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Guber Polls: PDP Wins Abia, Enugu, Oyo, Ebonyi, Others …APC Wins Lagos, Kwara, Gombe, Others

Published

2 years ago

March 11, 2019

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, winner of the March 9 governorship election in Abia State.
The INEC Returning Officer in the state, Prof. Benjamin Ozurumba, yesterday, said that Ikpeazu scored 261,127 votes to win the poll.
He defeated Uchechukwu Ogah of the All Progressives Congress who polled 99,574 votes.
He also announced that Alex Otti, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance scored 64,366 votes.
Blessing Nwagba of the Social Democratic Party scored 2,919 votes.
According to Ozurumba, 433,315 votes were valid, out of the 444, 376 votes cast, while 11,061 votes were rejected.
Ikpeazu won in 11 out of the 17 Local Government Areas of the state, while Ogah won in four local government areas, and Otti won in two.
Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the winner of Saturday’s Governorship election in Enugu state for a second tenure.
The state Returning Officer, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, who announced the result in Enugu, yesterday, said that Ugwuanyi won in the 17 local government areas (LGAs).
Ahaneku said that the governor polled 449,935 votes against his closest rival, Senator Ayogu Eze of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 10,423 votes.
Mr Emmanuel Nwankpa of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Mr Ekene Uzodinma of the United Peoples Party (UPP) polled 2,547 and 1,476, respectively.
Ahaneku, who is the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said that there were 1,944,016 registered voters in the state.
He said that 478,241 voters were accredited, adding that 470,927 valid votes were recorded, while 7,314 votes were declared invalid.
Also, the leading opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the governorship and state assembly elections in Katsina State has rejected the outcome of the Saturday’s polls in the state.
This was as it said it will take legal action to challenge the outcomes.
The party Chairman and the deputy governorship candidate, Salisu Majigiri said the election outcomes as being collated currently by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not the will of the people.
As at the time of filing in this report, INEC have received results from 30 out of the 34 local government areas of the state.
Majigiri while addressing newsmen on the INEC premises said “On behalf of the governorship candidate, Senator Yakubu Lado, myself as the deputy governor, the state house of assembly candidates and the PDP hereby rejected the result because the voters turn out yesterday was very poor.
There was low voter turnout yesterday (Saturday) in Katsina compare to the Presidential election.
But from the figure we are receiving now, the INEC is trying to announce the figures that are not the real figures and not the will of the people.
“We have so far received 30 out of 34 local government areas. So, we have compare with the result that we are having with us as brought to us by our agents. There are so many discrepancies between the results been announced at the INEC headquarters and that with us. So, we have rejected the results in totality and we are not going to accept the result that INEC is going to collate.
“So, we are rejecting the result even before the announcement by INEC. We don’t have the authority to announce our own results but we have the figures and we will make it public after INEC announcement.
“For instance in Zango local government area, our party agents were chased away by security agents because they cannot win such areas without force. In Kaita, the result was collated in INEC office.
“We are going to take constitutional measures. There is a provision in the constitution, the electoral law which when you are not satisfied with the process, you have your ways to challenge the outcome,” Majigiri, however, stated.
However, as at the time of filing in this report, election results are still been collated in the INEC headquarters, Katsina.
Results from two out of the 34 local government areas of Kankara, Kafur were still pending.
Meanwhile, the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has been declared the winner of the governorship election held on Saturday, March 9.
Returning Officer, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, made the declaration, yesterday, at INEC’s collation centre in Yaba, Lagos.
The Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says his main challenger, Mr Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party, has called to congratulate him.
He announces this in his Facebook page.
