Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) invites members and the General Public to our second press conference on our observations/recommendations on the forthcoming Edo Gubernatorial Election scheduled for this Saturday 21/9/2024.
DATE: Friday, 20th September 2024.
TIME: 10:00AM Prompt.
VENUE: (THE MASSES HOUSE). 6B, Obakhavbaye Street. Adjacent, Spirit and Life Bible Church,Off Oba Market Road BeninCity.
Members of the Public can reach out to (EDOCSO) SITUATION ROOM on pre-election, election and post election reports and feedbacks. on these numbers; 08133733554. 07047637552. 08071448219.
Leftist Aimuae-Osa Igbinomwanhia. Public Relations Officer. Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO).
WEBSITE: www.edosco.org email: info@edocso.org TWITTER: @alutaedocso FACEBOOK PAGE: Edo Civil Society Organisations.
Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), Election Situation Room Cordially invites all Comrades and the general public to engage the gubernatorial candidates in the forthcoming Edo election.
Members of the General Public can reach out to the Edo Civil Society Organisations, SITUATION ROOM on these numbers-
07047637552, 08071448219.
DATE: Saturday, 14th September 2024.
TIME: 9:00AM, Prompt.
Leftist Aimuae-Osa Igbinomwanhia. Public Relations Officer. Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO).
08133733554.
THE MASSES HOUSE. 6B, Obakhavbaye Street, Adjacent to Spirit and Life Bible Church, Beside Former Eco Bank, Off Oba Market Road/Isekhere Street. Benin-City.
Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), Election Situation Room Cordially invites all Comrades and the general public to engage the gubernatorial candidates in the forthcoming Edo election.
Members of the General Public can reach out to the Edo Civil Society Organisations, SITUATION ROOM on these numbers-
07047637552, 08071448219.
DATE: Saturday, 14th September 2024.
TIME: 9:00AM, Prompt.
Leftist Aimuae-Osa Igbinomwanhia. Public Relations Officer. Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO).
08133733554.
THE MASSES HOUSE. 6B, Obakhavbaye Street, Adjacent to Spirit and Life Bible Church, Beside Former Eco Bank, Off Oba Market Road/Isekhere Street. Benin-City.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Wednesday, 11th September 2024, assured stakeholders in Edo State of the commission’s readiness for the 21st September 2024, gubernatorial election.
The INEC boss appealed to stakeholders in Benin to cooperate with the commission and the security agencies, to enable them conduct a violence free and credible election.
The INEC boss promised to Mop Up uncollected PVCs, deploying the BVAS machines for voter’s accreditation and for upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
Leftist Omobude Agho, the Coordinator-General of Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the Edo State governorship election is free, fair, and credible.
Leftist Omobude Agho, tasked Prof Yakubu Mahmood to use this election as an opportunity to redeem the commission image under his leadership.
EDOCSO, through its Coordinator-General, emphasised on the success of the Edo gubernatorial election would significantly impact public trust in INEC’s ability to conduct credible elections in the future.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, disclosed that 35,000 police officers will be deployed to provide security for the Edo governorship election and 8,000 military and other sister security agencies would be deployed to manned the waterways, as well as the entry and exit parts of the state.
All local securities in Edo State should refrain from participating in the Edo election. Activities of the Edo State Security Network (ESSN), which have been suspended, remain suspended from participating in the security arrangement for the governorship election slated on the 21st September 2024, in the state. The IGP said this during the stakeholders meeting with political parties and civil society organisations.
The IGP assured that the police would ensure strict compliance with the Electoral Act and other relevant laws to provide a conducive environment for peaceful conduct of the election. He emphasised, if anyone caught with weapons during the election will be treated as a common criminal.
The IGP said, the task of securing voters and election materials rested squarely on the police, who will be supported by other national security agencies to ensure credible election.
INEC boss urging, that all hands must be on deck to make the job of conducting elections easy, he pointed out that election is a multi-stakeholder activity, although INEC, had a role to play, this must be complemented by all stakeholders.
