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Tag: Kano

  • Ethiopian Air opens condolence registers in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu

    ETHIOPIAN Airlines, owners of the ill-fated Boeing 737 Max – 8 that crashed on Sunday, have opened condolence registers in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Enugu.

    There were 157 passengers aboard the plane which was flying from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, Kenya.

    The airline opened the registers at its offices in the four cities for the victims of ET Flight 302.

    The development came in the wake of the global outrage triggered by the crash.

    Two Nigerians –  Ambassador Abiodun Bashau and Prof Pius Adesanmi  – were among the victims.

    The General Manager of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, Mrs. Firihiewot Mekonnen, yesterday received the first set of visitors at the airline’s Lagos Office.

    At the Abuja Airport, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunomah, was received by Ethiopian Airlines Sales Manager  Tilahun Tadesse.

    Mrs. Mekonnen thanked Nigerians for standing by her organisation “in this moment of grief”.

    “We thank the Nigerian President and the good people of Nigeria for the condolence message from the Government of Nigeria.

    “We have always counted on Nigeria as an African partner and brother and this sad occasion once again proves the bond. We commiserate with Nigeria over the loss to humanity of the two great Nigerians on that flight. We have since reached out to the families involved. Ethiopian Airlines will not abandon its responsibilities to them.”

    Ethiopian Airlines has grounded all B737-8Max airplanes in its fleet. The airline was not flying the B737 Max-8 on its Nigerian routes. The B777, B787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350 are the aircraft deployed daily to Nigeria.

    The crash has raised questions about the safety of the aircraft type.

    The two crashes involving Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air has further put a question mark on the safety integrity of Boeing 737 Max-8.

    Investigations have been launched into the circumstances leading to the crash but there heightened anxiety among global passengers booked on airline flight for carriers that have Boeing 737- Max 8 on their fleet.

    Britain yesterday led other nations, including Malaysia, Oman, Australia, China and Singapore to temporarily ban the aircraft model in their airspaces.

    A local operator,  Air Peace, which had ordered for 10 units of the aircraft type, said it was not suspending its order.

    It, however, promised to watch ongoing investigations before taking a decisive step.

    Industry regulator Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) gave assurance on the state of aircraft flying in Nigeria’s airspace.

    The NCAA said there was no cause for worry, as no Boeing 737 Max-8 was being operateed in the country.

    Its spokesman, Sam Adurogboye, assured the flying public of their safety, stating that there is no cause for alarm.

    He said in a statement: “Presently, the accident aircraft type, Boeing 737 Max-8 is not in operation in the country. However, the authority, in line with its Safety Oversight mandate enshrined in the Civil Aviation Act 2006, is consciously monitoring the development (s) with a view to take the necessary steps that will enhance the safety of all aircraft in operation within the Nigerian airspace.”

    “This is to assure the public that NCAA will continue to ensure that safety regulations are strictly adhered to for the safety of all in Nigeria. Our heart is with the Airline and families of the victims of the accident.”

    Also yesterday, United States (U.S.) regulators ordered Boeing to make urgent improvements to the model and insisted that they would take action if safety issues are detected.

    But the U.S. demand was not enough to reassure aviation authorities in Britain and four other countries — Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and Oman — who temporarily banned all 737 MAX planes from their airspace.

    China, an important market for Boeing, had already ordered domestic airlines to suspend operations of the plane Monday, same step taken by Indonesia.

    The UK Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement headlined “Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft” that “as a precautionary measure” it had decided “to stop any commercial passenger flights from any operator arriving, departing or overflying UK airspace”.

    Aviation regulators in Singapore, a global air travel hub and popular transit point for long-haul travellers, said they would work with the country’s main airport and “the affected airlines to minimise any impact to travelling passengers”.

    One Singaporean airline, SilkAir, uses 737 MAX aircraft while a handful of foreign airlines operate the planes in the city-state.

    In its statement announcing the 737 MAX ban, Malaysia’s aviation regulator noted the two recent fatal accidents involving the model.

    Britain joined four other countries in banning Boeing 737 MAX planes from their airspace as a growing number of airlines around the world grounded the jets following a second deadly accident in just five months.

