THE STATES

Adamawa
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in
the April 11 gubernatorial election in Adamawa State, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has pledged to contribute to the development of the country.
He made the pledge at a PDP stakeholders’ meeting in Yola lastWednesday.
He thanked PDP members for their support toward his gubernatorial ambition.
The candidate said he decided to contest the governorship race because he wanted to use his vast experience to develop Adamawa and ensure unity among the diverse cultural and ethnic groups in the state.
“We had Adamawa people in mind when we set out to contest the gubernatorial seat. Our aim was to entrench peace, development and progress.
“Now that we are in the opposition, we shall still strive to achieve that.’’
Benue
No fewer than 15 persons have been arrested by police
in Benue State for various electoral offences in the April 11 governorship and state House of Assembly elections.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Austin Ezeani, disclosed this to newsmen recently in Makurdi.
Eneani said four persons were arrested in Makurdi and Kwande each; five in Vandeikya and two in Ado Local Government areas, respectively.
He said the suspects were arrested for committing various electoral offences ranging from snatching of ballot boxes, campaigning at polling units and loitering on Election Day.
He said some of them had been screened and transferred to the Force Headquarters for further prosecution.

FCT
The Acting Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Terri
tory (FCT) High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, has called for the continuous education of lawyers, particularly in the use of  English language.
Bello stated this recently in Abuja at the launch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) stamp and affinity products.
The Acting Chief Judge said that it was becoming rather irritating for lawyers to appear  before a judge and continuously mix up their tenses in trying to present their cases.
He observed that the declining standard of lawyers could be noticed in the quality of legal practice, where a lawyer stands from the bar saying ‘’I didn’t did it’’ last I saw them passes’’.
He urged the leadership of the NBA to do more to further encourage the continued education of lawyers, saying the trend was becoming quite irritating.
“All lawyers must go through what is called Language Usage Course (LUC); all lawyers must be exposed to the dynamics of global evolving legal landscape.’’

Gombe
Population and Environmental Monitoring (Interna
tional Observers) has described the conduct of the 2015 general elections in Gombe State as free, fair and credible.
Spokesperson of the group, Malam Ali Koride, made this known while addressing newsmen in Gombe last Wednesday.
He said distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials by the Independent National Electoral Commission was free.
“We consider the whole process as free and fair to the best of our observation and knowledge.’’
According to him, observers monitored all the materials that arrived in the state and found that they were distributed in time while accreditation and voting also commenced in time.
He said the state, however, recorded low turnout of voters during the governorship and state assembly elections compared to the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the area.
Kano
More than 3, 000 couples were married off in vari
ous mass weddings held in four States of the North West within the last three years, our correspondent reports.
The mass weddings were initiated by state governments and private organisations largely for widows, orphans and divorcees in the areas. In Kano State, 2, 450 couples benefitted from the programme introduced by Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso in 2013.
Hajiya Zahra’u Umar, the Deputy Commander, Kano State Hisba Board said that the event was in four phases, with the first set consisting of 100 couples, followed by  250, 1, 000 and 1, 100 couples.
She described the programme as “very successful”, adding that the board had resolved less than 10 per cent complaints it received from some of the couples.

Katsina
The Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) in Katsina State last Wednesday  presented the certificate of return to the Governor-elect, Alhaji Aminu Masari, his Deputy, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu and National Assembly members.
The North-West INEC Zonal Commissioner, Amb. Ahmed Muhammad, who presented the certificates, called on the elected persons to be magnanimous in victory.
Muhammad called on the governor-elect and National Assembly members to extend hands of friendship to those they defeated during the election in order to develop the state.
The commissioner commended those that were defeated for accepting INEC results in good faith because in every contest there must be a looser and a winner.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Katsina, Alhaji Ibrahim Bagobiri, commended the electorate for their peaceful conduct during and after the election.

Kebbi
The wife of Kebbi State Gov.-elect, Dr Zainab Atiku,
has assured women in the state that she would support her husband to reduce maternal and infant mortality.
Zainab made the pledge while addressing women groups in Birnin Kebbi recently.
She assured them that they would not regret electing her husband on the platform of the APC.
She said: “I will protect women and child development.’’
She commended the resilience, patience and endurance of women to elect leaders of their choice.
“I want to thank all women for their resilience and patience in the sun for giving my husband their mandate.
“I can assure you that I would encourage my husband in addressing health and child issues.”
Lagos
A leader of  All Progressives Congress (APC)
in Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), said President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, would help to restoreNigeria’s lost glory.
Akeredolu stated this in a statement in Lagos last Wednesday and made available to newsmen.
He urged Buhari and the team that would take over governance of the country to remain resolute in their determination for a better Nigeria.
He noted that the lost glory of the country would be restored in short while if the incoming government pursued its goals.
‘’ I congratulate Nigerians for refusing to be hoodwinked by the baits thrown at them.”

Nasarawa
Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State
last Wednesday expressed commitment to prudent management of resources and transparency in his second tenure.
Al-Makura said this when he received the state’s permanent secretaries on a congratulatory visit to him at the Government House, Lafia.
He promised to initiate more people-oriented projects to better the lives of the people of the state.
He said: “I want to thank you for the visit and to appreciate your contribution in one way or the other which had led to my re-election.
“I assure you that I will continue to do my best to improve on the welfare of the civil servants in the state in order to enhance productivity.”

Oyo
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has
warned that his administration would not tolerate any form of violence from any politician who lost in the last election in the state.
He gave the warning recently in Ibadan while briefing newsmen on the reported plan of some politicians to instigate violence in the state.
Ajimobi said, “Surprisingly, the Accord Party has been complaining that it would go to court. No problem. If you look at the results of the election and the conduct, it was the freest and fairest election ever held.
“Everybody said it, all his agents signed at the polling units. It is only at the final collation centre that they did not sign. Let him go to court.
“We brought peace and security to Oyo State. We established that in the state and we will not fold our arms and allow any individual to destroy it.”

Independent National Electoral Commissioner, Dr Chris Iyimoga (left) presenting Certificate of Return to governor-elect, Malam Nasir El-Rufai in Kaduna, on Wednesday.