The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • How technology is supporting women in skill, expertise acquisition, by CBN

    How technology is supporting women in skill, expertise acquisition, by CBN

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reiterated the role of technology in ensuring that women get the right skills and knowledge in careers and business development.

    Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Aishah Ahmad, said the financial system is critical to addressing the gender divide, being the centre point for promoting integration and digital services.

    Mrs. Ahmad spoke at the inaugural FITC Top Women in Tech list unveiled by the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) as part of its International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration in Lagos.

    Mrs. Ahmad, who was represented by Deputy Director, Other Financial Institutions Department, CBN, Mrs. Monsurat Vincent, noted that education could make it easier to promote equity.

    “Technology, through the Internet, has made it easier than ever before for women to access educational resources and learn new skills. Women can now gain knowledge and expertise that may have once been out of their reach,”  Mrs Ahmad, who is also the Chairman, FITC Board, said.

    Furthermore, she highlighted some of the significant efforts that were being made to close the gender gap, such as the national gender policy, which recommends a 35 per cent affirmative action for women, to ensure a more inclusive representation of women in elective and appointive positions, thus leading to recent significant strides in this regard, such as in the financial services sector, where at least eight women have emerged as CEOs of top financial institutions. One of the goals of this initiative is to increase the number of women in management positions.

    “The Central Bank of Nigeria, as part of its women empowerment efforts, has also allocated 60 per cent of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) funds to women-owned enterprises and continues to develop guidelines to promote gender diversity and women’s access to economic opportunities,” she added.

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FITC, Ms. Chizor Malize, noted that the focus of the IWD for this year, which is #EmbracingEquity, and the theme themed DigitALL: Innovation and Technology as Enablers for Gender Equality were calls to have inclusive and transformative technology and digital education for women and girls.

    She said the move was crucial for a sustainable future, as advancements in digital technology offer immense opportunities to address development and humanitarian challenges, and to close the inequality gap.

    “Bringing women and other marginalised groups into technology results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for innovations that meet women’s needs and promote gender equality,” Malize said.

    She added: “The tech industry has come a long way in terms of gender equality, with several women making outstanding innovative and technological contributions that have impacted several industries, but there is still a lot of work to be done because women make up only 25 per cent of the tech industry and only five per cent of leadership positions in this industry are held by women.”

    Non-Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Rabi Isma, reiterated that technology helps to ensure that the woman who wants to stay home to cater to the kids could still launch a business in the comfort of her home, thereby making it possible for women to access the world from anywhere, run their businesses, and spread their products and services.

    She listed the challenges that women face in rural areas, as the lack of access to a mobile device, a tool needed to tap into the technology benefits for personal and enterprise development.

    Co-founder/Chief Operating Officer (COO), Semicolon, Ashley Immanuel, highlighted the importance of data, and the need to use data for the achievement of gender equity.

    “Data is critical. It is easy for decision makers to assume that everyone has access to basic resources such as a mobile device, but data shows that this is not the case. Data has revealed that more access to technology is still required in several areas of the country, and there are still wide gender gaps in access to technology,” she noted.

    She further said data shows that there is a gap in the education, financial, and technology sectors, among others. She said research shows a significant representation of women at lower levels, but as one goes up the corporate ladder, their representation becomes less evident. She  said data is required to show these gaps and provide insights for policy formulation targeted at gender parity.

    The Team Lead, Strategy and Governance Advisory, FITC, Ebuka Emebinah, called for  a change of mindset from the classroom to the boardroom.

    He stated that women make up only 22 per cent of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduates from universities in Nigeria, a gap from 50 per cent in the United States, thereby leading to a lower level of female representation in the tech workforce.

    There, therefore, has to be efforts to catch them young, and provide a conducive environment, he said.

    Founder, The Experience Plug Systems (TEPS), Tobi Olanihun, said leveraging technology does not have to be about the big tools. She urged entrepreneurs to start small and leverage even the social media platforms to scale their businesses. “There are so many free project management and digital tools online that entrepreneurs can leverage to amplify themselves, their businesses, and any cause they are trying to amplify, start small and scale from there,” she said.

    In closing, Malize reiterated that the role of men in achieving gender equity is critical, be it in encouraging their female counterparts, sending opportunities their way, or assisting with career development. She also charged everyone to continue to do their part in ensuring equity is achieved and to keep deliberately and innovatively driving change within their sphere of influence.

    Malize said top 50 female tech leaders released by the company,  were painstakingly selected focusing on critical factors such as innovation, leadership, and societal impact, with a notable focus on technology for good.

