Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has charged the newly elected local government chairmen to prioritise service delivery to the people at the grassroots and look beyond partisanship in the discharge of their mandates.
Speaking at the swearing-in of the 21 local government chairmen, El-Rufai warned them not to discriminate against those that did not vote for them.
According to El-Rufai, the local government chairmen should not favour those who share the same ethnicity or religion as that will offend their oath of office.
While congratulating them on their emergence from the 2021 local government elections which the state conducted using electronic voting, the governor said his administration has taken careful steps to reform the local government system for optimal performance, by addressing the capacity deficit of local government workers.
The governor reiterated that the chairmen are now custodians of a sacred trust hence they must be fair, just and reasonable in all their dealings, decisions and interactions.
Among the 21 new local chairmen, 16 are of the All Progressive Congress (APC) while five were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)
Elections could not be conducted in Birnin-Gwari due to security concerns while the outcome in Jaba is still a subject of litigation.
Aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State have taken to the streets to protest against the declaration of election in the council by the state independent electoral commission as inconclusive.
The APC members took their protest to the office of the electoral commission in the Kaduna state capital on Saturday.
They vowed to resist any attempt by the electoral umpire to declare the election inconclusive or conduct a re-run election, insisting that the entire process was duly completed and winners returned by the returning officer.
While addressing journalists on Saturday, APC Leader in Jema’a LGA, Sanusi Maikudi, faulted the electoral body’s decision, claiming that his party won the poll.
He alleged that there were some calculated attempts to rob the ruling APC of victory in the chairmanship poll.
“We are collectively shocked, disappointed and dismayed by the calculated mischief, partisan afterthought and shameless attempt to commit a daylight robbery of the hard-earned victory of our great party, the All Progressives Congress of Jema’a Local Government,” he said.
On getting to the headquarters of the electoral commission, APC supporters accused the body of trying to truncate the people’s mandate.
According to an APC loyalist, Bege Katuka, the provision of Section 23 of the nation’s Constitution stipulates that after the Returning Officer has declared a winner in an election, there wouldn’t be room for another order.
Speaking in Katuka’s favour, another APC member, Cecilia Musa, said the APC is insisting that its demands be sustained in the local government.
“The election was declared free and fair by the Returning Officer of the LGA, Dr Sunday Ibrahim in front of the Peoples Democratic Party and everyone accepted it. We all shook hands,” she said.
But the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM) is yet to respond to the issues and concerns raised by the aggrieved APC members who have threatened to take legal action should the commission not reverse itself on the matter.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has held local government congress elections across the country.
The exercise scheduled for Saturday was to elect the leadership of the party at the local government level, and those who eventually become delegates to regional and national congresses and convention.
APC held this second layer of the congresses after it ratified the Ward Congress Appeal Reports across the country.
APC’s Caretaker Committee Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni said the court orders from Delta and Akwa Ibom will not stop the process as it does not affect the conduct of the exercise.
He asked party members to abide by the rules governing the election, promising that the party will address all anomalies emanating from the process.
In Lagos State, the congress held in the 20 local government areas.
‘Peaceful process’
At the congress held in the Oshodi area of Lagos, officials were chosen by consensus across 11 wards.
Reacting to the exercise, the Chairman of the Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area, Kehinde Oloyede said the process was peaceful.
He said despite fear that violence would disrupt the election, the exercise was peaceful with delegates exercising their franchise.
“Oshodi is known for violence in the past but it has been peaceful,” he said.
“We went to the general elections, no incident of violence. On getting to this excos, we make sure that we harmonise the list. All the caucuses were fully represented. At a stage, some unscrupulous elements from the state level tried to tinker with the list but the majority will always have their way.”
‘A civilised manner’
In neighbouring Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun joined other APC members to elect delegates for the party at the local government level.
He participated in the exercise at the grounds of St Saviour Anglican Primary School in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state.
Governor Abiodun commended party members for displaying maturity in Ikene and other areas where the exercise held.
