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CODER Mobilises for Edo Election, Cautions Politicians Against Violence

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By Eric Elezuo

A group, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), has called on Edo State politicians to eschew violence as the state prepares for the governorship election coming up on Saturday, September 19, 2020.

The group, which has mobilised about 50 trained and duly accredited observers for the election, made the call through a press statement signed by its coordinator, Tope Shaaba and Spokesperson, Comrade Ayodele Adewale.

CODER, in the statement, acknowledged that there has been unnecessary tension in the state, generated by the election, especially by the two major parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose flag bearers are the incumbent governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu respectively, and cautioned against making the pre-election predictions of some groups from coming to past.

“The pre-election analysis undertaken by YIAGA Africa, NOI polls and other CSO groups paints a bleak picture of the election should indicators of violence surveyed remain unaddressed. Physical violence at campaign rallies, vandalism or destruction of property associated with candidates, stock piling of small arms and light weapons and recruitment of armed thugs or militia groups are some of the indicators identified in the pre-election survey,” it said.

While appealing to the feuding parties to sheath their swords for peace sake, the group acknowledged the genuine efforts made by the Oba of Benin to broker peace as well as the position taken by the United States of America and the United Kingdom to checkmate the trend of violence.

“The timely peace intervention of the Oba of Benin on September 3rd, the peace accord signing by candidates of political parties on Tuesday September 14 and the position of the international community, especially the United States and United Kingdom’s Embassies are efforts to checkmate the trend of violence. CODER therefore, appeals to all political actors in Edo, especially the two dominant political parties to let peace and allow Edo people to speak through the ballot.”

CODER therefore, call on security agencies as mobilised, to ensure that peace is maintained through neutrality, and punish offenders irrespective of where they belong. It also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide a level playing for all contestants.

“The Nigerian Police Force and other security personnel on election duty must maintain their neutrality and be ready to arrest anyone that commits electoral offense. INEC on the other hand must be seen to play its role as an unbiased umpire in the entire process to increase people’s confidence and trust in both the electoral process and the electoral management body,” the statement noted.

CODER is a not for profit civil society organisation, founded by Chief Ayo Opadokun.

“We note that Edo gubernatorial off-cycle election and that of Ondo state coming up on October 10 are litmus tests for the general elections in 2023, and as such, all electoral stakeholders must ensure these elections are better and fairer than previous ones,” the statement concluded.

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Stay Away from CBT Centres, JAMB Warns Parents, Threatens Arrest

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As this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) begins on Friday, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has vowed to arrest parents found near any Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre during the 2024 UTME exercise.

The directive was issued at the final briefing of the CBT centre owners, which was held virtually on Wednesday, 17th April, 2024.

The spokesman for JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, said this directive became necessary following the intrusive disposition of some parents during the Board’s previous exercises.

Benjamin, who quoted JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said any parent, who disobeys the order would not only be arrested but his ward would also be disqualified from sitting for the examination.

Oloyede explained that this measure became necessary as it has been discovered over time that many of these intruding parents are facilitators of examination infractions while others have, by their actions, disrupted the Board’s examinations in the past.

He added that some miscreants also disguise as parents to infiltrate the centres to perpetrate all forms of infractions.

“The Board’s helmsman noted that going by the extant national policy on education, a candidate for the examination must have attained the age of 17 years.

“Therefore, it is evident that these parents had not allowed their wards to pass through the classes as defined in the document, hence the desperation to follow their wards to the examination venue with the aim of compromising examination officials.

“At any rate, it is clear to any discerning observer that these parents deserve to be sanctioned as they had obviously ‘smuggled’ underage children into the ranks of those scheduled to sit the examination,” the Board note through a statement.

Furthermore, the Registrar said all arrangements have been concluded for the conduct of the 2024 UTME, which will be held in over 700 CBT centres across the nation.

He disclosed that the Board expects a seamless exercise but it has nevertheless made adequate provision to tackle any technical glitch that might occur in the course of the examination.

He, however, warned that if a session experienced any technical challenge, candidates in subsequent sessions would be allowed to sit their examination as scheduled while the candidates in the challenged session would be rescheduled for the last session for the day or the following day or even further depending on the centre schedules.

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Oyo Govt Demolishes Operational Base of Yoruba Nation Agitators

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The Oyo State government, on Wednesday, demolished a building serving as the operational base of the Yoruba Nation agitators led by Modupe Onitiri-Abiola, in Ibadan.

Onitiri-Abiola, one of the widows of late Bashorun M.KO Abiola, had declared the creation of the so-called Yoruba Nation in a video posted online, which has been widely condemned.

Last Saturday, some armed men in military uniforms invaded the Oyo State Secretariat, with the motive to forcefully take over the State House of Assembly, before they were dislodged by the combined efforts of police and troops for the Nigeria Army 2 Division..

Mr. Fatai Owoseni, Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, confirmed the demolition of the house located at Toye Oyesola Street in Ibadan South West Local Government Area.

Already, no fewer than 29 suspects – including a lecturer – arrested in connection with the foiled armed invasion were on Wednesday arraigned by the police before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan.

In a case with charge number Mi/520c/2024 between the Commissioner of Police and the 29 suspects, they were accused of a seven-count charge of treasonable felony, unlawful society, illegal possession of firearms, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

Inspector Bakare Rasaq, the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, said the offence contravenes, and is punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

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PDP BoT Queries Damagum, Anyanwu’s Continued Stay in Office

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The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party has queried the continued stay in office of the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.

Recently, many party members have raised concerns about the ongoing tenure of Damagum and Anywanwu in their respective positions.

Previously serving as the PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), Damagum assumed the role of acting National Chairman following the court’s suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in March of the preceding year.

With the National Secretary being selected as the PDP candidate for the Imo State 2023 governorship election, the South zone has been grappling with nominating a replacement. Despite this, he, along with other party leaders, contested and retained the position of party secretary after losing to Governor Hope Uzodinnma.

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