    Speaking on the list, Malize extolled the contributions of the female tech leaders “they are distinguished for leading transformational change in their various organizations and sectors. They have leveraged technology to drive innovation, solution design, and customer experience, putting technology at the center of their operations. They have demonstrated tremendous capacity through their contributions to corporate growth and societal development leveraging technology and innovation” said Malize.

    “The FITC 50 Women in Tech list features three generations of women who are leading positions in business and corporations, and entrepreneurs who have set up impactful businesses bringing solutions to societal problems through their vision. In recognizing their giant stride, we are confident that their stories would inspire and birth a pipeline of new entrants and a next generation of female technology leaders,” Malize enthused.

    The list, which was intentionally unranked, includes movers and shakers such as Funke Opeke, Founder/CEO, Main One Cable; Nkemdilim Begho, MD/CEO, Future Software Resources Ltd.; Juliet Ehimuan, Country Director, Google; Amy Jaiyesimi, CEO, LADPOL; Yemi Keri, Chief Executive Officer, Heckerbella Limited; Kofo Akinkugbe, Founder CEO, Secure ID; Foluso Gbadamosi, Executive Director, Junior Achievement Nigeria; Wunmi Faiga, Chief Information Security Officer, NIBSS; Olatomiwa Williams, Country Manager, Microsoft; Favour Femi Oyewole, Chief Information Security Officer, Access Bank; Dr. Yinka David West, Director, (SIDFS), Associate Dean & Professor of Information Systems, Lagos Business School; Temie Giwa Tubosun, Founder/CEO,  LifeBank; Vanessa C. Malize, Technical Program Manager, Expedia Group; Confidence Staveley, Founder & Executive Director, Cybersafe Foundation among others.

  • Cash crunch heightens risks of financial exclusion

    Cash crunch heightens risks of financial exclusion

    • Fears over job losses, poverty
    • ’Public confidence in banks dropping’

    The fallouts of the ongoing controversial implementation of the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may reverse gains of Nigeria’s financial inclusion programmes.

    The resultant cash crunch from the policy could also undermine confidence in the banking sector, as small savers and micro businesses revert to holding on to cash.

    Increased reliance on banking apps and USSD platforms has negatively impacted bank performance, putting strain on the already unsteady infrastructure of digital banking.

    While bank transfers often take longer than usual and failed transactions take up to 10 days to be resolved, network failures, higher traffic, and understaffing in critical information technology departments have continued to challenge the e-payment industry and reduce confidence in the banking system.

    Most experts, who spoke on the implementation status of the naira redesign policy, expressed concerns over the negative fallouts of what they described as “poor implementation” of the policy, calling for more concerted efforts by the apex bank to address the crisis.    

    A source at the Presidency, who plays a key role in banking, said the country may miss its much-touted financial inclusion target as many Nigerians have lost confidence in the banking system.

    The CBN had set to achieve a 95 per cent financial inclusion target by 2024.

     “We will not reach the desired result of 80 per cent financial inclusion that we want on time.

    “Small traders are a bit disenfranchised. Somebody that has N100,000 and below cannot get access to N20,000 for a week and they are petty traders how do you expect them to operate,” the source said.

    The government official, however, assured that there would not be a run on the banks, following weakened deposits by average Nigerians and more withdrawals.

    He noted: “If you have N1 million, you don’t have any option but to go the banks.”

    The official dismissed suggestions that there would be staff layoffs as a fall out of the currency crisis. He believed that banks had made provisions for the crisis, arguing: “Once this cash crunch is over, the banks will reactivate redundant staff and departments to meet demand”.

     Prof Uche Uwaleke of Nasarawa State University said: “The major threat to the bankers now is also this cash crunch.

    “The way the currency redesign has been implemented such that a lot of people are beginning to lose confidence in the banking sector. People will prefer to keep their money at home instead of taking them to the bank.

    “You will notice that in recent times the level of cash deposits in the bank has dropped. Most people go to the bank for withdrawals and not deposits, and those who have cash prefer to sell them or take them to places where they can get money for them.

    “When you have this type of situation, of course it may lead to banks having no need for some categories of staff. It’s not something I think will cause banks to begin to layoff because I see this as temporary.

    “Now that the CBN has complied with the ruling, I am sure that with time this crisis will be over and banks will still need those staff so they may not really drop them.

    “This is something I don’t expect to drag beyond December. Once the situation normalises there will be use for everybody in the banks again. So, the point am making is yes, the situation is threatening the confidence in the banking sector and making people keep money at home instead of the banks and defeating the process of this financial inclusion.

    “CBN should try and avoid that by ensuring that more cash is pushed out. The cash withdrawal limit is eased, because as long as the limit is there, the scarcity will still remain and also ensure the situation gets normalised, otherwise some banks may be forced to close down some branches and that will mean laying off some staff.”

