Category: Politics

Zulum wins landslide As PDP Trails From Afar.

… VP Elect Shettima, others Declare Solidarity

Borno Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate, Professor Babagana  Umara Zulum, has secured 85% of votes after collation was concluded across the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs)

Zulum got 545,543 and left his closest opponent, Mohammed Ali Jajari of the PDP with 82,147 votes representing about 15% of the votes.

Zulum gave Jajari a gap of 463,393 votes.

Prof. Jude Rabo, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Wukari, Taraba State, and Returning Officer for the Borno Governorship Election, declared the result few minutes past 6pm.

“Having satisfied the requirement and won 25 percent in all the 27 Local Government Areas, I, Professor Jude Samani Rabo, hereby declare Babagana Umara Zulum the valid winner of the March 18 governorship election and returned as validly elected,” he declared.

He explained that 636,246 was the total valid votes recorded from 650,533 accredited votes, while the total votes cast stood at 649,835.

Zulum won in all the 27 Local Government Areas of the state.

… VP-Elect, others surround Zulum at declaration

Prior to a live declaration of Zulum’s re-election, Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, APC National Vice Chairman-North, Abubakar Kyari, senators newly elected national assembly members and some party stakeholders converged at the official residence of the governor to monitor the announcement.

Led by Shettima, the stakeholders sat around Zulum and rose with standing ovation as soon as INEC’s returning officer, Professor Jude Samani Rabo, declared Zulum as re-elected.

There was overwhelming jubilation at the Government House and on the streets of Maiduguri, especially from the collation centre.

Soldiers/Police At War In Taraba, 3 killed, Several Injured.

Uhuru Samuel Adaji Jalingo

Soldiers from the six Brigade of the Nigeria Army Jalingo, Taraba State on Monday declared war on the Nigeria police killing three and injuring several others.

The whole problem started at governmen house roundabout at about 9.30 in the morning when a female police officer in mufti who was on her way to the INEC office was halted at a checkpoint mounted by the soldiers and was asked to identify herself.

An eye witness at the scene told our correspondent that during the process, quarrel ensued between the female police officer and the soldiers when one of the soldiers at the checkpoint allegedly slapped the female police officer.

It was gathered that this angered some policemen who rushed to the checkpoint to inquire why the soldier assaulted the female police officer.

According to the eyewitness, quarrel ensued between the soldiers and the policemen which resulted to kocking of guns amongst the soldiers and the police.

He narrated that one of the soldiers at the checkpoint opened fire and killed one of the policemen instantly.

National Trail gathered that the situation snowballed to fire for fire between the soldiers and the police when both engaged the streets of Jalingo in a sporadic shooting for over  an hour.

It was gathered that the soldiers later mobilised themselves and drove in an armoured tank into the police headquarters and began shooting indiscriminately.

At the police headquarters,  the soldiers allegedly shot and  killed an Assitant superintendent of police ASP who was eating at a restaurant.

Also at the police headquarters, the soldiers allegedly opened fire at Police Commissioners pilot Toyota Hilux and smashed the glass, including the four tyres.

A police officer at the headquarters told our correspondent that the soldiers chased away officers on duty and engaged the entire premises in a sporadic shooting.

Aside from the shooting at the police headquarters, another group of soldiers drove round the streets of Jalingo in search of any police in uniform.

It was gathered that a policeman in mufti who was on his way for duty was halted by the soldiers who later shot him to death upon discovering his uniform in his bag.

Also several police officers and civilians injured during the incident were taken to the federal medical centre Jalingo for treatment.

The situation paralysed both social and economic activities in Jalingo as residents fled to their homes to avoid being cut off by the cross and flying bullets.

 

The Taraba State Police Commissioners,  Mr. Suleiman Amodu who addressed journalists in company of the Commandant Six Battalion of the Nigeria Army, Jalingo, Brigadier General Frank Etim at DSS office, described the skirmishes between the soldiers and the police as unfortunate.

The police Commissioners said a high powered committe has been set up to investigate  the root cause of the crisis, adding that anybody officer found culpable will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Meanwhile, the acting Assistant director Army Public relations, Lt. O. Oni told our correspondent that two soldiers sustained injuries during the crisis and are currently receiving treatment at the federal medical centre Jalingo.

