The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • BVAS breaks down in Sokoto

    BVAS breaks down in Sokoto

    The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine for polling unit 023, Offa Road in Sokoto broke down as voters lined up to exercise their franchise.

    At 9:32 am voters were still waiting for the issue to be addressed so they could vote.

    Presiding Officer, Grace Francis, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member said she had called the Registration Officer to fix the problem.

    Read Also ; INEC confirms collection of 241,091 PVCs, 3,991 BVAS in Sokoto

    “We have called the RO and we hope to fix it so voting can commence. The RO is on his way as we speak. Everything is set. We have no other issues but this one. As soon as this matter is addressed, we would commence in earnest,” she said.

  • Inadequate vehicles stall distribution of materials in parts of Lagos

    Inadequate vehicles stall distribution of materials in parts of Lagos

    Voters in some polling units in the Iba Local Council Development Area of Lagos are bemoaning the absence of INEC officials.

    The Nation observed that despite the large turnout by the voters, the continuous absence of INEC officials is giving them concerns.

    Some of them said they arrived at the polling unit as early as 7 am to exercise their civic duty.

    They called on INEC to direct their officials to move to the designated polling units.

    Efforts to speak with the INEC Electoral Officer in Ojo Local Government, Sodiq Ayinla, were unsuccessful.

    His phone could not be reached.

    Read Also : INEC concludes distribution of election materials in Kwara

    However, The Nation learnt that there were no enough vehicles to move the materials and INEC officials to their polling units.

    The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday perpetually restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from engaging the Lagos State Parks Management Committee, led by Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, a.k.a. MC Oluomo, for distributing 2023 election materials and personnel.

    Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke gave the order while delivering judgment in suit FHC/L/CS/271/2023 filed by three political parties and their gubernatorial candidates in Lagos State.

  • Elections yet to take off in Epe

    Elections yet to take off in Epe

    Across the Epe metropolis, there are no signs that INEC is ready for today’s election. As of 8:49 am, there was no presence of INEC officials in any single polling unit in Epe metropolis.

    In Ward A5 on Ekundayo Street, as of 8:30 am, there were no INEC officials. It was the same in Ward A5 Booth 25 and Ward A5 Booth 56 in Kasali Olumo Street.

    “We have not seen INEC officials; we have been waiting here since 7 am,” agents across parties told The Nation.

    Read Also : Plateau INEC confirms availability of sensitive materials, commences distribution

    The situation was different from what the INEC Electoral Officer (EO) in EPE, Kareem Akinloye, told The Nation around 7:30 am when he reported all election materials had been dispatched as early as 4 am.

    While the electorates await the arrival of INEC officials, worries are building up among the voting public. In small groups across the various streets, people are expressing concerns over the delay.

  • Voters angry over missing names in designated Sokoto polling units

    Voters angry over missing names in designated Sokoto polling units

    Some voters in Sokoto were upset that they could not find their names at the polling units they were designated to vote.

    The voters lamented they were at a loss as to the location they were to exercise their franchise.

    One of them Juliet Nwaize said, “This venue (Yaya Gusau Primary School) was to be my polling unit. I received a message from INEC that this is where I should vote.

    Read Also : NLC urges INEC to ensure elections reflect voters’ wishes

    “But I am here now and they are telling me my location is not here. I received a message telling me to check the website www.voters.inecnigeria.org. I have been trying to open it but to no avail, as the site is not opening. Right now I don’t know what to do.”

  • Voters, Police await INEC officials at Igando

    Voters, Police await INEC officials at Igando

    Voters and security officials are awaiting officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the polling unit on No 1, Naiyeju Street behind General Hospital, Igando in Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA).

    Read Also ; Plateau INEC confirms availability of sensitive materials, commences distribution

    A policeman and woman are securing the area.

    “My wife and I have been here since past 6am,” a retiree, Omofuma Simeon, told The Nation at 8:30 am.

  • Voters trek to polling units in Port-Harcourt

    Voters trek to polling units in Port-Harcourt

    Voters trooped trekked to their polling unit in the early hours of Saturday in Port-Harcourt.

    Some said they woke up as early as 6 am to trek distances to their polling units, insisting that they must cast their ballots.

    But some of the polling units were not open as of 9 am as the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were not on the ground.

    At Unit 7b Ward 10, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area close to the residence of Governor, Nyesom Wike, INEC officials were not on the ground.

    Voters, who came before 7am, wondered why electoral materials were yet to arrive as of 9am.

    But policemen sent to the polling units were waiting for the officials.

    Read Also : Top 10 states with highest registered voters

    Rivers generally was peaceful as no incident of disturbance was reported in the morning.

    Most of them mostly youths said they relocated to their units and slept in hotels to cast their votes.

    “I am 42 years old. I have never voted before but this time around I came prepared to vote. I left my place and paid N20,000 to lodge in a hotel close to my polling unit,” a voter said 

    END 

  • EFCC, NDLEA, Police patrol Abuja

    Operatives of the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Drugs Law Enforcement Agencies (NDLEA) and the Police were on election patrol in Bwari, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to clampdown on voter buyers and drug addicts.

    The Nation sighted the NDLEA fully kitted and armed to the teeth in their Toyota Hilux at 8:30 am between the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Law School.

