CONCORD ONLINE NEWS

Hendrix Oliomogbe  The Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared full solidarity with the state chapter of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) in its ongoing strike over knotty labour issues. In a statement in Benin City on Monday, October 19, 2026 by the chairman, Caretaker Committee of Edo NLC, Prof. Monday Igbafen, he urged authorities of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to immediately return to the negotiation table  Residents of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti States have been thrown into darkness following a strike by BEDC workers over the contentious issues of harmonization of salary, implementation of national minimum wage, promotion of  workers, threat of mass sack, and other lingering labour matters. Prof. Igbafen berated authorities of the electricity company for their refusal to use the seven days window of grace after the expiration of 14 days ultimatum given by the union to resolve the contending labour is...

Pa Iduoriyekemwen         Hendrix Oliomogbe  A group, Peoples' Assembly for Good Governance (PAGG) has described the arrest and arraignment of Pa Joseph Iduoriyekemwen, the 90 year-old father of Mr. Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Edo South Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections as an attempt to muzzle the opposition. The elder Iduoriyekemwen was arrested by detectives from the Edo State Police Command at about 4 am from his residence in suburban Amagba, Benin City, on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. In a joint statement Monday, October 19, 2026 in Benin City by the national chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor and national secretary, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nkama, PAGG  (formerly Coalition of Registered Political Parties - CRPP) vehemently condemned what it described as intimidation of the opposition by the Edo State Government, using machinery of state. The condemnation followed the arraignment of Pa Iduoriyekemwen, th...

          Uduaghan  Hendrix Oliomogbe  Former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan is dead. According to family source, Dr. Uduaghan, who was governor of the oil rich state between 2007 and 2O15 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) died in the early hours of today, October 19, 2026. The former governor, a maternal cousin of another ex-governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori hails from the small town of Abigborodo, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State. He had a stint as Commissioner of Health during the administration of Chief James Ibori and later Secretary to the Delta State Government. Born on October 22, 1954, the ex-governor, was two days short of his 72nd birthday.

      Okpebholo with Okiye (right) with others during a visit in Government House... recently  Hendrix Oliomogbe  The executive chairman of Edo State Lottery Regulatory Commission and former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Frank Okiye has defended the leadership style of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo. Hon. Okiye, who spoke during a visit to the managing director of Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), Dr. Innocent Bello in his office in Benin City said that the slow but very meticulous style of Governor Okpebholo is the best approach to governance. Having been with the governor recently, the Edo State Lottery Regulatory Commission chairman said that he (Okpebholo) remains focused despite what he insisted as "undue noise from critics." He said: "Contrary to criticisms by his opponents, the governor is not slow but very meticulous. The governor likes taking his time to do anything he sets out to do. He is very meticulous. I was wit...

Rev. Adeniyi  Hendrix Oliomogbe  The leadership of Accord Party (AP) has disassociated itself from a statement credited to one Mr. Oke Sewedo and Mr. Oladeji Oluwatosin, designating themselves as party leader in Lagos West Senatorial district and Lagos State Chairman of the party respectively under the platform of Concerned Leaders of Accord Lagos State. A statement by Dr. Samson Isibor, for the chairman, Board of Trustees of Accord Party, Rev Isaac Adeniyi advised members of the general public to disregard the statement against the  national leader, coming from "these disgruntled elements posing as chieftains of the party." Dr. Isibor insisted that Sewedo and Oluwatosin, the two self styled leaders under the platform of Concerned Leaders of Accord Lagos State, are impostors as the party is not aware of the existence such such group. He added: "The only known and recognized Accord Party national leaders that can issue any statement is the national chairman, Barr. Maxwell...

     Senator Tinubu 4th right), Governor Okpebholo,  (4th left), Senator Adams Oshiomhole (2nd left)      and  others at the ceremony  Hendrix Oliomogbe  The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday in Benin inaugurated 50 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and launched a N1 billion economic empowerment programme for 5,000 beneficiaries in Edo State. Mrs. Tinubu, who performed the inauguration and launched the empowerment programme, said the initiatives by Governor Monday Okpebholo would improve transportation, strengthen small businesses and promote economic opportunities for women, youths and vulnerable groups in the state. She said she was glad to be back in Edo after a long time for the commissioning of 50 compressed natural gas buses for the benefit of the people,” she said. She commended the state government for introducing the initiatives, describing them as important steps towards improving livelihoods and supporting econo...

               Pa Iduoriyekemwen  Hendrix Oliomogbe  The Edo State Government has chided the police for the Gestapo like arrest of Pa Joseph Iduoriyekemwen, 90, father of Mr. Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate for Edo South in the 2027 general elections  The senior Iduoriyekemwen was whisked away from his residence in Amagba, suburban Benin City, by armed policemen, who claimed to have acted on the orders of the Edo State Police Commissioner, following a petition by some local residents over gunrunng and violence, at about 4am. A statement in Benin City by Prince Kassim Afegbua, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy said that whatever be the motive, arresting a 90 year old and fragile man at 4am is a no-no for the state government government.  Prince Afegbua said that Governor Monday Okpebholo is law abiding and his approach to issues often follows due process and rule of l...