The stakeholders present were unanimous in their appeal to INEC to consider an extension of PVCs collection, three-day extension was granted, based on collective agreement, from Friday, 13th to Sunday, 15th September 2024.
In attendance were the chairmen of political parties, gubernatorial candidates, traditional and religious leaders, security agencies, civil society organisations, and the media.
The commission appeals to all registered voters to seize the opportunity to collect their PVCs. In line with their policy, no collection by proxy will be allowed.
Contributions were made by critical stakeholders, questions were ask and answers were provided accordingly by the organisers.
Leftist Aimuae-Osa Igbinomwanhia. Public Relations Officer. Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO).
08133733554, 08076851206, 08035183816.
THE MASSES HOUSE. 6B, Obakhavbaye Street, Adjacent to Spirit and Life Bible Church, Beside Former Eco Bank, Off Oba Market Road/Isekhere Street, Benin-City.
Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), Election Situation Room Cordially invites all Comrades and the general public to a road procession, code name ” EYES ON THE BALL”. To create awareness, as the Edo gubernatorial election draws near the atmosphere is becoming increasingly tensed and toxic. At this point it becomes so important to remind stakeholders to play by the rules of engagement, including the various security agencies.
We shall be taking the message to the Independent Nigeria Electoral Commission (INEC), as the empire not to be biased.
DATE: Friday, 13th September 2024.
TIME: 7:00AM, Prompt.
VENUE: National Museum Ground, King’s Square, Benin-City.
Leftist Aimuae-Osa Igbinomwanhia. Public Relations Officer. Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO).
08133733554, 08076851206, 08035183816.
THE MASSES HOUSE. 6B, Obakhavbaye Street, Adjacent to Spirit and Life Bible Church, Beside Former Eco Bank, Off Oba Market Road/Isekhere Street. Benin-City.
Gentlemen of the press, stakeholders, comrades of Edo Civil Society Organisations ladies and gentlemen present in today’s press briefing you are all highly appreciated.
We the above-named coalition of civil rights groups in Edo state with huge membership strength within Edo state and in the Diaspora, having our structures in the 18 local government councils and in several communities in the state have deemed it necessary to issue statements in regards to the forthcoming governorship election that is slated to hold on the 21st of September, 2024.
As a critical stakeholder in Edo state and the collective voice of the masses, it will be a disservice to the society and our state, if we fail or refuse in lending our voices to the events leading to the forthcoming election of a governor that will be in charge of our affairs in the next four years.
First, we want to commend all the political parties in presenting what they perceived as their best for the election through primary electioneering processes, however, in some cases it was manipulated against the will of members of the party, while some candidates emerged not without skirmishes along the line, that duly observed and added to the history books and put behind now,
We shall be looking through some pertinent issues as a civil rights coalition towards having a successful, credible, fair and free election in our dear Edo state.
PARTY PRIMARIES
We observed that political party’s primaries are yet to be properly structured in reducing the incidents of post primaries litigations and media warfare. The internal conflict resolution mechanism in political parties have not been effective. While it is generally agreed that, primaries are internal affairs of political parties, it is also important for political parties to understand that the final outcome and who it throws up as a candidate at the end of the day has a long lasting impart on the general society.
PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE
Edo state has relatively enjoyed peace, save in isolated cases of communal crisis and cult related killings. In the last presidential election, very low incident of violence was recorded in Edo state. The local government elections came with some records of higher violence due to its grassroots nature and the intent of the ruling party to take it all by force which is prevalent in local government council elections across the country.
Worthy of mention in the forthcoming election is the incident that happened in the Benin airport on July 18th, 2024 involving the governorship candidate of the APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu who came to Benin to enforce a purported court ruling reinstating him as the deputy governor. It was an unfortunate situation that saw to the death of one Inspector Akor Onu an orderly attached to Senator Monday Okpebholo.
