News
EBHA Blast Stakeholders, Indigenous Contractors Over Substandard Jobs, Negligence
…You Are not Anyhow Better-Group Replies Assembly Members
Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
Ebonyi State House of Assembly Joint Committee on Infrastructure, Project monitoring and evaluation has berated some stakeholders of the State and other Indigenous contractors over substandard Jobs, negligence and other unpatriotic acts that has jeopardized the completion and commissioning of the 2 kilometer road projects across the various communities awarded to them by the State Government.
Members of the committee expressed their dismay over the poor performance of the stakeholders and contractors when they paid a visit to the 2km road projects in Ohaozara, Onicha and Afikpo North Local Government Areas of the State.
The Committee while expressing their dissatisfaction maintained that substandard Jobs were carried out by the contractors in all the nine project sites visited in Ohaozara and Onicha LGAs adding that some other contractors are yet to mobilize to site despite having received 30% mobilization fee immediately the contract were awarded in May 2024.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Infrastructure and the chief whip of the House, Hon Nkemka Okoro Onumah expressed the regret that many of the contractors are prominent stakeholders, personalities and indigenous contractors in the state and wondered what could be the motive behind their actions and deeds.
He lamented that if stakeholders and indigenous contractors saddled with the responsibility of delivering quality jobs to their people could melt out such treatment to the people of the State, what would be said about outsiders.
“It is highly unfortunate, regrettable and let me assure you that the State House of Assembly will not fold it’s hands and watch a group of persons or individuals jeopardize the good efforts of the State Governor.
“Our wokerholic Governor have good intention for awarding the 2km road contract across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state. The House of Assembly will not hesitate to bring the contractors to book if nothing is done immediately.
Similarly, the Chairman House Committee on Projects Monitoring and Evaluation and member representing Afikpo North East, Hon Oluchukwu Ukie Ezeali said that expectedly the contractors are supposed to have completed the earth work and clearing, completed the culverts and progressed to the main pavement work, but unfortunately, none has done up to three hundred meters of earth work out of the 2km.
“Any contractor or stakeholder that has performed below standard should be considered to be sabotaging the efforts of the present administration. The masses are expected to have started using the 2km based on Government pronouncement in line with people’s charter of needs.
“It’s regrettable to see that most contractors are lackadaisical and with a display of total unconcerned attitudes towards achieving the desired result of the present day Government.
Hon Ezeali said that a concise report will be issued, the misdemeanors of the contractors made public to the people of Ebonyi state at the completion of the oversight visit to the about 67 numbers of the 2km roads in the state.
It is more worrisome that the 9 construction sites in Ohaozara and Onicha are yet to commence work. We are therefore giving the 9 contractors an ultimatum to start work within the next two weeks. Christmas period inclusive or face the full wrath of the law with effect from 10th January, 2025.
Hon Ukie Ezeali urged the citizens of Ebonyi State both at home and diaspora to continue to support Governor Nwifuru led administration and assured that the House of Assembly will ensure the contractors complete the 2km roads before the end of 2025 first quarter.
The contractors involved include Kriclev Concept Nig, Ltd, Ceno kendo Nig Ltd, Ceclo Nigeria limited, Adino Construction Company, Vegan Project limited, Veneco Global, New Edition Security Construction Company, Edidon Construction Company.
Meanwhile, the State Coordinator of Ebonyi Transparency and Good Governance Movement, Comrade Ifeanyi Ugwu said that members of the State House of Assembly are not anyhow better from the stakeholders and indigenous contractors.
In an exclusive interview with Everyday News, Comrade Ugwu maintained that most of the lawmakers also carry out substandard Jobs in their different Constituency projects while others abandon the projects.
“Kettle cannot be calling pot black. When you visit most of the constituencies and see the projects many of them embarked on, you will observe that such projects are also substandard while others abandon the job halfway. We are yet to witness the energization of some of the streetlight project done by some of them.
