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Tag: Abiodun

  • Abiodun, Offiong rout opponents in opener

    Bode Abiodun and Edem Offiong were relentless in their win against their opponents at the ongoing ITTF World Championships in Budapest after recording 4-0 and 4-1 respectively in their group opener.

    It was Edem Offiong who gave Nigeria more hope in the women’s singles as she walloped Latvia’s KLIMANOVA Natalija with 11-6, 3-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-4 to improve her chance of advancing to the elite stage of the women’s singles.

    Like Offiong, Abiodun was no match for New Zealand’s Dainis Reinholds after a convincing 11-6, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 to put one leg into the main draw.

    Offiong, Abiodun, Olufunke Oshonaike, Segun Toriola, Olajide Omotayo and Ajoke Ojomu will be playing their last group matches with the sole aim of picking slots in the main draw of the men and women’s singles.

  • We’re determined to make difference in governance, says Abiodun

    OGUN State Governor-elect Dapo Abiodun yesterday declared that his incoming  administration is determined to make a difference in governance.

    Abiodun expressed the hope that Governor Ibikunle Amosun would provide timely and accurate information on the ongoing projects and the general state of affairs of the people’s common patrimony to enable him to face governance seamlessly.

    The governor-elect spoke in Ogere, Ogun State, during the formal inauguration of his Economic Transition Committee (ETC) and Work Groups.

    He noted that he is not unmindful of the fact that people have become quite cynical of government and the political class because of their experiences.

    Abiodun, however, pledged that he would be different, adding that he would provide leadership that could earn the confidence of the people.

    He also pledged to run a government that has a character that could be trusted.

    The 23-member ETC is chaired by Mr. Tunde Lemo, a former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria. Dapo Okubadejo will serve as its secretary.

  • Ogun, Lagos to set up joint development commission, says Abiodun

    A Lagos/Ogun joint development commission is in the offing , according to Ogun State Governor-elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    Abiodun, speaking at a strategic session with the state chapter of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other members of the organised private sector at Agbara, Ado-Odo-Otta council area of the state, he said he and his Lagos State counter-part, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu were on the same page on the proposal.

    Read also: Amosun’s govt owes N170m deductions, Ogun Poly workers allege

    The planned agency, he said, would help drive the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of both states and enhance rapid development and transformation of their border communities.

    Abiodun also said that improved security and upgrading of infrastructure would be aggressively pursued by his administration.

    The governor-elect was with his running mate, Mrs. Noimot Oyedele – Salako at the meeting.

  • OPC greets Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun

    The Oodua People’s Congress-Reformed (OPC-R) has congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors-elect in Lagos and Ogun States, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dapo Abiodun.

    A statement yesterday by its President, Comrade Dare Adesope, said the victories have justified the confidence the people of southwest repose in the ruling party.

    Adesope also attributed the party’s victory to the uncommon leadership of APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    According to him, Tinubu has done Lagos and southwest good by fathering meaningful and smart governors, including ex-governor Babatunde Fashola and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who have made giant strides in office.

    The statement reads: “I congratulate the governors-elect of Lagos and Ogun States, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dapo Abiodun, for their victory at the polls. Once they are sworn into office, they should work harder than their predecessors.

    “They should not stampede the efforts of their predecessors by condemning some of their good policies and programmes, rather, they should upgrade unfinished projects and initiate their own meaningful projects too.

    “Going by recent events in the states, the governors-elect should know that nobody is above the party, therefore, they should respect party members irrespective of age or status because everyone is important in his own right.”

     

  • Polls: Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, Makinde, AbdulRazaq win

    Governors-elect… Ugwuanyi, Yahaya, Ikpeazu, Abubakar, Umahi, Emmanuel

    BABAJIDE Sanwo-Olu, banker, politician and public administrator was yesterday declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Lagos State.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced also frontline businessman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as winner in Kwara State.

    Inuwa Yahaya won in Gombe State. Dapo Abiodun carried the day in Ogun State. His victory was announced at 1am. The governors-elect ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The electoral umpire also announced Seyi Makinde and Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winners of the governorship elections in Oyo and Enugu states.

    The results from many of the states were still being collated by the electoral umpire this morning.

    Sanwo-Olu, two-time commissioner in Lagos, polled 739,445 to beat his closest rival, Jimi Agbaje of the PDP, who polled 206, 141.

    The defeat is the third to be suffered by Agbaje in the  Centre of Excellence.

    His first was in 2007 as the Progressives Action Congress (PAC) candidate. He lost to Babatunde Fashola of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He also lost to incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC in 2015 as the PDP candidate.