“Our party faithful have conducted themselves in a very civilised manner in a very fair process,” the governor said. “The candidates of choice have come out, we queued behind them. The electoral officers have asked if these are the people we want to vote for, we answered in the affirmative. It was largely a consensus arrangement.”
The process went smoothly in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital where voters queued up behind their preferred candidate within the premises of the African Church Grammar School.
Some other top members of the party that participated included former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Senator Tunji Sharafa and the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Lekan Adegbite.
A polling unit in Ward 008, PU 008 Lafenwa, Abeokuta North, the Ogun State capital on July 24, 2021.
The Local Government election in some parts of Ogun State has been extended by one hour over the later arrival of materials.
Residents of the Gateway State had come out on Saturday to cast their ballots in polling units across the 20 local councils to elect their local government chairmen and councilors for a fresh four-year term.
Although the exercise was scheduled to close by 3 pm in all polling units, the State Independent Electoral Commission extended the exercise.
Briefing journalists, the Chairman of the Commission, Babatunde Oshibodu said he received reports that election materials got to some Centres late and that necessitated an extension.
Earlier, the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun arrived at his Itaosanyin Ward two in Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area of the state to cast his vote.
The governor commended residents for their peaceful conduct. However, in Abeokuta the state capital, security operatives had enforced the restriction of movement earlier imposed by the Ogun State Government.
Channels Television observed a less busy road as they travelled through the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and the Shiun-Bobape road, leading to the state capital, Abeokuta.
The outer towns were without security operatives or enforcement agents, yet the compliance to the restriction appeared to be high in and around Abeokuta.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde speaks during the swearing-in of the 32 Local Government chairmen in Ibadan, the state capital.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Monday swore in 32 newly elected local government chairmen in the state, with a charge for them to replicate people-oriented policies at the grassroots level.
“To the newly elected and sworn-in Local Government Chairmen, let me state that you have the opportunity to deliver good governance to the people of Oyo State,” the governor was quoted as saying via a statement issued by his spokesman, Taiwo Adisa.
“We cannot over-emphasize the importance of governance at the grassroots. The people of Oyo State must feel your presence by way of development and good governance. Just as they are holding me accountable, they will also hold you accountable. I will, therefore, advise that you replicate the good governance initiatives at the state level at the grassroots level.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had won all the 32 Chairmanship seats in the local government election held on Saturday.
The oath of office was administered to the chairmen by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Munta Abimbola, at an event attended by top government and party functionaries.
Makinde said that he is confident that the election in the remaining local government, Ido Local Government, where the election was rescheduled because of the missing Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) logo on the ballot, will be won by the PDP
He maintained that the election held on Saturday was free and fair and that it was in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, adding that the people of the state have elected their representatives.
The governor added, “You are the real winners in this process, as you can rightly say that you have elected your representatives. The process was free and fair and in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“As you may know, the Constitution only allows for the election of officials into the 33 local government areas of the state. Also, the Constitution provides that all registered political parties who field candidates can stand to be elected. And so, having allowed all parties to field candidates, the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has conducted these elections and have declared all 32 candidates here winners in their respective local government areas.
“On this note, I now pronounce the 32 Local Government Chairmen inaugurated to the glory of God and for the benefit of the good people of Oyo State.”
The PDP in Oyo state has swept at least 30 local government areas as the counting of votes continues at the head office of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) in Ibadan.
Results from Ibarapa East are pending as some unresolved issues are delaying the decision. There were reports of violent disruptions during the election at Ibarapa East yesterday and that could be part of the reason for the delay.
The Chairman of OYSIEC, Isiaq Olagunju in his address told journalists that the Ido Local Government election earlier rescheduled for Sunday would have to be postponed again to May 29.
Photo combination of Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Aminu Masari of Katsina States.
The Supreme Court has declared the dissolution of local government administrations in Oyo and Katsina States and their replacement with caretaker committees as illegal.
In the judgment delivered on Friday by Justice Adamu Jauro, the apex court in a unanimous decision condemned the Oyo and Katsina state governments for the unlawful dissolution of the state duly elected local government Council officials.
