A non-governmental organisation, Stop-Violence Against Women in Politics, has called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to criminalise vote selling the same way vote-buying is criminalised.
The Executive Director of Stop-VAWIP, Tumininu Adedeji, said this at the post-election press briefing in Ado Ekiti on Sunday.
The group in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps said doing that would sanitise the nation’s electoral system the more.
She said some women were coerced to be agents of vote buying during the governorship election held in Ekiti State on Saturday, saying such an act could discourage many women from participating in politics.
Adedeji said, “Priority voting is not given to pregnant women and nursing mothers in all polling units.
“The Electoral Act 2022 does not empower the security agencies to expressly arrest and prosecute electoral offences.
“Women were coerced as both agents of vote-buying and selling with few cases tracked and reported.
“There is a need to step up the orientation and sensitisation programme to discourage voters from vote trading.
“NSCDC should conduct more public enlightenment on the availability and use of the N-alert application. Agencies should promote increased inter-agency synergy to curb vote-trading, including a service directory for election administrators and security agencies.
“There is a need to amend the Amendment of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended) to fully criminalise vote trading (vote selling and buying).”
The Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Ekiti State Command, Tolulope Adedeji, said the N-alert application, the alert system devised to facilitate response to incidents of violence, was used in Ekiti State.
He said the device would also be deployed in the Osun State governorship election to be held on July 16.
Members of the two majority parties in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress in Imo North Senatorial District of Imo State on Sunday collapsed their structures into the Labour Party and pledged their loyalty and support to its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
No fewer than two thousand people joined the LP at a ceremony at Umuaro community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state.
A former Deputy Chief of Staff to a former governor of the state, Chikwem Onuoha, said that the decision was reached after an investigation revealed that Obi was the best presidential material among other presidential candidates.
Onuoha, said that APC and PDP had misruled Nigeria for the past 23 years, adding that it was time Nigerians voted Obi to rescue the country.
The APC chieftain said, “Today, APC and PDP are dead in Okigwe zone. We have resolved to collapse our structures in the zone into the Labour Party and to work for the victory of Peter Obi. Peter Obi symbolises the hope of the ordinary people of Nigeria.
“Peter Obi is tested and trusted and he has the support of the people who vote during the election. Apart from Obi, we will vote LP all through. The Labour Party is for a mass movement. We are wiser and we want to take back our country.”
The President General of the Okigwe North Youth Progressives Forum, Chidinma Onyenagubo, said that his group was mobilising people to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards to vote for LP In 2023.
A two-term governor of the state, Ayo Fayose is believed in some quarters to be the biggest loser of the Ekiti governorship election.
Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Abiodun Oyebanji, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Ekiti governorship election held on Saturday, the contest has also thrown up a number of winners besides the governor-elect, as well as a number of losers.
According to INEC’s Chief Returning Officer in the election, Kayode Adebowale, Mr Oyebanji polled the highest valid votes cast – 187,057 – in the election to defeat his closest rival, Segun Oni, of the Social Democratic Party, who bagged 82, 211 votes.
Bisi Kolawole, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, came third, though he won in Efon Alaaye LGA, while Mr Oyebanji won in the rest of the 15 local government areas of the state.
With his election, Mr Oyebanji, the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, is the fifth democratically elected governor of the state. Ekiti State was created in 1996 by the military administration of the late head of state, Sani Abacha, an army general.
The winners
Niyi Adebayo: He is considered a major winner in the election because he is the first political godfather to the governor-elect, Mr Oyebanji.
Mr Adebayo, governor of Ekiti State between 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the defunct AD, was the first person to appoint Mr Oyebanji into a political position.
He appointed Mr Oyebanji first as his Special Assistant on Parliamentary Affairs before elevating his status to that of a Special Adviser. Mr Oyebanji later served out the administration as the Chief of Staff to Mr Adebayo who failed to win his reelection in 2003.
Mr Adebayo is believed to have recommended Mr Oyebanji to Kayode Fayemi when the latter retrieved his mandate as the duly elected governor of Ekiti State in 2010 on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Now that his political godson is the governor-elect of the state, Mr Adebayo, the current minister of trade and investment, could be said to be back in power.
APC
The APC, the ruling party in Ekiti State, has, by the new victory, extended its tenancy in the Ekiti State Government House, Oke Ayoba, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, beyond 2022.
Despite the schisms in the party as a result of the primaries that produced Mr Oyebanji as the party’s gubernatorial candidate and the fallout of the recent primaries held for various elective seats, the party still went to the poll as a formidable unit.
The visit of Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the party, to the state to canvass support for the party’s candidate, according to local observers, also boosted the chances of the party in the election.
According to INEC, the APC won in 15 of the 16 local government areas in the state thereby making the victory a massive one.