    Another vehicle conveying the NDLEA operatives and another one with the police followed them in a convoy-like patrol.
    Before 7:30 am on Saturday, some voters who must have counted down to the election day were already at the Bwari 
     IV Unit, in Bwari Central Ward of Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) identifying their names on the register posted on the wall.

    Some electoral officers were arranging their voting materials at 7:52 am.
    Meanwhile, the electoral officers in the polling unit in the JAMB office arrived at 8:05 am while voters were already sorting their names from the register that was posted on the wall.

    At 8:10, The Nation observed that some election materials were just being ferried to their final destination in Bwari.

    There was virtually free for all vehicular movement in the heart of the city which was a violation of the restriction of movement on election day 

  • Appeal court dismisses AA’s suit against Tinubu

    Appeal court dismisses AA’s suit against Tinubu

    The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal filed by Action Alliance against the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, his running mate, Senator Kashim Ahettima and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The Appeal Court said in its ruling that the appeal did not conform to the judgement of the lower court as it related to the parties,the names of Kashim Shettima and Action Alliance as Defendant or Respondent was unilaterally removed by the Appellant.

    Read Also ; First Lady inaugurates house-to-house campaign for Tinubu

    It also said the Appellant unilaterally amended the parties without seeking leave of the lower court and having done same,the Notice of Appeal was without spine and was subsequently struck out.

  • Don’t lose friends, family over elections – Toke Makinwa

    Don’t lose friends, family over elections – Toke Makinwa

    Popular media personality, Toke Makinwa has advised people against losing friends or family members over elections.

    A few days ago, Alex Ekubo, lamented how many have fallen out with their family and friends because of conflicting political ideologies.

    He further urged Nigerians to ensure there’s no bad blood between them and their family as well as friends over elections.

    Read Also ; S3x more amazing with broke than rich guys – Toke Makinwa

    Makinwa stressed the message via her Twitter page ahead of Saturday’s elections.

    “Last 4 years my dad, and I were on opposing sides, we aired our views over a glass of wine, we left the same house to go to the polling unit, casted our votes, his candidate won and we had some wine after again with no one gloating.

    “Pls don’t lose friends/family over the election,” she tweeted.

  • Mazi Okeke to colleagues: desist from showing nudity in your skits

    Mazi Okeke to colleagues: desist from showing nudity in your skits

    Budding comedian, Osuoha Destiny Prince aka Mazi Okeke has advised his colleagues to ditch the display of nudity in their skits.

    He argued nudity scenes in skits should be done away with because, comedy is something that should be watched and enjoyed by the entire family; including kids.

    He stated this during a recent interview where he revealed the changes he would love to see in the skit-making scene.

    “The Changes I’ll love to see in the skit-making industry, eemmm I don’t know if I should say this but let me just say it. Comedy is supposed to be a household thing. I don’t know if you get me. Like a full family should be able to sit and watch your skit and laugh but they can’t if you show a lot of nudity in it.

    “Growing up as a kid so many things affects our mentality. You know, there’s a saying that goes this way ‘what you look at is what you look like’. So if this kids on social media keep seeing nudity they’ll definitely start doing those things so that’s my opinion on that thou”, he said.

    Speaking on what he intends to use his work as a tool to address societal issues, Mazi Okeke noted, ‘Well I won’t want to go into details on this so I don’t disclose most of the things I have in my list to do. Make person no go first me begin do am’, while laughing.

    The multi-talented skit maker also addressed drug use among creatives as a means of inspiration.

    Wading in on the matter, he stated: “I don’t really know because I don’t smoke or drink so I can’t tell what they feel when they take those things. It might be an inspiration to then truly but to me I don’t think I can take hard drugs to get inspired.”

    Reminiscing on his journey so far, Mazi Okeke shared an unforgettable experience that would have terminated his zeal to continue in the skit-making career path.

    While at it, he commended a popular blogger, Tundeednut, inspiring him to improve on himself, his work as well as protecting from ‘talent rippers’ in the entertainment industry.

    “The experience I’ll never forget hahahahahha. I’m laughing because most people would have never continued doing skit if it happened to them.

    Read Also : Okeke only African afro beats producer at BET hip hop awards

    “So back then in 2020 someone signed me and said he’ll pay bloggers to promote me so he actually did sign me but when he gave tundeednut my video tundeednut rejected it and said the videos weren’t funny. So the guy backed off the deal. Mehn! I cried but I just had to sit and work on myself more.

    “So after a couple of months, I couldn’t even shoot any skit then. After taking that break, the first video I posted tundeednut posted it I was like, ‘wow’.

    “So the thing is I think tundeednut loved me but wanted me to improve and also didn’t want me under a management so they don’t reap me off because since then he has been posting me for free without taking any one naira from me and also thanks to my daddy sexy steel that has been there for me from day one making sure I don’t give up!”

    Also sharing his plans for the year ahead, he said; “Last year 2022 I built a house for my mum, got her a car. I moved from 100k followers to 800k. So this year 2023 is going to be definitely better than last year. More smart work and more consistency.”

    Divulging a part of him that is unknown to his teeming fans, “They probably don’t know I don’t smoke or drink because anytime I’m outside, I Dey craze pass people way done high oh hahahahahha”, he added while laughing.