We use this medium to urge the Nigeria Police force to carry out discreet and unbias investigation on the matter to prove for once that the life of an ordinary Nigerian person is valuable.
There have been disturbing reports of violence in some parts of the state, political parties’ intolerance of each other. Physical attacks, destruction of campaign materials and personal properties have been reported as regular occurrence.
We have also received credible reports of violence in some voters’ card collection centres where armed thugs harassed, threatened and chased away voters they can’t confirm their political party’s loyalty. The incidents of collection of voter’s card by proxies or by political party’s agents have become a common practice with the assured conspiracy of INEC officials, while security agencies look the other way to the helplessness of patriotic citizens with genuine voting intentions.
Most very recently is the violent attack at Uhunmora in Owan west local government area where a young man beaten to a pulp and left in his pool of blood to die by a gang of political opponents
CAMPAIGNS
We have noted that instead of political parties to go about their campaigns and selling their manifestos to the people for informed decision on election day, they have imbibed a sad tradition of the use of vile and bile words against party candidates. They are expected to strictly stick to issues and ideologically based engagements that will better the lot of the people.
Verbal attacks must be discouraged as it is capable of breeding bloody violence and eternal hate among supporters, instead we encourage that Manifestos must be compulsorily documented and freely made available to citizens for record and reference purposes. Candidates are expected to speak to issues and stop playing to the gallery during public outings and should call their online supporters to order as the verbal attacks are becoming more worrisome these days.
ELECTION CREDIBILITY/RIGGING
Edo state is known for its vibrancy, the continuous growth and development of our democracy rests on our collective and shared responsibility, as true democracy must demonstrate the will of the majority of the people and not that of a few persons in public institutions.
We, as the consciousness of the society will not allow anything less in this forthcoming governorship election. As a civil society network spread across the 18 local government areas of the state, we will be putting in place modalities in ensuring all concerned play by the rules.
We shall ensure that this election is done in the most tranquil and transparent circumstances where nobody, however highly placed he may be shall NOT be allowed to truncate the will of the people this time around.
We therefore insist that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) give Edo people assurance by its actions and activities that, it is ready to conduct a free, fair and credible governorship election in Edo state, while calling on our security agencies, the Nigeria police force, DSS, NSCDC and the military not to take part in the rigging plans as been recorded previously or putting the lives of citizens in exacerbated fears and uncertainty. We hope that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission can for once wake up to one of its major responsibilities by channeling its energy chase after vote buyers and sellers during this election which is more of national sabotage than chasing after ‘yahoo boys’.
LAUNCH OF ELECTION SITUATION ROOM
Consequently, Edo Civil Society Organisations is excited to announce to you gentlemen of the press, all and sundry of the official launch of our Situation Room for the 2024 Edo Governorship Election. The Election Situation room will run from today 3rd day of September 2024 till post-election days. The Election Situation Room will be a 24 hour service aimed at receiving real time reports from our members and members of the public for instant analysis, assessment and reporting.
Our phone numbers, Whatsapp numbers, social media handles, email and website will be utilized in receiving and responding to reports during pre-election, election and post-election happenings respectively.
Our mantra for the Election Situation Room is christened ‘EYES ON THE BALL’. If we see it, we will not just report or say it, WE WILL SHOUT IT by all means until the world hears it.
Once again, we want to appreciate you all for your immeasurable time. We will be updating the public on a regular basis on happenings within this period and issuing statements that will deliver our most desired election outcome.
The Leadership of Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), invites all affiliates and the General Public to an emergency press briefing on the issues surrounding the upcoming Edo Gubernatorial Election.
DATE: Tuesday, 3rd September 2024.
TIME: 10:00AM, Prompt.
VENUE: THE MASSES HOUSE. 6B, Obakhavbaye Street, Adjacent to Spirit and Life Bible Church, Beside Former Eco Bank, Off Oba Market Road Benin-City.
Leftist Aimuae-Osa Igbinomwanhia. Public Relations Officer. Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO).
