Politics

Obi wins all 17 LGAs in Enugu

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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has been declared the winner of Saturday’s presidential election conducted in Enugu State.

Obi polled a total 428,640 votes to defeat other contenders, with the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar and his counterpart Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress scoring 15,749 and 4772 votes, to a distant second and third respectively.

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, polled a total of 1,808 to record the fifth position.

The collation officer of presidential election in Enugu State and Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Professor Maduebibisi Iwe, declared the results of the election.

According to him, a total of 2,112,793 voters were registered for the election, while accredited voters Scores: APC – 4772, LP – 428,640, PDP – 15,749 and NNPP – 1808.

Iwe noted that total valid votes are 456,424, rejected votes 12,467 and total votes cast were 468,891 respectively.

The Labour Party also won all the 17 local government areas of the state in a landslide.

Politics

#NigeriaElections2023- Ibori’s daughter floors Reps member in Delta

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The House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for Ethiope Federal Constituency, Erhriatake Ibori-Suenu, has floored the incumbent, Ben Rolands Igbakpa of the New Nigerian People’s Party.

Ibori-Suenu is the daughter of a former governor of Delta State and National Leader of the PDP in the state, Chief James Onanefe Ibori.

Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu was declared winner of the Ethiope Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The certified result of the House of Representatives election from the constituency as released by INEC show PDP 20,814 votes; APC 15,172; NNPP 8,901; APGA 2,155; ADC 637; ZLP 563.

Politics

INEC suspends rescheduled presidential, NASS elections in Abia

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the rescheduled Presidential and NASS elections in seven local government areas in Abia.

Rebecca Jim, Head, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC Abia, who disclosed this in a statement, said that a new date would be communicated in due time.

She said;

“The proposed election in polling units where election could not hold on Saturday, 25th February, 2023 in Abia State scheduled for Monday, 27th February, 2023 has been put on hold.

“You shall be communicated in due course on a new date. All inconveniences are highly regretted.”

Clement Oha, INEC Administration Secretary in charge of Abia, had on Sunday addressed journalists in Umuahia about the proposed election.

He said that the election would be held at various polling units in Aba North, Aba South, Arochukwu, Obingwa, Osisioma, Ohafia and Umuahia North local government areas.

Mr Oha explained that the fresh poll was due to result of various degrees of discrepancies in the procedures that were violent to some extent.

“The commission in their wisdom felt that the credibility of the election should not be compromised, and that there should be no winner by default.

So, election must take place in the affected polling units tomorrow (Monday),” he had said.

Politics

APC chairman Adamu commends INEC on BVAS, optimistic on Tinubu’s victory

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Abdullahi Adamu, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the use Bimodal Verification and Accreditation System (BVAS).

Mr Adamu gave the commendation in an interview in Abuja on Monday.

“Although the system malfunctioned in some places, it is not overwhelming to question the credibility of the election.

“We heard from INEC that some BVAS malfunctioned. We expected it because it is a technology and with the political environment like our own, I am not expecting it to be 100 per cent.

“I must commend INEC that though there were hitches, they were not particularly overwhelming to a point of questioning the credibility of the election.

“I think it has been worth the experiment and it should be used for subsequent elections,” he said.

Mr Adamu said he is optimistic that the APC Presidential Candidate, Bola Tinubu, will win the presidential election.

“If the information we are beginning to receive from various parts of the country is anything to go by, one has every reason to be optimistic that our candidate will win.

“I know Tinubu will win because of his faith in God and we have worked for it and we believe Nigerians have listened to us just as they have listened to others.

“I believe our message has gone deeper and has bigger spread and understanding of what we are,” he said.

On what the party intends to do differently for national development should Mr Tinubu win, Mr Adamu said everything is contained in the manifesto.

He said APC party members were not beginners, adding that they had been “tested” by Nigerians.

According to him, there is no denying the fact that given their expertise, understanding and goodwill their candidate qualify to win.On vote buying, the chairman said he did not believe in it.