    Agbaje called Sanwo-Olu to concede defeat at 7.07pm, shortly after the APC candidate was declared governor-elect. Here is a report of the events in the states where the elections had been concluded last night:

    KWARA

    AbdulRazaq was declared the winner of the election after polling  votes.

     

     

    Announcing the result, the state’s Chief Returning Officer, Prof Muhammad Sanusi Liman, declared that “having scored the majority votes out of all the participating parties, AbdulRazaq is hereby declared as the governor-elect of the state”.

    The APC won all the 24 seats in the House of Assembly.

    Yesterday’s declaration ended the age-long Saraki dynasty in the Northcentral state.

    The APC had earlier won the three senatorial seats in Kwara during the February 23 Presidential/National Assembly Elections. Senatae President Bukola Saraki lost his bid to retain the Central Senatorial slot for the PDP.

    President Muhammadu Buhar331,546 votes to defeat his closest rival, Abdulrazak Atunwa of the PDP, who garnered 114,754i also beat his PDP challenger, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    Reacting to the victory, the state chairman of the APC, Bashir Bolarinwa, said it was a victory for all and a new dawn for the people.

    A leading politician, Wole Oke, noted: “It is the end of fourth term in the wilderness for the youth in Kwara State political arena and landscape. It is now an opportunity for the emergence of other hitherto suppressed political might and the development and growth of potential political giants the state.”

    GOMBE

    APC’s Inuwa Yahaya was declared governor-elect with 364, 129 votes. He defeated Usman Nafada of the PDP, who scored 222,868 votes.

    NIGER

    Incumbent Governor Abubakar Bello had last night won 24 of the 25 local government areas of the state. He looked good to defeat his PDP challenger Umar Nasko.

    KEBBI

    Governor Atiku Bagudu of the APC was declared governor-elect in Kebbi State.

    The results were announced at the Collation Centre for 2019 Governorship Election by the Collation Officer, Prof. Hamisu Bichi, in Birnin Kebbi.

    He said Bagudu of APC scored 673,717 votes. Senenator Isah Galaudu of the PDP polled 106,633 votes.

    “Atiku Bagudu of APC, having certified the requirement of the law and scored the highest votes is hereby returned elected and declared the winner of the March 9, Saturday governorship election in the state,” he said.

    Bichi said 1,789,975 voters were registered; 820,078 accredited and 814,084 voted. There were 793,388 valid votes and 20,696 votes rejected.

     

    OYO

    The PDP candidate was leading after the announcement of 32 of the 33 local government areas.

    But the APC cried foul, saying the PDP candidate jumped the gun by celebrating before he was declared governor-elect.

    As the final collation of results got underway, the APC fired a petition against Makinde to the state INEC headquarters.

    The party accused Makinde of what it described as a “breach of electoral laws”, demanding his arrest and prosecution.

    Makinde was accused of releasing a video in early yesterday in which the PDP candidate “pointedly proclaimed himself winner of the governorship election in Oyo State when INEC, the authorised umpire has not concluded same nor declared any such results”.

    The petition signed by the APC state secretary, Mr Mojeed Olaoya, alleged that Makinde by the action is clearly inciting the citizenry against an eventual credible outcome of the elections.

    RIVERS

    INEC yesterday announced the suspension of all processes in Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections, until further notice.

    The suspension was made in a statement issued in Abuja by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye.

    Okoye said that the suspension was due to widespread violence and disruption that characterised the elections in the Southsouth state.

    He said that based on reports from INEC officials on the field, the commission had determined that there had been widespread disruption of elections conducted on Saturday in the state.

    The statement reads: “These initial reports suggest that violence occurred in a substantial number of polling units and collation centres; staff have been taken hostage and materials, including result sheets, have either been seized or destroyed by unauthorised persons.

    “In addition, safety of our staff appears to be in jeopardy all over the state and the commission is concerned about the credibility of the process.

    “Consequently, at a meeting held Sunday, March 10, the commission has decided to suspend all electoral processes in the state until further notice.

    “This is in line with Section 26 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and Clause 47(e) of the Regulations and Guidelines of the Commission.

    “The commission has also established a Fact-Finding Committee to assess the situation and report back within 48 hours.’’

    The commission appealed to the people of Rivers, particularly voters, for their understanding, adding that it was probing the circumstances of these disruptions.

    Rivers with 23 local government areas has 4,442 polling units and 3,215,273 registered voters out of which 2,833,101 persons had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    Security agents yesterday cordoned off the INEC office, barring people, including reporters, from participating in the collation.

