Politics
RSHA May Not Sit this Year
After the relatively protracted adjournment following the disruption of its last planned sitting by protesters earlier in the year, news of the House reconvening last Tuesday came with a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, among the events that ensued on that day, the violence witnessed in the hallowed chambers and the resultant allegations and counter allegations over what really transpired may go down in record books as a day to remember in the history of the state.
Trouble started when the five anti-Governor Chibuike Amaechi lawmakers attempted to remove the leadership of the House from office by impeaching the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree.
To accomplish this motive, no sooner had the members settled down for the business of the day than the leader of the five opposition lawmakers, Hon Evans Bipi, moved up to where the leader of the House, Hon Chidi Lloyd, was seated and assaulted him, using the tripod of a video camera.
The reaction that followed the persistent assault on the leaders of the House, which was extended to the Speaker and other 27 lawmakers loyal to the leadership of the House present, resulted in a bloody pandemonium characterized by a free-for-all fight. By the time the dust raised by the pandemonium settled, particularly following the intervention of state Governor and his Security details, several lawmakers had sustained various degrees of injury with Hon. Michael Okey-Chinday, one of the opposition five, worst hit.
The development momentarily stalled the purpose for which the House was reconvened by the Speaker, which was to enable the Governor, represented by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, to present an executive request. The request was for the amendment of the state 2013 Appropriation Act.
Presenting the request shortly after the initial violence that rocked the Assembly, Engr. Ikuru explained that the state Government required the amendment to enhance effective implementation of capital needs of the budget, urging the House to approve it. After due consideration, the House approved it with a voice vote of all 23 members present.
Shortly after the pro-Amaechi lawmakers left, three of the five opposition members, led by Hon. Bipi organized an impeachment of the speaker and other key office holders, while also installing Hon. Bipi as the new speaker.
Sequel to the events of last Tuesday, Hon. Bipi made various pronouncements as the new speaker of the House, alleging that a reasonable number of the 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers were no more with the leadership of the House.
In response, the Speaker, Rt. Hon Amechree, debunked Bipi’s allegation, saying that the pro-Amaechi 27 members were still intact, and called on the citizenry to disregard Bipi’s impeachment claim. In the same vein, the immediate past Speaker, Rt Hon. Tonye Harry, reiterated the loyalty of the 27 members to the leadership of the House and the Governor. As a proof of them being intact, he said the 27 would sit on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the Wednesday sitting could not hold as a multitude of people, believed to be thugs of Hon. Bipi thronged the Assembly complex, compelling the police to disperse the lawmakers and shutting the gates of the Assembly complex up till last Friday.
Given the development of last Tuesday and Wednesday, and the fact that the House had prior to last week met its mandatory 189 sittings for the year, there is little doubt that the House may not sit again this year.
Alhaji Mohammed Kasim, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has won the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Philip Akpeni, the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the results on Sunday morning.
Alhaji Kasim polled 22,165 votes to defeat Alhaji Yahaya Shehu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 17,788 votes.
Alhaji Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 1, 687 to come in third place.
“I am the returning officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Gwagwalada chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026,” Akpeni said.
“That Mohammed Kasim of PDP, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
In the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, the APC candidate, was declared the winner of the chairmanship poll with 40,295 votes.
Andrew Abue, the Collation Officer for AMAC, said Hon. Maikalangu, who is the incumbent AMAC chairman, was returned elected having scored the highest number of votes cast.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) came second with 12,109 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 3,398 votes.
According to Abue, the total number of valid votes in the chairmanship poll was 62,861, while the total votes cast stood at 65,197.
He added that the number of registered voters in AMAC was 837,338, while the total number of accredited voters was 65,676.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr. Joshua Ishaku of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Bwari Area Council Chairmanship election.
Announcing the result on Sunday in Bwari, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Mohammed Nurudeen, stated that Ishaku polled a total of 18,466 votes to emerge victorious in the February 21, 2026 poll.
“I am the Returning Officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Bwari chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026. That Joshua Ishaku, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Nurudeen said.
According to the results declared, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 4,254 votes, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) polled 3,515 votes to place second and third respectively.