    “But if banks know the situation will normalise soon, that expectation will not allow them lay off their staff except they see that it will linger and there won’t be hope then they will have no choice because at the end of the day it will affect their earnings and they will have to report to their shareholders.”

    To ease the cash crunch and give the banks some breathing space, Uwaleke called on the Federal Government to consider paying in cash part of the salary for March for  civil servants.

    According to him, one way the government could ease the cash crunch is to get the Minister of Finance and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) to arrange for the payment of civil servants salaries for March in cash or a percentage of it just for this month, a one-off thing to make cash easily circulate to ease the crunch we are having.

    “If the CBN is certain, there’s enough cash, the government should pay March salary or a percentage by cash to civil servants,’’ he added.

    Managing Director, Mr Gbolade Idakolo, SD&D Capital Management Limited said the resultant effect of cashless policy would lead to job losses but the timing of the massive job loss is what had not been determined.

    According to him, with recent events, it could be a matter of months before we start seeing massive layoffs in the banking sector.

    Idakolo believes: “The efficiency of new financial services companies will also have negative implications for banks because these services will be encroaching into their traditional business areas which they have not efficiently served their customers.

    “I think bank staff should brace for these eventualities and have contingency plans in case of layoffs. The staff in the banking sector should also be prepared to seek employment in financial related environments where their services would be needed.”

    Also, increasing adoption of cash-less banking may have difficult implications for the teller jobs in banks and operators of the Banks Neutral Cash Hubs.

    In many of the banks’ branches, the bulk room tellers have little or nothing to do on daly basis.

    Many of them have been re-assigned to marketing customer service units, where they will add more value to the banks.

    A financial sector status report stated that the new development could lead to the scrapping of teller jobs in the next three years.

    Already, banks are cutting bulk teller jobs, and limiting cash handling to one or two tellers at every branch.

    In a report entitled: Repositioning for Relevance in a Competitive Environment former president, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Uche Olowu, said the business model of the banks was being challenged by technology.

    He said Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics are changing the game in customer relationships and front office operations.

    He said jobs previously reserved for officers such as tellers might become obsolete, adding that in the next three years, machines would be perform approximately 30 per cent of bank work.

    He said in recent years, banks have gone from investing in branches or other brick and mortar establishments to greater investments in financial technology (Fintech) and specialised human capital.

    Speaking on the rise of e-payment, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Grey Inc, Idorenyin Obon, said the company takes major steps to ensure transaction integrity and protect customer’s transactions.

    “At Grey, we are very mindful of legal and regulatory rules regarding our products and services. This is why we have a highly-competent compliance and legal team that conduct rigorous checks to ensure we remain compliant with the laws in each country.

    “Definitely. We are registered and regulated by FINTRAC and FinCEN. Though we are a fintech company, not a bank, our banking services are provided in collaboration with licensed banking partners who are also subject to all of the appropriate regulatory bodies in their countries,” Obon said.

    He added that the Covid-19 pandemic also helped to boost e-payment acceptance.

    “I like to think that the year of the pandemic was significant for us. We realized we could go beyond what we believed was possible during this year. Grey was established the same year the pandemic began, so it’s been an incredibly fruitful opportunity for us,” Obon said.

  • Fed Govt seeks N360b in new bond auction

    Fed Govt seeks N360b in new bond auction

    The Federal Government will today seek to raise about N360 billion in new borrowings part of its regular debt issuance aimed at bridging revenue deficit.

    At the bond auction, the Debt Management Office (DMO), which oversees the government’s debt issuance and management, will be offering for tenors of bonds to raise N90 billion on each tenor.

    The bonds on offer, which are reopening of previous issuances, include the 10-year, 13.98 per cent February 2028 bond with a previous stop rate of 13.99 per cent; the 15-year, 12.5000 per cent April 2032 bond with a previous stop rate of 14.90 per cent; the 20-year, 16.2499 per cent April 2037 bond with a previous stop rate of 15.90 per cent and the 30-year, 14.8000 per cent, April 2049 with a previous stop rate of 16.00 per cent.

    Most analysts, however, expected to raise more than the initial offer size, citing recent issuance trend and the preference for sovereign securities by investors.

    At the recent auction, investors had staked N906.21 billion on the Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs), more than quadruple of the government’s offer, providing headroom for government to increase its initial offer by 44.5 per cent.

    Closing report on the latest primary market auction of the NTBs conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the government had offered N224.50 billion across three tenors of 91-day, 182-day and 364-day NTBs.