He said, “I do not believe in this idea of people claiming to be purists, having holier than thou attitude to life and being pretentious.

“I believe very electoral system and every country has problems that are peculiar to it.

“I want the person that would come out to say from the beginning to the end that there was no money in his or her political activity till the day he or she was declared winner or loser.”

On whether or not the cashless policy affected the conduct of the election, the former governor said “the problems have stayed but we were able to move on.

“If you have a choice then you talk of what to do and what not to do but we do not have a choice for the election to wait for it.

“I think our ability and doggedness to achieve certain feat in the face of difficulties has made us to withstand this,” he said.

Mr Adamu thanked Nigerians for turning out enmass for the election and conducting themselves peacefully.

He said in spite of the few hitches experienced in some places, there had not been any major mishap.

While thanking God for taking control of the election, the chairman said the election was about one of the biggest he had witnessed.

On his ability to manage some crisis the party faced prior to the election, Mr Adamu thanked God for His guidance as well as the leadership and other members of the party for their cooperation.

He further said he was able to manage the crisis because he provided the leadership that represented different interests and a common goal.

Lifestyle, Politics

Port Harcourt thugs attacked us, INEC starved us, lament ad hoc staff

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At least five ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stationed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, have complained about poor treatment by the commission, including the non-payment of required allowances and inadequate welfare planning for their security and personal well-being during the ongoing presidential and parliamentary elections.

Speaking to Peoples Gazette at the Obio/Akpor local government collation center, a presiding officer who chose not to disclose his name said he had not received his feeding allowances from Friday up until this morning.

He accused his Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO) of cornering the funds for himself and his colleagues.

“Our own feeding money that they were supposed to give us, since on Friday nothing, Saturday nothing. Till this Sunday morning, our SPO said she is not owing us anything,” he said.

He added that INEC authorities allowed them to transport sensitive election materials, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result sheets without any form of protection, leaving them vulnerable to thugs who stopped and harassed them.

His statement aligned with that of another officer who simply identified herself as Grace.

“We have been here for the past three days, no food, no water. They didn’t give us anything,” she said.

“We have serious issues with payment.”

“We did not have money for transport, we have been spending our own money,” she added.

Another presiding officer, Henrietta, said she and her colleagues were held hostage for more than three hours by “area boys” who assaulted several of them repeatedly.

“The bus took us to Rumeme community primary school and we were held hostage in that place for more than three hours.

We tried calling our SPO, INEC officials, none of them answered us,” she said. “In fact, they molested so many of us yesterday evening,” she added.

Politics

LP candidate snatches federal constituency seat from PDP opponent

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Donatus Mathew of the Labour Party has won the Kaura Federal Constituency seat in the February 25 National Assembly elections in the Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Returning Officer, Elijah Ella, who declared the result in Kaura on Sunday, said Mr Mathew polled 10,508 votes to defeat his closest opponent, the incumbent, Gideon Gwani of PDP, who garnered 10,297 votes.

The defeated PDP lawmaker is taking a shot at the seat for the fifth time.

The Returning Officer said Benjamin Gugong of the All Progressive Congress came third with 9,919 votes, while Simon Na’Allah of the New Nigeria Peoples Party came fourth with 5,354 votes.

He explained that 36,983 voters were accredited out of the 101,624 registered voters in the LGA.

He added that of the 36,983 accredited voters, 36,133 cast their votes.

“Mr Donatus Mathew of the Labour Party, having satisfied the requirements of the law by scoring the highest votes, is hereby declared the winner,” he said.

Politics

Late Alao-Akala’s son wins Ogbomoso Federal Constituency

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Olamijuwonlo Akala, son of late former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, the winner of the Ogbomoso Federal Constituency election.

Mr Akala, a former chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government, polled 33,268 votes to beat his close rival, Olufemi Onireti of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 27,126.

Hakeem Salami, Returning Officer for Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Orire Federal Constituency, announced that the APC candidate scored 33,268 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Olufemi Onireti, scored 27,126 votes.

