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Tag: Ekiti State

  • APC clears 31 House of Assembly aspirants in Ekiti

    APC clears 31 House of Assembly aspirants in Ekiti

    Ekiti All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly Screening Committee has cleared 31 aspirants.

    The Secretary of the screening committee, Mr Dele Akinleye said this in a statement on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti.

    Akinleye said the cleared aspirants were Alhaja Mariam Ogunlade (Emure), Mr Okeimen Fakunle ( Ilejemeje), Mr Hakeem Jamiu (Irepodun/Ifelodun), Mr Tajudeen Akingbolu (Ekiti West), and Mr Lateef Akanle (Ekiti East).

    Others were Mrs Yemisi Ayokunle (from Ekiti South West ), Mr Adeoye Aribasoye (Ikole II), Mr Ayorinde Oluwayomi, Mr Ayodeji Ajayi (Ise/Orun), and Mr Babatunde Fawekun ( Ido/Osi I).

    Also cleared were Babatunde Oke (Ikere II), Mr Babatunde Idowu (Ikere II), Mr Bode Oyekola (from Ekiti West II), Mr Femi Akindele (from Irepodun/Ifelodun), and Mrs Adeteju Okuyiga (from Gbonyin).

    The list also included Mrs Abimbola Solanke (from Moba I), Mr Ayodeji Adegbite (Ado I), Mr Oladapo Osunniyi (from Ekiti southwest II), Mr Bolaji Olagbaju (Ado II), and Mrs Bosede Olowookere (Efon ).

    He stated that Mr Temitope Longe, (Oye 1), Mr Kareem Agunbiade (Ekiti West I), Mr Goke Oyeleye (Ijero), Babafemi Fatunla (Ikole 1), and Mr Omoyeni Oluwasola (Ekiti East II) made the list.

    The rest were Mr Abraham Fatoba (Ekiti East I), Mr Mathew Attah (Ikere II), Mr Idowu Odebunmi (Oye II), Oluwafemi Alabi, and Mr Adeyemi Awoniyi (Moba II), as well as Mr Rotimi Orewole (Gbonyin).

    Akinleye said that aspirants that were not cleared were Mr Afolabi Olurotimi (Idk/Osi II), Mr Michael Ige (Ekiti southwest II), Mr Ojo Ademola (Ijero), Mr Ayodeji Ajogbeje (Ikere II), and Mr Ayodeji Oladele (Moba 1).

    Others that were also not cleared included Mr Ademuko Oladele (Ijero), Mrs Helen Ajisafe (Ado), Kayode Ojo (Irepodun/Ifelodun), Mr Ayodele Adarabierin (Ado), Mr Martins Ibidapo (Ekiti West), and Mr Akinjide Akintola (Ado).

    The remaining ones were Mr Ibrahim Lanre (Irepodun/Ifelodun), Mr Oluwole Fagbohun (Ekiti South West), Mr Joshua Ayanna (Ijero), Mr Kehinde Adaramodu (Ekiti South West), and Mrs Opeyemi Agbede (Irepodun/Ifelodun), as well as Mr Oluwaseun Ojuolape (Ekiti South West).

    He further said the Appeal Committee to review complaints from the screening of the house of assembly aspirants would begin sitting on Thursday, May 19.

    He said the venue would be at JKF Center, Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti from 9 am and enjoined members with complaints to get to the appeal committee on May 19.

  • Judge absence distupts case against Ekiti, Osun elections

    Judge absence distupts case against Ekiti, Osun elections

    The supposed hearing of a suit filed before a Federal High Court, sitting in Osogbo by the leadership of Ilana Omo Oodua, asking the court to stop Osun and Ekiti States elections was disrupted due to the absence of a judge in charge.

    The case came up for hearing on Tuesday with no official statement informing the parties in the suit as to why the court did not sit despite fixing a hearing on the matter.

    A source in the court however told TheNewsGuru.com anonymously that the judge that was supposed to hear the matter did not come.

