The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  • Presidential Election: PDP queries non use of Smart Card Readers in some part

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has queried the non-use of the Smart Card Readers in the conduct of the last Saturday presidential election in some part of the country.

    The party, therefore, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to project what the Smart Cars Readers captured as accreditation figure before the Collation continues.

    The All Progress Congress Presidential campaign spokesperson, Festus Keyamo, however, urged the PDP to follow the right channel in laying it complaints; stressing that the gathering is mainly for collation purpose and nor to entertain complains.

    The protest, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu however said should be channelled to the commission’s headquarters.

    Speaking at the ongoing Collation of result of the presidential election in Abuja, PDP agent, Mr. Osita Chidoka queried why the cars readers should be made compulsory in some part of the country whereas, it is not in other parts.

    Chidoka who was categorical about results from Bauchi, Borno and Yobe said the party has documented its observations as an official petition to the commission.

    He said: ” The issue before us, Mr chairman is that we feel strongly about and the chairman of the PDP has written you a petition We are worried that the promise you made, the commitment you made and INEC made that as we are doing this collation of results, you will give us the details of accreditation captured by the card reader in the country.

    “Yesterday (Monday) my colleague raised the issue and we thought that when we come back this morning as we are listening to the states, we will be seeing the accreditation by the states by the card reader.

    “This Mr. Chairman, I like it to be on record that we want to see the accreditation for Bauchi state, for Borno state and Yobe in particular and of course, for the rest of the country because the number as we are seeing, it seems to me that we live in two countries.

    “Why people in the south have issues with the SCR, why complaints were all over the place, we seem to have quiet and peaceful elections in places where the people have complained of severe cases of insecurity and harassments by the military and bandits.

    “So, we would like you Mr. Chairman and I forward this letter to you to say that we will appeal that if it is possible Mr. Chairman that before we proceed to the next state you should please, project to us what the card reader has captured as the accreditation in these states.

    “We are supposed to read from the card reader, the electronic collation as against the manual information that we are getting to process information here. While it isn’t yet signed into law in your guidelines it was made clear that no voting should take place where there are no card readers. So, Mr. Chairman, we must appeal to you that we would like you to project this accreditation as done by the card reader.

    “Please, if any of your staff is available he can please, take a copy of this letter from  the chairman of the PDP saying that what we are doing here will require us to have the accreditation as done by the electronic card reader.”

    However, in his response INEC boss urged the protesting party to submit it’s a letter to the commission’s headquarters.

    He assured PDP that the commission will surely look into the petition and respond accordingly.

    “Thank you Mr. Chidoka. But there is a procedure for submitting correspondence to the Commission.

    “We haven’t shut down our office. This is the International Conference Centre where we are using as collation centre. Kindly submit your letter to the office, it will be acknowledged. Your letter will now be studied and we will respond, accordingly. I believe that there are details in the letter that we need to study,” Yakubu said.

    Corroborating the remarks of INEC Chairman, Keyamo noted that the party also have complaints and as well but has chosen to follow the proper channel.

    He said: : I just want contract to what my colleague of the PDP has said. Now, my simple reaction to this is that what we are doing here is guided by law and regulations of INEC. In the regulations of INEC, Clause 32 to 35 of the regulations clearly states the power of the Chairman of INEC in this sitting at the Collation centre and those powers does not involve the type of inquisition my friend is asking for.

    “The details my friend is asking for amounts to inquisition into the results submitted to the Chairman of INEC. There is a proper channel to seek for inquisition into how many people were captured by the card readers and all that and compared to the results.

    “That is not the power and duty of INEC Chairman sitting at the Collation centre and those proceedings and powers are clearly stated.

    “So for us as a party and for my candidate, we are totally injecting to that pressure. We have our own complains about a lot of open rigging and massive thumb printing in Cross River and Rivers. So we have a lot of complains but we are only keeping our peace because we know the right procedures to take to submit our complains.

  • Senators Omo-Agege, Manager re-elected in Delta

    Results for the Senate and House of Representatives in last Saturday’s election in Delta state finally made it in on Monday.

    After a rather slow and tiring process, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released some of the results in the Delta Central and South Senatorial Districts.

    In Delta Central, the incumbent senator, representing the district, who is also the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, emerged winner, having polled 111,100 votes.

    According to the Returning Officer of the contest, Professor Godfrey Ariavie, who announced the results out in Ughelli, Omo-Agege defeated his closest opponent and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Evelyn Oboro, who polled 99,422 votes.

    In Delta South Senatorial District, the incumbent Senator James Manager of the PDP, defeated his main opponent, former governor of Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of the APC, to win his re-election to the Senate the fifth time.

    Read Also: Omo-Agege empowers 250 women

    According to the Returning Officer, Prof. Oladipupo Adesina of the University of Benin, who announced the results in Oleh, Senator Manager polled 258,812 votes to win Dr Uduaghan who garnered 125,776 votes.

    Also, the candidate of the APC for the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency, Revd Ejiroghene Waive, was declared winner of the election, polling a total of 41,385.

    Returning Officer of the contest, Dr. Igbinoba Eghosa, said Waive thrashed his closest contenders; the candidates of the PDP, Hon Samuel Marierie, who polled 35,126 and the incumbent, Hon Solomon Awhinawhi,  who is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and polled 11,098 votes.

