Connect with us

Economy

House Of Reps, Voter Apathy, Malfunctioned BVAS, Violence Mar Ogun By-Election

Published

on

Reps

House Of Reps, Voter Apathy, Malfunctioned BVAS, Violence Mar Ogun By-Election

House of Reps, voter apathy, malfunctioned BVAS, violence mar Ogun by-election. Voter apathy as well as malfunctioned Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) affected the conduct of the House of Representatives by-election for the Ikenne, Remo North and Sagamu Federal Constituency of Ogun State on Saturday.

This came on the heels of mid-day’s sporadic gunshots and ballot boxes snatching that also greeted the exercise in Iperu Remo, the home town of the incumbent governor of the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

At the Igan/Ajina Polling Unit 16, ward 2 in Remo North Local Government, there were 445 registered voters at the centre but as of 11am when LEADERSHIP visited, only 64 voters had turned up and were accredited to vote, while the BVAS machine also encountered challenges of identifying elderly voters.

One of such elderly voters was a 70-years, Sobanke Fasasi who lamented his inability to vote for the candidate of his choice due to the failure of the BVAS machine to recognise him.
Pa Fasasi failed to vote despite repeated trials at the Wesley School Isara 2, Polling Unit 006 and Polling Unit 005 in MoborodeOke – Ola area of Remo North LGA where voters turnout was also poor.

This was attested to by an ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), female Corps member telling journalists that the BVAS was failing to recognise elderly voters even after several trials.

Low voter turnout was also recorded at the Ajegunle Ward 6, Polling Unit 1 in Ogere, Ikenne local government area, as well as Polling Unit 005, Town Planning in Ilisan 1 where 953 was recorded as registered voters but 98 voters were accredited for the by-election scheduled to end at 2: 30pm.

Meanwhile, at the Wesley Nursery & Primary School in Iperu, Polling Unit 04 and Polling Unit 05, in Iperu 3 Area of Ikenne local government area where the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu usually cast his vote, only 123, out of the 750 registered voters were accredited as at 12:03pm when LEADERSHIP visited.

Meanwhile, the by-election, which commenced peaceful in the morning assumed a dangerous dimension mid-afternoon when armed hoodlums, suspected to be political thugs stormed the Wesley Nursery & Primary School in Iperu Remo and started shooting sporadically into the air.

Reps Approves Bill To Expand Lagos

House Of Reps

The thugs, numbering about six, masked in hoods and rode on two motorcycles popularly called “okada’ and started shooting their dane guns, thereby forcing accredited voters on the queue and journalists to scamper for safety, while they had a free day carting away the ballot boxes.

Also earlier in the day, the state Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo denied knowledge of the arrest of a PDP chieftain, who was allegedly caught with an undisclosed sum of money at an hotel in Iperu-Remo.

When contacted, CP Ogunlowo said the Command was investigating the purported arrest.

An unverified viral video had claimed that Chairman of the PDP in the state, Abayomi Tella, and two INEC staff – Toryem Joe-Stans and Mandara Amina Mamman were arrested in connection with a huge amount of money suspected to be for vote buying in the ongoing Remo Federal constituency by-election.

The CP said, “We are investigating the matter, that’s how much I can say for now, you may please call back later in the day for further information”.

Economy

Okpebholo Threatening Me With Violence, I’ll Fight Back Says Obaseki

Published

on

By

Obaseki

Okpebholo Threatening Me With Violence, I’ll Fight Back Says Obaseki

Okpebholo threatening me with violence, I’ll fight back says Obaseki. Godwin Obaseki, the immediate past governor of Edo, has accused Monday Okpebholo, his successor, of threatening him with violence. Obaseki spoke during the weekend at an event in London, the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND
Since assuming office in November 2024, Okpebholo has initiated a series of actions aimed at scrutinising Obaseki’s tenure.

He first constituted a 14-member committee to investigate the assets, liabilities, contracts, and financial decisions made under Obaseki.

Okpebholo then expanded the scrutiny to the state civil service, ordering a probe into all recruitments conducted between May and November 2024, alleging a violation of due process.

Last week, Okpebholo asked the federal government to repatriate Obaseki to answer questions over public funds linked to the controversial Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project.

‘OKPEBHOLO THREATENING ME’

Obaseki said the governor is threatening him with violence and allegedly sent thugs to attack him in the UK.

“Those who live by the sword will die by the sword,” Obaseki said. “And to tell the governor, Okpebholo, I don’t know him; I have never met him. When you start with violence, you will reap violence.

“For one year since I left office, I didn’t say one word. I decided to respect myself and allow them to try [in governance] as well. Go and find out, you won’t see one thing I said about his government.”

