Dons EzePDP’S BELOVED DAN-ANIKE WINS ENUGU EAST LGA CHAIRMANSHIP ELECTION
PDP’S BELOVED DAN-ANIKE WINS ENUGU EAST LGA CHAIRMANSHIP ELECTION Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) chairmanship candidate in Enugu East LGA, Engr. Pastor Beloved-Dan Anike, has been declared the winner of the September 21, 2024, Local Council Elections. Announcing the results of the election in the early hours of Sunday, September 22, the returning officer, Dr. Nelson Ike Ossai, stated that the PDP candidate scored a total of 116,690 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Ozor Damian Ubasinachi of the Labour Party, who polled a total of 9,848 votes to emerge in a distant second position, followed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with 3,839 votes. Others are APP with 2,224 votes, AA with 2,072 votes, NNPP with 650 votes, Accord with 511 votes, and APM with 327. His supporters and residents of the area expressed their joy.
HOW POLICE DIG WALKED OUT GOV OBASEKI OUT OF INEC OFFICE IN BENIN CITY
HOW POLICE DIG WALKED OUT GOV OBASEKI OUT OF INEC OFFICE IN BENIN CITY Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Edo election, Frank Mba, was probably enraged by the visit of Governor Godwin Obaseki to the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin, on Sunday morning. Accompanied by his security aides, Obaseki had walked into INEC office around 3am. The governor headed for office of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), where he held a closed door meeting. While there, some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stormed INEC office in protest. Among the protesters were Ajibola Basiru, National Secretary of the APC, and Dennis Idahosa, running mate to Senator Monday Okpebholo, governorship candidate of the APC. On his part, Idahosa said: “Obaseki must come out. He is not supposed to be here. He is not an INEC staff. Nigeria Police should not compromise.” The protesters tried to gain entrance into INEC premises but they were prevented by armed security operatives. However, they banged the gate repeatedly while shouting on top of their voices. Speaking with journalists, National Secretary of APC, Surajudeen Basiru, described Obaseki’s action as abuse of office. Basiru said: “Obaseki is not a candidate. He has no reason to be here, the governor’s action as abuse of office.” Amid the brewing tension, DIG Mba walked into the INEC office and asked the governor to leave. Obaseki, who was not paying full attention, had his focus elsewhere, making the senior police office to go tough. “Please, leave here!” he ordered before policemen escorted Obaseki out of INEC premises. However, moments after the governor left, INEC announced that collation of election results would commence at 10am. It is unclear if the collation was the main issue discussed at the meeting.
EDO 2024: ETSAKO POLLING UNIT – 213 ACCREDITED; APC SCORED – 352
EDO 2024: ETSAKO POLLING UNIT: 213 ACCREDITED – 213; APC SCORED – 352! A result sheet purportedly from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Etsako Polling Unit in Edo State reveals that the All Progressives Congress (APC) garnered 352 votes, despite having only 213 accredited voters. This incident casts doubts on the credibility of the ongoing governorship election in the state. This discrepancy of votes in the result sheet has added more truthfulness to the allegation of rigging against All Progressive Congress. According to the sheet, 493 voters were registered at the polling unit, with 213 voters accredited. The sheet added that 500 ballot papers were allotted to the unit by the electoral body for the governorship poll on Saturday. The result added that APC scored 352, Labour Party scored 1 and the Peoples Democratic Party had 52 votes. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made progress in uploading results from polling units in the Edo State gubernatorial election. INEC had uploaded results from 2902 out of 4519 accredited by the body for the election. This means that 64% of the results have been uploaded so far on the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal. The IREV portal, designed to enhance transparency and credibility, allows citizens to view polling unit results in real-time.
