The Nation Newspaper

Category: Nigeria Decides 2023

Nigeria Decides 2023

  • Abdulrazaq wins polling unit, decries low turnout

    Abdulrazaq wins polling unit, decries low turnout

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRaman Abdulrazaq has won his Idigba ward polling unit 004.

    He is on the ballot for reelection under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    APC polled 243 votes in the unit as against 58 by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The governor had urged more voters to come out following reports of low turnout in some areas.

    His polling unit and many areas of Adewole Ward, however, recorded large turnouts.

    “It’s been a mixed bag in terms of the turnout — appreciably large in some places and quite low in some areas — and we urge more people to come out,” he told reporters after voting alongside his wife Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq and other members of his family.

    “Going by the turnout in this polling unit, this is impressive.

    “But nationwide, including in parts of Kwara State, the turnout is a bit lower than the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “On the BVAS, the reports so far show that there are improvements compared to the last elections.”

    The governor also commended the polling officers for arriving early.

    He is confident about winning a second term.

  • Lalong applauds INEC, police on peaceful poll

    Lalong applauds INEC, police on peaceful poll

    Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for a peaceful election.

    Speaking with reporters after casting his vote at his Ajikamai polling units, he said there was an improvement on the previous election.

    Lalong along with his wife Regina and family members were accredited and cleared to vote at about noon.

    The governor said the exercise was seamless as the BVAS machine verified him and others within two minutes.

    He said reports reaching him from various parts of the state indicate that the exercise was going on smoothly except for the low turnout reported in some areas.

    He believed more people would turn out before voting closes.

    The governor was optimistic that Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) would win and succeed him.

  • Makinde wins polling unit

    Makinde wins polling unit


    Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde has won in his polling unit.

    He voted at Unit 1, Ward 11, Ibadan North East Local Government of the state.

    Makinde, who is the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), polled 174 votes to defeat others.

    Read Also : Makinde declares today half day for civil servants

    His closest rival, Teslim Folarin of the APC, polled 28 votes at the unit while Accord Party candidate Bayo Adelabu scored five votes to come third at the unit.

    The presiding officer, Emmanuel Oduyela, announced the result at 4:05pm.

  • Two shot dead, houses burnt in Delta community

    Two shot dead, houses burnt in Delta community

    Two persons have been reportedly shot dead and a building set on fire at Mosogar community, Ethiope West council area of Delta state.

    At Amukpe, Sapele LGA, a youth reportedly lost his hand during a clash in one of the polling units in the area.

    The torched building is owned by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Wilson Omene.

  • I’ll accept outcome of poll, Bauchi Gov assures

    I’ll accept outcome of poll, Bauchi Gov assures

    Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed has said he will willingly accept the outcome of the Governorship/Assembly elections in the State.

    He spoke on Saturday in his hometown, Yelwan Duguri in the Alkaleri Local Government Area.

    He arrived at his polling unit, Barkin Dutse Primary school, Unit 8, alongside his wife, Aisha around noon.

    There was a heavy presence of security personnel, including operatives of the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at the Governor’s polling unit.

    Speaking to journalists shortly after casting his vote, he commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), saying the process has been smooth without hitches so far.

    He also expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the exercise in the state

    Mohammed, who is seeking re-election, said he is ready to accept the outcome of the gubernatorial poll.

    “Well, as I came here, you know my village is about 120 kilometers from the Bauchi metropolis and I see people come out. The turnout is high here.

    ‘’I’m happy that everything appears to be very peaceful and I feel this is the kind of situation we need all over the country.  People exercise their franchises without hindrance, acrimony, and conflict. We are very grateful to God. INEC has done very well as far as I’m concerned.  We are ready to accept the outcome of the election.’’

    He raised concerns over the hovering of a military helicopter in some communities in Alkaleri.

    Mohammed, who condemned the development, said: ” I’ve been complaining about the militarisation of the electoral process and I’ve complained to Mr. President and I’ve also complained to all the security agencies.

    ‘’Left to me, I didn’t want any air force personnel to participate in the election because a former Chief of Air Staff is competing with me. I didn’t want him to be given undue advantage”

  • Voters Apathy greets Niger Gov/Assembly elections

    Voters Apathy greets Niger Gov/Assembly elections

    There is a low turnout of voters in the Governorship and House of Assembly elections across Niger state.

    In Minna metropolis, in polling units in Tunga, Kpagungu, Chachanga and Bosso, fewer votes came out compared to what obtained during the Presidential/National Assembly elections.

    When The Nation visited the Alhaji Baba Ahmed Agaie, Abdulsalami Garage, Audu Gunu, Limawa A and B, Nasawara A and B, Army Barracks and other polling units, there were not many people there.

