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Governorship Election: Anxiety, tension as candidates, Nigerians anticipate results across 28 states

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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Governorship Election: Anxiety, tension as candidates, Nigerians anticipate results across 28 states

TENSION and anxiety have filled the air across 28 states and 993 state House of Assembly constituencies as Nigerians, candidates and electoral observers anticipate the Saturday, March 18 governorship and House of Assembly election results.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the electronic transmission of both the gubernatorial and Assembly results to its results viewing portal (IREV), and voters are anxiously expecting the commission to make the results public.

The 28 governorship elections were held in Abia, Bauchi, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Borno, Delta, River, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Zamfara, Yobe, Sokoto, Adamawa, Taraba, Kano, JIgawa, Gombe, Enugu, Katsina, Ebonyi and Kebbi states.

Eleven governors are seeking reelection, while 17 others have exhausted their limit of two terms, having been sworn in on May 29, 2015.

The governors bidding for a second term are Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Babajide Sanwoolu of Lagos State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Muhammad Inuwa of Gombe State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State and Babagana Zulum of Borno State.

PDP slams APC over election violence in Lagos

Vincent Ufuoma
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PDP slams APC over election violence in Lagos

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Lagos state chapter, has expressed concern on the violence that reportedly occurred during the gubernatorial and Assembly elections held on Saturday, March 18.

The party’s publicity secretary, Hakeem Amode, condemned the act, describing it as “appalling”, and stating that it resulted in the death of some individuals.

According to the PDP, the violence was witnessed by party agents and members in several areas of the state, including Apapa, Ajegunle, Okota, Isolo, and Oshodi.

The alleged acts of violence were contrary, the party claimed, to the democratic norms expected in a metropolitan state like Lagos.

The PDP alleged that the hoodlums responsible for the violence were hired by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that what transpired in Lagos state on election day was not an election but “a mockery of democracy.”

It lamented that eligible voters were not only intimidated but also harassed and humiliated, and there were reports of killings in some areas of the state.

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The PDP claimed that the election was “a charade” and that it would be surprising if the APC’s candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was declared the winner when people were reportedly prevented from voting in opposition party strongholds.

The PDP called for the protection of democracy in the state and emphasized that no one should be allowed to truncate the democratic process.

It believed that democracy must be protected at this time, and argued that what was witnessed in Lagos state on election day should not be allowed to continue.

EFCC arrests over 65 persons for vote-buying, inducement during governorship election

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended over 65 persons allegedly for vote-buying and inducement across 28 states during the governorship and House of Assembly elections that held on Saturday, March 18.

A statement issued on the same day signed by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said that the commission’s operatives of the Kaduna zonal command on election monitoring duty nabbed 13 suspects.

It stated that the teams monitoring the polls in the Port Harcourt Zone also arrested a total of 12 persons for various offences bordering on inducing voters with money to vote their preferred candidates.

The statement also mentioned that four vote buyers were arrested in Calabar.

It further disclosed that 13 suspects comprising 10 males and three females were arrested in Kaduna State. 

The statement read, “They were apprehended by operatives working on intelligence, or chanced upon them during the monitoring exercise. A suspect allegedly involved in vote buying was nabbed at School Road, Unguwan Rimi Kaduna. The suspect, who initially resisted arrest, is however in custody pending the conclusion of the investigation.”

It also said that officers of the commission caught Buhari Muhammed in Polling Unit  002, Dogara Yaro Dagari area, with voter coupons, which he confessed would be used to trace and pay those who voted for his party.

The officers of the commission as well apprehended the Woman Leader of a political party, Esther Edem, and  Edet Etim and Asanwana  Eyo for alleged vote buying in Calabar.

According to the statement, “The Woman Leader, who had a list of suspected voters, their account numbers and thousands of naira in cash, was apprehended inside an uncompleted building beside her ward in Calabar South, while  Etim and Eyo were arrested at Ward 12, Unit 11, at Kings Memorial School by Inyang Street, Abasi Obori, Calabar South.