    The team of security personnel, comprising the Federal Special Anti- Robbery Squad (F-SARS) and the Police Mobile blocked the two sides of Aba Road, which leads to INEC office from Waterlines and GRA junctions.

    More than 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) were patrolling the area.

    A group of young women, under the eagis of “Port Harcourt Significant Girls”, who staged a peaceful protest at the GRA Junction, were dispersed as they moved towards the INEC office.

    The protesters, clad in black dresses, were asking that the votes of the people be allowed to count.

     

    OGUN

    Abiodun of the APC was heading for victory as he had won in 11 of the 15 local government areas’ results announced by the INEC. Three of the council areas were won by Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied People’s Movement (APM). The PDP won in one. The results from five local government areas were still being awaited.

    But the APM rejected the governorship, House of Assembly results in the Gateway State, alleging that the collation had been “hijacked and compromised”.

    According to the APM, the outcome of the collation did not reflect the wishes of the people as freely expressed during the polls.

    Announcing its rejection of the of the results as released by the Independent National Commission (INEC), the APM Campaign Organisation Director-General, Sarafa Tunji-Ishola, told reporters that the process was disrupted by hoodlums and results falsified to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The former minister cited Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Odeda, Ifo, Obafemi/Owode and the nine local governments in Ogun East Senatorial District as areas where the exercise was allegedly disrupted and results doctored in favour of the APC.

    He said: “The exercise which started on a peaceful note was disrupted as the counting of votes were being completed by hoodlums and unidentified uniformed men who hijacked the process and went ahead to collate falsified results sheets in many local council areas including Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Odeda, Ifo, Obafemi/Owode and particularly all the local government areas in all parts of the Ogun East Senatorial District.

    “In local government areas like Sagamu, Odogbolu and Ogun Waterside that were won by the APM, the results were changed to deny our party its well-deserved victory.

    “In other local governments won by the APC, the figures were altered to increase the margin between the APC and the APM.

    “The disruptions were clearly designed to ensure that the APM does not meet the required constitutional requirement of 25 per cent of votes in the council areas of Ogun East Senatorial District and to suppress the electoral strength of the APM in Ogun Central Senatorial District where the party clearly enjoys superior strength.

    “In the night, some armed men purportedly working for a top Federal Government official from Ogun State went round many of the local government areas, hijacked result sheets and forced party agents to sign already-filled result sheets under duress.

    “These infractions are against the provisions of the constitution of Nigeria and the electoral act. The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) made a formal protest on these infractions to the Resident Electoral Commission of INEC in Ogun State as reports from our agents across the state revealed these atrocities.

    “We requested that INEC should investigate these infractions and suspend the announcement of the purported results of the elections pending the completion of such investigation. We were surprised that the INEC went ahead this morning to announce the disputed results from many of the local government areas.

    “I hereby, on behalf of the APM, formally reject the collation process that was hijacked and compromised because it did not reflect the wishes of the people of Ogun State as freely expressed in 09 March 2019 Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    “The APM wishes to put INEC on notice that we shall explore every means within the provisions of the constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to challenge this miscarriage of justice. We shall also ensure that the wishes of the people of Ogun State as freely expressed at the polls are protected.”

    ENUGU

    Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuayi was declared elected to retain his seat for the PDP after polling 449,935 to beat Senator Ayogu Eze  of the APC, who reportedly boycotted the election. He came a distant second with 10,423.

    The Enugu State Collation Officer, Prof Joseph Ahaneku, the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, declared Ugwuanyi as duly elected after winning in all 17 council areas.

    ABIA

    Incumbent Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was returned governor-elect after defeating his APC challenger Uche Ogah with 261, 127 votes to 99, 574.

    JIGAWA

    The incumbent Governor of Jigawa, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru has won the gubernatorial election conducted in the state on Saturday.

    The Returning Officer for the governorship election in Jigawa, Prof, Azubike Nwankwo, Provost, Nigeria Defence Academy Kaduna declared the result in Dutse on Sunday.

    Nwankwo said that Badaru, who contested on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), was returned elected with 810, 933 votes to beat his closest rival, Alhaji Aminu Ringim, who scored 288, 356 votes, followed by Alhaji Bashir Adamu of Social Democratic Party (SDP), who got 32,894 votes.

    He explained that the total number of registered voters are 2,109,477, accredited voters, 1,169,924, total votes cast, 1, 163, 206, while valid votes stood at 1, 139, 054, and rejected votes, 24, 152.