    The Returning Officer for the Warri Federal Constituency election, Dr Samuel Osifo, has declared Chief Thomas Ereyitomi of the PDP winner of the seat, having polled a total of 152,874 votes to defeat the incumbent, Hon Daniel Reyeineiju of the SDP, who polled 25,032 votes and Mr Alex Eyengho of the APC, who polled 18,443 votes.

     

     

  • PDP disputes Bauchi, Borno, Yobe presidential results

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has queried the non-use of Smart Card Readers in last Saturday’s presidential election in some part of the country.

    The party asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to project what the Smart Card Readers captured as accreditation figures before the collation continues.

    The protest, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, however said should be channeled to the commission’s headquarters.

    Speaking on Tuesday at the ongoing Collation of result of presidential election in Abuja, PDP agent, Mr. Osita Chidoka queried why the card readers were not compulsory in some parts of the country when they were elsewhere.

    Chidoka, who was categorical about results from Bauchi, Borno and Yobe, said the party has documented its observations as an official petition to the commission.

    He said: ” The issue before us, Mr. chairman is that we feel strongly about and the chairman of the PDP has written you a petition.

    Read Also: PDP rejects results in Kano

    “We are worried that the promise you made, the commitment you made and INEC made that as we are doing this collation of results, you will give us the details of accreditation captured by the card reader in the country.

    “Yesterday (Monday) my colleague raised the issue and we thought that when we come back this morning as we are listening to the states, we will be seeing the accreditation by the states by the card reader.

    “This Mr. Chairman, I like it to be on record that we want to see the accreditation for Bauchi state, for Borno state and Yobe in particular and of course, for the rest of the country because the number as we are seeing, it seems to me that we live in two countries.

    “Why people in the south have issues with the SCR, why complaints were all over the place, we seem to have quiet and peaceful elections in places where the people have complained of  severe cases of insecurity and harassments by the military and bandits.

    “So, we would like you Mr. Chairman and I forward this letter to you to say that we will appeal that if it is possible Mr. Chairman, that before we proceed to the next state, you should please project to us what the card reader has captured as the accreditation  in these states.”

    He added: “We are supposed to read from the card readers the electronic collation as against the manual information that we are getting to process information here.

    “While it isn’t yet signed into law in your guidelines it was made clear that no voting should take place where there are no card readers.

    “So, Mr. Chairman, we must appeal to you that we would like you to project these accreditation as done by the card readers.

    “Please, if any of your staff is available he can please, take a copy of this letter from the chairman of the PDP saying that what we are doing here will require us to have the accreditation as done by the electronic card readers.”

    However, in his response INEC boss urged the protesting party to submit its letter to the commission’s headquarters.

    He assured PDP the commission will surely look into the petition and respond accordingly.

    “Thank you Mr. Chidoka. But there is a procedure for submitting correspondence to the Commission.

    “We haven’t shut down our office. This is the International Conference Centre where we are using as collation centre.

    “Kindly submit your letter to the office, it will be acknowledged. Your letter will now be studied and we will respond, accordingly.

    “I believe that there are details in the letter that we need to study,” Yakubu said.

  • Why I slept in INEC office for two days, by Ize-Iyamu

    Edo State Director General of the Atiku Campaign Organisation, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has explained why he slept at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during announcement of results.

    Ize-Iyamu said he wanted to ensure that the results were not tampered with.

    Speaking to newsmen in Bénin City after official declaration of the presidential results, he alleged that All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders made serious efforts to tamper with the results.

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu said the people resisted attempts by some APC leaders disrupt collation of results.

    Ize-Iyamu said PDP leaders in the state worked very hard to secure victory despite set back occasioned by the postponement of the general elections.

    Read Also: Tinubu hails INEC, security agencies for peaceful poll

    His words: “I am personally here to make the results are not changed. I could have sent one of my boys but they would easily intimidate them.

    “There were serious efforts to change the results. There were pressure INEC to cancel results in areas where we won but the people’s will prevail.”

  • PDP: presidential election results unacceptable

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday disputed the results being announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing them as “incorrect” and “unacceptable”.

    It also protested the cancellation of over 157, 000 votes in Nasarawa State.

    INEC yesterday announced the cancellation over what the electoral body described as irregularities and violent disruption of voting.

    It was learnt that the situation would be reviewed by the electoral body before announcing its final decision.

    PDP’s National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus also alleged flaws in the conduct of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections in other parts of the country.

    At a news conference in Abuja yesterday, Secondus said the nation’s democracy had come under threat of derailment, citing manipulation of election results, allegedly in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Secondus said: “Firstly, I want to categorically state that our collation centres have all original results from every polling unit, in every ward and in every local government area in Nigeria.

    “Secondly, officials of both President Buhari’s government and the APC, working with INEC officers, have tried to alter the course of history and disenfranchise our people through the cancellation and manipulation of figures for results already announced at polling units, nationwide, in local government areas where our party, the PDP, had commanding votes; this must now be resisted by every well-meaning Nigerians.

    ”Thirdly, the ruling party’s strategy has indeed been murderous, undignified, and disrespectful of the wishes of the electorate, our people and the international community who have been in solidarity with our nation as we attempt to strengthen our democracy and its institutions.”

