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ANED berates Gov Obaseki over row with BEDC

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Community drags Edo Govt To ECOWAS Court Over Alleged Land Grabbing

The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, ANED, has lent its voice to the ongoing row between the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki and the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC)

Speaking in response to media queries, ANED’s Executive Director for Research and Advocacy, Chief Sunday Oduntan, in a statement, said the umbrella body was displeased by the recent treatment of BEDC’s Managing Director by the Governor during a visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Power to Edo state.

Governor Obaseki walked the MD out of his office during the meeting for, according to him, “…failing to meet obligations to electricity consumers in the state.

“What is most unfortunate about the whole episode is that there is a misunderstanding about how the power sector works and this has led to the Governor’s unfair expectations from BEDC. I cannot also rule out with the upcoming elections and everyone looking for scapegoats, that local politics may be involved in this case and that is highly unfortunate,” Chief Oduntan said.

“He mentioned that the state generates over 600MW and as such should not be encountering power supply challenges. However, he needs to understand that the power generated at Azura or any other power plant in the country for that matter is first sent to the national grid from where it is redistributed to different DIsCos for distribution to customers.

“Benin DisCo is only entitled to 9% of the power sent out from the national grid so it is clear that the DisCo does not have the power to retain the 600MW generated by Azura.

“More interestingly is the fact that out of this 9%, over 40% of it distributed within Edo state as the host community of the DisCo. The other three states in the franchise area – Delta, Ekiti and Ondo – share the remaining 60%. You can clearly see therefore that Edo state enjoys the lion share of what the DisCo gets already. To allocate more to Edo – which is what the Governor is advocating for – will be grossly unfair to the other states,” Chief Oduntan added.

Chief Oduntan also mentioned it is unfair to attack a DisCo that is on record as having the highest number of pre-paid meters in the country all in a bid to ensure customers get value for their money as well as to end the practise of estimated billing within its franchise area.

An earlier released statement by BEDC reported that the company had completed plans to roll more pre-paid meters with effect from first quarter of 2019 under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) programme of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory omission (NERC) to further accelerate the metering of consumers.

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SENATOR ADEOLA YAYI REGISTERS 4000 JAMB CANDIDATES 

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SENATOR ADEOLA YAYI REGISTERS 4000 JAMB CANDIDATES 

 

In continuation of his educational support initiatives and following established tradition, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC,Ogun West) has successfully paid for and enrolled 4000 indigent students for the 2026 Joint Admission Matriculation Board(JAMB) examination.

 

According to a release e-signed and made available to members of the League of Yewa-Awori Media Practitioners (LOYAMP) by High Chief Kayode Odunaro, Media Adviser to Senator Adeola and shared with (your mediu), the programme financed by the senator under the “SEN YAYI FREE JAMB 2026” ended on Saturday , February 21, 2026, with a total of 4000 candidates successfully enrolled with their PINs provided.

 

Commenting on the success of the programme, Senator Adeola said the programme is another leg of his personal educational empowerment for indigent but brilliant citizens preparatory to his scholarship and bursary facilitation for tertiary education institutions’ students.

 

“As far as I can help it, none of our children will miss educational opportunities arising out of adverse economic predicament of their parents or guardians”, he stated.

 

Successful candidates cut across all the three senatorial districts of Ogun State with 2183 coming from Ogun West, 1358 coming from Ogun Central and 418 from Ogun East.

 

Some of the candidates that applied and are yet to get their PINs due wrong information supplied in their profiles and being underage as discovered by JAMB and other reasons are being further assisted to see the possibility of getting their PINs.

 

The Free JAMB programme of the Senator that has been running for years is well received by appreciative beneficiaries and their parents.

 

Alhaji Suara Adeyemi from Ipokia Local Government whose daughter successfully got her PIN in the programme said the Senator’s gesture was a welcome financial relief for his family at this period after payment of numerous school fees of other siblings of the beneficiary seeking admission to higher institution.