    Leader of the group, Prof. Banji Akintoye, and 16 other prominent members had instituted the matter, against the validity of the 1999 Constitution.

    Joined in the suit were the Attorney General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission as respondents.

    ALSO READ: Ekiti community residents urge Gov. Fayemi to improve security network

    Members of the group had stormed the court in large numbers only to be disappointed that the matter did not come up again.

    The communication secretary, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Maxwell Adeleye, while speaking with our correspondent, said there was no prior notice to the group that the matter would not come up.

    “The matter has been fixed for the 24th of May. We didn’t get a prior notice that the matter would not come up today,” he concluded.

  • 2023: I will win APC presidential ticket – Fayemi

    2023: I will win APC presidential ticket – Fayemi

    The Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Gov. of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Thursday, expressed confidence in winning the All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Primary Election and emerging as the party’s flagbearer for the 2023 presidential election.

    Fayemi, who made the declaration during his presidential campaign tour in Maiduguri, said that he was not aversed to allowing all presidential aspirants from across the country to vie for the APC ticket, pointing out that there’re competent Nigerians in all parts of the country.

    “Esteemed leaders and members of our great party, we are once again in the throes of another national electoral cycle at which Nigerians across the length and breadth of the nation will be called upon to designate their preferred choice for the leadership of our beloved country.

    “As can be expected, our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will be a key factor and actor in the elections.

    “And that is as it should be given that we are the ruling party at the federal centre, and are responsible for governing 22 states in the federation.

    “Easily, we are the most national of parties. We also remain the most sought-after political association in the land.

    “It will not be an exaggeration, and I know most of you will agree as well,
    that given our present preponderance in the national political system, the
    forthcoming elections will be very much about us as a party as about anything else.

    “Nigerians reposed considerable trust in us when they voted us into office in 2015 and renewed our national mandate in 2019. That trust also came with and continues to carry enormous responsibility that we have tried, even in the race of various odds, to discharge as faithfully as possible.”

    He added that: “As it is, all things considered, we are the party to beat in 2023.

    “As a foundation member, and one of the many actors who worked tirelessly to help create the APC out of a coalition of like-minded parties and interests united by a progressive and forward looking to national commitment, unity and transformation, I was immeasurably proud of
    the zeal with which our cadres embraced the party’s agenda for change and renewal.

    “And we were fortunate to be blessed from the outset with a leadership group who left no stone unturned to ensure that we went into election as a united force that could be trusted by Nigerians and which had to be
    reckoned with by our competitors.

    “To the credit of our party and His Excellency, President Muhammadu
    Buhari, we have deliberately sought to make multiparty political competition in Nigeria less uncivil and much cleaner.

    “We have also successfully ensured that the voices of citizens as the electorate count more than ever before. Edo and Anambra states are testimonies to the gallant effort that our President and leader has personally championed to make the national political system saner and more reflective of the true and genuine will of the people.

    “We have every reason to be proud and to hold our heads high for these and other achievements. But we have, however, also been confronted with differing magnitudes challanges which are not always of our
    making, that have either obstructed us or even thwarted some of our noble plans.

    “Not least among these challenges is the security situation in the country, a problem we inherited and which has continued to be a
    source of immense worry for all Nigerians, rightly so. The security question is one that must be topmost in our range of priorities.

    “Added to this are adverse domestic pressures and external shocks on the economy that have affected our quest massively to dent unemployment and overcome some of its deleterious effects on the populace, especially our teeming population of young people.

    “Esteemed import of the members foregoing of is the simple: APC, While the we can be proud of the road we have travelled since 2015, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels as a party or be complacent about anything.

    “It is imperative that we openly and honestly acknowledge the important national tasks ahead and develop a coherent and comprehensive plan that can enable us to confront them.

    “This we must do by resolutely learning lessons of experience. We should also be ready to mobilise ourselves for the urgent and necessary task of rebuilding the hope of our compatriots both in Project Nigeria and in our ability as a party.”

