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Nigeria Decides: Obasanjo Urges Buhari To Caution INEC Over Irregularities, Calls For Rectification

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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to address the alleged irregularities in the electoral process, complained of by opposition Parties, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Labour Party.

The elder statesman said it is necessary for President Buhari to prevail on the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to halt the counting of the votes and address the issues raised by the PDP and LP to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

The Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party have kicked against the process, describing it as compromised.

They also added that the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday and Sunday which is presently being collated at the International Conference Center, ICC, at the National Collation Centre in Abuja be cancelled.

It would be recalled that a former senator from Kogi West, Dino Melaye, and other party representatives walked out of the Centre after raising issues bordering on irregularities in the process of the election.

Obasanjo, in a personally signed letter titled, “An appeal for caution and rectification,” released on Monday, said some politicians had compromised some electoral officials to make the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines not to work.

He said, “I am constrained to speak at this point. I crave the indulgence of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency General Muhammadu Buhari, to make this statement because I have had opportunity to keep him aware of what I know is happening and the danger looming ahead.

“On many occasions in the past, I have not hesitated to point out lacuna in the action of the President and his Government. But as far as the election issues are concerned, the President has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he will want to leave a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

“Until last Saturday night, February 25, 2023, the good and noble plan and preparation for the elections seemed to be going well. For the Independent National Electoral Commission, a lot of money was spent to introduce Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the server for immediate transmission of results from polling units. It is no secret that INEC officials, at operational levels, have been allegedly compromised to make what should have worked not to work and to revert to manual transmission of results which is manipulated and the results doctored.

“The Chairman of INEC may claim ignorance, but he cannot fold his hands and do nothing when he knows that election process has been corrupted and most of the results that are brought outside BVAS and server are not a true reflection of the will of Nigerians who have made their individual choice. At this stage, we do not need wittingly or unwittingly to set this country on fire with the greed, irresponsibility and unpatriotic act of those who allegedly gave money to INEC officials for perversion and those who collected the blood money.

“Let me appeal to the Chairman of INEC, if his hands are clean, to save Nigeria from the looming danger and disaster which is just waiting to happen. If the Chairman can postpone elections four days to the election, he can do everything to rectify the errors of the last two days – no BVAS, no result to be acceptable; and no uploading through Server, no result to be acceptable.

“Whereas, BVAS and Servers have been manipulated or rendered inactive, such results must be declared void and inadmissible for election declaration. Chairman INEC, I had thought that you would use this wonderful opportunity to mend your reputation and character for posterity.

“Your Excellency, President Buhari Muhammadu, tension is building up and please, let all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test be cancelled and be brought back with areas where elections were disrupted for next Saturday, March 4, 2023, and BVAS and Server officials be changed. To know which stations or polling units were manipulated, let a committee of INEC staff and representatives of the four major political parties with the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association look into what must be done to have hitch-free elections next Saturday.

“Mr. President, may your plan and hope for leaving a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible election be realised. Mr. President, please don’t let anybody say to you that it does not matter or it is the problem of INEC. On no account should you be seen as part of the collusion or compromise. When the die is cast, it will be your problem as the Chief Executive of the nation. The Chairman of INEC may sneak out of the country or go back to his Ivory Tower. Your Excellency, thank you for hearing me out.

“Compatriot Nigerians, please exercise patience until the wrong is righted. I strongly believe that nobody will toy with the future and fortune of Nigeria at this juncture.”

Nigeria Decides: “President Buhari, Nigerians, Danger Looms”

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Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari

By Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in an open letter, warns of the dangers ahead, charges Buhari and INEC over the Presidential Election,calls for caution, and asks that  the wrongs be rectified

Nigerian Brothers and Sisters, greetings to you all.

I am constrained to speak at this point.

I crave the indulgence of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency General Muhammadu Buhari, to make this statement because I have had opportunity to keep him aware of what I know is happening and the danger looming ahead.

