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Tag: election

  • Northeast govs meet Tinubu solicit oil exploration, completion of projects

    Northeast govs meet Tinubu solicit oil exploration, completion of projects

    North-East governors have called on President Bola Tinubu to complete ongoing road projects and build critical roads connecting the six states of the zone.

    The governors, led by Babagana Zulum of Borno State, made the call during a meeting with the President on Wednesday.

    The meeting, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, focused on critical issues affecting the region, including urgent completion of 17 vital road projects and the resumption of oil exploration in the frontier wells, particularly the Kolmani and Lake Chad wells.

    Other governors in attendance included Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Bala Muhammad of Bauchi, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, and Agbu Keffas of Taraba.

    They are the Kano-Maiduguri Road, Port Harcourt-Jos-Bauchi-Maiduguri Railway line, Bama-Mubi-Yola Road, Wukari-Jalingo-Yola Road, Duguri-Mansur Road (NNPC Project Ongoing), Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Damaturu Road, Damaturu-Geidam Road, Bauchi-Ningi-Nasaru-Babaldo Road, and Gombe-Potiskum, Damaturu-Biu Roads.

    Others include Alkaleri-Futuk Road, Maiduguri-Damboa-Yola Road, Gombe-Dukku-Darazo Road, Biu-Gombe Road, Ibi-Shamdam Road, Maiduguri-Monguno-Baga Road, and Maiduguri-Ngala-Bama-Banki Road.

    Governor Zulum, who is also the Chairman of the North-East Governors’ Forum, commended the President for the commitment to restoring peace within the northeast.

    “We thank you for fostering peace and stability within the sub-region and continuing with the initiative of your predecessor in sustaining the fight against insurgency,” stated.

    He assured the president of their commitment to his administration’s initiative on training of manpower and providing technology with a view to reversing the insecurity facing the North-East.

    “We are fully aligning with Mr. President’s good initiative of training of manpower and providing technology with a view to reversing the ugly trend in the forest, thereby reducing the insurgency and promoting agricultural development in alignment with the renewed hope agenda on food security,” Zulum said.

    He added, “Mr President, the North-East governors hold you in high esteem and all of us have resolved to partner with you in your determination to provide good governance for Nigeria with a view to leaving behind lasting legacies and landmarks for the country.”

    Responding, President Tinubu acknowledged the governors’ concerns and assured them of his administration’s commitment to addressing the developmental needs of the region.

  • Rivers Council Polls: Rivers people eagerly await results today

    Rivers Council Polls: Rivers people eagerly await results today

    Residents in Rivers State on Saturday cast their ballots in the local government elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) across 23 councils.

    The exercise, which was held in 6,866 polling units in the 319 wards of the state, is expected to produce elected local government chairpersons and councilors and replace the council administrators appointed in April 2025.

    The elections came six months and two days after the Supreme Court upturned the council elections conducted on October 5, 2024, by the RSIEC.

    The election on Saturday in different areas, including Port Harcourt, Obio Akpor Metropolis, and Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, observed that the exercise was largely peaceful.

    Speaking during a pre-election broadcast on Friday, the Chairman of the RSIEC, Michael Odey, assured the voters of the prompt arrival of voting materials to the various polling units, including the rural and riverine communities.

    However, it was observed that electoral materials did not arrive in time in some polling units.

    As of 9:30 am, voting had yet to commence at Ward 3, Unit 11 in the Emohua LGA.

    Only a few voters and party agents were present, making arrangements ahead of the arrival of the materials.

    The same situation was recorded at Ward 3, Unit 9 in the Emohua LGA, where a few voters were seen checking their names on the register displayed on the wall, while an RSIEC official waited for the arrival of electoral materials.

    Voting was ongoing in Ward 13, Unit 06, Aluu, in the Ikwerre LGA, when Channels Television visited the unit at about 10:30 am.

  • Obi queries FG’s ₦142bn budget for bus terminals, less than N100bn for hospitals

    Obi queries FG’s ₦142bn budget for bus terminals, less than N100bn for hospitals

    The Leader of the Labour Party and the 2023 Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, has queried the federal government’s sense of priority and commitment to the critical indices of development.

    Obi in particular queried the rationale behind budgeting the sum of N142billion for bus terminals in the country when teaching and psychiatric Hospitals in the country have less than N100billion.

    He described it as clear evidence of misplaced priority, while neglecting critical engines of development like Healthcare.

    Writing on his official X handle on Friday Obi said that, “The difference between the success and failure of the development in any nation is how you prioritise your scarce resources.
    “The recent announcement that a sum of ₦142 billion has been approved by the Federal Government for the construction of one bus terminal in each of our six geopolitical zones further affirms the lack of competence, lack of focus and poor leadership.

    “In the 2024 budget, which is the operational budget today, the entire budget of all the teaching hospitals across all the federal universities in the country, as well as the federal psychiatric centres, is under ₦100 billion, yet the government has approved ₦142 billion for bus terminals.
    “This is disturbing, considering that Health is one of the most critical areas of development, which is deteriorating and remains grossly underfunded. WHO recently reported that over 20 million Nigerians are living with mental health issues.