    The governor said he knew the nooks and crannies of the country and had served APC faithfully, and believes that the majority of the party delegates will vote for him to emerge the party’s flagbearer.

    “I’m very confident of winning, I’m very very comfortable in the APC, I’m a foundation member of the APC and I know the nooks and crannies of this country.

    “I have served the APC faithfully, I was the first Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and in that capacity, I served all my colleagues that were members of the Governors Forum then.

    “Now that I’m the Chairman of the entire Nigeria Governors Forum, I have also gained the trust and confidence of all Governors in ensuring that I defend, protect and promote Nigeria in all spheres.

    “This job that I seek is about improving the condition of the ordinary Nigerians and it’s an opportunity to build on the gains of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and also to address the gaps,” Fayemi said.

    On the clamour by some APC leaders to zone the presidency to the south, Fayemi warned that competence must not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning, but want every part of the country to have a sense of belonging in governance.

    The governor stated that he’s a bridge builder and stressed the need for inclusivity in the governance of the country.

    “Nigeria is a diverse country, there’re competent people from all parts of Nigeria. My role has always been bridge-building and unifying in Nigeria and I believe that Nigerians of diverse competencies come from all parts of Nigeria, they can throw their hat into the ring.

    “But when you have a multicultural, multi-religious divided society, you also need measures to build trust and confidence in the country, so that everybody can feel a sense of ownership and a sense of belonging.

    “Zoning must never undermine competence and zoning must never be anti-democratic,” Fayemi stressed.

  • 2023: My presidential ambition not do-or-die – Fayemi

    2023: My presidential ambition not do-or-die – Fayemi

    Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti has said that his ambition to fly the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket in the 2023 presidential election is not a do-or-die.

    Fayemi, also the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), stated this in an interview with newsmen in Gombe, after a consultative meeting with party delegates in the state, ahead of the APC primaries.

    He said the party’s interest in the forthcoming primaries was paramount to him and that he would not work against such interest, even if his ambition was not realised.

    Fayemi said his belief about the primaries was for party members to choose a leader that would succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, build on his gains and address the gaps that Nigerians had identified.

    He said, “I am a foundation member of APC and there is nothing, including even if I am not the choice of the party for the presidential election, that will make me subvert its overall interest.”

    He said that APC’s search for the presidential candidate that would succeed Buhari was about good governance and the overall interest of Nigerians.

    Fayemi stated that the presidential primary was not a competition, but “about competing visions and I hope my vision will be the successful one that our party members will rally round, as it is not a do-or-die.”

    He said that the primaries were about the progress and development of the people, fundamental response to the challenges of Nigerians and consolidating on the gains of the party.

    The presidential aspirant said that he was in the state to engage with party members, adding: “they have expressed what Gombe needs as a state.”

    He expressed optimism that he would receive “special favours” from Gombe delegates, having presented his credentials to them.

    “I am in the state to justify my candidacy. The contest is about competing visions.

    “We are to present our visions to the people; the visions will be scrutinised and then a conclusion will be reached by members of the party,” he said.

  • Ekiti Govt. postpones schools’ resumption to May 9

    Ekiti Govt. postpones schools’ resumption to May 9

    Public and private schools in Ekiti are to resume academic activities for the third term 2021/2022 session on May 9, the state government has announced.

    Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, gave the directive in a circular made available to journalists on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti.

    The circular signed by the Director of Schools in the ministry, Mr Remi Ajayi, quoted Olomojobi as saying the postponement followed the public holidays declared by the federal government to commemorate Worker’s Day and Eid-el-Fitr.

    “This development, therefore, put paid to the controversy surrounding schools’ resumption date across the state.

    “Consequently, schools’ resumption hitherto scheduled for Monday, May 2, has been postponed as a result of the public holidays to mark Workers’ Day and Sallah celebration,” the permanent secretary said.

  • 2023: Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi set to join presidential race

    2023: Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi set to join presidential race

    The Ekiti State Governor, Olukayode Fayemi, is set to declare his interest for the 2023 Presidency on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Ado-Ekiti.