    Unlike the Presidential elections where traders did not open their shops, shops and food vendors opened in several parts of the State.

    Election materials and officials arrived at the polling units around 8 am but by 9 am voting had started in most of the polling units.

    Speaking to newsmen after casting his votes in Minna, former Niger Governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said that the apathy was because the people were disenchanted with the results of the February 25.

  • Finance Minister scores INEC high

    Finance Minister scores INEC high

    The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed has said that there is a great improvement in the electoral process during the ongoing Governorship and Assembly elections compared to the Presidential poll.

    The Finance Minister gave the commendation at Kawo LEA primary school’s polling unit in Kaduna North Local Government Area.

    She however dismissed the inclination of voter apathy saying “It is too early to make that call.”

    According to her: “The process is well organised. I have also seen people that have voted and are just waiting around to observe the process and I want to say that the process is very peaceful.”

    Read Also : Kogi Gov Bello hails INEC

    Commenting on voter apathy, she said: “I think it is too early to make that call, the women will come out around 12 because they will stay at home to do what women do and also because the process is very efficient this time, people are coming and going.”

    She commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ‘for a job well done.’

  • Soldiers arrest suspected thugs in Enugu

    Soldiers arrest suspected thugs in Enugu

    Military personnel on election duty in Enugu State have arrested thugs working for one of the political parties in the State.

    One of the suspected thugs, identified simply as Uche, was said to have attempted to disrupt voting at one of the polling units in Obiagu, Enugu North Local Government Area.

    He was however filmed by one of the domestic observers with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Mr. Nnanna Nwangwu, a development that forced him to attack the observer.

    The thug in the process snatched the phone from the observer and smashed it into pieces on the ground.

    A video obtained by The Nation showed Nnanna crying out after the attack.

    It took the timely intervention of the military to save the domestic observer before they arrested the suspects.

    Nnanna said he was at the polling unit located within the Obiagu Road Primary School to observe the ongoing governorship and House of Assembly elections when the political thug attacked him.

    “A thug attacked me for observing the process. He ordered that I should leave and ceased my phone. Thanks to the Nigerian Army who intervened,” Nnanna said.

  • Wamakko hails INEC, urges peaceful conduct

    Wamakko hails INEC, urges peaceful conduct

    Former Sokoto Governor Senator Aliyu Wamakko has expressed satisfaction with the genuine and purposeful arrangement by INEC on the ongoing Governorship and Assembly polls in Sokoto state.

    Wamakko spoke shortly after casting his vote at the Gidan Kara PU 011 in Wamakko local government.

    The APC Senator, who is also seeking to return to the National Assembly, appealed to Nigerians to be peaceful and orderly while exercising their franchise.

    The lawmaker said he is also impressed with the large turnout of voters.

    He hailed the process, which he described as the only means to restore confidence among voters given the peaceful atmosphere.

    “Nigerians should be allowed to vote for candidates of their choice who they believe could do better,” he added.

  • Massive turnout as Abiodun, Adebutu vote in Ogun

    Massive turnout as Abiodun, Adebutu vote in Ogun

    The Governorship and Assembly elections commenced peacefully in Ogun State with eligible voters trooping out en mass to exercise their franchise.

    Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) voted at his unit 3 ward 1 in Regun area of Iperu town a few minutes after 11:00 am while Oladipupo Adebutu voted at 10.59 am at Ward 5, polling unit 4, Wesley Primary School Iperu.

    Iperu is the hometown of Abiodun and Adebutu, who is the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Adebutu described the turnout of voters as impressive and expressed the hope that their expressed wishes would count at the end of the day.

    At polling unit 011, ward 5 situating at Open field Wesley Nursery and Primary School Iperu, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC presiding officer, Aribisala Opeyemi, said voting commenced at 8.30 with turn out of the voters exceeding what witnessed during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Describing the BVAS performance as impressive, he said that of the 719 registered voters at the unit, 76 voters have already been accredited as of 8.50am.

    Also in Ward 5, polling unit 4, Wesley Primary School Iperu where the turnout was very high, the INEC presiding officer, Taiwo Opeyemi, said the BVAS performance was excellent and gave the number of registered voters at the unit as 750 while less than 100 have so far been accredited as of 8.49am.

    Taiwo recalled that 230 people voted at the same unit during the last Presidential and National Assembly polls.

    There was also large turnout at polling unit 009, Ward 5, Appollo School Iperu in Ikenne Local Government Area.

    An APC chieftain in the area, Hon. Oluwole Ojunronye, who is monitoring the exercise described it as peaceful.