Jigawa PDP rejects governorship election results of 5 LGAs

By Abdullahi Mohammed

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the results of the governorship election in five local government areas of Jigawa.

Jigawa has a total of 27 local government areas out of which results of 26 LGAs have been presented at the ongoing collation in Dutse.

The PDP agent at the State Collection Centre, Mr Aminu Abubakar, announced the rejection of the results on Sunday.

The results had been presented to the Returning Officer, Prof. Zaiyan Umar of Federal University, Birnin Kebbi by the local government collation officers.

The local government areas are Kazaure, Yankwashi, Birnin Kudu, Gwaram and Dutse.

Abubakar accused INEC of “unjustified” cancellation of more than 22 polling units results in Birnin Kudu LGA alone, where the PDP candidate came from.

He also argued that the results were characterised by “a lot of abnormalities” in the five LGAs and called on the returning officer to declare the election in those areas inconclusive.

The PDP agent alleged that the abnormalities committed in those areas were deliberate, because the areas were stronghold of the party.

In his reaction, the All Progressives Congress (APC) agent, Dr Abdullahi Kainuwa, dismissed the objection raised by the PDP.

He said that there were rules and procedures provided by the Electoral Act for tackling such issues which PDP ought to have followed when collation was concluded.

Kainuwa said that it was very clear that the PDP was fretting having realised that it had lost the governorship election.

Responding, the returning officer said all the issues raised by the PDP agent will be given attention immediately after the full collation of the governorship election results.

Kano: INEC declares NNPP’s Abba winner

Kano Governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf

By Aminu Garko

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Malam Abba Yisuf, as winner of the March 18 governorship election in Kano State.

Announcing the result on Monday in Kano, the state Returning Officer, Prof. Doko Ibrahim, the Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said Yusuf polled 1,019,602 votes to clinch the seat.

Ibrahim said that Yusuf defeated his closest rival and incumbent Deputy Governor of the state, Malam Yusuf Gawuna, of the All Progressive Congress (APC), who scored 892,705 votes.

He said: “That I, Prof. Doko Ibrahim, declared that the election was contested by 18 candidates.

“Having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, Abba Kabiru Yusuf of the NNPP is hereby declared winner and returned elected,” he said

Situation Room calls for independent inquiry into conduct of 2023 General Elections

By Angela Atabo

The Civil Society Situation Room, has called for an independent inquiry into the conduct of the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria.

The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) made the call in their Second Interim Statement on the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on Sunday in Abuja.

The report, signed by the Convener, Ene Obi, and co-coveners Asma’u Joda and James Ugochukwu, said investigation was necessary to unravel the challenges experienced and some irregularities.

Obi said that the Situation Room’s observation and analysis of the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections indicated that there were huge shortcomings with the management of electoral operations and logistics as well as election security.

She said that the elections were characterised by late commencement, insufficient election materials, challenge with upload of results, violence, and vote buying, among others.

“Situation Room notes that Nigeria has again missed the opportunity to deliver on credible elections even at the grassroots level.

“In the light of the serious shortcomings with the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, the Situation Room calls for an independent inquiry into the conduct of the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria.

“This independent inquiry should address, amongst other issues, procurement, logistics management and abuse of electoral process by INEC and security officials.

“This is urgently needed to identify challenges and make recommendations towards repairing the damaged credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.”

According to Obi, it is imperative to undertake a national debate to address all these critical challenges that still confront Nigeria’s electoral process.

She said that this, without doubt, would enthrone more transparency and help to build peoples’ confidence in the democratic process.

She said that Situation Room observations indicate a worrying level of voter apathy with the Governorship and State Assemblies polls in an election that should resonate more with citizens.

She added that Situation Room observers reported high prevalence of vote buying across the country.

She said that items given in exchange for votes included clothing items, food items and money, amounts ranging from N500 to N5,000 in cash, transfer or promissory notes.

Obi said Situation Room observers were harassed and obstructed from carrying out their duties and some journalists from AIT, ARISE TV among others, were also attacked.

“The Situation Room also received a disturbing report that 19 INEC ad-hoc staff who were on their way to seven different polling units in Ugbelie Ward 06 in Ideato South LGA of Imo State were abducted by unknown persons.