    The state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Akin Oyebode gave an insight about the possibility of Governor Fayemi declaring in a video via his twitter handle.

    Oyebode then hinted that Fayemi could declare come Wednesday April 4th,2022.

    In the one-minute video tweeted by Oyebode, Fayemi unveiled his Nigeria agenda ahead of the 2023 general election.

    He said, “the Nigeria of our dream is possible, a Nigeria that is the pride and joy of all, among others.”

    With his 2023 presidential intentions now confirmed, the list of APC presidential aspirants in Fayemi’s southwest has been further swelled.

    Also, from the southwest are two major APC presidential aspirants, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Both Osinbajo and Tinubu will now slug it out with Fayemi for the APC ticket between May 30 and June 1, when the ruling party will have its National Convention to pick candidates for the 2023 elections.

  • FG begins airborne geophysical survey in Ekiti

    FG begins airborne geophysical survey in Ekiti

    The Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in collaboration with the World Bank had embarked on an Airborne Geophysical Survey activity to determine the accurate mineral deposits in Ekiti State.

    The survey is being implemented through the Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification Project (MINDIVER), a World Bank assisted programme.

    Mr Akin Omole, the state Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti.

    Omole said the World Bank assisted project under the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, accounted for the presence of low flying airplanes being sighted recently in some communities in the state.

    According to him, the survey is expected to bring out more details and information on the geology and mineral potentials of the state.

    “This is with a view to determining the mineral locations, types and their extent of availability,” he said.

    Omole said the method of the airborne survey involved measuring minor variations in the earth’s magnetic fields and gamma radiations in the soils.

    According to him, It is a passive technique that does not involve sending out any signals or sound waves into the ground and therefore remains a very safe aerial survey.

    The commissioner said the presence of the low flying airplane in the project areas is safe and doesn’t portend any danger to the inhabitants.

    “Members of the public are hereby urged to go about their daily activities without any fear as the airplane does not portend any safety or health hazard,” he said.

    Newsmen report the airborne survey is to determine accurate mineral locations using the modern contemporary aeromagnetic mechanism in 19 states across the country.

    The states include: Kwara; Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Ebonyi. Also Enugu, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Niger, Kogi, Taraba, Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Bauchi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

  • Gov. Fayemi never meddles in funds allocation to local councils – Aide

    Gov. Fayemi never meddles in funds allocation to local councils – Aide

    The Chief Press Secretary, Mr Yinka Oyebode of Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi has refuted claims that gov. Fayemi meddles in the activities of the state’s Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) and superintends over any of its meetings.

    The disclaimer was contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti, following the allegations of a former chairman of Ado Local Government Council, Mrs Omotunde Fajuyi, who had said that she received N7 million monthly out of the Federal Government’s allocation of N100 million, while she was in office.

    She also alleged Gov. Fayemi’s interference in the monthly budgetary allocation to local councils.

    The governor’s spokesman, however, stated that Fajuyi’s claim was a misrepresentation of facts as the JAAC normally deducts local councils’ commitments at source before crediting their accounts with their balances.

    Oyebode listed local government’s commitments deducted at source to include payment for staff salaries, primary school teacher’s salaries, and payment of traditional institutions.

    Others are proportional payment of pensioners, payment of political office holders, including the Chairman, payment of health workers’ salaries and proportional payment to security outfits.

    “The monthly allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee to the councils are determined by the JAAC at the state level in line with relevant provisions of the law.

    “The JAAC meeting usually have in attendance the council chairmen, the commissioner for local government, state’s and local governments’ auditors-general, among other state officials,’’ Oyebode stated

    “While the JAAC meeting is held monthly to determine how the allocations to the local council would be disbursed, it is on record that Gov. Fayemi never meddled in the JAAC affairs nor superintends over any of its meetings.

    “Except for the purpose of mischief, Mrs Fajuyi knew the governor never had anything to do with JAAC throughout her tenure as council boss,’’

    Oyebode stressed that it was common knowledge that the difference between Gross Allocation to local councils after FAAC and Net Distributable after JAAC was because of statutory deductions.

