The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and incumbent, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has been re-elected as governor of Ogun State for a second term. The final results announced by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, supervised by Chief Collation Officer/Returning Officer, Duro Oni on Sunday, showed that Amosun secured 306,988 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Gboyega Isiaka of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who garnered 201,440 votes. The Social Democratic Party, SDP, candidate, Akin Odunsi, came third with 25,826 votes. More details later…
Author: Wale Adebayo
Voting has been extended into Sunday (today) in a key governorship election in the volatile state of Rivers, following massive irregularities at some polling stations, officials said. The extension affects nine wards in oil-rich Southern Rivers, said the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gesila Khan. She said that in some instances key election materials were never brought to polling stations. The results from Saturday’s election have also been cancelled in other parts of the state after ballot papers were openly stolen, she added. Ms. Khan, however, did not specify how many areas were affected by cancellations and so it was not…
Dr Jabbi Kilgore, Sokoto State Commissioner for Environment, on Sunday advised President-elect Mohammadu Buhari to ensure diligent prosecution of electoral offenders during the 2015 general elections. Kilgore told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto that prompt prosecution of offenders would create sanity in the nation’s electoral process. He also called for the setting up of electoral panels to handle such cases, to bringing about justice in the system. He explained that such move would prevent desperate politicians from causing havoc in future elections. Kilgore commended the efforts of INEC for improving on its performance, compared to the Presidential and…
The National Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Saturday decried the little or no police presence in areas which the Peoples Democratic Party is considered to be strong in Lagos State. He made the observation while addressing journalists at Sunday Adigun Street, Alausa, where he casted his ballot yesterday. Tinubu, who is a former Governor of Lagos State, alleged that the PDP-led Federal Government had relegated the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, to the level of an area commander just because the party had ulterior motives. He said rather, the controversial Assistant…
The Senate President, Senator David Mark, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) and security operatives for the orderly conduct of the 2015 Governorship and State Assembly elections so far. In a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary Paul Mumeh, the senate president, however, reiterated the need for candidates and political parties to allow the wishes of the electorate prevail saying “it is the only way to avoid rancour and acrimony in the polity”. Speaking to newsmen in Otukpo Ward 1, of Benue State after casting his vote along with his Wife, Helen, Senator Mark pointed out…
The controversial Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Joseph Mbu, has said the threat he issued to kill 10 people for every policeman killed made the conduct of the general elections in Lagos State peaceful. He made this assertion on Saturday at the state’s Command Headquarters after monitoring the election in some parts of the state in company of some journalists. The monitoring team visited Ikeja, Agege, Alimosho, Somolu, Ogudu, Yaba, Lagos Island, Gbagada areas of Lagos State, among others. There was no chaos or fight in all the areas visited as residents cheered the…
The President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, said that his administration would give priority to capital expenditure in budget as part of efforts to develop the country. Buhari stated this on Saturday in Daura, Katsina State, while fielding questions from newsmen. “Over 90 per cent of Nigerian budget is on recurrent expenditure. “There must be much money available for capital expenditure to provide more infrastructure in our industries that will attract investments and develop the country”, he said. He said that was because of the relevance infrastructure had in the development of a country. Buhari said this would assist the nation to…
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, appeared to be leading by a landslide at the close of polls on Saturday. Unofficial results received last night from the 23 local government areas of the state showed that the diminutive APC flag bearer had defeated his rival and incumbent Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, by at least 500,000 votes after 85% of the votes had been collated. Election results obtained by SaharaReporters shows that El-Rufai has obtained 725,293 as against Yero’s 242,392. INEC is yet to officially announce the results but it is unlikely for Yero…
A House of Representatives member-elect for Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, Yakubu Dogara, has declared that it will take a miracle for any other party to win the governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the state. The lawmaker boasted that the APC will sweep all the votes in the elections. He stated this on Saturday while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after casting his vote at Gwarangah Primary School polling unit in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Dogara, who is currently Chairman, House Services/Welfare Committee, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for introducing the…
Vice President Namadi Sambo on Saturday urged Nigerians to support the incoming administration of President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure peace and development across the Nigeria. Mr. Sambo made the call after casting his vote in the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Kaduna. He said all Nigerians, irrespective of their geo-political backgrounds, should continue to sustain the nation’s democratic norms for the good of the society. The vice-president, who was accompanied by his wife, Amina, was initially accredited at about 11:16 a.m. at his new polling unit along Police College, Kaduna. Mr. Sambo, particularly commended President Goodluck Jonathan for…