EDO VOTERS WERE INDUCED WITH BREAD – CSOS
EDO VOTERS WERE INDUCED WITH BREAD – CSOS A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (NCSSR), says it observed “widespread instances of blatant vote buying and selling across several polling units” in the ongoing Edo State Governorship election. “Situation Room observers reported widespread instances of blatant vote buying and selling across several polling units, despite the huge presence of security personnel,” the group said in a statement co-signed by Yunusa Z. Ya’u, Mimidoo Achakpa and Franklin Oloniju. The group said the price of votes ranged from N5,000 t0 N10,000 and in some cases, food items like bread were handed to the electorate. “The price of votes ranged from ₦5,000 to ₦10,000 per voter in several locations, including PU08 and 09 Ward 2, Owan-East LGA; PU 02 Ward 2, Etsako-West LGA; and several polling units in Egor, Oredo and Owan-West LGAs. Chidi Odinkalu: Nigeria will Suffer If INEC ‘Messes’ With Edo Election EdoDecides2024: INEC uploads 86.35% of results on IREV “In some cases, voters were also induced with food items such as bread,” the group said. The group, however, acknowledged the arrest of the alleged two vote traders in George Idah Primary School, Ward 2, Oredo Local Government Area. The Situation Room commended the peaceful conduct of voters and urged them to remain calm throughout the process. The Situation Room is made up of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) including Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), YIAGA Africa, are TAF Africa. Others are Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability (formerly Alliance for Credible Elections, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Kimpact Development Initiative, Democratic Action Group (DAG), Women’s Rights to Education Programme, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), DIG Ebonyi, New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), Life And Peace Development Organization (LAPDO), Rural Youth Initiative, Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI), Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA) and Josemaria Escriva Foundation. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Frank Mba, had acknowledged that vote buying is one of the most difficult offences to manage, but promised to deal with offenders. “Vote buying is one of the most difficult offences to actually police and manage and I am saying this with every sense of honesty,” DIG Mba said. “The reason is simple, the bulk of vote buying and selling that takes place don’t take place in the glare of the public, in the glare of the media, in the glare of the law enforcement agents. Sometimes, they take place in the bedrooms of citizens and we don’t have the capacity to police every bedroom, every kitchen, every toilet and every balcony. “But our pledge is that the ones that happen in the glare of the public, the ones our security network is able to detect and intercept, we will deal with.”
LP CANDIDATE, AKPATA, OUT OF EDO GUBER RACE
LP CANDIDATE, AKPATA, OUT OF EDO GUBER RACE The results from the INEC Viewing Portal (iRev) indicated the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo Olumide Akpata is out of the race. Akpata lost his polling unit to his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Asue Ighodalo. According to results declared at his Polling Unit 11, Ward 6, Oredo Local Government Area, Ighodalo polled 41 votes while Akpata trailed with 32 votes. Checks on the website also revealed that over 89.93 per cent of the results have been uploaded, covering 3,895 results out of 4,519 polling units. From the results, the APC is leading in its stronghold in Edo North while the PDP is leading in Edo South. In Etsako West local government Area, Igbira Camp Booth, APC had 90 votes, LP 13 and PDP 85 while in Owan West, APC got 90 to LP’s 13 and PDP’s 75. For Uhunmwonde Uvbenisi-Uvbenisi primary school, APC scored 83, LP 06 and PDP 47. In Egor local government area, Paramount Nursery and Primary School Uselu II – IV, APC had 17, PDP 22 In Oredo local government area, New Benin, Unit 27, New Benin III/Payne primary school, APC scored 36 votes, LP 5 and PDP 56. In Ikpoba-Okha Ward 7 Unit 17, which is the voting place of the Deputy Governorship candidate of the PDP, Osarodion Ogie Esq. PDP scored 216 while the APC scored 29.The Nation reports that Senator Monday Okpehbolo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won his polling unit 001, Uwessan 1, Esan Central Local Government Area of the state with 102 votes. He defeated his opponent Ighodalo and Akpata including 14 other candidates scoring102 votes. Okpebholo had said the ruling PDP would not get any vote in his polling unit while declaring that he has nothing to fear because his people love him.
