Politics
LG Polls: Ex-Kwara Speaker condemns glaring irregularities, scores electoral body low
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and Professor of Constitutional Law, Ali Ahmad, has condemned the widespread irregularities, particularly shortage of sensitive materiels in several polling units across the State during the last Saturday local government election orchestrated by the State Independent Electoral Commission.
This is as he lauded the resilience of all the Peoples Democratic Party’s Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates across the 16 local government areas and the 193 political wards, describing them as “heroes of democracy”.
The former Speaker, in a statement on Monday by the spokesman of his media office, Steve Makinde, eulogised all PDP members in the State for their peaceful conduct and commitment to salvaging the State from the grip of the ruling APC during the September 21, 2024, local government election despite the provocation by the KWSIEC”.
He said: “I am optimism about the real-time outcomes of last Saturday’s local government elections in Kwara State, and I know that the people aligned with PDP and its candidates across the 16 local government areas as well as the 193 political wards over the ruling APC at the polls based on the authentic results from our polling agents.”
Professor Ahmad also commended the Kwara PDP executives for their “high-level preparedness, resilience, and mobilisation efforts amid provocations from the ruling APC throughout the voting exercise. The resilience encouraged eligible voters to turn out in large numbers to support the party’s candidates at the polls”.
The professor of constitutional law noted that the actual election results from various polling units across the State reflected the overwhelming confidence Kwarans have in the PDP, while lamenting the unwarranted challenges faced during the elections, including irregularities by the State Independent Electoral Commission.
“Kwarans have always spoken through the ballots, but last Saturday’s local government elections in the State provided another avenue for eligible voters to express their overwhelming confidence in our great party, the PDP. To our dogged and ever conscious Chairmanship and Councillors candidates across the 16 local government areas and 193 political wards in the State, I salute your courage and good outings at the polls, no doubt you’re all the true heroes of the democracy Kwarans have been yearning for.
“If anyone still believes there is another way around elections than allowing the people’s will to prevail, it is high time such people woke up from their slumber and embraced the real-time realities of a one man, one vote democratic process. The people have spoken louder through the ballots, and we’ve heard them,” the former Speaker said.
The former Speaker also mentioned his participation in the Saturday elections, where he won his polling unit in a landslide with APC having only one vote,
highlighting the strong support for the PDP in his community, as evidenced by the results for both the Chairmanship and Councillorship ballots.
“Despite the glaring irregularities by the State Independent Electoral Commission amid insufficient and nonavailability of sensitive materials in some parts of the State during the Saturday elections, Kwarans, in their numbers, still trooped out to their various polling units to exercise their franchise by voting our party candidates across the board. That’s a strong signal that the people are tired of complaining and ready to join hands with our great party to bring the desired changes to the grassroots.”
During a tour of various polling units and the KWASIEC office in Pake, Prof. Ali Ahmad raised concerns about the choice of the collation centre and emphasised the importance of protecting the integrity of the electoral process.
“What is happening here today has never happened before. This is a local government election where every ward and local government has its designated collation centres to announce the real-time results from various polling units. As you can see, we are peaceful people, what we are saying is that our votes must be protected away from the reports of shenanigans allegedly happening at the homes of a serving state lawmaker and a commissioner of the Kwara government,” the former Speaker added.
The overwhelming crowds of Kwarans who took turns to hail the former Speaker during his tour of various polling units and the Pake office of KWASIEC “expressed confidence in his capability as a true servant-leader and true son of the soil in Ilorin South local government area of Kwara state”.
Professor Ahmad lauded the overwhelming support he received from the people and their “confidence in his leadership as a true community representative”.
Politics
KAWU HAILS TINUBU’S LANDSLIDE APC PRIMARY VICTORY, DESCRIBES IT AS “A TRIUMPH OF DEMOCRACY ”
Rt. Hon. Comrade Hafiz Kawu, OON, mni, Executive Commissioner (Technical) of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his overwhelming victory at the 2026 All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Primary Election, describing the outcome as a clear endorsement of the President’s leadership and reform-driven administration.
Kawu, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Tarauni Federal Constituency of Kano State, said the President’s victory was not only historic but also a reflection of the growing confidence Nigerians have in the Renewed Hope agenda.
President Tinubu secured a massive victory in the nationwide direct primary election conducted across the country’s 8,809 wards, polling over 10 million votes to defeat his challenger, Mr. Stanley Osifo.
Reacting to the result, Kawu said the election demonstrated the strength of Nigeria’s democratic process and the willingness of Nigerians to stand behind a leader they believe is committed to national progress.