“I declare Olamijuwonlo Akala winner of Ogbomoso/North/South/Oriire Federal Constituency, having polled the total number of 33, 268 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Olufemi Onireti, polled 27,126 votes,” Mr Salami said.

In his reactions shortly after being declared winner, Mr Akala said, “I’m so excited.”

Mr Akala’s father governed Oyo State from 2007 to 2011 under PDP.

Also, Najeem Oyedeji, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won the Federal Constituency seat election for Iseyin/ Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola.

Announcing the winner, the Returning Officer, Adeolu Adeleke, said Mr Oyedeji scored total votes of 30, 372, while Soliu Gbadamosi, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 28,821 votes.

Politics

INEC officials refusing to upload results in Lagos, Delta – Labour Party cries out

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Labour Party, LP has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC of refusing to upload results of the presidential elections collated in various polling units in Lagos and Delta states to the Central Server.

In a statement released this evening, February 25, the National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure, said INEC officials in connivance with the security agencies, are claiming that the BVAS have suddenly developed a fault and therefore cannot function.

He stated that information from the party’s field men has it that in places like Agege, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Surulere, and Ibeju Lekki, amongst others where results show that Labour Party won convincingly, the INEC officials claim that the BVAS suddenly developed a fault when it concerns uploading results of the presidential election.

“Information reaching me has it that in Lagos, they have refused to upload the results for the presidential election, they have uploaded that of the Senate and House of Representatives but for the presidential, they have refused.

And they are using the police to drive our agents and supporters out of the place. And they said that they have firm instruction from INEC headquarters not to upload.

For example, in Kosofe, they put the collation centre in a Local Government Area Headquarters.

The place is sorrounded by APC and people are afraid of their life. They are not uploading, they said that they have been giving instruction to insist that the BVAS is faulty. And most of the places we won, but they have refused to upload.

As I speak, APC officials are in Yaba office of INEC negotiating with the officials. What I have said now is happening in Agege, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Surulere, we have this situation all over. In Ibeju Lekki, our local government chairman who attempted to stop them was arrested by the police.”

Abure said that similar situation is playing out across the collation centres in Delta state.

The Labour Party chairman, however, called on INEC to ensure that only genuine and verifiable results generated from the various polling units should uploaded.

Politics

Gunmen attack polling units, burn ballot papers in Lagos

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Some unknown gunmen, on Saturday, attacked and disrupted the presidential and National Assembly elections at some cluster units in Mafoluku, Oshodi area of Lagos.

It was gathered that about six gunmen came on motorcycles to the area and started shooting to scare away the voters.

The gunmen attacked Owoseni, Ijaye, Branco, Owolabi, and Fadeyi streets, among others that formed the cluster units, collected some of the ballot boxes containing papers already thumb printed and set them on fire.

“The unknown gunmen came in around noon and started shooting. They collected some of the thumb-printed ballot papers and set them on fire.

“The hoodlums ran away when armed police and soldiers arrived at the place,” Mr Jonah Obisanya, an electorate said.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Idowu Owohunwa, who visited the area at about 1:07 p.m., evacuated 25 ad-hoc INEC officials from the units attacked and took them to the police command headquarters.

The officials were later taken to Oshodi Local Government Council with electoral materials.Mr Owohunwa said some suspects had been arrested in different parts of the state for electoral offences.

He, however, did not mention the number of arrests made, stressing that a vast number of people arrested will be made known to the public.

The police boss said that the exercise has been peaceful in most parts of the state despite pockets of violence in some areas.

He said that some of the violence observed in some areas were expected, stressing that special squads were put in place to immediately check them.

The police boss said no one died in the crisis so far, pointing out that security had been beefed up in the areas concerned.

Some of the ad hoc staff that sustained injuries were treated by the police medical unit at the state command.

Lifestyle, Politics

Five injured as Boko Haram attacks Borno voters

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The police command in Borno has confirmed that five persons sustained injuries in an attack coordinated by Boko Haram insurgents in the Gwoza Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Abdu Umar, confirmed the incident in an interview on Saturday in Maiduguri, the state capital.