The party had also become the first political party to win back-to-back gubernatorial elections in the state in – 2018 and now 2022.
Kayode Fayemi
The outgoing governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi, would have received the biggest blame had the APC lost the 2022 gubernatorial election.
The governor-elect, Mr Oyebanji, is believed to have been unilaterally imposed on the party as its gubernatorial candidate to the chagrin of some stakeholders who felt the governor as the leader of the party should have provided a level-playing field for all the aspirants.
Mr Oyebanji has been with Mr Fayemi since 2010 serving as a commissioner in some ministries before being appointed as SSG in 2018, a position he held until December 2021 when he resigned to vie for the governorship ticket of the APC.
By the latest development, Mr Fayemi, whose tenure is about to end, is the first governor to have successfully installed a successor in the history of the state.
Although he might have stepped down for Mr Tinubu in the APC’s presidential primary election, the latest victory of the APC is an indication that Mr Fayemi remains firmly rooted in the politics of the state.
Bisi Fayemi
The First Lady of the state, Bisi Fayemi, is also a major winner of the election as the governor-elect is believed to be very close to her.
She canvassed support for the election of Mr Oyebanji, rallying the women folk in the state and the elderly to see the election of the APC candidate as her own personal project.
Some political analysts in the state say Mrs Fayemi prevailed on her husband to make Mr Oyebanji the governorship candidate of the APC.
Abiodun Oyebanji
The governor-elect is described as a proper ‘home boy’ having lived virtually all his life in the state as a lecturer, banker, farmer and politician serving in various ministries up till when he was appointed the SSG in 2018.
He is believed to have a grounded understanding of the issues and challenges of governance and government in the state.
It is, however, too early in the day to predict how his administration will pan out eventually.
The losers
Ayo Fayose
A two-term governor of the state, Ayo Fayose is believed in some quarters to be the biggest loser of the Ekiti governorship election.
He failed to install a successor in 2018 at the conclusion of his own second term tenure in office even as an incumbent governor and has also failed to make Bisi Kolawole governor, the man he single-handedly imposed as the governorship candidate of the PDP, despite protests within the party in the 2022 elections.
Although Mr Fayose still retains his firm grip on the leadership of the party in the state, with the fallout of the just-concluded election and the way the recent primaries of the party were conducted, there may be a serious challenge to his leadership from within and without.
Already, the senator representing Ekiti South, Biodun Olujimi, is squaring up to Mr Fayose by leading a faction of the party in the state.
Also, a former deputy governor of the state, Kolapo Eleka, whom Mr Fayose tried to make his successor in 2018, has begun to challenge Mr Fayose’s leadership of the party in the state.
The PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party has now lost back-to-back governorship election in the state; thus leaving the party in the lurch gasping for breath.
Since the winner of the election was declared in the early hours of Sunday by the electoral umpire, many supporters of the party have continued to bemoan their fate and the fate of the party in the state.
A handful of the supporters on their social media handles, especially Facebook, have blamed Mr Fayose as the cause of the party’s heavy loss, saying he should not have imposed Mr Kolawole on the party as its governorship candidate.
It is yet to be seen how the party will recover from its recent loss and brace ahead for the 2023 general elections.
Bisi Kolawole
Mr Kolawole, the candidate of the PDP in the just-concluded election, came third in the election.
He is believed to have been imposed on the party by Mr Fayose who preferred him to other aspirants who vied for the governorship ticket of the party.
Mr Kolawole, a former state chairman of the party and strong supporter of Mr Fayose, is perceived to be an unpopular candidate, which observers believe contributed significantly to the relatively poor performance of the party in the elections.
He has reacted to his loss by thanking his supporters and essentially accepting defeat.
Segun Oni
A veteran gubernatorial candidate, Mr Oni may have had his last attempt at being the governor of the state having been judicially removed from power in 2010.
Mr Oni, in the events leading to the 2022 governorship election, left the PDP for the SDP where he emerged as the governorship candidate of the party which made the election a three-horse race.
Before his second missionary journey to the PDP, he had pitched his tent with the APC in 2014 and even served as the party’s chairman for the south before he dumped the party in 2018 to rejoin the PDP. He claimed he and his supporters were maltreated by the party hence his reason for dumping the party.
While he has a lot of local supporters, some also blame him for moving from one political party to the other once he fails to secure the governorship ticket of the party.
Of the three dominant contestants in the just concluded election, Mr Oni was the oldest at 67. He will be 68 by September. It is unclear at the moment whether he will vie for the governorship seat in 2026.
Atiku on Thursday presented Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his vice presidential pick, 18 days after winning the PDP presidential primary
More facts have emerged on why the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, rejected the recommendation of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as his running mate for the 2023 election.
Mr Atiku on Thursday presented Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his vice presidential pick, 18 days after the former vice president won the presidential primary of the party in Abuja, for the second consecutive time.