John Oyegun, the national chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), said on Saturday that the gale of defections by politicians was not good for Nigeria’s political development. Mr. Oyegun, who spoke to newsmen in Benin shortly after casting his vote, advised those defecting to the winning party to rather form a formidable opposition to enrich the nation’s democracy. “Many opposition party members have defected to APC just because they lost out, that is not good for political development. “One would have advised that opposition members should stay where they are, and form a formidable opposition party”, Mr. Oyegun said. He…
Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has described as embarrassing, the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to again get its acts right on the use of the card reader. Speaking shortly after casting his vote at about 3:10p.m. at Unit 1, Ward 10, Iyamho in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, Oshiomole said INEC should punish some of its staff who deliberately frustrated the exercise. The governor noted that voter turnout might have been low due to the frustrations experienced with the card readers. But generally voters’ conduct was impressive, according to him. “Here as you…
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari has vowed not to allow electoral offenders go unpunished. He said he would encourage the setting up of a special court to first prosecute them. Buhari made this known on Saturday, while speaking with journalists in Daura, Katsina State after he cast his ballot in the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Kofar Baru 3 of Sarkin Yara Ward, Daura Local Government Area He said that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was critically following developments in Edo, Rivers and Imo States in the gubernatorial and House of Assembly polls, gathering evidence to present…
The General Overseer of All Christians Fellowship Mission, Rev. William Okoye has urged the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari to reduce the cost of governance by effecting a downward review of the remuneration of political office holders and also reduce the number of political offices. “Buhari should focus on eradicating mediocrity in governance which “is usually fueled by too much consideration on ethnicity, religion, gender and political affiliations. The new dispensation should promote meritocracy,” Okoye said in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. “I congratulate Buhari on his historic victory at the polls; his reputation as a statesman committed to eradicating corruption…
Just days after Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the presidential election, stories of massive defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ruled the airwaves. But the defectors will be shocked by the position of the president-elect on their move. In an interview at his residence in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari noted that members of the APC had nothing to fear over the mass defection of PDP members to the party. “I have no fears of PDP defectors,” he said. “The people who are defecting will only have influence in their constituencies. Since their constituencies are now…
The chairperson of Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Hassana Arkila, yesterday confirmed the death of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) councilor for Gizaki/Badagari Ward, Musa Daniel, who he said was beaten to death by irate youths while on electoral duty. “I want to confirm the death of a PDP councilor who was beaten to death by irate youths. l am assuring the people of the state that the full wrath of law will catch up with the attackers,” she said. However, Arkila appealed to the perpetrators of the act to sheath their sword and embrace peace. “The death of…
The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Adamawa, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, said on Saturday that he would concede defeat if the election was against him. Ribadu made the statement shortly after casting his vote at the Aliyu Mustafa polling unit in Yola. Ribadu, who expressed satisfaction with the process of the elections, said the exercise was peaceful. “I will accept the outcome even if it is against me”. Voting has since been concluded in Yola and its environs. Low turnout of voters was, however, observed in some polling units In Yola North and South local government areas. (NAN)
The Akwa Ibom State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has announced the boycott of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections currently ongoing in the state. The decision by the party to call for the boycott and cancellation of the elections might not be unconnected with reported widespread hijack of electoral materials by thugs and armed fake policemen, suspected to be working for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state. Already, a photo reportedly taken in Akwa Ibom, which has gun viral, shows voters scampering for safety following the invasion of a polling unit by armed political…
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo today said that Nigeria’s democracy was fats maturing. He made the assertion shortly after his accreditation for the governorship and state assembly elections at Ward 11, Unit 22 at Olusomi Compound, Sokori area of Abeokuta South Local Government Area. Mr. Obasanjo said that although there was a lower voter turnout compared with the presidential and National Assembly polls, the accreditation exercise could still be described as successful. “Reports getting to me indicate a general low turnout across the nation; however, the exercise has been orderly and peaceful. “The low turnout is not unusual and should be…
Vehicular movement restriction in Lagos State may be extended from 6p.m. to 8p.m. at the governorship and House of Assembly elections, AIG Joseph Mbu has said. Mbu, who is in-charge of Zone 2 comprising Lagos and Ogun States, told newsmen on Saturday when he visited Mr Akin Orebiyi, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos. The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, had on Thursday announced the restriction of vehicular movement from 8a.m. to 5p.m. nationwide. The AIG explained that the extension would be limited to Lagos State, saying the extension was to facilitate the smooth conduct of the elections.…