Home Blog Page 1080

Edo Election: Okpebholo’s Victory Confirmation Of APC Popularity, Says Tinubu, Buhari

By
James Orji
-
0
Bola Tinubu and Muhammadu Buhari

President Bola Tinubu and former president Muhammadu Buhari have congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in Saturday’s Edo State governorship election, over his victory at the polls.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Okpebholo winner after defeating the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Asue Ighodalo in the September 21, 2024 election.

According to the results declared Sunday night by the INEC Okpebholo scored 291, 667 votes and won in 11 local government areas, to beat his main rival,  Ighodalo, who polled 247, 274 votes and won in seven local government areas.

The candidate of the Labour Party, Olumide Akpata did not win any of the 18 local government, making him to come a distant third, according to the results declared by the electoral umpire.

In his congratulatory message to the APC candidate, President Tinubu, in a statement  by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga said the victory in an indication of the party’s popularity.

The president said the party had worked hard for the victory which he said did not come easy.

He said the successful conclusion of the election testify to the fact that Nigeria’s democracy has come to stay, urging the losers to seek appropriate and legal means to seek redress.

Tinubu said, “I commend the INEC and our security agencies for working round the clock to conduct a successful, peaceful and largely hitch-free exercise.

“INEC has once again demonstrated that it is committed to organising a free and fair election in our country.”

On his part, former President Buhari described the vicoty of Okpebholo as historic, urging the governor-elect to work for his people when he gets into office, he urged all stakeholders to strengthen democracy and maintain the growth and development of the state.

Amidst Controversial Congress, Kaduna PDP Gets New Leadership

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
-
0
Edward Masha

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The newly elected Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Edward Masha, on Sunday September 22, 2024, vowed to strengthen the party. He promised to carry everybody along.

This is just as the outgoing Chairman and former Minister for Aviation, Felix Hassan Hyet, canvassed maximum support for the new leadership to enable it achieve the goal of repositioning the party in Kaduna state.

Mr Masha, a former Commissioner for Water Resources in the State, at the PDP Kaduna State Congress held on Saturday ,September 21, garnered  2,123 votes to emerge chairman.

His opponent Danjuma Bello Sarki, at the Congress which held at the International Conference Hall of the Kaduna Trade and Investment Centre ,( Trade Fair Complex) polled 250 votes .

The election which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, was, however, conducted under a tight security situation,due earlier attempt by some forces to disrupt the event .

In the results   which was announced on Sunday by the Returning Officer Barr, Tanko Beiji ,a former Commissioner for Information Saidu Adamu emerged unopposed as the state Secretary.

While a former member of the Kaduna state House of Assembly, Hon Mariya Dogo was elected as the Publicity Secretary, Godiya Ayuba Lolo emerged as the Women leader .

Speaking after his election, the Chairman assured that his administration will be anchored on the philosophy of inclusiveness and open door policy.

” We would reach out to our members, reconcile everybody and create an enabling environment for everybody to be carried along.

“We would accommodate. We are coming on board this time to ensure the success of our party at the Local Government Polls coming very soon,” Masha stated.

Hyet, the outgoing Chairman, emphasized the need for the party to use the forthcoming Local Council Election in the State as a launch pad towards returning to winning ways .

The Kaduna State Local Government polls will he conducted on October 19 2024.

The Source reports that the Congress almost frustrated by some forces who had on Saturday insisted that there was a court order stopping the exercise.

The development was, however, arrested following a statement issued by the outgoing Chairman Felix Hyet insisting there was nothing stopping the Congress.

Protests: DSS Releases Six Detained Protesters, Set To Arraign Three

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
DSS-Nigeria

By Akinwale Kasali

The Department of State Services, DSS, have freed no fewer than six persons, who were held over their roles in the protests over “bad governance in Nigeria”.

It was gathered that the said six persons were freed in Kaduna on the orders of the Director General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi.

Three other suspects are, however, being processed by the agency for prosecution having been found to have, allegedly, committed criminal offences during the protest.

Sources within the DSS said: “The DG DSS is not interested in the incarceration of innocent citizens for expressing their constitutional rights.

“But is also not going to allow criminal elements take laws into their hands.

“There is incontrovertible evidence to press criminal charges against the three persons that are being held because we have a prima facie evidence against them.

“The DG DSS reiterates citizen’s right to peaceful protest as enshrined in the constitution and regard for the rule of law.