Governor Nwifuru rather than award contracts or give out constituency projects to people that will do shoddy jobs and jeopardize his good intentions for the people, he should rather execute the project through the ministry and ensure constant monitoring of the projects.
Many of the stakeholders, indigenous contractors and lawmakers see the contracts awarded to them as political patronage. Most cases, because of their high profile, nobody queries them.
The Executive Secretary of the Igbo Oriental Think Tank, Dr. Kenneth Anozie, has highlighted the vision of Dr. Chukwuma Anyichuks Odii for Ebonyi State ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
In a statement titled “Anyichuks Odii 2027: I Have a Dream for Ebonyi State,” Anozie compared Odii’s vision for Ebonyi with the transformational ideals associated with American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
According to the political analyst, Odii believes that Ebonyi State possesses enormous potential capable of benefiting the wider population rather than serving the interests of a few.
Anozie said Odii’s proposed agenda includes a restructuring of government to ensure equitable representation and development across the different zones of Ebonyi State.
He also listed improved infrastructure as a key component of Odii’s vision, particularly roads and other projects that would facilitate the movement of agricultural produce, stimulate industrial development and create employment opportunities for youths.
The analyst further said Odii plans to make the civil service more responsive to the needs of residents, establish major healthcare centres across the state’s local government areas to help reduce child mortality, and provide extensive ICT training for young people.
Anozie said the ICT initiative could position Ebonyi as a hub for technology talent, with trained professionals able to compete for opportunities locally and internationally.
“Anyichuks has a dream. Ndi Ebonyi need to cue in to that dream for the benefits of all,” Anozie said.
He urged Ebonyi residents to pay attention to the proposed agenda and participate actively in determining the direction of the state ahead of the 2027 election.
Dr. Kenneth Anozie is the Executive Secretary of the Igbo Oriental Think Tank and a political analyst.
…Governor trounces APC’s Oyebamiji with 66,252
The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared Governor Ademola Adeleke, of the Accord Party, the winner of the 2026 governorship election.
Announcing the final results, INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, the Vice- Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti declared Adeleke winner and returned him elected.
Ogunwole announced that the Accord candidate secured 511,067 while his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, recorded 444,815 votes.
Adeleke trounced his major opponent with 66,252 votes amid wild jubilation by party supporters and other residents.
Details later…
The Osun State Governor and Accord Party candidate, Ademola Adeleke, has won 19 of the 30 Local Government Areas in Saturday’s governorship election, while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Oyebamiji, secured victory in 11 LGAs.Download Offline Maps
The results are being collated and announced, with the Independent National Electoral Commission expected to make the official declaration after the completion of the process.
Adeleke recorded notable victories across several parts of the state, including Ede South, Ede North, Osogbo, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ilesa West, Odo Otin, Egbedore and Iwo.
Oyebamiji, however, won key LGAs including Ilesa East, Boripe, Irepodun, Obokun, Atakumosa West, Atakumosa East, Irewole, Isokan, Ola-Oluwa, Ife South and Olorunda.
The results announced so far show a closely contested election between the two major candidates, with the other candidates recording significantly lower figures in most of the LGAs.Download Interactive Maps
In Boluwaduro, Adeleke polled 7,118 votes against Oyebamiji’s 7,050. In Ede South, Adeleke secured 26,188 votes while the APC candidate scored 6,219.
Adeleke also won Ife North with 13,879 votes to Oyebamiji’s 9,613; Ilesa West with 16,196 against 12,756; Ifedayo with 7,427 against 6,836; and Ife Central with 21,171 against 15,913.
In Osogbo, Adeleke recorded 36,480 votes while Oyebamiji polled 30,474. He also won Oriade with 21,343 votes to 14,863 and Odo Otin with 18,003 votes against 15,435.