The court in the suit filed by Abubakar Ibrahim Yantaba and others vs Governor of Katsina State, in its judgment, allowed the appeal and set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
The court ruled that the dissolution of duly elected PDP local government council officials by Governor Aminu Masari on allegation of financial misappropriation of councils funds is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.
The Court further gave consequential orders directing that the unlawfully dissolved elected PDP Council officials be paid all their entitlements from the date of their illegal dissolution to the date they were supposed to vacate office.
The Court also awarded costs to the Appellants and insisted that it should be complied with within a time frame.
Governor Masari had on assumption of office in July 2015 unlawfully dissolved Katsina State duly elected PDP Council officials on the allegation of misappropriation of Local Governments’ funds.
A family source on Monday said the abductors promised to call back by this morning to continue with the negotiation.
The source further said the kidnappers had also contacted the Kogi State Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Mr. Taofik Isah who doubled as the Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area.
It was gathered that the family, council area and ALGON had now agreed that only the ALGON Chairman should continue with the negotiation with the kidnappers.
Two days ago, the kidnappers did not touch the four-year-old son of late Solomon who was in the vehicle at the time of the attack.
While the police orderly to the chairman took to his heels, the driver of the vehicle was badly wounded and shot at by the abductors and only regained consciousness the second day at the Egbe Hospital.
The Taraba State Police command says it has arrested four persons in connection to the kidnap and subsequent murder of the Chairman Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of the state, Salihu Dovo.
Confirming the arrest to journalists in Jalingo, the Police Public Relations Officer, David Misal, pledged that none of the perpetrators will escape.
He however disclosed that one of the suspects died while receiving treatment on a hospital bed after the villagers attacked him while trying to escape from the village.
Misal noted that the suspect confessed to have committed the crime before dying and revealed some top vital secrets which is greatly assisting in the investigations.
“In our efforts to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book, we immediately embarked on intelligence gathering,” he said.
“Consequently, we arrested one person on the spot, later, while our investigation continued, we arrested another person.
“As I am talking to you, a total of four persons have been arrested and are being questioned to know their level of involvement in the incident.
“It will also interest you to know that out of the four, one is now late and that occurred immediately we received information that someone suspected to be involved in the kidnap and subsequent killing of the LGA Chairman was seen in a particular location in the bush,” Missal added.
The police spokesman said when officers were deployed for the mission, they discovered that the villagers mobilized too and went after him, descended on the deceased and beat him to stupor.
He explained that the suspect however could not survive the injury he sustained from the mobs.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won all the chairmanship seats in the just concluded Local Government elections in the state.
The Labour Party won six councillorship seats out of ten wards in Ikwuano Local Government Area, while PDP cleared all Councillorship seats in other local councils.
Announcing the results on Sunday, the Chairman of Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), Professor Agu Mkpa, said the PDP swept the 17 local government area councils of the state.
Below shows the figures and winners of the local council polls:
In Aba South, Clinton Ebere of the PDP polled 26,321 votes to emerge winner unopposed as the chairman.
In Aba North LGA, Prince Ikonne of the PDP polled 29,851 votes to defeat the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 3,492 votes
Ibe Nwoke of PDP polled 79,640 votes to Defeat the candidate of APC who got five votes in Obingwa LGA,
Similarly in Osisioma Ngwa LGA, PDP’s Kamalu Christian raked in 26,820 votes to defeat the APC candidate who scored 10 votes.
Also in Ugwunagbo, Nnata Chinasaokwu of the PDP emerged as the elected LGA Chairman by polling 28,800 votes to win the APC candidate who scored 120 votes.
In Ukwa East, PDP’s Nwagbara Chuks emerged the executive council Chairman with 6,235 votes, defeating the candidate of the APC, who polled 135 votes,
Kanu Levi of the PDP polled 9,630 votes in Ukwa West to defeat the APC candidate, who got 804 votes.
