Yiaga Africa, a Civil Society Organisation, has highlighted three essential assessments for the upcoming Edo State election: an impartiality evaluation for security agencies, a resilience assessment for citizens, and an integrity check for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, chair of the 2024 Edo Election Mission for Yiaga Africa, emphasized these points at a pre-election press conference in Benin City. She noted that the main political parties—All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—dominated the campaign landscape, which unfortunately devolved into personal attacks, character assassinations, hate speech, and blame-shifting among the candidates.

Abdullahi pointed out that the high rate of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) collection suggests a strong willingness among voters to participate, but potential violence, economic challenges, and a profound distrust in the electoral process might discourage them. She referenced past elections, noting a drop in voter turnout from 32 percent in 2016 to 27 percent in 2020.

She expressed concern over the prevalent disillusionment with political elites and ongoing governance failures, which could further dissuade voter engagement. The campaign period has been marred by intimidation and violence, exacerbated by the activities of cults and political thugs amid a rise in small arms.

Abdullahi warned that these armed groups could disrupt INEC’s election materials deployment, potentially skewing election results. She identified eight local governments—Ikpoba Okha, Oredo, Egor, Ovia South West, Ovia North East, Esan South East, Etsako West, and Etsako East—as violence hotspots that require careful and impartial security measures.

As INEC begins to deploy sensitive materials, she stressed the importance of effective coordination with transport companies to ensure timely delivery to polling units and avoid the late starts seen in previous elections. She urged transport unions not to take advantage of rising fuel prices to neglect their contracts with INEC.

Abdullahi called on voters to show resilience by participating in the elections and to resist any attempts at vote-buying, intimidation, or manipulation before, during, and after the election.

Ethiopia’s unique timing for celebrating the New Year and its calendar system are due to its use of the Ethiopian calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar used by most of the world. Here’s why Ethiopia is just entering the year 2017 and celebrating New Year in September:

1. Ethiopian Calendar Overview:

• Calendar System: Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian calendar, which is also known as the Ge’ez calendar. This calendar is based on the Coptic calendar and has 13 months.
• Months: The Ethiopian calendar consists of 12 months of 30 days each and an additional month called “Pagumē” that has 5 days in a common year and 6 days in a leap year.
• Year Length: The Ethiopian calendar year is roughly 365.25 days long, similar to the Gregorian calendar but slightly different in its calculation of leap years.

2. New Year Date:

• Ethiopian New Year: The Ethiopian New Year, known as “Enkutatash,” falls on Meskerem 1, which corresponds to September 11th (or September 12th in a Gregorian leap year). This is different from January 1st in the Gregorian calendar.

3. Year Difference:

• Offset: The Ethiopian calendar is approximately 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar. As of 2024 in the Gregorian calendar, it is 2017 in the Ethiopian calendar. This discrepancy is due to differences in the calculation of the birth year of Jesus Christ and variations in the way years are counted.

4. Historical and Cultural Factors:

• Cultural Tradition: The Ethiopian calendar has been used for centuries in Ethiopia and is deeply rooted in the country’s history and religious practices. The calendar’s structure and the timing of New Year celebrations reflect Ethiopia’s unique cultural and historical context.
• Religious Significance: The Ethiopian calendar is closely linked with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and its liturgical practices. Many Ethiopian holidays and observances are based on this calendar.

In summary, Ethiopia is in the year 2017 according to its own calendar system, and it celebrates the New Year in September due to the Ethiopian calendar’s unique structure and historical origins.

Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), a member of the House of Representatives representing Ideato North South Federal Constituency, has stated that no official Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress took place in Rivers State over the weekend.

According to Ugochinyere, what occurred was not a genuine party congress but rather a social event hosted by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who presented it as a congress.

The state congresses of the main opposition party took place over the weekend and faced several complaints from various states, including Rivers, Benue, Katsina, and Kogi.

In Rivers State, the congress proceeded despite a court order prohibiting it. This situation has created a conflict between the National Working Committee (NWC), which authorized the congress, and the PDP Governors Forum, which believes Governor Siminalayi Fubara should continue as the party leader in the state.

Wike and his faction are also asserting control over the party structure following a congress that was boycotted by the state governor and his supporters. The PDP has indicated that the process will be reviewed by the party’s organs.

In a statement on Saturday, Ugochinyere, spokesperson for the G-60 federal lawmakers in the House of Representatives, dismissed the event organized by Wike’s faction as merely a social gathering masquerading as a party congress.

Ugochinyere stated that no official PDP congress took place in Rivers State. Instead, he described Wike’s event as a desperate attempt to impress his diminishing followers, calling it an “owambe party” rather than a genuine congress.

He highlighted that an interim court order had been issued in July by Justice Charles Wali of the Port Harcourt State High Court, prohibiting the PDP from holding congresses in the state. According to Ugochinyere, the so-called congress organized by Wike and his associates was a futile exercise and a blatant disregard of the court’s order.

He concluded, “The purported congress is invalid and meaningless as it defies the existing court order. Such gatherings, which attempt to pass off as PDP congresses, are nothing more than futile exercises.”