On many occasions in the past, I have not hesitated to point out lacuna in the action of the President and his government.  But as far as the election issues are concerned, the President has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he will want to leave a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

Until last Saturday night, February 25, 2023, the good and noble plan and preparation for the elections seemed to be going well.  For the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a lot of money was spent to introduce Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the Server for immediate transmission of results from polling units.  It is no secret that INEC officials, at operational level, have been allegedly compromised to make what should have worked not to work and to revert to manual transmission of results which is manipulated and the results doctored.  The Chairman of INEC may claim ignorance but he cannot fold his hands and do nothing when he knows that election process has been corrupted and most of the results that are brought outside BVAS and Server are not true reflection of the will of Nigerians who have made their individual choice.  At this stage, we do not need wittingly or unwittingly to set this country on fire with the greed, irresponsibility and unpatriotic act of those who allegedly gave money to INEC officials for perversion and those who collected the blood money.  Let me appeal to the Chairman of INEC, if his hands are clean, to save Nigeria from the looming danger and disaster which is just waiting to happen.  If the Chairman can postpone elections four days to the election, he can do everything to rectify the errors of the last two days – no BVAS, no result to be acceptable; and no uploading through Server, no result to be acceptable.

Whereas, BVAS and Servers have been manipulated or rendered inactive, such results must be declared void and inadmissible for election declaration.  Chairman INEC, I have thought that you would use this wonderful opportunity to mend your reputation and character for posterity.

Your Excellency, President Buhari Muhammadu, tension is building up and please let all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test be cancelled and be brought back with areas where elections were disrupted for next Saturday, March 4, 2023, and BVAS and Server officials be changed.  To know which stations or polling units were manipulated, let a Committee of INEC staff and representatives of the four major political parties with the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association look into what must be done to have hitch-free elections next Saturday.  Mr. President, may your plan and hope for leaving a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible election be realised.  Mr. President, please don’t let anybody say to you that it does not matter or it is the problem of INEC.  On no account should you be seen as part of the collusion or compromise.  When the die is cast, it will be your problem as the Chief Executive of the nation.  The Chairman of INEC may sneak out of the country or go back to his ivory tower.  Your Excellency, thank you for hearing me out.

Compatriot Nigerians, please exercise patience until the wrong is righted.  I strongly believe that nobody will toy with the future and fortune of Nigeria at this juncture.

Long live Nigeria in peace, security, stability and in the hope for greater future.

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO
February 27, 2023

We Are Only Waiting For INEC To Declare Us Winner Of Saturday’s Poll –  APC Campaign Council

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By Ayodele Oni

The Tinubu/Shetima of All Progressive Congress (APC) Campaign Council has said despite having virtually results of last Saturday’s election in its custody, it will wait for official announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC)

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, a spokesman of the Council, Dele Alake condemned reactions of opposition parties which tend to disrupt the process of collation of the election results.

Alake pointed out that “A cursory look at the figures from across the states show that our candidate is well placed for victory. The results have shown that the Labour Party, as we kept saying, is no threat to our victory.

“The PDP, on the other hand, has also failed in its own permutation making its dream of victory go up in smoke. The PDP’s projection of a landslide win in the North has collapsed.

“For example, the PDP’s celebrated victory in Katsina State was only with a difference of less than 7,000 votes. On the other hand, the APC maintains a lead of over 30,000 and 150,000 in nearby Jigawa and Zamfara states, respectively.

“The bad news for PDP, however, is its dismal performance in Kano where the APC is emerging with over 600,000 difference ahead of the PDP. This is a monumental figure which offsets the PDP in the entire North.

“The trend is the same in the South where PDP’s very poor show in Lagos, Oyo, Rivers and other key states spell doom for the party.

“The little gains made by the PDP in South-South and South-East are too little to compensate for the party’s huge deficit suffered in the South-West.

In the North Central, the APC has decimated all parties to a comfortable majority votes in Kwara, Kogi and Niger. Our impressive show in Benue, FCT and Plateau is also pushing PDP into third position in these places.

“Taken together, we are very upbeat as the numbers do not lie. We call on the opposition to stop the macabre dance of a dying horse and embrace defeat honourably. There can still be honour in defeat.

“We once again call for maturity and restraint. Nigerians have spoken through the ballots and the umpire must be allowed to do its work without harassment or blackmail.

“Security agents should stay on alert and deal with individuals and groups who are planning to foment trouble. Election is not a war. This is democracy at play.

“The results trickling in since the close of voting on Saturday have clearly shown the direction Nigerians have chosen to go.

“Right from the polling unit results received from across the country, the signs were clear that the deceit and propaganda of the opposition did not fetch them the expected votes.

“This has expectedly generated anxiety in their camps with many of their leaders making irresponsible incendiary comments.

“We note with utmost concern those inciting comments and call to violence by some spokespersons of the opposition, especially those from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We are particularly concerned and call on the State Security Services and the Nigeria Police Force to immediately restrain persons such as Dino Melaye, Dele Momodu and a certain Pastor Paul Enenche of Dunamis Church from their clear call to violence.