    The Returning Officer stated that the election was free and fair adding that due process was followed before the declaration of the result.

    Nwankwo had also announced that the APC won all the 30 seats for the state House of Assembly.

    EBONYI

    Governor David Umahi has retained his seat in Ebonyi State for the PDP after polling 393, 343 votes to beat APC’s Sonni Ogbuoji, who got 81,703.

    Declaring the result at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), State Headquarters in Abakaliki, the State Returning Officer, Prof Chukwuemeka Eze, said the governor garnered 393,343 across 13 local government arears in the state.

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Chibueze Agbo, took the third place with 10,129 votes.

    The returning officer said: “I hereby certify that I Prof Chukwuemeka Eze was the Returning Officer of the governorship election held on 9th of Match, 2019 in Ebonyi State.

    “That David Umahi Nweze, of the PDP having satisfied the requirements of the law and having scored the highest number of votes is hereby returned and elected.”

    Umahi in in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzo,r declared his unalloyed loyalty to the patriotic citizens of Ebonyi State for re-electing him for a second term.

    He promised to consolidate on the aggressive infrastructural, human development and aggressive industrialisation of the state, the tripod on which his administration stands.

    The Governor also reiterated his readiness to hand over power to Abakaliki bloc in 2023 after completing his second term so that power will continue to rotate round the three senatorial zones of the state in the spirit of equity and justice.

    Borno

     

    As at the time of going to press, the APC governorship candidate, Babagana Zullum, had won 24 of the 27 local government areas in Borno State.

    The collation of result of the governorship election is conducted at the Kashim Ibrahim College of Education, Maiduguri.

    The exercise, presided over by the state’s INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Alhassan Gali, was conducted smoothly in the presence of party agents, election observers, security agents and journalists.

    Zulum scored the highest votes cast in 24  of the 27 local government areas as indicated in the results so far submitted for collation by the variuos returning officers of the councils.

    The councils were Nganzai; Mobbar, Dikwa, Abadam, Guzamala, Gubio, Magumeri and Konduga.

    Others were Mafa, Kaga, Kukawa, Marte and Monguno.

    The election results so far collated indicated that Zulum was taking the lead against his closets opponent, Muhammad Imam, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The results as announced by the Returning Officer in charge of Nganzai, Dr Ibrahim  Mustapha, showed that the APC candidate scored 20, 196 as against the 907 votes scored by the PDP’s candidate.

    In Mobbar, Dr Kamsale Umar, the Collation Officer, declared that Zulum polled 35,828 votes while Imam scored 622 votes.

    For Dikwa; the Collation Officer, Dr. Muhammad Hassan, disclosed that the APC candidate scored 22,138 against the 1,542 votes scored by the PDP candidate.

    Dr Shamaki Usman, the Collation Officer in charge of Abadam, said that the APC candidate polled 9,968 while the PDP candidate got 50 votes.

    The Collation Officer in charge of Guzamala, Muhammad Auwal, announced that Zulum polled 28,030 votes against the 277 votes scored by PDP’s Imam.

    Also, Kachalla Mohammed, the Collation Officer in charge of Gubio, declared that the APC candidate polled 33,203 votes while the PDP flag bearer got 419 votes.

    Dr Adamu Yahaya, the Collation Officer in charge of Magumeri, announced that Zulum polled 22,261 against the 123 votes scored by Imam.

    In Kukawa, the Collation Officer, Dr Umar Adamu, declared that the APC candidates gannered 29, 040 against the 344 votes polled by the PDP.

    Salihu Ibrahin, the Collation Officer for Marte, announced thst the APC candidate got 19, 329 against the 173 votes scored by Imam, while Abdulkareem Ibrahim, the collation Officer in charge of Monguno, declared that APC polled 41,999 votes and 173 votes.

    Similarly, the Collation Officer for Konduga, Kaka Bunu, declared that Zulum scored 31, 484 votes against 2, 497 votes polled by the PDP candidate while in Kaga, the APC candidate scored 16, 647 and PDP polled 1, 166, as declared by the Collation Officer, Mr Ali Mustapha.

     

    Yobe

     

    The APC was in early lead of the governorship election with a high margin in nine local government areas so far collated out of the 17 councils of the state.

    The results were submitted at the state collation center under the leadership of Prof. Abubakar Gundiri by the local government collation officers.

    Alhaji MaiMala Buni of the APC gubernatorial candidate scored 21,765 votes in Gulani Local Government against Ambassador Iliya Damagum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 4,576 votes.