According to him, the President’s decision to participate in an open and transparent direct primary election despite being the incumbent leader showed rare courage, humility, and democratic conviction.
He noted that President Tinubu could easily have relied on the influence of incumbency but instead chose to subject himself to the will of party members and ordinary Nigerians through a grassroots voting process.
Kawu praised the President for championing reforms that strengthened internal party democracy, saying the direct primary system gave millions of Nigerians a sense of participation and ownership in the political process.
The PenCom Commissioner further commended the Tinubu administration for implementing policies and reforms aimed at repositioning the country’s economy, improving infrastructure, strengthening institutions, and enhancing workers’ welfare through measures such as the new national minimum wage.
He stated that many Nigerians were beginning to see the practical impact of the administration’s policies, adding that the outcome of the primary election reflected public appreciation for the President’s efforts.
Kawu also described Tinubu as a leader with a strong vision for national development and unity, stressing that the renewed mandate from party members should serve as further motivation to continue delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.
He reaffirmed his support and loyalty to the President’s administration and prayed for divine wisdom, strength, and guidance for the President as he continues to steer the affairs of the nation.
Kawu concluded by expressing optimism that Nigeria would continue to witness growth, stability, and progress under President Tinubu’s leadership.
Politics
Dogara Commends Tinubu’s Resounding APC Primary Victory
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, CFR, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s landslide victory in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Dogara, who served as Bauchi State Coordinator and Collation Officer while also sitting on the national Presidential Primary Election Committee, said the outcome was not just a win for Tinubu but a triumph for grassroots democracy. He congratulated the President on behalf of Bauchi State and in his capacity as a member of the committee, calling the victory extraordinary, historic, and thoroughly deserved.
The final results revealed Tinubu’s overwhelming mandate: 10,999,162 votes across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, compared to just 15,503 for his sole challenger, Stanley Osifo. For Dogara, this margin was more than a statistic; it was a declaration of trust from millions of APC members nationwide. He noted that nearly eleven million Nigerians had risen as one to affirm a leader who had earned their confidence, describing the outcome as a movement rather than just a result.
Dogara commended the election committee, chaired by former SGF Pius Anyim and including respected figures such as Ken Nnamani, Victor Ndoma-Egba, and Idris Wada, for ensuring transparency, credibility, and fairness throughout the process. He said the committee had been given a sacred mandate to guarantee integrity and was proud that it discharged that responsibility faithfully.
He also highlighted Tinubu’s decision to subject himself to direct primaries under the Electoral Act 2026, which abolished delegate voting and empowered millions of party members at the grassroots. Dogara stressed that Tinubu could have relied on the powers of incumbency but instead chose to stand before the people. He described this as humility and character, noting that Tinubu had signed the law, championed the reforms, and then submitted himself to the same process, proving his commitment to democratic principles.
In his closing remarks, Dogara urged Tinubu to carry the weight of the people’s confidence with integrity and purpose. He reminded the President that nearly eleven million Nigerians had entrusted him with their hopes, calling it a responsibility of historic proportions. He charged Tinubu to fulfill that mandate faithfully, declaring that history is watching and that Nigerians are proud.
Politics
APC Reps Primary: Akpanke Wins Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Ticket
Over the weekend, Hon. Peter A. Akpanke emerged victorious in the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election for the Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency in Cross River State after securing an overwhelming majority of votes cast across the three local government areas.
The primary election, monitored by party officials and stakeholders, recorded a total of 18,921 registered APC members and delegates across Bekwarra, Obudu and Obanliku Local Government Areas.
Official results collation which was made available to journalists showed that 16,564 valid votes were cast during the exercise, with no void votes recorded.
According to the results, Hon. Akpanke polled a total of 14,252 votes to defeat five other aspirants, with
Hon. Theresa Akwaji Ushie scoring 101 votes;
Hon. Martin Orim with 1,572 votes;
Anthonia A. Ally with 104 votes;
Dr. Vincent A. Ushie with 270 votes and
Dr. Godwin A. Agbor with 265 votes.
A breakdown of the constituency wide results showed that Akpanke secured 4,749 votes in Obanliku Local Government Area, 4,886 votes in Obudu Local Government Area, and 4,617 votes in Bekwarra Local Government Area, consolidating respectively.
Following the conclusion of the collation process, APC electoral officials formally declared Hon. Peter A. Akpanke winner of the party’s House of Representatives primary election for the Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency.
The primary election was described by stakeholders, observers and party officials as peaceful, orderly transparent and credible, noting that the outcome reflected the will of party delegates and members across the constituency.
The primary election was conducted under the supervision of APC electoral officials who demonstrated true professionalism, with the official collation documents signed and dated May 16, 2026.
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