    Low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle said Tuesday it would suspend flights of its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft until further notice.

    Norwegian, which operates 18 of the planes, will keep them grounded pending advice from aviation authorities, Operations Chief Tomas Hesthammer said.

     

  • Polls inconclusive in Kano, Benue, Sokoto, three others

    •Adamawa, Plateau, Bauchi also affected

    VOTERS in six states are to wait a little longer to know who will be their governor as from May 29 when the tenure of incumbent governors expires.

    Reason: elections in the six states have been declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the cancellation of votes in some polling units (PUs).

    The states are: Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa, Benue, Plateau and Bauchi.

    The development came yesterday as the electoral umpire announced governorship election results in more states, including Yobe, Borno, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Cross River, Delta, Imo and Kaduna.

    INEC’s decision to declare the polls inconclusive in the affected states was taken because the number of cancelled votes was more than the margin between the two leading candidates in the affected states.

    The commission will organise supplementary polls in the affected PUs to determine the winners of Saturday’s governorship elections in 29 states. Seven states have their governorship elections staggered.

    INEC will today review the suspension of the electoral process in Rivers State. It suspended the process on Sunday for 48 hours following widespread disruptions in the Southsouth state.

    KADUNA

    With 1.045,427 votes as against his PDP challenger Isa Mohammed Ashiru’s 814,168, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has retained his seat for the APC. He was declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Kaduna State.

    The Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Yahuza Bello, said El-Rufai pollled 1.045,427 to beat Isa Mohammed Ashiru of the PDP, who got 814,168, and other candidates.

    Bello said: “Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of the All Progressives Congress, having scored the highest number of votes and met all the requirements of the law, is hereby returned elected.”

    The results of the 23 local government areas show that El-Rufai won in 14 local government areas of Makarfi, Soba, Kudan, Ikara, Kauru, Kubau, Kaduna North, Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Sabongari, Lere, Kaduna South, Zaria and Igabi.

    Ashiru won in nine local government areas of Jaba, Kachia, Kaura, Kajuru, Zango Kataf, Sanga, Chikun, Kagarko and Jema’a.

    El-Rufai got 56 per cent of the total votes scored. Ashiru scored 44 per cent.

    ZAMFARA

    In Zamfara, APC’s candidate Mukhtar Shehu Idris was declared governor-elect after polling 534,541 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Dr. Bello Muhammad who got 189, 452 votes.

    The governor-elect told reporters in his Gusau country home that he will continue with the party’s policy and programmes.

    Idris said the incumbent Governor Abdul Aziz Yari has sacrificed a lot for the development of the stare and the well-being of its citizens.

    He said: “I assure you that my administration will work right from day one towards meeting your yearnings for a more developed prosperous Zamfara state.”

    SOKOTO

    In Sokoto, where INEC declared the election inconclusive, Governor Aminu Tambuwal and candidate of the PDP urged the commission to declare him winner of the poll in the spirit of fairness and justice.

    According to him, the decision by the Returning Officer of INEC, Professor Fatima Mukhtar, to declare the exercise inconclusive was unconstitutional.

    Citing Section 179(2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic stated that the provision clearly explains how to conduct governorship polls.

    He said: “Our party, the PDP has returned the highest number of votes and have won 2/3 of the local governments in the state and, therefore, the decision of INEC is not founded in law. We wonder why INEC is coming with this technical reason to declare the exercise inconclusive.”

    Addressing a news conference in Government House, Sokoto, the governor said the decision would be put to test in the court, adding: “We have not been given substantial reasons for such decision.

    “INEC should note that it has an image and integrity to protect as an agency and for its officials. It should not put its integrity to public questioning.

    “Up till now, we have not been told why the cancellations of the exercise in 136 polling units across 22 local government areas. We know there are adverse factors that should be considered to warrant such decisions and not in all cases rerun should be conducted.”

    Urging INEC to revisit its decision, Tambuwal added: “There is the need for INEC to revisit its decision. A little more has to be done by the umpire. Prof Mahmood Yakubu and his staff should know that they have the duty of holding to public trust given them by Nigerians.

     

    “I believe we have won the elections in Sokoto State. We got the majority votes which confirm Sokoto people’s readiness and support for the party and its candidate.”

