By Kelvin Osa Okunbor, Nimotalahi Awoniyi Duku Joel, Damaturu; Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna; Tony Akowe, Abuja; Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto; Linus Oota, Lafia; Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi; Eric Ikhilae, Abuja, Segun Showunmi, Ibadan, Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi, Kolade Adeyemi, Jos, Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt, Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba and Polycarp Oro-sevwotu Ughelli
LAGOS, BENUE
32 electoral offenders for prosecution in Lagos, Benue
The Lagos State Police Command has said that six out of 19 persons arrested during last Saturday’s governorship election will be prosecuted for alleged electoral offences.
The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin made this known yesterday while parading the suspects and others at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti-Yaba.
Hundeyin said the suspects were involved in 21 cases which include attacks on INEC officials, vandalism and ballot box snatching. Other offences are possession of a fake INEC ID card, conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, assault occasioning harm and illegal possession of firearms.
He said that four of the suspects would be prosecuted by the INEC, while two found with arms and involved in other criminal acts will be prosecuted by the police.
The spokesperson said that the suspects will be transferred to Force Headquarters Abuja where they would hand some over to INEC. He said those whose crimes fall under the police will be prosecuted by the force.
Hundeyin said others paraded include two who were allegedly involved in violence at Abule-Ado in the Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos and a suspected cultist. He said that three suspected kidnappers, who allegedly confessed to having collected about N20.7 million ransom from victims were also arrested and paraded.
Hundeyin said that two other suspects allegedly stole a truck parked by its driver, which was carrying a brand new car belonging to the American Embassy in Lagos. The image maker said that the suspects were arrested while trying to sell the truck with the car at the cost of about N5 million.
In a similar development, the Benue State Police Command said 26 persons were arrested for various electoral offences during the election.
In a press release, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kate Anene said the suspects were arrested during the elections for various offences, including political thuggery/illegal possession of firearms, snatching of ballot boxes and intimidation of voters.
Exhibits recovered from them include three locally made pistols, cutlasses, knives and wraps of weed suspected to be Indian hemp.
Commissioner of Police, Benue State, Wales Abass has ordered a detailed investigation into all the cases. He also promised to deal with suspects in accordance with the laws.
KANO
APC rejects result
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has rejected the result validating the election of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) Abba Yusuf as governor-elect.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had on Monday declared Yusuf as the winner of the election.
Announcing the result in Kano, the state Returning Officer, Prof. Doko Ibrahim, the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said Yusuf polled 1,019,602 votes to emerge victorious.
He said that Yusuf defeated his closest rival and incumbent Deputy Governor of the State, Malam Yusuf Gawuna of the APC, who scored 892,705 votes.
But reacting to this at a news conference in Kano on Tuesday, the state Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, said the APC would challenge the result.
Abbas, who was represented by the party’s Legal Adviser, Mr. Abdul Adamu Fagge, insisted that the election should be declared inconclusive.
According to him, the cancelled votes are greater than the margin between the candidate of APC and NNPP as provided by the Electoral Act.
Yobe
PDP rejects Buni, vows legal action
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Yobe State Chapter said it is opposed to the declaration of Governor Mai Mala Buni by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the re-elected governor of Yobe state.
INEC had on Sunday declared Buni as the winner of the governorship election having polled 317,113 votes to defeat his closest opponent and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Sherif Abdullahi, who scored 124, 259 votes.
But the opposition party in Damaturu on Tuesday said INEC’s declaration was unacceptable because the election was marred by intimidation of voters, vote-buying and inducement of officials.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the State Sherrif Abdullahi vowed that his party will challenge the result in the court.
He said: “Based on the results collated from our party agents and those from the IRev portal, the party therefore wishes to oppose the outcome of the elections as announced in its entirety.
But the State Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress in the State Mohammed Gadaka said the PDP was just shopping for a face-saving strategy, just as he described them as bad losers crying foul for nothing.
KADUNA
El-Rufai hails residents
Governor Nasir El-Rufai has expressed appreciation to the people of Kaduna State for peacefully comporting themselves during the elections and for voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) both at the presidential and governorship polls.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye yesterday, said that the governor is especially grateful to the people for voting for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president-elect and Governor-elect Uba Sani.