    Total subscriptions by investors, however, peaked at N906.21 billion, an increase of 303.7 per cent on the initial offer size. With the strong liquidity, the apex bank fully allotted its offers of N1.03 billion and N10.55 billion for the 91-day and 182-day NTBs. It increased allotment for the 364-day NTBs from the initial offer size of N212.92 billion to N312.92 billion.

    The report showed that stop rates for the 182-day and 364-day cleared higher at six per cent and 10 per cent. However, the stop rate for the 91-day tenor cleared lower at 1.44 per cent.

    The Federal Government had raised about N2.13 trillion in new debts from the domestic capital market within the first two months of this year.

    Data obtained by The Nation’s Economic Intelligence had shown that the government has stepped up its borrowings across all instruments as risk-averse investors crowded around sovereign debt issuances.

    The data indicated that the government raised N2.129 trillion between January and February,  this year through regular bond issuance, the retails savings bonds and treasury bills.

    Faced with sovereign downgrades by global rating agencies, with attendant higher risk profile and cost for international debt issuances, there were indications that government might have narrowed down to the domestic capital market to raise N8.8 trillion regular debt component of the 2023’s N10.78 trillion deficit.

    A breakdown showed that the government raised N1.189 trillion in February, 26.4 per cent above N940.62 billion raised in January 2023.

    In January, this year, the government raised N662.617 billion through its regular bond auction, N277.468billion through the Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs) and N533.03 million through the Federal Government of Nigeria Savings Bonds (FGNSBs), a retail monthly debt issuance introduced in 2017.

    Last month, the government raised N770.56 billion through bond auction, N417.064 billion through NTBs and N1.271 billion through the FGNSBs.  

    Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, at the public presentation of the breakdown and highlights of the 2023 budget proposal, said the overall budget deficit of N10.78 trillion for 2023 would largely be financed through domestic loans.

    She outlined that the budget deficit would be financed mainly by borrowings including domestic sources, N7.04 trillion; foreign sources, N1.76 trillion; multilateral and bi-lateral loan drawdowns, N1.77 billion and expected N206.18 billion proceeds from privatization of national assets.

    While experts agreed that rising demand for sovereign debts provides government with a comfortable fallback option, many analysts said government’s domestic mop up may crowd out other issuers and raise cost of fund.           

    The February 2023 issuances illustrated the crowded demand for sovereign debts. Transactional report for the February 2023 bond auction indicated that the bond auction received a total bid of N992.11 billion, about 176 per cent above government’s offer size of N360 billion.

    Government had offered to raise N90 billion each across four tenors of bonds but three of the four bonds were overwhelmingly oversubscribed, providing the government headroom to mop up more funds.

    The bid-to-cover ratios for the 10-year FGN FEB 2028, 10-year FGN APR 2032, 20-year FGN APR 2037, and 30-year FGN APR 2049 bonds were 3.29 times, 0.87 times, 3.30 times, and 3.57 times respectively.

    The Debt Management Office (DMO), which oversees the issuance and management of Nigeria’s sovereign debts, increased allotments across the three oversubscribed bonds, while reducing allotment for the undersubscribed bond.

    The government allotted N257.41 billion to investors in the 10-year FGN Feb 2028 bond as against total subscription of N296.214 billion, N51.12 billion to the undersubscribed 10-year FGN Apr 2032 bond, which recorded total subscription of N77.998 billion; N220.56 billion for the 20-year FGN Apr 2037 bond as against total subscription of N296.619 billion and N241.47 billion was allotted to the 30-year FGN Apr 2049 bond, which had the highest subscription of N321.274 billion. The marginal rates for the bonds were 13.99 per cent, 14.90 per cent, 15.90 per cent and 16.00 per cent respectively.

    Analysts at Arthur Steven Asset Management noted that the total subscription of N992.11 billion in February was higher than N805.17 billion total subscription recorded in January 2023, an increase of 23.22 per cent.

    Analysts attributed the increase in subscription to increase in liquidity and strategic portfolio positioning for the year.

    According to analysts, the subscription for the long-tenored 2049 bond showed that more investors still prefer longer maturities despite the downgrade of the country’s credit rating.

  • Ex-deputy speaker commends constituents for voting PDP

    Ex-deputy speaker commends constituents for voting PDP

    Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Chibudom Nwuche has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the orderly and peaceful conduct of the March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly election.

    Nwuche gave the commendation after casting his vote at Ochigba Unit 004 Ward 6 in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers state.

    He hailed INEC for the early arrival of materials and commencement of accreditation and voting as scheduled and the overall conduct of the election especially in Rivers State which he judged peaceful, free and fair.

    The former rep member said the electorate came out in their numbers to perform their civic responsibilities.