Other LGAs won by Adeleke included Ife East, where he scored 27,201 votes against Oyebamiji’s 18,600; Ifelodun, 21,107 against 18,396; Iwo, 27,085 against 19,660; Ede North, 35,427 against 10,283; Ila, 16,211 against 12,934; Ayedire, 11,073 against 9,910; Egbedore, 19,278 against 11,194; and Ayedaade, 16,681 against 15,719.Design Campaign Signs
Oyebamiji secured victories in Ilesa East with 16,208 votes against Adeleke’s 12,280; Boripe with 19,963 against 12,448; Irepodun with 15,713 against 14,504; and Obokun with 16,120 against 12,023.
He also won Atakumosa West, polling 10,037 votes to Adeleke’s 7,479; Irewole, 29,972 against 10,934; Atakumosa East, 9,936 against 7,872; Isokan, 14,063 against 13,765; Ola-Oluwa, 10,782 against 10,063; Ife South, 14,678 against 13,507; and Olorunda, 24,671 against 23,514.
The outcome places Adeleke ahead in the overall LGA tally, although the final result remains subject to the completion of the official collation and declaration by INEC.
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As of about 4:30pm on Saturday, INEC had uploaded 903 of the 3,763 expected polling-unit results to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV), representing about 24 per cent of the results expected across the state.
The emerging figures show Adeleke’s party making an early statement, particularly in Osogbo, where results from two polling units reviewed showed the Accord Party ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At Ward 4, Unit 39, Osogbo Local Government Area, Accord secured 65 votes, while the APC polled 43. The ADC recorded two votes, while ZLP, AA and AAC each scored one vote.
Another result from Ward 4, Unit 13, also in Osogbo, further tilted in favour of the Accord Party, which scored 134 votes against 75 votes for the APC. The ADC polled four votes, while ADP, AAC and APGA recorded one vote each.
The figures have placed Adeleke ahead in the early results emerging from the available uploads, although the lead cannot yet be treated as an indication of the final statewide outcome.
The race remains open, with thousands of polling-unit results still to be uploaded, verified and collated through the official INEC process.
The emerging results are nevertheless significant because they provide the first concrete picture of how the three leading contenders — Adeleke of the Accord Party, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam — are performing in areas where results have been made available.
The early advantage for Adeleke comes after a tense election day marked by complaints over delays in the electronic transmission of results, alleged incidents of intimidation and vote-buying, as well as isolated reports of violence.
Adeleke had earlier expressed confidence in victory after casting his vote, while Oyebamiji also declared that he expected to win the contest. Salaam, meanwhile, raised concerns over the alleged non-recognition of some ADC agents and later reported an attack at his polling unit in Ejigbo.
Attention has now shifted from voting to the results battle, with parties and supporters closely monitoring the IReV portal and the official collation centres.
Following the conclusion of voting, presiding officers have commenced the sorting and counting of ballots at polling units, with results beginning to emerge from different parts of the state in Saturday’s governorship election.
Three major candidates in the Osun governorship election had expressed confidence in emerging victorious as the polls entered the sorting and collation stage, with each candidate and their supporters optimistic about securing the mandate of the electorate.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, on Saturday, expressed confidence in emerging victorious in the ongoing governorship election after casting his vote at Sagba Abogunde Ward 2, Unit 9, in Ede North Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Osun State, Najeem Salaam, raised concerns over the alleged non-recognition of his party agents in several areas across the state during Saturday’s election.
Meanwhile, as at 4.30pm, a check by our correspondent to the IReV portal indicated that 903 out of 3,763 units have been uploaded
Results announced so far:
1. Ward 4, Unit 39, Osogbo Local Government Area
ZLP — 1
AA — 1
AAC — 1
ADC — 2
APC — 43
Accord Party — 65
Presiding Officer: Oyeranmi Deborah
2. Ward 4, Unit 13, Osogbo Local Government Area
Accord Party — 134
APC — 75
ADC — 4
ADP — 1
AAC — 1
APGA — 1
Presiding Officer: Mabel Olowolayemo
3. From Ede North, 007/02/07/29
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