Politics
Cancel Imo Gov’ship Election, Poll Observers Tell INEC
A cross-section of election observers accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Wednesday, called for the cancellation of the November 11 governorship election in Imo State.
“In over 2,000 polling units, results were uploaded and seen in the IREV, and the total number of votes allocated to candidates was higher than the actual number of accredited voters, which in all totality demerits the integrity of the Imo governorship election. We, therefore, call for the total cancellation of the November 11, 2023, Imo State governorship election”, the observers said.
The election observers, led by the Director of Operations of She for She Initiative for Women and Girl Child, Kenneth Umez, demanded that the elections be cancelled while speaking to journalists in Owerri about the various irregularities that allegedly marred the exercise.
The group documented instances of significant irregularities, vote buying, overvoting, and the hijacking of electoral materials in various council areas, including Okigwe, Orsu, Orlu, Ehime Mbano, Ikeduru, Oru East, Oru West, Owerri West, Ideato North, and Ideato South, among others.
“In Okigwe LGA, we observed that no result sheet was delivered to polling centres in all 11 wards. We also observed that the election did not hold in eight polling units. The INEC and police authorities in Okigwe may have to explain where the collation for Okigwe LGA was done”, the observers said.
The observers also claimed to have witnessed “desperate ballot box snatching as ballot boxes were snatched and delivered to the fortresses of political party actors” in Ehime Mbano, Ikeduru, and Ideato North.
“The other areas observed without election are Oru-East LGA, Ideato-North, Ikeduru, Oru West, and Owerri West LGA. We noticed with utmost dismay that results from Form EC8A were uploaded for several polling units where the elections had not taken place, and these were visible on the IREV,” the group said.
The election observers behind the call for the cancellation of the Imo governorship election included the New Dawn for Development Initiatives, International Women and Youth Revival Initiative, Global Hope and Justice for the Less Privileged, Citizens Right for Peace and Good Leadership Initiative, Centre for Child Care and Youth Development, Women with Disabilities of Nigeria Support Foundation, and Women and Youth Empowerment for Global Change Initiative.
Governor Hope Uzodinma was announced the winner of the November 11 governorship election in the state with a total of 540,308 votes. He was trailed by PDP candidate Samuel Anyanwu, with 71,503 votes, and Labour Party candidate Athan Achonu, with 64,081 votes.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
-
Sports17 hours agoArsenal Women End Man City’s Invincibility
-
Environment16 hours agoRivers State Government Suspend Fire Service Collection Levies
-
Sports17 hours agoU-20 WWC: Falconets claim qualifier win
-
Maritime20 hours agoOver 6,223 Seafarers Abandoned In 2025 – Says ITF
-
Maritime19 hours agoCustoms Hands Over Seized Cannabis Worths N4.7bn To NDLEA
-
News21 hours agoNLC Threatens Nationwide Protest Over Electoral Act Amendment
-
Politics18 hours agoI DEFECTED OUT OF CONVICTION …NO ONE COULD’VE IMPEACHED MY LATE DEPUTY ~ DIRI
-
Environment16 hours agoLASEMA pushes attitudinal change to cut fire outbreaks in Lagos