    Nwuche, who later received Ochigba People at his residence, thanked them for voting massively for the Peoples Democratic Party, saying the party recorded 98 per cent votes in all six polling units for both the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    Speaking on behalf of the people, the Leader of PDP in Ochigba community, ChrisMark Enwudor told Nwuche that the community decided to come and brief him on the outcome of the election saying that in keeping with his urge and directive as their political leader, the community delivered all their votes for PDP to demonstrate the earlier resolve to vote PDP and the love they have for him and the party.

    “The elections in my unit in Ahoada East LGA in Rivers State were generally free, fair and credible. The people freely voted for their preferred parties and candidates in an atmosphere devoid of violence and intimidation. The masses listened to the leaders they trusted and believed in,” he said.

  • Yobe Speaker loses seat to 32-year-old after 20 years in assembly

    Yobe Speaker loses seat to 32-year-old after 20 years in assembly

    Yobe State House of Assembly Speaker Ahmed Lawan Mirwa has lost his reelection bid for the Nguru State Constituency II.

    Announcing the results of the House of Assembly election, Returning Officer Habib Muhammad said Musa Lawan Majakura of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 6,648 votes to defeat incumbent Mirwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who got 6,466 votes.

    Muhammed announced that Isah Sa’idu Shehu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) scored 30 votes, Bukar Jatau of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) got 23 votes, and Mai Zaire Idriss of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) scored 14 votes.

    The returning officer declared Majakura as the winner of the election for Nguru State Constituency II.

    According to the candidates’ bio-data list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Majakura is 32 years old.

    Mirwa, the incumbent speaker, was first elected into the Yobe State House of Assembly in 2003.

  • APC wins Gombe, Jigawa, Yobe, Katsina, Sokoto

    APC wins Gombe, Jigawa, Yobe, Katsina, Sokoto

    • Sanwo-Olu, Makinde, Abiodun, AbdulRazaq re-elected
    • PDP’s Umo Eno wins Akwa Ibom
    • INEC declares Enugu election inconclusive
    • Governors maintain hold on Assemblies

    By Bisi Oladele, Yinka Adeniran, Segun Showunmi, Ibadan; Bassey Anthony, Uyo; Sola Shittu, Gombe; Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin; Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta; Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse; Duku Joel, Damaturu; Augustine Okezie, Katsina and Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

    Ten states yesterday got to know who their next governors will be.

    After Saturday’s governorship and Houses of Assembly elections, results were collated. More is expected today.

    States declared so far are Oyo, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Gombe, Kwara, Ogun, Jigawa, Yobe, Katsina and Sokoto.

    Jigawa

    APC’s Umar Namadi Danmodi was declared the winner of the Jigawa State governorship election.

    The RO, Prof Muhammad Umar, said the APC candidate polled 618,449 votes to defeat his PDP counterpart, Dr Mustapha Sule Lamido, who got

    368,726 votes.

    NNPP’s Ibrahim Ringim polled 37,156 votes, while Labour Party (LP) got 965 votes.

    The total number of registered voters was 2,351,298, while the votes cast were 1,052,793, of which 1,032,567 were valid and 20,226

    invalid.

    PDP’s agent, Aminu Dokajo, rejected the results.

    He urged INEC to declare the election inconclusive over the massive cancellation of many units.

    Yobe

    APC candidate and Yobe governor Mai Mala Buni won re-election after polling 317,113 votes.

    He beat his closest opponent, PDP’s Sherif Abdullahi, who scored 124, 259 votes.

    The RO and Vice-Chancellor, of Federal University Kashere in Gombe, Prof. Umaru Pate, said Buni “satisfied the requirements of the law is

    hereby declared the winner of the election, and returned elected”.

    NNPP candidate, Alhaji Garba Umar, came third with 14,246 votes, while the Action Alliance (AA) candidate, Arabi Mohammed, polled 3,260.

    The total number of registered voters was 1,485,141, the total accredited voters were 459,492, the valid votes were 444,567, rejected

    votes were 13,214, while the votes cast stood at 457,781.

    The NNPP candidate rejected the result, vowing to

    challenge it in court.

    Umar accused the APC in Yobe of using COVID-19

    palliatives to induce voters.

    Katsina

    APC governorship candidate in Katsina State, Dr. Umar Dikko Radda, was declared the winner.

    He polled 859,892 votes to defeat his closet rival,

    Senator Yakubu Lado Danmarke of the PDP, who scored 486, 620.

    The RO and Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State, Prof Mua’zu Gusau, said the total registered voters were 3,316,719 while accredited voters were 1,399,291.

    According to him, 1,38,647 votes were cast of which 1,365,848 were valid, while 20,579 were invalid.