“There were reports of attack on voting centres in an IDP camp in Uhogwa, Ovia North East LGA of Edo State, by armed hoodlums.

“In addition, there were reports of voter intimidation, disruption of voting and destruction of election materials in polling units visited in Enugu, Imo, Sokoto, Delta, Niger, Gombe, Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom and Ogun States.”

Obi said that the Situation Room called on government to urgently address this persistent issue of election violenc

We’ll sue INEC over omission of party’s logo — NNPP Cross River guber candidate

Wilfred Bonse, NNPP Gubernatorial candidate for Cross River, at his polling unit in Kakwagom Bawop Ward, Kakwagom Boki LGA

Wilfred Bonse, NNPP Gubernatorial candidate for Cross River, at his polling unit in Kakwagom Bawop Ward, Kakwagom Boki LGA

 

By Victor Okoye

 

Amb. Wilfred Bonse, the governorship candidate, New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Cross River says the party will sue the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the omission of the party’s logo from ballot papers.

 

Bonse, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ogoja said he was disappointed over the conduct of the governorship and house of assembly elections in the state.

 

He noted that the party had earlier written a letter to INEC to ensure the inclusion of his party’s name on the ballot paper, instead of only the logo.

 

NAN reports that the governorship election was largely peaceful in Ogoja and Boki local government areas of Cross River.

 

The NNPP Gubernatorial candidate for Cross River said he was denied the opportunity of voting for himself and having the Cross River people vote for him.

 

Bonse said that the party would sue INEC for the wrongful exclusion of its logo from the ballot papers.

 

“This is a very interesting election in which I didn’t even have the opportunity to vote for myself because I was wrongfully excluded from the ballot.

 

“NNPP was not represented at all in the governorship ballot paper, and that’s not acceptable.

 

“We are going to sue for wrongful exclusion. We intend to take this to the highest possible level to ensure we get redress

 

“It is wrong for INEC to let us go through the process, then they go all the way and print ballot papers for an election and excluded us.

 

“So, this is just the beginning and certainly not the last of this,” he said.

 

Also, Carolyn Williams, the NNPP Senatorial Candidate for Cross River North in the recently concluded presidential and national assembly elections held on Feb. 25, said she was also on ground to cast her vote in her polling unit at Mbube East, Ward II.

 

Williams, however, expressed disappointment at the turn of events, adding that justice must prevail for NNPP.

 

“Well, I didn’t expect INEC to act differently. They had deliberately erased NNPP from the 2023 elections in Cross River. First, it was my senatorial and the presidential election .

 

“We raised concerns about the party’s logo and our absence from the ballot, but nothing, absolutely nothing was done to correct the deliberate act by INEC.

 

“This is totally unfair to me and our gubernatorial candidate,” she said.

 

Simon Akpa, INEC, Assistant Electoral Officer for Ogoja told NAN that he was not aware of the issue as it had not been formally reported to INEC on Sunday.

 

Akpa, however, said that if the report was true and what was obtainable not just in Ogoja or Boki but also in other parts of the state, then the party had the constitutional right to file an official complain to INEC for further investigation.

 

“The complaint has to be officially transmitted from the national level of NNPP to INEC. At that level, the commission will give prompt attention to the issue.

 

“However, if the issue was a peculiar one to a particular local government area and not a general concern, the complaint might not really hold water.

 

“But if the same concerns were raised and observed all over the state, then it will definitely be looked into by the electoral commission

Lagos Guber: We’ll hold Sanwo-Olu, police responsible over threat on Ndigbo – Ohanaeze 

By Abdulateef Bamgbose

 

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has reacted angrily to the fresh threat against the Igbo in Lagos State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

 

In a trending video, MC Oluomo was seen threatening that any Igbo who would not vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC, should sit at home. He went further to tell the party’s supporters that they know what to do if they discover they are losing in any area.

 

The threat has been attracting wild condemnations from across the country.

 

In a statement made available to journalists on Friday, in Abuja , the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said it was inexplicable that neither the Lagos State Governor, Bajide Sanwo-Olu nor the Nigeria police has made a single comment over the open threat.

 

Okwu said Ohanaeze was enraged that Ndigbo had continued to be an endangered species in Lagos State, yet the country prides itself as one Nigeria.

