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Tag: 2023Election

  • Cross River: BVAS performed optimally at 97% during Cross River guber elections-Coalition of CSOs

    Cross River: BVAS performed optimally at 97% during Cross River guber elections-Coalition of CSOs

    …says security operatives repelled hoodlums in some red spots

    …one adhoc staff shot

    A coalition of Civil Society Organizations, CSOs under the platform of Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness on Wednesday said BVAS performed optimally at 97percent during gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections held in Cross River State.

    Addressing journalists, coordinator of the coalition of INEC observer groups, Dr Gabriel Nwambu in a communique read on behalf the observers except for a few ref spots that showcased skirmishes, the election was relatively peaceful.

    He said: “The BVAS performed optimally at 97% accuracy. A significant improvement when compared to the 25th February, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    “However, we observed 2 instances where the BVAS malfunctioned but supervising officers were quick to replace them as voting continued in good time.

    “We observed that during collation in Obanliku LGA, some desperate politicians attempted to induce collation officers to alter already collated results.

    “We observed that an ad-hoc staff, one Mrs Glory Effiom Essien who served in Bakassi LGA was shot by a suspected militant on the 19th of March, 2023.

    ” However, she is alive and responding to treatment.
    Hoodlums armed with guns and other dangerous material attacked Ogoja LGA INEC collation Centre with an intent of disrupting the collation. Some ad-hoc staff sustained injuries before the police brought the situation under control.

    ” Security operatives performed creditably well. The police which is the lead agency in charge of internal security and elections complied significantly with the rule of engagement and fundamental principles of election policing globally.

    “We also observed that the Governorship candidate of the APC, Senator Prince Bassey Otu was declared winner of the election having scored the highest number of lawful votes and was declared winner and returned elected.

    “Consequently, having analysed INECs logistics in the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials, the performance of the BVAS, the IRev Viewing Portal, the uploading of the results from the Polling Unit level (that is the FORM EC8A Series), we can therefore say that this election in Cross River State was conducted consistent to the electoral guidelines.

    “We hereby state unequivocally that the Governorship and State Assembly Elections of 18th March 2023 IN Cross River State is transparent, free, fair and credible.

    “We thank the INEC for remaining unbiased in the conduct of this election. The Police and other law enforcement agencies are hereby commended for their quick response to resolving emergencies and adhering to the rule of engagement.

    “Finally, for the Governorship and State Assembly elections, we wish to encourage those who lost in the election to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship by congratulating the winners of the said election.

  • Guber Poll: 30 ballot box snatching, 50 vote-buying cases listed – CSO

    Guber Poll: 30 ballot box snatching, 50 vote-buying cases listed – CSO

    A civil society organisation, Connected Development, says it recorded 30 incidents of ballot box hijacking and 50 cases of vote-buying during the just concluded governorship polls across the country.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Hamzat Lawal, revealed the statistics during a post-election briefing in Abuja, on Tuesday.

    According to him, data from the 20,000 election observers deployed by the organisation through its ‘Uzabe’ platform to monitor the polls, showed a 27 percent voter turnout on election day, due to issues of intimidation, violence and voter suppression

    Lawal explained that the figures represented a disturbing trend for democratic governance in the country, and called on stakeholders to ensure the prosecution of those responsible for the electoral malpractices and other infractions.

    It said,: “Our statistics show that there were 30 cases of ballot box hijacking across the country in the gubernatorial election, an increase from the previous election. Specific results show Ahoada west LGA in Rivers state, and Oshodi/Isolo LGA in Lagos state just to mention a few. Also, cases were recorded in Bayelsa, Delta, etc.

    Vote buying, which our statistics also recorded 50 cases in this present election, also shows an increase across different polling units in the country, for example in polling unit 003 Gidan Bunu ward of Zuru LGA in Kebbi state, in polling unit under tree 021 Gidan Alhazi ward, Wudil LGA in Kano.

    “The 2023 general elections had 27 percent which is 24.9 million out of 90 million registered voters deciding the fate of a country of over 200 million people. It is unfortunate as well that despite the mass cry of the public for security agencies to respond to issues of intimidation, violence and voter suppression, the security agencies kept mute.

    “There were massive cases of the aforementioned issues in states like Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara, kaduna and sokoto in the North West, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta in the South South, Lagos, Ogun in the South West, Imo, Enugu, Abia in the South East, Kogi, Benue in both elections”.

    In his address the CODE boss also condemned all forms of thuggery and violence reported across the country, while stating that the actors must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “We frown against all forms of electoral fraud, violence and thuggery perpetuated by any political party throughout the course of this election cycle.

    “We are appalled by it and we must make sure that these actors of these heinous crimes face the full wrath of the law. We cannot sit back and watch our democracy overridden by these acts. We must do well to do better

    Lawal also condemned the ethnic profiling that took place in most parts of the country before and during the elections and cautioned Nigerians against such ugly development.