    Gombe

    Gombe State Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of the APC was re-elected for a second term after polling 342,821 votes.

    He defeated Jibrin Barde of the PDP, who scored 233,131.

    New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate Khamisu Mailantarki got 19,861.

    The RO, Prof Memuna Waziri, said 21, 390 votes were rejected, adding that there were 605,355 valid votes of the 1,575,794 cast.

    Yahaya promised to run an inclusive government.

    “I’m ready to work with all stakeholders in running an all-inclusive government for the good of our people.

    “I am, therefore, calling on all the contestants to come and support us in moving our state.

    “This victory is not Inuwa Yahaya’s or APC’s victory

    alone, it is a victory for all citizens of Gombe State.

    “The roads, hospitals, schools and other development projects and dividends of democracy we provided over the past four years and

    which we shall continue to provide are not for our supporters alone, but for all citizens of Gombe State irrespective of ethnic, religious or partisan

    affiliation.”

    Sokoto

    APC candidate Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto was declared the winner of the Sokoto State governorship election, with 453,661 votes.

    A margin of 44,029 votes separated him from his opponent, PDP’s Sa’idu Umar Ubandoma, who scored 404,632.

    Sokoto won 18 of 23 LGas.

    The RO, Prof. Armaya’u Hamisu of the Federal University, Dutsinma, Katsina State, said the APC candidate satisfied the requirement of the law to be returned elected.

    Oyo

    Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde won a second term.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate was victorious in 31 of 33 local government areas (LGAs).

    Makinde polled 563,756 votes to beat his closest rival, Teslim Folarin of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 256,685.

    Accord Party candidate, Adebayo Adelabu got 38,357 votes.

    Makinde’s total votes were up by over 50,000 compared with the 510,000 votes he garnered in 2019.

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) State Returning Officer (RO), Prof. Adebayo Banire, said Makinde met the requirements to be returned for a second term.

    The governor lost to Folarin in only Irepo and Orelope LGAs, both of which are in the Oke-Ogun area.

    Makinde dedicated his victory to God and the people of the state.

    The governor, joined by his wife, Tamunominimin, was flanked by family, friends and associates.

    He said the incoming administration, which he tagged Omituntun 2.0, will be better.

    The governor told reporters: “Right now, I am just overwhelmed. I want to thank the good people of Oyo State for the confidence they have reposed in this administration and my ability to lead them.

    “I also want to say thank you to all my friends and colleagues throughout the country who did one thing or the other for us to support this administration.

    “I think the reward for hard work is more work. So, for this second tenure, we will work harder for the people of Oyo State than we did in the first tenure.

    “As I said on the campaign trail, Omituntun 2.0 is a film that will be a lot better, sweeter and more effective when compared to Omiuntun 1.0.

    “So, I want to say thank you to my leaders, elders, our supporters, who have done well. This victory is dedicated to God and the good people of Oyo State.”

    He said the 63 per cent of the votes he got was unprecedented.

    The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun,

    congratulated Makinde, describing his re-election as a reward for his good work.

    He urged him not to relax in his second term.

    In a statement by his media aide, Oladele Ogunsola, the monarch said: “There’s always the tendency for a second-termer to be lethargic

    because there’s nothing to aspire for again, at least at the state level.

    “I appeal to you to see the new mandate as a call to

    do more in terms of service delivery.

    “The confidence reposed in you by the people by voting you in is hinged on hope for more dividends of democracy by your government.”

    Adelabu also greeted Makinde on his victory.

    He said in a statement: “It is my strong belief that

    election should not be a do or die affair, as God changes times and seasons, he enthrones and dethrones kings according to his wish. God’s time is the best.

    “Election is all about giving our state the best in

    governance and achieving the desired socio-economic development to improve the welfare and prosperity of our people.

    “While we will continue in our constructive, objective and helpful criticism of government policies and programs, all that matters now

    is joining hands with the governor in our respective capacity to achieve the desired people-oriented development for the state, for posterity to smile on

    us.”

    Akwa Ibom

    PDP’s Pastor Umo Eno was declared the winner of the governorship election in Akwa Ibom.

    He polled 356,346 votes to defeat Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate, Bassey Akpan, who scored 136,262 votes.

    APC’s Akanimo Udofia came third with 129,602 votes.

    The RO and Vice Chancellor of Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, Prof Emmanuel Adigio, said: “Pastor Umo Eno of

    the PDP having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared winner of the governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.”

    The PDP won in 29 of 31 LGAs; the YPP won in two – Ikono and Ibiono Ibom.

    YPP agent, Mr Kelvin Umoh, rejected the results, alleging widespread violence and intimidation that resulted in the killing of supporters.