The statement quoted El Rufai as expressing optimism “that these results have created an atmosphere that enhances the progress of our country and our dear Kaduna state.”
According to Adekeye, the governor “wishes the leaders that have been re-elected or freshly elected in this 2023 cycle, every success in accelerating the uplift of our country and society and in improving the wellbeing and life chances of all our people.”
LAGOS
Sanwo-Olu’s victory is
people’s mandate,
says Gbajabiamila
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the victory of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Saturday’s governorship poll was the people’s mandate.
Hence, the lawmaker urged the governor to be magnanimous in victory and consolidate on his achievement during his first term in office.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker, who congratulated the governor and other governorship candidates of the APC who won the elections, said the landslide victory Sanwo-Olu recorded was a testimony to his good governance and giant strides in Lagos State in the last four years.
While describing it as a deserved victory, Gbajabiamila said he was happy that Lagosians had seen the “good work” that Sanwo-Olu had done and elected him for the second time.
Gbajabiamila applauded Lagosians for their resilience and determination to see that Sanwo-Olu was returned.
He stressed that with the Sanwo-Olu that he knows, Lagos State would witness massive developmental projects during the governor’s second term in office.
Group urges Sanwo-Olu to rally Lagosians for support
A social mobilization organisation – Every Lagosian Matters (ELM) has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who was at the weekend re-elected for a second term to galvanize residents of the state to support his second term in office.
Specifically, the group urged him to use his second term mandate to build enduring legacies that would immortalize him in the history of the state as a leader of modern Lagos.
Speaking at a briefing in Ikeja, ELM Team Leader, Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, while congratulating Governor Sanwo-Olu on his victory, observed that the number of votes he received attests to the fact that he is at home and in tune with residents of Lagos.
Ibe-Kalu said: “We use this opportunity also to call on all contestants to see the election as a competition where a winner where losing is not a sign of weakness. We call on Governor Sanwo-Olu to reconcile and harmonize all interest groups with a view to galvanizing Lagosians for the task ahead of building a greater Lagos.
“We call on the governor to always see himself as the father of Lagos State and Lagosians. We also call on Lagosians to join hands to support the developmental vision of the governor as he commences his last term in office on May 29.”
KADUNA
ADC candidate greets Governor -elect Sani, PDP rejects result
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator Caleb Zagi has congratulated the candidate of the APC, Senator Uba Sani for emerging as winner.
This is coming as the major opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the election and rejected the result.
INEC had declared Sani, winner of the governorship election held on Saturday.
But the PDP State Collation Agent, Danjuma Sarki, who had raised several objections to the declaration of Sani, had Monday night refused to sign the result.
Sarki argued that the number of cancelled votes across the state during the election was more than the winning margin, which gave the victory to the APC candidate.
The State Collation Officer, Professor Lawal Bilbis explained that, majority of the cancelled votes were as a result of over-voting, which renders the votes from such polling units invalid.
Meanwhile, ADC candidate in a statement he personally signed, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the election, describing the process as transparent, free and credible.
Sani, in his acceptance speech, has said that he would govern the State without ethnic and religious sentiments.
Sani also said that he would be focused and dedicated to serve the people to the best of his ability once sworn in on May 29, 2023 as the duly elected governor of the State.
The governor-elect added that he would diligently follow the good governance standard set by the outgoing Governor Nasir El-rufai.
But the PDP governorship candidate, Isa Ashiru, who noted that the election was far from expectation and did not reflect the wishes of many electorates, however, urged members of the main opposition party in the state to remain calm.
Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has also congratulated Sani and urged him to be committed to both human and infrastructural development of the state.
A statement issued by the National President of the Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, expressed optimism that the governor-elect will perform well stressing that, ” When we were engaged in civil society activism in support of poor people against military dictatorship, he was unwavering in his determination.
SOKOTO
Sultan congratulates
Governor-elect Aliyu
Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has felicitated the Sokoto State Governor-Elect, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto over his landslide victory during the just- concluded governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
This was said by the representatives of the monarch at the Gawon Nama, Sokoto, resident of the state APC leader and former governor of the state, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko. The delegation was led by the Waziri of Sokoto, Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, who represented the Sokoto monarch.