    On whether he would participate in a rerun, the governor said: “Our court action will not stop us from participating. We want to make sure the right thing is done based on constitutional provisions.”

    Thanking security agencies for their support to the election process and INEC for its ability to do and to be seen doing the right thing in defence of the democratic process, the governor insisted that “INEC and security agencies should do their best during the rerun.”

    ADAMAWA

    The PDP candidate, Umaru Fintiri, said the electoral commission has only postponed his victory by declaring the election inconclusive.

    Fintiri said he was sure of winning the supplementary poll whenever it is conducted.

    The PDP flagbearer was leading incumbent Governor Jibrila Bindow by end of the collation early yesterday.

    INEC pronounced the election inconclusive because the margin of lead between the two leading candidates was smaller than the number of cancelled votes.

    Fintiri polled 367,471 votes to take the lead. He was being trailed by the incumbent, who is the APC candidate. Bindow got 334,995 votes.

    Explaining how he arrived at declaring the election inconclusive, the state returning officer, Prof Andrew Haruna, had said the 32,467 margin between Fintiri and Bindow was lower than the 40,948 votes cancelled in 44 polling units.

    Prof Andrew said election would be held in the affected units to address the vote cancellation anomaly.

    Fintiri, who chatted with reporters in Yola, asserted that he would eventually be announced as winner.

    He said: “I’m very hopeful of victory. Adamawa is my constituency and I have been voted across the length and breadth of the state. If INEC, for reason of its own cancellation of results, has opted for supplementary election, we are ready for it.”

    The local government areas where elections were cancelled in some units are: Madagali (three polling units), Michika (five polling units), Mubi North (three polling units), Hong (four polling units), Song (four polling units), Toungo (three), Demsa (four polling units), Numan (six polling units), Lamurde (three polling units) and Guyuk (three polling units).

    Fintiri said despite the turn of events regarding the election, he regarded its conduct as having been generally credible.

    “I am satisfied with the electoral process. It was credible and transparently so in most places,” he said.

    DELTA

    Incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was yesterday declared winner of the governorship election in Delta State.

    Returning Officer Prof Seth Accra-Jaja said Okowa, of the PDP, polled 925,271 to defeat his closest rival, Great Ogboru of the APC, who scored 215,938 votes.

    According to Accra-Jaja, 1,188,784 of the 2,831,205 registered voters were accredited for the election.

    He said that 24,147 votes were voided and 1,154,188 valid, bringing the total valid votes to 1,178,335.

    The ruling PDP won in 23 local government areas spread across the three senatorial districts. The APC won in two local government areas of Ughelli North and Ethiope East.

    But the APC rejected the results. It alleged that the election was marred by massive rigging and non- compliance with the electoral law.

    The APC state agent, Prof Festus Arunaye said: “I reject the votes as announced because right from the ward level to the local government collation centre, there was gross mayhem and violence that resulted in deaths. The elections were conducted in gross violation of the electoral laws.”

    Read also: Ihedioha declared Imo governor-elect

    He said his party will seek legal redress to claim the mandate given to it by the people.

    PDP State Chairman Kingsley Esiso was happy over his party’s victory, describing it as a “victory for Deltans”.

    NASARAWA

    The governorship candidate of the APC in Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule,was declared winner by the Returning Officer, Prof Bala Abdullahi

    Sule polled 327,229 votes to defeat his closest rivals, Emmanuel Ombugadu of the PDP who scored 184,281 votes and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Labaran Maku, who came third with 132,281 votes.

    According to the returning officer, the APC candidate won in 11 of the 13 local government areas. Maku and Doma Aliyu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) won one local government each.

    The 11  local government areas won by the APC candidate are: Awe, Keana, Obi, Lafia, Wamba, Akwanga, Kokona, Keffi, Karu, Toto and Nasarawa.

    Maku won in Nasarawa Eggon and Doma won in Doma.

    CROSS RIVER

    Incumbent Cross River State Governor Prof Ben Ayade retained his seat for the PDP.

    Ayade, who won in all the 18 local government areas, polled 381,484 to beat the APC to the second position with 131,161 and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the third with 4, 818 votes.