The OC Anti-Vice, CSP Muhammad Abubakar, excesses will no longer be tolerated in Edo State as we must put an end to a reign of tyranny in Edo State Police Command.
CSP Muhammad Abubakar has become the overlord police boss and a deity in the Edo State Police Command spanning over fifteen years at the state police headquarters in Benin City. There are reports of the things him and his boys are known for, even as a former OC Anti cultism unit, is it the torture of detainees, obtaining of confessional statements from suspects under duress or illegal detentions without the notice of top management of the command?
As an overlord, he releases suspects in his custody at his pleasure without regard to human rights, however not without the suspect relatives paying huge ransoms for their wards freedom. This processes which negate the instructions of the underlisted laws:
Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA)
Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAP).
Anti-Torture Act.
Just at the weekend, he detained Leftist Omobude Agho and three others over lingering issues at Ugbineh Community, a matter that is already before a competent court of jurisdiction, falesfully accusing them of jumping administrative bail which never happened but laughable and puerile coming from a supposed senior police officer whom we expect to have known better. That was though made nonsense in court by the defence lawyer, Barr. Olayiwola Afolabi (SAN).
He deliberately denied the four men bail from Friday, 16th August 2024 till Monday, 19th August 2024 (a period beyond 72 hours). He became intentionally invasive and absent from duty, he avoided taking calls but responding to text messages. CSP Muhammad Abubakar committed himself to personal interest to override his dispassionate sense of judgement by conducting himself in most unprofessional manner in a matter he ought to be neutral as a supposed trained police officer. He turned himself into the investigator, prosecutor and the trial judge. His overall conduct was at total variance with the Nigeria Police Establishment Act as quoted below.
Section 353. Conduct of Police Officers Generally.
A police officer shall not conduct himself in such a manner as to bring his private interests into conflict, his public duties or in such manner as is likely to cause a suspicion in the mind of any reasonable person that he has- (a) allowed his private interests to come into conflict with his public duties; or
(b) used his public position for his private advantage. As enshrined in the Police Establishment Act.
Sunday 18th, August 2024, our executive members in company of a legal representative met with the CSP at the State Police Headquarters, since he has been avoiding every contact. The issue of granting them bail or charging them to court the following day being Monday, 19th August 2024 was raised, the deity of Edo State Police Command, ordered one of his overzealous lieutenants, officer Ella, to grant them bail, the OC, Anti-Vice, zoomed out of the command premises.
Only for his anointed officer, Mrs. Ella, who is regarded as boss lady, refusing to grant them bail, claiming that CSP Muhammad Abubakar gave the standing order, displaying his artificial authority again, and throwing the voice of reasoning into the winds. At that point we insisted they should be taken to court the following day without further delay.
On monday, 19th August 2024, members of EDOCSO gathered at the Benin High Court Complex in solidarity with the illegally arrested and detained victims, we waited until 11:00am without seeing the victims, only to be shockingly informed thereafter that the officers in charge hasn’t even resumed at all for the day in the Anti-Vice Department at the Police Headquarters. This brought about the anger that prompted the movement to bringing the evil to the attention of the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Nemi Edwin-Iwo via a protest that saw the picketing of the state command.
The newly deployed CP, was shocked at the revelations made by EDOCSO, his prompt intervention indeed fast tracked the process of charging victims to vacation court swiftly.
It was established that CSP Muhammad Abubakar’s primary objective is to fulfill his part of the bargain by filing a motion ex parte to secure a remand order to keep them in prison custody pending whenever he is ready to file a formal charge(s) against and to use same window to get evidence to support various demonic allegations to perpetually keep them in prison custody as long as he pretends to be investigating a non existence communal war, a tactics deployed by old school dubious law enforcement agents that has led to the numerous cases of awaiting trials innocent victims in our prisons today. This is purely demonic and abuse of police power, a very shameful tale to say the least.
