The Edo State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, African Democratic Congress, ADC, and National Democratic Congress, NDC, have declared that they will boycott the local government elections slated for next Saturday.

DAILY POST reports that the Edo State local government election is scheduled for July 11, 2026, to elect chairmen for the 18 councils as well as 192 ward councillors.

A statement by the Dr. Tony Aziegbemi-led faction of the PDP opined that illegality cannot produce legitimacy.

The statement, signed by Aziegbemi and dated July 2, 2026, said the decision of the party not to participate in the council election was taken at the State Executive Committee meeting held at the party’s secretariat on July 1, 2026.

The statement, titled, “Illegality Cannot Produce Legitimacy: Edo State PDP Will Not Participate in the July 11, 2026 Local Government Election,”

said the decision to boycott the election was borne out of the party’s unwavering commitment to the Constitution, the rule of law, and democratic governance.

He also attributed the boycott to the dissolution of democratically elected local government chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors and their replacement with unelected caretaker committees, contrary to Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“The dissolution of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) before the expiration of its statutory tenure and the appointment of a new commission to conduct the proposed election.

“Refusal to obey eight High Court judgments reinstating elected council chairmen to their offices,” he said.

Aziegbemi posited that a process founded on constitutional violations cannot produce a legitimate democratic outcome, vowing that “we will not legitimise illegality.”

According to him, the PDP cannot, in good conscience, participate in an electoral exercise designed to validate unconstitutional actions. To do so would amount to endorsing lawlessness and betraying the democratic mandate of the people of Edo State.

He said the position of the party is that it would not field candidates or participate in the July 11, 2026, local government election.

“All units, wards, LGA executives, party leaders, members, and supporters are advised to refrain from participating in the exercise.

“The party will continue to pursue all lawful and constitutional means to defend democracy and protect the mandate of the people,” he stated.

While noting that the party would continue to stand for democracy, he assured that it remains resolute in defending the Constitution, the rule of law, and the sovereignty of the people.

On his part, Hon. Kennedy Odion, the factional chairman of the ADC in the state, said the party would be boycotting the election because the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) failed to sign a memorandum of understanding that electoral materials must get to all polling units, wards, and local governments.

Odion said other conditions were to ensure that the process is free, fair, and credible, and that the commission must be seen to be independent.

He said the electoral body failed to sign the MoU.

Also speaking, the NDC state secretary, Hon. Peter Ajube, said he was not aware that the party would be participating in the exercise.

He said the processes for the election were almost completed before the party came on board in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced that 2,339,233 registered voters are eligible to participate in the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election.

Osun State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Oluwatoyin Babalola, disclosed the figure on Thursday during the presentation of the Electronic Register of Voters to political parties in Osogbo.

Babalola described the presentation as a significant milestone in the commission’s preparations for the governorship election, saying the register would enhance transparency, inclusiveness and credibility in the electoral process.

She explained that the exercise was carried out in compliance with Sections 19 and 20 of the Electoral Act 2026 (as amended), which mandate INEC to compile, maintain, update and make available the register of voters to political parties within the stipulated period before elections.

According to her, “The electronic register will enable political parties to review the list of eligible voters across the state, plan their campaigns effectively and engage the electorate in a lawful and meaningful manner.”

She urged political parties to use the register responsibly to deepen voter education, encourage citizens’ participation in the electoral process and promote higher voter turnout on election day.

Babalola, however, warned against the misuse of the register for electoral offences, including vote-buying, voter inducement and intimidation.

“The Register of Voters must never be used as an instrument to perpetuate vote buying, voter inducement, intimidation, or any other form of electoral malpractice.

“Rather, it should serve as a legitimate means of reaching out to voters with ideas, programmes, and policies that will enable them to make informed choices. Elections should be contests of ideas and visions for development, not competitions based on inducement or other electoral offences,” she added.

The REC reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent governorship election in Osun State.

She said the commission had continued to put in place the necessary administrative, operational, technological and logistical arrangements required for the successful conduct of the election while maintaining professionalism, impartiality and integrity.

Babalola appealed to political parties, candidates, supporters and residents of the state to remain peaceful, law-abiding and cooperative throughout the electoral process.