“Melaye’s tweet threatening violence, Momodu going on the TV to announce a purported winner and Enenche’s hate speech from the pulpit violate every law of the land. They should not go scot-free.

“When failure stared them in the face, rather than accept the outcome with dignity like good democrats would, some sore losers began shopping for ways to cut corners or scuttle the process.

“We have seen many doctored results giving false victory to the Labour Party in places where it performed abysmally poor.”

Judge Slumps, Dies While Preparing For Sitting

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Ayobode-Lokulo-Sodipe

By Ayodele Oni

A Judge of the Akure Division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Lokulo Sodipe is dead.

Justice Lokulo-Sodipe is said to have slumped while dressing up in his Chambers for today’s matter. Attempts to resuscitate him failed.

Justice was born on the 18th of February, 1956 and was appointed to the Appellate Court on the 15th of February, 2008.

He is from Abeokuta South in Ogun State, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1979.

He is widely regarded as a hardworking Judge and a masterful writer of judgements.

Nigeria Decides: How Peter Obi Demystified Tinubu, Brought About A Paradigm Shift In Lagos

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By Akinwale Kasali

No star gazers could have predicted that the Labour Party, LP, Presidential Candidate, Peter Gregory Obi, could emerge as the winner of the Presidential Poll in Lagos State.

Political analysts had predicted a landslide win for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and its Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Ever Since the emergence of Democratic rule in Nigeria from 1999 till 2019, Lagos State has always been the stronghold of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, in which Tinubu rode on its crest to become Governor of Lagos which metamorphosed to Action Congress, AC, to Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN before the merging of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP and the ACN to the All Progressives Congress, APC, that brought about the emergence of incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu has always been at the center of the change in Party name and has never lost Lagos State to any opposition.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  always wrestled with Tinubu in winning Lagos State the commercial hub of the country, but he has stood tall.

Then Obi happened!

The defeat of the Jagaban Borgu as Tinubu is called came as a huge surprise and setback to the APC, because it has always described the LP as a Party without a structure.

Interestingly the  party without a structure has demystified the ‘Almighty APC‘ with a large structure.

Labour Party became relevant in Lagos political space  less than eight months ago following the acceptability of Obi’s Presidential ambition by Youths who aligned with his vision, mission and intention to change the nation’s fortune.

The massive support received by LP weeks to the election was phenomenal, as the logo of ‘Father, Mother and Child’ became symbol that every of its supporters, both literate and illiterate used as a campaign song.

The LP was able to capitalize on the failure of the PDP following the withdrawal of the Five aggrieved Governors that include Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State to support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Party’s Presidential Candidate.

This really dealt a big blow to the PDP as the PDP in Lagos State became factionalized given the LP an edge.

All the Local Governments that Obi won in Lagos State were the stronghold of PDP since 2011, but the LP with its fierce campaign won these areas.

That the LP was able to win Alimosho Local Government which is the stronghold of the APC, the most populous LG in the State, shows a paradigm shift in the political landscape of the State.

There has, however, been attacks on Igbo Traders in the State. Tinubu has called for calm.

In a statement by the Director, Media and Publicity, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga,

Tinubu appealed to the people of Lagos State to be calm and eschew any act that can lead to breakdown of law and order.

Tinubu said the outcome of the election in Lagos where Labour Party won the presidential election should not be a source of provocation saying that the beauty of democracy is that people have a right to vote for the candidate of their choice.

The APC candidate further said that as a democrat he is bound to accept the outcome of any election whether favourable or not.

The former Lagos State Governor expressed serious concern over reports of violence in parts of the State, especially, the reported attacks on some traders of Igbo origin.

He condemned any form of violence against people of any ethnic group in Lagos.

“The fact that the APC narrowly lost Lagos State to another party should not be the reason for violence. As a democrat, you win some, you lose some. We must allow the process to continue unhindered across the country while we maintain peace and decorum,” the statement said.

Another factor that played against the APC in the State was the unavailability of funds to share around for its members which has been the norm and a ritual during electioneering in the State.

This culminated in the voters apathy witnessed in the State. Most people failed to come out to cast their votes as the unavailability of funds made them stay indoor.

The doggedness, determination and perseverance of the LP supporters brought about the victory as they remained unperturbed by the intimidation and threats from the APC supporters in the State to defend their votes resulting to the victory of their principal.

No doubt the victory of the LP will bring about alignment and realignment between the LP and the PDP as the Governorship Election is fast approaching.