EDO 2024: APC IN EARLY LEAD, PROJECTED TO WIN 13 LGAS
EDO 2024: APC IN EARLY LEAD, PROJECTED TO WIN 13 LGAS In what is shaping up to be a historic victory, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is on the verge of a decisive win in the Edo State Gubernatorial Election. Early projections show that the APC has secured a commanding lead, winning in 13 out of the 18 Local Government Areas across the state. According to verified reports, the APC has swept all 11 LGAs in Edo North and Central, reinforcing their stronghold in these regions. Additionally, the party has triumphed in the highly contested Ovia South West and Ovia North East Local Government Areas, bringing their total to 13 LGAs. Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has managed to claim just 5 LGAs, struggling to keep up with the APC’s momentum as the votes continue to be counted. The massive support for APC’s candidate, Monday Okpebholo, underscores a growing desire for change across Edo State, with the electorate favoring his plans for development and progress. Stay tuned as more updates unfold on this dramatic and closely watched electoral race!
HOUSE OF REPS MEMBER, NNAJI, COMMENDS ENSIEC FOR ORGANISING FREE, FAIR ELECTION
HOUSE OF REPS MEMBER, NNAJI, COMMENDS ENSIEC FOR ORGANISING FREE, FAIR ELECTION.A member of the House of Representatives representing Nkanu East and Nkanu West Federal Constituency, Rt Hon Nnolim Nnajji, has applauded the Enugu state Independent Electoral Commission ( ENSIEC) for organising what he described as free, fair and credible Local Government elections. Addressing journalists shortly after casting his vote at his Akpugo ward, Hon. NNAJI said “everything was very orderly and it was very peaceful, well organized and people came out to vote.I cast my votes. it was quite impressive. On his part, the PDP chairmanship candidate, for Nkanu West Local Government, Mr. John Chukwu, said the exercise was cordial, very peaceful “You can see , it has been peaceful in every ward, people are rejoicing, people are happy. On his expectations, Chukwu said if he wins, he will work for his people .He will key into the system of the Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah. ”You can see, our Governor is working. He is building 260 Smart Schools, across the state. He is building Type Two Primary health care. He is doing a lot. So, I will key into his system. On his areas of focus, the Chairmanship Candidate said , he will tackle insecurity, work on health and agriculture “We have security challenges here, we are going to tackle them We are going to work on health, , schools, roads infrastructure, agriculture. We are going to work to improve on what we have ” he said He added that if he wins, he will , hands of fellowship to his rivals, nothing, ” they did not campaign. We will plead them to come and join the PDP. Let them come and join us. We don’t discriminate. PDP is a big umbrella. It can accommodate us “, he said.
ENUGU LG ELECTION MOST PEACEFUL GOV MBAH
ENUGU LG ELECTION MOST PEACEFUL – GOV MBAH Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State says the local government polls in the state remains the most peaceful in recent times. Mbah said this on Saturday shortly after casting his vote at polling unit 007 Mbaguzo Ashishi Owo in Nkanu East Local Government Area. The accreditation and voting commenced at about 12 noon with people showing their enthusiasm to vote for candidates of their choice. The governor said that “this exerciseis democracy in action.” Mbah, who waited patiently in the queue to cast his vote, expressed his administration’s readiness to support those who would emerge winners irrespective of political party affiliation. Speaking, the President General of Owo Town Union, Chief John Ogbu-Okeke, commended the people for coming out en masse to exercise their franchise. Ogbu-Okeke expressed optimism that their choice of candidate would emulate the footsteps of the governor in his developmental strides. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters, Chief Paul Nnajiofor, attributed the peaceful process of the election to the good leadership of the governor. The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) had fixed Saturday, Sept. 21, as election day for the 17 chairmanship and 260 ward councilorship positions in the state. It was observed that voting was done manually as ENSIEC did not plan to use technological devices. Seventh political parties are participating in the election and the state have over two million eligible voters expected to participate in the election. The election would cover 4,145 polling units; while 12,800 ad hoc electoral staff, hundreds of electoral staff and 17 electoral officers were trained and deployed for the election. A total of 4,145 security personnel had been deployed for the election as well.
