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Civil Society Observer Group Thumbs PDP Gubernatorial Primary Election

Published

10 months ago

February 24, 2024

…Says it met Best Standard Practice

Jeph Ajayi

The Coalition of accredited Civil Society Observer Groups has thumbed the successful conduct of credible, transparent, free, fair and all inclusive primary election of the party on the 22nd February, 2024 Edo State People Democratic Party PDP ahead of the September 21st, 2024 Governorship election.

To this end, the group also commend the PDP family in Edo state, especially the delegates for their peaceful and orderly conduct during the election.

In a statement issued by the ,group team leader Victor Kalu and Team Secretary Mrs Rose Akhi gbe on Friday in Abuja said the election is no doubt met the international best practices for democratic election.

According to the statement, We Coalition of accredited Civil Society Observer Groups for the 22nd February, 2024 Edo State PDP Gubernatorial Primary Election, having carefully followed the entire process of the election with respect to the Party Constitution and Guidelines for the conduct of the election in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission Set Standards and our other relevant National Electoral Laws, wish to state our position and report categorically clear as thus:

“Ahead of the September 21st, 2024 Governorship election in Edo state, as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the soon to be ended tenure of the incumbent governor H. E. Godwin Obaseki.
“The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) announced 22nd February, 2024 for the conduct of their primaries to elect a flag bearer for the 21st Sept. 2024 Governorship election. This date was timely communicated to all the aspirants, party stakeholders and all other relevant authorities including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and was unanimously agreed by all as being convenient.

“The official venue for the party primary election was announced to be at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Be in City. While the party also adopted indirect primaries.
“We are impressed to observed that before the primary election, the party ratified as genuine and authentic the delegate lists that was produced after the peaceful delegate election and in affirmation of the commitment in ensuring credible, transparent, free, fair and all inclusive primary election of the party, the delegate list was given to all the aspirants to enable them have direct access to the delegate and lobby for their votes.
“Ten aspirants were screened and cleared to participate in the election.There was an impressive and adequate awareness among party members for the election.”
The statement added that: “Also, the regular stakeholders engagement by the National and State leadership of the party was very instrumental in ensuring peaceful and orderly conduct of the primary election. The stakeholders meetings played a crucial role in disseminating important information, clarifying doubts, and building trust among party members.

“The level playground given to all the aspirants, even to the point of making the delegate list available to them, went a long way in dowsing tension and building great trust on the neutrality and unbiased position of the National LEADERSHIP of the party and the Election Committee in conducting credible and acceptable election.

“Accreditations: The screening and accreditation of delegates, media, Observers, Security Personnel and all other election duty officials was carefully and transparently done in Edo Hotel Marque, GRA, Benin city between the hours of 8:am to 12:noon prompt under the watchful eyes of various security Agents and other relevant bodies. The successfully accredited delegates and officials were simultaneously transported to the venue of the Primary election, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium by designated Buses under a very tight security.

“Based on the above appreciable democratic approach taken by the PDP leadership and His Excellency Dauda Lawal led Primary Election Committee, we wish to make the following categorical state;

“The PDP Governorship Election in Edo state actually took place as scheduled on the 22nd of September, 2024.The national and State leadership of the People Democratic Party was very resolute and committed to ensuring a peaceful and all inclusive party primary election that will stand as an example and further unit the party.

” This they, to the best of our observation achieved. There was timely availability of all the election materials and open display of same to all the Aspirants’ Agents, delegates and all relevant stakeholders before the commencement of the election in line with the party’s constitution and guidelines.

“There was a visible and adequate presence of various security Agents who conducted themselves in a very professional and orderly manner before, during and after the election.

“The Executive Governor of the state, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki is hereby applauded for his fatherly disposition to all the aspirants and for his open campaign against godfatherism/imposition of candidates in our polity as a people.

“Finally we commend and appreciate PDP Edo state Governorship Primary Election Committee ably chaired and co-chaired by His Excellency Dauda Lawal of Zamfara state and His Excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta state respectively, for their professional conduct and for remaining resolute and committed to conducting the most credible, transparent, free and fair all inclusive primary election in the state.

“We conclude by stating very categorically that the Edo State PDP Governorship Primary Election actually took place as scheduled on the 22nd February, 2024 in the official Venue and INEC recognized venue, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City under a very peaceful and calm atmosphere. The exercise was transparent, credible, free and fair in line with democratic tenets of constitutional elections.

“We therefore adjudge it to have met the international best practices for democratic election.

“The results and outcome of the election should therefore be accepted by all as a true reflection of the People Democratic Party members’ choice of their flag bearer in the forth coming September 21st 2924 governorship election in the Edo state.

“We use the medium to urge the winner of the Primary election to reach out to all other aspirants and show magnanimity in victory, while appealing to those who lost out in the election to show a good spirit of sportsmanship which is the beauty of democracy- there is always another chance, or better explore every democratic channel as stipulated by law to ventilate their grievances without violence.”

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Featured

Dikko And The New Vision Accountability and Development in Sports

Published

7 days ago

December 16, 2024

The Gleamer

Felly Mammah N.