“At exactly 19:07, I received a call. Thank you Jimi Agbaje for your congratulatory call filled with kind words.
“It was an intense campaign and I am happy we can now focus on the very important job at hand; delivering a Lagos that works for all. #ForAGreaterLagos.”
Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress garnered 739, 445 votes while Agbaje got 206, 141.
Also, Inuwa Yahaya of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the Gombe State governorship election held on March 9.
The INEC Returning Officer in the state, Prof. Saminu Abdulrahaman, who declared the result in Gombe, yesterday, said that Yahaya scored 364,179 votes to defeat his closest rival of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Usman Nafada, who polled 222,868 votes and was returned elected.
He said that there were 1,394,386 registered voters, 627,457 accredited voters, 608,846 valid votes, 14,384 rejected votes and 623,230 total votes cast.
Abdulrahman, the Vice Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, added that Yahaya won in 10 of the 11 local government areas of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the governorship election results from Gombe Local Government Area showed that APC polled 68,384 votes, while PDP scored 21,673 votes.
In Shongom Local Government Area, APC scored 13,463 votes, while PDP scored 12,993 votes.
In Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, APC scored 51,521 votes to defeat PDP which scored 25,852 votes.
In Akko Local Government Area, APC polled 58,479 votes, while PDP scored 30,832 votes, and in Balanga Local Government Area, APC scored 30, 926 votes as against PDP’s 18,192 votes.
In Dukku Local Government Area, APC scored 27,302 votes as against PDP’s 16,807 votes.
In Kwami Local Government Area, APC scored 30, 539 votes against PDP’s 18, 240 while in Billiri Local Government Area, APC polled 18,612 to beat PDP which had 18,063 votes.
In Funakaye Local Government Area, APC scored 29,191 to defeat PDP which had 20,020, while in Kaltungo Local Government Area, APC scored 26,744 as against PDP’s 22,259.
However, PDP defeated APC in Nafada Local Government Area which is Sen. Usman Nafada’s home.
The PDP polled 17,937 votes as against APC’s 9,018 in Nafada.
In a similar vein, the Governor-elect of Kwara State, Mr AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said the state had finally been set free from political bondage and underdevelopment.
AbdulRazaq, who was the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, said this in his acceptance speech after being declared winner of the governorship election held on Saturday.
Declaring the results of the poll, yesterday, at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, the state Returning Officer and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Prof. Muhammad Liman, said AbdulRazaq polled 331,546 votes to emerge as the winner of the election.
His Peoples Democratic Party counterpart, Mr Abdulrazaq Atunwa, polled 114,754 votes to emerge as the runner-up in the election.
Consequently, Abdulrazaq beat Atunwa with a margin of 216,792 votes.
Notably, the APC beat the PDP in all 16 local government areas of the state.
Liman added that out of 1,376,372 registered voters in the state, 464,393 were accredited.
Total valid votes were put at 453,433; rejected votes were 9,994; while the number of total votes cast was 463,427.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde as governor-elect.
As announced by the state collation officer, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe of the University of Lagos, at the state office of INEC, Ibadan, yesterday, Makinde polled 515,621 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Chief Adebayo Adelabu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who had 357,982 votes.
The PDP recorded the highest number of votes in 28 local government areas while the APC won in five local government areas.
The 28 local government areas in which the PDP had the highest number of votes are Ibadan North West, Ibarapa East, Atiba, Kajola, Ido, Lagelu, Iwajowa, Ogbomoso South, Afijio, Oorelope, Ibadan North East, Ibadan South East, Ibarapa North, Atisbo, Ibarapa Central, Ibadan North, Egbeda, Itesiwaju, Saki West, Saki East, Oyo West, Oyo East, Oluyole, Olorunsogo, Ona Ara, Akinyele, Iseyin and Ibadan South West.
On the other hand, the APC led in five local government areas which are Oriire, Ogo oluwa, Surulere, Ogbomoso North and Irepo.
Meanwhile, a three-hour wait greeted the announcement of result for Ibadan South West local government area.
Speaking on the development, state Resident Electoral Officer, Mr Mutiu Agboke attributed the delay to the fact that some hoodlums invaded the Town Planning collation centre for the local government, burning INEC result sheets and other documents.
