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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • Ogun East senatorial candidate petitions INEC

    The Ogun East Senatorial Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Engr. Adeola Sosanwo has written a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alleging attempts “by some unscrupulous elements within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, to subvert the will of the people” warning of the consequences on law and public order.

    Sosanwo contested the election with Senator Lekan Mustapha of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    While Mustapha garnered 84, 924 votes to be in the lead, Sosanwo got 82,457 votes, trailing with 2,472 votes.

    In a letter dated 25th February, 2019, and addressed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ogun State and copied to the Commission’s Chairman, the Commissioner of Police and Director of the State Security Service (SSS), Sosanwo said since the Returning Officer for the Senatorial election held on the 23rd of February, 2019 had declared the election inconclusive, the proper thing to do is to hold election in the disputed polling booths and ward.

    The petition reads in part, “As you are well aware, on Saturday, the 23rd of February, 2019, the Presidential and National Assembly elections were held across the country. I contested in the election as the PDP candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District. The senatorial district is made up of nine (9) local government areas, among which is Ijebu East Local Government Area.

    “As the election got underway, issues arose in one out of the eleven (11) wards that make up Ijebu East Local Government Area. The ward is known as Ajebandele Ward. The said ward has ten (10) polling booths; out of which seven (7) polling booths returned over-voting. This eventually led to altering and mutilation of the result sheets.

    “Following the protestations of the agents and representatives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the results of seven (7) out of ten (10) polling booths in the ward had been mutilated, upon getting to the Local Government Collation Centre in Ogbere, the Electoral Officer (EO) in the local government, one Mrs Osifeso announced that the results of the entire ward would be cancelled and consequently declared them cancelled.

    “At the Federal Constituency Collation Centre, St. Mary Primary School, Ijebu-Mushin, Dr. Dairo of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) said since the PDP House of Representatives candidate led the first runner up who is APC’s candidate with 6,994 votes as opposed to the 13,000 registered voters in the Ajebandele ward where the election results were cancelled, the PDP candidate could not be declared the winner of the election.

    “From there, Dr. Dairo took his report and the results to the Ogun East Senatorial District Collation Centre at Itoro, Ijebu-Ode and submitted them to the Returning Officer for the Senatorial District, Prof. Chris Nwoka, who, also publicly declared the election in Ogun East Senatorial District inconclusive because of the same reason before the media and the whole world.

    “In the extant case of Ogun East Senatorial District, the margin between me and the candidate of the APC is 2,472 votes whereas the number of registered voters in the cancelled Ajebandele ward is in excess of 13,000!

    Since the Electoral Officer and Returning Officers at the Federal Constituency Collation and Senatorial District Collation Centres have declared the election inconclusive, the only option left for the Commission is to fix a date for a rerun in the affected ward and hold same.

    “Neither the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) nor any other official of INEC has the powers to declare the results of cancelled or inconclusive elections and return a candidate as winner.

    “ I say this without any equivocation because in the build-up to the 2019 General Elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued regulations and guidelines set to guide the conduct of elections into the various elective offices pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended)and the Electoral Act 2010(as amended).”

    The candidate contended that the Returning Officer for the Senatorial District was the only one vested with the powers to declare return of an election or declare same inconclusive.

    “In the instant scenario, the INEC guidelines make clear provisions in respect of the collation and declaration of Senatorial District Election Result at State Level and also on when such an Election will be declared inconclusive.

    “The guideline clearly vests the power to return a candidate as the winner of a Senatorial District Election Result in the Senatorial District Collation/Returning Officer for the Senatorial District Election.

    “In the case of the Ogun East Senatorial District, the margin of lead between the two leading candidate is under 2,500 while elections were cancelled in Ajebandele ward with over 13,000 registered voters!”

    Sosanwo urged the Commission to follow its own guidelines and the law in its handling of the situation, “no matter the pressure or whose ox is gored.”

    “It is in the light of the foregoing that I wish to respectfully urge you to use your good offices to ensure that nothing untoward and illegal is done by the Commission or any of its officials .”

