The Nation Newspaper

Tag: local government areas

  • Ganduje thanks supporters for re-electing him

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has thanked the people of the state for re-electing him for a second term.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Ganduje, winner of the Kano State governorship supplementary election held Saturday.

    In the supplementary election held in 28 out of the 44 local government areas in the state, Ganduje  won by scoring 45,876 votes to  the PDP Abba Yusuf’s 10,239.

    State Returning Officer Prof. Bello Shehu,  announced that Ganduje scored a total vote of 1,033,695 while Mr Yusuf polled 1,024,713.
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    Ganduje , who made the promise in his re-election speech on Sunday night in Kano, called on all to join hands with him to build the state.‎

    He also said that ‎he would run an all inclusive government that will carry everyone along in the administration of the state.

    ‎‎The governor thanked the people for their believing in his capacity to lead them and for the peaceful conduct of the March 23 re-run election.

    The governor also promised not to fail the electorate.

    He also pledged to consolidate on his achievement and also embark on people oriented project.

    ” We going to complete all projects and initiate new ones and we are also open to new ideas and new vision,” he said.

    ‎The governor who thank God for the resounding victory urged the people of the state irrespective of their political inclination to join hands to move Kano forward.

    “I thank all who voted me, those that did not vote me and and those who did not vote at all.

    “Girl child education, agriculture, women and youth empowerment, healthcare delivery, peace and security will be my focus in the next four years.

    “I thank you for the fresh mandate and I promise to serve you better because the victory is not for me or my deputy, the victory is for the good people of Kano.‎

    “As we get ready to start our second term, I urge you to continue to maintain the peace we have so far enjoyed,” he said.

    ‎He commended INEC  for their professionalism and also thanked the electorate in the state for re-electing President Muhammadu Buhari.(NAN)

  • Scores wounded as party Agents disrupt collation of results in Imo

    The final Collation of the results of the governorship election in Imo State was disrupted in the early hours of Monday by party agents.

    Trouble started at about 5.10am when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Agent, Uche Onyeocha prevented the Returning Officer in charge of Ideato South Council Area from announcing the result.

    Ideato South is the home Local Government Area of the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and a major stronghold of the Action Alliance.

    Before the altercation, results of ten Local Government Areas had already being announced, with PDP and AA winning five LGAs each.

    He alleged that the result was padded and cannot be accepted. All entreaties by the State Resisent Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, to allow the Collation to continue were rebuffed by the viciously angry PDP Agent, who tore the result sheets placed on the table.

    At that point, other party agents pounced on him and there was a free for all. Journalists and other observers, who were monitoring the Collation, scampered to safety as the Police and other security agents tried to calm the situation.

    The melee consequently sparked heavy fighting among the supporters of the various political parties that were camped around the INEC office throught the night.

    Scores were wounded and several vehicles vandalised. As at the time of filling this report, the Collation has been suspended, while the party Agents for the PDP, Uche Onyeocha and Action Alliance (AA),  Steve Asimobi were arrested and whisked away by Policemen to an unknown location.

  • Elections: INEC concludes distribution of voting materials in Adamawa

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa had concluded the distribution all voting materials across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

    Alhaji Kasim Gaidam, state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, told newsmen in Yola on Thursday that the exercise covered both sensitive and non-sensitive materials.

    He said the early distribution was to ensure that voting commenced on schedule in all polling units across the state.

    ‘”So far, we have distributed all voting materials, including sensitive materials, to the INEC offices in 21 LGAs of the state.

    ” Also we re-trained and paid all ad-hoc staff that will conduct the elections ” Gaidam said.

    He explained that the aim of the re-training was to correct some errors made in the last presidential election, adding that Saturday’s elections would be free and fair.(NAN)

  • Buhari leads in 20 Kebbi LGAs

    President Muhammad Buhari is leading in 20 out of the 21 Local Government Areas of Kebbi state in the presidential election results so far released by INEC Collation Officers.
    In the results released by the Collation Officer for the Kebbi Presidential Election, Prof. Haruna Bichi, the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Dutsinma, in Aliero local government APC scored 17,863 while  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored  5,458.

    Kalgo local government, APC scored 19,057  and PDP 3,233, votes in Ngaski Local government, APC scored 20,641 and PDP scored  6,591 votes.

    Sakaba local government, APC scored  14,026  and PDP scored  3,800 votes.

    Suru local government, APC scored 22,627 and  PDP scored 10,358 votes.

    Shanga local government, APC  scored  19,262 and  PDP scored 6,961 votes.

    Bagudo local government, APC scored 29,243 and PDP 8,160 votes.

    Arewa local government, APC scored  32,582  and PDP scored 8,390 votes.

    Jega local government  APC scored 42,970  and PDP scored 7,416 votes.

    koko Besse Local government, APC scored 25,874 and  PDP 5,668 votes.

    Maiyama local government, APC scored 30,001 and PDP scored 6,279 votes.

    Argungu local government APC scored 42,038  and PDP scored 6,951 votes.

    Birinin Kebbi local government APC scored 71,510  and PDP scored 12,900 votes.

    Fakai Local government APC scored 12,200 while PDP scored 4,865 votes

    Danko wasagu local government APC scored 31,818 and  PDP scored 8,724 votes.

    Yauri Local government APC scored 24,677  and PDP scored 7,108 votes.

    Zuru local government, APC scored 23,520 and  PDP scored 12, 326

    Bunza local government APC scored 20,622 and PDP scored  6,285 votes.

    Dandi local government APC scored 26,512 and PDP scored 7,442.