Mr Wike, who came second in the primary, was one of three governors recommended by an ad hoc committee of the PDP to Mr Atiku for his consideration as his running mate. The others were Mr Okowa and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.
However, Mr Atiku told senior party leaders that he could not work with Mr Wike. Aside from describing him as a direct opponent, the candidate said Mr Wike does not like him, citing how he almost thwarted his nomination in 2018 at the party’s National Convention in Port Harcourt.
Mr Wike at that time had supported Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who eventually returned second at the primary on that occasion.
Ironically, Mr Tambuwal’s withdrawal and endorsement of Mr Atiku just before voting started at the Abuja convention of the party on May 29 were pivotal to Mr Atiku defeating Mr Wike with 371 to 237.
After the convention, Mr Atiku paid a visit to Mr Wike in his residence in Abuja, during which the governor promised the candidate and the PDP his full support for the general elections.
According to a party insider, “Atiku was horrified after Wike returned to Port Harcourt and was publicly attacking his colleague governors for supporting Atiku at the primary.”
Mr Atiku also believes that Mr Wike’s fallout with the former National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, who was subsequently removed from the position last year, was due to the governor’s perception that Mr Secondus had become close to him (Atiku).
According to the source, many party elders and leaders feared that picking Mr Wike would tear the party apart instead of unifying it, saying many of his colleague governors in the South-south and South-east do not like his ways.
“Our leaders acknowledge the role Wike played in ensuring the survival of the party during its trying moments, but they do not like his boastful ways and the way he always threatened the party and party leaders to have his way every time.
“They believe that such a combative and garrulous person cannot be suitable for the role of vice president and that is the reason many party leaders were against Wike,” the source said.
Following the strong run of Mr Wike in the primary in which he drew the support of delegates from across the country, his supporters and many party leaders urged Mr Atiku to pick him as his running mate to unify the party for the February 25, 202,3 presidential election.
Mr Atiku was said to have promised to consider Mr Okowa for nomination as his running mate to get the votes of Delta State’s delegates in the primary.
However, after the campaign for Mr Wike to be included on the ticket began to grow in the party, Mr Atiku offered the Rivers governor or his nominee the petroleum ministry portfolio if he wins the election, but the governor rejected the offer.
To avert a repeat of the accusation that he unilaterally picked Peter Obi as his running mate for the 2019 election, Mr Atiku decided to involve the party’s leadership in the nomination.
After consultations between the candidate and the party’s National Working Committee, Board of Trustees and state governors, the party set up a 17-member committee to recommend candidates for the slot.
Although there were reports between Tuesday and Wednesday that the committee overwhelmingly voted to recommend Mr Wike, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that it only recommended the three governors for the slot.
Mr Atiku had arranged to meet Mr Wike Thursday morning to personally inform him of his decision, but apparently, on realising that Mr Okowa was the choice, the Rivers governor flew out of Abuja on the eve of the meeting.
It is not known whether Atiku and Mr Wike have spoken with each other since then but the governor has not made a public statement on the nomination of the running mate by his party’s presidential candidate.
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has arrived in Lagos following his victory at the primary election of the APC.
The candidate, who landed in Lagos on Sunday, was welcomed by an excited crowd from the airport.
On his Instagram story, Tinubu noted that it felt good to be back home, as he was seen waving at ecstatic supporters who hailed him.
The supporters who were waving brooms, which is an APC symbol, were chanting “Emilokan” as they followed his entourage.
Tinubu, who was also waving back a broom, captioned the video, “Feels good to be back home.”
Several videos available on the Internet showed that Tinubu was received by the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, upon his arrival.
APC United Kingdom on Facebook wrote, “Aṣíwájú Bọ́lá Ahmed Tinubu arrives Lagos after weeks of absence.
“He left Lagos as a presidential aspirant, but came back as a presidential candidate. It could only be God!”
Tinubu scored 1,271 votes to defeat his closest contenders, Rotimi Amaechi and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, two weeks ago.
Amaechi obtained 316 votes while Osinbajo polled 235.
He contested against 13 other aspirants – Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Mr Ahmed Rufai, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Mr Jack Rich, Governor Ben Ayade, Governor David Umahi, Senator Ahmed Yarima, Dr Ahmed Lawan, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Governor Yahaya Bello and Mr Ogbonnaya Onu.
President Biden fell off of his bike during a morning ride in Rehoboth Beach, Del., on Saturday, according to a White House pool report.
The president, an avid bike rider, said he felt fine after falling off his bicycle while stopping to greet a crowd.
Biden fell off the bike during a morning ride at 9:40 a.m., and Secret Service agents quickly surrounded him as the president stood up, according to the pool report. He then proceeded to speak to the crowd.
“I’m good,” Biden said when asked if was alright after the fall.
