News

Guber Polls: APC Wins In 14 States, PDP In Five

Published

11 years ago

April 13, 2015

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Governor of Ogun, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, winner of the Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Duro Oni, who is the state returning officer for the election, made the declaration yesterday in Abeokuta.
Amosun, who contested the election on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), beat Mr Gboyega Isiaka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the second position.
According to the returning officer, Amosun won in 11 out of the 20 local government areas in the state.
He said that the governor polled a total of 306,988 votes of the total 578, 378 votes cast in the election in which 16 political parties contested., Isiaku scored 201,440 while the SDP candidate got 25,825.
Oni explained that 599, 486 voters were accredited out of the total 1,759,754 registered voters in the state, adding that 22, 948 votes were voided out of the total 578,378 votes cast.
The returning officer said that elections were cancelled for various reasons in nine polling centres at Odeda, Sagamu and Ogun, all waterside local governments areas of the state.
Oni, however, said that the 2,343 votes from the centres where the elections were cancelled did not affect the result of the election.
In Gombe, Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State was re-elected as governor of the state.
Dankwanbo of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 285,369 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 205,132 votes.
Announcing the result in Gombe yesterday, the Returning Officer for the state, Prof. Saminu Ibrahim, said that the governor won the polls in 10 local government areas out of the 11 in the state.
He said that the APC candidate won in one local government area, adding that African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Alhaji Jafar Abubakar, came third with 848 votes.
The returning officer consequently declared Dankwambo, with the highest votes cast, winner of the election.
He said out of the 1.1 million registered voters in the state, 535,508 were accredited while 506,768 votes were cast during the polls.
In Adamawa, half way into the collation of the Governorship election results, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has conceded defeat.
Ribadu in a statement issued by his spokesman, Malam AbdulAziz Ahmad, said he had accepted the outcome of the election in good faith.
“I came into this race with lofty dreams and clear vision for our dear state, but the voice of the majority has not given me this chance. I take this in good faith.
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the winner and pray that at the end of it all our dear state will witness the needed progress and development it so much desires”, Ribadu said.
Ribadu lauded the support he got from President Goodluck Jonathan, party leaders and the people of Adamawa in general.
Ribadu concession statement was made shortly after the announcement of the result of 12 out of the 21 Local Government Areas of Adamawa by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The collation of the results for the remaining nine Local government areas continue.
In Kaduna, Malam Nasir El-Rufai of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has won the governorship election.
El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, defeated 14 other candidates, including Governor Mukhtar Yero who contested on the platform of the PDP.
The Returning Officer for the state, Prof. Jafar Kaura, said El-Rufai emerged victorious with 1, 117, 635 votes to defeat his closest rival, Yero of the PDP, who secured 485, 833 votes.
Kura said a total of 1, 710, 935 people were accredited for the election of which 1, 660, 109 voted.
According to him, 27, 116 votes were rejected while 65, 386 votes from 112 pulling units in 16 local government areas were cancelled due to various electoral offences.
The state has a total of 3, 357, 469 registered voters.
In reaction, Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State yesterday congratulated Malam Nasiru El-Rufai for winning the April 11 governorship election in the state.
Yero, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate, called El-Rufai on phone at about 3:00p.m to concede defeat and congratulate the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for winning the election.
Mr Samuel Aruwan, Media Officer of the state APC Campaign Council, who stated this in Kaduna, said El-Rufai thanked the governor for his magnanimity in defeat.
“He congratulated El-Rufai and wish him success, he prayed for peace and development of Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.
“El-Rufai in his response thanked Yero and wished him all the best and hope to see him soon,” Aruwan said.
The collation of the results was still going on with just one local government out of the 23 remaining as at 4:50 p.m.
In Katsina, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Masari, has won the governorship election in Katsina State under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Returning Officer, Prof. Lawal Bilbis, said on Sunday that Masari polled 943,085 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Musa Nashuni, who scored 476,768 votes in the Saturday’s elections.
Bilbis said that PDM candidate, Sen. Yakubu Lado, got 50,361 votes, while Alhaji Umar Abdullahi of APGA secured 42,302 votes.
According to the retuning officer, seven political parties took part in the election.
“Having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest the number of votes, Aminu Bello Masari of APC is declared the winner and returned elected,’’ Bilbis said.
He said that the election was free, fair and conducted in accordance with the law.
Also in Bauchi, the All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Bauchi State, Barr.Mohammed Abubakar, had been declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Announcing the result of the election yesterday in Bauchi, the Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Faruk, said Abubakar polled 654,934 votes, to defeat nine other contestants.
His closest opponent, Mr Mohammed Jatau of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), secured 282,650 votes.
Declaring Abubakar as the winner, Prof. Faruk said that the APC candidate had satisfied Section 179(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, having garnered highest number of total votes cast, and also secured the minimum number of votes required in each of the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.
With official announcement of the result, the state now has Barr. Mohammed Abubakar as the governor-elect, with Engr. Nuhu Gidado , as his deputy.
In Oyo, the incumbent Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, made history by becoming the first governor of the state to win a second term in office.
Ajimobi swept over 20 out of the 33 local government areas in the state.
Accord Party’s Senator Rasheed Ladoja trailed behind while Adebayo Alao-Akala of the Labour Party stayed in the third position. Both are former governors of the state.
The final results announced by INEC, yesterday, show that Ajimobi of APC pooled 327,310, Ladoja of Accord scored 254,520, while Taiwo Otegbeye of Action Alliance (AA) garnered 1,397.
Also, Alao-Akala of LP polled 184,111, Teslim Kolawole Folarin of PDP got 79,019 while
Seyi Makinde of SDP scored 54,740.
In Enugu, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi proved political watchers right by rushing aside all challengers to win the governorship election in the state.
Ugwuanyi beat his closest rival with 482,277 while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okey Ezea, lost with 43,839 votes.
In Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) thrashed his closest rival, Umana Okon Umana of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to emerge as the new governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Results of Saturday’s governorship election show that Udom beat Umana with 99,071 votes against 89,865 as announced in Uyo, the state capital by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The results were released at the state INEC headquarters on Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, under the watchful eyes of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barr. Austin Eni Okojie and other top officials of the commission, as well as party representatives and some journalists, shows that the closest rival party, the APC, won in only one LGA, Orue-Offong Oruko.
In Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal of APC beat Abdallah Wali of PDP with 6647,609 votes to 269,074 votes to emerge winner.
In Ebonyi, Dave Umahi of the PDP beat his closest rival Edward Nkwegu of the Labour Party with 289,867 votes to 124,817 votes to win the governorship election in the state.
In Lagos, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, beat his arch-rival, Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to become the next governor of Lagos.
The APC candidate polled 811,994 votes while the PDP candidate scored 659,788 votes.
Ambode’s victory has served to douse ethnic tension in the country’s former capital, with some creative minds coming up with a photo of Igbos in the lagoon being implored by their Yoruba friends to come out and resume their business activities as the worst is over.
Tension had flared between both ethnic groups when Oba of Lagos, Alhaji Rilwan Akiolu, threatened that Igbos would drown in the lagoon if they sabotaged efforts to install Ambode.
In Taraba, Senator Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan made history by becoming the first Nigerian woman to be elected a state governor.
Al-Hassan, the first female governorship candidate from the entire northern part of the country, won Saturday’s election. She ran on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
She was elected Senator for the Taraba North constituency of Taraba State in the April 2011 elections. She ran on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) platform but later defected to APC.
INEC officially announced her winner, beating Darius Ishaku of PDP to emerge victorious.