 

Also posting on the social media handle of the Senator, a beneficiary Mr. Henry Olaitan, from Odeda LGA said that he would have missed doing the entry examination as his guardian cannot afford the fees for himself and two of his children.

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House Committee Seeks Stronger Financial Backing for Federal Character Commission

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House Committee Seeks Stronger Financial Backing for Federal Character Commission

 

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Honorable Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has reassured the commitment of her new leadership to reposition the Commission and strengthen enforcement of the federal character principle, despite prevailing funding challenges.

Hon. Omidiran made this known during the Commission’s budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character at the National Assembly on Friday, February 19, 2026.

The Executive Chairman opened up on inadequate funding has continued to constrain the Commission’s statutory activities, including nationwide monitoring, compliance audits and enforcement measures across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“We are focused and determined to do the work that the Constitution and the President have entrusted us with,” Omidiran stated.

The FCC Boss, however, assured lawmakers that the Commission remains resolute in ensuring equity, fairness and balanced representation in line with its constitutional mandate.

“As a Commission, it is our responsibility to engage with relevant government parastatals and ministries to secure the necessary funding we require. We believe that with consultation and collaboration, it will be a successful venture for the Commission.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character, RT. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, expressed deep concern over what he described as near-zero budgetary allocation to the Commission, stressing that such financial inadequacies severely undermine its operational effectiveness.

The Plateau State lawmaker assured the Commission of the Committee’s firm legislative backing in advocating for improved funding and strengthening the Commission’s capacity to fully exercise its constitutional mandate.

“We cannot reasonably expect the Federal Character Commission to enforce compliance across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies while grappling with insufficient funding,” Hon. Wase remarked.

“If we are genuinely committed to fairness, equity, and national cohesion, then we must be deliberate in adequately funding the institution established to safeguard these principles.

“As a Committee, we shall work closely with the leadership of the Commission to ensure that its budgetary provisions reflect the magnitude of its mandate. The era of skeletal or token funding must give way to realistic and sustainable financial support,” he concluded.

The budget defence session concluded on a note of renewed collaboration between the House of Representatives and the Commission, reflecting a shared determination to strengthen institutional capacity, enhance accountability, and promote equitable representation within Nigeria’s public service.

House Committee Seeks Stronger Financial Backing for Federal Character Commission

SIGNED:

Ademola Lawrence
Spokesperson,
Federal Character Commission
February 20, 2026

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APC Ethiope West Congress Turns Violent: Ibori’s Daughter Escapes Assassination Attempt; Scores Injured

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*APC Ethiope West Congress Turns Violent: Ibori’s Daughter Escapes Assassination Attempt; Scores Injured

 

The APC Ethiope West Local Government Area Congress took a terrible turn today as scores were attacked by gun-wielding thugs allegedly hired by old PDP members that moved to APC. The congress was relocated from its original venue the Oghara Township Stadium to a new venue,Ovade, in the LGA seemingly to disenfranchise original APC members.

Violence erupted when the Member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency Rt Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu daughter of the the former Governor of Delta H.E Chief James Onanefe Ibori arrived at the new venue in Ovade. Apart from clear threats to her life by thugs sponsored by the Governor of Delta State, Rt Sheriff Oborevwori and former Rep member Hon Ben Igbakpa. Her supporters were attacked with dangerous weapons, as she was denied entrance to the venue. There were several attempts on her life which were foiled by her security details. There had been intels that she would have been shot if she had stepped foots on the venue this is terrible at a time when there had been hopes of peace coming into the party with the recent meeting at Asaba , however this recent happening shows peace is still far away .

Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu has appealed for calm among APC supporters and old members amidst the unprovoked attack. Several injured individuals are receiving treatment at undisclosed hospitals.

There are still reports of targeted attacks on on members of the Old APC , calls have been made to security operatives to avert such attempts.

 

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