She stressed that credible elections require the collective support of political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations, election observers and the electorate.

“I therefore urge everyone to reject violence, hate speech, misinformation, vote buying, and every other act capable of undermining the credibility of the election. Let us continue to work together in the interest of democracy and the progress of Osun State,” she said.

The INEC boss thanked political parties and other stakeholders for sustaining a peaceful political atmosphere in Osun State and formally presented the Electronic Register of Voters to the parties.

She expressed confidence that continued cooperation among stakeholders would strengthen the credibility of the August 15 governorship election.

My 4-point blueprint will unlock state’s agricultural, mineral potentials
•There is no faction in PDP; power belongs to the masses, not the elite

By Clifford Ndujihe, Politics Editor

THE 2027 Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi State, Chief Ifeanyi Odii, has promised to serve one term, reshape the socio-economic and political landscape of the state and quit.

In an interview in Lagos, Odii, who unveiled a four-point agenda aimed at rescuing the state from the shackles of poverty, insecurity, and infrastructural decay, said the greatest challenge of Nigeria is leadership; without the right people in positions of authority we cannot develop our nation..

Speaking on his vision, the self-made entrepreneur and corporate player detailed a strategic blueprint anchored on accelerated economic reform, development of agribusiness, solid minerals development, investment in healthcare, and unyielding enforcement of the rule of law. 

Drawing deeply from his background in the private sector, Odii argued that unlocking Ebonyi’s dormant wealth requires a leader with verified global exposure, a vast network of investors, and a practical understanding of wealth creation.

Four-point economic blueprint

At the core of the candidate’s manifesto is an aggressive economic transformation designed to pivot Ebonyi away from over-reliance on federal allocation. Recognizing the shifting global dynamics, he noted that depending on crude oil is no longer sustainable for any forward-thinking sub-national government due to exorbitant production and logistics costs.

“As someone coming from the business sector, I know the foundational importance of a robust economy. Ebonyi State is immensely blessed with solid minerals, vast arable land, and premium tourist destinations. My intention is to drive a new economy by investing heavily in creative industries and establishing an enabling environment where the private sector can truly thrive.”

The agricultural revolution under his proposed administration will be strictly zone-targeted, leveraging the unique soil fertility of Ebonyi’s three senatorial districts. Rather than relying solely on traditional subsistence farming, the focus will shift to large-scale commercial cultivation and agro-processing, he said.

The blueprint identifies specific clusters for industrial-scale processing of yam, cassava, rice, and specialised starch. In particular, he emphasized the commercialisation of cassava for industrial ethanol and high-grade starch, alongside investments in specialised crop processing plants to serve the global textile, seasoning, and packaging sectors. While acknowledging Abakaliki’s historical reputation for rice, he maintained that current production levels remain grossly inadequate for a staple food with massive global demand.

Tackling poverty, insecurity, and power conundrum

The PDP flagbearer pointed out the direct, symbiotic relationship between severe economic deprivation and the rising tide of insecurity within the state. Citing demographic data, he lamented that Ebonyi ranks among the poorest states in the country, creating a fertile breeding ground for social vices and political manipulation.

To break this cycle, he said he would deploy advanced technology to secure communities while simultaneously tackling the root cause of crime: hunger.

Poverty and voting vulnerability index

“A hungry man is an angry man, and an angry man will go to any length to commit a crime,” he warned. “If you check the statistics, seven out of every 10 people in Ebonyi live below the poverty line. It is so bad that politicians can easily mobilise 100,000 desperate people by offering a mere N2,000 each. You cannot do that in places like Anambra, where even commercial motorcyclists earn sustainable daily incomes. Our focus is to convert Ebonyi natural assets into tangible benefits for our people through job creation, qualitative education, and a revitalized healthcare delivery system.”

Addressing the critical issue of electricity, which has chronically crippled local industries, the candidate promised a rapid overhaul powered by the recent constitutional amendments on electricity regulation. He cited his personal residence in Banana Island, Ikoyi, which runs 100 percent off the national grid, as proof that sustainable energy models are achievable with the right political will.

Within four years, he said his administration will tap into alternative energy sources, utilising agro-wastes such as rice husks, corn stalks, and cassava-derived biogas, alongside independent turbines. These installations will feed directly into newly established industrial parks, offering a guaranteed local market for independent power providers.