News

Tinubu Swears In Christopher Musa As Defence Minister

Published

6 minutes ago

December 5, 2025

The Tide

?President Bola Tinubu, yesterday swore in retired Gen. Christopher Musa as the new Minister of Defence.?
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?The president administered the oath of office on Musa in his office
at the State House, Abuja.
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?Tinubu had described Musa as a “fine gentleman” whose track record in service positions him to drive a more integrated national security response.”
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?The new defence minister’s appointment comes less than 48 hours after the resignation of his predecessor, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar.
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?Musa, 58, served as the Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 to Oct. 2025, during which he oversaw broad counterterrorism operations and inter-agency coordination efforts.
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?His nomination was transmitted to the Senate on Tuesday and was swiftly confirmed after rigorous screening on Wednesday, a development Tinubu praised as an evidence of legislative support for his security vision.
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?With the swearing-in now complete, Musa assumes full ministerial duties as the Tinubu administration pushes to consolidate recent gains and accelerate reforms aimed at delivering lasting peace and national stability.
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?The brief ceremony was attended by top government officials including Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu and thd Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris
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?Musa told State House Correspondents after the event that he would ensure better synergy among the Armed Forces to tackle terrorism and all forms of insecurity in the country.
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?”My immediate priority is to make sure that defence takes its place fully in the country.
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?”The synergy between the armed forces and other security agencies and all Nigerians being carried along as we have always said, that security is everybody’s responsibility.
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?” It is that synergy that we need to build on and work on it, and that’s what we’re going to and I can assure you, within the shortest possible time, Nigerians will see results.
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?” I want to use this medium to appreciate all Nigerians. Nigerians have shown me love, and I will guarantee them that I am going to work whatever it takes to ensure that Nigeria is secured,” he said.