    “This is not only a misplaced priority but a tragic irony of our country.
    This is not governance”
    A New Nigeria is POssible.

  • ADC fires member, suspends three executives

    ADC fires member, suspends three executives

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Gombe State has expelled one member and removed three officials from their positions over alleged anti-party activities.

    The decision, made public on Thursday night, followed investigations and recommendations by party organs.

    Those affected include Nafiu Bala, who was expelled after declaring himself the National Chairman of the party, along with State Deputy Chairman Nasiru Lawan, State Secretary Danladi Ya’u, and State Youth Leader Abdulkadir Sa’idu, also known as Digiri.

    According to the state leadership, Bala was found guilty of gross misconduct, factionalisation, and acts considered harmful to the unity of the party.

    He had been invited to defend himself before a disciplinary committee but failed to appear.

    The committee later recommended his expulsion, which was endorsed by the State Executive Committee and forwarded to the national leadership for ratification.

    The ADC chairman in Gombe said the action was meant to show that indiscipline and disloyalty would not be tolerated.

    He assured members that the party remained united and focused on its goal of winning more seats in the 2027 elections despite recent setbacks.

  • PDP Southern critical stakeholders disown Lagos zoning meeting

    PDP Southern critical stakeholders disown Lagos zoning meeting

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sunk deeper into crisis over plans by a section of the party to micro-zone its presidential ticket to a particular zone in the south without wider consultations.

    Although some stakeholders in the south are clamouring for zoning, there is no consensus on the zone that would produce the candidates among the Southwest, Southeast and Southsouth.

    Also, some stakeholders have rejected the agitation for zoning to the South, saying that the ticket should be open to the six zones.

    Today, a meeting has been slated for Lagos to discuss the proposal for zoning, with the aim of micro-zoning the ticket to either of the three zones.

    The meeting, tagged the “PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit”, was convened by the party’s Zoning Committee at the Legend Hotel, Ikeja.

    There are allegations that some chieftains are rooting for micro-zoning to either Southwest or Southsouth.

    There have been calls on Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2027 presidential race.

    But irked by the micro-zoning move, PDP state chairmen, former governors and National Assembly members disowned the Southern zoning meeting, describing it as divisive and unconstitutional.

    PDP House of Representatives Leader Kingsley Chinda said the Lagos meeting has excluded and sidelined critical party leaders.

    He told reporters in Abuja that any party meeting where zoning, power rotation and distribution of offices are to be discussed, it should be all-inclusive.

    He said, “We dismiss the resolution and outcome of the meeting. It is not binding and not reflective of the opinion of the generality of stakeholders.”

    Chinda said any decision reached in secrecy and seclusion cannot be consensus-driven, adding that it would be resisted in accordance with the constitution of the party.

    He therefore, urged members of the party to disregard the outcome.

    Also, state Chairmen, former governors, National Assembly members, and other key party stakeholders from the South East and South South zones said they were neither invited nor consulted.

    In another statement, the state Chairmen of Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers—Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah, Venatius Ikem, Rt. Hon Aniekan Akpan, and Aaron Chukwuemeka—alongside National Vice Chairman (South-East) Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck and Chinda, said the meeting’s outcomes should not be recognized.

    The statement read, “The PDP has always stood for inclusivity, fairness, consultation, and collective decision-making. Any meeting that ignores key leaders and elected officials breaks trust, causes division, and threatens party unity. We therefore, reject any outcomes from this summit as neither binding nor representative of the PDP in Southern Nigeria.

    “The meeting is also premature and seems aimed at serving the interests of a few, especially since the Zoning Committee has not yet submitted its report for party approval.”

    “We remain fully committed to the unity, stability, and success of the PDP. We urge all leaders and stakeholders to resist any attempts to manipulate zoning through secretive or unfair methods.

    “The Southeast and Southsouth, together with the South West, stand united in promoting fairness, justice, and equity. As custodians of our members’ mandate, we will defend the integrity of the party and ensure that any decisions affecting Southern Nigeria are made openly, consultatively, and inclusively.”

  • Delta’s renewable energy revolution to unlock jobs, power rural economy – Aniagwu

    Delta’s renewable energy revolution to unlock jobs, power rural economy – Aniagwu

    Delta State is set to witness a major economic transformation as its push for renewable energy gathers momentum, with thousands of jobs expected to spring up across rural communities.

    This assurance came from the State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, who declared that the renewable energy initiative of the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration would empower small businesses, energize schools and hospitals, and integrate rural dwellers into the state’s economic mainstream.

    Speaking at the sidelines of the 14th State-by-State Roundtable Engagement between the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and Delta stakeholders, held Wednesday in Abuja, Aniagwu said the state’s energy roadmap was designed to bridge the development gap between urban and rural areas.