Isiala Ngwa North, Ochulor Chinwendu won the Chairmanship seat with 18,323 votes against the APC candidate who got 210 votes, while Anyatonwu Ikechi of the PDP emerged unopposed as the Chairman of Isiala Ngwa South LG after polling 17,465 votes.
In Arochukwu LGA, Dan Kalu of the PDP emerged as the Chairman unopposed, polling 15,620 votes, while in Bende, PDP’s Onwuchekwa Emmanuel, scored 33,561 votes to defeat the APC’s candidate who polled 2,320 votes.
In Umuahia North, Ugochukwu Njinkonye of the PDP emerged winner with 29,931 votes, defeating the APC candidate who scored 25 votes, while in Umuahia South, Benson Humphrey of PDP, polled 11,480 votes to defeat the candidate of the APC, who got 50 votes.
Madu Ifeanyi emerged winner in Umunneochi LGA with 6,971 votes, defeating the APC candidate who got 188 votes.
In Isiukwuato, Agbaeze Chimaobi of the PDP scored 15,630 votes to defeat the APC candidate, who got 1,200 votes,
In Ohafia, Ukaiwe Okoroafor scored 28,671 votes to defeat the APC candidate who scored 3,520
PDP’s Mpamaugo Stephen emerged winner with 8,720 votes against the APC candidate, who scored 110 votes in Ikwuano.
Meanwhile, Professor Mkpa has commended all who participated in the exercise, including the security personnel for their role in maintaining peace and order before, during and after the polls.
The ABSIEC boss also called on all and sundry to accept the results and allow peace to reign.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini speaks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on November 25, 2020.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa-Ibom State, Mike Igini on Wednesday said local government elections in Nigeria are nothing but organised crime.
Igini who disclosed this during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, accused state governors of interfering in the conduct of the polls at the grassroots.
“Local government elections are nothing but organised crime. They should not be calling them elections at all,” he said.
“Look at the Local Government system in Nigeria. We have lost 774 local governments in Nigeria to every sitting governor of the 36 states in Nigeria.
“What constitutes free, fair and credible elections with respect to INEC-conducted election is different from the local government.”
Igini also reiterated the commitment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy more technology and innovation to further enhance the transparency of the electoral process.
According to him, the use of its public viewing portal during the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States eradicated possible electoral fraud as Nigerians saw the results of each polling unit online almost immediately after casting their ballots.
“I can confirm that INEC has made tremendous progress. The INEC of today is no longer the INEC of before because, since 2011, the kind of elections that we have conducted had a remarkable departure from where we used to be even though we are not where we are supposed to be.
“The INEC public viewing portal is a new innovation to deal with the recurring issues of vote changes at the level of collation and that was why it was introduced to ensure that at the polling unit, once the result is published, it should be sent to the viewing portals so that Nigerians can see it,” Igini added.
A staff of Ekiti West Local Government in Ekiti State has been shot dead by unknown gunmen.
Confirming the incident to Channels Television on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Sunday Abutu said that the corpse of deceased who is also a Pastor was found at his farm in a forest located along Aramoko-Ijero Ekiti.
The Police PPRO said the identity of his killer(s) is still unknown, adding that investigation is ongoing for possible detection and apprehension of the perpetrators.
This comes three weeks after a director with the Local Government Service Commission in the state, Mr David Jejelowo, was murdered.
Jejelowo was killed at his residence in Igirigiri, Ado Ekiti in the early hours of September 14.
The deceased, Jejelowo was a victim of abduction with his driver in January 2019 along Ado-Ijan road while returning from a trip although he later regained his freedom.
Meanwhile, the police spokesman also gave an update on the bank robbery that happened in Iyin Ekiti on Friday.
According to him, the State Police has recovered three vehicles with some Improvised Explosive Device(IEDs), some wraps of Indian hemp, alcoholic drinks and two handsets result from its manhunt of the criminals.
He also reiterated the commitment of the Force to arrest the perpetrators of the attack to serve as a deterrent to others.