    In Gwandu Local government APC scored 26,488 and PDP scored 6,293 votes.  The remaining one local governments which is Suru local government still waiting for, as at the time of filing this reports from the Collation center in Birnin Kebbi.

  • Ramadan: Gaidam orders distribution of  assorted food  to 17 LGAs

    Ramadan: Gaidam orders distribution of  assorted food  to 17 LGAs

    Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has ordered the distribution of assorted food items to all the nooks and crannies of the seventeen Local Government Areas in the state.

    The distribution of the item was done on Friday  by the Yobe State Committee on the, Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement of victims of Boko Haram in the state through the State Emergency Management Agency.

    The Yobe State Commissioner for Education, Mohammed Lamin  who represented the Chairman, Engr. Abubakar Ali took time to supervise the distribution and movement of the truck loads of food that filled out at the NEMA store at the State Ministry of Works for onward movement to the seventeen Local Government Areas of the state.

    While briefing the press, Alhaji Mohammed Lamin informed that Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has directed that all food donations made to the state be evacuated and distributed to the people rather than keeping them in the stores.

    According to him, the governor’s decision was to saturate food in all the nooks and crannies of the state during the Ramadan period, adding that, “the supply will bring succor and alleviate the dire need of the people”.

    He informed that Government has put up a committee at the local government levels which involves all the Sharia committee chairmen, the chairman of disable, and members of the vulnerable groups so that the food gets to all segments of the people.

    The Commissioner warned that government will not want to hear any report of food diversion by any official, stressing that whoever is caught in such act will not go scout free.

     

  • Court dissolves Ondo local councils, sacks chairmen

    An Akure High Court sitting in Akure Friday ordered the immediate dissolution of all the 18 Local Government Areas in the state.

    The court presided over by Justice S A Sidiq also sacked the chairmen and councilors of all the Local Government Areas.

    Earlier,there was a shouting match in the court before the Judge eventually ruled as Mr Femi Aborisade who represented the People Redemption Party (PRP) in the suit filed by the party against the last year Local Government election in the state challenged the Judge’s actions on the
    matter.

    The National Chairman of the party and former Governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa was also in the court on behalf of his party.

    Aborisade announced his appearance for the PRP, while Mr Akinladapo Ogunleye, the Solicitor General of the state announced his appearance for the state government.

    Also, Olusola Oke announced his appearance for the chairmen and councilors who were claimants in the suit.

    But Justice Sidiq in his brief ruling said he had earlier given a verdict that recognized one Mr Segun Ogodo as the counsel to the PRP.

    He said Aborisade should go to the Court of Appeal to upturn his earlier ruling on legal representation for the party.

    Aborisade stood up and said he was the one that filed the suit and has the right to continue or discontinue with the case.

    He argued that he was not served with any motion by the PRP to remove him as the counsel to the party.

    The counsel also argued that he has right to be heard as his client has not debriefed him.

    Also, amid other officials of the PRP said he did not recognize Ogodo as his lawyer and that he had right to a counsel of his choice.

    However, Justice Sidiq said since he had earlier ruled on legal representation, he would not go back to it, insisting that Ogodo who he had earlier recognized should be the one to stand in for PRP.

    But, Aborisade and Musa said they have an application to discontinue with the case, while the judge insisted that he would continue with the case irrespective of the application for the withdrawal.

    Speaking with reporters shortly after he moved out of the court, Aborisade said “the judge surprisingly deprived my client; the PRP led by the National Chairman, the former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, the most respected public officer in this country the
    constitutional right to be heard.”

    He said “My client filed the suit and the course of action has been removed with my client having being allowed to participate in the Local Government election, we have come to inform the court that we have withdrawn the matter. Unfortunately, the court is insisting that somebody else who was never briefed by my client is the counsel recognized by the court.

    “This is a violent violation of section 36(1) of the constitution. Every person is entitled to be heard at the court. I can only be heard by the court through the counsel chosen by the PRP. This is very strange, it is unconstitutional. But we have informed the court that what was done in this case is a nullity because we have filed notice of withdrawal. My client has filed an affidavit that he does not recognize Ogodo in the court. This is a new phase in our experience in our constitutional democracy.”

    Aborisade added that he has never witnessed a situation where a court would impose counsel on a litigant in a civil matter.

    Despite the withdrawal of the suit by the litigants, Justice Sidiq gave a judgment dissolving the 18 Local Governments in the state after he overruled all the applications filed by lawyer to the claimants.

    Akeredolu had filed an application before the Court to set aside the judgement delivered on January 18, by Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi (Rtd) barring the Governor and State Assembly from dissolving the councils.

  • Gana seeks autonomy for local governments

    Gana seeks autonomy for local governments

    The Federal Government has been advised to make the 419 local government areas that make up the northern part of the country autonomous.

    A former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, gave the advice on Monday at the inauguration of the Northern Local Government Chairmen’s Forum (NLGF) in Abuja.

    Prof. Gana, who in his keynote address as the chairman of the Board of Trustee (BoT) of NLGF, noted that local government is a strategic and vital organ of government, also advised the chairmen not to divert resources allocated to them for the development of their councils.

    He urged the chairmen to develop a tremendous capacity for accountability, stressing that accountability is very important in public office especially at the local government levels.

    “We want to use this opportunity to appreciate the Senate and the House of Representatives, that they are very much on course that the autonomy of local government is well spelt out, well protected, and well constitutionally provided in the constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria. But, please, use that autonomy well, use it for the people of Nigeria,” he said.

    The newly formed forum comprises chairmen of 419 local government areas from the 19 northern states in the country.

    The forum is aimed at fostering unity and peace among the people and engendering the socio-economic development of the region.