In a post-election statement, Akpata highlighted that while powerful forces were expected to influence the election, the real shock came from within the electorate.

Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Edo State, has expressed his deep disappointment in the role of voters, party members, and agents in what he described as the manipulation of the election held on Saturday.

In a post-election statement, Akpata highlighted that while powerful forces were expected to influence the election, the real shock came from within the electorate.

“We anticipated that powerful forces would attempt to skew the outcome in their favour, regardless of the will of the people,” Akpata said in his statement on Monday.
He added, “Regrettably, these fears have materialised. Yet, we must also confront an uncomfortable truth: the outcome was enabled not just by those who sought to manipulate the process, but also by the actions—and inactions—of a significant portion of our electorate.”

Akpata condemned the process, calling it “not an election but a transaction,” blaming the APC and PDP for vote-buying and accusing voters who stayed away of facilitating the manipulation.

“Let us be clear what transpired on 21 September 2024 was not an election but a transaction. It was enabled by those who chose to stay away, making it easier for the two dominant parties to afford a significant majority of the few votes on offer and by those who came out and willingly sold their votes,” he stressed.

Akpata lamented the situation, adding, “It became painfully clear that we did not have the people, as many, including some Labour Party faithful and agents, willingly sold their future for peanuts to the very political parties whose actions and policies have impoverished them.”

Following the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APC candidate Monday Okpebholo as the winner, with 291,667 votes. PDP’s Asue Ighodalo polled 247,274 votes, while Akpata finished third with 22,763.

Labour Party Chairman in Edo, Kelly Ogbalo, also spoke out on Monday, claiming that the party would have won if the election had been free and fair. He alleged, “Labour Party won the election but was not allowed to take possession.”

Ogbalo detailed further, “What I mean by that is that the election was marred with serious irregularities. There was open vote buying. The security agencies failed to check this anomaly.”

When asked if the party would challenge the results in court, Ogbalo stated that no decision had yet been made.

ALTERNATEID:


Oredo and Ikpoba are PDP stronghold o. APC should still be very vigilant.

Oxb90:
Abeg make them no borrow again.
Shebi them say BAT get plenty Moni, make im dash Nigeria some na.

This world Bank love Nigeria too much to dey dash us money anyhow

Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), yesterday, said the Dangote Refinery is unable to supply the nation with over 65 million litres of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), stressing that only 10.3 million litres have been received from the facility.

The development, The Guardian gathered, may return the country to importation to bridge the shortfall.

But the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, refuted NNPCL’s claim of shortfall.

“This is outright falsehood. We load as the trucks arrive,” Chiejina said while expressing limitations on the immediate provision of the data on what the refinery supplied the country.

Dangote Refinery was expected to provide the NNPCL with 25 million litres per day in September and 30 million litres in October. Loading started at the facility on Sunday, September 15.

The spokesperson of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, told The Guardian that only 10.3 million litres of PMS had been received from the company.


“As of yesterday, we have received approximately 10.3 million litres. We are facing a shortfall of about 65 million litres. The plan was to receive 25 million litres per day,” Soneye said.

He disclosed that the company would decide on how to manage the shortfall.

“We must ensure energy security for the country, as this is a legal requirement under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). As a responsible company, we are committed to addressing these issues,” Soneye said.



Although fuel queues have reduced in major cities across the country as motorists battle with the high cost of up to N1,200 per litre in some cities, the Independent Marketers Association of Nigerian (IPMAN) told The Guardian that Dangote’s supply was still below par.

The National President of IPMAN, Abubakar Garima, said the supply to his members only improved slightly, adding that “this was not our expectation.”

Garima had noted that the marketers were still buying PMS at about N1,000 per litre from across depots, stressing the need for the NNPC to supply them directly.

Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) also told The Guardian that the queues were gradually clearing, but that supply needed to be improved and sustained.

MEANWHILE, The Guardian gathered that the low price of PMS, following the drop at the international market, encouraged marketers with import licence to bring in some volume of products, including PMS.

With import landing at about N900 to N1000 per litre, a marketer, who pleaded anonymity, said some marketers resorted to importing since they didn’t get supply guarantee locally because Dangote would only sell to NNPC.

A deport owner also told The Guardian that the depot owners wanted PMS, diesel and other products for all their stations and clients at the best possible price, best quality and on a level-playing field.

He said, “Once that is sorted, the sector will witness seamless operations and competition among marketers, in their efforts at delivering quality service to the driving public.

“NNPC, being the sole off-taker, does not cut depot owners off, except they do not give us product again. It simply means there’s still some element of subsidy therein, which is borne by the Federal Government and it is easier for them to tab the subsidy component if they are the sole off-taker, who will assign cargoes, via vessels, to depots.”

Amid slumping refining margins and weak fuel demand in China, two refineries in Shandong, operated by chemicals giant, Sinochem, were declared bankrupt.

Zhenghe Group Co and Shandong Huaxing Petrochemical Group Co failed to secure restructuring agreements with creditors, leading to their bankruptcy, as revealed by local courts and reported by Bloomberg.

The third refinery, Shandong Changyi Petrochemical Co, will meet creditors later this month. All three plants, with a combined capacity of 300,000 barrels per day, have been largely idled for months.

Weaker-than-expected fuel demand has impacted margins, particularly affecting independent refiners in Shandong.

bugu51:

That's not a good solution

If things continue like dis I'm afraid, APC will be a goner

FreeStuffsNG:
Water perhaps. The logs are moved by water

Bluntemperor:


Some Experts in Nigeria believed that the Federal Govt is actually behind and you can see how they are not forthcoming but has been silent since this Price War.
You now wander if everything should be Taxed in Nigeria.
Then what has Ordinary Citizens benefited?
Even in USA,that they are Coping,Food , electricity,etc are highly Subsidiesed.As at today,most Nigerians are just Pre- occupied with the Foodstuffs,as many are not balanced - No Jobs,No Excess to Invest,other than get Food 🥝🥑 Yam,Rice 🌾,Palm 🪔,etc- are just too exobitant! 🥪 Bread is no longer for the poor but why?
The same Poor the Politicians would come during electioneer Campaigns that they want to do this,that!

dacool1:
I don't know if those people on the first page are just gaslighting or they are serious. Is it reading or comprehension problems, the article clearly stated that TAXATION is one of the major determinants of prices.

Taxes in some countries is as high as 50% of the cost and some people are trying to deflect this by spewing trash.

The government is just taxing us to death plain simple.