Comr. Abba Patrick Moro of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was on Tuesday officially declared winner of Benue South senatorial election.
The PDP Candidate polled 85,162 votes to beat his closest rival, Ochagwu Steven Lawani of All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 47,721
Mike Okibe Onoja of SDP came distant third with 29,901.
The Ijaw Youth Council ( IYC ) Worldwide has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel results in some parts of Bayelsa State.
The Ijaw group told INEC that the Ijaws in Nembe-Bassambiri, Nembe Local Government Area were denied their rights to vote alleging that electoral materials meant for the area were hijacked by thugs in connivance with security agencies.
The Secretary-General, IYC, Alfred Kemepado, said violence was unleashed on the Ijaw communities adding that an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was kidnapped by the thugs, who frustrated voting in the area.
Describing the general scenario as monumental shame, Kemepado said it was shocking that some results emerged from Nembe- Bassambiri without voting and use of card readers.
He wondered why violence was the order of the day in an era elections could only be adjudged free and fair through the use of PVCs and card readers.
He said: “It is shocking in this era of card readers and personal voter’s cards (PVCs), where individuals are encouraged to vote for candidates of their choice that people can still primitively resort to terrorising and carting away both personnel and materials.
“We earlier warned that security agencies, especially the Nigerian Military were colluding with political thugs to perpetuate this fraud and jungle politics in the Niger Delta. We also said that they should be called to order by the Chief of Army staff”.
Kemepado alleged that the military aided political thugs to steal electoral materials in Bassambiri and to destroy already cast votes in Agbere and other Ijaw territories like Abonema in Rivers State.
He said: We call on INEC to cancel the election in these areas with obvious malpractice and reschedule elections that will ensure free and fair process only.
“Furthermore, whoever, including the Nigerian Military that has unjustly killed our citizens in the guise of processing elections would be brought to justice nationally and internationally.
‘We have reports of the murder of innocent citizens in the southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa State and some parts of Rivers State to deepen their intimidation of Ijaw people.
“The intimidation of Ijaw people has never worked from the times of the colonial masters and will never work no matter how it comes”.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said he doesn’t believe in rumour and would rather wait for the result that will be declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Various results on the social media have trailed the Presidential and National Assembly elections held across the country last Saturday.
But the President, on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Monday, said that he will wait for the final result declaration by INEC.
Buhari had left Abuja on Friday for Daura, Katsina State, in order to exercise his civic responsibility.
Asked his reaction to what he was hearing 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 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 sorting, counting and collation of the Presidential and National Assembly elections results are still on going across the country.
The presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari is leading in 32 Local Government Areas in Kano, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential, Atiku Abubakar is struggling to clinch unto 25% needed by his party.
Garko LGA
APC: 22,356
PDP: 2840
Code:014
Reg Voters: 91,656
Accredited Voters:27,856
Valid Votes: 25,955
Rejected Votes: 1299
Votes Cast: 27,254
Doguwa LGA
APC: 25454
PDP: 7013
Code:011
Reg Voters: 71,663
Accredited Voters:34,610
Valid Votes: 32,735
Rejected Votes: 649
Votes Cast: 33,384
Kabo LGA
APC: 29,482
PDP: 8,955
Code:
Reg Voters: 84,423
Accredited Voters:41510
Valid Votes: 39036
Rejected Votes: 1634
Votes Cast: 40,670
Kiru LGA
APC: 36,739
PDP: 12,205
Code: 24
Reg Voters:123,058
Accredited Voters: 52,166
Valid Votes: 49,677
Rejected Votes: 1557
Votes Cast: 51,234
Shanono LGA
APC: 24,173
PDP: 8,469
Code: 35
Reg Voters:69,796
Accredited Voters: 35,135
Valid Votes: 33,386
Rejected Votes: 1054
Votes Cast: 34,440
Danbatta LGA
APC: 31850
PDP: 6,947
Code:08
Reg Voters: 112,501
Accredited Voters: 43,772
Valid Votes: 39,720
Rejected Votes:2,119
Votes Cast: 41,839
Wudil LGA
APC: 28,755
PDP: 5,108
Code:44
Reg Voters:107,507
Accredited Voters:36,899
Valid Votes: 34754
Rejected Votes:1250
Votes Cast: 36004
Bichi LGA
APC: 42,714
PDP: 11,050
Code: 05
Reg Voters:131,059
Accredited Voters: 58,707
Valid Votes: 54931
Rejected Vote: 2596
Votes Cast: 57,527
Ungogo LGA
APC: 51,842
PDP: 10,475
Minjibir LGA
APC: 27,725
PDP: 2840
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu has condemned attack on Policemen across the country.
A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) was attacked in Brass, Bayelsa State on Sunday while a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was also attacked at a Collation Centre in Umuahia, Abia State.
The Police boss in a statement in Abuja on Monday by the Force Spokesman, ACP Frank Mba who described the attack as “unprovoked” ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of persons involved, no matter their positions in society.
