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Tag: All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • Kano guber polls: I am optimistic of victory, says Ganduje,

    Kano State governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Kano gubernatorial election, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, yesterday expressed optimism that he would emerge victorious at the end of the election.

    Ganduje, however, described the exercise as peaceful, violent-free and orderly.

    Ganduje who voted at exactly 10:30 a.m. at Ganduje Chikin Gari Polling Unit 008 in Ganduje town, Dawakin Tofa local government area, described turnout as impressive.

    Speaking to reporters shortly after casting his vote, he stated that “I am sure of victory. I am sure of getting more votes than what President Buhari got during the presidential election.”

    The Nation reports that there was large turnout of women, especially those under purdah in yesterday’s gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections in Kano State.

    The polling units such as Filling Chiranchi, in Gwale local government area, Library Polling Unit in Municipal local government area, and Rimin Gata Polling Unit in Ungogo local government area, all witnessed large turnout of women and youths who were eager to exercise their franchise.

    Speaking to our reporter, a seventy-year old Hajiya Maimuna said, “women are open minded and we are voting for our choice.”

    In most areas visited, it was observed that the card readers were functioning properly and the voting process were normal against the slow process experienced in the presidential election.

    Staff of the INEC were on ground to ensure that the voters perform their civic responsibilities.

    Voting materials were also available as voters were being accredited, before casting their votes for candidates of their choice in orderly and peaceful manner.

    Meanwhile, the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Kano, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has defeated the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Magwan polling unit where the deputy governor, Nasiru Gawuna, cast his vote.

    PDP defeated APC with 210 to 197 votes in the three polling units 056, 057 and 058 located at the Magwan Primary School, Nasarawa GRA polling station.

    The deputy governor’s polling unit result with code 056 recorded 76 to 73 in favour of PDP.

    The breakdown of the votes cast were 76 to 73, 63 to 48 and 71 to 76 for PDP and APC respectively.

  • APC wins House of Assembly elections in Ijumu, Yagba East LGAs, Kogi

    The candidates of the All Progressives  Congress (APC) have been declared winners of the House of  Assembly elections conducted on March 9, in Ijumu and Yagba East Local Government Areas in the Kogi west senatorial district.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Olushola Kilani Olumo of APC was declared winner of the Ijumu State Constituency, while Jimoh Musa, also of APC was re-elected for the Yagba East State Constituency.

    PDP candidate, Dino Melaye won the two constituencies in the senatorial election two weeks ago.

    Declaring the latest result at  INEC Collation Centre in Ijumu, the returning officer, Dr Kelvin Anoh, announced that the APC candidate, Kelani Olumo, polled  10,478 votes while Adewale Salihu of PDP scored 8,813 votes.  Shuaib Ipinmisho of ADC came third with  1,933 votes.

    However, the PDP  agent, Mr Ibikunle Omolade and the agent of the Alliance for Democracy(AD) , Ibileke Olufemi, whose candidate scored 27 votes, rejected the results and refused to sign .

    They alleged irregularities in Ileteju Origa ward and Okoro/Odokoro/Araromi ward, where they claimed ballot boxes were snatched.

    Mrs Ugwunebo Ubaku, the INEC Electoral Officer for Ijumu LGA, said that she had received a letter of complaints which  would be channelled to the appropriate quarters.

    In Yagba East, the Returning Officer, Dr Okpanachi Stephen, announced that Mr Jimoh Musa of APC polled a total of 6,893 votes to beat his closest rival, the candidate  of ADC, Sule Abdulnafiu, who scored 4,295 votes. The PDP candidate,  Emmanuel Bello scored 3,315 votes. (NAN)

  • Adebule, ex-council chiefs win for Sanwo-Olu

    The Deputy Governor of Lagos State Dr Idiat Adebule has won her polling unit for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    At the Polling Unit 029 Devince, Iba Lagos, where she voted around 1pm, APC scored 172 votes to defeat the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with 49 votes in the Governorship election.

    APC had 157 votes, PDP, 34 in the House of Assembly election.

    Also delivering his Ashabi/ Shonuyi’s Unit in Ijeshatedo, Surulere Lagos for APC is the party’s State Vice-Chairman Hakeem Bamgbola.

    APC won the governorship election with 117 votes to defeat PDP with 38.

    The House of Assembly results showed APC with 115 votes, PDP, 43.

    Abiodun Mafe being accredited for voting

    Chairman of former Lagos State Local Government Areas (2008 – 2014) Abiodun Mafe also won his Ward G South Polling Unit 037 in Alimosho Local Government Area.

