Politics
Atiku, Dickson, Others Mourn Aguma
As activities lined up for the burial of the late Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State, Hon. Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), commence Wednesday, more top personalities and groups besieged Governemnt House, Port Harcourt last week on condolence visits to the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Among them were the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the South-South Forum of Attorneys-General and Commissioners of Jsutice.
Abubakar who paid condolence visit on Wednesday described the demise of Aguma as shocking.
“The loss of the Attorney-General of Rivers State was shocking news to us. This is because of our relationship with the state,” he said.
He regretted that the country would miss the services of a legal luminary as Aguma and prayed God to give the family, Government and people of the state the fortitude to bear the loss.
In similar vein, Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Kemela Okara said news of the death of the Attorney-General was shocking.
He said that the affinity between the people of Rivers and Bayelsa States is such that whatever affects one, affects the other and assured Wike of Bayelsa’s active participation in the burial.
Last Tuesday, the chairman of the Board of NDDC, Senator Ndoma Egba led the board and management of the commission to Government House, Port Harcourt on a condolence visit to Governor Wike.
Describing late Aguma as a thorough bred professional who contributed to the development of the Niger Delta region, said “As a commission, we share in your grief. His death is a sad loss for the Niger Delta region because Aguma was an outstanding legal practitioner from the region,” and prayed God to grant the people of Rivers State the fortitude to bear the great loss.
Chairman of the Northern Elder Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdulahi conveyed the condolences of the forum during a visit to Governor Wike last Friday in Government House.
Describing death as a necessary end for every human being Abdulahi stressed the need for everyone to work towards improving the society while alive. He urged Rivers people to be consoled by the worthy legacies left by the late Aguma.
South-South Forum of Attorneys-General and Commissioners of Justice paid a condolence visit to Wike last Monday over the passage of their colleague, Hon. Emmanuel Aguma.
Secretary of the forum and Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State Mr Uwemedimo Nwoko said the news of the death of late Aguma broke like an enemy bomb on their WhatsApp platform.
Describing it as an unquantifiable loss to the Niger Delta region, Nwoko noted that Aguma’s death was in comprehensible and inexplicable.
He said Aguma was, “fearless and believed in responsibilities” and a strong believer in the fight for justice in the Niger Delta.
In each of the visits, Wike eulogized late Aguma for his commitment to the course of the state and loyalty to his administration and commended the visitors for identifying with Rivers State at trial moments and circumstance provoked by the loss of its valued Attorney-General.
Chris Oluoh
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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