    The party chair said despite efforts by the PDP and its agents to adhere to laid down provisions for the 2019 general elections, the APC and the INEC did not play by the rules.

    He accused the APC and the electoral umpire of inducements, manipulation and incarcerations, saying that the elements of state power were used as instruments of voter repression.

    Secondus identified the police, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the agencies deployed to repress voters.

    He said: “This is disheartening, considering the terms of the Peace Accord, which called for impartiality and non-partisanship by members of our security organisations with constitutional roles to play during this civic exercise.

    “Fifthly, as results trickled in on Sunday, February 24th, 2019, clearly putting the PDP in the lead, the ruling party and President Buhari dispatched high-ranking officials to coercively influence outcomes in different geopolitical zones in the country.

    “For example, the Minister of Interior was dispatched to the Northwest of the country, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was dispatched to the Northeast of the country, while the Attorney-General and Justice Minister was dispatched to the Southeast and Southsouth zones.

    “With the INEC IT server hacked by agents of the APC to manipulate results, we can with certainty state that results from the following polling units have, for example, been tampered with.”

    He listed the areas to include Sarkin Dawaki, Doka and Agyaragin-Tofa Wards in Doma Local Government of Nassarawa State.

    The party chair also said 10, 000 illegal votes were added to already announced results in Wurno Local Government Area in Sokoto State amid attacks on electoral officials at Lafia and police barracks polling units.

    Secondus said: “As if these provocations are not enough, our agents and officials are constantly arrested and in many cases locked up for complaining that Electronic Card Readers (ECR) were not in use in many Northern states, implying that all results from the Northern part of the country where the ECRs were not used should be voided in accordance with INEC guidelines.

    “”I also believe, the arrest of Eng. Buba Galadima, who has been a great symbol of what is courageous about our people goes to show that one man’s ambition is greater than our collective good, and most probably worth the blood of all Nigerians.

    ”In that context, I call for Buba Galadima’s immediate and unconditional release, as well as that of all officials and agents of the PDP, in the Southwest, who were mostly arrested on the eve of the elections where intimidation became the APCs sole election strategy.

    “Despite these provocations, intimidation and attempts to hijack our democracy and change the course of history, I must, in fact, convey to our good people the fact that the PDP is on course to victory and the Presidency; therefore, remain resolute and steadfast, because our party shares in your uncertainty and suffering, which must decisively come to a good end for us all.

    “Finally, and once again, we appeal to the leadership of INEC to remain impartial and not become willing agents to disenfranchise our people and derail our democracy, because the world is watching, and history will indeed pass judgment.

    “In addition, to the international community, we welcome your support for our democracy and extend our gratitude with great hope for our democracy.”

  • Buhari, Atiku show strength as results trickle in from states

    Going by the results so far released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 73 registered political parties fielded candidates in Saturday’s Presidential Election for the fun of it.

    Only President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his challenger Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were showing strength as the results of the poll trickled in yesterday.

    The Returning Officers from the states were at the International Conference Centre (ICC) venue of the National Collation Centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja to announce the results.

    Some of the early results announced by the electoral umpire were those of Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Abia and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    But the results from other states had been announced at the state level by the presidential collation officers appointed by the INEC.

    They include: Oyo, Niger, Kano, Kogi, Adamawa and Kaduna, among others.

    Prof. Idowu Olayinka, Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), who is the Collation Officer for the election in the Ekiti, announced President Buhari of the APC as winner.

    According to Prof Olayinka, Buhari polled 219, 231 votes to defeat PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, who scored 154,032 votes.

    He said that of the 899,919 registered voters in the state, 395,741 were accredited; 393,709 votes were cast and 12, 577 were rejected.

    Olayinka noted that the number of political parties on the ballot was responsible for the high number of voided votes.

    The INEC had earlier declared APC winner of all the senatorial and House of Representatives seats in the state.

    In Kogi, the APC candidate, who won in 14 of the 21 local governments in the Confluence State, was declared winner of the presidential election.

    Buhari polled 285, 894 votes to defeat Atiku, who garnered 218,207 votes.

    The results as declared by the Kogi State Collation Officer, Prof. Michael Adikwu of the University of Abuja, showed that the PDP flag bearer won in seven local government areas.

    In a result that proved bookmakers wrong, Buhari won convincingly in Kwara State, the state of Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council. He beat his closest opponent in the presidential poll Atiku.

    Prof. Abdulsalam Bala, Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, who announced the result, said that APC scored 308, 984 votes as against PDP’s 138,184.

    Read also: Tinubu to constituents: thank you

    He said the total registered vote is 1,491 895; 459, 676 votes were cast.

    In Nasarawa, Buhari won, according to the Returning Officer, Prof. Azubuike Nwankwo, who said that the APC candidate polled 289, 903 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, who scored 283, 847 votes.

    Buhari won eight of the 13 local government areas. Atiku won five.

    Nwankwo said 613,720 voters were accredited. The total votes cast stood at 599,399.

    Of the votes, 580,778 were valid; 18,621 were rejected.

    In Ondo, intra-party squabbles in the ruling APC gave the Sunshine State to the PDP, whose candidate beat Buhari in 11 of the 18 local government areas.

    Returning Officer Prof. Kayode Soremekun of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti said Atiku polled 275,901 votes in 11 local governments to beat Buhari, who scored 241,769 votes in the remaining seven local government areas.