    Mafe, the former Mosan-Okunola LCDA Chairman gave Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s APC 111 votes, PDP had 37.

    APC also won the House of Assembly with 105 votes to PDP’s 32.

    Read also: INEC begins release of election results in Kaduna

    Adebule described the results as far better from what was recorded during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    She hailed APC members for ensuring victory at the unit.

    “We are able to achieve this feat because we listened to those who monitor the last election and reviewed their reports.

    ‘’We realised our shortcomings and re-strategised by intensifying more on grass root campaigns. We thank God for the result we achieved today,” she said.

    According to her, the late arrival of INEC officials affected the turnout of voters “because people returned to their homes due to the absence of INEC officials at the polling unit but as soon as they are informed that they are around, they came out to vote.”

    She advised INEC to perfect the electoral process and rectify all inadequacies that might have caused the delay in the voting process, adding “no matter how perfect an organisation will be, they are bound to have challenges, but the most important thing is for INEC to learn from their mistakes, perfect the electoral process and rectify all issues that affect smooth and early take off,” she said.

    Bamgbola said the victory at the unit showed that people still have confidence in APC.

    “They still have faith in our party to take the state to greater height and that is what we will strive to achieve. I thank all our party members for doubling their efforts,” he said.

    Mafe dedicated the victory to all hard-working members of the party.

    “Just like the former election, we all work together to achieve victory for the party despite our differences. It is a victory for collective efforts,” he said.

  • PDP decries killings, violence, militarisation of elections

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the heavy militarisation, violence and killing of innocent Nigerians during Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections across many states of the federation.

    A statement on Saturday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan blamed the development on what the opposition party described as the desperation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the elections.

    “The world watched with utter horror as soldiers under the command of the Buhari Presidency, hound, arrest, shoot, terrorise opposition figures and provide cover for APC thugs to unleash violence, kill opposition members, cart away electoral materials and disrupt polls in PDP strongholds, all in the bid to forcefully foist the APC on Nigerians,” the statement said.

    The party further bemoaned the resort to bloodletting, violence and alleged official high handedness by the APC in the electoral process, which it said, has further confirmed this administration has no regard for the lives of Nigerians and lawful processes, but only interested in seizing power by all means.

    The PDP noted that never in the history of the nation had a general election recorded such bloodletting, violence and manipulations as triggered in the 2019 elections.

    Lamenting further, the PDP said: “In Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Kogi, Benue, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, among others, soldiers brazenly aided APC thugs to unbridle violence, hijack electoral processes and write fictitious results for APC candidates.

    “In Rivers state, soldiers invaded INEC office in Bori, beat up and chased away PDP agents and assisted the APC in ballot stuffing and writing of results.

    “The scenario was the same in Akwa-Ibom where security agents provided cover for APC thugs in their bid to hijack the electoral process.

    “In Imo state, APC thugs, accompanied by security agents disrupted polls in PDP strongholds and reportedly killed a PDP agents in Umudo/Umuwala area of Owerri.

    “In Ebonyi state, APC thugs aided by security agents, burnt down INEC facility in the state, seeing that their party did not have any foothold in the state.

    “In Ajaokuta, Kabba/Bunu, Olamaboro, Ijumu and several other local governments in Kogi state, APC thugs, assisted by soldiers invaded polling units and carted away ballot materials, a development which sparked off restiveness in some areas and resulted in mass destruction of property in the area”.

    The party regretted that in many other states, the APC, in connivance with INEC, orchestrated the deliberate diversion of electoral materials meant for certain areas to unknown destinations, resulting in the frustration of electoral processes in the affected areas.

    “We know that the APC plot to derail our hard- earned democracy and impose a fascist regime on our nation but we are resolute in standing with Nigerians and all lovers of democracy to ensure that nobody, no matter how vicious, is allowed to vanquish our democracy.

    “In all, our party stands with Nigerians in their resilience at this defining moment in our political history.

    “The PDP commends the courage of Nigerians in standing firm in defence of democracy, despite the machinations of the APC,” the party added.

  • Be vigilant at collation centres, Ogun APC tells party agents

    The Ogun state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on all its polling agents across the state to be vigilant and not allow any form of malpractices at coalition centers in the state.

    The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Com. Tunde Oladunjoye, who spoke with reporters about the election, expressed the joy that he won his polling unit in Ijebu-Itele area of the state, for APC, saying the call became necessary given the allegations that the outgoing Governor Ibikunle Amosun was going about from one location to another for reasons best known only to him.