    In Fika Local Government, APC polled 36,519 against PDP’s 9,552 while in Bade Local Government APC leads with 32,213 against PDP’s 8,854.

    APC polled 20,657 votes in Bursari Local Government against PDP’s 2,813 while in Damaturu Local Government APC scored 26,087 against PDP’s 3,760 and in Nangere Local Government APC had 25,698 while PDP scored 4,765 votes.

    In Karasuwa Local Government APC polled 24,262 against PDP’s 2,762 votes while in Gujba Local Government APC received 17,714 votes and PDP had 1,119 votes.

    The APC also scored 11,338 votes in Tarmuwa Local Government while PDP polled 3,925 votes.

    Meanwhile results from the remaining eight local government areas were being awaited

     

    BAUCHI

     

    Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar was set to retain his seat for the APC as he was leading his opponent Sen. Bala Mohammed of the PDP with a wide margin.

    According to the results, the incumbent governor was leading in 12 out of the 17 local government areas released so far by the INEC.

    The PDP candidate won in the remaining five council areas.

    However, the State Returning Officer Prof Mohammed Kyari rejected the results from Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, over alleged disruption of the voting process by people suspected to be political thugs.

     

    CROSS RIVER

     

    Cross River Governor and the PDP candidate Prof Ben Ayade, was in a comfortable lead after the collation of results of 14 out of 18 local government areas of the state.

    In the results submitted by the various returning officers at the state collation centre at the INEC in Calabar, Ayade was leading his APC challenger.

    The senator representing the Central Senatorial District, John Owan-Enoh and Niger Delta Affairs Minister Usani Usani, were laying claim to the governorship ticket of APC in the state.

    The collation was adjourned till today.

     

    ADAMAWA

     

    With results pending from just one local government area and the PDP leading with over 30,000 votes, the party looked set to clinch the governorship election in Adamawa State.

    Results collated from 20 local government areas before  the process was suspended, PDP candidate Umaru Fintiri had garnered 361,539 votes. He was being trailed by incumbent Governor Mohammed Bindow who polled 328, 433.

     

    DELTA

     

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta polled 433, 7021 votes to lead the governorship election in the state in the results so far announced.

    In the result garnered from 14 local government areas, his closest rival, Chief Great Ogboru of the APC was trailing by 101,579 votes.

  • APC’s Abiodun leads in Ogun

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, is leading in seven of the eight local governments declared so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Results are being awaited in 12 other LGAs, forcing the Commission to adjourn for 30 minutes.

    Abiodun is leading Allied People’s Movement (APM) candidate, Abdulkadir Akinlade backed by Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    He leads in Ijebu East, Ijebu Ode, Odogbolu, Odeda, Ijebu North, Sagamu, Abeokuta South local governments leaving Akinlade to lead only in Ewekoro.

    Below are the official figures from INEC in the local government areas:

    Ijebu – Ode LGA

    ADC – 349

    APC – 13,234

    APM- 4,401

    PDP – 7,289

    9

    Collation Officer Adewale Salau, FUNAAB

    Odogbolu LGA

    ADC -1001

    APC -12,529

    APM -7,516

    PDD – 3,418

    Collation Officer, Rasheed Adejoro, Federal College of Education, Osiele

    Odeda LGA

    ADC -4,327

    APC -8,030

    APM – 6,454

    PDP -1041

    Collation Officer Sunday Akinyele,

    Federal College of Education Osiele.

    Ijebu North East

    ADC – 541

    APC – 7,268

    APM -2,785

    PDP -3,482

    Collation Officer, Dr. Ayotunde Adebambo (FUNAAB)

    Ewekoro LGA

    ADC – 4,241

    APC -6,492

    APM -7,588

    PDP – 1,418

    Dr. Olubode Olufemi(FUNAAB)

    Sagamu LGA

    ADC -2,486

    APC -23,737

    APM -14,469

    PDP – 4,415

    Collation Officer Adeoti AbdulRateef (FUNAAB)

    Abeokuta South LGA

    ADC – 13,572

    APC – 19,414

    APM – 18,767

    PDP – 1,770

    Collation Officer Sikiru Olowole(FUNAAB)

    Ijebu East LGA

    ADC – 574

    APC – 10,726

    APM -5,147

    PDP -5,296

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Abdul-Ganiu Raji, said the election was “overwhelmingly peaceful,” adding that contrary to expectations, there were no issues until around 2pm and 3pm on Saturday when sorting and collation of results started.

    He alleged there were cases in two areas of the state where officers on the field were held hostage.