He said he had trouble taking his biking shoes out of the pedal. Biden was out for a morning of activity near his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach.
He took a few questions before riding away, saying he planned to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping “soon” and is in the process of considering lifting Chinese tariffs as inflation continues to rise.
He added that he is ready to sign a bill to curb gun violence, the framework of which has been agreed upon by a bipartisan group of senators.
The framework would provide funding to states to implement laws to keep guns out of the hands of people deemed dangerous to themselves and others.
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday said that he would likely support gun legislation that reflects this framework.
Following the news of his fall, a White House spokesperson said that no medical attention was needed for the president.
“As the President said, his foot got caught on the pedal while dismounting and he is fine. No medical attention is needed. The President looks forward to spending the rest of the day with his family.”
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, on Friday, inaugurated the construction of the Coordinated Wholesale Centre for Pharmaceutical and Allied Products in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Soludo, at the ceremony, said that all open drugs markets in the state would relocate to Oba when the centre is completed.
According to him, the construction of the centre is in accordance with the National Drug Distribution Guidelines.
“This project is in line with the plan to build a liveable and prosperous homeland in Anambra State. The Oba international drug market will be revived to help form the ecosystem for a new technology driven smart city in Oba.
Security operatives have reportedly seized a huge parcel of money which was meant to buy votes at polling Unit nine Ward 10, Ikere local government area of Ekiti State in the ongoing governorship. This led to disruption of the voting process for about 39minutes at the polling unit.
The Nation reports that voters who had hoped to collect money were said to have been disappointed with the action of the security agents. It was gathered that the officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were on routine patrol when they stormed the polling unit. SaharaReporters earlier reported that vote buying was taking place Inside a house located behind Oisa Alada Hall, where people were seen rushing in and out with their PVC to receive N7,000 payment from APC people’ for their votes at PU: 009, Ward: 02, Ikere LGA
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum ( SMBLF) has rejected the presidential running mate to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for accepting his nomination to run for the 2023 general elections.
A statement issued by leaders of SMBLF, Chief Edwin Clark, for the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere, Dr. Dru Bitrus, the President-General, Middle Belt Forum and Prof. George Obiozor, the President-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide described Governor Okowa as “a betrayal of the highest order” for accepting the vice president slot.
The statement noted that the 17 governors of the Southern States, both of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the Chairmanship of the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, met in Asaba, the capital of Delta State on May 11, 2021, and took far-reaching decisions, that based on the principles of fairness, equity and justice, the presidency should rotate to the South at the end of the statutory eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
It stated that the Southern governors later met again in Lagos, on July 5, where they reaffirmed their decision, and again in Enugu, on September 16, to restate the call that the presidency should rotate to the South in 2023.
According to the statement, “It is unspeakable and quite disappointing that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is currently Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, and a native of Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area (one of the Igbo-speaking areas) of Delta State, would exhibit such barefaced unreliability.”
The statement lamented that it was most unfortunate that Okowa, who should know better, accepted his appointment as running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The forum noted that it had nothing personal against Ifeanyi Okowa, but described his action as “treacherous and tantamount to a despicable pawning of the political future of the people of Southern Nigeria.”
Governor Okowa has, according to the statement, by his action, betrayed the trust reposed on him by his colleagues, the southern governors, the entire good people of southern Nigeria and all well-meaning Nigerians.
It stated that he has made himself persona non grata, not only with SMBLF but all citizens who treasure their oneness and yearn for a more united and peaceful Nigeria.
The statement opined that it is not a matter of loyalty to one’s political party but rather a greedy, parochial and unpatriotic action committed against the general interest of his State, Delta State, the Niger Delta region and Southern Nigeria.
Indications have emerged that the cold war between the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and his political godfather, James Ibori, almost denied the governor the chance of emerging as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that Ibori, an ally of Atiku, initially kicked against the choice of Okowa, owing to the disagreement between them over the PDP governorship primary in the state. In the primary, Ibori’s candidate, David Edevbie, scored 113 votes and lost to Okowa’s candidate, Sheriff Oborevwori, who scored 590 votes. Oborevwori is the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
The development was said to have angered Ibori, who felt betrayed by Okowa’s opposition to his preferred choice as his successor. The former governor had while in the prison in the United Kingdom directed his supporters to ensure Okowa emerged as the party’s candidate and that he won the main election. He won the election, defeating Tony Obuh, the choice of then governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan.
Findings showed that Ibori felt slighted with the way Okowa behaved and was of the opinion that the governor, whom he helped to power, was out to humiliate him.
How Ayu, others helped Okowa’s emergence
A member of the party’s Board of Trustees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however told Saturday PUNCH that indeed Ibori was opposed to Okowa becoming the running mate and could leverage his relationship with Atiku to frustrate his emergence, especially when there were other options he could choose from.
