EDO: INEC POSTPONES GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

The Independent National Electoral Commission has postponed the September 10 gubernatorial election in Edo State. 

Nick Dazang, spokesman for the Commission, told PREMIUM TIMES the election would now hold on a new date no less than two weeks from Saturday. 

“We have now decided to shift the election forward for another two weeks,” Mr. Dazang said. “We would announce a new date within the next 24 hours.” 

EDO: INEC OKAYS ELECTION, CALLS FOR INCREASED SECURITY

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says election in Edo state will hold and therefore urged people to go and vote without fear. 

‎INEC’s Head, Voter Education and Publicity, Prince Solomon Soyebi who in a meeting confirmed the commission’s position on Edo Gubernatorial Election said the commission will liaise with security agencies to ensure a hitch free exercise while the election will go on as scheduled across the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State. 

AKEREDOLU EMERGES ONDO STATE APC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE + PROFILE

Photo: informationng.com

Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu has emerged the Ondo State APC candidate for the forthcoming gubernatorial election; having won the party’s Primary Election. Akeredolu scored 669 votes to beat his closer rival Mr. Olusegun Abraham who had a total 635 votes.

In his response, Mr. Akeredolu expressed appreciation to the delegates, security agents and, returning officer and Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru for conducting a credible primary devoid of endorsement and imposition.

He called on all other aspirants who contested with him to join him to build a new State.

One of the main contender, Mr. Olusola Oke who scored a total of 576 votes to come third, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the primary and promised to remain in the party to work for the victory of the party's candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu.

A total of 2,774 delegates voted in the primary.

The only female aspirant of the Party, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose scored only one vote.

‎The primary election ended on Sunday morning by 2am

Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who became President of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008.

Akeredolu was born on 21 July, 1956 in Owo to Reverend J. Ola Akeredolu of the Akeredolu family and Lady Evangelist Grace B. Akeredolu of Aderoyiju family of Igbotu, Ese Odo, in Ondo State.  Akeredolu started his primary education at Government School, Owo. He proceeded to Aquinas College, Akure, Loyola College, Ibadan and Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, for his Secondary School Education and Higher School Certificate, respectively. He attended the Loyola College in Ibadan. His middle name "Odunayo" means "Year of Happiness" in Yoruba. He went on to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) to study Law, graduating in 1977. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978. 

Akeredolu was appointed Attorney General of Ondo State from 1997–1999. In 1998, he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He was Chairman of the Legal Aid Council (2005–2006). In November 2009, he faced allegations of corruption when the Bar Association's Third Vice-President, Welfare Secretary and Assistant Financial Secretary circulated a petition entitled "Complaints against your fraudulent manifestations, violation of the NBA". Subsequently, the allegations against him were reviewed and dropped by the National Executive council of the Nigerian Bar Association.

In a lecture in December 2009, Akeredolu said no amount of electoral reform or judicial system could give Nigeria free and fair elections, if Nigerians themselves refused to take practical steps to ensure that their votes count. Later that month, he stated that Umaru Yar'Adua, the President of Nigeria should have handed over to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan in an acting capacity during his illness, a statement that was backed up by the Nigerian Bar Association who said he was authorized to speak on their behalf.

In 2012, the Nigerian Bar Association named its new secretariat in Abuja after him with its president citing the reason being the need for "generational identification and recognition of those who had contributed immensely to the development of the association. Everything in the NBA is usually highly politicized. The sheer courage for him (Akeredolu) to go through the rigour is a testimony to his selfless service."

In November 2011, Akeredolu was among a crowd of aspirants to be Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate for Governor of Ondo State in the 2013 elections.^] In an interview that month, Akeredolu said that he had become well known and respected as president of the Bar, and described himself as a progressive. If elected, his priorities would include agricultural development, fish farming for export, improvements to education, jobs for youths and improved roads. He would provide free education and primary health care. He was in favour of increased subsidies and greater local control over public spending.

On 28 July 2012, On Akeredolu was selected as the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate for Governor of Ondo State during the ACN congress in Akure. His selection pitched him in a head to head battle with the incumbent, Olusegun Mimiko and Mr. Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Akeredolu promised to create 30,000 jobs in his first 100 days in office. His promise was refuted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a ruse. His promise nonetheless resulted in the submission of over 10,000 CV's to his campaign office.

On Saturday September 3rd, 2016, he won the sole ticket to represent the All Progressive Congress (APC) at their primary conducted in Ondo State to represent the party at the forth-coming 2016 elections.

CREDITS

REPORT: KINGSLEY UCHEGBU

PROFILE: WIKIPEDIA

PICTURE: INFORMATIONNG.COM