From Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said that only nine political parties are participating in the forthcoming Edo State Bye-Elections for Ovia Federal Constituency and Edo Central Senatorial District.

Briefing journalists in Benin on Wednesday of its activities ahead of the bye-elections in the state, Edo State Resident Electoral Commission of INEC, Prof.

Anugbum Onuoha, said though 14 political parties earlier showed interest and registered for the bye-elections, only nine political parties conducted primaries hence they are the parties the law allowed to participate in the bye-elections.

Recall the Ovia Federal Constituency seat and Edo Central Senatorial District seat were declared vacant after Senator Monday Okpehbolo and Hon.

Dennis Idahosa emerged governor and deputy governor of Edo State respectively.

The state REC listed the parties participating to include Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Prof. Onuoha said five others who indicated their interest to participate in the bye-elections didn’t conduct their primaries.

According to him, INEC officials visited the addresses stated for the day for their primaries but to their greatest amazement, the offices were under lock and keys.

Onuoha said besides those political parties that indicated their interest in the election, the Labour Party (LP) didn’t notify INEC of its intention to participate in the election, adding that the party’s primary was therefore not known or monitored by the INEC officials.

“Fourteen political parties expressed interest. They gave us their address, we went there and we didn’t see anybody. Those ones include Accord, BOOT Party, National Rescue Movement (NRM), Young Progressive Party (YPP), they closed their office. 

“So, 14 expressed their interest but the other nine closed their offices. So, Labour Party didn’t express their interest”, Onuoha said.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, while expressing his sadness over the unwillingness for intending voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), said a total of 101,617 uncollected PVCs are recorded in the seven local government areas that are participating in the election.

He added that out of the 719,504 that registered for the election, only 617887 have collected their PVCs.

He assured the residents of the affected areas of free, fair and credible Bye-Elections in the state, 

The REC, who disclosed that all modalities to ensure a smooth exercise have been put in place, urged residents to go out en-mass to cast their votes for their choice candidates.

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Members of the OBIdient Movement, the youth wing of supporters of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are unhappy over what they consider to be a move to crowd them out of many coalition activities organized by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In a letter addressed to Obi and sighted by Nigerian Tribune on Monday, OBIdient Movement alleged marginalisation in ADC, accusing organisers of deliberately keeping information from Obi’s supporters.

In the letter, signed by the Coordinator of the movement, Dr. Tanko Yusuf and dated July 29, the group claimed to have been excluded from key meetings so far.

“We write on behalf of the OBIdient Movement to express our severe grievances regarding recent developments within the coalition’s systems.

“Our people are deliberately excluded at all levels.

“While we remain committed to the shared vision of building a united and formidable front for the task ahead, we must raise the following issues that our members have repeatedly flagged,” the letter partly read.

For instance, Yusuf alleged that members of the movement had hardly shared a table with members of the ADC at any deliberations, which suggested that their views were not being represented.

He stated, “Several of our designated representatives and members are reportedly being excluded from crucial meetings where major decisions affecting the coalition are made.

“This creates an impression of marginalisation and undermines trust, which is essential for building a sustainable partnership.”

The movement also raised the issue of “non-existent representation”, which it said gave a structure in the ADC not favourable to its members.

Consequently, the Obidients recommended the inclusion of “at least one Working Committee member” and “one Non-Working Committee member” representing the OBIdient Movement in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country.

The group believes the adjustment will build trust and guarantee the success of the coalition platform.

Obi currently straddles between the Labour Party and the ADC, as it’s unclear which political party he intends to contest the 2027 presidential poll.

Although Obi was at the launch of the coalition platform on July 2, he has remained a member of the LP.

According to him, his primary interest in participating in the coalition talks is to build a new Nigeria, which he said did not displace his membership of the LP.

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zamfara State chapter, has disclosed that over 75,000 new members have been registered in the state, saying they have seen a brighter future and are ready to take over the State in 2027.

This was disclosed on Monday by Zamfara state chairman Alhaji Kabiru Garba during “Hand Shake” Day held at Maryam Hall, Gusau, the state capital.

Alhaji Kabiru Garba lamented the security situation in the state, saying Governor Dauda Lawal has failed to provide security for lives and properties of Zamfara citizens.

“The insecurity bedeviling the state is something to worry about; it’s high time for Governor Dauda Lawal to provide lasting solutions to the insecurity in the state, otherwise he should step down,” he mentioned

According to Zamfara ADC chairman, the Governor of Zamfara state and president Bola Ahmed Tinubu should wake up from the slumber, provide security, and protect the lives and properties of citizens.

“ADC is worried about Zamfara insecurity, we condemned the incessant attacks and urge the Governor to negotiate with bandits and allow peace to reign,” he advised.

He maintained that ADC has seen a brighter future in Zamfara. God willing, our party would capture Zamfara and Nigeria in 2027, because of the good and promising manifestos of ADC to the citizens of Nigeria.

“We are preparing for the 2027 election ,we see a brighter future ,many people are now registering with our party day in day out, presently as at today ,we have registered no fewer than 75,000 new members into Zamfara ADC and hopefully to register 100,000 new members in the state,” he mentioned.