  • 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.

  • PDP demands stoppage of collation of presidential election results by INEC

    . . .Seeks cancellation of results in Borno, Yobe, Zamfara

     

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded immediate halt to the ongoing collation of results of Saturday’s presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The main opposition party said collation of results must be stopped until data from the smart card reader accreditation at the polling units are made available to all the parties in the election.

    At a media briefing in Abuja Tuesday, the Deputy Director General (Admin) of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr Tanimu Turaki SAN, the party cited manipulations, rigging and over-voting in some states by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “The PDP predicates its demand on available evidence to the effect that data from the card readers are being reconfigured to suit the manipulations, rigging and over-voting already carried out during the election in some states by the All Progressives Congress (APC)”, Turaki said.

    Turaki added that the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus had already communicated the party’s position to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

    “We have evidence from the smart card reader accreditation data that what is being announced by INEC has been seriously tampered with and manipulated”, Turaki said.

    The main opposition party also demanded the immediate and outright cancellation of results of the presidential election in Borno, Yobe, Zamafara and Nasarawa States, as submitted by INEC’s presiding officers. The PDP called for the conduct of fresh elections in the affected states.

    Continuing, the PDP chieftain said, “In Yobe, the total number of votes submitted as cast was more than the number of accredited voters. Whereas the number of accredited voters was 601, 056, the total votes cast was 775, 449.

    “This is a clear case of over-voting which, by the provisions of the Electoral Act, renders the election null and void. In such instance, the law provides for another election on a day to be fixed by INEC.

    Read Also: PDP rejects results in Kano

    “In Zamfara state, no actual voting took place and there was no single result sheet in any polling unit in the entire state. There was an arrest in Shinkafi Local Government, where an APC member was caught thump-printing ballot papers inside his house.

    “Results from the presiding officer from Zamfara were concocted and allocated according to the wishes of the leadership of the APC and INEC.

    “The PDP therefore demands the outright deletion of the results from Zamfara from INEC records and a conduct of free, fair and credible presidential election in Zamfara state.

    “Also in Borno state, there was no election but a figure writing exercise and allocation of results according to the whims and caprices of the APC leaders. We also demand the outright deletion of the results from Borno from INEC records and a conduct of free, fair and credible presidential election in Borno state.

    “In Nasarawa, the PDP demands the immediate restoration of our over 157, 000 lawful and valid votes which were unlawfully and arbitrarily cancelled by INEC and the announcement of the actual results from the field.

    “Similarly, the PDP demands an immediate restoration of our over 79, 000 valid votes which were unlawfully cancelled by INEC in Kogi state and the announcement of the authentic results inclusive of the restored 79,000 votes

    “In the FCT, the PDP demands the restoration of 27,000 valid votes unlawfully and arbitrarily cancelled by INEC and a declaration of the authentic result, inclusive of our restored 27,000 votes.

    “In Plateau, the PDP demands the immediate restoration of our over 30,000 lawful and valid votes, which were unlawfully cancelled particularly in Jos North and the declaration of the genuine results as delivered at the polling units inclusive of our 30,000 restored votes”.

    The PDP called on Nigerians to disregard the results until INEC provides the data from the smart card reader accreditation at the polling units, conducts fresh election in Borno, Yobe and Zamfara states as well as restore its votes in Plateau, FCT, Kogi and Nasarawa states.

    “The PDP maintains that from the actual votes delivered at the polling units, which we all have, Nigerians clearly and unequivocally gave their mandate to Atiku Abubakar”, Turaki declared.

  • 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.

  • Jubilation in FCT over Aduda’s senatorial victory

    Party faithful and well-wishers were sighted in the heart of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja chanting and jubilating over the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate in the FCT, Senator Philip Aduda.

    Some of the people were singing and dancing while others were holding umbrellas with the inscriptions of the PDP.

    Read Also: Presidential poll: Atiku floors Buhari in FCT

    The victory march, which took place at the Area 10, beside the post office was peaceful as security agencies kept an eye on them to ensure that they did not go violent.