    He warned that if things continued to go the way they are today, apparently referring to the risk associated with the Commission’s job, there may not be anybody willing to work for INEC in the future.

    “The way things are, we may not get people to work for or work in or work at INEC because of the way people see death staring them in the face but only managed to escape.

    “The danger is not the fault of the Commission but that of others including the electorate,” Raji said.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner reminded all stakeholders, particularly candidates and party polling agents the collation centre is not “results cancellation and nullification” point.

    He explained issues arising from any results should emanate from the polling units and resolved there or at the LGA collation point.

    He urged whoever that has any issue with results being released at the state Collation Centre to approach the court or the election petition tribunal for redress, saying it was the “dignified” thing to do instead of deploying rough tactics.

  • Governorship: Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, Abdulrazak lead

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) appeared to be heading for victory last night in the governorship election in Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Bauchi States as results began coming in from the various polling booths.

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was looking good in Adamawa, Enugu, Delta, Ebomyi and Akwa Ibom States.

    In Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC who was projected by The Nation as the candidate to beat yesterday, established a strong lead ahead of his closest rival, Jimi Agbaje of the PDP with the majority of the votes   cast in such areas as Ikorodu, Alimoso, Badagry and Lagos Island.

    Sanwo-Olu was the preferred candidate at Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s polling unit in Victoria Garden City, Lekki.

    He got 223 votes there as against the 175 votes polled by Agbaje.

    The ruling party lost to the PDP by a wide margin during the presidential election two weeks ago.

    At PU 007, Anglican Primary School, Iworo, Badagry LGA the APC candidate got 207 while the PDP received 74 votes.

    Prince Dapo Abiodun of APC held firm in most parts of Ijebu, Remo , Egbaland and Otta.

    He also did well in Yewaland although Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM)   seemed to have an edge there, being an indigene.

    Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the APC appeared to have confirmed the uprooting of the PDP in Kwara State with another emphatic win.

    AbdulRazaq won his polling unit at Idigba, Adewole ward with 592 votes as against PDP’s 80.

    He also got 201 votes at Ode Oba Onilu, Ilorin as against the 52 for PDP.

    At press time, there was a wide gap between his votes and what the PDP candidate Razaq Atunwa had garnered.

    It was also clear that Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State had won in most of the polling centres where INEC returning officers had announced results.

    Bagudu got 572 votes against the 7 received by Sen. Isa Galaudu of PDP at Iyan Gwandu polling unit 012, Marafa ward.

    In Nasarawa 2 polling units 002, Bagudu got 526 votes and Galaudi 98.

    At polling unit 008 at GRA Kindi Zauro, Nasarawa ward in Birnin Kebbi, Bagudu scored 354 while Galaudi, scored 87.

    In Garkar Mai-Alelu polling unit 006, where the governor cast his vote, the APC received 745 votes against 23 garnered by the PDP.

    The trend was similar in Sokoto and Bauchi State.

    Official results from polling stations in Adamawa, Enugu, Delta, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom gave it to the PDP candidates.

    The PDP won the governorship election in former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s polling Unit 012 of Ajiya Ward of Adamawa North Local Government Area.

    Announcing the results at the unit, the presiding officer declared that the APC polled 99 votes while the PDP scored 161 votes. The ADC candidate scored 51 votes while the SDP candidate got only one vote.

    Similarly, the PDP trounced the ruling APC with a 50 votes margin at the polling unit in front of Adamawa State deputy governor’s office

    According to the announced results, APC scored 63 votes, while PDP got 113 votes. The ADC got 78 votes.

    In the presidential elections of February 23, APC celebrated a victory over PDP at the same polling unit with 187 votes against 167 votes.

    As it was during last month’s presidential and national assembly elections, many top politicians failed to deliver even their polling units.

    President Muhammadu Buhari delivered his Unit 003 s in Sarkin Yara A Ward in Daura Local Government Area of the State for the APC governorship candidate Aminu Masari, with 370 votes.

    Senator Yakubu Lado-Danmarke of the PPD polled 42 votes.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State lost his polling unit to the PDP in the gubernatorial election.

    The All Progressives Congress candidate, Adebayo Adelabu, scored 112 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Seyi Makinde, scored 145 votes.

    A former Oyo State governor, Rasheed Ladoja won the governorship election in Polling Unit 13, Ward 10, Ibadan North Local Government Area for the PDP with 180 votes while APC received 34 votes.

    Dapo Abiodun ,the APC flag bearer in Ogun got 240 votes at his Ward 3 Unit 2, Ita Osanyin, Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area to beat his closest rival, Adekunle Akinlade, of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), who polled 71 votes.