“The duo of Etim and Eyo had with them their own lists and money they allegedly used in buying vote.”

The Gombe Zonal Command of the commission also recorded the arrest of 10 persons for alleged voter inducement.

Investigation by the EFCC revealed that the mode of operation of the suspects was through cash, transfer, coupons and sending recharge cards to eligible voters in order to induce them to vote for their candidates. 

 

LP asks INEC to cancel results from polling units with cases of violence

Beloved JOHN
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LP asks INEC to cancel results from polling units with cases of violence

THE Labour Party (LP) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel election results from polling units where violence, voter harassment and intimidation were recorded.

The party made the demand in a statement issued on Saturday, March 18.

LP national chairman Julius Abure described the election as a “rape of democracy” supervised by INEC.

“It was a sham riddled with thuggery, violence and suppression of voters,” he said.

According to Abure, people were prevented from voting for their preferred candidates “especially when they perceive you support the opposition party”.

He highlighted that there were also incidences of ballot snatching and increased vote buying.

The LP national chairman pointed out that different forms of electoral violence were recorded in Rivers, Lagos, Enugu, Edo and Delta.

“The Rivers State government used the state officials to harass voters. In Enugu, one of our supporters was shot and thugs invaded the entire Enugu North senatorial zone. In Lagos, the APC-sponsored thugs invaded polling units where our candidate has huge supporters.

“In Edo State, the thugs had a free day, unleashing maximum violence. It is very chaotic across the nation and it is deplorable.

“There was also a high level of voter apathy because people lost faith in the electoral process. They sincerely believe that it was not worth it after what happened on February 25, where the mandate given to the LP was stolen.

“People believe that their votes will not count anymore. So INEC has succeeded in mismanaging all the gains we have made in the electoral reforms,” he said.

Kwara Assembly Speaker secures second term

Mustapha USMAN
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Kwara Assembly Speaker secures second term

SPEAKER of the Kwara State House of Assembly Yakubu Danladi-Salihu has been declared winner of the Ilesha-Gwanara State Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Danladi-Salihu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was announced the winner having polled 14, 949 votes, while his closest rival, Usman Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got 2,072 votes.

This was as disclosed by the state INEC Returning Officer Dr Adewale Rafiu on Sunday, March 19. 

“Yakubu Danladi-Salihu of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Rafiu declared.

In his acceptance speech, Danladi-Salihu lauded his constituents for their massive support which led to his victory.

He also stressed that he would continue to prioritise their welfare.

“I wish to thank my constituents for the show of love and massive support that earned me this sweet victory at the poll.

“I will continue to appreciate and reciprocate this rare gesture with another superlative performance in office while prioritising people’s welfare,” he added.

Guber poll: Lagos CP admits attacks on voters

Ehime ALEX
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Guber poll: Lagos CP admits attacks on voters

LAGOS State Commissioner of Police (CP) Idowu Owohunwa has admitted incidences of violence and attacks on voters who came out to exercise their civic responsibilities during the gubernatorial and state assembly elections held on March 18.

“It is true that we recorded instances of violence in some areas within the state,” Owohunwa admitted in an interview with Channels Television.

Political thugs had rained widespread violence on voters in many parts of Lagos State during yesterday’s election, disenfranchising millions of voters and destroying polling units.

The Lagos CP however said the violence was “not as widespread as to affect the general dynamics of the process”, adding that most of the instances were “properly responded to by the police”.

According to Owohunwa, the Lagos State Police Command had anticipated violence in some flashpoint areas in the state.

“As security practitioners, when you plan operations of this nature, you must anticipate that some elements will want to become adversaries in the process.

“We anticipated and then we integrated that into our general operational plan and we activated that protocol effectively in this instance. Most of those breaches, the police were able to respond promptly.”