The declaration adds to the series of results emerging from the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, as political parties assess their performance ahead of future contests.
INEC UPLOADS 2,602 OF 2,822 FCT CHAIRMANSHIP RESULTS ON IReV
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had uploaded 2,602 out of the 2,822 expected polling unit results from Saturday’s chairmanship elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as at 5:55am on Sunday, data retrieved from its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed.
According to The Tide source, the figure represents an overall upload rate of about 92.2 per cent across the six area councils of the territory.
A council-by-council breakdown indicates that Municipal Area Council recorded the highest number of submissions in absolute terms, with 1,309 of 1,401 polling unit results uploaded, representing 93.43 per cent.
In Gwagwalada Area Council, 330 of the expected 338 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 97.63 per cent — the highest upload rate among the six councils.
In Bwari Area Council, INEC uploaded 463 of 485 polling unit results, translating to 95.46 per cent.
In Abaji Area Council, 129 of 135 polling unit results had been uploaded as at 5:55am, representing 95.56 per cent.
In Kwali Area Council, 164 of the expected 201 polling unit results were available on the portal, representing 81.59 per cent.
In Kuje Area Council, 207 of 262 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 79.01 per cent — the lowest rate among the six councils as at the time of review.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group described the swift assent as a clear demonstration of political will to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We see the decision by President Bola Tinubu to sign the reworked 2022 Electoral Act into law within a few hours of its passage as a demonstration of political will to ensure an improved electoral process which the new law envisages,” the group said.
The TMSG expressed confidence that the development would enable the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to quickly align its operations with the new provisions in preparation for the 2027 polls.
The group noted that the provision for electronic transmission of results had been contentious but described its codification in the law as a significant step forward.
“So, for the first time, the country’s electoral law would be recognising the use of the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the result viewing portal, IREV, which were just INEC guidelines in 2023,” it stated.
According to the TMSG, although the Act provides for electronic transmission of results from polling units to the IREV portal, it also makes room for manual transmission of Form EC8A result sheets as a backup in the event of technological failure.
“Unlike some Nigerians, we do not see anything wrong with the fallback plan but we agree with the President that no matter how beautiful a process is with improved technology, the onus lies on the people manning it to show good faith and ensure that the votes of the people really count at the end of the day,” the statement added.
The group highlighted other key provisions in the amended law, including the streamlining of party primaries to either consensus or direct primaries, early release of funds to INEC, reinforced measures against over-voting, and stiffer sanctions for electoral offences such as falsification of results.
It also pointed out that the mandatory notice period for elections has been reduced from 360 days to 300 days, giving INEC more flexibility in adjusting the timetable for the 2027 elections, especially where it may clash with Ramadan.
The TMSG further observed that the President’s decision to sign the bill days before the forthcoming Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) underscores his desire for the law to take immediate effect.
“And by signing the amendment bill a few days before the Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it is obvious that the President is keen on ensuring that the 2026 Electoral Act takes immediate effect.
“Nigerians would also have an opportunity to see some of the key provisions of the new electoral law become operational, especially the electronic transmission of results,” it said.
The group expressed optimism that the current INEC leadership would leverage the new legal framework to deliver a more credible and widely acceptable electioneering process than in previous electoral cycles.
-
Maritime24 hours ago
Customs Declares War Against Narcotics Baron At Idiroko Border
-
Maritime24 hours ago
Nigeria To Pilot Regional Fishing Vessels Register In Gulf Of Guinea —Oyetola
-
Sports23 hours agoGombe-Gara Rejects Chelle $130,000 monthly salary
-
Maritime24 hours ago
NIMASA,NAF Boost Unmanned Aerial Surveillance For Maritime Security
-
Maritime24 hours ago
NIWA Collaborates ICPC TO Strengthen Integrity, Revenue
-
City Crime20 hours ago
NCSU Hails Fubara Over 2025 New Telegraph Man Of The Year Award
-
Sports23 hours agoTEAM RIVERS SET TO WIN 4×400 ” MORROW” …Wins Triple jump Silver
-
Sports23 hours agoNSC eyes international hosting rights