    A factional governorship candidate of the PDP who went into an alliance with Akinlade against Abiodun was roundly beaten  at his polling unit at Ward 5 Unit 4 Wesley Nursery and Primary School, Iperu, Ikenne.

    At the end of voting APC scored 197 votes, while the APM polled 75 votes.

    The PDP and ADC polled 6 and 2 votes respectively.

    The APC also floored former governor Ayodele Fayose at his unit at Afao Ekiti in Irepodun Ifelodun local government area of the state.

    The APC’s candidate in Irepodun/Ifelodun constituency 2, Alhaji Hakeem Jamiu, beat the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Sunday Omosilade by scoring 168 against PDP candidate’s 26 at St David’s Primary School polling unit in Afao Ekiti.

    Omosilade, who is  Fayose’s Personal Assistant, had earlier in a letter dated March 1 and addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, signified his intention to withdraw from the race.

    But the INEC said it was not aware of such withdrawal, saying he should have withdrawn 45 days to the poll.

    Also, at units 15 and 003, Igbemo ward, Jamiu recorded 171 and 335 votes respectively, while PDP polled 0 in the two units.

  • Yoruba groups endorses Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, Adelabu for governorship election

    THE Yoruba Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YOYAN) in collaboration with the Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu political platform have endorsed All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidates in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states for Saturday’s election.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday, YOYAN President Prince Adeniyi Olutimehin said the group resolved to throw their weight behind the candidacy of the Lagos APC candidate Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his Ogun and Oyo States colleagues, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Dr. Bayo Adelabu after extensive consultations with major stakeholders.

    Olutimehin said the victory of the APC governorship candidates would ensure regional integration that would help the actualisation of envisioned development of Yoruba nation.

    “It is essential to ensure a well-structured integration that is formidable to achieve strong voice at the centre for steady progress of the Yoruba race, we have critically examined the options before us as a people and we are determined to be part of agenda that is geared towards ensuring a rewarding future for our region,” Olutimehin said.

    He stressed that the pursuit to have state governments that are on the same page across Southwest should definitely enhance harmonious and optimal infrastructural and socio-economic growth to make life more abundant for Yoruba people.

    Reiterating that the periods which Yoruba race had its best in terms of good governance and progress was when the government in Southwest shared same political ideology, Olutimehin said it was imperative that the Yoruba nation return to that era to rekindle the hope of the people, especially the youths in politics.

    He stressed that after examining the manifestoes of the APC candidates in the three states, it was discovered that all of them have strong will for greatness of the states they are aspiring to govern.

    “This should automatically translate to the emancipation of our people via economic prosperity, security, infrastructural rebirth, institutional reforms, health care, affordable and quality education. Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun and Adelabu are experience professionals that are capable of instituting a digitalise administration in their respective states, if elected. On this basis, we did not only endorsed them, but we have also deployed all mechanism and resources available to us in ensuring their victory at poll,” he said.

    Also, the bodies hailed APC stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osibajo for distinguishing the attributes of quintessential leaders to defend the course of democracy in the Southwest and Nigeria.

    “Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is an enigma and icon of all times. His patriotic virtues and philanthropic gesture, which had improved the lot of Yoruba people, cannot be overemphasised.

    Among members that were present in the gathering are Comrade Adedoyin Alli-Williams, Vice President BATBOS platform; Prince Adeyemi Adenuga, DG BATBOS platform; Mr. Dave Olayemi, National Secretary YOYAN; Comrade Kehinde Aregbe, Chairman, Ogun YOYAN; Mrs. Ebun Lawal, Vice Chairman, Oyo YOYAN; Mrs. Bunmi Ogunwa, Vice Chairman, Lagos YOYAN.

     

     

     

  • Council of Yoruba to endorse Adelabu, Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun

    Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba (Grand Council of Yoruba Youths) has expressed its gratitude to Nigerians for voting President Buhari and the APC National Assembly candidates’ last election.

    The council is also to hold a lecture to be delivered by Senator Biyi Durojaiye, under the Chairmanship of Senator Ayo Fasanmi, the Leader of Afenifere. The lecture is to hold tomorrow at House of Chiefs, Agodi, Ibadan, by 11am.

    The summit is to endorse the candidature of Chief Bayo Adelabu, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Prince Dapo Abiodun, the APC Governorship Candidates of Oyo, Lagos and Ogun States. The Special Guest of Honour is the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while General Alani Akinrinade (rtd) is the Guest of Honour.