    Ogun

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun won a second term with 276,298 votes.

    He beat PDP’s Oladipupo Adebutu, who scored 262,383 votes; and Olubiyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who polled 94,754 votes.

    The RO/Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, said Abiodun satisfied the requirements of the law to be

    declared the winner.

    There were 2,688,305 registered voters in the state, of which 666,506 were accredited.

    The total valid votes were 645,133, while 18,835 votes were voided.

    PDP governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, objected to the cancellation of results in 54 polling units.

    He said the voters were disenfranchised in units across Remo North, Sagamu, Ifo, Abeokuta South, Egbado South and Ado/Odo/Ota LGAs

    which were his strongholds.

    Abiodun commended the people for renewing his mandate for another term of four years

    He described his victory as heart-warming, and “further proof that no man can play God or stop what God has ordained”.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle

    Somorin on Sunday, Abiodun said his reelection was a sign of good faith and a vote of confidence in his administration, promising that his second term would be better.

    Thanking party leaders and supporters, he promised to be a participatory government with the hallmarks of transparency, accountability

    and fairness in its development agenda.

    Kwara

    INEC declared Kwara State Governor AbdulRaman Abdulrazaq winner, with 273,424 votes.

    The APC candidate defeated his rival, Shuaib Yaman Abdullahi, of the PDP, who scored 155,490 votes.

    The RO, Prof Isaac Itodo, said Abdulrazaq satisfied the legal requirements to be returned elected.

    Lagos

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was re-elected.

    In the result declared early this morning, he won in 19 of 20 LGAs, losing only Amuwo Odofin.

  • Cross River: Hoodlums attack Ogoja collation centre

    Cross River: Hoodlums attack Ogoja collation centre

    • Thugs invade INEC local govt office in Abia

    Hoodlums armed with guns and machetes yesterday attacked the Ogoja Local Government Area’s office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation centre in Cross River State.

    The hoodlums stormed the centre when results for the House of Assembly election in Ogoja constituency were being announced.

    The state police command’s spokesman Irene Ugbo, a Superintendent of Police (SP), confirmed the incident.

    But she said the situation was quickly brought under control.

    Ugbo said most of the hoodlums had been arrested and were being profiled to ascertain the level of their involvement in the attack.

    The Local Government Collation Officer, Dr. Paul Bassey, who was injured during the attack and taken to hospital, described the incident as “barbaric”.

    Bassey said his laptop and duplicate result sheets were destroyed during the attack.

    “One of my colleagues is still being treated in the theatre. I pray he comes out alive as heavy stones and planks were used on him,” he said.

    The Electoral Officer for Ogoja Local Government, Mr. Peter Kolo, said the hoodlums broke security barriers at the collation centre with the intent to destroy the election results.

    “As I speak with you, we have recovered all the results from both the BVAS and uploaded results in the portal. We will soon resume announcing the results from the three remaining wards,” Kolo said.

    The State Constituency Collation Officer, Dr. Timothy Ellah of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), said he sustained injury from the beating he received during the attack.

    “We have, however, recovered all the results and we are ready to resume announcing the results,” Ellah said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC had announced the election results of seven out of the 10 wards for Ogoja Assembly seat when the hoodlums attacked the collation centre.

    Also, suspected political thugs have reportedly invaded the Obingwa Local Government Area office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In its official Twitter handle; @inecnigeria, the commission confirmed the invasion of its facility by the thugs.

    “Thugs have invaded our Obingwa Local Government Area office in Abia State.

    “Security agencies have been alerted.

    “The commission is monitoring the situation and will issue a statement shortly,” the tweet said.

  • Polls: Police arrest 17 suspects in Lagos

    Polls: Police arrest 17 suspects in Lagos

    THE Lagos State Police Command has said it arrested 17 persons, including a woman, during the governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state for various offences.

    The command’s spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin, a Superintendent of Police (SP), confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Ikeja.

    NAN reports that Police Commissioner Idowu Owohunwa, on Saturday, told reporters that the list of persons arrested was being compiled and would be released yesterday.

    Hundeyin said those arrested were involved in 21 cases, including attack on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, vandalism and ballot box snatching.

    Others are: fake INEC identity possession, conduct likely to cause breach of peace, assault causing harm and illegal possession of firearms.

    Hundeyin said all 17 suspects had been taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.

    He said those culpable of electoral offences would be handed over to INEC for prosecution, while those for other criminal offences would be charged in court.

  • LP threatens nationwide protest over alleged manipulation of poll results in Abia, Enugu

    LP threatens nationwide protest over alleged manipulation of poll results in Abia, Enugu

    The national leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has alleged that election results were manipulated by members of the opposition in Abia and Enugu states.

