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BYSIEC Releases LG Election Results
The Chairman of Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC), Chief Blessing Izagara, has announced the final results of last Saturday’s elections for the eight local government Chairmanship and Councillorship positions for the 105 wards in the state.
However, there was no evidence of voting in Ogbia Local Government, where candidates of PDP in all the elections were declared unopposed without any figure of vote recorded for them.
The Chairman, who announced that the PDP won all the chairmanship positions in the eight Local Government Areas, said that the only candidate for the chairmanship position in Ogbia, Mr. Abah Sasimi Richard of the PDP, was returned unopposed, a declaration contrary to section 111 of the Electoral Act, which states that the only candidate in an election is expected to score more yes votes than no, and must record one third of total vote cast in, at least, two thirds of all the wards.
A similar situation emerged in Sagbama, where only the PDP presented chairmanship candidate but a total of 56,737 votes were recorded for Mr Willy Onyadougha Jerry.
When asked about the figure for the Ogbia chairmanship result, the BYSIEC chairman said there was no need for such since PDP candidate was the only one who contested the election.
“It was only one party and the election is unopposed, so he has been declared the winner. In Sagbama, the same situation, but I think his people love him so much that they still came out to vote for him”, Izagara ignorantly said, contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act.
For other results, Kolokuma/Opokuma, PDP polled 19,371 votes, Ekeremor, PDP polled 59,553 votes, Brass LGA, PDP polled 37,464 votes, Nembe LGA, PDP polled 57,787 votes followed by ACN with 1,275 votes.
Also, PDP polled 120,189 votes to win in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and Mr Ben Chubby Walson of PDP polled 111,391 votes to win in Yenagoa LGA.
Chief Izagara, said the results in the 104 Councillorship elections had been declared at the various ward headquarters while election failed to hold in ward 4, Okpoama in Brass LGA.
The ward 4 Councillorship position would be filled through a bye-election within the next 7 days.
The BYSIEC chairman said the election was generally peaceful, but for the loss of an ad-hoc staff, Stella Francis, who died in a boat mishap near Famgbe in Yenagoa LGA on her way from Akassa community in Brass Local Government Area.
“It was an unfortunate thing. The death has nothing to do with the conduct of the election. Stella Francis is a 200 level student of Political Science Department at the Niger Delta University. She was asked to wear life jacket, and she said there was no need. They were almost in Yenagoa when the driver of the boat lost control at Famgbe, and she drowned”, Izagara said.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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