“However, he is resolute on upholding the mandate of the service to decisively investigate and bring to justice those who exploit such rights to perpetrate crime,” the source said.

The official disclosed that those released have commended the gesture of the DSS and expressed optimism on the humane face with which the service conducted the investigation that culminated in their unconditional release.

The protesters are however planning to take to the streets, again, come October 1, 2024, to protest against Bad Governance and hardship on Nigerians as a result of the economic downturn bedeviling the nation.

APC Group Urges President Tinubu To Call EFCC Boss, Olukayode To Order

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Ola Olukayode - EFCC Chairman

By Akinwale Kasali

Olanipekun Olukayode, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has come under criticism from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Support Group, the  National Progressives Hub.

The Group petitioned President Bola Tinubu over what it described as the “unprofessional, shameful and unethical” operations of the Commission.

The Group said the violent action of the Commission during the invasion of Kogi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja in a botched attempt to arrest the former governor, Yahaya Bello who had earlier presented himself to the anti-graft agency but was turned back by its officials was unprofessional.

The National Coordinator of the Hub, Hon. Bukkie Okangbe in a statement in Abuja said state actors and agencies are expected to carry out their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the laws of the land.

She said; “As a group of individuals who believe in the rule of law and the sanctity of the constitution, we know that while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC as an agency of government has a responsibility to discharge its duties, we also believe that such responsibility must be carried out within the ambit of the law. Our laws respect the dignity of every citizen and any agency behaving contrary to this must be called to order. There are anti crime agencies all over the world and they have not been seen misusing and abusing powers like the EFCC has continued to do.

“It is on record that the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello was at the EFCC office in Abuja on Tuesday 17th September, 2024 to honour the agency’s call for interrogation. While the agency could have used the opportunity to ask the former governor any necessary questions of their choice for clarification, he was simply asked to go home only for the men of the agency to go later in the night to carry out an unlawful operation capable of throwing the nation into another security uproar.

“The action of the EFCC is not only shameful and unnecessary but totally unprofessional and unethical especially when the former Governor had made himself available to them earlier.

“This act clearly shows that the agency has nothing substantial or evidence-based against the former governor regarding its claim of corruption. All that EFCC is doing is a mere media trial just to gain public sympathy and portray itself as an agency working for the conscience of the nation. We reject and condemn this act of recklessness by the EFCC and wish this doesn’t repeat itself to any individual whatsoever.

“Having seen overtime such abuse of power and reckless invasion by the EFCC especially on prominent and respected personalities in the country, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the leadership of the agency to order and not allow the personal and selfish interest of the leaders of the agency to tarnish and rubbish the good image of his Renewed Hope Administration.

“We use the occasion of this press release to reiterate our support and commitment to the Renewed Hope Administration of the Federal Government and thus, call on the EFCC to support the administration and not incite the people against the Government through their unprofessional approach to issues”, she added.

PDP Calls For Revisit Of Collated Results In Edo Gov Election

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Edo Election 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Dissatisfied with results so far collated in the Governorship Election in Edo State,  the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has petitioned the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, citing “massive irregularities” in the results from 16 local government areas already collated.

Chairman of the party in the State, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi made the demand in a protest letter addressed to the INEC Chairman.

The letter was titled: “Protest against manufactured vote entries and unjust deduction of PDP votes in the collation of results of Edo State governorship election”.

According to him, the Electoral Officers appointed by INEC for the election “made entries that are totally different from the actual results as uploaded on the INEC IREV, thereby unjustly inflating votes in favour of the APC and deducting the votes of the PDP.”

He alleged discrepancies in the votes recorded for his party in local government areas where the APC won with wide margins.

“A simple collation of all the votes recorded in the polling unit [Akoko-Edo] results uploaded on the IREV shows that the APC obtained 25,010 votes while 34,847 votes was recorded in the EC8C declared by the LGA Returning Officer.

“While for the PDP, a collation of the votes from the results uploaded on the IREV is 18,620 but 15,865 was returned on the EC8C declared by the LGA Returning Officer.

“It would interest you that in Ward 9 Akoko Edo LGA, from the 36 Polling Unit results uploaded on the IREV, the total votes obtained by APC is 2,350 while 9104 was entered into the EC8B result for APC. The total votes for PDP is 1359 while 633 was entered in the EC8B.