He said the terrorists fired several gunshots targeting voters from the top of Mandara Mountains, adding that five persons sustained injuries in the attack.

Mr Umar said the victims comprised two females and three males.

“Efforts of the military within the area of responsibility helped in chasing the terrorists, forcing them to flee due to the superior firepower,” he said.

The CP said that normalcy has since been restored as the voting exercise continued while the victims were referred to the hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno (NECSOB) has expressed optimism about the turnout of voters in the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The group chairman, Bulama Abiso, who led a team of observers for the election, described the turnout as “encouraging”.

Politics

#NigeriaElections2023: Voters in Onitsha stranded as INEC officials yet to arrive

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Voters in many polling units in Onitsha and Nkpor cities of Anambra State are currently stranded as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission have yet to arrive in the area.

When the correspondent visited Ward 6, polling unit 024 at Bridge Head, Onitsha around 11:25 am, the voters were seen expressing disappointment at the non-arrival of the INEC officials as they were running out of patient.

Also, at the 064 Borehole Polling Unit located at the Sisters’ Convent, Nkpor, voters were seen waiting impatiently for the arrival of the INEC officials and their materials as of 11:25am.

One of the aggrieved sisters, Mary Amanda Nwagbo, told newsmen that they had been waiting since 9 a.m. to no avail.

They frowned on the attitude of the electoral umpire to their community while accusing them of trying to disenfranchise them in the election.

“It is almost 12noon and no INEC official around on this polling unit. What do you call that if not an attempt to frustrate us and stop us from voting our candidate,” one of the voters lamented.

Politics

#NigeriaElections2023: ICPC arrests man with N2m old, new notes in Bauchi

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has arrested a man with N2 million old and new naira notes in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The suspect, Hassan Ahmad, was arrested on Friday with the cash piled in a ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag while driving in a tinted Hilux vehicle.

He was on his way to Gombe from Bauchi State when he was arrested. The money was allegedly being taken to a politician.

The anti-graft agency disclosed this in a thread of tweets on its Twitter handle, @icpcnigeria, titled: “ICPC Takes Custody Of N2m Being Ferried To A Politician.”

It said that the suspect was intercepted by troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade code named: Operation Safe Conduct deployed to Alkaleri LGAin Bauchi, and was handed over to the ICPC.

According to the Commission, the suspect was in possession of N900,000 new notes and N1.1 million old notes. The agency did not, however, disclose the identity of the politician.

It said;

“The Bauchi State Office of ICPC has taken into custody one Hassan Ahmad in possession of the sum of two million naira cash in both old and new currencies amidst the cash crunch being witnessed in the country.

“The suspect was arrested on Friday by the Troops of 33 Artillery Brigade Operation Safe Conduct deployed to Alkaleri in Bauchi State and handed over to the Bauchi State Office of the anti-graft agency.

“Ahmad was in possession of N900,000 cash in new naira notes and N1.1 million in old naira notes and the funds were being conveyed in a tinted black Hilux vehicle with registration number JMA 85 AZ.

“The funds, which were packed in a ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag, comprise six bundles of one thousand naira new notes of N600,000; six bundles of five hundred naira new notes of N300,000, and old two hundred naira notes of N1.1 million.

“The suspect has confessed that the funds were being moved to Gombe State for a politician.”

Politics

#2023NigeriaElections- Wike unable to vote as BVAS network fails

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The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, was on Saturday, unable to cast vote at his polling unit 7, Ward 9, Wimpey Junction, Rumuepirikom, Port Harcourt, Rivers State as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System network failed.The governor arrived at his polling unit with his entourage.

The PUNCH reports that voters’ accreditation began late at the polling unit as election materials and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were not seen as of 10 am.

Politics

Lagos Deputy Gov Casts Vote, Addresses Journalists

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Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, speaks with journalists after casting his votes at exactly 10:15 am in Ward A4 Unit 002 Oke Balogun Central Mosque, Epe.