    Source:PUNCH

  • Updates: Kano APC gives INEC seven days ultimatum to declare gov polls inconclusive

    Updates: Kano APC gives INEC seven days ultimatum to declare gov polls inconclusive

    The All Progressive Congress, APC, in Kano state, has declared the outcome of the just concluded gubernatorial election, resulting in NNPP’s Abba Kabir Yusuf as winner, as baseless without solid foundation.

    APC Legal Adviser, Abdul Fagge told a crowded press conference on Tuesday, that there was no way the election could be declared conclusive with over 270,000 votes cancelled.

    He said: “Based on Section 65 of the Electoral Law 2022, we have written to INEC to revisit and cancel the hasty, wrong and selfish declaration of the NNPP as winner of the elections, and declared the conduct inconclusive.”

    He said they have since written to INEC to, within seven days, revisit the elections based on the provisions of electoral laws and declare it inconclusive.

    Fagge said the INEC Returning Officer acted on a selfish basis, not in accordance with the provisions of the law.

    If INEC could declare elections in Kebbi and Adamawa states inconclusive because of violence and over voting, that of Kano, where elections clearly turned violent, should follow suit, he noted.
    Speaking at the briefing, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, drew a parallel between the National Assembly election and the governorship election, of which the former has been declared inconclusive.

    Doguwa noted that out of the 13 polling units, 12 were cancelled based on violence and over voting, and today he has accepted his faith waiting for the reruns in the elections.

  • Breaking: Atiku approaches Election Tribunal, files petition

    Breaking: Atiku approaches Election Tribunal, files petition

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has approached the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to contest the emergence of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as President-elect.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that the Labour Party (LP) and its candidate, Mr Peter Obi, had filed a petition at the tribunal in Abuja, challenging the Tinubu’s status as the winner of the February 25, 2023, presidential election.

    The petition marked: CA/PEPC/03/2023, has INEC; Tinubu; his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, and the APC as the 1st to 4th respondents.

    The petitioners are praying for the tribunal to declare that Tinubu was not duly elected by a majority of the lawful votes cast at the election. They want an order mandating INEC to retrieve the certificate of return issued to the APC candidate and issue a fresh one to Atiku.

    See a copy of Atiku’s petition below:

  • Ogboru Congratulates Oborevwori on Election Victory +Photos

    Ogboru Congratulates Oborevwori on Election Victory +Photos

    The 2023 Governorship Candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru has congratulated the winner of the 2023 governorship election of Delta state, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP).

    The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Sheriff Oborevwori winner of the election having polled 360,234 votes against his closest rival, APC’s Ovie Omo-Agege who scored 240,229 votes.

    Ogboru in a Congratulatory Message made available to Journalists, while congratulating PDP’s candidate on his victory however lamented that the governorship elections witnessed very high voters apathy and intimidation, describing the process as a major set back in the evolution of democratic tenets.

    He said; “The 2023 governorship elections have come and gone. We witnessed a very high degree of voter apathy. Intimidation, violence, coercion and unprecedented level of vote buying never seen before.”

    “It is a major set back in the evolution of democratic tenets and a treat to future elections. But there is a declared winner and we must accept it so”.

    “May I therfore, use this opportunity to congratulate Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for his victory over several obstacles and in this election. Congratulations. We wish you all the best as governor of Delta state”

  • Delta guber: APC rejects outcome of election, says state has been thrown into mourning

    Delta guber: APC rejects outcome of election, says state has been thrown into mourning

    The Delta All Progressives Congress, APC, Campaign Council has rejected the result of the Delta state gubernatorial election held on March 18, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

    In a statement, Director, Communications and Media Strategy of the council, Olorogun Ima Niboro, dismissed the result declared by INEC as a pyrrhic victory for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which will be overturned by the sheer weight of evidence against it.

    “We have an entire arsenal of evidence showing the disenfranchisement of the people, non use of, and tampering with BVAS machines, declaring double results at polling units, issuing of fake result sheets to agents and uploading cooked up results into the BVAS.

    “We also have evidence of widespread vote suppression, voter intimidation, thuggery and violence against our supporters. The PDP was at its worst during the election: wickedly denying the people of their will freely expressed at the polls.

    “Look at the streets of Delta today. It is gloom everywhere. Our people are wearing long, mournful faces. No sign of jubilation anywhere. Our streets would have been throbbing with life, song and dance, were this the will of the people.This rape of the will of the people will not stand. It must not be allowed to stand!

    “We call on our party faithful and supporters to remain calm. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.

  • APC Guber candidate, Prince Otu emerges winner in Cross River

    APC Guber candidate, Prince Otu emerges winner in Cross River

    Wevole Ezin

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Cross River State Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Prince Bassey Otu as winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship race.

    Otu won in 15 out of 18 local government councils with 258619 against his closest opponent, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Sandy Onor who polled 179,636 votes while the candidate of Labour Party (LP) Mr. Ogar Osim garnered 5957 votes.

    Announcing the results on Monday at the state the INEC Returning Officer for Cross River, Prof. Teddy Charles Adies of Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa declared Otu as the winner at the state collation centre, Mike Igini hall, INEC State Office, Calabar.

    Adies who described the election as keenly contested said, ” I have the honor to declare in respect of the result that has been announced, that Otu Bassey Edet, haven satisfied with the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.