“Also, in Ward 6 Akoko Edo LGA, were elections did not hold in Ward 6 Units 12, 17, 15, 18, 14 and 16, results were returned for the said polling units in the Ward Result sheet (EC8B),” Aziegbemi

APC’s Call For State Of Emergency Disrespectful To  Zamfara People – PDP

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
-
0
Dauda Lawal - Zamfra State Governor

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Zamfara State chapter, has alleged that its main rival, the All Progressive Congress, APC,  is bent on undermining the efforts of the Governor Dauda Lawal- administration in combating banditry and insurgency.

This is even as it insisted that APC’s demand for the declaration of a state of emergency, amounts to a gross disrespect to the sensibilities of the people.

The PDP’s accusation is coming in response to APC’s  charge that the State Government is not comfortable with the Federal authorities renewed onslaught against criminal elements in Zamfara and neighbouring states of recent.

In a statement issued on Saturday September 21, 2024 by its Spokesman, Yusuf Idris, the state APC noted that the ongoing onslaught against bandits and other terrorist groups by the military in the North West Region has been recording an unprecedented positive result.

However, it regretted that the PDP-led administration in the State so far deliberately seeks to sabotage the efforts through orchestrated media campaigns.

“As a party, we have observed with dismay how the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, is trying to sabotage the ongoing onslaught against bandits, through media campaigns aimed at distracting the Federal Government’s efforts under the coordination of the Minister of State for Defence.

“The Governor has never in any way supported military operations in the State in terms of logistics. Instead, he has been confrontational to the point where the military had to warn him to steer clear of their efforts to flush out baby bandits from the state and the North West.

“He is now bent on distracting the operation through Media campaigns and propaganda, risking the security of lives and properties of innocent Zamfara citizens for political gains”, the APC stated .

Consequently the APC called for a declaration of a state of emergency to enable the operation proceed unhindered and without any further interference from the Governor.

But in a statement on Sunday, September 22, 2024, by its Publicity Secretary, Haliru Andi, the PDP vehemently rejected APC’s allegations, insisting that the call by the opposition party for a state of emergency is distractive and condemnable.

“The unfounded claims that Governor Dauda Lawal is sabotaging the fight against banditry in Zamfara is a political move to undermine our ongoing efforts to address insecurity in the state.

“The PDP administration is focused on rectifying the maladministration that characterized the years of APC governance, and it is evident that the APC feels the scorecard of Governor Lawal.

“Governor Lawal is the first in our State’s history to prioritize security with genuine commitment contrasting sharply with the previous APC administrations.

“Unlike the APC which politicized the serious issue of insecurity, the PDP administration is committed to the peace and stability of Zamfara state .

“APC Calling for a state of emergency was deeply disrespectful to the people of Zamfara ,and signify that APC was intimidated by Governor Lawal’s leadership”, the PDP noted

UNGA: Shettima Leads Nigeria’s Delegation, First VP To Do So Since 1999

By
James Orji
-
0
Shettima Flying Out

Vice-President Kashim Shetima has departed Abuja for the United States, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 79th session of the United Nations General  Assembly, UNGA.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President On Media and Communications, the trip to the US was at the behest of President Tinubu.

The presidential aide said the Vice President will present the country’s position on key international issues and would also speak to the delegates on the recent flooding that devastated most parts of the country.

The magazine reported that the president was forced to abandoned his earlier plan to attend the UNGA meeting in order to face the problems at home.

The event is billed for September 24 and 28, with the them Leaving no one behind: “Acting Together For The Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development, And Human Dignity For Present And Future Generations.”

“It would be recalled that President Tinubu had directed the Vice President to lead the Nigerian delegation to the high-level global forum while he focuses on addressing pressing domestic issues, including the recent devastating flood disaster,” the statement said.

In a statement on September 18, Bayo Onanuga, a spokesman to the President disclosed that pressure Tinubu would no longer attend the meeting due to pressure on him to fix the problems at home, including the economic hardship and the devastating flooding in some parts of the country. .

“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings.”

“The high-level General Debate, with the theme ‘Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,’ will run from Tuesday, September 24, through Saturday, September 28, 2024,” Onanuga said.

Meanwhile, the magazine notes that since the return to democratic governance in 1999, Shettima will be the first Vice President to lead Nigeria’s delegation to UNGA.