The Police also said five suspects have been arrested in connection to the attack on a Police officer in Umuahia.
The statement reads: “The Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu, has decried the attack on a Deputy Commissioner of Police in Brass, Bayelsa State on Sunday, 24th February, 2019 and has ordered for the immediate arrest, comprehensive investigation and diligent prosecution of persons involved, no matter their positions in society.
“The IGP, who described the incident as unwarranted and unprovoked, warns that under his watch, such brazen acts of impunity will not be condoned.
“In a related incident, five male suspects have been arrested in Umuahia, Abia State over an attack on a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) who was patriotically defending the sanctity of the electoral system at a Collation Centre in Umuahia.”
The IGP who said the attacks on the personnel of the Force shows the risk involved in policing called for support from stakeholders.
“These attacks have once again highlighted the risks and hazards inherent in policing our clime, and the need for stakeholders and government at all levels to continue to support the officers and men of the Force in the discharge of their responsibilities.”
He also commended all Nigerians, who identified with the Force by denouncing the actions against Police Officers performing their legitimate duties.
…declares Okorocha winner
There was a mild drama Monday at the Collation Centre for Imo West Senatorial District in Orlu, Orlu Council Area of Imo State, when the Collation Officer, Prof. Ibeawuchi Francis from the Federal University of Owerri (FUTO), hid the original result sheet after declaring the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha as the Senator-elect.
Ibeawuchi who stopped the declaration of the result halfway on Sunday night after announcing the result for nine Local Government Areas, out of which Okorocha won eight LGAs, said that he left the original result sheet at the INEC office in Owerri and instead wrote the result on a rumpled sheet of paper.
But the party agents insisted that he produced the original result sheet, resulting in several hours of argument until security operatives intervened and pleaded with the party agents to exercise patience and confirm from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Francis Ezeonu to ascertain the claim of the Collation Officer.
When called on phone by one of the senior Police officers, the REC said that the result sheet was in the possession of the Collation Officer and ordered him to produce it.
Shortly after the call, the Collation Officer, produced the Original result sheet and entered the figures before announcing the result a second time.
Governor Okorocha polled a total number of 97762 votes to defeat his closest rival, Jones Onyereri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 63117 votes.
Addressing journalists shortly after announcing the results, the Collation Officer, who looked sober, debunked the news trending on the social media that his daughter was kidnapped to force him to announce the result.
He said, “I have announced the result, APC had the highest vote so the Governor, His Excellency Rochas Okorocha of the APC has been declared winner”. I was not forced to announce the result and no member of my family was kidnapped, I am not aware of any such report”.
The African Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria (AUEOM) on Monday stated the failure of 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 press briefing in Abuja on Monday, all 16 voting points observed by the AUEOM in rural and urban areas were delayed for over an hour over 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 application of the opening
In addition, the report disclosed that 13 of the 16 voting points observed were not accessible to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) due to their placement in uneven ground.
The Head of Mission AUEOM, and Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hallemariam Desalegn Boshe, congratulated INEC but urged the commission to expeditiously and transparently collate and announce the results of the election.
The group called on INEC to strengthen the capacity of polling staff through training on assisting voters, counting and other electoral procedures.
AUEOM also implored Nigerians and stakeholders to refrain from disseminating fake news and information, particularly on the results.
A Police Corporal identified as Sunday Idoko, is said to have been shot dead by gunmen who attacked him while guarding a vehicle conveying election result from Ipokia to Ilaro collation centre.
The Nation gathered that Idoko was gunned down around 8.00pm on Sunday when the vehicle ran into an ambush laid by hoodlums at Eredo area in Yewa South Local Government.
The hoodlums opened fire on the vehicle on sighting it.
The results of the House of Representatives for Ipokia/Yewa South Federal Constituency were being taken to Oronna Hall in Ilaro at the time.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the attack and death of the officer, assured that the attackers would be brought to book.
He said that the election result was, however, intact.
Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has given a directive to the effect that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of State Criminal Investigate and Intelligence Department, Wale Abase, should commence investigation into the case.
“The unfortunate incident happened on Sunday evening, when he was escorting election results to Ilaro. The hoodlums laid ambushed on the vehicle conveying the result.
“We are on the trail of the hoodlums and we are going to arrest them,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won Osun with 347,634 votes against PDP which scored 337,377 votes.
Total valid votes: 714, 682
Rejected votes: 17,200
Total vote cast: 731,882
President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won Ekiti with 219,213 votes.
The Returning officer for the state, Prof. Idiwu Olayinka, the Vice Chancellor University of Ibadan, said out of the 395, 741 that accredited to vote, APC scored 219, 231 against PDP which scored 154,034 votes.
Total number of valid votes, according to Olayinka, is 381,132 while 12,577 were rejected due to multiple thumb printing.
Total vote cast, he said, is 393,709.
The party agents are expected to inspect the results sheets signed at the state collation office.
Ekiti state is the only state without a Resident Electoral Commissioner.
Details shortly…