If LP could spring a surprise by defeating Tinubu, then Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu needs to up the ante in the March 11, 2023 Governorship Election in the State.

LP Gubernatorial Candidate, Gbolahan Vivour-Rhodes and PDP Gubernatorial Candidate, Olajide Adediran could synergize to cause another upset at the Governorship as the LP victory as send fears to the spine of Governor Sanwo Olu on re-election bid.

In the coming days, the political landscape in the State will be heated following the surprising loss of the Party at the center.

All hands are on deck to see if Tinubu and APC will finally lose the State to the opposition after 24 years rule.

Nigeria Decides: Tinubu Calls For Calm Over Obi’s Victory In Lagos; Igbo Traders Under Attack

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By Akinwale Kasali

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed has called for calm and not resort to any form of violence following his loss to Labour Party, Peter Obi, at the Presidential Poll in the State.

The former Lagos State Governor has condemned the attacks on the Traders by thugs and hoodlums, leading to unrest in major markets in the State.

Loyalists of the APC had resorted to destroying and locking the shops of some Igbo Traders following Obi’s victory which came to them as a shock.

The loss of the APC in Lagos brought an end to the dominance of the Party in election in the State.

Tinubu, in a statement through the Head, Media and Publicity for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, said he accepts the result in good faith.

He said, “As a Democrat, you win some and you lose some. The result has come out this way and there is no cause for alarm as I respect the electoral will of the people.

“I, however, condemn the attack on Igbo Traders as that is unacceptable. I hereby call for calm and urge the APC faithful to allow the Electoral umpire do the needful”, he said.

Police Warn Leadership Of Political Parties To Caution Members

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By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Police has sued for calm, patience as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) intensifies effort on speedy collation of results of Saturday’s election.

Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement in Abuja specifically called on leadership of political parties to caution their followers.

The statement noted that there is apprehension following close monitoring of the ongoing 2023 electoral exercise and series of intelligence reports, and high expectations from all angles.

“The Nigeria Police Force has deemed it necessary to charge Presidential Candidates of all political parties, most especially APC, PDP, LP and NNPP, to caution their party stalwarts and supporters to avoid making inciting comments capable of unnecessarily heating up the polity and creating undue excitement among the electorate and the populace in the country.

“The NPF, having assessed the trend of scaled-up expectations and psychological projections on the ongoing electoral process viz-a-viz collation of results, charged all presidential candidates, as leading and respected figures in their respective political parties, ‘to take the opportunity of this waiting period to emphasize the rule of law, respect for the Constitution, and constituted authority among their supporters.”

“We all owe a duty to ensure that the nation does not fall into anarchy on the basis of interests and sentiments.

“The Force similarly reiterated the need to desist from mounting undue pressure on the electoral process viz-a-viz the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the body which is constitutionally mandated with the conduct of elections and announcement of results, as all hands are on deck to speedily conclude collation of results and declare the winner.

“While commending the populace and electorate for their patience thus far and largely lawful conduct around the country, the Police encouraged presidential candidates to admonish their supporters to uphold the tenets of the Peace Accord recently signed for the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections.”

Governors Ugwuanyi, Ayade Lose Senatorial  Bid, LP Candidate Beats Enugu Governor

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By Ayodele Oni

A member of the G5 Governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) opposed to the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has lost his senatorial bid.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu state Governor, lost his senatorial bid to Labour Party candidate for the district, Okechukwu Ezea.

Ugwuanyi, who is rounding off his second term as governor, is the PDP candidate for the Enugu North Senatorial District election.

Also, Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade was defeated by Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe.

The returning officer for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Cross River North senatorial district, Dr Emmanuel Emanghe announced that Ayade of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 56,595 votes against Agom-Jarigbe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 76,145 votes.

In Enugu State, Ugwuanyi lost his senatorial bid to Labour Party candidate for the district, Okechukwu Ezea.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Chukwuemeka Ubaka announced the result at the INEC collation centre in Nsukka Local Government Area headquarters on Monday at about 5: 20 am.

Ezea polled 104,492 votes to defeat Ugwuanyi, who came second with 46,948 votes.

The APC candidate for the district, Ejike Eze, garnered 6,816 votes to come a distant third.

Ubaka said Ezea was declared the winner in the exercise because he “justified all the requirements of the law” having scored the highest number of votes in the election.

Earlier, there was mild drama at the INEC collation centre in the district, when Ubaka said he would not collate the senatorial results unless he was given the district’s authentic forms for results and declaration.

