Plateau: Muftwang Debunks Reports Of Bribery Collection By Judges

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has vehemently denied allegations suggesting judges received a $5 million bribe to annul his election victory. Elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Mutfwang labeled the claims as “baseless and defamatory.” Through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, in Jos on Friday, Mutfwang refuted the allegations, attributing them to deliberate attempts by detractors to sow discord between him and the judiciary. Expressing deep concern, Mutfwang urged thorough investigations by security agencies to apprehend those responsible for the libelous publication, emphasizing the importance of facing legal consequences to deter such misconduct. Terming the report a fabrication by individuals manipulated as pawns by the opposition party in Plateau State, Governor Mutfwang highlighted that it aims to tarnish the PDP government’s image in the state. He reaffirmed his unwavering support for the Judiciary while cautioning against disparaging justices and respected leaders, warning of severe consequences for those engaging in destructive activities.

2024: PDP Unveils Timetable For Edo Guber Election 

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has unveiled the much-anticipated timetable for the Edo State 2024 gubernatorial election.  This schedule, released after a joint meeting of the Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, outlines the key activities preceding the election. Key highlights from the timetable include: Aspirants eyeing the governorship seat can obtain nomination forms for N21 million, with a 50 percent discount available for youths aged between 25 and 30; Registration of both existing and new members is set between November 16 and December 7, while the crucial party congress, determining the governorship candidate, is scheduled for February 22, 2024; December 14 marks the deadline for the submission of ward registers to the Directorate of Organisation and Mobilisation; Stakeholders’ consultative meetings with the National Working Group will be held from December 19 to 20; Expression of interest and ad-hoc forms will be available for purchase from January 10 to 16, with January 17 as the final date for their submission; The screening of governorship aspirants by the National Working Committee is set for January 18, 2024; Sales of nomination forms for completed expression of interest submissions will take place from January 19 to 25, with January 27 as the deadline for their submission. The governorship primary is scheduled for February 22, while February 24 is earmarked for appeals related to the primary process.

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.

Bayelsa Election: PDP Leads Early Results As INEC Suspends Collation Till 12pm Monday

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) adjourned the collation of results for the Bayelsa State Governorship Election until Monday noon. As of Sunday night, results from six out of eight local government areas, including Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia, Yenegoa, Sagbama, Nembe, and Ekeremor, have been collated, leaving Brass and Southern Ijaw pending. Prof Faruq Kuta, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and the state Returning Officer, adjourned the exercise for further review on Monday.  Sixteen political parties participated in the Bayelsa election, where Governor Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in a contest against Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and former Bayelsa governor. Meanwhile, in Imo State, INEC has declared Governor Hope Uzodimma of the APC as the winner, defeating Samuel Anyanwu of the PDP and Nneji Achonu of the Labour Party (LP), along with 15 other opponents. Uzodimma secured 540,308 votes, outpacing Anyanwu with 71,503 votes and Achonu with 64,081 votes. Stay tuned for the final Bayelsa results and updates on the gubernatorial polls held in Imo and Kogi states. Bayelsa Results So Far: Sagbama LGA APC – 6608 LP – 217 PDP – 35504 Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA APC – 5349 LP – 22 PDP – 18465 Ogbia LGA APC – 16319 LP – 57 PDP – 18435 Yenegoa LGA APC – 14534 LP – 244 PDP – 37777 Nembe LGA APC – 22248 LP – 113 PDP – 4556 Ekeremor LGA APC – 8445 LP – 50 PDP – 23172  