The BoT member said it took the intervention of some party chieftains who spoke to Ibori to let go, paving the way for Okowa to emerge.
“It was against that backdrop that the likes of the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu; a former National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, and some members of the party stepped in and spoke with Ibori.
“A former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and some members of the BoT and National Executive Committee were involved in the process.”
Another source noted that the names of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and Okowa were presented by the party’s advisory committee to the screening party but Atiku chose Okowa as his choice.
The source said on Friday, “I can confirm to you that Okowa was recommended by the chairman (Ayu), Sule Lamido and Babangida Aliyu. Well, you can’t say that the candidate himself did not have his choice even before telling the party stakeholders to choose for him but the truth is that the chairman and those two stakeholders also recommended governor Okowa.”
An aide to Umar Damagum, the chairman of the advisory committee, also confided in our correspondent, “The advisory committee submitted three names to the presidential candidate to choose from, and in his own capacity as the candidate of the party he chose Okowa, not because he is more qualified than others on the list, but that was his choice.”
Meanwhile, asked what Ibori and Okowa said concerning the cause of their rift, one of the sources privy to the meeting said, “Okowa said Ibori did not call him to inform him about his candidate and Ibori said the same thing. I think it was a communication gap between them.”
It was learnt that the emergence of Ibori’s daughter, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, as the party’s candidate for the Ethiope Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, was a way of pacifying the former governor.
Wike’ll work for PDP’s victory – Atiku’s aide
Speaking on the outcome of the selection process, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, told one of our correspondents in an interview that Okowa was chosen because he shared similar goals and vision with the candidate. “Okowa complements and shares with the candidate the vision of a united Nigeria,” he added.
Reacting to how Wike lost out, he said, “Wike himself has not complained. He is a strong party man who will match his desire with commitment to ensure that PDP wins the election. The candidate is still reaching out to ensure that there is a united front so that everybody will be brought on board. All of them will work together to ensure the success of the party.”
Okowa in an interview on Arise TV on Friday night also said he was reaching out to his colleagues (governors) on the need for them to work together for the party’s victory.
Group warns against using Delta funds for campaign
The campaign organisation of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Delta State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has warned Okowa not to use state funds to fund Atiku’s campaign.
A statement on Friday by the organisation’s Director of Communications and Media Strategy, Ima Niboro, read in part, “It is sad that on a day the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, approved immediate payment of outstanding gratuities, pension arrears and death benefits for retirees of Rivers State Public Service, the Delta State House of Assembly approved N25bn loan for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa allegedly to plant palm trees.
“We have sufficient grounds to suspect that these loans are being taken to prosecute Atiku’s presidential campaign. We will not stand by and watch Okowa impoverish our people in order to enthrone a man who has nothing to offer Deltans in particular and Nigerians in general.”
Ohanaeze eulogises Okowa
The apex Igbo Socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has congratulated Okowa over his emergence.
A statement on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, titled ‘Ohanaeze Ndigbo congratulates Okowa as vice-presidential candidate’, partly read, “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide heartily congratulates an Igbo prodigy, an astute administrator, sagacious politician, brilliant physician, creative visionary, prudent resource manager, detribalised patriot, purveyor of morals, a quintessential gentleman and a poster personality, His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State, as he secures the highly coveted vice-presidential candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“The life of Okowa is a veritable tribute to humility, sincerity, simplicity, hard work, perseverance and centrality of morals in the dynamics of power. As a governor, Okowa had a clear vision which he pursued with passion, valour, candour, honour and unassailable accomplishments.
“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, led by Prof George Obiozor, is very proud of you. We are optimistic that your candidacy will add enormous electoral value to your political party, the PDP.”
‘Okowa’ll work in consonance with Atiku’s goals’
The Atiku Support Organisation has said the choice of Okowa as Atiku’s running mate was because they were convinced he (Okowa) would work in consonance with Atiku’s goals, mission and vision.
The group in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Victor Moses, said, “The choice of Governor Okowa is in recognition of his immense ability to work in consonance with the goals, mission and visions of His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, to salvage Nigeria from the administration of the Buhari-led government of the APC.”
Also, the Lagos State chapter of the PDP has applauded the choice of Okowa as Atiku’s running mate.
The News Agency of Nigeria on Friday quoted the state chairman of the party, Mr Philips Aivoji, as saying the party was sure to triumph with Atiku Abubakar/Ifeanyi Okowa ticket.
He said, “We have got a good vice-presidential candidate, a man of integrity and honour. He is a trusted and tested party leader. Some people trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord, we will triumph.”
Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Debo Ologunagba, told one of our correspondents on Friday that the party’s presidential candidate and his running mate were experienced hands ready to move the country forward.
He added, “The team is well experienced, has the strength and the record of performance to also unify the country.”