    Discussants are Comrades Soliu Moruf Adekunle (Africa) and Adekitan Luqman (Too Nice), the SW Presidents of the National Youths’ Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) .

     

  • Ogun APC: Court to determine Abiodun’s fate before March 8

    *Accused of making false academic claim

     

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo, Abuja has reserved judgment till next week in a suit seeking to disqualify the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Adedapo Abiodun.

    Justice Olukayode Adeniyi told parties on Friday that the court will deliver its judgment before March 9 when the next governorship election is scheduled to hold.

    Justice Adeniyi spoke after taking arguments from parties in the suit marked: CV/555/2018, filed Abdulrafiu Adesina Baruwa, with the APC, Abiodun and the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) as defendants.

    It is the plaintiff’s contention that Abiodun made false claim about his educational qualification, in the Form CF001 and the accompanying affidavit he submitted to INEC.

    Baruwa claimed that Abiodun limited his educational qualification to the West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate, to avoid answering questions about his alleged non-participation in the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

    He prayed the court to disqualify Abiodun and name Jimi Lawal, who came second in the state’s APC governorship primary, as the party’s candidate.

    Lawyers to the APC and Abiodun, Damian Dodo (SAN) and Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) queried the competence of the case and the court’s jurisdiction to hear it.

    In arguing his notice of objection, Dodo argued that the court lacked both territorial and subject matter jurisdiction to hear the case, which is about issues that occurred in Ogun State.

    He contended that since the case related to Ogun State and political activities there, the High Court of the FCT lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.

    He added: “The primary was conducted in the state and for the governorship of the state, except the information allegedly submitted to INEC

    Relying on some decided authorities of both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, Dodo urged the court to decline jurisdiction and dismiss the court for being incompetent.

    Ogunwumiju urged the court to decline jurisdiction over the case and dismiss it on the grounds that it was statute barred.

    He argued that the suit was caught by the provision of the Fourth Alteration to the Constitution, which allows the filing of pre-election cases within 14 days after the occurrence of the issue complained about.

    Ogunwumiju noted that while his client submitted the Form in issue to INEC in October, the plaintiff waited for over 50 days before filing this case.

    He argued that the case is a pre-election matter even though the plaintiff is neither an aspirant at the primary or a political party, as provided in Section 285(14) of the Constitution.

    Ogunwumiju noted that the plaintiff’s reliefs seven and eight, where he sought Abiodun’s disqualification and his substitution with Lawal, showed that he (the plaintiff) was an agent of Lawal, who is the eventual beneficiary of the suit.

    He also identified a letter written by the plaintiff’s lawyer, Oluwole Aladeloye, in which he (Aladeloye) prayed the court to promptly assign the case for hearing because it was a pre-election case.

    On the competence of the case, Ogunwumiju urged the court to dismiss it on the grounds that the plaintiff failed to establish any cause of action.

    Ogunwumiju contended that not only has the plaintiff not shown that Abiodun did not qualify to stand for election for the office of state Governor, but he (the plaintiff) also failed to show that his client did not meet the requisite educational qualification.

    He added that the plaintiff has also not established that Abiodun did not meet other conditions provided in Section 177 of the Constitution or that he is disqualified by virtue of any of the provisions in Section 182 of the Constitution.

    Ogunwumiju noted that in this case, to become a Governor, the requirement is Secondary School certificate, which his client has provided.

    “The only allegation now is that he (Abiodun) failed to attach his university degree and did not undertake the NYSC programme.

    “The position of the law is the Section 31 of the Electoral Act cannot be relied on to disqualify anybody that is otherwise qualified under the Constitution,” Ogunwumiju said.

    In his counter-argument, Aladedoye was of the view that “It is clear that the second defendant (Abiodun) has made a false declaration by limiting his educational qualification to WAEC certificate.”

    He faulted Abiodun’s claim that his university certificate became missing after the APC’s primary primaries.

    Aladedoye argued that Abiodun’s claim amounted to an admission of a false declaration on the grounds that the acclaimed loss of the certificate was not enough reason not to disclose that he possessed the certificate in the Form CF.001.

    He noted that Abiodun’s alleged deliberate refusal to disclose information about the university degree was aimed at suppressing information about his failure to participate in the NYSC scheme.

    Aladedoye stressed that Abiodun deliberately refused to disclose information about his university degree in order to avoid being disqualified by the APC as it did to the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, who was disqualified by the party from contesting the governorship primary in Oyo State in view of his failure to participate in the NYSC scheme.

    B. A. Wali, who represented INEC, did not contribute to the arguments but elected to be bound by the court’s decision.