United Kingdom To deploy observers in Edo and Ondo States to monitor the governorship elections

The United Kingdom yesterday said it would deploy observers in Edo and Ondo States to monitor the governorship elections, and threatened sanction, including a travel ban to the United Kingdom, against sponsors of violence in the two elections.

The UK said the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, had met with the leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The decisions of the UK Government were contained in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the High Commission to Nigeria.

The statement said: “As a friend and partner of Nigeria, we are closely following the lead up to the off-cycle governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states scheduled for September 19 and October 10, respectively.

“These elections are important, both as an essential element of effective governance within both states and an indicator of the strength of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“Our High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has held meetings with leaders of the two main political parties, the APC and PDP.

“The discussions focused on the need for the parties’ leaders to prevail on supporters to avoid violence before and after the elections and we welcome the Edo candidates’ signatures of the National Peace Committee and INEC convened a peace accord yesterday.

“We will be deploying observation missions to both the Edo and Ondo elections and supporting civil society led observation.

“The UK takes a strong stand against election-related violence and, just as we did in the general election in 2019, will continue to take action against individuals we identify as being responsible for violence during the elections.

“This could include restrictions on their eligibility to travel to the UK, restrictions on access to UK based assets or prosecution under international law.

“The UK will continue to provide support and engagement as we move towards these elections. We urge INEC, the Police and all other agencies involved to work together to deliver free, fair and credible elections.”

Source: THISDAYLIVE.COM

Two Policemen Killed As Adams Oshiomhole Narrowly Escape Death At Benin Bye-Pass In Attempt Assassination

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Tuesday escaped death by the whisker in a convoy accident.

It was learnt the incident occurred around 12noon at Benin-Lagos bypass before Oluku junction when Oshiomhole was on his way to Usen in Ovia local government of Edo for campaign.

Two policemen attached to the convoy dead while two others sustained serious injuries during the incident and are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

His media aide, Victor Oshioke, who narrated the incident, however alleged it was an assassination attempt.

Oshioke, in a statement, said: ‘’The convoy was heading for Usen, where Comrade Oshiomhole was expected to appear at a campaign rally, along with Pastor Ize-Iyamu, when a trailer driving in the same direction veered off its course, hit the back-up Toyota Hilux carrying seven policemen, forcing it off the road into the bush and rammed into the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) carrying Comrade Oshiomhole, causing substantial damage.

“Comrade Oshiomhole and other persons in the convoy, apart from those indicated above, did not sustain any injury.

“It is pertinent to state, without fear of contradiction, that the convoy of Comrade Oshiomhole was maintaining legal speed limit when the incident occurred.

‘’This explains why the trailer, travelling in the same direction overran the Toyota Hilux vehicle off the road and still hit the SUV carrying Comrade Oshiomhole, causing substantial damage.’’

Alleging the accident was not ordinary, the media aide added: “Without prejudice to police investigations, eyewitnesses account of the incident suggest, and we believe rightly too, that this was an assassination attempt targeting Comrade Oshiomhole.”

“While we pray for the quick recovery of the injured policemen, we extend our condolences to the families of the departed.

“Comrade Oshiomhole has visited the injured policemen in the hospital and he deployed some of his aides to be on standby at the hospital to ensure that the wounded policemen are given the best medical attention possible.

“The case was immediately reported at the Ekiadolor Police Station and investigations are ongoing.

“We call on the security agencies to do everything possible to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident, especially because of the threat to the life of Comrade Oshiomhole and the violence which has been directed towards him and the people around him in recent times.”

FRSC demotes officers who assaulted driver who stripped in Benin

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC has demoted its officers who were involved in an altercation with a tricycle rider in a video recorded in Benin, Edo state.

While the traffic offender has also been charged to court.

The officers were demoted after a panel constituted by the Corps conducted an investigation into the incident. The recommended of the panel being that the 7-man patrol team involved in the incident be sanctioned with the award of loss of seniority and reduction in rank.

The case against the erring driver was filed in charge number; MEV/177C/2020, on 22 July, 2020  before His Worship, Magistrate( Mrs )E. Ojehumen at the Evbuoriaria Magistrate Court 8, Sapele road, Benin.

During the proceedings, the defendant pleaded not guilty to a 2 count charge bordering on breach of public peace and malicious damage of FRSC Patrol Vehicle.

The Counsel to the defendant eventually applied for bail which was granted by the Court, and the case was adjourned to 5 August, 2020 for further hearing.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6SInhqp

The Corps Marshal  has further directed the  redeployment of the affected FRSC staff from their present Command in addition to the reduction in rank  that was awarded  by the Disciplinary Panel against the affected personnel  having been investigated and found liable of patrol misconduct, incivility, unprofessional and unethical behaviour towards a road traffic  offender; acts that contradict the patrol operational ethics of the Corps.

Edo governorship election: Wike, Fintiri, others strategise to defeat APC

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Campaign Council for Edo Governorship Election, yesterday, met in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on how to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming election.

The Chairman of the council and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said the party was confident of victory for Gov. Godwin Obaseki.

Gov. Wike who presided over the meeting, said Edo electorate was desirous to consolidate the democratic gains the various elective representatives of the party had provided for it.

Those who attended the meeting were Governors Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo), members of the campaign council, chairmen and secretaries of all sub-committees of Edo 2020.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Gov. Fintiri said the meeting adopted the best strategies to retain “what rightly belongs to PDP”.

Fintiri who is the deputy chairman of the campaign council said they would leave no stone unturned in working with Edo people to deepen democracy.

He said, “The election is already on the table for PDP. We have a sellable candidate, who is Gov. Godwin Obaseki. Nigerians are moving forward with democracy and we have to deepen it together.

“Technically, Edo is a PDP state, because in the last election of 2019, we actually won all the elections. So, it is not coming as a surprise that Gov. Obaseki has to shift ground from APC to join us.

“Now, we are putting all the forces together, and there is nothing that’s left behind. So Edo is completely a PDP state and we are going in there to win the election.”

The Chairman of the Publicity Committee for Edo 2020, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, said Edo people were convinced that Gov. Obaseki was the best candidate in the race.

Our correspondent reports that since the inauguration of the 77-member campaign council by PDP NWC on July 7, 2020, in Abuja, yesterday’s meeting was the first.

Kidnapped APC Chieftain That Was Kidnapped Found Dead On Monday

The leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that was kidnapped in Edo State, Mr. Presley Ediagbonya was on Monday found dead in the bush after two days of his abduction by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

Mr. Presley Ediagbonya, a former Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Edo state was alleged to have been kidnapped from his farm at the weekend in Utesi, around Okada, Ovia North East local government of the State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said: “speculations on the death is still sketchy because I am yet to be briefed.

“When I am briefed, I will come up with a detailed statement to members of the public,” DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said.

Speaking on the development, the member representing Ovia Federal Constituency, Denis Idahosa, urged security operatives to increase their security presence in the Area in order to prevent a re-occurrence of such sad incident.

He described the late Ediagbonya as an outstanding party leader with broad knowledge in party administration and grassroots politice