Shine Peller claimed that the primary election in his constituency was rigged against him and alleged assassination attempt on his life.
Shina Peller, a member of the House of Representatives, has resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmaker, who represents lseyin/ltesiwaju/ Kajola/lwajowa federal constituency of Oyo State, announced his resignation on Friday via Twitter.
Mr Peller contested Oyo North Senatorial District primary election against Fatai Buhari but lost.
He polled five votes against Mr Buhari who garnered 570 votes.
The lawmaker claimed that the primary election was rigged against him and alleged assassination attempt on his life.
He promised to announce a new political party on Wednesday.
“I have tried my best for APC, the party style of democracy in Oyo State kills my conscience and I have to put my people’s interest first.
“I have realised that the youths and the people will continue to be at the mercy of few at the top. I’ll announce my new political party on 21|06| 22,” he said.
The last primaries created an upset in the National Assembly as several members lost their bid to return to the legislature.
It is believed that the exclusion of statutory delegates by the current Eectoral Act is responsible for the rate of defeat.
The lawmakers erroneously excluded statutory delegates from Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act. Both chambers later amended the section but the president has yet to sign or decline assent to the bill.
On Tuesday, House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila lamented the poor outing of lawmakers in primaries.
Similarly, the House has resolved to consider a motion to veto the decision of the president on the bill. However, no action has been taken so far.
A total of 989,202 registered voters are expected troop out to the polls to make their choice from a list of 16 governorship candidates.
Residents of Ekiti State will today elect a new governor who will steer the affairs of the state for the next four years.
A total of 989,202 registered voters are expected to troop out to the polls to make their choice from a list of 16 governorship candidates.
The candidates are Reuben Famuyibo of the Accord Party; Ajagunigbale Olajide of AAC; Oluwole Oluyede, ADC; Kemi Elebute-Halle, ADP; Abiodun Oyebanji, APC; Benjamin Abidoyin, APGA; Fagbemo Adegbenro, APM; Christiana Olatawura, APP; and Daramola Olugbenga, LP.
Others are Fatomilola Oladosu, NNPP; Iyaniwura Ifedayo, NRM; Olabisi Kolawole, PDP; Ben Agboola, PRP; former Governor Olusegun Oni, SDP; Adebowale Ajayi, YPP and Adeola Akinyemi, ZLP.
Although all the candidates campaigned and canvassed votes, three of them, Messrs Oyebanji, Oni and Kolawole of the APC, SDP and PDP respectively, are considered the frontrunners with one of them most likely to win the election. Whoever wins today’s election, will replace the outgoing governor, Kayode Fayemi, in October.
The leading candidates have their strength in all the 16 local government areas with a total of 177 wards or registration areas and a cumulative number of 2,445 polling units.
The people have been sensitised. INEC has assured of its readiness to conduct a successful poll. The police and other security agencies have been mobilised and deployed to protect the voters and the ballots
PREMIUM TIMES reporters are on ground to bring you the live updates of the election. This newspaper will also be ready with timely results as they are announced at the polling units.
The Kogi State House of Assembly on Friday, June 17, impeached the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Muhammed.
The House also impeached three other members; Majority Speaker, Bello Hassan Abdullahi, Deputy Majority leader, Ndakwo Idris and Deputy Chief Whip, Edoko Moses Ododo.
In an emergency sitting held at the Assembly in Lokoja, on Friday June 17, the lawmakers accused Ahmed Muhammed of gross misconduct and arbitrary use of the office.
In a motion of urgent importance read by Hon. Enema Paul, member representing (Dekina/Okura), State Constituency, said 17 lawmakers signed the impeachment of Hon. Ahmed Mohammed and the suspension of the three other principal officers in the house.
The House announced Alfa Momoh Rabiu, the lawmaker representing Ankpa II as the new deputy speaker of the state assembly.
The new principal officers elected are Hon. Muktar Bajeh, (Majority Leader), Umar Isah Tanimu, (Deputy Majority Leader), Enema Paul, (Deputy Chief Whip), and Ahmed Dahiru, (Chief Whip).
The Speaker, Prince Mathew Kolawole had earlier announced the dissolution of all the house standing committees and appointed Committee members.
The affected officers were also suspended from coming into the house till further notice.
The House adjourned sitting till 5th July, 2022.
It was gathered that before the impeachment process, there was a heavy presence of security personnel at the Assembly complex consisting of the Nigerian Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The senatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe North, Hon. Bashir Machina has gone into hiding to safe himself from possible body harm.
Machina, was elected as the candidate of the party after the incumbent, Senate President Ahmad Lawan decided to contest the presidential ticket of the party instead of seeking to re-contest his senate seat.
Lawan was subsequently defeated by Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and is believed to be interested in dragging the ticket back from Machina, who has been adamant, insisting that he would not entertain anything of such.