Abubarka, who expressed satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of the election, assured the governor-elect the Sultanate Council’s readiness to work assiduously with Aliyu.
Responding, Aliyu, while acknowledging the inspiring message with joy, described Sultan Abubakar as a father to all.
But, the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party in Sokoto state has accused security agents of intimidating, harassing, arresting and denying its members of freely exercise their franchise during last Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections.
It said the alleged acts grossly undermined the freedom of PDP supporters.
TARABA
NNPP heads to court
Prof. Sani Yahya, the governorship candidate of New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) in Taraba State, has rejected the outcome of the governorship election.
Yahya told journalists in Jalingo on Tuesday that he would challenge the result of the governorship election in court.
According to him, there was overwhelming evidence of electoral malpractice in the election that gave victory to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kefas Agbum.
Yahya urged his supporters and the people of the state to stay calm and eschew violence, assuring that the NNPP won the election and would reclaim its mandate through legal means.
OGUN
Accord seeks reversal of Abiodun’s victory
Accord in Ogun State has accused Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of violating Electoral Act by declaring Governor Dapo Abiodun as winner of Saturday’s election.
Consequently, it has called on Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to reverse Abiodun’s declaration.
Secretary of the party Rotimi Oke, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Tuesday, described INEC’s declaration of Abiodun as “an act of wickedness and a broad daylight robbery.”
Oke said that INEC should have declared the election inconclusive and ordered a re-run at the polling units where elections were reportedly disrupted by thugs.
NASARAWA
APC wins 11, opposition 12 Assembly seats
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State has won 11 out of the 24 seats of the state House of Assembly.
It was reported that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won eight seats, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) clinched two seats each.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the results as collated from the various centres across the state.
However, the result of Lafia Central state constituency was declared inconclusive by INEC.
Some observers of the election had decried the entire exercise, saying it was strictly about religion and ethnicity.
Addressing a press conference yesterday at the NUJ house Lafia, about 10 observers groups, led by Nwokoma Messiah who represents ‘Vote Count Campaign Organization’ said, the action of political figures created a kind of division in the voting pattern which witnessed some electorates heeding to the calls of their religious leaders who actually directed them to vote along such lines.
But they maintained that there was no vote buying and the security provided by Nigerian Police and NSCDC as well as the Nigerian army to ensure smooth conduct of the election.
BENUE
APGA Joseph Waya
congratulates Alia
Mr. Joseph Waya of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), yesterday in Makurdi, congratulated the winner of the Benue Governorship election, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and called on all Benue people to support him in the task of governance.
In a statement, Waya alleged widespread irregularities, but said he was still committed to the Benue project and appealed to other contestants to “set aside partisan rancour and rally round Fr. Alia for the overall interest of the state”.
He said his desire to lead the state was never borne out of a conviction for personal aggrandizement but for the wellbeing, peace and security of the people.
Also, Alia has assured the people he will not abuse the confidence reposed in him.
OYO:
PDP stalwart congratulates Makinde
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rita Orji and an ally of Governor Seyi Makinde has congratulated the governor at the just-concluded governorship election.
Orji described Makinde as a leader with a burning desire to set Oyo State on a positive trajectory. A statement personally signed by the former House of Representatives member noted that people of the state believe in the efficacy of Makinde’s campaign promises.
Extolling the leadership acumen of Governor Makinde, the PDP stalwart said he remains the symbol of good governance to his contemporaries in the country.
She thanked the people of Oyo State and the Igbo community in the state who rallied around the governor and voted for him across the 33 local governments.
She observed that the developmental strides recorded under the governor’s “Omituntun 1.0” were the tip of the iceberg, as the programme contained in “Omituntun 2.0” will be more impactful on the lives of the people.
BORNO
Zulum dedicates victory
to God, masses
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has dedicated his re-election victory to God and the people.
Zulum said his renewed mandate had humbled him with the depth of trust and weight of expectation that his administration carried to win the confidence of the electorate.
The governor, who lauded the support of the party leadership and all stakeholders for the party landslide victories at all levels of the general election, said his administration would take measures to continue to enhance that unity by rewarding members based on their contributions.