    The United Nations’ Ambassador for Peace said feelers from APC field agents indicated that the party has been maintaining “a clear and clean lead” across the state, stressing that the imminent victory of the party has thrown Amosun into a panic mode.

    “We cannot rule out the desperation of Amosun with an eminent defeat in this exercise. Therefore, we call on all APC collation agents at Ward and Local Government levels to be vigilant to avoid likely malpractice.

    Oladunjoye stated: “This is just to avoid a repeat of the kind of violence recorded during the Presidential and National Assembly (NASS) elections because reports reaching us indicated that our party, APC is maintaining a clear and comfortable lead.

    “We also want to commend the media, the civil society organisations as well as the coalition of security agencies for their steadfastness at monitoring the exercise.”

  • Poll: Seriake Dickson , APC clash in Bayelsa

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have clashed over the conduct of the House of Assembly elections in the state.

    Dickson accused the Military and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials of colluding with  former Governor Timipre Sylva to churn out fake results in the state House of Assembly election.

    Dickson made the accusation while speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote in his home town, Toru Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area.

    A statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the governor as saying that federal agencies deployed to the state were planning to foist an unpopular political, party, the APC, on the state.

    According to the governor, reports at his disposal indicated that several PDP members were prevented from voting in various communities including, Peremabiri, Okpoama and  Bassambiri.

    The governor stressed that the APC was resorting to brigandage because it lacked the support base to win election in Bayelsa.

    The governor, who described the development as barbaric , criminal and undemocratic, flayed the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state for his failure to enforce the electoral guidelines.

    He said that it was a sad commentary on the nation’s security apparatus that it had failed to carry out its constitutional responsibility to provide the conducive environment for the citizens to cast their votes to elect their representatives and leaders.

    The governor said that reports at his disposal indicated that soldiers carted away electoral materials in Epebu, Olodi and Ayakoro in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

    Read Also: Dickson accuses military of terrorism

    He called on the people to remain calm in the alleged  face of unwarranted intimidation and harassment by soldiers, he assured that his administration would take appropriate measures to seek redress.

    Dickson further expressed regret over the militarization of the Niger Delta states and urged all well meaning  Nigerians to stand up in defence of democracy.

    He said: :”We have major challenges in this state arising from militarization and clear failure on the part of the agencies to do their jobs as it should be.

    ‘In Peremabiri in Southern Ijaw, several peopple, almost a thousand people couldn’t vote as they are now IDPs hiding in Yenagoa and other places.

    “Criminals supported by the Nigerian military services have held the community hostage. Some security personnel who managed to get to Peremabiri were turned back and you ask me whether we have a nation within a nation”.

    But the APC accused the governor of using thugs and other criminal elements to undermine  the elections.

    APC State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, said in a statement that armed thugs loyal to the governor and his party were on the loose in a number of communities throughout the polls, rigging for the PDP and intimidating APC members.

    The statement said: “Just on Thursday, we alerted the Bayelsa public to an evil plot by Governor Seriake Dickson to unleash mayhem during Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections on purpose to intimidate the opposition and impose his candidates in various constituencies of the state.

    “We also warned about his signature tactic of trying to cover up his nefarious acts with smear campaign and fake news against our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “Dickson, as usual, did not disappoint.

    “On Saturday, thugs sponsored by Dickson and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state went on the rampage in several constituencies of the state, carting away electoral materials, thumb-printing for the PDP, and deploying sundry acts of intimidation against APC members and others opposed the governor and his party.

    “A few of the instances would suffice.

    PDP leaders, accompanied by armed thugs hijacked all the electoral materials for Saturday’s election in Wards 16 and 17 of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. It took the intervention of the armed and security forces for the materials to be recovered, and some arrests were made.

    “In Odioma, Brass Local Government Area, the PDP candidate, led thugs to cart away all the electoral materials. Our members were chased out of the community and PDP had a field day with the thumb printing of ballot papers.

    “In Ogbolomabiri-Nembe, the hometown of the deputy governor, PDP ,lused thugs to threaten and chase APC agents out of the community.

    “In Sagbama, where Dickson comes from, our members were in hiding for the most part of Saturday for fear of being harmed by the governor and his armed thugs.

    “Quite in his usual style, Dickson went to town on Saturday on a campaign of falsehood, alleging malpractices by our party and pretending to be the victim. While voting was still going on is several areas, he was out and about with his usual fake news to try to divert attention from his immoral ways.