    “It is important for serving and former public office holders to always demonstrate high sense of responsibility in their daily conduct and public engagements.

    “They should be as truthful as possible and avoid mischief and unwarranted mudslinging as did Mrs Fajuyi.

    “It is a shame that Mrs Fajuyi’s remarks have created the impression of unwholesome financial activities on the part of state officials,’’ Oyebode lamented.

  • Ekiti gov aspirant, Oni escapes assassination at SDP secretariat

    Ekiti gov aspirant, Oni escapes assassination at SDP secretariat

    The candidate of the Social Democratic Party(SDP) in the June 18 Ekiti governorship poll, Segun Oni, has narrowly escaped assassination by gunmen suspected to be thugs, at the party’s Secretariat in Efon Alaye, Efon local government area.

     

    It was gathered that the gunmen, on Wednesday, stormed the SDP Secretariat, where Oni was expected to meet with his supporters in continuation of his consultation tour ahead of the poll, and started shooting sporadically into the air, forcing people to scamper for safety to prevent being caught in the web of the melee.

     

    According to a source, vehicles were damaged and several members of SDP sustained varying injuries.

     

    They are receiving medical treatment in undisclosed hospital in the town.

     

    The Director of Media and Publicity of Engr. Segun Oni Campaign Organisation, Adebayo Jackson said it took the intervention of security operatives attached to the ex-Governor to repel and dislodge the arm-weilding attackers.

     

    He said: “The convoy of the Segun Oni Campaign Organisation was brutally attacked with gunshots, cutlasses, sticks and stones by the fierce-looking thugs at Efon Alaaye in Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti State yesterday.

     

    “The campaign train which had toured nine local governments since Monday and fully received by large turnout of members and supporters of the Social Democratic Party ( SDP) was attacked with gunshots, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons at the center of the town around 3.30pm.

     

    “Shortly after the Efon Local Government members and supporters of the SDP had converged at the venue to wait for the arrival of the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Segun Oni, the thugs started to shoot guns and attacked the SPD supporters with sticks and cutlasses.

     

    “Some supporters were badly injured and vehicles in the convoy were damaged by thugs before the arrival of a detachment of police which overpowered the thugs
    An officer of the Nigeria Civil Defense Corps was not spare by the thugs as they attempted to snatch his gun. He was wounded but refused to surrender his gun”, he said.

     

    When contacted, Ekiti Police spokesman. ASP Sunday Abutu, confirmed the attack.

     

    Abutu said the gun-wielding political thugs invaded the campaign ground of the former Governor and made spirited efforts to disrupt it.

     

    “Yes, the hoodlums came to the venue with dangerous weapons to disrupt the consultation process of the SDP candidate, Engr Segun On but our men were able to out the situation under control.

     

    “The police have begun investigation and arrest will be made and those behind it will surely have a case to answer”.

  • 2023: It is time to enthrone a new Nigeria – Gov. Fayemi

    2023: It is time to enthrone a new Nigeria – Gov. Fayemi

    Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, on Saturday, says now is the time to rekindle the candle of a new Nigeria as the 2023 general elections draw near.

    Fayemi said this at a birthday symposium in honour of Mr Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive Officer, Connected Development, in Abuja.

    According to him, the coming transition provides another opportunity for Nigerians to take a new day at making a new Nigeria of their dream.

    He said that Nigerian citizens need to build a consensus around major issues of concern and develop a national template for some irreducible behaviour in leadership positions.

    He said this is because nation-building is an unfinished business before every generation and it is always a pressing business of the day that must be done urgently.

    “These challenges that affect our country today, provide us with the opportunity to take a position and take a stand and walk for the resolution of such challenges.

    “Nigeria will belong to those who are prepared to stand up, stand firm and take control of their destinies as the late Senator Robert Kennedy once said, `it is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.

    “We can all to do a bit in our little ways to cause a beautiful change that will lead us to make our country and indeed the world a better place.

