Politics
Ekiti: We’re Set For LG Polls – SIEC
The Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) and the security agencies in the state say they are ready for the conduct of the local government election slated for December 4.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting ahead of the poll in the state on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, the chairman of the commission, retired Justice Babajide Aladejana, stated that the state electoral body was set for the exercise.
He said that both the sensitive and non-sensitive materials were on the ground and ready for distribution to the 16 Local Government Areas and 19 Local Council Development Areas of the state.
“The Ekiti SIEC is fully ready for the exercise and I want to inform you that all our materials are on the ground,” he said.
The chairman said that out of the 18 registered political parties, only 10 were functional in Ekiti State, out of which six political parties would be participating in the election.
Aladejana gave their names as Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Redemption Movement (PRM), and Young Progressives Party (YPP).
On the security plans ahead of the poll, the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Mr Tunde Mobayo, warned anyone that had no business at the voting areas to stay away.
Represented by ACP Patrick Daaor, the Police Commissioner called on the people of the state to accord SIEC officials as well as security personnel the desired cooperation towards a hitch-free election.
“The relevant security stakeholders have recently met and have fine-tuned ways of ensuring a hitch-free exercise, and by God’s grace, there will be no breach of law before, during, and after the election.
“I have long mobilised our officers and men for this exercise as they have been detailed at strategic locations to ensure law-abiding people participate actively in the poll,” he said.
Ekiti State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Mr Kayode Fayemi, assured residents of the state of mobilising his men for the exercise.
He called for the cooperation of the well-meaning people of the state towards a successful exercise.
In their various contributions at the meeting, chairmen of political parties appealed to the commission to be upright and allow for a free, fair, credible, and violence-free poll that will not be faulted.
The stakeholders meeting was attended by government representatives, electoral officers from across the 16 local government areas and 19 local council development areas, chairmen of 12 political parties, among others.
The last time Ekiti State conducted local government elections was in 2019, which ushered in chairmen and councillors who served for a period of two years.
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.
-
Maritime6 hours ago
Customs Declares War Against Narcotics Baron At Idiroko Border
-
Maritime6 hours ago
NIMASA,NAF Boost Unmanned Aerial Surveillance For Maritime Security
-
Maritime6 hours ago
Nigeria To Pilot Regional Fishing Vessels Register In Gulf Of Guinea —Oyetola
-
Maritime6 hours ago
NIWA Collaborates ICPC TO Strengthen Integrity, Revenue
-
Business6 hours agoBOI Introduces Business Clinic
-
Maritime6 hours ago
NIMASA GETS NEW MARITIME GUARD COMMANDER,ADOKI
-
City Crime2 hours ago
NCSU Hails Fubara Over 2025 New Telegraph Man Of The Year Award
-
Business6 hours agoDangote signs $400 mln equipment deal with China’s XCMG to speed up refinery expansion