    The number of registered voters is 1,312,567, accredited voters, 598,586, total valid votes, 555,984, rejected votes, 3,833 and votes cast  586,827.

    The PDP won in Akure North, Ifedore, Idanre, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, Irele, Ondo East, Ose, Akure South, Ondo West, Ese-odo and Okitipupa local government areas.

    The APC won in Odigbo, Owo, Akoko North East, Akoko North West, Akoko South East, Akoko South West and Ilaje.

    In Yobe, Buhari’s APC polled 497,914 to beat PDP, which scored 50,763.

    Prof. Abubakar  Gunduri, the collation officer, who announced the result after collation from the 17 local government areas, said that the state had 1,365,913 registered voters, out of which, 601,059 were accredited.

    According to Gunduri, the exercise recorded 559,365 valid votes and 26,772 invalid votes.

    The agents of the two major parties – Dr. Zaji Bunu (APC) and Dr. Abdu Bulama (PDP) – accepted the results and signed the documents on behalf of their parties.

    The collation officer for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Prof. Muhammed Liman of the Nasarawa State University, announced Atiku as the winner of the presidential poll in the nation’s capital.

    He said the PDP candidate won in five of the six council areas; Buhari won in one.

    Atiku won in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali. Buhari won in Abaji Local Government Area.

    Prof Liman said: “APC won in Abaji with 12,847 while PDP got 9,369; in Gwagwalada, PDP won with 25,175 votes while APC got 24,363 votes.

    “In Kwali, PDP won with 16,455 votes while APC got 15,505 votes. In Bwari, PDP won with 52,015 and APC got 22,115.

    “PDP won in Kuje with 23,805 votes while APC got 16, 743. Likewise, in AMAC, PDP won with 133,178 while APC got 60,647 votes.”

    The PDP candidate scored 259,997 votes. Buhari garnered 152,224 votes.

    The APC agent declined to sign the result sheet, which his PDP counterpart signed.

    The presidential collation officer in the FCT said the agent’s refusal was based on his claim that some of his party’s supporters were disenfranchised and not based on manipulation of the votes.

    The PDP won the presidential poll with a wide margin in the 17 council areas of Enugu State.

    Announcing the result, the Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka who is the state’s Collation Officer Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, said the PDP scored 355,553 votes and APC got 54,423 votes.

    He said the results were carefully collated and observers at the collation hall were.

    Ahaneku said the state had 1,944, 016 registered voters; 452,765  were accredited.

    He said 421,014 were valid and 30,049 invalid.

  • I don’t believe in rumour, I’ll wait for INEC result, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari would rather wait for the result that will be declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rather than rely on rumours.

    He was dismissing the various results being posted on social media platforms in the aftermath of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly election.

    The President, who spoke on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from his Daura country home in Katsina, said he would wait for the final result declaration by INEC.

    Buhari left Abuja on Friday for Daura, Katsina State, in order to exercise his civic responsibility.

    Read also: Kogi again?

    Asked his reaction to news  from across the country, he said: “I don’t want to depend on rumours, but we will rather wait for INEC to announce the results.”

    On his message to Nigerians as they await the release of the results, Buhari said: “Well, l hope that Nigerians will appreciate that it was this government which made sure that they were allowed in security and peace to cast their votes for whichever party and candidates they wanted.”

    The Co-Chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed TInubu expressed optimism that ruling party will win.

  • Fed Govt warns against ‘plan to truncate electoral process’

    THE Federal Government has strongly warned against alleged plan by the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to truncate the electoral process and render the elections held on Saturday inconclusive.

    According to the Minister  of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement issued yesterday in Oro, Kwara State, the opposition’s plan was to trigger a constitutional crisis and push for an interim government.

    He said the PDP has started laying the groundwork for a constitutional crisis by unleashing its spokesmen, including Buba Galadima, Osita Chidoka and Femi Fani-Kayode, on the public space to claim victory from Saturday’s election, even when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was yet to announce the result – an action that the statement said “amounts to a clear case of impunity”.

    Mohammed said by usurping the role of INEC through the announcement of result, the PDP has violated the Electoral Act and should face very serious consequences.

    The minister said: “By announcing the result and saying they have won the February 23rd election, the PDP is deliberately seeking to confuse the polity and lay the foundation for rejecting the outcome if, when INEC eventually announces the result, the party does not win.

    “This confirms what we said in a series of pre-election press conferences, that the PDP – realising it cannot win a free and fair election – will do everything possible to scuttle the polls, failing which it will proceed to the next stage, which is to discredit the entire electoral process, including the result, with the ultimate aim of precipitating a constitutional crisis and pushing for an interim government.”

    He also noted the alarm raised by the Federal Government over the PDP’s decision to set up a parallel electoral body, under the tag of Parallel Voting Tabulation (PVT) System, which the opposition party described as a tool that will determine whether or not it accepts the results of the elections.

    “We said, then, that while it is standard practice for political parties to have their own monitoring systems during elections, what is

    not standard is to set up a pseudo-electoral commission and imbue it with the power to collate and announce results as the PDP is now doing under the guise of PVT. Unfortunately, our warning has proven to be prescient,” Mohammed said.

    The minister wondered why those who parade themselves as democrats would show such disdain for the electoral process, which is a key ingredient of democracy.