    Philip Aduda won all the six Area Councils in Abuja.

    He polled 263, 055 votes to beat his close rival All Progressives Congress (APC) Hon. Bitrus Zahphaniah Jisalo, who got 148, 401.

  • Buhari beats Atiku in Kano State

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari has defeated his immediate opponent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in Kano State with over 1.073,175m.votes

    The Collation Officer for the Presidential election in Kano, Prof. Magaji Garba, who is the vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State announced this at the early hours of Tuesday, following the collation of the result from across 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

    According to him, APC Presidential candidate has scored 1.464,768m, beating the PDP candidate who warned 391,593 votes.

    He added that, “the total registered voters in the state stood 5.391,581m, while total accredited Voters is 2,006,410m.

    Garba explained that the total votes cast during the election on Saturday is 1,964,751m.and the total Valid box stood at 1.891,134m, while the total rejected votes is 73,617.

  • 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.”

  • APC to dominate Senate

    •Tinubu, Amosun, Ekwunife, Folarin, Uba, Gaidam win •Uba brothers, Ajimobi, Dankwambo, Mulikat Adeola fail

    Going by the senatorial election results announced in states by Returning Officers, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) seems set to dominate the 109-member Red Chamber.

    Out of the 18 seats in the Southwest, the APC won 14, leaving four to the PDP.

    It is being trailed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    There were upsets as some candidates believed to be heavyweights failed to win their senatorial districts.

    In Anambra South Senatorial Zone, Anambra State, Ifeanyi Uba of the Youth Progressive Party (YPP) scored 87, 081 to take the slot from incumbent APC Senator Andy Uba, who polled 62, 462.

    In Lagos, the APC clinched the three slots. Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) polled 131, 735 to defeat PDP’s Onitiri David, who scored 80,107; Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC) beat Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivor of the PDP and Bayo Osinowo (Lagos East), beat  Abiodun Oyefusi of the PDP.

    In Akwa Ibom, Mrs Akon Eyakanyi (Akwa Ibom South) of the PDP got 122,412 to beat APC’s Nelson Effiong, who polled 44,053. With 76,183, Yakubu Oseni, (APC, Kogi Central) beat Miss Natasha Akpoti of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 48,326 and Senator Ahmed Ogembe (PDP), who scored 19,359.

    Danladi Sankara, APC, Jigawa Northwest, got 286,655 to beat Nasiru Roni of the PDP, who scored 120, 314; Senator Dino Melaye won the Kogi West for the PDP, beating Smart Adeyemi to the second place.

    In Kano South, Senator Kabiru Gaya of the APC scored 319,004 to beat Abdullahi Sani Togo, who polled  217,570; Barau Jibrin won Kano North for the APC with 286,419 as against the 155,638 scored by Ahmed Garba Bichi of the PDP. Oyo State Governor Abiola AJimobi lost his bid to represent the Oyo South District for the APC. His 92,218 votes could not match PDP’s Kolawole Balogun’s  105,720.

    Senator Danjuma Goje (APC), Gombe Central, scored 110,116 votes to beat Abubakar Nono of the PDP, who got 39,760. Mrs. Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central) won the Anambra Central for the PDP with 18,412. Victor Umeh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 14, 403.

    PDP’s Senator Danjuma La’ah scored 268,923 to beat former Deputy Governor Barnabas Bala of the APC, who polled 133,287; Senator Stella Oduah of the PDP retained the Anambra North seat for the PDP, beating APGA’s Nelson Onugbegu, who scored 59,937.  Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun scored 88, 110 to win the Ogun Central slot for the APC, beating Mrs. Titi Oseni of the SDP, who scored 37, 101.

    Others are: Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of the PDP, who lost the Gombe North Senatorial District with 88,016 to APC’s Sa’du Alkali, who scored 152,546; Abdulfatah Buhari (APC, Oyo North) got 107,703 to beat Mrs Mulikat Adeola of the PDP). Mrs. Adeola got 89,365.  In Niger East, Mohammed Sani Musa, APC, Niger East, scored 229,425 to beat PDP’s Ishaku Ibrahim, who polled 116,143;

    Read also: U.S. cautions against illegal announcement of results

    Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, APC, Jigawa North, garnered 184, 185 to beat Senator Ubali shittu of the PDP, who polled 103,039.