News

Police Rescue Five Kidnapped RSU Students In Rivers

Published

3 hours ago

December 5, 2025

The Tide

The five students of the Rivers State University (RSU), Emohua satellite campus in Emohua Local Government Area of the state who were recently kidnapped, have regained freedom from their captors.

The students spent three days in the hands of their abductors before being rescued through the combined efforts of the police and other security agents in the state.

In a statement by the police spokesperson in the state, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, yesterday, the police rescued the five students unhurt from their abductors at the early hours of yesterday.

The statement listed the rescued victims as: Prince London ‘M’, Azubuike Kelechukwu ‘M’, Elizabeth Aniete ‘F’, Onyebuchi Precious ‘M’, and London Sampson ‘M’.

The police further disclosed that the victims had been taken to the hospital for medical examination, while efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing cultists/abductors.

According to the police, the students were abducted by yet-to-be-identified cultists from their isolated residences but were later rescued unhurt.

The statement read in part; “The rescue operation was conducted at Rumudogo 2 Community in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State by the Command’s Tactical Teams, in collaboration with other sister security agencies and with the support of the community.”

The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, warned the perpetrators that the police would not relent until all those involved are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.

He also urged continued collaboration from sister security agencies, community stakeholders, and the general public to enhance policing efforts across the State.

Adepoju also advised residents to go about their lawful activities without fear, assuring them that “their safety is our priority.”

Meanwhile, the authorities of the university have suspended academic activities in the Emohua campus following persistent security challenges in the area.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, disclosed this while addressing students of Emohua campus following the kidnapping of the five students on Tuesday morning.

The students had, among other demands, urged the school authority to suspend all academic activities in the campus and relocate them to the main campus.

However, the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, has appealed to the management of the university not to shut down the Emohua Campus, promising to provide the necessary logistics to strengthen security of lives and property within the institution.

Akujobi Amadi & King Onunwor

News

Navy Begins Free Medical Screening, Treatment For 2,000 In Rivers

Published

3 hours ago

December 5, 2025

The Tide

The Nigerian Navy has begun free medical screening, diagnosis, and treatment for no fewer than 2,000 residents in Rivers.

Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), announced this on Thursday at the opening of the outreach in Egberu, Oyibo Local Government Area of Rivers.

Zipele said that the beneficiaries would have the opportunity to undergo medical diagnosis and treatment without costs.

“The naval training command is offering free medical support to residents of Egberu, this is as part of our efforts to strengthen cooperation between the command and the community,” he said.

He said that residents would receive free medical services such as blood pressure checks, consultancies, laboratory investigations and medications, among others.

“This exercise is one of the strategic initiatives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, under navy’s corporate social responsibility,” he said.

Zipele further said that the exercise formed part of the navy’s end-of-year activities that aimed to strengthen civil-military relations.

He reiterated the navy’s commitment to providing essential services to residents of Egberu community.

Also speaking, Capt. Ikechukwu Chukwuka, the Head, Medical and Training, said that the outreach included screening for blood pressure, blood sugar, malaria, typhoid and HIV.

Chukwuka said that the beneficiaries would receive free medications and advice, adding, “serious conditions will be referred to the appropriate medical facilities”

“We recognise the challenges many communities face in accessing quality healthcare, we are here to support this community,” he said.

Chukwuka said that many individuals were unaware of the illnesses that plagued them until they became life-threatening.

“We are targeting no fewer than 2,000 people to take advantage of this opportunity to know their health status and receive free treatments,” he said.

He said that the programme showed that the navy was not only a combat institution but also a compassionate and people-oriented one.

Dr Adaeze Oreh, the Rivers Commissioner of Health, commended the navy for the gesture, describing it as well-intended.

Represented by Prof. Justina Jumbo, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Oreh said that the initiative aligned with the state government’s commitment to strengthen public health systems.

“Healthcare is most impactful when government and security agencies work together to support vulnerable populations,” she said.

She said that the Rivers Government remained open to deeper collaboration with stakeholders on outreach, disease prevention, emergency care and community health strengthening.

The Paramount Ruler of Egberu-Ndoki, Eze Boniface Akawor, expressed delight over NAVTRAC’s relocation from Apapa, Lagos, to Ebubu-Eleme in May 2024.

He said that the community had never benefitted from such free medical support, and decried the abandonment of the community primary healthcare centre.

“The nearest health centre is seven kilometres from here, this makes emergencies difficult for our people,” he said.

Akawor thanked the navy for the intervention, and urged other corporate bodies to emulate NAVTRAC.

One the beneficiaries, Mrs Cordelia Chibuzor, 58, who received treatment for an undisclosed ailment, praised the navy for the support.

She said that many residents could no longer afford healthcare due to the rising costs of medical treatments in the country.