Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court has convicted five suspects involved in the Offa robbery of illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, and culpable homicide. The judge ruled that these offences, which occurred in April 2018, are punishable by death.
President Bola Tinubu has extended his congratulations to Monday Okpebholo of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) for his victory in the Edo State governorship election held on Saturday.
Okpebholo, aged 54, won with 291,667 votes, defeating Asue Ighodalo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP), who finished third with 22,763 votes. Fourteen other candidates participated but trailed behind the top contenders.
In a statement released on Sunday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu urged Okpebholo to view his victory not as a moment for celebration but as a serious "call to service." The President advised him to show leadership by extending an olive branch to his political opponents and working to unify the people of Edo State for the progress of the region.
Tinubu also commended the other candidates for their participation, acknowledging their role in promoting Nigeria's democracy. He emphasized that peaceful elections, like the one held on Saturday, reflect the strength of the country's democratic system.
The President encouraged any dissatisfied parties to pursue legal remedies and praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for ensuring a smooth, peaceful, and largely problem-free election. He further noted that INEC continues to demonstrate its commitment to organizing free and fair elections across the nation.
Late arrival of materials and low voter turnout were some of the challenges recorded in the the local government election in Imo State on Saturday.
Even though the exercise was relatively peaceful in areas monitored, some civil society groups who monitored the election say the low turnout may be due to low sensitization by the Imo state Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC).
Some ISIEC officials said the delay in the commencement of the exercise was due to logistics problem and unforeseen circumstances.
They, however, promised to extend the time of voting till everyone eligible to vote at various polling centers is given the opportunity to exercise their civic responsibility.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has stated that he has no regrets about calling the upcoming September 21 governorship election a "do or die" affair. The governor has faced criticism, particularly from the opposition party, for his remarks.
Speaking during a monitored program, Obaseki defended his statement, explaining that the election is crucial for the future of Edo State, as he believes the state would be "doomed" if the All-Progressives Congress (APC) wins. He claimed that the opposition has plans to rig the election and warned that the people of Edo would resist any such attempt.
Obaseki also voiced his concerns about police bias ahead of the election, accusing them of unprofessionalism. "It’s a do-or-die affair because if they [the APC] take over, Edo is finished. The level of impunity and recklessness we see in the opposition is alarming," he said.
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