Category: Politics

By Daniel Edu

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has revealed that the collation of results for the Bayelsa State governorship election will commence at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Announcing the decision while speaking at the state collation centre in Yenogoa, the state’s Returning Officer, Faruk Kuta, explained that the decision was taken to allow the commission to receive more results from the local government.

“From the report we have currently as we speak it is just one local government (result) that is at the moment ready. By our rules it is not good for us to start taking results when we do not have a sufficient number, the point I’m trying to make is that by the time we take this one, nobody is sure whether we are going to have additional local government that are going to be ready before midnight and so it is wise for us in as much as this is very important, we also have to look at the interest of those of us that are here and the interest of the election itself,” he said.

“And so I want to plead that after this opening remarks, we will have to adjourn till tomorrow where our expectation is that we would have gotten a sufficient number, at least not less than three or four local governments that will be ready at that time, so we reconvene at 10:00 a.m. and then we will start our collation proper,” he added.

By Daniel Edu

In the ongoing Imo State governorship election, Senator Athan Achonu, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has emerged victorious in his polling unit situated in Umunumo hamlet, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area (LGA). Despite a low turnout, Achonu secured a substantial lead.

Out of the 734 registered voters at the polling unit, 216 were accredited to participate. Achonu garnered 197 votes, demonstrating a significant margin over the incumbent governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hope Uzodinma, who received only 16 votes. Three votes were reported as invalid.

In a separate development under the hashtag #ImoDecides2023, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claimed victory in Polling Unit (PU) 012, Amaino Community Primary School, Ikeduru Local Government Area. The PDP secured 122 votes, outpacing the All Progressives Congress (APC) with two votes, while the Labour Party recorded none.

These outcomes underscore the dynamics at play in the Imo State Guber election, showcasing diverse preferences among voters as candidates secure wins in their respective strongholds.

By Daniel Edu

The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room has issued a report highlighting challenges observed during the governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states, pointing to significant issues in the Imo election.

According to the statement released amid the ongoing governorship election, the Civil Society Organization (CSO) noted delays in the opening of polls across various units in Imo State.

Observers reported a substantial contrast in voter participation, with Kogi and Bayelsa experiencing high and early turnout, while Imo faced a low voter turnout at the beginning of the electoral process.

The CSO statement elaborated, “Situation Room observers reported that voters came out early in polling units visited in Kogi and Bayelsa States, while in Imo State, there appears to be low turnout at the commencement of poll.”

Furthermore, the report highlighted varying security situations across the three states. While Kogi and Bayelsa demonstrated an impressive security presence, Imo State fell short in this aspect, especially at the polling units under observation.

“Generally, there appears to be a good presence of security agents in polling units visited in Kogi and Bayelsa State as observers sighted security personnel in 92 percent of the polling units visited in Kogi State and 86 percent of polling units in Bayelsa State. In Imo State, security personnel were sighted in 47 percent of the polling units visited,” the report added.

Concerns had been raised by political analysts earlier, expressing apprehensions that the sit-at-home order issued by the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Simon Ekpa, might contribute to low voter turnout and apathy in the Imo governorship election.

By Israel Adamu,Jos

Senator representing Plateau South in the 9th National Assembly Prof Nora Ladi Daduut on Friday stressed that her loyalty to her party the All Progressive Congress APC is hundred percent .

She made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Jos .

Daduut who congratulated the Minister of Labour and Employment Bar Simon Lalong , on his victory at the Appeal Court said the interest of her Party comes first at all times .

Daduut said ” I welcome the judgement of the Court of Appeal which declared the Leader of our Party Bar Lalong as the Senator elect representing Plateau South with immense joy and appreciation to the judiciary for doing justice on the matter.

” I am very happy with the judgment given by the court of appeal ”

” I want to use this opportunity to affirm my loyalty and commitment to our party the All Progressive Congress APC .”

” Lalong has been tested and trusted ,he has all the capacity to serve the People with equity, justice, and fairness .

She also reiterated her commitment to continue to support Lalong at all times .

She called upon residents of Plateau South Senatorial District irrespective of their political affiliations, to collaborate with Bar Simon Lalong in achieving the tangible benefits of democracy.

Once more, heartfelt congratulations to Bar Simon Lalong on this significant achievement ,she added.

By Daniel Edu

In anticipation of the gubernatorial elections scheduled for Saturday, November 11, 2023, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has issued a security message to residents of Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa States. In a statement released on Friday, Ribadu assured the public of their safety throughout the electoral process.

The NSA emphasized that comprehensive security measures have been implemented to safeguard residents and voters during the elections. He urged all deployed security personnel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

Ribadu also issued a stern warning to political candidates, parties, and stakeholders, urging them to refrain from engaging in any form of violence. The statement, signed by Zakari U. Mijinyawa, Head of Strategic Communication at the Office of the National Security Adviser, conveyed Ribadu’s message to all concerned parties.

“The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, assures residents of Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states of security preparedness during the off-cycle elections coming up tomorrow (Saturday). He warns against violence by political actors and charges security agencies to adhere to professional code of ethics during the conduct of the exercise.

“The NSA assures that in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, security agencies have made adequate preparations to ensure safe, secure, and transparent elections on Saturday, 11 November, 2023.

“The NSA, who is the Co-Chair of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, charged all security, intelligence, and law enforcement officers deployed on election security duties to conduct themselves creditably.

“The NSA further stated that the Federal Government has mobilized all the required resources for the smooth conduct of the elections and called on all election managers to adhere strictly to the instruction given by the President. Ribadu further warns that a monitoring system has been established with monitors deployed to the field to collect any evidence of violence and irregularities.

“The NSA vows that there will be severe consequences for anyone who is found to have disrupted the conduct of elections or abused his authority.

“He admonishes voters in the three states to come out en masse to exercise their franchise, assuring them of adequate protection.”

Senator representing Plateau South in the 9th National Assembly Prof Nora Ladi Daduut has congratulated the Minister of Labour and Employment Bar Simon Lalong , on his victory at the Appeal Court.

Our correspondent reports that the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday upheld the judgment of the tribunal which declared Lalong winner of the Plateau South Senatorial election.

Welcoming the appellate court’s verdict as a healthy development, Daduut in a statement made available to newsmen in Jos said ” I welcome the judgement of the Court of Appeal which declared the Leader of our Party Bar Lalong as the Senator elect representing Plateau South with immense joy and appreciation to the judiciary for doing justice on the matter.

” I am very happy with the judgment given by the court of appeal ”

” I want to use this opportunity to affirm my loyalty and commitment to our party the All Progressive Congress APC .”

” Lalong has been tested and trusted ,he has all the capacity to serve the People with equity, justice, and fairness .

She also reiterated her commitment to continue to support Lalong at all times .

She called upon residents of Plateau South Senatorial District irrespective of their political affiliations, to collaborate with Bar Simon Lalong in achieving the tangible benefits of democracy.

Once more, heartfelt congratulations to Bar Simon Lalong on this significant achievement ,she added.