“I Live For Moments Like This” – AJ, After Knock-Out By Dubois

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Daniel dubois vs anthony joshua

By Akinwale Kasali

Nigerian-born British Boxer, Anthony Joshua, was handed a heavy defeat by Daniel Dubois at their IBF World Heavyweight Championship Fight in London, United Kingdom.

Dubois thus retains the IBF world heavyweight belt vacated by Ukrainian Pugilist, Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk had on two occasions defeated Joshua, putting his career in jeopardy.

A stunning knockout of Anthony Joshua by Dubois saw the Boxer on the canvass.

After being floored repeatedly, Joshua still had the temerity to say “I live for moments like this” after surviving the fourth round. Two minutes later, he was sprawled on the canvas.

Dubois claimed the biggest scalp of his career with a stunning fifth-round knockout of Anthony Joshua in their all-British showdown at Wembley Stadium.

In only his second world title fight, ‘Dynamite’ floored Joshua in a pulsating opening round, then continued on the offensive and floored AJ repeatedly as he shocked the boxing world.

It was Joshua’s fourth career defeat and leaves a huge question mark over where he goes next, such was the one-sided nature of the fight.

Imo: IPOB Discovers Crystal Meth Factories In Owerri

By
James Orji
-
0
Nnamdi-Kanu - IPOB Leader

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, says it has discovered  factories where Crystal meth is produced in Orlu Local Government, LGA, in the state.

According to the Nnamdi Kanu-led group, 10 factories were discovered in Umuaka town alone where the hard drug is produced.

IPOB made the revelation in a statement issued by its spokesman Emma Powerful on Sunday, stressing that the group will do everything on its power to seriously deal with producers and distributors of dangerous and damaging illicit hard drug in the south east.

The group added further that those individuals who own the factories are rich and influential members of the community, returnees from South Africa whose major task is to destroy the youths in the region.

It said the cartel operates from the state where they distribute the illicit drugs to other parts of the country, including Kano, Lagos, Rivers, FCT amongst others.

Powerful said, “These drug factories were established by six individuals from the Umuaka Community who returned from South Africa. These drug dealers in South Africa have decided to return their drug business to South-East just to destroy Igbo youths,” Powerful stated.

“These notorious drug dealers who also own some hotels and night clubs in Owerri, Imo State, operate from these hotels to distribute their illicit drugs to other states, like Lagos, Kano, Rivers State, (Igweoch/Port Harcourt), Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and other places in Nigeria.

“The violent crimes going on within Orlu (Local Government Area) in Imo State have nothing to do with the struggle for an independent Biafra Nation. Some of these drug dealing criminals claim to be agitating for the freedom of Biafra, while in reality, they are simply violent drug merchants.

“By this press release, IPOB is giving notice to those involved in the manufacture and distribution of Mkpurummiri in Orlu and their kinds anywhere else in Alaigbo to shut down their operations immediately. We have the identities of these involved and their accomplices.

“If you fail to adhere to this warning, IPOB will not only make your identities public but will also take every measure to ensure that your illicit drug business is terminated.”

Edo 2024: APC Set For Victory, PDP Protests

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
APC and PDP

By Ayodele Oni

 

The tide seems to be in favour of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Monday Okpebholo, as counting and sorting out of results of Saturday’s governorship election in Edo state progresses.

 

Already the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has verified results from 16 out of the 18 local governments of the state remaining just only two.

 

The electoral body has gone on recess and is expected to resume by 5.00pm later on Sunday for final collation of results.

 

APC is holding a comfortable lead with a wide margin following the announcement of election results from 16 local governments in the ongoing Governorship election of Edo State.

 

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has  rejected the governorship election results for Egor and Akoko Edo local governments, both of which were claimed by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

During a press briefing, PDP agent Osagbovo Iyoha alleged significant irregularities in the collation process, asserting that INEC manipulated the results to favour the APC.

 

He pointed out that the collation centre was relocated from the council headquarters, raising suspicions about the integrity of the process.

 

Iyoha claimed that PDP won in the LGA, adding that PDP agents were barred from the collation centre, while only APC representatives were allowed access.

 

He further claimed that the votes in Akoko Edo exceeded those captured by the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), suggesting possible tampering with the results.

 

In response, APC acting chairman, Jarret Tenabe, dismissed the PDP’s allegations, stating that the results accurately reflect the will of the people.

1...1,0791,0801,081...3,085Page 1,080 of 3,085