The Lagos CP noted that the incident that happened around VGC (Victoria Garden City) was as a result of the relocation of the polling units from within the estate to a location outside the [VGC] gate.

“That falls within the mandate of INEC, and when my attention was drawn to it, I drew the attention of the REC to the development. As we speak, he has personally gone to the location and is trying to engage the electorate, so that they can find a common ground,” he said.

Obi sympathises with victims of election violence

Beloved JOHN
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Obi sympathises with victims of election violence

THE presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, has expressed his sympathy to victims of the election-related violence recorded during the governorship election.

He condemned the acts of violence across the states, which in some cases led to the death of citizens.

In a tweet on Sunday, he decried the loss of lives caused by a “simple thing as an election”.

“With sadness, my heart goes deeply to the Nigerians who lost their lives and those who were maimed for participating in such a simple election. My prayers and wishes for a quick recovery of the injured,” he said.

“My sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. May God Almighty grant them eternal rest and grant their families the fortitude to bear their sad irreplaceable loss.

“I pray earnestly that God Almighty will save and help Nigeria out of this precarious situation.”

Election: Abducted APC campaign coordinator shot dead in Rivers

Mustapha USMAN
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Election: Abducted APC campaign coordinator shot dead in Rivers

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Coordinator for Ahoada-West Local Council of Rivers State Chisom Lennard, has been shot dead by unknown gunmen.

The ICIR gathered that Lennard was taken away by gunmen who dressed in police uniform while he was trying to prevent them from hijacking election materials during the governorship and state assembly election on March 18.

The incident happened at Ibagwa Polling Unit 2, Ward 10 in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state.

The Rivers APC publicity secretary Darlington Nwauju, who confirmed the development to The Punch, said Lennard’s dead body was discovered on Saturday evening.

Nwauju stated, “He was abducted from his polling unit during the voting process and taken away.

“Nobody knew where they took him to. It was later in the evening of Saturday that his body was discovered.

“He was APC LGA caretaker chairman and was a PhD student at the Rivers State University.”

Voter Apathy: Amaechi decries ‘complete failure of governance’, slams INEC, Police

Harrison EDEH
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Voter Apathy: Amaechi decries ‘complete failure of governance’, slams INEC, Police

THE erstwhile minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Saturday, March 18, slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police over the governorship and state Assembly elections in Rivers State.

Amaechi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the low turn-out out of voters for the exercise in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state as a result of “complete failure of governance.”

The former minister, who had also been a former Governor of Rivers State, speaking to newsmen after he cast his vote yesterday at Ward 8, Unit 14, Ubima community, accused detractors of being behind electoral violence in the state.

He explained that the situation led to voter apathy in the state as most people failed to show up for the polls for fear of being beaten.

“There is a total failure of governance in the country. Complete failure. People are being arrested and nobody has spoken.

“The Inspector-General of Police is doing nothing, nobody is doing anything. Now, there is voter apathy. I don’t know if it cuts across the country but there is complete voter apathy in Rivers State,” Amaechi fumed.

Though the election was peaceful in his community, Amaechi said that there were reports of the arrest of candidates of the APC in the polls.

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Besides Amaechi, some politicians who spoke to newsmen after voting, decried low voter turn-out. The presidential flagbearers of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, attributed the low voter turn-out to the people’s low confidence in the electoral process.

Abubakar, after casting his vote, said, “INEC is already a discredited organisation. Sadly, there’s a low voter turn-out in today’s election, no thanks to INEC’s partisanship and incompetence that delivered a sham election on February 25. I hope the electoral body will seize this second chance to redeem its discredited reputation.”

Obi, who made similar remarks after casting his vote at his ward 019 in Amatutu village, Agulu, said, “The voter apathy is due to lack of trust in the electoral process.”

 

 

LIVE: Collation, results from 2023 governorship and state election

Editorial
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LIVE: Collation, results from 2023 governorship and state election

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