    In a statement yesterday, LP National Chairman Julius Abure alleged that supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State held some staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hostage at Obingwa Local Government Area.

    The LP national chairman also accused the PDP in Enugu State of tampering with results of the governorship election.

    “Today, we are again witnessing a situation where a sitting governor in Abia State is fully involved in an attempt to upturn the victory of the Labour Party candidate, Alex Otti, in the Abia State governorship election that has been won by our candidate.

    “The same scenario is presently playing out in Enugu State where Labour Party’s candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, is presently leading in virtually all the local governments so far announced.

    “As we speak, INEC workers are held hostage at Obingwa Local Government Area …to rewrite the results already compiled by INEC officials, despite an order from the election body asking their staff members to head to Umuahia to collate results for the election, which is in favor of Labour’s Alex Otti.

    “This is one robbery too many. While Nigerians are yet to get over the ugly rape of a democratic process in last month’s presidential election by the ruling party at the centre, the PDP has been found engaged in the most shameless manner and disregard for the rights of the citizens.

    “We, therefore, call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to intervene and ensure the transfer of all electoral materials to Umuahia where the sanctity of the election and the safety of the officials in charge can be guaranteed…

    “We have endured what no other political party in the country has endured in the last few weeks because we believe in due process. But it appears this is taken for granted. We may not be patient for too long,”he said.

    “Let me sound it for the first time that we will resist every attempt by the PDP in Abia and Enugu states to upturn our mandate.

    “It should be recalled that the PDP in both states had issued a threat to opposition parties, which was specifically targeted at Labour Party after sweeping the states during the presidential election. This threat is already manifesting that the ruling party was only interested in rigging elections.

    “The Labour Party had thoroughly reviewed all infractions and we have vowed to never again allow the use of foul means to usurp power as it was done in the past and merely ask us to go to court.

    “If this is not addressed, we will be left with no choice other than to mobilise OBIdients all over the country to take over the streets across the length and breadth of the country.”

  • Soldiers batter Benue Rep at Gboko hotel

    Soldiers batter Benue Rep at Gboko hotel

    • ‘I have stitches on my face and head from the assault’

    The House of Representatives member representing Buruku Federal Constituency of Benue State, Kpam Sokpo, has narrated how some soldiers beat him up on the eve of the governorship and House of Assembly elections at a hotel in Gboko.

    Sokpo, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to Labour Party (LP) after he failed in his second term bid.

    Sokpo had lost the National Assembly poll to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Sekav Iortyom, on February 25.

    He said: “I don’t know what came over them. I came to the hotel where I was staying in Gboko at Old Barn Resort. Around 2:30 a.m, about five trucks filled with over 60 soldiers arrived the place.

    “I sat there with some of my friends. When they alighted from their vehicles, they just took positions.

    “I got up from where I was sitting to do something and one of them approached me and asked why I was walking in the manner I was walking.

    “As I started talking, he slapped me on the face. I asked why he did that and I introduced myself as a House of Representatives member. I said he did not know me and he just slapped me in the face.

    “Before I knew what was happening, more than 30 soldiers just pounced on me, using the butts of their guns to injure me.

    “As I speak with you, I have stitches on my face and on my head. I have all kinds of injuries on my body.

    “While this was going on, their Commanding Officer came in and called for calm. Shortly after, they went on to harass me and collected everything in my car, including piece of papers.

    “The one who started assaulting me, threatened that he could even kill me. I did not get their names because they removed their name tags before assaulting me.

    “Believe me, I do not know why they did this to me. I have gone to the hospital to stitch the cuts and treat myself. But I have reported the matter to the police and the Security Adviser to the Governor of Benue State.”

    Corroborating Sokpo’s story, an eyewitness, who pleaded not to be named, said: “Yesterday, between 2 a.m and 3 a.m, soldiers came and surrounded Old Barn Hotel and were breaking into the hotel rooms.

    “They were searching room after room. They would knock on a customer’s door and when they do not open their doors to them, they forced it open.

    “They eventually had an encounter with Kpam Sopko, the House of Representatives member from Buruku, who is of the Labour Party (LP). They beat him up mercilessly and left him severely injured.

    “The soldiers claimed that they got intelligence that guns and other weapons were brought into the hotel to be used to disrupt and possibly rig the election.

    “The soldiers, who were more than 30, came to the hotel in two armoured vehicles and a military truck.”

    The Nation also gathered that at the time the soldiers invaded the hotel, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Tony Ijoho, was lodged in the hotel.

    Last night, the state police command spokesperson Kate Anene, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said: “We are yet to get the information. I will get back to you once we get the information.”