    He called on the security agencies to nip in the bud the constitutional crisis that the PDP is working frantically to trigger, by immediately arresting and prosecuting anyone, who announces the result of last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

  • Who is heading for House of Reps

    •INEC unveils more winners in race to National Assembly

    The re-election of some members of the House of Representatives was announced yesterday just as more new faces emerged. Our correspondents report.

    APGA gets four seats in Anambra

    All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won four of the eleven federal constituency polls in Anambra from results so far announced by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the National Assembly elections.

    In the results announced by INEC in Awka on Monday,  Chinedu Obidigwe of APGA won the Anambra East and Anambra West Federal Constituency.

    Muoma Ifeanyi, the APGA candidate for Ihiala and the candidate for Orumba North and South, Okwudili Ezenwankwo as well as Oba Umeorji for Aguata Federal Constituency, won their elections.

    One the other hand,  Peoples Democratic party (PDP) candidates won in six federal constituencies, including; Nnewi North and South (Chris Azubuogu), Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia (Val Anyika), and Awka North and South (Sam Onwuaso).

    Others are: Ogbaru Federal Constituency (Chu Chu Onyema), Onitsha North and South (Linda Ikpeazu) and Oyi/Ayamelu Federal Constituency (Vincent Ofumelu).

    Idemili North and South Federal Constituency currently occupied by Rep. Obinna Chidoka (PDP) is the only area yet to be announced by INEC.

    APC wins in Jigawa’s Dutse/Kiyawa constituency

    Alhaji Ibrahim Kemba of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the Dutse/Kiyawa Federal Constituency election in Jigawa.

    Announcing the result yesterday in Dutse, the Returning Officer, Malam Bukar Usman, said Kemba scored 66,428 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Aminu Wada Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 37,08 votes.

    He added that Shehu Sunusi Muhammad of the Action Alliance (AA), polled 5,444.

    “That Ibrahim Abdullahi Kemba of APC having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” he said.

    APGA wins Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency in Taraba

    Mr Danjuma Shiddi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has emerged winner of Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency seat in Taraba.

    Declaring the result in Wukari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Prof. Chibiya Shangu said Shiddi polled 39,312 votes to defeat his close rival, Prof. Yakubu Aliyara of Action Alliance (AA) who got 22,147 votes.

    According to him, Mr Naphtali Kefas of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) polled 20,574 votes while Mr Josiah Kente of the All progressives Congress (APC) got 17, 522 votes.

    Agunsoye re-elected in Kosofe

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr Olurotimi Agunsoye of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the National Assembly election for Kosofe Federal Constituency of Lagos State.

    The Returning Officer, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, who announced the results at the Anglican Primary School, Ogudu collation centre, said Agunsoye scored 41,593 votes, while his closest rival, Mrs Sherifat Olusola-Hassan of Peoples Democratic Party, scored 28,087 votes.

    Olukoju, a Professor of Maritime and History, University of Lagos, declared Agunsoye of the APC winner, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number votes, and returned him elected.

    Speaking after his election declaration, Agunsoye thanked his constituency for re-electing him into the House of Representatives, assuring them of better things than his first term.

    Benson retains Ikorodu seat

    Mr Babajimi Benson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared winner of Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the Feb. 23 National Assembly election.

    The Returning Officer, Dr Musa Adebayo Obalola, an Associate Professor, announced that Benson, having polled 42,563 as the highest votes, is declared winner of the election.

    Benson, who is the incumbent, defeated the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mrs Disu Ramota Omotola, who polled 19, 825 votes.

    Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after he was declared winner, Benson promised his constituents value-added representation.

    “My people should expect from me more legislation that will add value to the country as a whole,” he said.

    Jimoh retains APC Lagos Mainland seat

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency, Mr Jide Jimoh, as winner of Saturday’s election.

    Prof. Iyiola Oni , the Returning Officer of the election announced the result at the Federal Constituency Collation Centre located in St. Agnes Primary School, Sabo-Yaba, at about 5:45 am on Monday.

    Oni, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, said that Jimoh polled a total of 22, 073 votes to defeat his closest rival from the Peoples Democratic Party, Tajudeen Agoro who got 16, 834 votes.

    According to him, Sherifat Ogbola of Accord  scored 40 votes, Balogun Usman of AD polled 88 votes, Olugbenga Shobowale of ADC polled 212 votes while Olaide Abiodun got only 5 votes.

    Oni said Olorunwa Ogunsemore of MPN scored 21 votes, Adewunmi Ogunlola of PPN got 45 votes, Kayode Hadiza of SDP scored 24 votes while Oluwatoyin Akande of YES party got 31 votes.

    He said the total number of votes cast was 42, 838, total valid votes was 40, 253 while the total rejected votes was 2,585.

    Kaduna Speaker wins Reps seat

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Alhaji Kabiru Alhassan, the Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, as the winner of the Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya Federal Constituency seat.

    The Returning Officer, Prof. Kabir Taheer-Hamid announced this on Monday in Kano.

    According to him, Alhassan, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 62,455 votes to beat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Sani Muhammad who scored 33,296 votes.

    “Alhassan scored a total of 62,455 votes, while Muhammad got 33,296 votes. The break down shows that Alhassan scored 16,505 votes in Kibiya, while Muhammad got 2,543 votes.