    “I am personally uncomfortable with the practice of our politics and our political conversation; we should have outgrown bigotry, tribalism and ethnoreligious biases.

    “It is time to rekindle the candle of a new Nigeria and the coming transition provides another opportunity for us to take a new day at making a new Nigeria of our dream.’’

    Fayemi called on citizens to love the country and imagine it as a major world power in no distant time.

    According to him, leaders are made from the crucible of experience of passion and courage and the readiness to sacrifice because nothing ventured is nothing gained.

    “If we trace Hamzat’s history very well from who he was and the focused dedicated and inspirational Youngman he has become, we will see he has taken strongly from these lessons.

    “He is the founder of Follow the Money, a civic tech advocacy platform, that has helped in tracking government expenditure and service delivery.’’

    Fayemi said that Hamzat is a major voice in the sustainable development goals action movement for young people and emerging leaders.

    He said that some lessons to take away from Hamzat’s story include that for one to succeed, one needs to imbibe certain virtues in life and that is one of the most important things youths often take for granted.

    Fayemi, therefore, urged youths to value knowledge because without it they would not develop the right intellect, experience and skill set to help them prepare for a functional future.

    He said that the pursuit of knowledge would liberate them from fears, biases and limitations.

    “This is the kind of education that has helped Hamzat. We also need to develop skills that prepare us for selfless leadership through volunteerism, community engagement and mobilisation for collective causes.‘’

    Fayemi urged youths to value competence, courage, generosity of spirit, a sense of giving than receiving, being solution providers than complainants, perseverance and delayed gratification to succeed.

    Also speaking at the event, the Founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, Atedo Peterside, eulogised Hamzat as a person of integrity who had achieved a lot and worked hard to build a great reputation.

    Peterside said he shared similarities with Hamzat, when he founded the bank 33 years ago as a youth, adding that older experts were sceptical to join the bank so those who joined him then in 1989 were younger than him and were ready to take a risk that the older and more experienced personnel were not willing to take.

    “However, after five years of success stories of the bank, the older people started applying and we employed them and last February the bank was 33 years.

    “Youths should know their weaknesses and strengths, work on their weaknesses by engaging those that can cover that area of weakness and also to build on the strength.’’

    Peterside urged youths not to abandon good principles in their pursuit of achievement but to imbibe the virtues of integrity, shared vision, teamwork, and meritocracy, adding that “they should also be bold to be truthful to earn the trust of the people, especially those they work with.’’

    He urged Nigerian youths to shun sentiments and cooperate with each other across the board to achieve success in their endeavours.

    The celebrant, Hamzat Lawal, CEO CODE and Founder of Follow the Money, has been working in the civic space, saying that he impacted lives and built people’s capacity the same way he was influenced by Ewa Ileri.

    Hamzat, therefore, launched a mentorship initiative called the Ewa Illeri Leadership School, adding that every year, he would select 20 Young people to go to Ebonyi for learning.

    He said that as he clocked 35, he would use the new face of his life to contribute his quota to change Nigeria through politics, adding that Nigeria is where it is today because youth allowed it for far too long.

    He added that Nigerians have been agonising and complaining on Twitter, Facebook and so on but there is now a renewed opportunity and hope for young people to take their place in Nigeria’s political history.

    He said that a political movement called the Green Nigerian Movement has been launched to mobilise youths, persons with disabilities in the 774 local government areas to build alliances to change the political narrative.

    “Today we must agree that we will play politics with empathy. We’ll play politics with ideology. We’ll play politics with value

    “I think that ‘the saying that politics is dirty’ should be an old order. If we choose to remain on the sidelines, then we should not complain. I, Hamza Lawal, from today would play partisan politics.

    “With the Green Nigerian Movement, we have committed that we will mobilise 40 million people, we cannot make a change if we don’t change the dynamics of how things are done.’’

    Hamzat, therefore, called on Nigerians to stop agonising, to join him to consolidate, mobilise and educate people at the grassroots to understand the powers that they hold in order to decide the next president of Nigeria.