Joseph Boakai Officially Declared Liberia’s New President

Joseph Boakai, the former Vice President of Liberia and Unity Party candidate, has been officially declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election. The announcement was made by Davidetta Lansannah, chairperson of Liberia’s National Election Commission (NEC) on Monday evening. After counting 100 percent of the votes from the country’s 5,890 polling places, Mr. Boakai secured 814,481 votes out of the available 1,625,684, surpassing incumbent President George Weah of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change, who received 793,914 votes. Mr. Boakai’s vote share represented 50.64 percent of the total votes cast, while Mr. Weah received 49.36 percent. The first round of voting on October 10 did not produce a clear winner among the 20 presidential candidates, leading to a runoff between Weah and Boakai, the top two contenders. Unlike the first round, where a winner needed over 50 percent of the votes, a simple majority sufficed in the second round. Weah graciously accepted defeat and congratulated President-elect Boakai, urging his supporters to do the same when about 99 percent of the votes were counted. Foreign leaders, including Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, extended congratulations to Mr. Boakai, commending the statesmanship displayed by both candidates. The United States Government also praised Mr. Weah for peacefully accepting the outcome of the closely contested election, emphasizing the need for national unity and healing post-election divisions. The victory of Joseph Boakai as Liberia’s new president signifies a historic moment, fostering hopes for unity and progress in the nation’s governance and development.

Bayelsa Guber Poll: Diri Sets For Victory, Wins Southern Ijaw LGA

Governor Douye Diri secured victory in the ongoing collation of Bayelsa governorship election results, specifically winning Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. As the collation centre took a break around 1:00 pm, the state Returning Officer, Prof Faruq Kuta, resumed the process at approximately 2:20 pm in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Diri, demonstrated a strong performance in Southern Ijaw, garnering 24,685 votes. In contrast, his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), received 18,174 votes. The Labour Party (LP) secured the third position with 119 votes out of the 50,153 accredited voters in the local government area. These recent results solidify Diri’s lead, as he has now won in six out of the eight local government areas in Bayelsa, while Sylva secured victories in two. Sylva’s wins include Brass Local Government Area, where he polled 18,431 votes compared to Diri’s 12,602. Additionally, the APC triumphed in Nembe LGA, securing 22,248 votes, while Diri received 4,556 votes in that locality. The overall outcome of the election continues to unfold, shaping the political landscape of the oil-rich state. See Bayelsa Governorship Results By LGA: Southern Ijaw LGA APC: 18,174 LP: 119 PDP: 24,685 Brass LGA APC – 18,431 LP – 83 PDP – 12,602 Sagbama LGA APC – 6,608 LP – 217 PDP – 35,504 Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA APC – 5,349 LP – 22 PDP – 18,465 Ogbia LGA APC – 16,319 LP – 57 PDP – 18,435 Yenegoa LGA APC – 14,534 LP – 244 PDP – 37,777 Nembe LGA APC – 22,248 LP – 113 PDP – 4,556 Ekeremor LGA APC – 8,445 LP – 50 PDP – 23,172

Diri Secures Second Term, Defeats Sylva in Bayelsa Governorship Election

Governor Douye Diri has successfully secured a second term in office, emerging as the winner of the fiercely contested Bayelsa governorship election. The Returning Officer, Prof Faruq Kuta, declared Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the winner after a prolonged process with multiple breaks and adjournments. Diri garnered a total of 175,196 votes, defeating his main rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 110,108 votes. The victory margin for the PDP candidate was significant, with 65,088 votes ahead. The Labour Party (LP) secured a distant third place with a total of 905 votes. In a field of 18 candidates, Sylva was Diri’s primary contender, seeking to return as the governor for a third term. However, a month before the election, a Federal High Court in Abuja initially disqualified Sylva, citing constitutional limits on the number of terms served. Although the APC candidate challenged the decision and won an appeal, the 2023 election concluded with victory for Diri. The election results mark a decisive moment for Diri, who first assumed office in 2020. The PDP mobilized support in the face of legal challenges, including Sylva’s temporary disqualification, to secure a notable win in the oil-rich state.

APC’s Ododo Emerges Winner In Kogi Guber Race, Defeating Ajaka, Melaye

The November 11, 2023 Kogi State Governorship Election concluded with the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Usman Ododo, emerging victorious, as announced by the State Returning Officer, Prof Johnson Urama, who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The declaration came late Sunday night, marking the end of a keenly-contested race. Ododo secured a significant win with 446,237 votes, surpassing his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who garnered 259,052 votes. Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trailed with 46,362 votes. The APC candidate dominated over half of the 21 local government areas (LGAs) in Kogi. As an ex-Auditor General of Local Government in Kogi under Governor Yahaya Bello, Ododo was the governor’s anointed candidate, seeking to succeed in the wake of Bello’s double terms of eight years. However, the electoral process was not without controversy. Melaye and civil rights groups raised concerns about “filled result sheets” in the Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area, leading to the suspension of the election in nine wards by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC subsequently announced that fresh polls would be conducted in 59 polling units in the affected area on November 18, 2023. The condition for holding these polls is subject to the Returning Officer’s determination of the application of the Margin of Lead Principle. In his late Sunday declaration, Urama highlighted that the total number of Permanent Voter Cards in the affected polling units was 16,247, which seemed insignificant compared to the substantial lead of about 200,000 votes garnered by the APC candidate ahead of Ajaka. The rejection of the election outcome by both Ajaka and Melaye stems from their expressed disappointment in INEC and security agencies, whom they accuse of collusion with the ruling APC in Kogi. The political aftermath of the Kogi State Governorship Election underscores the complex dynamics and contentious issues surrounding the electoral process in the state.

Imo Guber: How INEC Declared APC’s Hope Uzodimma Winner

Governor Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged victorious in the November 11, 2023, Imo State governorship election, as officially declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The announcement was made by Prof Abayomi Fashina, the state Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, following over eight hours of meticulous collation of local government results, culminating in a confirmation of Uzodimma’s re-election at around 10 am on a Sunday morning. Uzodimma’s political journey in Imo State began with a significant twist when, in January 2020, the Supreme Court nullified the election of Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring Uzodimma as the governor. However, this turn of events seemingly intensified political tensions, leading to increased opposition against Uzodimma. The state faced challenges, including a security phenomenon characterized by “unknown gunmen,” abductions, and persistent Monday sit-at-home protests organized by pro-secessionist groups. In the recent election, Uzodimma faced formidable opponents, including Samuel Anyanwu of the PDP, Nneji Achonu of the Labour Party (LP)l;l, and Jack Ogunewe of the Action Alliance (AA), alongside 14 other contenders. Despite the competitive field, the APC candidate secured a resounding victory with 540,308 votes. His closest rivals, Anyanwu and Achonu, garnered 71,503 and 64,081 votes, respectively. This electoral outcome solidifies Uzodimma’s position as the re-elected governor and further shapes the political landscape in Imo State.

Plateau South: PDP Loses Senatorial Seat To APC 

The Appeal Court has nullified the participation of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its Senatorial candidate in the February 25, National Assembly Election, Napoleon Binkap Bali, for Plateau South Senatorial District on ground of refusal to carry out lawful order of Court. In a judgment delivered by Justice Elfaida Oluwayemisi Williams-Dawodu declared as unlawful and wasted votes cast for PDP in the election and declared the former Governor of the State, Simon Bako Lalong as the Senator for the Plateau South Senatorial District. Lalong who stood for the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had come second in the February Senatorial election. Justice Williams-Dawodu held that the PDP and its Senatorial candidate have no legal ground to participate in the election having failed to obey the judgment of a Plateau High Court that the party should conduct lawful elections for the purpose of having officers for Wards, Local Governments and State Council. The Plateau High Court had in 2022 ordered PDP to conduct elections for selection of officers for Wards, Local Governments and the State Chapter of the party which was not complied with. The Court of Appeal said that disobedience and disregard to clear lawful order of Court was fatal because PDP hurriedly put an illegal Caretaker Committee in place in utter confrontation to the Court judgment. Specifically, the Appellate Court held that PDP did not sponsor any candidate for the Plateau South Senatorial District because it was not qualified to stand for any election as at February 25, 2023. “As at February 25, PDP was on a faulty background at nomination of candidate for any election. It has no legal foundation upon which it’s candidate nomination can stand. “A positive order of Court must be complied with unless such order is voided and set aside by a higher Court.  “In the instant case, the lawful existing and subsisting Court order was that PDP should conduct elections in line with provisions of the law to have officers at Wards, Local Governments and State Council but the party for reasons best known to it, opted to go against the order. “I cannot but agreed totally with judgment of the Plateau National Assembly Election Tribunal which in its judgment of September 11, 2023 nullified the participation of PDP in the February 25 National Assembly Election”. The Court of Appeal subsequently upheld the declaration of Simon Lalong as the lawful Senator for Plateau South Senatorial District having scored second highest votes at the election. Other Justices of the Court of Appeal who agreed with the judgment are Mohammed Mustapha and Okon Abang. Simon Lalong, the immediate past Governor of Plateau State is currently the Minister of Labour in the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Obi Beat Tinubu In 2023 Presidential Election, Babachir Lawal Insists

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr David Babachir Lawal said in Abuja on Tuesday that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, (LP) Peter Gregory Obi won the February 25 presidential election and not Bola Ahmed Tinubu as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to Babachir, available factual data as aggregated from several independent sources indicated that Obi got the majority votes while Atiku came second in the election, adding that Bola Tinubu came a distant third in the number of votes scored.  In a statement he issued on Tuesday, Babachir Lawal said “I have resisted the temptation to engage in the contemporary political discourse since the May, 2023 election faux pas. “I did this for two reasons; the first being that as an active player in the drama, I needed time to analyse and digest the data that led to the outcome(s) so I could arrive at an informed decision; the second, being that the rainy season had just set in and it was necessary that I focused my attention on my farms which are the mainstay of my livelihood.  “The current topical issues for political discourse and inquiry are whether or not Bola Tinubu won the presidential election and/or that he was apriori qualified to participate in the election given his murky bio data as is now being publicly unveiled daily in an avalanche.  “My answer to the first inquiry is that regardless of whatever INEC or Appeal Court said or did, Bola did not win the election.  “Right from the start of the campaigns, Bola new knew he was not going to win the election in a free and fair contest so he decided to go by all means.  “Available factual data as aggregated from several independent sources indicate that Obi got the majority votes while Atiku came second. Bola came a distant third in the number of votes scored.  “My answer to the second inquiry is that given the now unfolding deluge of uncomplimentary information about who or what he actually is, ordinarily, sound ethics and morality should have convinced him to voluntarily excuse himself from participation in the election.  “But this, notwithstanding, I believe he still has time and opportunity to save himself this public humiliation and embarrassment to his person, both locally and internationally by resigning so that he can give more attention to his health.  “After all, no one knows about the truism of these severely embarrassing and humiliating exposures about his person than the man himself.  “Leadership is all about integrity; sound pedigree, trustworthiness and the ability to unite and instil hope and confidence in the people one seeks to lead. In these qualities, most Nigerians are in total agreement that Bola has them in very very short supply indeed.  “But now, six months down the line, the chicken has come home to roost as Nigerians have come to the realization that we have not got what we deserved politically. “Confusion and despondency are now all over the nation as no one trusts the government to do what it says it will do. No one trusts the leader; and no one trusts appointees who are appointed as rewards for their roles in the election or who had in the past helped him in his life.  “Bola the President and his group are now in government and are in full control of Nigeria’s vast resources and opportunities. They are enjoying their offices while Nigerians languish in insecurity, poverty and hopelessness. “During the campaign, Bola mouthed some platitudes about competence; but we are so far yet to see it reflected in his political appointments. It seems more like he is rewarding people who supported him to get the Presidency at all cost. “This band of appointees that Bola is assembling into his government don’t care about Nigeria at all.  “Fuel prices will continue to gallop upwards until only they can afford it; the Naira will continue to race downhill in a free-fall until only they can afford anything in the market; insecurity will continue its escalation until every community in the nation is consumed by it”, he said.

Kano Guber: Tribunal Sacks Gov Yusuf, Declares APC’s Gawuna Winner

*Judges Deliver Judgement Via Zoom  The Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the March 18 election. Yusuf, who contested on the platform of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). While Nasir Gawuna, his APC counterpart congratulated him, the party proceeded to court. On Wednesday, the three-man panel ordered the withdrawal of the certificate of return which INEC presented to Governor Yusuf and directed that a certificate of return be issued to Gawuna. The court deducted 165,663 votes from Gov Yusuf total as invalid votes, stating that the ballot papers (165,663) were not stamped or signed and therefore declared invalid.  Meanwhile, the Tribunal Judges were not physically in court. Journalists, lawyers, party members and many others were denied access into the court. Reports had it that the Secretariat had said there would be no live broadcast of the judgment and that the few journalists admitted into the court would not make use of smartphones or cameras. Top security officials had earlier said that they did not know the whereabouts of the judges and that it was possible that the proceeding would be virtual. When the proceedings commenced before 10, Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, Chairman of the three-member panel, spoke via Zoom. It was unclear why the judges were not in court, but there have been allegations and counter allegations against the panel. It was reported that the former Commissioner of Land and Physical Planning, Adamu Kibiya, had asked the judges to choose between their lives and their work while delivering the judgement. “People voted for us and some people are attempting to do injustice. We want to tell the judges that we will not accept this. Any judge that is willing to deprive us of our rights will regret it. Whatever will happen, we won’t care…,” he had said during a protest organised by members of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the state. His comment had triggered backlash, leading to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf sacking him.

APC NEC elects Ganduje National Chairman, Basiru as Secretary

In a significant development for the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) convened on Thursday to elect key officials. The former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, emerged as the newly elected National Chairman, while Ajibola Basiru, the former Senate spokesman from Osun State, secured the position of National Secretary. The 12th NEC meeting of the APC took place at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, where party leaders and delegates gathered to witness the election. After his victory, Ganduje expressed gratitude to the President and assured the party that internal democracy would be upheld during his tenure. Ganduje further committed to establishing a scientific register of party members, prioritizing election management, and effectively resolving conflicts within the party. He emphasized providing a level playing field for all members during party primaries to strengthen the party’s democratic principles. Prominent figures such as President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, and party chieftains in the National Assembly were in attendance at the NEC meeting. During the meeting, President Buhari emphasized the party’s responsibility to fulfill the promises of good governance made to the Nigerian people following successful electoral victories. He praised the 2023 elections as the best in Nigeria’s history. Notably, former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were absent from the NEC meeting, while the first National Chairman of the party, Bisi Akande, was present. This NEC meeting followed a previous session of the APC national caucus, indicating the party’s commitment to addressing critical matters within its ranks. Earlier in mid-July, two members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Iyiola Omisore, resigned from their positions as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively. The election of Ganduje and Basiru marks a new chapter in the APC’s leadership, as they take on the task of steering the party towards success in the upcoming governorship elections.

Tribunal admits EU’s final report faulting Tinubu’s victory

The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) on Monday admitted as an exhibit, the final report of the European Union Election Observer Mission, which faulted the conduct and outcome of the 2023 presidential election that produced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and others as winners. The report tendered by the former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar was admitted as an exhibit in spite of vehement objections by President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In the report, the EU election observer mission claimed that the presidential election did not show credibility, fairness, and transparency in the ways and manners it was conducted by INEC. The report tendered through INEC’s sole witness and Director of Information Technology (IT), Dr. Lawrence Bayode, said only 31 percent of the presidential election results were uploaded into INEC’s result viewing portal. Before the admission of the report, Atiku, through his lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche SAN, had applied that cross-examination of the INEC’S witness must be kick-started by Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress APC in view of their common interests against Atiku’s petition. The application was however bluntly opposed by Tinubu and APC through their lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun SAN, and Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi SAN, respectfully. However, the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led panel, admitted it as evidence.