    “In Rano, Alhassan polled 21,459, while Muhammad had 9,292 votes. In Bunkure, Alhassan got 24,491 votes while Muhammad scored 11, 461 votes.”

    APC wins Surulere Constituency 1; PDP, Surulere Constituency ll

    Mr Femi Gbajabiamila of the All Progressives Congress (APC ) and Mr Olatunji Soyinka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have emerged winners at Surulere Federal Constituencies l and ll  in the House of Representatives elections held on Feb. 23.

    Prof. Adetola Daramola, the INEC Returning Officer for the Feb. 23 House of Representatives poll for Surulere Federal Constituency 1, declared the result for the constituency at INEC’s collation centre in Surulere at 1.39. a.m yesterday.

    According to her, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila of APC emerged winner with 14,617 votes while Mr Adewara Michael of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 8085 votes.

    Mr Folami Abiola of Alliance for Democracy (AD) came third with 97 votes while Ms Oriyomi Barbara of the African Democratic Congress of (ADC) came fourth with 71 votes

    “At the end of voting, Femi Gbajabiamila of APC has satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes and is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected, ” she said.

    At 3.a.m, Prof. Ade Ibiwoye, INEC Returning Officer for Surulere Federal Constituency ll, declared Mr Olatunji Soyinka of PDP winner with 19,950 votes while Mr Lanre Okunlola of APC came second with 17,910 votes.

    Mrs Ferguson Blessing of  (ANP) came third with 628 votes.

    “Olatunji Soyinka, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected, ” Ibiwoye said.

    APC wins Ifako-Ijaye Federal Constituency of Lagos

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr James Owolabi, the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of Ifako-Ijaye Federal constituency of Lagos State seat in Saturday’s National Assembly election.

    Announcing the result at Ifako-Ijaiye INEC office in Lagos yesterday, Prof. Smith Jaja, the returning officer, said Owolabi scored 34, 204 votes.

    Jaja said that Mrs Fatimah Mohamed, the Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), came second with 18, 271 votes.

    Others are: ADC 290 votes, PPN 147 votes, AD 178 and UPP 119 —  out of the 49,056 total votes cast.

    Jaja said Owolabi of APC,  “having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared as the winner and is returned elected.”

    Owolabi will be replacing Mr Nurudeen Akinwunmi, the incumbent Federal House of Representatives member in the constituency.

    APC wins Agege seat

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday declared Dr Babatunde Adejare of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the Agege Federal Constituency seat in Lagos State.

    Prof. Olufemi Shaibu, the INEC Returning Officer for the Agege Federal Constituency election, who is of the Department of Economics, University of Lagos (UNILAG), made the declaration at the Collation Centre in Orile Agege area of the state.

    The APC candidate polled 32, 114 votes to beat his closest rival, Mr Oluwole Joseph of the PDP who had 13, 886 votes in Saturday’s National Assembly elections.

    Mr Oladipupo Ayinde of the Accord (AC) party polled a total of 5, 490.

    Shaibu said Adejare, having scored the highest votes at the election, had won the National Assembly election for the Agege Federal constituency.

    “Adejare Samuel Babatunde of APC having satisfied the requirements of the law, has scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” Shaibu said.

    Shaibu said only 10 parties contested in the election in Agege local government area.

    Adejare is the Commissioner for Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure in Lagos and was also a member of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 representing Agege Federal Constituency.

    Four seats for Ogun APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has clinched four House of Representatives seats in Ogun, winning all four so far declared out of nine federal constituencies in the state.

    Olumide Osoba (APC) won Abeokuta North/ Odeda/Obafemi Owode, Lanre Edun (APC) won Abeokuta South, while Korede Osunsanya, also of APC, was declared winner of Ijebu-Ode/Ijebu-North/Odogbolu federal constituency.

    The APC had earlier been declared winner of Ado – Odo/Ota Federal Constituency’s seat in Ogun.

    Olumide, son of a former governor of the state and  chieftain of APC, Chief Segun Osoba, polled a total of 33, 538 votes to defeat the incumbent, Mikhail Kazeem of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), who scored 14,903 votes.

    The result was announced by the Returning Officer, Prof. Ismaila Salami, at Unity High School Collation Centre, Ago- Ika, Abeokuta.

    At the Centenary Hall collation centre for the Abeokuta-South federal constituency, the Returning Officer, Prof. Bameke Oyedele, declared APC’s Edun as winner, having polled a total of 17,003 votes.

    He defeated his closest rival, Mr Segun Sowunmi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored a total of 8,608 votes.

    Similarly, Prof. Michael Ozoje, the Returning Officer at Ijebu-Ode Local Government Collation Centre, declared Osunsanya as winner of Ijebu-Ode/Ijebu North-East/Odogbolu seat with a total of 25,608 votes.

    Mr Taiwo Shote, the PDP candidate who came closest to Osunsanya, scored total votes of 21,775.

    PDP wins Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency seat

    The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Nicholas Garba, has been declared winner of Saturday’s elections for Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency in Kaduna state.

    Mr Ugo Chile, Returning Officer, who declared the results, said Garba got 75,370 votes to defeat Habu Anna of APC who scored 39,407 votes. The officer described the election as free and fair.

