Author: TheScrutinyNG

Some observers monitoring the ongoing governorship election in Edo State have expressed satisfaction with the early movement of election materials across the state. Executive Director, Partners for Electoral Reforms and Board member, YIAGA Africa, Ezenwa Nwagu commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the smooth and early distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials across polling units nationwide. Speaking to reporters at ward 12, Agbado primary school, in Benin city, Nwangu said the process has so far been very commendable and a far cry from previous situations where materials left for polling units late resulting in late commencement of polls.…

Lagos commuters will have to make do with alternative routes as the Federal Government has shut popular Eko Bridge and ramps for an eight-week repair, which will involve resurfacing the essential asphalt. The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, made this known in a statement on Saturday morning in Lagos. Kesha added that the closure would take effect from Friday, September 20, to Wednesday, November 20. The statement read, “The Federal Ministry of Works plans essential asphalt resurfacing work on the Eko Bridge and Ramps for eight weeks, effective from Friday, Sept. 20, by 7.00 a.m., through November…

Despite the order by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for all businesses to close down and movements restricted between the hours of the ongoing Edo State governorship election, traders at the new Benin market have defied the order by engaging in a brisk business on Saturday morning as the Edo governorship election kicks off. At 7 a.m., traders have set their makeshift stalls, selling goods along the main thoroughfare despite official warnings to maintain order for the electoral process. Despite a police presence along the roads to the market, which is aimed at enforcing the movement restrictions, the marketplace…

The police have revealed an arrest of two suspected thugs ahead of the ongoing  election for Governor Godwin Obaseki’s successor in Edo State. Police said its personnel arrested the two political thugs during an overnight raid at some locations across Edo State. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a press statement on Saturday. Adejobi stated that three cut-to-size locally fabricated pistols and one locally made gun were recovered from the suspects. He said, “The Nigeria Police Force has made a significant breakthrough in its efforts to curb electoral violence in Edo State with the arrest…

Security personnel were seen mounting roadblocks on roads in Benin as early as 6:00 a.m., ahead of the Edo governorship election, which is set to begin at 8:00 a.m. Saturday (today). The News Agency of Nigeria reports that security personnel in the wee hours of the day began stopping and searching vehicles at the roadblocks, as well as asking the occupants questions in order to ensure security, law, and order during the election. Some commercial bus drivers who wanted to make quick business, however, managed to avoid the roadblocks to evade questioning by security officials. The popular Ring Road had…

Situation Room on the War Against Banditry, a coalition of civil society organizations, has decried the poor handling of banditry in Zamfara State by the state government. The group, during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, said the response from the state government regarding the menace of banditry in the state, especially the approach towards the notorious bandit leader Turji, has been inadequate. Nwogu Ndubisi, the convergence of the group, in the briefing, said the poor handling of the problem had allegedly escalated tensions and insecurity in Zamfara and surrounding areas. He explained that Zamfara has been grappling with…

Former Senate President and current Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Adolphus Wabara, has called for the sacking of the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Muheeba Dankaka, over corruption allegations. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH, the former Senate President shared his experience during a visit to the FCC, where he sought job placements for individuals in his constituency. He revealed that he was informed that jobs were not available without a bribe. “I physically went to the FCC, requesting two or three jobs for some people in my wards. You will…

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, is under fire after being linked with terrorism in the country. Matawalle is alleged to have procured vehicles for bandit leaders, including a notorious kingpin, Bello Turji, and others while serving as Zamfara State Governor. The current state governor, Dauda Lawal, who appeared on TVC, a national television station, on Wednesday, urged the minister to resign. He said, “If I were him (Matawalle), I would resign and face all the allegations against me because, from all the information we are getting, my predecessor was fully involved in some of this banditry.” According…

Unknown gunmen have set ablaze Pinnacle Filling Station in Enugu. The incident, which happened around 10 am Friday morning along Agbani Road, saw the gunmen also burnt four cars belonging to different customers. The gunmen, numbering four, had reportedly come into the facility in a Toyota Corolla car. They were said to have snatched the nuzzles from the pump attendants and used the nuzzle to splash fuel on the cars close to the pump and set them on fire. It was further gathered that the gunmen also poured fuel into a 25 liter can with which they used to splash fuel…

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has recalled events that erupted the hitherto peaceful governance under him in the state which led to impeachment plot orchestrated against him. Fubara said when he assumed office the political family was united but became divided because of the political crisis that erupted in the state. The governor, in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, spoke when he inaugurated eight new judges at the Executive Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday, September 20. The eight new High Court judges are Justice Frank Onyiri, Justice Victor Chinedum Ugoji,…