Agboke explained that the commission, relying on provisions of the electoral law, consequently retrieved the result from security agents and party agents to regenerate result for the affected local government area.
Not satisfied by INEC’s verdict, agent of the APC, Mr Mojeed Olaoya had questioned why the result for the local government was not cancelled owing to the disruption, as was done in some wards earlier announced.
Responding, collation officer, Ogundipe said those cancellations referred to were for areas where disruptions occurred prior to counting but in that of Ibadan South West, the disruption occurred when collation had been concluded.
As regards result of state assembly election, Agboke announced that the PDP won 26 seats, the APC won 5 seats while the Action Democratic Party got 1 seat.
In the Ibarapa Central/North federal constituency election concluded on Saturday, PDP’s Ajibola Muraina was also declared winner ahead APC’s Ojo Obafemi.
Meanwhile, APC has in a petition to the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr Seyi Makinde.
The petition signed by state Secretary of the APC, Mojeed Olaoya, said Makinde attempted to blackmail INEC and lawful authorities in a video broadcast where he declared himself as the winner, prior to INEC’s announcement.
A broadcast it described as illegal and capable of inciting the populace against their will, the APC added that Makinde’s broadcast amounted to flagrant abuse of the electoral laws and was reasonable.
“We wish to bring to your attention the release of a video by the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Oyo state, Seyi Makinde in the early hours of the morning of 10th March 2019.
The petition read, “In the video, Engineer Seyi Makinde pointedly proclaimed himself the winner of the governorship election in Oyo state when INEC, the authorised umpire has not concluded same nor declared any such results.
“In the said video broadcast to the citizenry of Oyo state and the whole world, Mr Makinde proclaimed and declared himself as the winner of the yet to be concluded elections, thus already inciting the populace against the popular will of the people, as may be eventually declared by INEC when the final results are released.
“By the unconscionable broadcast by Mr Seyi Makinde, he is clearly inciting the citizenry against an eventual credible outcome of the elections which may be contrary to his selfishly proclaimed victory, when he lacks the lawful authority and vires to do so.
“We are by this petition formally demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr Seyi Makinde for this grave offence. We trust you will act urgently and timeously to forestall any breakdown of law and order in the state.”
Also, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has been declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Declaring the result at the Independent National Electoral Commission state headquarters in Abakaliki, the State Returning Officer, Chukwuemeka Eze, said Mr Umahi garnered 393,343 votes across the 13 local governments areas of the state.
His closest challenger, Sonni Ogbuoji of the All Progressive Congress, APC, got 81703 votes.
The candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Chibueze Agbo, placed third with just 10129 votes.
“I hereby certify that I Prof Chukwuemeka Eze was the Returning Officer of the governorship election held on 9th math 2019 in Ebonyi State.
“That David Umahi Nweze of the PDP having satisfied the requirements of the law and having scored the highest number of votes is hereby returned and elected,” he said.
Mr Eze, who is the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Owerri, said the total valid votes was 482,018 while 10,984 votes were rejected bringing the total votes cast for the election to 493,002.
Mr Umahi, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has thanked the people of Ebonyi state for re-electing him.
Mr Umahi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, promised to consolidate on his achievement.
He also reiterated his readiness to hand over power to the Abakaliki bloc in 2023 after completing his second term.
Mr Umahi described the election as a “reflection of the wishes of the people who have been resolute and desirous of consolidating on the already achieved development in the state”.
He promised that his second term projects would include the construction of Ebonyi airport, Olympic-size stadium and completion of the already started 198 km Abakaliki ring road.
Mr Umahi said his closest rival and candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Sonni Ogbuoji, was never his match.