Zoning myth and why competence trumps sentiment

On the highly debated issue of zoning and the state’s traditional “charter of equity,” the PDP candidate clarified historical misconceptions, noting that the arrangement was never formally documented. He argued that whenever politicians face a deficit of competence, they resort to divisive narratives to whip up cheap sentiments.

Providing a historical breakdown of power rotation between the Abakaliki and Afikpo socio-political blocs, he explained that the capital was originally cited in Abakaliki with an understanding that the first democratic governor would emerge from the Afikpo axis,an understanding that was promptly discarded.

His words: “In Ebonyi State, part of us came from Anambra/Enugu (Abakaliki bloc) and the other part came from Imo (Afikpo bloc) which is where I’m coming from.  When the state was created, it was agreed that if the state capital is in Abakaliki, the state governor should come from Afikpo but it didn’t happen that way.

“The state capital is in Abakaliki and the first governor was from Abakaliki too. So that agreement has never been followed and nobody has asked why it didn’t happen. Now, between Abakiliki and Afikpo blocs, looking at power since 1999, it means that Abakiliki bloc has been in power for 20 years, Afikpo bloc has been in power just for eight years. So who is actually short-changing the other? The current administration is from Abakiliki bloc. The charter of equity is not documented but even if it was documented, a charter of equity favours me as coming from Afikpo bloc.

“However, the only thing joining us together is the state. I am from Ebonyi State, I’m not contesting based on any zone. I am contesting because I am a bonafide son of Ebonyi State, who believes competence is what we need now not incompetence. I am a bonafide son of Ebonyi State, and I am contesting based on competence, not sectional sentiment. We cannot afford to choose incompetence over capacity just to satisfy an undocumented rotation. The masses are suffering, political parties are collapsing into our movement, and Nigerians are finally evolving past party labels to ask fundamental questions: Who are you? What have you done? What are you bringing to the table?”

On PDP, rule of law, and Federal Might

Responding to rumors of a structural split within the PDP, Odii dismissed the existence of any rival faction, describing such claims as mere propaganda aimed at distracting the electorate. He emphasized that the law recognizes only one PDP, whose leadership has fully transmitted his credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

He maintained that internal party disagreements must be resolved strictly in accordance with the party’s constitution and judicial rulings, stressing that those operating outside the official platform are merely acting in defiance of valid court orders.

Regarding the national leadership of the party and the role of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, the candidate defended Wike’s involvement in President Bola Tinubu’s unity administration:

“Wike is working under the current federal administration and supporting Mr. President openly. He was appointed to do a job, and nobody can deny that the FCT Minister is performing excellently. As a party, we value performance. He supports the President at the centre, but that does not mean he supports the APC at the state level. There is a clear line.”

Defending the ballot and one-term pledge

Reflecting on the lessons learned from his 2023 electoral outing when as PDP standard bearer he came second to Governor Francis Nwifuru of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Odii identified late preparation and voter apathy as key vulnerabilities that his team has systematically corrected. 

To combat the menace of vote-buying, he said his campaign has launched an extensive grassroots sensitization drive targeting market women, rural mothers, and uneducated youths.

The strategy focuses on shifts in voter mindset, showing people how accepting short-term financial inducements damages long-term infrastructure, healthcare, and their children’s future.

He expressed strong optimism in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s capacity to deliver a credible election but maintained that the ultimate responsibility lies with the citizens across the state’s 2,946 polling units. He urged registered voters to move past the defeatist mindset that votes do not count, which historically allows bad actors to manipulate outcomes when voter turnout drops to a meager 10 percent.

In a bold, unconventional political commitment, the entrepreneur vowed to break the traditional pattern of African governance by serving only a single term.

Asked where Ebonyi will be in 2031 under his watch as governor, if elected, he said: “I have told God and myself that I want to be the first governor who will not seek re-election after four years. I have already packaged everything I want to achieve for Ebonyi within that time-frame. Within two years, my achievements will speak for themselves, and the people themselves will see the transformation. I am putting my reputation on the line, and if I fail to deliver, let the truth stand against me.”