    Announcing the results early yesterday, the returning officer and Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Warri, Delta State, Prof Akii Ibhadode, said the PDP candidate, having scored the highest number of votes and fulfilled the requirements of the law, was returned elected.

    KANO

    INEC suspended indefinitely the collation of results from the Nassarawa Local Government Area, following the destruction of electoral materials by thugs.

    Results of 43 local council areas had already been declared with incumbent Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and APC candidate winning in 29. His challenger, Abba Kabiru Yusuf of the PDP, held sway in 14 local government areas.

    The PDP candidate was leading with 6,608 votes.

    The results of Nassarawa Local Government were delayed following the cancellation of some polling units in Gama ward.

    Speaking to reporters at the INEC collation centre, about 4am, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof Riskuwa Shehu Arabu, said the suspension of the collation followed  “disturbing” reports of electoral violence.

    He said: “We have received disturbing reports of disruption of results collation of Nassarawa Local Government polls by some people which led to the destruction of some of the result sheets.”

    Riskuwa noted that INEC could not continue with the collation and final declaration of the result due to the commotion that disrupted the compilation of the results.

    He said INEC had resolved to refer to its primary and secondary data from the polling units and wards that will confirm those that will be acceptable within the Electoral Act.

    YOBE

    Mai Mala Buni of the APC was declared governor-elected governor of Yobe State.

    Buni, a former National Secretary of the APC, was dlared as winner of the March 9 governorship poll in the Northeast states after polling 444, 013 votes to beat Umar Iliya Damagum of the PDP, who polled 95, 703.

    Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Abubakar Musa Kundiri, who announced the results, said the election was generally peaceful.

    There was wild jubilation across the state as supporters of the APC took to the streets to celebrate the victory.

    BORNO

    Prof Babagana Umara Zullum of the APC won the governorship in Borno.

    Declaring him governor-elect, the INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof Alhassan Muhammad Gani, who is also the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, said Prof Zullum scored 1,175,440 votes across the 27 local government areas to trounce his closest rival Mohammed Alkali Imam of the PDP, who got 66,115 votes.

    Prof Mani also announced that 32 political parties registered and participated in the governorship election, noting that the election was peaceful.

    IMO

    Former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha was yesterday declared governor-elect in Imo State.

    The PDP candidate polled 273, 404 to defeat the Action Congress (AA) candidate Uche Nwosu, who scored 190,364 and Ifeanyi Ararume of APGA, who got 114, 676 votes.

  • Kano: Security beefed up at INEC headquarters

    Security has been beefed up in and around the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano, Kano State.

    This followed the suspension of collation governorship election results from the Nasarawa Local Government area due to security challenges.

    Additional security personnel were deployed along Hajj Camp to forestall any eventuality.

    Human and vehicular movement around the area was also restricted as only staff of the commission, journalists, and security personnel were allowed in or out of the place.

    Meanwhile, Kano has generally remained calm as some residents were seen going about their normal businesses.

    However, some business places including banks opened in the city, but Sabon Gari and Rimi Markets have remained closed.

    A resident of Sabon Gari, Mr. Joseph Abdu, said the Sabon Gari market may not open until after INEC had announced the election results.

    “The market may not be opened until after the election results have been announced in view of the previous experience,” he said.

    Another resident of the area and tyre dealer, Mr. Uche Okonkwo, attributed the delay in the opening of market to the security situation, resulting from the delay in the announcement of the results.

    It would be recalled that INEC suspended the collation of election results for Nasarawa local government area, following what it described as security challenges.

  • Kano gov results safe, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has declared the results of Kano governorship elections are intact and safe.

    It allayed fears over delay in the release of results of the gubernatorial election in Nasarawa local government area of Kano state.

    Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano, Professor Ristuwa Arabu Shehu, gave the assurance while briefing journalists on the update on the controversy sounding delay in the collation of the results.

    He assured the commission will be fair and transparent in its responsibility.

    Shehu posited INEC will regenerate the results from the primary and secondary data where 10 out of the 11 wards where collation had already been concluded.

    “We are on it, we would be transparent. We have nothing to hide all what we are demanding for is for the parties to be patient to allow the commission to regenerate the gubernatorial results from the source,” he stressed.