 

He said, “We are alarmed over the latest threat by an official of the Lagos State Government, MC Oluomo, who has invoked genocide against the Igbo in Lagos should they fail to vote for Sanwo-Olu.

 

“This is indeed a threat too many and we are not going to let it slide. The silence of the authorities including Governor Sanwo-Olu and the police show that they are giving tacit support to the political thugs who are maiming Ndigbo and burning down their properties in Lagos State.

 

“However, we want to sound this note of warning, we want to draw the attention of the international community that should any single Igbo man or woman be killed in Lagos State, either tomorrow or after the election, the governor should be held responsible as the Chief Security Officer of the state.

 

“The police hierarchy, who have not only refused to arrest MC Oluomo but have maintained silence, will also take responsibility for any ugly fate that befalls our people.”

 

Okwu called on Ndigbo in Lagos not to be intimated but to “come all out and vote for candidate of your choice; be ready to defend and protect yourselves. Your vote is your right and nobody should stop you from using it effectively tomorrow against enemies of peace.”

Ex-NBC boss felicitates Sokoto State Governor-elect

 

 

By Bashir Mani

 

Dr Nasir Danladi-Bako, former Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has congratulated the Sokoto State Governor-elect, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu of the APC on his resounding victory at Saturday’s gubernatorial election.

 

“This is a victory well deserved for yourself, the party and the good people of our dear state especially the young generation,” the member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Media Directorate said in a statement he issued on Monday in Sokoto.

 

Danladi-Bako said:”Particular mention and commendation was heaped on the APC leader in Sokoto and former Governor, Sen. Aliyu Wammako for his indefatigable leadership and unrivaled doggedness in steering the party to this hard-earned victory.

 

”Praise must also go to the Minister of Police Affairs , Director- General of the State Gubernatorial Campaign Council, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi for his sterling performance in ensuring the victory of the All Progressives Congress in Sokoto.”

 

He testified to the loyalty and selfless service of Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu and wished him Allah’s guidance in his new assignment, saying, ”we were once members of the State Executive Council with Aliyu

Re-election: Latinwo congratulates AbdulRazaq, thanks Kwarans for peaceful conduct

By Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Former Governor of Kwara state and an elder statesman, Chief Salaudeen Adebola Aliyu Latinwo, has congratulated Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on his victory at the just concluded gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.

Describing AbdulRazaq’s re-election as a validation of people’s confidence and trust in his administration, especially the paradigm shift in government in almost four years, the elder statesman, in a congratulatory message he personally signed and made available to Journalists in Ilorin from his London base, observed that the victory of the incumbent Governor, who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for second term, was a reward for excellent performance, humility and demystification of governance, which he brought to bear.

Latinwo, a former Military Governor of Kwara state, commended the electorate for their peaceful conduct and for standing firmly in their resolve to back AbdulRazaq for another term of office in the just concluded polls.

He also commended the people of Offa and Kwara South in general for heeding to his appeal to have the incumbent Governor re-elected on account of his impressive performance.

The Offa-born ex-Military Administrator, however, urged Governor AbdulRazaq to consolidate on the gains recorded, which endeared him to the masses.

He felicitated the Governor on his honorary investiture as a Fellow of National Labour Institute (FNLS) by Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, pointing out that the award is an attestation of his friendliness to the state workforce.

He said: “I congratulate the people’s Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, on his victory at the just concluded gubernatorial poll. What we have just witnessed is a validation of people’s confidence and trust in the APC-led government in the state.

“It is not in doubt that some factors such as humility, demystification of governance and the like made Governor AbdulRazaq an irresistible choice of the electorate and to continue to lead the state for another term of office.

“While Kwarans are savouring this sweet victory, I appeal to the Governor to see his re-election as a reward for hard work, which his administration cultivated. He must therefore not drop the ball because the reward for hard work is more work.

“Governor AbdulRazaq would have to recommit himself and consolidate on the gains recorded in almost four years that he has been administering the state. The task ahead is so enormous and here comes another opportunity to roll up the sleeves again and work for the common good of Kwarans.”

