Tag: governorship and House of Assembly elections

PDP’s Umahi Declared Winner Of Ebonyi Governorship Poll

Dave-Umahi-EbonyiThe INEC Collation Officer in Ebonyi State has declared Deputy Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate, Dave Umahi, as the winner of the governorship election in the state.

At the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abakaliki, the state capital, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku presented the summary of the votes received by the contestants.

Umahi polled a total of 289, 867 votes to emerge winner, defeating his closest rival, the Labour Party candidate, Edward Nkwegu, who polled a total of 124, 817 votes.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Juluis Ucha got a total of 27, 583 votes while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Senator Agbo Anthony got 17,971 votes.

Prof. Ahaneku then stated that PDP governorship candidate, after polling the highest number of votes, met all the constitutional requirements for him to be returned elected.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party, APC and APGA have petitioned the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega and called for the cancellation of the Ebonyi governorship election.

The opposition parties cited widespread irregularities, killings, and wanton destruction of property during the April 11, 2015 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Ebonyi State, as reasons for their demand.

The election was keenly contested by nine political parties in the 13 council areas of the state.

Voting Ends Peacefully In Benue State

political parties-Lagos-BenueVoting has ended peacefully in some parts of Benue State, including the state capital, Makurdi and other parts of the state monitored by Channels TV crew.

Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Bala Nasarawa, confirmed in a telephone interview with Channels TV Correspondent in Makurdi, that the election has been largely peaceful as no major incident has been recorded.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom, while expressing satisfaction over the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in an interview, said the electoral umpire has improved.

Similarly, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Terhemen Tarzoor, who also expressed satisfaction with the performance of INEC, decried the voter apathy experienced in Makurdi.

SA to President Jonathan on Job creation, Amb Josephine Washima, who correspondingly monitored the election process in the state, also commended the conduct of voters in the state.

As Benue State residents await the outcome of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state, the party agents have converged at the state collation centre.

However, it is believed the waiting game may not be long if INEC replicates its performance as recorded during the presidential election.

Nigerian Navy Ready For Saturday’s Elections

nigerian navyAhead of the governorship and House of Assembly elections, the Nigerian Navy has expressed its readiness to ensure that security remains beefed up at the waterways.

This is to ensure safety of electorates traveling by sea for the voting exercise.

The Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Commander, Rear Admiral Henry Babalola, gave the assurance shortly after embarking on a show of force exercise, to enable officers get ready for the sea trips on Saturday.

According to the Rear Admiral Babalola, the command would also assist the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in escorting staff with voting materials to ensure safety.

On the other hand, INEC has given an assurance of a successful election, saying that the commission had addressed issues related to card reader workability and distribution of election materials.

Imo Police Nab Breakaway MASSOB Members With IED

Police-ImoThe Imo State Police Command has arrested two breakaway members of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), suspected to have fabricated items certified by the command’s Explosive Unit to be Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

The suspect identified as Love Davison, who hails from Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area (LGA) Of Imo State and another Eze Charles were said to have produced the IEDs, in a bid to disrupt peace in the state during Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

Parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Owerri, the capital of Imo State in south east Nigeria, the command spokesman, Andrew Enwerem, said the men of the command arrested the suspects following a tip off. He said officials busted the hide-out of the suspects at Umuokirika Ekwereazu in Mbaise LGA of the state and arrested the two suspects.

Mr Enwerem, however, said efforts were being intensified by the police to apprehend the leader of the gang, whose identity is yet to be confirmed.

Recovered from the suspects where drilling machine, gun powder, tins of paint, thread, bucket and other items certified to be components of the IED.

The command has, however, urged the  people of the state to remain calm and come out en masse to exercise their civic rights in Saturday’s elections in the state.

INEC, Kaduna Residents Ready For Saturday Polls

political parties in KadunaKaduna State residents have expressed their readiness to exercise their franchise and elect leaders of their choice in the governorship election of April 11.

They have also expressed the hope that the exercise will be safe and peaceful.

Meanwhile, despite the tension being generated by the coming election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that the polls would be peaceful.

Kaduna State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Hussain Mahuta, told Channels Television that the commission had taken steps to rectify lapses noted during the Presidential and National Assembly elections of March 28.

He identified the challenges experienced to include late arrival of election materials, failure of the smart card reader in some places and delayed voting. According to him, measures had been taken to strengthen security at polling stations.

Mr. Mahuta further stated that all sensitive and non-sensitive materials had been distributed to the 23 local government areas of the state to ensure that accreditation and voting commence on schedule.

Though predicted massive violence at the polls did not occur during the last election, residents of the state capital have stockpiled foodstuff in case of any unfortunate situation.

They are of the opinion, however, that the real test of Nigeria’s democratic process would come this weekend.

Most of the voters, who registered in their villages, had already traveled, while those in the city are preparing and praying for credible elections.

Police Boss Orders Restriction Of Movement Ahead Of Elections

Suleiman Abba- electionsThe Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has ordered the restriction of vehicular movement across Nigeria, as part of security strategies to ensure safe conduct of the governorship and House of Assembly elections, which will hold on April 11.

According to the Police Chief, the directive takes effect from 8:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday.

According to him, vehicles on essential duty such as fire services, ambulances and vehicles used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and law enforcement agencies are exempted from the order.

However, the restriction order does not affect vehicular movement in Abuja, the Federal Capital Terrritory (FCT) since no elections will take place there.

The Federal Government had earlier directed that all land borders be closed ahead of the state elections, taking effect midnight on Thursday till 12 noon on Sunday, April 12.

A similar directive was in place during the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Nigerian Troops Clear Terrorist Camps In Alagarno

Nigerian troops raids Boko Haram terrorists in AlagarnoNigerian troops fighting terrorists in the north-east region of the nation have successfully cleared all terrorists’ camps in Alagarno, Borno State.

The raid of the Boko Haram terrorists’ camps was completed on Tuesday morning, the military spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade, said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Counter-terrorism efforts were re-enforced after the Nigerian government secured arms from South Africa and Russia weeks before the nation’s election was postponed by six weeks.

A Multi-National Joint Task Force has been set up, comprising Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon to boost the fight against the Boko Haram terrorist group, which has been trying, for over five years, to set up an Islamic State in the region.

Last month, Adamawa and Yobe States were cleared of terrorists, after the electoral commission postponed the elections by six weeks, citing military advice.

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, told reporters on February 7 that the postponement was in line with the advice by the military, which he said requested for more time to clear the Boko Haram terrorists from communities they were occupying in the north-east region to enable residents of the area participate in the elections.

The Presidential and National Assembly elections were held on March 28 while the governorship and House of Assembly elections will hold on April 11.