CROSS RIVER
Governor- elect seeks rival contestants’ collaboration
Sen. Bassey Otu, the Cross River Governor-Elect has extended hands of fellowship to other candidates, urging them to join him to build a new state.
Otu who won on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) said this when he spoke with journalists on Tuesday in Calabar while celebrating his victory at the poll.
Otu promised to operate an equitable, fair, compassionate and a listening government in which all shades of ideas would be given fair-hearing and a chance at success.
He lauded Gov. Ben Ayade for insisting on power rotation in the state in line with the principles of justice, equity and fairness.
ZAMFARA
Police warn against breach of peace
The Police Command in Zamfara has warned to deal with any breach of the peace following the conclusion of elections in the state.
In a statement issued in Gusau on Tuesday by the command spokesman, SP Muhammad Shehu, the command said it would decisively deal with any individual or group of people for breaching the peace in Zamfara.
He said that measures have been put in place to protect lives and property of citizens.
PLATEAU:
APC heads to court to challenge PDP’s victory
The Plateau State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda has vowed to challenge his defeat in court, alleging that the polls were rigged.
Dr. Nentawe made this known when a group of party faithful and loyalists paid him a courtesy visit in his home, shortly after the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Caleb Mutfwang the winner of last Saturday’s governorship election on the Plateau.
He urged his supporters to remain hopeful and stand by him. He called on them to be civil and not insult anyone but just to stand by the mandate of the party in Plateau.
Nentawe was a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Benue State who only last year resigned his position to contest for a governorship seat under the platform of the APC.
The APC candidate lost with 481,370 against the candidate of the PDP who polled a total of 525,299.
Meanwhile, Mutfwang has promised that he will run an all-inclusive government, irrespective of ethnic colouration where all will be involved in the governance. He made the promise in his acceptance speech after he was declared the winner of the election by INEC.
He thanked the people of Plateau State for the confidence reposed in him by overwhelmingly voting for him.
RIVERS:
Abe denies congratulating Wike’s anointed successor
The Rivers State governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Sen. Magnus Abe has debunked a report making the rounds suggesting that he has congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the winner of last Saturday’s governorship election, Siminialaye Fubara.
The PDP candidate secured 302, 614 votes to defeat his closest contender, Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 95,274 votes. Abe came a distant third with 46,981 votes.
The SDP flag bearer was alleged to have sent his goodwill message to congratulate the winner of the exercise yesterday.
However, a statement by Abe’s spokesman, Pastor Parey Benson said the governorship candidate did not congratulate Fubara, who emerged from a process that was characterized by manipulation, voter intimidation, suppression and other forms of violence.
He described the report as misleading.
DELTA:
We will prioritise rural development, says governor-elect
Delta State governor-elect, Sheriff Oborevwori has vowed to give priority to rural development.
Oborevwori, who spoke through Information Commissioner, Mr Charles Aniagwu, has assured the people that he would continue with ongoing programmes and policies of the Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration, while also introducing his own programmes.
Aniagwu said Governor Okowa and the Governor-elect and the PDP, in general, are grateful to Deltans for their show of love, particularly for their appreciation of the sterling performance of the Okowa administration and the street credibility of Oborevwori. He added that the PDP is in the DNA of Deltans.
Ogboru congratulates Oborevwori on his victory
The Delta State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Great Ogboru has congratulated the winner of last Saturday’s governorship election in Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori of the PDP.
Oborevwori was declared the winner of the election after polling 360,234 votes; against the 240,229 votes scored by his closest rival, APC’s Ovie Omo-Agege.
In the congratulatory message, Ogboru also lamented that the election was marred by intimidation and voter apathy. He described the process as a major setback in the evolution of democratic tenets.
He said: “The election witnessed a high degree of intimidation, violence, coercion, voter apathy and an unprecedented level of vote-buying never seen before. It is a major setback in the evolution of democratic tenets and a threat to future elections. But there is a declared winner and we must accept it.
“May I, therefore, use this opportunity to congratulate Sheriff Oborevwori for his victory over several obstacles in this election. Congratulations as we wish you all the best as governor of Delta State.”