He accused Okpebholo’s government of being behind the attack on diplomats during the exhibition in MOWAA.

“As if that was not enough, the government paid people to come to Manchester to attack me,” he said.
“Who has started this violence? Is it me? Last week, this governor held a disgraceful press conference in which he threatened me not to come to Benin.

Obaseki

Obaseki

“They have been threatening violence. So if I respond, nobody should hold me responsible. “I can’t leave myself empty to be hurt and attacked by deranged people.

“So I am going to fight back. I will fight back. I didn’t start the fight. They are afraid. They know they did not win the election.”

Continue Reading

Economy

Jigawa: 9,600 Teachers Register For Special Training

Published

on

By

Teachers Register For Special Training

Jigawa: 9,600 Teachers Register For Special Training

Jigawa: 9,600 teachers register for special training. No fewer than 9,600 teachers under the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) registered for a competency test to determine the specific training required to improve their skills and enhance teaching outcomes in the state.

The Executive Chairman of the Board, Professor Haruna Musa, revealed this while briefing journalists on the purpose of the examination, adding that 12,000 teachers were expected to register for the exam.

He explained that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Malam Umar Namadi, was committed to repositioning the state education sector as a key foundation for sustainable development, in line with its “12-Point Agenda.”

Prof. Haruna noted that while the government has been spending significant resources to improve educational infrastructure, meaningful learning improvements cannot be achieved without also enhancing the capabilities of teachers.

“Based on that, the State Executive Council approved for the board to organise a competency test for all teachers. This will enable us to understand the kind of training each teacher requires to improve his or her skills”.

“Out of the 9,600 teachers registered for the exam, over 70% have never attended any capacity-building training since they were employed, including some with over 15 years of service,” the Chairman added.

Teachers Register For Special Training

Teachers Register For Special Training

He stated that after the exam, the teachers will be categorised into three groups: Group A, those with both knowledge and teaching skills; Group B, those with knowledge but lacking teaching skills; and Group C, those lacking both knowledge and teaching skills.

“Each group will be offered specialised training. Those in Group C will undergo intensive training and subsequent examinations for a period to ensure they are equipped with the required knowledge and skills”.
“For those with slower learning uptake, we will attach them to competent teachers within their schools for ongoing guidance and mentorship,” Prof Haruna said.

He further stated that the project is not about retrenchment, but his primary goal is to enhance teachers’ capacity for better learning outcomes within the state’s basic education sector.

Continue Reading

Economy

PFA: Leadway Pensure Leverages Innovations For Quality Service Delivery

Published

on

By

Leadway Pensure

PFA: Leadway Pensure Leverages Innovations For Quality Service Delivery

PFA: Leadway pensure leverages innovations for quality service delivery. A Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), Leadway Pensure said, it is leveraging innovation to escalate quality

service delivery to its retirement savings account (RSA) holders. This milestone marks 20 years of trust, exceptional service delivery, and value creation as it celebrates its anniversary. It highlights two decades of dedication to protecting the financial wellness of Nigerian workers.

Over the last 20 years, the PFA has served thousands of customers across Nigeria and beyond, standing as a clear testament to its commitment to providing financial stability at various stages of workers’ career journeys.

Speaking on this remarkable achievement, MD/CEO, Leadway Pensure PFA, Olusakin Labeodan, stated that: “As we celebrate 20 years of Leadway Pensure PFA, this milestone is more than a celebration of longevity, it is a tribute to trust, service and innovation.

From the very beginning, our mission has been very clear, to deliver a pension system without barriersOver two decades, we have transformed this vision into reality by simplifying pension access, embracing cutting-edge technology, and ensuring our services are always within reach. With a nationwide presence, a robust mobile platform, and the AI-powered assistant LISA, we have made pension services accessible to eligible Nigerians.

“We have supported countless customers in achieving life goals, from retirement to home ownership, by ensuring access, clarity and care at every step. This is a testament to the strong relationships and legacy we have built with every customer. Trust is at the heart of our service, propelling us to uphold world-class standards and earning us global certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001:2022 for information security, a mark of our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our customers’ funds. ”

Leadway Pensure

Leadway Pensure

Looking ahead, the company said, it is committed to promoting youth-focused financial literacy, growing personal pension plans and strengthening customer engagement across every stage of the pension journey.

“The next years and beyond will be shaped by the same dedication that brought us this far, a future-forward mindset, a culture of excellence, and an unyielding promise to stand by our customers every step of the way,” Olusakin concluded.

As it commemorates 20 years of service, Leadway Pensure reaffirms its commitment to simplifying retirement planning, delivering consistent value, and driving financial inclusion across Nigeria.

Continue Reading

Trending