Politics
Buhari’ll Defeat Jonathan – Amaechi
Activities at Government House Port Harcourt, con
tinued on a steady note with a mixed bag of events covering political campaigns and governance. The governor had returned to the state on Sunday last week to attend to state matters.
On Monday, Governor Chibuike Amaechi signed the states budget into law. The budget had taken the legislator a month and half to deliberate upon.
Signing the budget into law, Governor Amaechi commended the lawmakers for putting the interest of the state ahead and assured that it would be implemented to the letter.
In the word of the governor, “Nobody can say we have not performed from education to health”, adding that his administration constructed a number of roads.
“The fact is that we are frugal and we did not steal money as against those who are fighting to come in here”, Amaechi said.
The governor while dismissing claims by the opposition that his administration has been reckless in spending, maintained that he had not awarded any contract to himself or to any company owned by him.
Governor Amaechi while warning Rivers people of the antics of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to hijack the treasury of the state, promised the he and his party would scuttle such plans.
On the forthcoming elections, the chairman of the Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF) said, “everybody knows and the president knows that Buhari will win the elections. They know that and that is why they postponed the elections and they think that when they postpone the elections, they will win the elections. But the people have made up their minds who and where they will vote”.
Shortly after the signing of the budget, chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon. Josiah Olu and State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside, spoke to reporters on their expectations.
Hon. Olu expressed hope that the executive would implement the budget as passed till May 29th. He explained that the N338 billion appropriation will help to complete ongoing projects.
“I am sure that in the next three months, we will spend within the budgetary provisions as provided”, he stated.
On his part, Peterside assured that the government would adhere to budgetary provisions, saying, “wherever we stop by the day of handover is where the next governor will continue”.
According to Dr. Peterside, the most important aspect of the budget is the recurrent expenditure which covers pensions, salaries and overheads. He also said major part of the budget will be funded with internally generated revenue to the tune of over N90 billion.
On Thursday last week, the governor and the APC presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari attended the South-South-rally of the party held at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.
At the rally Governor Amaechi announced plans by the party to sustain the Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta militants, if it wins on March 28th. He explained that the plan is to include those left out by the current managers of the scheme.
Amaechi who is also the Director-General of the APC Presidential campaigns further stated that the party would support INEC to conduct transparent polls in the future.
Gen. Buhari in his speech had accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the massive corruption besetting the country and promised to eradicate the menace when voted into power. Buhari tasked the Federal Government to account for the 26 million dollars already spent on power generation.
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.
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