Some Labour Party members had accused the returning officer of colluding with an unnamed opposition candidate to overturn the result against the eventual winner.

The results of the exercise from the six local government areas that make up the district had put Ezea in front, after reportedly winning in nearly all the council areas.

The six council areas that make up the district include Nsukka, Igbo-Eze South, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Etiti, Uzo-Uwani and Udenu, where Ugwuanyi hails from.

Ugwuanyi’s defeat marked the first time an opposition political party would unseat a candidate of the ruling PDP in the state.

The PDP had never lost any election in the state since the return of democracy in 1999.

Chukwuka Utazi, the incumbent Senator representing the district, had stepped down for Ugwuanyi, ahead of the PDP primary election for the district in May last year.

Ugwuanyi, will exit office as the governor of the state on 29 May this year after his two terms in office.

Cross River: Ayade Loses Senatorial Election

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Ben Ayade

By Stanley Ekpenyong( South South Bureau Chief)

In one of the major upsets of the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections, Cross River state governor, Professor Ben Ayade early Monday morning lost his bid to return to the Senate.

Ayade who represented Northern Cross River Senatorial district between 2011and 2015 was defeated by the incumbent Senator representing the district, Senator Agom Jarigbe Agom of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Senator Agom scored a total of 76,145 votes to emerge the winner, followed by his closest rival, Professor Ayade of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled a total number of 56,595 votes to come second.

The result was announced at Ogoja, headquarters of the Senatorial district, by the returning officer, Dr. Enmanuel Emmaghe.

Apart from Professor Ayade, two House of Reps members from the district, Hon. Legor Idagbor( Obudu/ Bekwara/ Obanliku Federal constituency) and Hon. Jude Ngaji( Yala Ogoja Federal Constituency),  all of the APC, also lost their seats to the PDP candidates.

LP Candidate, Attah Defeats Obanikoro, Banky W, Wins Eti Osa Federal Constituency; As Gbajabiamila Wins For Sixth Term

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Thaddeus Attah

By Akinwale Kasali

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Candidate, Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro representing Eti Osa Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives has been defeated alongside, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Candidate, Bankole Wellington popularly known as Banky W by Labour Party, LP, Candidate, Thaddeus Attah.

Attah, has been declared  winner in Eti-Osa Federal Constituency’s seat in the House of Representatives.

Attah polled 24,075 votes, beating his counterparts, Banky of the PDP who had 18,666 votes, and Obanikoro of the APC, who had 16, 901 votes.

Babajide, who is a son of former Minister of Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, is the current lawmaker representing the constituency.

INEC Returning Officer, Prof Funmilayo Odukoya, made the declaration on Sunday at the Collation Centre, Lagos State Model Nursery and Primary School, Marwa, Lekki 1.

“That Thaddeus Attah of LP, having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared winner and is returned elected; signed by me. Thank you so much,” Odukoya said

She said other candidates received the following votes: Oladehin Olufemi, African Democratic Congress, ADC, 1,422 votes; Azeez Kabirat of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, 414 votes, and Olasunkanmi Ololade, Social Democratic Party, SDP, 207 votes.

Earlier, there was pandemonium between the party agents and INEC officers over the authenticity of the result, even before it was declared by the Presiding Officer.

The agents, including those of APC and PDP refused to accept the announced  results unless their complaints were addressed.

Also, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has been re-elected for the sixth consecutive term in the just-concluded 2023 general elections.

According to the official result declared by INEC returning officer, Prof. Virgy Onyene, at the Surulere local government office of INEC on Sunday, Gbajabiamila of the APC won with a wide margin of 19,717 votes to defeat his closest rival, Bosun Jeje of the PDP, who scored 5,121 votes.

Also, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, has won the election for the seat of Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State.

The All Progressives Congress member was reelected for a second term.

According to the results declared by the Returning Officer, Adindu Chidinma, APC polled 10,020 votes in the constituency, beating the Labour Party candidate with 6,818; Peoples Democratic Party, 3,930; and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, with 301 votes.

Reacting to his reelection in a message sent to journalists, Kalu partly said, “This is a moment of happiness. This victory is sweet because it came with a lot of hard work and confrontation between those outside and some forces within the party. But in all of these, God has seen the sincerity of our hearts to serve the people of Bende with transparency, honesty, in the spirit of accountability and His name has been glorified.”

Similarly, the lawmaker representing Ede-North/Ede-South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency of Osun State, Bamidele Salam, has won his reelection bid. He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party as well as the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs.