Kano announce date for LG polls 

Abba Kabir Yusuf, Gov, Kano State

The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) has scheduled November 30, 2024, for the local government elections in the state.

BREAKING:INEC can handle local government elections, says chairman Yakubu

Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Guber: INEC Assures Payment Of All Staff Allowances

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared it can comfortably handle the conduct of local government elections if the responsibility falls on it. The chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu said this on Thursday, July 25, when he appeared before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on preparations for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States. He said INEC has the capacity to handle the local government elections but that would only be possible pending when the law is amended to permit it to do so. He pointed out that the Commission had been conducting area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory which has been devoid of the problems associated with the conduct of local government elections. He pointed out some advantages of INEC handling elections to include that there are regular elections as when due, stability of tenure, and also that there has never been a caretaker committee in the FCT. He noted that there has never been a time one political party has won all the seats at the elections as is common in the states. He said if INEC handles the election, it would be better for democracy. He, however, said this can only happen if the constitution is amended to take the responsibility from state electoral commissions.

We‘ll conduct credible LG polls in Kano soon, says Gov. Yusuf

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano state, on Sunday, assured the people of his readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible local government elections in the state. Mr Yusuf spoke in Kano during a stakeholders’ meeting with the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party. The governor revealed plans to conduct the council polls in compliance with the judgement of the Supreme Court that affirmed financial autonomy to the third tier of government. Mr Yusuf stressed the need for respect for the rule of law and commitment to financial prudence, accountability and transparency in governance at all tiers of government. The governor urged opposition parties to field candidates to test their popularity “because my government will not interfere with the electoral process. “Our administration has allowed the previous LG Executive Councils in the 44 LGAs to complete their tenure despite pressure from within: this is out of respect for the rule of law.” He said preparations by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) for the conduct of the council polls were in top gear. “We will soon invite you again for selection of our party’s candidates to be fielded to contest for chairman, vice chairman and Councillor in their respective constituencies. “We shall run a peaceful campaign with the believe that the majority of Kano people will vote for NNPP,” he said.

Ogun Guber: Supreme Court reserves judgment seeking Abiodun’s removal

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment on the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and it’s candidate, Ladi Adebutu, in the March 18, governorship election. Adebutu’s appeal is seeking the nullification of the declaration of Dapo Abiodun as winner of the election. Specifically, he is challenging Abiodun’s re-election on the ground that the Electoral Act, 2022, was not adhered to, citing corrupt practices and issues of non-qualification. Specifically, PDP and Adebutu want the Supreme Court to set aside and dismiss the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which had on November 23, affirmed the decision of the Tribunal in upholding Adiodun’s victory. Recall that two Judges of the court below had dismissed the appeal filed by Adebutu for lacking in merit, while Justice Jane Esienanwan Inyang saw merit in the petition and thereby ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return presented to Abiodun and conduct another election in 99 polling units where elections were disrupted. In adopting his brief of arguments, Chris Uche SAN, counsel for the appellants said INEC ought to have conducted fresh elections in 99 polling units where elections were cancelled and not declared a winner. He said the return of the governor by INEC was unlawful and the election was wrongly concluded because corrupt practices were allegedly manifest during the March 18, governorship poll. Abiodun Owonikoko, counsel for the first respondent(INEC), asked the apex court to dismiss the appeal. He maintained that governorship and presidential election is not determined by margin of lead but by spread of votes, according to Section 179 of the 1999 Constitution. Wole Olanipekun, counsel for second respondent, urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal which challenges concurrent decisions of the two lower courts. INEC had declared Abiodun winner of the governorship election after polling 276,298 votes to defeat his closest rival Adebutu, who polled 262,383 votes.

Bye-Election: Governor Alia Suspends Party’s Primary In Benue

Controversy has surrounded the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Benue State. Governor Hyacinth Alia suspended the event, which was meant to select a candidate for the February 4 by-election for the State House of Assembly. The need for the by-election arose after Dr. Yamar Ortese, representing the Guma 1 state constituency, was appointed as Commissioner for Health and Human Services. During a press conference in Makurdi on Saturday, Governor Alia claimed the primary was disrupted by threats and hijacked by individuals who were not from the Guma Local Government Area and should not have participated in the election. The APC’s state spokesperson, Morgan Ihomun, countered that the governor cannot suspend a process that the party already conducted in an orderly manner. Governor Alia, accompanied by state security chiefs, also mentioned that the primary was planned for Saturday but was overshadowed by threats from irate youths. The governor said, “Security of state remains paramount to us. Today (Saturday), the APC is to conduct primary but it was marred by misconduct and this posed insecurity in Guma. It became imperative to calm the irate youth. “Party stakeholders felt disenchanted. I would not want any semblance of insecurity in the state. I suspend the delegate primary. Sad enough the party faithful came out but were stopped at the gate by people who do not belong to the local government; all stakeholders were locked out and youths became angry. Party faithful must help keep the peace in the state. “I do not want any bloodshed as people get sensational and sentimental about politics. I have asked the security operatives to ensure that there is no break down of law and order. I know that the national working committee of our party will do all to ensure that the right thing is done.” Meanwhile, Morgan insisted that the primary election had been held and a candidate emerged to fly the party ticket during the forthcoming by-election. He said, “The question we should be asking is that, does the governor have the power to suspend the primary election?”

Kogi Guber: Tribunal Gives INEC 2 Days To Grant SDP Access To Election Materials

Kogi Guber: Tribunal Gives INEC 2 Days To Grant SDP Access To Election Materials

The Kogi governorship election petition tribunal has mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to furnish the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with certified copies of electoral materials related to the November 11 off-cycle election within 48 hours.  This directive encompasses allowing the SDP’s forensic experts to examine specific electoral materials crucial to their case. The tribunal’s ruling, delivered in Lokoja on Saturday by Chairman Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, was prompted by motions filed by the SDP and its governorship candidate, Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka, seeking access to materials necessary to challenge the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election. Among the materials requested are the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and result sheets from various Local Government Areas including Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ogori-Magongo, Ajaokuta, Lokoja, Kogi, and Bassa. Justice Birnin-Kudu emphasized the importance of timely access to these materials to facilitate a smooth judicial process within the constitutional and electoral legal frameworks. In response to the tribunal’s order, lead counsel to the petitioners, John Adele (SAN), highlighted their challenges in obtaining these materials from INEC since November 13, stressing the urgency of the situation. The tribunal adjourned the case to November 29 for INEC to report compliance and for further hearings.  The SDP, represented by Mr. Ajaka, aims to contest the victory of APC and its candidate, Usman Ododo, who was declared the winner with 446,237 votes, while Mr. Ajaka garnered 259,052 votes in the election.

Guber Election: Respect Wishes Of Kogi People, APC Tells INEC

Guber Election: Respect Wishes Of Kogi People, APC Tells INEC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to protect the popular will of Kogi electorate in Saturday ‘s governorship election. Mr Felix Morka, the APC National Publicity Secretary said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. “With the candidate of the APC, Usman Ododo, coasting to spectacular victory in Saturday’s Kogi governorship election, we call on INEC to protect the integrity of the legitimate votes of the Kogi electorate. “Announced and uploaded results, so far, show our candidate maintaining a landslide lead in Kogi West and Central, with a competitive showing in Kogi East,” Morka said. He said the APC was aware of intense pressure, including violent threats on INEC staff by agents and supporters of trailing opposition parties aimed at unduly influencing or disrupting ongoing collation of results in the state. He urged INEC to stand fast in discharge of its constitutional duty to deliver free, fair and credible election in the state, and ensure that the freely exercised will of Kogi electorate prevailed.

Just In: Our Officials Have Been Abducted In Bayelsa LGA, Says INEC

Just In: Our Officials Have Been Abducted In Bayelsa LGA, Says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday said that some of its officials on election duty were held hostage in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Expressing concern over the situation, INEC stated that the actions of holding officials hostage were detrimental to the credibility of the electoral process. In a statement on its verified X platform, the commission urged security agencies, particularly the police, to take immediate action to rescue the electoral officers and ensure their safety. INEC condemned the action as “detrimental to credible elections” and called on security agencies including the police to swing to action and rescue the electoral officers. “We call on the security agencies to immediately facilitate their release,” the commission said. The incident unfolded amid protests in the oil-rich South-South state over alleged result manipulation as the collation of the November 11, 2023, election results commenced. Protesters, including state commissioners and lawmakers, asserted that elections did not take place in the Nembe area of the state. The tense situation escalated further as Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, accused Timipre Sylva, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), of orchestrating electoral violence in the Nembe-Bassambiri area. Governor Diri, who is seeking re-election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressed concern about the violent tendencies associated with Timipre Sylva’s involvement in elections over the years. The governor linked Sylva to incidents of violence and lawlessness, particularly in Nembe-Bassambiri. Timipre Sylva, a former Bayelsa governor and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources from 2019 to 2023, has been a prominent figure in the state’s political landscape. The unfolding events underscore the challenges facing the electoral process and the need for swift intervention by security agencies to ensure the safety of INEC officials and uphold the integrity of the democratic process.