Politics
No Voting With Temporary Voter Card -INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says no voter will be allowed to vote with the temporary voter card, in the forthcoming general elections.
Imo Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Francis Ezeonu made this known at an interactive meeting with religious bodies – members of the Christian and Muslim communities in Imo State, yesterday in Owerri.
He noted that the smart card reader which would be deployed for the elections was structured to read only the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) which have special features embedded on it with the voters’ personal information.
Ezeonu, therefore, enjoined all who were yet to get their PVCs to go to their different wards from January 16 to get their cards in order not to be disfranchised.
“The smart card reader is expected to read the permanent voters card and once it could not read any card, the person will not be allowed to vote,” he said.
Ezeonu said the interactive meeting with the religious bodies was part of INEC’s move to reach out to all segments of the society to brief them on the progress so far and get suggestions from them for a free, fair and credible elections.
He explained that 2.27 million voters were registered in Imo State with over 630,000 PCVs yet to be collected.
He urged the stakeholders to sensitise their members as INEC staff would visit the 305 electoral wards between January 16 and January 21 to distribute the PVCs, adding that February 8 is the last day for the distribution of the PVCs.
On smart card reader malfunctioning, he explained that the Registration Area Technicians had been trained to regularly monitor the card readers and put them back to work as soon as possible.
He said a form known as Form 60 E where each result of the election would be written would be pasted on the wall of buildings or trees for all to have access to, adding that all ballot papers not used would be cancelled immediately after election.
Speaking, the representatives of the religious bodies advised INEC to ensure there was no problem between the collation of the results and transmission.
They equally suggested full accreditation of voters before voting as against the simultaneous accreditation and voting stipulated by the electoral umpire.
The Chairman, Muslim Council of Nigeria, Imo State Chapter, Mr Yusuf Nwoha urged INEC to ensure it matched its plans with action – effective implementation – as well as spend money on sensitisation and encouragement of the electorate on PVC collection.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.