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APC’s Ploy To Ban, Regulate Social Media, Hypocritical, Wike Affirms

Published

13 hours ago

June 21, 2021

The Tide

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, says it is hypocritical for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contemplate banning or regulating social media after using it to hoodwink Nigerians to attain power.
He argued that the APC-led government has miserably failed, and wants to use its disagreement with Twitter as a false premise to suppress criticism of the administration’s appalling handling of the affairs of the nation through the dubious regulation of social media.
The governor, who make this assertion during the inauguration of nine reconstructed streets: Nzimiro, Herbert Macaulay, Amassoma, Arochukwu, Atako, Ogoja, Akure, Yola and Chinwo in Old Government Residential Area of Port Harcourt, noted that APC, having become the butt of jokes on social networks, was desperate to trample on freedom of expression of Nigerians.
“You have misled the country. You told us lies through social media. The same social media that you used to take over government, the same social media you want to regulate and ban. The same social media you used to tell Nigerians lies of how former President Goodluck Jonathan did not do this, how PDP did not do that.
“Now, you want the same social media to be regulated. You don’t want freedom of speech. Now, you want to gag them. Did anybody gag you when you were using them?”
Wike said the kidnap of scores of students at Federal Government Girls College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, last Thursday, was a further demonstration of APC’s gross ineptitude to guarantee safety of lives and property of Nigerians.
According to him, Nigerians are anxious for the APC to quit power and allow the more experienced Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to once again restore stability in the polity and dignity of the nation.
“You wake up every morning to hear 20 people have been kidnapped; 30 people have been kidnapped and people are telling us to keep quiet. Is it when they have kidnapped your own daughter?”
The governor also took a swipe at the Presidency for berating PDP governors, who demanded for transparency and accountability in the way the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was managed and that the APC-led government should be alive to its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
“In Kebbi, 40 to 50 girls have been kidnapped, our young daughters. And then, you are telling me we (PDP) have not proffered solution. Which solution are you talking about? The President is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is the president that appoints all the security heads in this country.
“No governor has the power or any role to appoint even a Commissioner of Police. And then, you are telling me that we have not proffered any solution. What solution do you want us to proffer, when you have taken your oath of office that you are going to guarantee the lives and property of Nigerians?”
Wike noted that even President Muhammadu Buhari during his recent television interview, had disclosed to Nigerians that he has nothing left to offer the country in terms of good governance.
“The president spoke to us the other day and Nigerians were happy the way he spoke to them, he told them the truth. And the truth is that whether you like it or not, I have nothing again to offer and that was the truth. And people must agree to that.”
The governor said his administration has deliberately embarked on massive urban renewal drive aimed at restoring the Garden City status of Port Harcourt.
According to him, it was regrettable that past administrations in the state did not consider it appropriate to restore the lost glory of Port Harcourt.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Senator Walid Jubril, who inaugurated the nine streets, commended Wike for transforming Port Harcourt, such that even the blind can attest to it.
Jubril said the entire board of trustees of the PDP was proud of Wike’s steadfast commitment to the PDP.
According to him, party stalwarts across the country, are impressed with the governor’s remarkable achievements and leadership.
“Anybody, who is from this state and is trying to go astray, I am not with him. I am with the people of this state, and I will remain with you (Wike).”
The Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi, said the nine streets have a combined length of 4.2km and 6.5km of drains.
He explained that the scope of work includes; road expansion, construction of drainages, walkways, asphalt overlay, street lighting and road marking.
He listed some of the benefits of the reconstructed streets to include: ease of movement, reduction in travel time, reduction of vehicle wear and tear, protection and enhancement of real estate values, and improving living standards.

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Fulfill Promise To Complete East-West Road, Wike Charges FG

Published

14 hours ago

June 21, 2021

The Tide

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has urged the Federal Government to expeditiously complete the abandoned East-West Road because of its economic importance.
He said the neglect of the East-West Road, particularly the Eleme axis where the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, Port Harcourt Refinery, and Onne seaport were situated, was unacceptable.
Wike stated this during the inauguration of Community Secondary School, Eteo, Eleme; and Community Secondary School, Obeakpu-Ndoki, Oyigbo, respectively, last Friday.
“I urge the Federal Government under the APC to please fulfill promises they made to Nigerians, fulfill promises they made to Rivers State.
“It is unfortunate; look at the East-West Road, this part of it has almost collapsed. The money comes from where? The money comes from us. Can you see this part of the road anywhere in this country?
“They are taking us for granted because we have nobody. God in his infinite mercy will give us somebody. The kind of treatment we are receiving from this Federal Government is unacceptable.”
The governor charged the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to visit the Eleme section of the East-West Road to appreciate the agony of the people of the area.
He further decried the failure of the Minister of Transportation, who hails from Rivers State to ensure that both the Port Harcourt and Onne ports function optimally for the benefit of the state.
Wike explained that prior to the reconstruction of Community Secondary School, Eteo, students were learning in a very unconducive environment, worst still, without chairs.
He stated that the state government decided to reconstruct the 24 classrooms school to improve access to quality education in the state.
“We are not only focusing on road, we are also focusing on health and we are also focusing on education. This will improve access to quality education.”
The governor appealed to the teachers and students of the school to utilise the facilities provided by the state government and make sure that the school is protected.
Wike commended Eleme youths for resisting attempts by some persons with secessionist agenda to use the community as a base for their nefarious activities.
According to him, Rivers State believes in the unity of the country, and will continue to insist that every section of the country should be accorded equal opportunities and privileges.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Senator Walid Jubril, who inaugurated the Eteo Secondary School, said the party was proud of the developmental strides of Wike.
Jubril further commended the governor for his steadfast defence and support of the PDP.
Similarly, former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, who inaugurated the Community Secondary School, Obeakpu-Ndoki, said the achievements of Wike were worthy of emulation by other governors.
He explained that as a party man, Wike has displayed total commitment, total loyalty and total faith in the survival and management of the PDP.
“Governor Wike remains a role model, worthy to be emulated. I advised other governors to come to Port Harcourt to see what Governor Wike is doing.”
Also speaking, the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, said the two inaugurated schools will further create access to quality education in the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Projects, George Kelly D. Alabo, said the reconstructed secondary school at Eteo has 24 classrooms, library, laboratory, chapel and connected to the national grid.