    Ishaku Cliff (PDP, Adamawa North) scored 78,337 to defeat APC’s Sen. Binta Garba, who had 63,219; Aisha Dahiru Binnan (APC, Adamawa Central) polled 188,526 to beat Murtala Chubado Modibbo of the PDP. Modibbo scored 96,530; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu polled 86, 088 to retain his Enugu West slot. He beat Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu of the APC. She scored 15,187.

    Others are: Haliru Jiga, APC, Bauchi Central (66,024). He defeated Bappah Aliyu of the PDP, who had 57,069; former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin won the Oyo Central for the APC with 91,080 to beat PDP’s Bisi Ilaka, who scored 83,600. Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullah (APC, Niger North) scored 161,420 to beat PDP’s Sanni Duba, who recorded 77,109; Mohammed Bima (APC, Niger South) scored 160,614 to beat Baba Shehu Agaie of the PDP, who scored 90, 978.

    Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam won the Yobe East seat for the APC with 139,277, beating Tata Abbagima of the PDP, who scored 18,059; Ibrahim Bomoi won the Yobe South for the APC with 118,729. He beat Mohammed Hassan of the PDP, who scored 89,049; Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan retained the Yobe North seat for the APC with 144, 099. He defeated Sherif Abdullahi of the PDP, who scored 54,443;  Amos Blues (APC, Gombe South) polled 80, 549 to beat PDP’s Hajiya Binta Bello, who scored 63,312;  Ibn Na’Allah won the Kebbi South slot for the APC with 136,187 to beat Benjamin Dikki of the PDP, who scored 62,733.

    In Kwara State, the APC won all the three senatorial districts. Senate President Bukola Saraki, who scored 68, 994 votes, lost the Kwara Central zone to APC’s Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, who polled 123, 828.

    The PDP candidate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Sen. Philip Aduda, scored 263,055 votes to beat APC’s Jisalo Zephaniah, who scored 148,401 votes.

  • Tinubu to constituents: thank you

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu has commended the people of Lagos Central Senatorial District for electing her to represent the district in the National Assembly for the next four years.

    The senator renewed her commitment to move Lagos Central and Nigeria moving forward.

    Senator Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 131, 725 votes to defeat her closest rival, Adesunbo Onitiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 89, 107 votes.

    In a statement released yesterday in Lagos and personally signed by her, Mrs. Tinubu said she was humbled by the support and confidence reposed in the perspective she brought to bear on to the Senate.

    The statement reads: “In an overwhelming show of patriotism and loyalty to Nigeria, the people have through their votes, exercised their power to elect leaders and determine the course of our Nation for the next four years. Nigerians have let it be known that we are willing to put in the work necessary to get Nigeria moving forward.

    “The good people of Lagos Central Senatorial District have once again elected me to represent them at the Upper Legislative Chamber. I am humbled by the support and confidence reposed in the perspective I bring to the Nigerian Senate.

    “I am honoured to represent Lagos Central for another 4 years and I remain dedicated to ensuring that our youth are sufficiently empowered, that social security is a priority, and that the Nigeria of our dreams is realised.

    “Thus, I want to extend my gratitude to my family, members of the Appreciation 2019 Campaign Team, and volunteers who have served, knocking on doors, going from market to market, shaking hands and mobilizing the electorate to exercise their civic rights. It is time to get to work, consolidating on the foundations we have put in place.

    “It is time to address the critical issues of infrastructure development, accessibility and affordability of education, and increased employment among others.

    “The victory of the APC in today’s elections is a victory for our democracy and the protection of our commonwealth. Thus, I urge the electorate to come out en masse again on Saturday 9th March, 2019 for the Gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections.

    “I would also like to commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on ensuring that the elections were well organised, free and fair; and our security agencies for keeping the peace.”

  • 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.