Politics

Voters lament election delay in Ikorodu

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Some voters at polling unit 019, Ita Aro square, Aga/Ijimu ward in Ikorodu, Lagos Sate, have lamented the delay in the commencement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections at the polling unit.

The voters, who spoke with our correspondent, expressed worries that the election officials, who were already behind schedule, had yet to begin the preliminary processes that would precede the voting exercise.

A voter, who identified himself as Ola Makinde, said the delayed arrival of the election officers was becoming a cause for concern.

Makinde said, “They are supposed to be here by now. All the boxes and other election materials should have been arranged by now.”

As of 9:33 am, there was no INEC official in sight, neither were any security officers seen.

Voters, many of whom were aged, were seen sitting on plastic chairs while hemp-smoking hoodlums paraded the venue of the polls, arguing intermittently as voters continued to anticipate the arrival of INEC officials.

The Deputy Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Funke Akindele, is expected to cast her vote at the polling unit sometime later today.

Politics

#NigeriaElections2023- INEC officials arrive Shettima’s polling unit two hours late

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Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission arrived at polling unit 023, Alhaji Kukawa, Lawan Bukar area of Maiduguri metropolis, at 10:42 am.

The venue is the polling unit of All Progressives Congress vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima.

The officials who arrived in a grey Toyota Camry 2015 model and a Mercedes C180, are coming two hours after 08:30 am; the time when voting should have begun as the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced Friday.

It was observed that the officials who came in the company of security against set up the polling booth, as the waiting electorate queued for accreditation and voting.

About an hour earlier, Shettima arrived at the same spot but left soon after discovering that INEC officials were yet to arrive.He is billed to return as voting is now in progress.

Politics

Large turnout of voters in FCT satellite towns as INEC officials, electoral materials yet to arrive

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Voters in Lugbe, Sauka and Tudun wada, satellite towns in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) turned out en masses early Saturday, awaiting the arrival of INEC officials.

The voters, who were seen in groups, were calm and patient after taking numbers in the order they arrived their polling units.

Security personnel were also seen roving the airport road and most polling units, while few persons were seen at deserted bus stops.

A voter, Friday Okwudili who spoke to NAN, said that he was encouraged by the turnout of voters for the election.

“The anxiety among the electorate is very encouraging; we just pray that our votes will count at the end of the day.

“I have been here as early as 6.30 a.m, and I am eager to cast my vote for candidates of my choice,” he said.

Omolara Thompson said she could not afford to sit at home today because she had to vote for the president of the country.

“I can’t afford to sit at home today, I have to choose a president that will rule the country for another four years,” she said.

Maxwell Ugo said that he had waited for today and could not afford not to come out to perform his civic responsibility.

“As a Nigerian, it is my duty to vote for any candidate of my choice, that is why I am here today,” he said.

Also speaking, Fedelis Okon, said that it was the right of every Nigerian to vote during election to elect a president of their choice.

Vans belonging to security operatives including the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Immigration, Army, were sited around polling units to ensure adequate security.

There is a massive voters turnout, especially youths at most polling units in Nyanya, an FCT satellite town.

Although accreditation is yet to begin at the polling units visited, there is a large presence of young people anxiously waiting to be accredited to exercise their franchise.

During a visit to the polling units it was also observed that electoral officers had taken delivery of election materials.

However, some polling units presiding officers (POs) said that some political party agents were yet to arrive the voting centres.

The polling units visited include 005, 039,038, 024, 026 and 064,008.Our correspondents observed the presence of heavily armed and unarmed security personnel.

The security personnel on ground at the units included Nigeria Army, Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Ijokpu Joseph , Presiding Officer for polling unit 039 said he was waiting to login into the INEC portal to begin accreditation by 8:30 a.m.

He also said that every material required for the conduct of the election had arrived at the unit and urged intending voters to be orderly when accreditation and voting begins.

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