News
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.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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