Informed political sources revealed that pressures has continued to mount on Machina to give the ticket to Lawan who has been at the National Assembly since the resumption of the present democracy in 1999.
The argument from within and outside Yobe State is that Lawan stands a chance of being returned as the Senate President in 2023 and getting better bargain for the people of the Northeast state.
Sources revealed that as the pressure continues to mount, Machina for fear that his stand not to relinquish the ticket may assume dangerous dimension has gone into hiding.
Confirming this, is a statement issued on Thursday by the candidate’s campaign organisation.
The statement signed by Hussaini Isah, the Spokesman, Bashir Sheriff Machina (BSM) Campaign Organisation read: “Information at the disposal of Bashir Machina Campaign Organisation is that there is security threat to the senatorial candidate of APC for Yobe North, Hon. Bashir Sheriff Machina especially in relation to his refusal to relinquish his legally acquired ticket.
“Credible sources confirmed that some people want him arrested or at worst eliminated. They have resorted to employing diabolical means over unlawful means, in pressurising him to step down.
“We use this opportunity to notify the security agencies of this threat or likely breach of security around our senatorial candidate, we believe the security agencies will rise up to the occasion and take the threat seriously.”
The statement added that: “As Campaign Organisation, we warned that the people behind his ordeal in the last four days should be held responsible if any mishap happens to him. By this notice, we are putting everybody on red alert.”
Federal High Court authorities have refuted media reports that one of its judges, Inyang Ekwo, disqualified All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate Biodun Oyebanji from the Ekiti state gubernatorial election. .
The gubernatorial election in Ekiti state is scheduled for Saturday, June 18.
“Such a report is unfounded, highly malicious and is intended not only to mislead members of the public, but also to cause tension,” the court’s chief information officer, Catherine Christopher, said Thursday night.
The statement further discredited the existence of such a case before Mr. Ekwo or any other court judge.
“The Federal Superior Court hereby discredits the existence of any such case in its entire jurisdiction and indeed the injunction as alleged.
“The court categorically states that there has been no such case before the Hon. justice IE Ekwo.
“It is worrying that some media professionals are quick to give false information to the public for their own selfish interests, and thus unduly heat up politics,” the court’s leadership lamented.
“This spurious report sold to the public is very unfortunate and unacceptable. It should be totally ignored,” the statement advises.
He advised journalists to imbibe ethical values of “professionalism and truth” in their reporting on issues.
Some news platforms reported on Thursday that the Abuja Federal High Court annulled the APC gubernatorial primary election in Ekiti state for alleged irregularities that characterized the process.
But APC in Ekiti state had previously criticized the report insisting that Biodun Oyebamiji, who emerged as the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the primary election, was still their candidate in Saturday’s election. The party urged its supporters to ignore any reports to the contrary.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, gave the assurance on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
He revealed that over 980,000 residents have been captured in the commission’s voters’ register but less than 200,000 of the figure were expected at the polling units.
“As of today, we have a total of 988,923 voters on the voters’ register,” Okoye said. “This is the number that will vote during this governorship election.
“Out of this number, as of the 13th day of June 2022, 749,065 have collected their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs). So, we are ready for this particular election and every PVC that has not been collected will be mopped up and kept in safe custody pending the conclusion of the election.”
He recounted that the chairman of the electoral umpire had hinted that the collection of PVCs by residents would stop on Thursday.
Optimum Operation
The INEC official explained that this was to allow the commission the opportunity to separate the PVCs collected in order of the respective polling units, registration areas, per local government areas.
He believes such an action will enable accredited observers, the media, and political parties among other stakeholders to have access to the number of persons who are eligible to vote in every polling unit and every registration area.
Okoye also hinted that the commission has concluded arrangements to ensure voters were not delayed unnecessarily due to accreditation in a bid to cast their ballots.
According to him, INEC has deployed more Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the exercise compared to the number of polling units where the election will take place.
“In any polling unit where we have more than 750 registered voters, we are going to deploy an additional BVAS to those polling areas,” the INEC national commissioner said. “We have a total of 2,445 polling units that will be used for this election, but we have deployed a total of 3,346 BVAS to Ekiti State. So, we are going to have redundancies in every registration area.
“We have also trained enough registration area technical assistants who can intervene at very short notice if there is any challenge with the BVAS. From the test runs we have done, we are confident that the BVAS will perform optimally and that every person who is genuinely and legally registered to vote in this election will have an opportunity of exercising his/her right.”
hairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau state, North Central Nigeria Rev. James Kantoma who was kidnapped by gunmen have regained his freedom.
Kantoma who doubles as the Catholic priest in charge of St Anthony’s Parish in Jos East LGA was kidnapped at his church compound in Angware community, in the early hours of Monday when gunmen invaded the community.
Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria Plateau North Rev. Nenman Gowan who confirmed the release on Thursday in Jos said the Priest is in stable condition but undergoing treatment and rehabilitation after suffering varying degrees of traumatic experience.
He did not however mention if any ransom was paid before the release of the Catholic Priest.
The abductors had earlier on demanded 50 Million Naira as ransom.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has announced Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.
Atiku made the announcement at a meeting attended by PDP executives at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, said a 17-member committee had been set up by the party to pick a running mate.
He said the committee had submitted three names to Atiku to choose from.
The final decision however, Ayu said, was Atiku’s.
Speaking at the announcement event, Atiku said making a choice between the three names had been a difficult decision.
He also noted that some of the qualities he looked out for include someone who understands the enormity of the challenges facing the country and one who has demonstrated, from experience, that he can proffer some solutions.
He said he looked out for one who has the qualities of a president, who can stand in for him when he’s not around.
According to him, while all the three names submitted were qualified, he had to settle for just one: Okowa.
‘Congratulations’ Okowa had arrived the PDP headquarters in a celebratory mood.
Some party members welcomed him into the building with the words ‘congratulations’.
Okowa and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, were among names being mentioned as prospective running mates to the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
‘Distinguished’ Wike
Earlier, the PDP had denied reports that it had ruled out Wike from the Vice Presidential race.
“If anything, our Party reiterates its confidence in Governor Nyesom Wikes’s outstanding ability and commitment to the ideals and values of the PDP,” a statement signed by spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, said.
“His records of achievement as a Local Government Chairman, Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Minister of State for Education, currently Governor of Rivers State and the runner-up in the PDP Presidential Primary stand him out as possessing requisite qualities, qualifications, capacity and wide acceptability for the position of the Vice-Presidential candidate of our Party.
“The various positions creditably held by Governor Nyesom Wike distinguished him as an excellent team player in public governance.
“In fact, Governor Wike’s energy, brilliance, commitment and passion were acknowledged by the National Working Committee (NWC) of our Party and he is adjudged as the foremost candidate in consideration for the position of the Vice-Presidential candidate of the PDP.
“While the PDP notes the interest of the media and the public in our Party’s choice of Vice-Presidential candidate it is imperative to state that as an organic Party, all our processes will be followed through in strict adherence to our procedures before any official announcements.
“The PDP urges Nigerians to disregard the mischievous reports aimed at undermining our Party’s unity at this critical time.”
Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum Rotimi Akeredolu has again weighed in on the widespread insecurity witnsessed across the country.
Delivering a keynote address at the opening of the ongoing Attorneys-General of the 36 States, the Ondo state Governor noted that police is overwhelmed.
Akeredolu who disclosed that the police blamed non-availabilty of vehicles for their inability to mobilise to the scene of the recent Owo attack, asked the Police to “close shop” if the Federal Government could not meet its equipment needs.
The Governor also challenged states to restructure the country by, among others, setting up their own anti-graft agencies.
He also said Nigerians might be forced to bear arms soon as the mass killings, kidnappings and other serious security failures around the country had shown that a central police command was ineffective to keep Nigerians safe.
Akeredolu said;
“The Police have failed.
“We will carry arms very soon. Oga Malami. There is no other way.”
Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Rev. Mathew Hassan Kukah has said that democracy is not developing at the right pace in Nigeria because those making the laws are benefiting from the system.
The Convener of the National Peace Committee who spoke in an interview on Channels Television, stated that as long as politicians make the rules, there would not be an improvement in the country.
Kukah said;
“The problem with Nigeria’s situation is that the sinners are the ones trying to make the law. These are the consequences of where we find ourselves now.
“I speak to the fact that as long as the universities are the way they are, as long as we do not have privileged intellect and the diagnostic tools required to refine processes, as long as we are hoping that politicians are the ones to set their own rules, as long as we expect that almost all of these are politics, there would not be an improvement in the country.
“In my view, had it been we have a country that is working, a country that takes research seriously, it is the business of political scientists to equip the people in power with the required tools for analysis, to the options that are available to ensure things go the way they should go.
“But unfortunately, if you have a situation where the universities are not funded, the country itself behaves as if it wants to close the universities, what else do you expect?
“Unless and until this government and other government in Nigeria takes academic exercise very seriously, we can not expect the person who is sick to be the one to provide the medicine for his cure.”
Kukah also acknowledged that the amendment in the electoral law would instil greater confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
He added;
“Gradually, as the quality of people’s lives is increasing, people can become a little bit relaxed but for now, politics in Africa and Nigeria seems to be a bit tense because of the nature of the sharing of the political benefits.
“If people in power continue to practise nepotism when people feel that they have voted and the people who are benefiting are those who have just come out of the comfort of their rooms, they are bound to feel frustrated. These are ingredients for violence in Nigerian politics.”
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