Head of the Department, Voter Education, Publicity and Inclusivity in the office, Mr Adewale Francis, on Thursday in Osogbo stated that the over-voting statement credited to Agboke was incorrect and mischievous.

“The attention of the Osun State office of INEC has been drawn to media reports that the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke, purportedly said that there was over-voting during the election.

“The report is incorrect and mischievous.

This was disclosed in a statement in Osogbo on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Yemisi Opalola, who added that police would use legitimate means to avert such protest.

Opalola said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Olawale Olokode, had given a marching order to the Area commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical units to be at alert and nip in the bud any act capable of truncating the peace of the state.

The statement read, ”The intelligence that availed the police command revealed underground/nocturnal plans by some youths/group of people to embark on protest in commemoration of one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS saga. In view of this, the Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, warned individuals or groups of individuals that are planning such in the state and their sponsor(s) to stop the plan or any of such action(s) forthwith. The Command will not allow a repeat of last year’s #EndSARS saga and is fully prepared to use all legitimate means to avert such intending protest. Consequently, the Police Command will not tolerate any unlawful protest/gathering or assembly that will jeopardise the peace of the state. Last year’s #EndSARS protest still lingers in the minds of Nigerians, especially the Police and other security agencies, which caused pain, anguish, needless loss of lives and wanton destruction of public and private property. Therefore, the Commissioner of Police has given marching orders to the Area commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical units to be at alert and nip in the bud any act capable of truncating the peace of the state.”

Opalola said the Commissioner of Police advised parents and guardians to warn their wards to be law-abiding and desist from such planned protest/gathering/assembly as the state Police Command would arrest and prosecute defaulters.

she said “The CP advised the good people of the state to go about their lawful daily activities, while the Command has taken necessary security measures to forestall any likely breakdown of law and order,”

The body said election in Ekiti State will hold on Saturday, June 18, while that of Osun State will hold on July 16.

The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu made this announcement in Abuja on Wednesday  at the Commission’s headquarters.

“In keeping with our policy of announcing the dates of elections in advance to enable early and effective preparations by all concerned, the Commission has approved that the Ekiti State Governorship election will hold on Saturday, June 18, 2022, while the Osun State Governorship election will hold one month later on Saturday, July 16, 2022,” he said.

He added, “Looking to the near future, the Commission is preparing to conduct the remaining off-season end of tenure elections ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“Already, activities listed in the timetable for the Anambra State Governorship election are being implemented. So too are those of the FCT Area Council election holding on February 12, 2022.”

Yakubu, however said the timetable and schedule of activities for the elections have been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.

The refund was for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

The approval was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts Chaired by Senator Clifford Ordia (PDP – Edo Central).

Ordia in his presentation stated that most of the Federal highways in the beneficiary states where said projects were executed “were at a deplorable state before the intervention of the state governments.”

“Series of visits were carried out by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on all federal roads completed by the States and ascertained that the quality of work done met the required standard”, he said.

The lawmaker noted that Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa and Ondo States embarked on the project execution as far back as 2005 to date.

He added that while all states paid the contractors, the Federal Bureau of Procurement certified that due process was followed accordingly.

The states which received the donations are Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun.

The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who took to his Twitter page to appreciate NNPC and IPPG, disclosed that he received the donations on behalf of the other state.

He tweeted:“Today, on behalf of the South West States, I took delivery of six ambulances, respiratory masks, PPEs and other safety equipment donated by the @NNPCgroup and Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) to support our efforts to combat #COVID19 in the states.

“On behalf of the other SW Governors of Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun state, I also commend the donors for this gesture as we again restate our commitment to work with all partners and the Federal Government to end this scourge as quickly as possible in our country.”