    He however urged residents to be peaceful so as not to trigger unnecessary trouble in the state.

    “There is need for us to conduct ourselves in a peaceful manner so that when there is peace, harmony will reign. This is what we are pleading for the people to understand,’’ the REC said.

    Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Rabiu Suleiman Bichi urged INEC in Kano to declare the gubernatorial election results in favor of PDP.

    According to him: ” I am baffled why the INEC is delaying the declaration of PDP as the winner of the March 9th, governorship election, arguing that, since there are 11 wards in the LGA and 10 have already been concluded, the isolated ward should not have affected the release of the results in the whole LGA.

    “We are pleading for as a matter of urgency to declare PDP as the winner of the election for peace to reign in Kano because the atmosphere in Kano is tense”.

  • Kano APC leads in 8 LGAs, PDP 2

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), in Kano state is now leading in eight out of the ten Local Government councils, with PDP having two as announced at the INEC collation centre in Kano.

    Dr. Shehu Usman-Yahaya, collation officer for Governorship election said in Madobi Local Government Area (LGA), the All Progressives Congress (APC) has Scored 24,491, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 24,309 votes.

    He added that the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) candidate which came third in the race in Makoda, Alhaji Salihu Sagir-Takai had also scored 425 votes.

    Also, the returning officer for Makoda Local Government Area, Prof. Aliyu Suleiman said that the APC candidate, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje has scored 22,788, and PDP candidate, Alhaji Abba Kabir scored 9,253.

    According to Suleiman, the PRP candidate has scored 761 votes.

    In Bebeji LGA, the collation and Returning officer for the Governorship election, Prof. Ibrahim Barde announced that the APC candidate has scored 17,418, and PDP scored 18,533 while PRP got 788 votes.

    Dr. Mohammed Yusha’u, the Returning Officer for Kunchi LGA for gubernatorial election said the APC candidate had garned 16,159, while PDP got 13,171, with PRP having scored 270 votes .

    In Danbatta LGA, the Returning Officer Prof. Abubakar salisu, announced that the APC candidate led with 24,686, defeating the PDP candidate who scored 18,696, leaving PDP to struggle with 2,793.

    In Karaye,LGA, the returning officer, Prof.Bello ldris Tijani,announced that the APC scored18,770,beat the PDP candidate who got 17,163,while PRP managed with 383 votes.

    In Kibiya LGA,the returning officer,Prof. Isa Garba said that PDP got 17,373,leaving APC with 15,760,while PRP was left with 250 votes.

    While in Albasu LGA,the APC garnered 25,358 votes,PDP got 17,373,with PRP having 347 votes,as announced by the returning officer,Prof Mustafa Bichi.

    In Garko LGA,the returning officer,Prof.Abdulsam and Umar Jibiya, announced that APC scored 16,952,while PDP has12,295 votes,as PRP scored 4,204 votes.

  • Police arrest ballot box snatchers in Kano

    Some suspected hoodlums yesterday attempted to snatch ballot box at Gyadi South Polling Unit at Tarauni local government area of Kano State.

    Our reporter who visited the scene of the event gathered from an eye witness that some hoodlums in their numbers attempted to snatch the ballot box, but were stopped by security agencies who released gunshots in the air. The suspects were later apprehended by the police and are currently in police custody.

    In the same vein at Magwan Primary School Polling unit in Nassarawa Local Government Area, a car filled with ballot papers and suspected to be used for rigging, was apprehended by the police. The car and the ballot papers are currently in the custody of the police.

    In another development, at Sabuwar Juma Polling Unit in Warawa Local Government Area, it was observed that underage voting was going on there, as there were inadequate security personnel in the area.

    Another issue that was observed was vote buying especially among women as many voters were seen bargaining on the price they would be given before they vote for a particular party, even though the ugly trend was being done in an undercover manner.

    In an interview with the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, he said investigation was ongoing and they would address the press once the investigation was completed.

    Also, Haruna confirmed that one person was arrested for being in possession of six PVCs within Kano metropolis.

  • Kano: Foreign observers reject fake Guber election result

    An African election observers group, Good For Good Monitors (G4GM), that observed the Kano State gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections has deplored the actions of some politicians making round with fake results of the just concluded elections in the state.