    “APC wishes to restate that elections are not fought on the basis of smear campaign or intimidation, but on the strength of support freely given by the people.

    ‘This is our strength, it is what APC boasts. Dickson is, certainly, in terrible deficit of such support, and he is doing everything to make up for his lack of quality followership. But he will surely be disappointed”.

  • Atiku wins polling unit

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has won his polling unit.

    The PDP polled 161 and 207 votes in governorship and House of Assembly elections respectively to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) that got 99 and 76 respectively.

    The APC had defeated PDP at the same polling unit during the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 23.

    The results of Atiku’s Ajiya Ward 012 Polling Unit, Yola North Local Government Area, Jimeta, where the PDP presidential candidate voted on Saturday were listed thus:

    Governorship: Invalid votes 4, SDP 1, GPN 1, ADC 51, APC 99, and PDP 161. House of Assembly: Invalid votes – 5, APDA  2,  ADC 25,  SDP 2, APC 76, and PDP 207.

    On his part, the governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Abdul-Azeez Nyako, lost his polling unit to the PDP.

    Read Also: Buhari: I expect Atiku to go to court

    At Nyako’s Gwadabawa Ward, State House 014 Polling Unit, opposite Deputy Governor’s Office, Yola North Local Government Area (LGA), PDP came first in the governorship poll with 123; ADC came second with 78 votes while APC occupied third position with 63 votes.

    In the State House of Assembly elections results compiled by Presiding Officer Fari Abduljaleel Umar, PDP also led with 139 votes.

    PDP was followed by ADC 63, APC 49, NPM 3, ANN 3, ANN 3, SNP 3, AAC 1, PCP 1, ADP 1 and PPN 1.

    The PDP had by early Saturday evening appeared in the lead in unusual places, including the New Government House polling units where the PDP had led in all the six voting points announced by press time.

  • Oshiomhole concern over disruption of polls in Edo

    The National Chairman of  the All Progressives Congress (APC),  Mr  Adams Oshiomhole has expressed concern over alleged invasion of some polling units by suspected thugs in Edo.

    The polling units,  according to him are at Uluoke and Ogbido both in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

    Oshiomhole disclosed this shorty after casting his vote at about 2:20pm in his polling Unit 1, Ward 10 in Iyamoh in Etsako West Local Government Area on Saturday.

    He alledged that leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) brought thugs to distrupt the voting process in the area, adding that security officers had to restore normalcy before voting could continue.

    “we have some few reported incidents. you know last week it was clear that the whole of this area was 99 per cent APC.

    “” So I believe PDP leaders sent thugs to cause distruption in the next vilage where we got 99 per cent during last elections.

    “They brought thugs and they started shooting to distrupt the process, unfortunately, the people are determined to vote, and  I understand that voting has resumed.

    “PDP leaders led the thugs to distrupt election at Uluoke and Ogbido with the same partern trying to cart away election materials again.

    “But the youths in the area stopped  them, I understand that the situation is under control in those locations, ” he said.

    The national chairman said there was need for the military to be involved in election monitoring due to frequent snatching of ballot boxes and distruption of election processes by political thugs.

    “That is why when some people are talking against or disputing the idea of deploying the military for elections, only enemies of democracy and enemies of peace will support that kind of campaign.

    “Imagine when just  two police men not armed in a polling unit, what can they do when thugs invade the polling centres with sophisticated weapons, they will watch helplessly.

    “If not that we have the army that are on patrol, things would have gotten out of hands.

    He, however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  for a peaceful process, adding that the commission did a perfect arrangement in ensuring that the was hitch-free.

  • El-Rufai wins polling unit

    Kaduna State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has won his polling unit 024, Ungwar Sarki ward, Kaduna.

    Read Also: I am confident of El-Rufai’s re-election – Uba Sani

    El-Rufai on Saturday garnered 367 votes at his polling unit, while his major contender, Hon. Isa Ashiru of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) polled 59 votes.

    Abdullahi Sadiq, the Presiding Officer announced the results at the polling.

  • Hamzat wins big in polling unit

    It was good news for the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Epe as its Deputy Governorship candidate Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat delivered his polling unit.

    In the counting just concluded at his Ward A4 Unit 2 Oke Balogun, Epe, the APC scored 195 in the governorship election, while the main opposition PDP scored 23.

    Read Also: Hamzat unveils infrastructural plans for Lagos

    Voting at about 10.30 am earlier today, Hamzat had expressed hope to win his polling booth.

    The votes for the House of Assembly were still going on as at the time of filing this news.