Since the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhaji Shehu Dikko assumed office on the 30th of October, 2024, he has systematically and deliberately been putting in place structures that would result to proper development of sports in Nigeria. Shortly after he was first appointed by President Bola Tinubu as a leading strength of sports, the Director General (DG), Hon. Bukola Olapade was appointed to compliment his efforts.

Many sports analysts believe that the duo of Dikko and Olapade who have been very visible in sports administration will be one of the best combination to take the sports sector to the next level. The DG no doubt, is the head of administration in the Commission, but it should be noted that the financial enablement to manage the affairs of staff and the political might that shops for the finance needed in the running of the sector rest on the Chairman who has the task of liaising with the President directly.

It is also, worthy to note that there is a huge difference between the administration of in the Civil Service as it is controlled by a Permanent Secretary and Directors while the administration of a Commission involves Board Members and experts whose voices and actions are also, game-changing; more so as Commissioners are likely going to take charge of the different zones to proffer solutions for a way forward. The defunct Ministry of Youths and Sports Development which later in 2023 metamorphosed into the Ministry of Sports Development on the assumption of President Bola Tinubu, produced a minister who was not versed in sports administration and as a result, faced mass criticism especially from men of the media.

These men of the pen profession are the torchlight of global sporting activity; they equally keep the history of both sports participation globally as well as the records of athletes’ performances. Their torchlight on past Minister’s and particularly the recent past, have revealed that most of the people who presided over sports administration do not really have any knowledge of the sector before their appointment.

The exit of the immediate past Minister, Sen. John Owan Enoh, refreshingly paved the way for change and this has brought in sports personnels that are expected to place sporting activities in the digital world. Suffice it to also, say that the new management of Sports Commission in parts of her changes is expected to sanitize athletes’ attitude and character for better reflection of children who have seen and communicated with their peers in the Western world.

However, the clarion call for President Tinubu to remove politics in sports may have changed the leadership of sports going by what many sports fans saw in the last outing of both Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, where a country like Nigeria did not measure up to her potentials.

Despite the poor performance of atheletes during the World Olympics Games, the past immediate past Minister deserves to be commended that during his tenure, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Games was reawakened as the participation of our Super Eagles brought back hope and jubilation to sports fans including the President and higher authorities. Yes whopping sum of N12 Billion was released two weeks to the Olympics Games and at a time the country was not financially stable. Despite the presidential financial support, the medals presented to the country were crisis and ignorant of both the atheletes, Nigeria Olympic Committee and the Atheletic Federaton to do the needful.

Therefore, it is heart-warming that the President harkened to the appeal of his fellow sports lovers to handpick a known figure in the sports arena to share his wealth of experience that gave him both a name in Sports and positions as the former Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Chairman League Management Company (LMC), FIFA match Commissioner of significance, 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and presently, CAF Committee Member, in addition to his new portfolio as Chairman NSC.

My reference point here is that Alh. Dikko has been given the authority to effect positive change in sports sector, co-ordinate over 40 Sports Federations in the sector, welcome ideas of both sports stakeholders, individuals and veterans of sports that will enable him x-ray the reasons for poor performances in the sector and to chat a way forward for success story. There can never be a new testament without an old testament, thus the reason Alh. Dikko’s doors have remained opened to receive courtesy calls that included the visits by past administrators and foreigners who want to facilitate with whom the cap fits.

Still, in the mood of celebration to formally welcome Alh. Dikko to office was the peculiar power of sports which gathered momentum and the crowd for happy moments as seen in the recent novelty match organized by his friends, associates and sports veterans at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja recently. That gathering clearly announced not just a man who has made a name for himself at a height in global political decision making in sports circle, but a man who has also, given voice to our country’s leagues and international activities.

Sports is a significant sector that comprises emotion, tension, happiness, sadness even death and hope irrespective of the fact that it has the potential to feed many mouths. The sector cannot be compared to other Ministries with delayed bureaucracies and frustration of abilities. While in the civil service the head will rather submerge a growing talent for fear of power thrown, a coach who discovers a talent takes the credit for showcasing a star athelete discovered. Sports has been proven to generate revenue as well as attract public partnership which are all aimed at enhancing podium performance by the athletes.

Shehu Dikko’s business vision and wide participation in football contributed in making him the right candidate to place the sector in its expected level, increase the GDP of the country’s economy and equally be accountable with administrative roadmap for success.

The novelty match organised for him by his sports fans and League managers had the likes of Samson Siasia, Victor Ikpeba, Mutiu Adepoju, Dominic Iorfa, Ahmed Musa in attendance to share their joy with him as they displayed their talent with their foot.
Others that graced the occasion were Super Sports General Manager, Felix Nwogu, former and present Chairmen of House Committee on Sports, NFF President, NOC members and persons from across the globe. That singular act indicated a clear fact that Dikko can actually gather momentum with persons that can support his ideology to deliver as charged by the presidency.

However, the Chairman’s meekness to open his doors to all does not mean weakness neither does it mean that he has not commenced work officially. His work is more of brain tasking because ideas actually rule the world. I will boldly say that he has resumed work with like minds that will not only be on the same page with him but will as well be on success Guinness Book with him.

Felly Mammah N.
Press Officer (NSC).

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