pastors using fake miracles to deceive and exploit vulnerable people. These acts stain the true essence of Christianity, turning faith into a spectacle for selfish gain. The consequences? Broken trust lost lives, and faith manipulated for profit.
“To those pastors, it’s time to reflect—using God’s name for falsehood is a betrayal of the gospel. To the victims, remember your faith is sacred, and true miracles don’t come from deception.
“Let’s also be cautious not to get carried away by social media trends that disrespect and ridicule our faith. Christianity should never be used as a tool for likes, views, or viral content.
“I call on the government and religious bodies like the Christian Association of Nigeria to step up, regulate, and hold these bad actors accountable. Christianity is about truth, love, and humility—not fraud, manipulation, or mockery.
“Let’s stand together to protect the integrity of our faith!”.
More...
Nollywood actress in the Yoruba movie industry, Bisola Badmus, has called out famous Fuji singer, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, better known as Kwam1, for not caring for their son, Malik.
Bisola in a recent episode of Talk To B, with her colleague, Biola Adebayo, opened up about her estranged romantic relationship with Kwam1, confirming they had a child together.
The film star claimed the singer stopped performing his responsibilities as a father even though he accepted the child at the beginning.
She said, “From the beginning, he accepted the boy as his son but it changed all of a sudden.
“What I want from K1 is to be responsible for Malik, his son. I just want him to take care of his son.”
Speaking about the battle with brain disease, Bisola said Kwam1’s support was short-lived.
She added, “He didn’t know about my condition earlier because I didn’t tell him. When he knew, he tried his best for a while but stopped at some point”
It would be recalled that in 2023, the movie star opened up about her battle with a brain disease known as encephalopathy.
Biola also revealed that the condition made her stay away from social media.
Renowned media personality, Frank Edoho, has stirred discussion with his unconventional perspective on marriage.
On the Curiosity Made Me Ask podcast, Edoho argued that marriage should not be regarded as an accomplishment, describing it simply as an agreement between two people to be together.
He questioned societal norms and the definition of marriage as an achievement, asserting that the end of a marriage does not equate to failure.
“Firstly, marriage is not an achievement. Who told you marriage is an achievement? It’s just two people agreeing to live together. If one marriage breaks, it’s not the end of the world. Leaving a marriage doesn’t mean you’ve failed”, he said.
[TheNation]
Controversy has surrounded the reported visit of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission headquarters.
While the ex-governor’s media team claimed that their principal honoured the invitation, the anti-graft agency countered these claims, insisting that Bello remains a wanted person.
A statement on Thursday morning by the Director of the Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael, asserted that the former Kogi governor arrived at the EFCC headquarters to honour the agency’s invitation.
According to Michael, Bello’s decision followed consultations with his legal team and political associates.
He said, “Former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, today honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. This decision was made after due consultations with his family, legal team, and political allies.
“The former governor, who has great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, had all the while only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights to ensure due process.”
He explained that Bello intended to use the opportunity to clear his name of the allegations against him.
Michael added, “The case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello has been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. It is important for the former governor to now honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name, as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
“The former governor firmly believes in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development and supports the fight against corruption in the country.
“It is on record that he was the first governor of Kogi State to implement an anti-corruption mechanism to curb graft and ensure that the state’s resources benefit its people.
“He was accompanied to the EFCC headquarters by high-profile Nigerians. We hope that the commission will act professionally and respect his fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Details of his engagement with the operatives of the anti-graft agency will be disclosed later.”
In a twist, the EFCC countered Michael’s claims, insisting that the former governor was not in its custody and remains a wanted person.
EFCC Spokesperson Dele Oyewale stated, “Media reports today that a former governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello, is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are incorrect. The commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.
“Bello, who has already been declared wanted by the commission for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”
Minutes after the anti-graft rebuttal, the Bello Media Office maintained that Bello was at the EFCC headquarters and that the commission refused to interrogate the ex-governor.
“Earlier today, we reported the voluntary visit of former Governor of Kogi State, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission office to honour the commission’s invitation.
“In the statement, we reiterated the former governor’s great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, and stressed that all the while, he only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process.
“The EFCC did not, however, interrogate him, as officials told him he could leave. We don’t know what this means yet. As we write, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office.
“He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, HE Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
“Recall that the case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello has been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. The former governor decided to honour the invitation to clear his name, as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear,” Michael said in another statement.
The EFCC has preferred 19 charges against the former Kogi governor, alongside his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offences totalling N80,246,470,088.88.
After failed attempts to arrest and arraign him, the EFCC declared the former Kogi governor wanted.
[Punch]
The Edo State 2024 Governorship Election is one of the most anticipated political events in Nigeria, drawing attention from political enthusiasts, analysts, and Nigerians.
As the election date approaches, it’s crucial to stay informed about the key details, including the date of the election, the main candidates, voter registration statistics, and other essential information.
Here is a comprehensive guide, providing an insight on everything you need to know about the Edo Governorship Election.
Election date
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the Edo Governorship Election to take place on 21 September 2024.
According to a statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Sam Olumekun, INEC has set this date to ensure adequate preparation and smooth conduct of the election process.
As a result, voters across the state are expected to turn out in large numbers to elect their next governor.
Major candidates
All Progressives Congress (APC)
The APC, one of Nigeria’s major political parties, has fielded Senator Monday Okpebholo as its governorship candidate.
Okpebholo hails from the Edo Central zone, secured his party’s candidacy to mark a pivotal moment in his career and set the stage for a highly anticipated electoral contest.
Known for community development initiatives and reputation of dedicated public servant and philanthropist, the APC candidate has promised to provide free transportation services to residents, recognising the crucial role of mobility in economic and social activities.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
Representing the PDP, Asue Ighodalo is a formidable contender in the Edo Governorship Election.
The PDP candidate’s campaign manifesto, tagged “Pathway to Prosperity for All,” highlights the pathway to security, women and youth development, education, agriculture and food security, and rural and community development, among others, as strategies to uplift the standard of living in Edo State.
Ighodalo also vowed to prioritize respect for traditional and religious institutions, industrialisation, care for the children and vulnerable in society, and harnessing the importance of the diaspora for better working relationships to foster development in all parts of the state.
Labour Party (LP)
The Labour Party, gaining increasing popularity, has nominated a former national chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata for the governorship race.
He said his candidacy brings a fresh wave of optimism and promise, resonating strongly with the electorate.
Akpata’s campaign manifesto outlines comprehensive plans for economic revitalization, infrastructure development, education, healthcare, and social welfare.
Registered voters
According to INEC’s published statistics of registered voters, Edo State has 2,501,318 Permanent Voter Cards.
The INEC National Electoral Commissioner in charge of Edo State, Prof Rhoda Gumus announced that 373,030 Permanent Voter Cards were yet to be collected by registered voters in the state.
This figure reflects the growing political awareness and engagement among Edo residents, who are keen to exercise their democratic rights.
Number of collected PVCs
Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are essential for participating in the election.
According to INEC, 2,128,288 PVCs have been collected by registered voters.
This number is a critical indicator of the electorate’s readiness and enthusiasm for the upcoming election.
Key issues and campaign themes
The Edo Governorship Election campaigns have revolved around several critical issues, including:
Economic development: Candidates have emphasized their plans to boost the state’s economy through various initiatives aimed at job creation, industrialization, and investment in infrastructure.
Education and healthcare: Promises to improve the education and healthcare sectors are prominent in candidates’ manifestos, reflecting the public’s demand for better services.
Security: Addressing security concerns, especially in rural areas, has been a major talking point, with candidates outlining their strategies to enhance safety and reduce crime rates.
[Vanguard]