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Don’t Borrow Money Without Approval, Wike Warns New LG Chairmen

Published

4 days ago

June 18, 2021

The Tide

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has told newly sworn-in chairmen of the 23 local government areas of the state not to approach any financial institution to borrow money without first clearing with the state government.
The governor gave the warning shortly after the elected chairmen of the 23 LGAs took their oath of office at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
According to Wike, the caution has become necessary in order to stem unguarded desire of some council chairman to access money without any development plan.
“Don’t go and borrow money without the state government approval. Some of you tried it last time and started with your blackmail, saying help us, we are finished. You have no authority to go and borrow money. Even we as state government, before we go and borrow money we get approval from the Debt Management Office. No bank will even give us.
“Before you borrow money, the state must know what you want to use it for, and how you will pay it back, so that others who are coming will not suffer because of your indebtedness.”
Wike also charged the council chairmen to pay proper attention to issues of security in order to stem likely security breaches in their various councils.
The governor particularly urged them to establish a robust working relationship both with the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and the traditional rulers that will engender having regular security meetings for proper briefings.
“Stay in your council areas. Don’t stay in hotels and in Port Harcourt. If you’re not at home, how do you know about the security situation in your local government? Security is key!
“Relate with your DPOs. It does not cost you anything. Even if it cost you, governance is not easy. Governance is expensive. Security is expensive. Some of you cannot relate with the DPOs.
“It’s only when you have a problem that you relate with your DPOs and some of them are intelligent and when you call them that time, they turn their face the other way. You must make effort to relate with your DPOs.”
The governor urged the council chairmen to ensure they hold Security Council meeting weekly or better still, once in every two weeks for proper briefing.
Speaking further, Wike warned them against embarking on needless travel outside of the state and the country without notifying the state government.
He also encouraged them to work to strengthen the unity of the party in their various councils, consult widely with the leaders over appointments, and on other issues that will give everybody a sense of belonging.
Wike frowned at the worsening sanitary conditions particularly in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Eleme, Oyigbo LGAs, and charged the council chairmen to work assiduously to regularly evaluate refuse dumped on major roads in their councils.
The state governor revealed that the state government prevented the former chairmen whose tenure ended, last Wednesday, from paying local government workers salary due to security report and complains by some councillors and political appointees that they will not be paid what was due them.
“So, I decided to suspend the payment of local government workers and political appointees, so that the newly sworn-in chairmen will have to pay them without any crisis whatsoever.”
He said the state government will set up a committee to oversee the payment of all entitlement of immediate past chairmen, their political appointees and councillors.
According to him, “All the former council chairmen, all political appointees and councillors must be paid their money.”
Wike said he has received intelligence report that some council chairmen have sworn that they will not swear in some elected councillors who they perceive to be opposed to them.
He warned that if this happens, appropriate sanction will be taken against the erring council chairmen.
The newly sworn-in chairmen are, Daniel E. O. Daniel (Abua/Odual); Benjamin Eke (Ahoada East); Hope Ikiriko (Ahoada West); Rowland Sekibo (Akuku-Toru); Barrister Awortu Erastus (Andoni); Onengiyeofori George (Asari-Toru); Irimagha David ( Bonny); Michael Williams (Degema); Obarilormate Ollor (Eleme); Dr. Lloyd Chidi (Emohua); Obinna Anyanwu (Etche); Deko Confidence (Gokana); and Engr Nwanosike Samuel (Ikwerre).
Others include, Bariere Thomas (Khana); Barrister Ariolu George (Obio/Akpor); Nemieboka Vincent (Ogu/Bolo); Akuro Tobin (Okrika); Nwaiwu Chisorom (Omuma); Vincent Job (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni); Enyiada Cookey-Gam (Opobo/Nkoro); Nwaogu Akara (Oyigbo); Ihunda Allwell (Port Harcourt City); and Mbakpone Okpe (Tai).