    INEC declares PDP winner of Eket Federal Constituency, A’Ibom

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr Patrick Ifon, the House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the Eket Federal Constituency election held on Saturday.

    Announcing the results, the Returning Officer, Prof. Bassey Antia of the University of Uyo, said that Patrick Ifon polled 61, 580 votes to defeat his closest rival Akpabio Kufre of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 11, 263 votes.

    The results were announced at Eket Senatorial District Collation Centre on Monday.

    Addressing his supporters, Ifon, the Eket federal constituency member elect, thanked the constituents for being steadfast in their quest to ensure the people’s will prevailed.

    “This is a collective victory in the face of threatening assertions by the opposition. It is a victory attributed to God, the people and a proof that Akwa Ibom is PDP, ” he said.

    He commended INEC for the peaceful process but decried the malfunctioning of the card readers that disenfranchised a lot of eligible voters from voting.

    Eket Federal Constituency is made up of Eket, Esit Eket, Onna and Ibeno.

    APC wins Etsako seat in Edo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Johnson Oghuma as the winner of Etsako Federal Constituency of Edo.

    INEC returning officer, Dr Francis Ogbemudia of the University of Benin, who announced the result, said Oghuma polled 57,751 votes to defeat his closest rival, Blessing Agbomere of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 36,904 votes.

    Ogbemudia said of the 265,895 registered voters, 98,808 cast their votes while 2,378 votes were voided.

    Ogbemudia said: “I hereby declare Oghuma of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, as the winner and he is returned elected.”

    APC wins Ganjuwa/Darazo federal constituency in Bauchi

    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Mansur Soro, has emerged winner of Saturday’s National Assembly election for Ganjuwa and Darazo Federal Constituency in Bauchi state.

    Announcing the result in Darazo yesterday, the Returning Officer, Mr Bello Abdulkadir, said the winner polled 45,867 votes to defeat contestants of other political parties.

    Candidates of other political parties that contested with him in the election includes: Mr Ibrahim Hassan of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 19,897  and Mr Dayyabu Ciroma of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), who polled 20,983 votes.

    PDP wins Jos South/Jos East Rep seat

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday declared Mr Dachung Bagos of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the winner of Jos South/Jos East Federal constituency.

    Prof. Rahila Gowon, the returning officer for the polls, who announced the results at the collation centre in Jos, said Bagos polled the highest votes required by the law.

    She said the winner polled a total of 117,114 votes to beat Pam Dongs of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 37, 617 votes.

    Ex-Minister wins APC Rep in Yobe

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs (state), Khadija Ibrahim, as the winner for Damaturu/Tarmuwa/Gujba/Gulani Federal Constituency on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Prof. Maimuna Waziri of Federal University Gashua, the INEC Returning Officer for the election declared the results on Sunday at Federal Secretariat Collation Centre in Damaturu.

    According to the Returning Officer, Khadija Ibrahim of APC scored the highest votes of 78,953.

    Waziri said Alhaji Habu Babayo, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged as the second winner with total votes of 10,508.

    APC wins Kaltungo/Shongom Rep in Gombe

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Karu Elisha, as the winner of Kaltungo/Shongom Federal Constituency of Gombe State.

    Announcing the results, the Returning Officer, Prof Sale Mohammed of the Federal University, Kashere, said Elisha polled 35,316 votes.

    He defeated his closest rival, Adamu Kalba of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 26,661 votes.

    He said that a total number of 67, 993  votes were cast out of 186, 038 total registered voters.

    He also said that 64,964 votes were valid in the election.

    Mohammed said “I hereby declare Dr Karu Elisha of APC as the winner having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes.”

    Elumelu of PDP wins Aniocha/Oshimili Fed Constituency in Delta

    Mr Ndudi Elumelu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Aniocha/OShimili Federal Constituency has emerged winner of the National Assembly election.

    Elumelu polled a total of 84,234 to emerge winner as announced by Dr Josephine Anene-Okeakwa, collation and returning officer for the Constituency on Monday in Asaba.

    According to Anene-Okeakwa, elections were contested in four local government areas that made up the constituency in the state which were Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Aniocha North and Aniocha South LGAs.

    “The PDP candidate polled a total of 84,214 votes while the All Progressive Congress (APC) Candidate, Mr Paul Adingupu polled total of 11,104 votes.

    “Total valid vote is 96,379; total vote cast is 99,549 while 3,176 votes were rejected during the process. By the power conferred on me as the Returning Officer for the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, I declare that election was contested and Ndudi Elumelu, having satisfied the requirement is hereby declared winner and is return elected”.

    Onuigbo returns to House

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Chief Sam Onuigbo the winner for the Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency poll.

    Onuigbo, who ran on the platform of PDP for second tenure, polled 30, 669 to defeat his closest rival, Mr Martin Apugo of the APC who polled 23,279 votes.

    Mr Uba Macdold of APGA scored 10,312 votes, while Mr Charles Nzechi of Labour Party (LP) scored 559 votes.

    Prof. Georgina Ugwuanyi, the Returning Officer for the constituency, who announced the result in Umuahia, declared Onuigbo the winner.

    He said that 12,232 votes were valid out of the 13,192 votes cast at the election.

    With the result, Onuigbo has emerged the first person to be re-elected to the House of Representatives for a second tenure in the constituency.