The court proceedings went on smoothly, overturning the highly funded evil conspiracy plans, Leftist Omobude Agho and six others were granted bail awaiting the proper case to be filed.
With this sponsored evil against outstanding patriots of Edo state and Nigeria, without conscience at all, it has now become a very terrible risk to still have characters like CSP Muhammed Abubakar smuggling his way back into our state command for whatever reason. We are calling on the new Commissioner of Police, CP Nemi Edwin-Iwo, to quickly reconsider the deity CSP, redeployment back to Edo state Police Command, though history has it that CSP Muhammad Abubakar is powerful in upturning deployment exercise from previous Commissioners of Police using his connections from above to intimidate and boastfully have his ways. It is on records that Whenever he is deployed out of the command, he has a magical way of surreptitiously working his way back, making it look like there is something he left in Edo State that he cannot do in his police employment elsewhere in the country. He thinks he can continue to perform his unprofessional police duties in the state like before, it is time to say enough is a enough.
Edo State is home to a very formidable human rights movement where Leftist Omobude Agho serves in its leadership hierarchy, such character is not one whose fundamental human rights CSP Muhammad Abubakar can disrespect or abuse for any personal monetary sponsorship without maximum resistance.
We will not close our eyes to some individuals who will use their public office to intimate and oppress our people, not to talk of the People’s General himself. This affliction must be cured now and never to come back a second time.
We demand as soon as possible the redeployment of CSP Muhammad Abubakar out of Edo State with immediate effect, we won’t allow him this time again to paint a bad image of Edo State and the new CP as our camera eyes are currently fixed on him and the personnel’s under him.
Leftist Aimuae-Osa Igbinomwanhia. Public Relations Officer. Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO).
MASSES HOUSE. 6B, Obakhavbaye Street, Opposite Spirit And Life Bible Church Off, Oba Market Road, Benin-City, Nigeria.
The ELECON Chairman Leftist Austin Omoifo, presented to the house the newly elected executives that will take over the affairs of leadership of Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), they took their oath of office and the certificate of return was presented to the exco by Barrister Prest Aigbokhan.
The formal interim TEC leadership handed over all documents in their possession to the newly elected executives
Acceptance speech was delivered by the newly elected Coordinator General, Leftist Omobude Agho. The Coordinator General, expressed his appreciation to the ELECON Committee for a job well done. Barrister Prest Aigbokhan’s contributions to the network over the years were not left out, Leftist Omobude Agho appreciated him and others who have always been there for the movement.
The outgoing interim TEC executives under the leadership of Leftist Austin Enabulele were highly acknowledged, for their wonderful imput for the past two and a half years of piloting the affairs of this great Organisation.
He advised members to take studies seriously by attending meetings in their various organisations/study centers regularly, so that they can build capacity through knowledge. He also acknowledged the contributions made by our fallen heroes.
As the popular saying goes, when the students are ready the master is always there to teach, this was the case of those whose mind is prepared to learn. Members of Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) across board gather for their monthly combined general assembly to refresh themselves with knowledge at their national Secretariat in Benin-City.
The meeting was presided over by the newly elected Coordinator General, Leftist Omobude Agho. The newly elected secretary general, Leftist God’spower Okunbor, took the house through CHAPTER IV (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Government Nigeria, 1999 as Amended. Which focuses on FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.
SECTION 39, Right to freedom of expression and the press.
Reference was also made to, SECTION 38, Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion , and CHAPTER II (2), FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVES AND DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE.
SECTION 14, The Government and the people . The lecture session ended with questions and answers provided accordingly.
New members were welcome, and they were introduced to the nearest organisations/study centers.
Edo Civil Society Organisations is made up of different affiliate organisations across the state, it’s main goal is promotion of Good Governance, Social Justice and Human Rights.
Leftist Aimuae-Osa Igbinomwanhia. Public Relations Officer. Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO).
MASSES HOUSE. 6B, Obakhavbaye Street, Opposite Spirit And Life Bible Church Off, Oba Market Road, Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeria.