End

iNEC  AbdulRazaq winner of guber poll in Kwara

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded Governorship and House of Assembly elections, has made a clean sweep of all the 16 local government areas of the state, polling 273,424 votes to beat his main rival, Yaman Abdullahi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 155,490, while the SDP and LP candidates polled 18, 922 and 1,647 votes respectively.

Declaring the results in Ilorin on Sunday, INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Isaac Itodo, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, said “AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the newspaper APC having certified the requirements of the law, he is hereby declared the winner and returned elected”.

The Governor won the poll to serve a second term of another four years in office under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kwara governorship elections results:

1) Ekiti local government

Number of registered voters, 44,016.

Number of accredited voters, 11,849

APC 6,836

PDP 4,273

Total valid votes, 11,598

Rejected votes, 251

Total votes cast, 11,849.

2) Isin local government

Number of registered voters- 42,238

Number of accredited voters -9,631

Total votes cast -9630

Valid votes -9,438

Rejected votes-192

Total votes cast-9,630

APC 5,274

PDP 3,400

3) Offa Local government area.

Number of registered voters -97,945

Accredited voters -24,115

Total number of valid votes 23,531

Rejected votes -584

Over voting in Essa wards 002 and 006 as such votes in the two PUs were cancelled.

APC -14,696

PDP -6,705

SDP -1,289

4) Oke Ero

Total 43,944

Accredited voters -11,942

APC -7,758

PDP -3,768

Valid -11,808

Rejected 134

Total votes -11,942

5) Oyun local government.

Reg voters 61672

Accredited voters 16533

APC -8,991

PDP -5,465

SDP 1,068

Valid votes 16170

Rejected 348

Total votes 16528

Cancellation at Ijagbo due to over-voting in one PU

6) Ilorin South local government

Reg voters 161,045

Accredited 36,741

APC -20,148

PDP -12,096

SDP -2,356

Valid votes -35,949

Rejected votes -774

Total votes cast -36,723

7) Asa local government

Reg 87923

Accredited 29,061

APC -14,946

PDP -11,183

Valid votes 27,907

Rejected votes -583

Total votes cast 28,490

Cancellation in two PUs due to

violent crisis

8) Irepodun local government

Reg voter 89644

Accredited 23,160

APC -12,860

PDP – 7,614

SDP -1,693

Total Valid votes -22,733

Rejected votes -427

Total votes cast -23,160

9) Moro local government

Registered voters -81,646

Accredited voters-24,928

APC -15,161

PDP -6,823

SDP -1992

Total Valid votes -24,466

Rejected votes -461

Total votes cast -24,927

Cancellation at one polling unit

10) Patigi local government

Reg voters -68,136

Accredited voters -21,930

APC -13,813

PDP -6,544

Total valid votes -20,976

Rejected votes -748

Total votes cast -21,724

Cancellation at two PUs due to over-voting.

11) Ilorin East local government

Registered voters -163,701

Accredited voters -43,578

APC -23,925

PDP -14,500

SDP -2,645

Total Valid votes -42,170

Rejected votes -1,015

Total votes cast -43,185

Cancellation at two wards in two PUs due to over-voting

12) Ifelodun local government

Registered voters -130,778

Accredited voters -29,500

APC -17,599

PDP -9,085

SDP -1,559

Total Valid votes -29,006

Rejected votes -494

Total votes cast -29,500

13) Kaiama local government area

Registered voters 87,871

Accredited voters 22,440

APC -14,431

PDP -6,297

Total Valid votes -21,773

Rejected votes -660

Total votes cast -22,433

14) Edu local government

Registered voters: 112160

Accredited voters: 42991

APC -22,458

PDP -17,378

Total Valid votes -41,331

Rejected vote -998

Total votes cast-42,329

15) Baruten local government

Registered voters -149,573

Accredited voters -38,637

APC -28,060

PDP -7,987

SDP -1492

Total Valid votes -37,873

Rejected votes -627

Total votes cast -38,500

16) Ilorin West local government area

Registered voters -273,635

Accredited voters -85,736

APC -46,468

PDP -32,372

Total Valid votes -83,758

Rejected vote -1,978

Total votes cast -85,736

Cancellation on ground of over- voting in three PUs

After each collation officer of the 16 local government areas announced the election results, the party agents later signed the results on behalf of their respective political parties.

End