    The group hailed Kano people for conducting peaceful elections, but expressed worries that, some “desperate and power mongers” are circulating fake and unofficial results of the just concluded poll. Allocating over 30 local governments to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    It said, “Collation of results even at the wards level is not concluded. How then can those desperate politicians be circulating something that is not even there in the official papers?  What this particular opposition party is doing negates the provision of the just signed Peace Accord by the gubernatorial candidates in the state. That all avenues for the promotion of peace and harmony would be observed, before, during and after elections.”

    According to the group what is being circulated is totally different from what election observers at different levels have, adding that, “…what is in our hands, though, not officially announced by the election umpire Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), from different stages, is not near the fake news being circulated by some people in the state.”

    The statement calls on Kano people to be calm and wait for the official results from INEC.

  • Voters troop out en masse for Guber, state Assembly election in Kano

    Eligible voters in Kano started trooping out en mass as early as 6 a.m on Saturday ready to exercise their franchise for the governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

    In some areas monitored by our Reporter, like Kawaji, Brigade, Sabon Gari, Taurani and Nasarawa, long queues of voters were observed at the polling units, waiting for the commencement of accreditation and voting.

    Security operatives were also cited at strategic locations, ensuring peace and order as the streets were devoid of vehicular and human traffic.

    Staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were also seen preparing the ground for the commencement of the exercise.

  • Breaking: 43 Political Parties back Ganduje in a Kano

    Over forty three political parties on Thursday in Kano state openly declared their support for the All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in the Match 9 governorship election in the state.

    The Governorship Candidates of the forty three political parties who threw their weight behind governor Ganduje through their Spokesman and gubernatorial Candidate of United People’s Congress (UPC) Ambassador Ibrahim Gaya at a break -fast held at the African House Government House Directed their members to vote en mass for the APC Candidate during the Saturday polls.

    Gaya said ”we have dropped our contest and unanimously decided to endorsed the Candidature of Governor Ganduje in order for him to accomplish his mission of staging  a comeback and consolidate on socio economic development of the state.

    Speaking at the Occasion the state APC Chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas said the breakfast organised by the governor to honour the gubernatorial Candidates of various political parties at a very critical moment like this signifies maturity and magnanimity of the governor.

    He said this is a very significant development because such things have never happened in the past “I have personally not witnessed a situation where a gubernatorial Candidate will invite fellow colleagues to come dine and wine together in a conducive atmosphere.

    He said Ganduje is an advocate of politics without bitterness and that is why he always embraces peace as his cardinal principles in life.

    In remarks Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje explained that the reason why he invited the gubernatorial Candidates to the Government House is to create mutual understanding between the political parties in the state so as to demonstrate love and unity  of purpose among ourselves as Candidates of divergent political leanings.

    Ganduje further noted that the idea this time around is curtail unnecessary political bickering that permeates the system and introduce a new innovations that will eliminate do or die politics in our democracy.

     

     

     

  • INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials in Kano

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Kano state has commenced the distribution of sensitive materials to all the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.

    The state INEC Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Alhaji Garba Lawal disclosed this in an interview with our reporter on Thursday in Kano.

    According to him, the INEC staff had commenced the sorting out of the sensitive materials, especially the ballot papers according to each Local Government Area since on Wednesday.

    He said the distribution of the materials which also began on Wednesday, would be completed before the end of Friday.

    “Already the non-sensitive materials are at our Local Government Offices across the state since after the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “Therefore, we are trying to distribute only the sensitive materials between now and Friday to make it more easier for our staff and the corps members to move to their respective places of assignment as early as possible on the election day, “he said.

    Read Also: Polls: INEC distributes sensitive materials in Zamfara

    On the issue of the governorship candidate for People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the INEC spokesperson said the Kano office is yet to receive any instruction from its Headquarters in Abuja.

    It would be recalled that a Federal High Court in Kano had on Tuesday, March 5, nullified the PDP governorship primary election that produced Abba Kabir-Yusuf as the PDP’s flag-bearer in the state.

    The court ordered the party to conduct fresh primary election to enable all the other aspirants to participate.

    NAN