The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the Edo South Senatorial District, Frank Idehen Osifo, has appealed to party members to put aside their differences and unite to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming election.

Osifo said only a united PDP could free the people from what he described as the shackles of bad governance.

While noting that insecurity had spread across the nooks and crannies of the country under the APC-led federal and state governments, he expressed confidence that effective legislation would help address the challenges.

According to him, “I was born and raised in Benin like many of you, and I’m here today running for the Edo South Senatorial District seat in the National Assembly. I want to say that this election is not about me. It’s about that graduate on the streets of Benin aspiring for better opportunities.

“It’s for that trader struggling every day to feed their family. It’s for that farmer investing time and resources to ensure the communities of Edo South Senatorial District are fed. It’s about people who believe that it is time for us to take a transformative step to ensure the emancipation of our people.

“I’m a candidate who intends to bring all the forces together. I’m a bridge builder, not a wall builder. I’m not going to build walls against anybody. What happened during the primaries is behind us. We all have to come together now, unite, and ensure that, as one force, we perform well in the forthcoming election,” he said.

Osifo said previous lawmakers who represented the district had become disconnected from the people but pledged to be different by maintaining close contact with his constituents.

He promised to be an accessible senator who would listen to the demands of the electorate and attract meaningful development to communities across the district.

“Across the board, infrastructural deficits and security challenges have been preventing our farmers from going to their farms.

“Even though legislative business is about making laws that will improve the lives of our people, we can sponsor bills that will guarantee the security and safety of our people so they can go about their businesses and return to their farms without fear,” he added.

Osifo also commended PDP members for electing him as the party’s flag bearer and expressed confidence that, with their continued support and unity, the party would emerge victorious in the election.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the academic certificates and credentials submitted by all candidates seeking elective offices, saying such a move would strengthen transparency and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Obi made the call in a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday while reflecting on questions contained in the INEC nomination form he completed.

According to him, one of the questions in Section E of the form asks whether a candidate has ever been adjudged a lunatic or declared a person of unsound mind, prompting him to question whether Nigeria’s political leaders are demonstrating the qualities of sound-minded leadership.

He argued that the country’s pressing security and economic challenges should take priority over political activities.

“When Nigerians, including children and security personnel, are being abducted into the bushes, citizens cannot travel safely on our highways, several million Nigerians are uncertain where their next meal will come from, and several billions are being siphoned frivolously through non-existent agencies and projects, should politics really be our primary preoccupation?” he asked.

Obi maintained that a responsible leadership would declare the nation’s security and humanitarian crises a national emergency and mobilise all relevant institutions, security agencies, experts, community leaders and stakeholders to tackle them urgently.

He said the country’s survival, security and stability should take precedence over partisan politics and political calculations.

The former Anambra State governor also drew attention to another question in the nomination form asking whether a candidate had ever presented a forged certificate to INEC.

He questioned why the electoral commission should not, in the interest of transparency and accountability, make public the academic certificates and credentials submitted by all candidates contesting elections.

“Transparency strengthens democracy and builds public trust. Nigeria’s problems are too serious for politics as usual. It is time for leadership defined by competence, character, capacity, compassion, and commitment to service,” Obi stated.

He concluded his message with his familiar campaign slogan: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make public the academic certificates and credentials submitted by all candidates seeking elective office.

Obi made the call while reflecting on questions contained in the INEC nomination form, particularly those relating to candidates’ mental fitness and the authenticity of their academic qualifications.

He argued that publishing candidates’ credentials would improve transparency and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Questioning why such documents should remain confidential, Obi said: “Have you ever presented a forged certificate to INEC? Again, the answer is either Yes or No. This raises another important question: Why shouldn’t INEC, in the interest of ensuring that our leaders are exemplary in following the rules and to strengthen public confidence in our electoral process, publish the academic certificates and credentials submitted by every candidate seeking elective office?”

He added: “Transparency strengthens democracy and builds public trust. Nigeria’s problems are too serious for politics as usual. It is time for leadership defined by competence, character, capacity, compassion, and commitment to service.”

Obi also referred to Section E, Question 1 of the nomination form, which asks whether a candidate has ever been declared to be of unsound mind, saying the question raises concerns about whether Nigeria’s political leaders are demonstrating sound judgement.

According to him, persistent insecurity, kidnappings, unsafe highways, widespread hunger and allegations of mismanagement of public funds suggest that leaders are losing focus on the country’s pressing challenges.

He maintained that responsible leadership would treat Nigeria’s security and economic crises as a national emergency, mobilising all relevant institutions and stakeholders to address them.

The former Anambra State governor said the country’s survival, security and stability should take priority over political calculations, insisting that Nigeria needs leaders defined by competence, character, capacity, compassion and commitment to public service.

Earlier, Seriake Dickson confirmed that Obi’s name had been uploaded to the INEC portal despite the recent court ruling that voided the registration process of the opposition party.