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Edo Votes for New Governor as Police Stop Violence
The Edo State governorship election is underway today, with residents heading to the polls to elect a new leader who will take over from Governor Godwin Obaseki.
This election marks the end of Obaseki’s eight-year administration after he served two consecutive terms.
The political atmosphere in Edo has been tense leading up to the election, with security forces already taking action to prevent violence and maintain order.
The Nigeria Police Force reported the arrest of two suspected political thugs in Edo.
The suspects, identified as 43-year-old Edwin Obanor and 41-year-old Audu Tajudeen, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were apprehended during overnight operations aimed at curbing electoral violence.
The police also seized firearms from the suspects, as part of a broader effort to crack down on illegal weapons and disrupt any attempts to manipulate the electoral process.
Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force’s Public Relations Officer, emphasized that law enforcement is committed to ensuring a peaceful election by targeting those who seek to undermine it.
Today’s election is significant for Edo State, as the electorate will be choosing a new governor from a list of 17 candidates.
The major contenders include Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.
Edo, once a stronghold for the APC, experienced a shift in political dynamics when Governor Obaseki left the party in 2019 and joined the PDP, following internal conflicts within the APC.
This defection changed the political landscape in the state, making the race even more competitive.
Aside from the three leading candidates, the election features a diverse group of 16 male candidates and one female candidate from various political parties, including the Action Alliance (AA), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and several others.
Notably, nine of these political parties have endorsed the APC, consolidating their structures to support Okpebholo in his bid to reclaim the state’s leadership for the party.
As voting progresses, the political scene in Edo remains unpredictable, with each party vying for influence and the opportunity to lead the state for the next four years.
Security remains a top priority, with authorities keen to prevent any disruptions that could compromise the integrity of the election.
The results of the election will shape the future of Edo’s political landscape and could potentially serve as a bellwether for other upcoming off-cycle elections across Nigeria.
The people of Edo are eager to see how today’s vote will unfold, as they look toward a new chapter in the state’s governance.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reportedly declared a strike at Taraba State University over outstanding salary-related demands and delays in payments.
The strike is scheduled to begin today, October 12, 2026. According to the union’s chairman, the union had been engaging the Taraba State Government over its outstanding demands since February 2026.
“The union had exercised considerable patience and demonstrated its commitment to dialogue since February 2026, when it began engaging the Taraba State Government over the outstanding issues,” Mbave said.
“The union had earlier suspended its planned industrial action following an appeal by the government for additional time through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, in the interest of maintaining industrial harmony,” the chairman added.
The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Torseer Yina, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the ancient town.
The curfew takes effect from Thursday, October 8, 2026, following unrest and violent protests in the area.
According to reports, the action was taken to contain the unrest and violent protests by members of BEMOA following the death of one of its members by unknown gunmen.
The protest, which was reportedly hijacked by hoodlums, turned violent after an angry mob burnt two vehicles belonging to the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.
The Gboko council chairman said the curfew takes effect immediately and warned that anyone caught flouting the order or breaching public peace would be decisively dealt with.
Nine people have died in a fatal road crash along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash occurred on Monday at about 4:55pm around the Bethel area along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore axis of the expressway. It involved a white Toyota Hiace commercial bus belonging to Delta Line and a white Sino truck operated by Bill Gas Solution Ltd.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), all nine people involved in the crash, comprising three males and six females, died in the incident.
The FRSC said the crash occurred while it was raining and the road was wet, with preliminary investigations identifying speed violation as the probable cause.
The FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the report, while the bodies of the victims were taken to the General Hospital Morgue in Ijebu-Ode.
The Ogun State Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to obey speed limits and exercise extra caution when driving in the rain.
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