ENUGU LG ELECTION: PDP LEADS IN ENUGU NORTH LGA
ENUGU LG ELECTION: PDP LEADS IN ENUGU NORTH LGA The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is comfortably leading in Enugu North Local Government Area as the vote counting approaches its conclusion. With voting now completed and counting nearly finished, the PDP is maintaining a strong lead across all 13 wards in both the chairmanship and councilorship elections in Enugu North LGA. Meanwhile the PDP candidate for Chairmanship of the local government, DrIbekaku Onoh, has expressed gratitude to the people of Enugu North for coming out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote. Hon Onoh also thanked the election officials of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) for their efforts in ensuring a smooth and fair election process as well as the security agencies. He also urged everyone to remain peaceful throughout the voting period and expressed confidence that the election would reflect the people’s choice. Dr Onoh promised to continue working for the betterment of the community if given the mandate.
BABANGIDA, ABACHA, BUHARI, TINUBU SAME FATHER, DIFFERENT MOTHERS – RAMATU YUSUF
BABANGIDA, ABACHA, BUHARI, TINUBU: SAME FATHER, DIFFERENT MOTHERS – RAMATU YUSUFWith the exception of Abacha, these rulers oversaw the legalised plundering of Nigeria’s commonwealth in the guise of ‘privatisation’. They also handed over the country to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB). In fact, Obasanjo and Babangida dressed these Western financial institutions in colourful Nigerian attires, and handed over the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria, amongst others, to their staff. Tinubu handed over Nigeria’s brain to them.Generals Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, and Muhammadu Buhari are Nigeria’s most anti-democratic, anti-federalism, and anti-people rulers since independence. The addition to that roll is President Bola Ahmed TinubuObasanjo, as military head of state, standardised the tradition of wastage, the destruction of the public service, the pillaging of the economy, the mass killing of students, and the imposition of a anti-democracy and anti-federal constitution on Nigerians.With the exception of Abacha, these rulers oversaw the legalised plundering of Nigeria’s commonwealth in the guise of ‘privatisation’. They also handed over the country to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB). In fact, Obasanjo and Babangida dressed these Western financial institutions in colourful Nigerian attires, and handed over the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria, amongst others, to their staff. Tinubu handed over Nigeria’s brain to them.These rulers inherited the DNA of their father, who invaded and colonised Nigeria. With independence, their father indigenised himself as a Nigerian, married different women, and gave birth to different children. Like their father, they are extremely deceptive, divisive, unforgiving, domineering, and parasitic. They are also anti-democracy, anti-federalism, and anti-development.Dangote RefineryJust as their father shot his way to power, so did Obasanjo, Babangida, and Abacha. Tinubu ‘shot’ his way to power with ‘his’ money, in an election rigging match refereed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.They all claim affinity with democracy but practiced or are practising authoritarianism. They strive to lure the hungry Nigerian mass to sleep by administering on them anaesthetics called palliatives. This soon wears off and the pains return. Maybe the only exception was Abacha, who has been described as: “a man of few words and deadly action”!Babangida imposed the destructive and deadly International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank’s neoliberalism, even after the society had rejected it. Students, in fact, demonstrated their desire to sacrifice for the development of Nigeria, when they sang: “We like amm (two times)/We we like Nigeria/We like am pass IMF/We like am pass World Bank/n Everything dey for Nigeria/Make we join hands to make Nigeria better/Make we join hands to make Nigeria greater!”The Babangida action set Nigeria on the path of never-ending crises. Nevertheless, he created, amongst others, the National Directorate of Employment in 1986, to advance vocational training and skills acquisition, rural empowerment and, by extension, employment generation. He also established the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure in 1986, aimed at mobilising, supporting, and developing rural communities to promote food production, and raise the standard of living of the rural dwellers.