Bayelsa Guber: Security Agents Aiding PDP, Sylva Alleges

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11, 2023 governorship poll in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and security agents of harassing his supporters. Sylva spoke on Saturday after he cast his vote at Ward 4, Unit 4 in the Brass Local Government Area of the South-South state.The APC candidate fingered security agents “especially the Army”, alleging that they are “playing on the side of the PDP”. Sylva said violence has been recorded in Yenagoa, the state capital, alleging that an APC member was shot.He wondered why large polling units where he is popular were being targeted.“There is a lot of violence from the PDP trying to molest our voters with security (agents),” Sylva said. In fact, in some cases, it is believed by our people that we are running election, not against PDP, but against security (agents) but we are containing it.” The APC candidate, however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying “There is a lot of improvement on the part of INEC but there is still room for improvement.” Sylva was first Bayelsa governor from May 2007 to April 2008 and later between May 2008 and January 2012. He was also the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources from 2019 to 2023. In Saturday’s poll, Sylva is challenging Bayelsa State Governor and PDP candidate, Duoye Diri, who is seeking re-election. The election has been described by many analysts as a two-horse race.Meanwhile, Diri accused Sylva of being behind electoral violence recorded in the Nembe-Bassambiri area of the state on Saturday.

We’re Investigating Pre-Filled Result Sheets In Kogi Voting Centres -INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a response to the allegations of pre-filled result sheets in Kogi State during the ongoing governorship election.  Leading election observer group,  Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) had raised alarm over prefilled result sheets in some polling units. The forged sheets showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) were winning the gubernatorial election. Reacting to the development, INEC vowed to review and investigate the incident. The statement reads,  “Our attention has been drawn to a report that filled result sheets were discovered in some polling units in Kogi State.  “The Commission views this situation seriously. Our senior officials deployed to the State are currently investigating the incident(s).  “The Commission will communicate its decision earnestly.” Meanwhile, Usman Ododo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Kogi governorship, has expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and orderly nature of the ongoing election in the state.  Ododo, after casting his ballot at his polling unit, lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their management of the electoral process.  “I commend INEC management for how far it’s going, and as you can see, the election is peaceful and orderly,” he stated on Saturday.

INEC Alerted Of Malpractice As Pre-Filled Results Sheets Surface In Kogi Polling Units

Yiaga Africa, a popular election observer group, has sounded the alarm over disturbing reports of pre-filled election results emerging from various polling units in the ongoing governorship election in Kogi state. In a statement released on its verified X platform on Saturday, Yiaga Africa urgently called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate and address the reported cases of election malpractice promptly.  The group expressed concern about the potential impact on the integrity of the election process. “Dear @inecnigeria, we received reports of pre-filled results sheets discovered in PU 004, Eni Ward of Ogori/magongo in Kogi state before the commencement of voting. Kindly investigate and address this issue promptly to safeguard the integrity of the process,” the statement read. The election observer group highlighted another case of pre-filled results sheets, this time in PU 020, Eika/Ohizenyi, Okehi LGA of Kogi state.  These alarming revelations surfaced barely an hour into the voting process, which commenced around 8:30 am. Meanwhile, as the residents head to the voting centres to elect their new governor, the Nigerian Army has initiated a lockdown of key highways in the capital city and other regions notorious for electoral violence in the State. Roadblocks were mounted on the highway and vehicular movement was restricted with exception of those rendering essential services.

Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Elections: Vote Only PDP Candidates, Atiku Begs Nigerians

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Abubakar Atiku, has appealed to Nigerians to cast their votes for PDP candidates in the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states. Atiku acknowledged concerns about the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) handling of the 2023 general elections but emphasized the importance of citizens exercising their democratic rights. “The governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states are scheduled for this Saturday, November 11th,”  Atiku stated. “These elections, categorized as off-cycle, mark the first set of polls after the 2023 general elections in our country.” Despite challenges faced by INEC, Atiku urged citizens to actively participate in the electoral process, emphasizing the importance of defeating anti-democratic elements. Atiku appealed to the people of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi to support PDP candidates, highlighting their achievements and capabilities and contrasting them with their APC counterparts.  He praised Governor Duoye Diri in Bayelsa, Senator Dino Melaye in Kogi, and Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu in Imo for their leadership potential. In contrast, Atiku criticized the APC’s nominees, alleging that they are “stooges” of political godfathers, emphasizing that these elections should prioritize the needs of the common people rather than political elites. Atiku urged the people of these states to vote for the PDP and reject the APC, which he blamed for the country’s current hardships.  He emphasized that these elections are about the common people’s fortunes and the triumph of democracy, which ultimately benefits the people.

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.