    Akinremi is APC’s sole winner in Ibadan metropolis

    The Liberian-based millionaire businessman and candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Musiliudeen Olaide Akinremi, has been declared winner of the Saturday’s House of Representatives election in the area.

    With his victory, Akinremi emerged as the only candidate of the APC to win in Ibadan metropolis where the opposition Peoples Democratic Party consumed the aspiration of other party’s candidates.

    Akinremi polled 17,048 votes to narrowly defeat his closest rival, Ademola Omotosho of PDP who garnered 16,237 votes.

    Read also: Buhari set for victory as INEC announces results from 12 states, FCT

    Save for Ibadan North constituency, other APC candidates lost to the PDP in all other metropolitan federal constituencies in the city like Ibadan Northwest/southwest and Ibadan Southeast/Northeast.

    Akinremi was declared elected and returned by the Returning Officer, Prof. Mukaila Olujide.

    However, the PDP collation agent, Mr. Olumuyiwa Makinde and that of Accord, Mr. Adeoye Omobolade, rejected the results on the grounds that the result sheets of three polling units in the local government area are still shrouded in mystery.

    Minority Whip, Barde wins Chikun/ Kajuru seat for 5th term in Kaduna

    The incumbent member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal constituency, Rt. Hon. Umar Yakubu Barde has been reelected to represent his constituency for the fifth term.

    Hon. Barde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is the minority whip at the green chambers gannered a total votes of 92,547 to defeat his closest opponent Barrister Bashir Yahaya Wushiri of APC who scored 34,022 and Ekene Abubakar Adams of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) who polled 16,813 votes.

    In the keenly contested election, Hon. Barde polled 69,416 votes in Chikun local government area and 23,131 votes in Kajuru local government area.

    Wushiri of the APC scored 23,505 votes in Chikun local government area and 10,517 in Kajuru local government area.

    Mr. Adams got 11,636 votes in Chukun local government area and 5,177 in Kajuru local government area.

    Reps emerge in Delta

    Results for the House of Representatives in last Saturday’s election in Delta State started trickling out yesterday evening.

    After a rather slow and tiring process, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released some of the results in the Delta Central and South Senatorial Districts.

    The candidate of the APC for the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency, Revd Ejiroghene Waive, was declared winner of the election, polling a total of 41,385.

    Returning Officer of the contest,

    Dr. Igbinoba Eghosa, said Waive thrashed his closest contenders; the candidates of the PDP, Hon Samuel Marierie, who polled 35,126 and the incumbent, Hon Solomon Awhinawhi,  who is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and polled 11,098 votes.

    In Warri South, the candidate of the PDP, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, polled 23,016, against the incumbent and candidate of the SDP, Hon Daniel Reyeineiju, who scored 3,733, and the candidate of the APC, Mr Alex Eyengho’s 7,291.

    In Warri North, PDP polled 25,788, against SDP’s 8,326 and APC’s 4,921.

    APC clears seats in Kwara

    Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State won all the six House of Representatives Seats in the state.

    The official results released by Jacob Ayanda, Head of Department, Voter education and Publicity in Ilorin yesterday show that the House of Representatives seat for Ilorin West/Asa was won by Alhaji Abdulyekeen Alajagusi with 68, 585 votes to 42, 068 votes polled by Abdulrasaq Lawal of the PDP.

    Abdulganiyu Cook Olododo emerged the Reps member-elect for Ilorin South/Ilorin East by polling 56, 496 votes to defeat Ayinde Mohammed of PDP that polled 27, 737 votes.

    The Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency seat was won by Tijani Kayode with 54, 401 votes as against 19, 449 votes polled by Olerinoye Tope of PDP.

    The incumbent Reps member for Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero, Hon Olawuyi Abdulraheem of the APC polled 33, 386 votes to retain his seat by defeating his closest opponent, Bolade Rafiu of the PDP who got 22, 954 votes.

    The House of Reps seat for Baruten/Kaiama was won by Mohammed Bio with 39, 914 votes to 14, 476 votes polled by Abubakar Musa of PDP.

    Ahmed Ndakenne polled 58, 054 votes to secure the Patigi/Edu/Moro Federal Constituency seat by defeating Hassan Mahmud Babako of the PDP that got 19, 144 votes.

  • INEC’s unpreparedness marred elections, says AU Observer Mission

    THE African Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria (AUEOM) yesterday stated that the failure of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide essential materials during the Saturday elections marred the outlook of the election.

    According to a preliminary report released by the group during a news briefing in Abuja yesterday, all 16 voting points observed by the AUEOM in rural and urban areas were delayed for over an hour.

    The reason for the delayed, AUEOM said, was late arrivals of polling officials and election materials as well as poor preparation of voting points.

    The group also noted that polling staff, in general, did not demonstrate sufficient knowledge and competence.

    In addition, the report stated that 13 of the 16 voting points observed were not accessible to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) due to their placement in uneven ground.

    Read also: PDP: presidential election results unacceptable

    AUEOM Head of Mission and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hallemariam Desalegn Boshe congratulated INEC.

    He urged the commission to expeditiously and transparently collate and announce the results of the election.

    The group also called on INEC to strengthen the capacity of polling staff through training on assisting voters, counting and other electoral procedures.

    AUEOM implored Nigerians and stakeholders to refrain from disseminating fake news and information, particularly on the results.