    He said the total number of registered votes is 1766466, accredited votes, 466294, while total number of valid votes is 451933, void votes, 8923 and total vote cast is 460, 856.

    Speaking after the victory, party Chairman of the APC, Alphonsus Eba said the victory is not for the party alone but for those who supported the back to South agenda.

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  • Delta Guber: Okowa congratulates Oborevwori, thanks Deltans

    Delta Guber: Okowa congratulates Oborevwori, thanks Deltans

    Delta Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed gratitude to people in the state for using their ballots to give Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, victory in Saturday’s governorship election.

    The governor, at a Thanksgiving Service at Government House Chapel in Asaba, shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Oborevwori as governor-elect on Monday, attributed the party’s victory to God’s grace.

    Okowa charged the governor-elect and his deputy, Chief Monday Onyeme, to put God first in all activities, and assured them that they would record successes if they governed with the fear of God.

    He disclosed that the presidential and governorship elections brought forth new lessons for him, and promised to offer the best of advice to the in-coming administration in the state.

    “Today is a glorious day in the sight of God because of what we went through since Saturday, March 18. We thank God for leading us to victory.

    “I thank all Deltans who have been out there campaigning for us, the PDP. I thank all of you for coming to rejoice with the governor-elect, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the deputy governor-elect, Sir Monday Onyeme.

    “So, l thank you all for coming. As you go back home, remember to continue to give thanks to God for what He has done in our lives and in our state.

    “We have come here to dance and to sing praises to God for what He has done in our lives. I thank all our leaders, our women and all our youth for working so hard towards the victory of our party (PDP).

    “My greatest joy today is that l am sure that this altar of God will stay alive” Okowa said.

    To House of Assembly members-elect, leadership of the PDP and other stakeholders, he called on them to rally round Oborevwori to enable him achieve set goals.

    While commending Deltans for their support in the last eight years, he promised to remain committed to doing more till his last day in office as governor.

    “As l thank you all, l must also thank Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for the roles he played in uniting aggrieved members of the party in the build-up to the elections.

    “In these last two weeks, God has taught me a lot of lessons and it is my prayer that you (the governor-elect) will not make some of the mistakes that we made,” he added.

    To those that defected before and during the electoral contest, he wished them well, emphasizing that he held no grudge against anyone.

    Congratulating the governor-elect and his deputy, the governor urged them to relate more with the people at the grassroots, even as he implored them to trust in the Lord for He alone would endow them with what they need to succeed.

    He also urged Deltans to work with the governor-elect and his deputy so as to sustain the tempo of sustainable socio-economic and infrastructural growth and development in the state.

    In an interview, the governor-elect, said he was overwhelmed by the support of Deltans at the polls, and promised to justify the confidence reposed in him.

    Dignitaries at the special thanksgiving service were Wife of the Governor, Dame Edith Okowa; former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; the governor-elect, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori and his wife, Tobore; his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, among others.

  • BREAKING: PDP Oborevwori against all odds shock Omo-Agege as INEC declares him Governor-elect of Delta State

    BREAKING: PDP Oborevwori against all odds shock Omo-Agege as INEC declares him Governor-elect of Delta State

    Against all odds, PDP guber candidate Hon Francis Oborevwori floored DSP Omo-Agege in last Saturday’s governorship election polling 360,234 votes against APC’s 240,229 votes as announced by INEC on Monday.

    The State Returning Officer, Prof Georgewill Owuneri Abraham, who made the declaration at the INEC headquarters in Asaba, said PDP’s Sheriff Oborevwori polled 360,234 votes.

    According to him, APC’s Ovie Omo-Agege scored 240,229 votes and LP’s Ken Pela got 48,047 votes.

    Declaring Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori as the winner of the governorship election, Abraham, said the PDP candidate having met the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and returned as Governor-elect.”

  • Taraba guber: Kefas wins in a landslide, vows to clear off salaries backlog within 100 days in office

    Taraba guber: Kefas wins in a landslide, vows to clear off salaries backlog within 100 days in office

    The Taraba State governorship candidate, Lt col, Agbu Kefas (retd) has been declared winner in a tough gubernatorial race.

    The retired military officer polled a total of 236, 712 votes with the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), trailing at second and third place respectively.

    A statement issued on Monday by the Spokesperson of Kefas, Emmanuel Bello, attributed the success to the doggedness of the electorate and the campaign council.

    According to him, the victory was an indication of the dominance of the PDP in the state.

    He also said that the youths were the real owners of the success for the role they played.

    Bello said that Kefas would make the youths the centerpiece of his administration by major empowerment policies.

    According to him, Kefas would achieve a lot in his first 100 days in office, including paying off salaries backlog to civil servants in the state.

    Speaking on the victory too, a chieftain of the PDP in Taraba State, Hon. Nuru Dantsoho, said the victory was a vindication of the party’s performance in the state.

    While congratulating Kefas, he said Taraba State would experience massive development.

    A governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Dr. David Charima said Kefas emergence would usher in greater unity and peace in the state.

    He said he has no doubt Kefas would perform creditably well.