    “Once rural communities are electrified through solar and other renewable energy sources, barbers, hairdressers, vulcanizers, dry cleaners, and other entrepreneurs will no longer be trapped in the cycle of buying and repairing generators.

    “That savings goes directly into expanding their businesses and creating jobs. It’s a direct link between clean energy and prosperity,” Aniagwu explained.

    He added that reliable power would also transform social services. Schools and health facilities, many of which currently operate in darkness, would become functional, enabling libraries, laboratories, theatres, and pharmacies to serve their communities effectively.

    “Drugs and vaccines will be preserved, hospitals will run smoothly, and schools will become centres of learning and innovation,” he said.

    The Commissioner stressed that off-grid solutions were smarter and cheaper for far-flung communities, as mini-grids would eliminate the need for expensive transmission infrastructure and reduce vandalism of power lines and transformers.

    Aniagwu further disclosed that Delta had already begun deploying renewable energy in select hospitals, while more projects were in the pipeline as investors expressed readiness to partner with the state.

    “Renewable energy is not just about light, it’s about jobs, safety, and inclusiveness,” he stated.

    “With this initiative, our rural brothers and sisters will no longer be spectators in the economy but active participants in building a stronger Delta.”

  • Obidient Movement tags Saturday by-elections ‘cash and carry go’

    Obidient Movement tags Saturday by-elections ‘cash and carry go’

    Disturbed by the high level of cash for votes as exhibited in the just concluded by-elections on Saturday, the Obidient Movement has labelled the entire process cash and carry go affairs.

    This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the Coordinator of Obidient Movement worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko on Monday saying that:

    “The by-elections of on Saturday have come and gone, yet the painful reality remains that many Nigerians still sell their votes to the highest bidder, while somehow expecting good governance in return.

    “Once again, our democracy was reduced to a cash-and-carry affair…. an open market where stolen public wealth is freely deployed to buy silence and compromise the will of the people.

    “This shameful cycle must end. Elections are not supposed to be an auction block for politicians who loot our national treasury. Until we collectively say no to vote selling and buying with demand for accountability, those who plunder our commonwealth will continue to rule us without fear of reprimand.

    “It is important to note that Peter obi will always say that those who buy vote are only buying their way to the treasury to steal public money they are not better than the killers, armed robbers and kidnappers because they are doing the same thing in different ways.

    “And those who sell are selling the schools their children should have gone to and the hospitals that will take care of them and their families and the roads that would have worked for their access because those who buy the vote are only buying it to make profit from the seat.

    “The message is clear: we are mortgaging the feature of the children living with NO JOBs and HUNGER in the land. if we keep trading our votes for peanuts we will have no country to call our own.

  • Just in: By-elections: Tinubu’s Defence Minister, Badaru loses polling unit, Ward to PDP in Jigawa

    Just in: By-elections: Tinubu’s Defence Minister, Badaru loses polling unit, Ward to PDP in Jigawa

    By-election shocker as President Bola Tinubu’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, lost his polling unit in the Garki/Babura Federal Constituency by-election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Saturday.

    Abubakar and Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, both voted in Babura where they were trounced in their polling units during the by-elections conducted in two senatorial districts, five federal constituencies and nine state constituencies in 12 states.

    APC lost ground at the ballot box where the Minister of Defence cast his ballot on Saturday at Arewa Primary School Babura Arewa 1in Babura town, with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) scoring 308 while the minister’s All Progressive Party (APC) managed to gather 112 votes. Ahmad’s polling had the APC scoring 22 and the PDP 184.

    A political analyst familiar with the dynamics of Jigawa politics said, “This is clear that Badaru, whilst serving in the government of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Minister of Defence, has his men, who were seen jubilating after the results were announced in the ward, working for the opposition.

    “It took the intervention of the State Governor, who is seen to be performing in terms of project delivery to the masses and improved welfare for all, to rescue the situation and save the APC from total disgrace,” he said.

    Abubakar has been under pressure to resign as minister over his inability to add value to the party either in Jigawa State, the North West and nationally, which political watchers have described as his becoming a failure and liability to the government.

    The defeat was made worse by Badaru’s henchmen and associates, including Adamu Bala Babura, seen celebrating their party’s losses in their wards.

  • Results start coming out from polling units in Chikun/Kajuru constituency in Kaduna

    Results start coming out from polling units in Chikun/Kajuru constituency in Kaduna

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) came third with 10 votes, while the Labour Party (LP) recorded 9 votes at the unit.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken the lead in the ongoing by-election for Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, with results trickling in from polling units.

    At the Narayi/Shagari Road Polling Unit, located in Narayi Ward of Chikun Local Government Area, the APC polled 61 votes, securing a comfortable lead over its closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which garnered 26 votes.

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) came third with 10 votes, while the Labour Party (LP) recorded 9 votes at the unit.

    The bye-elections, caused by the resignation or death of serving lawmakers, is taking place in two senatorial districts in Anambra and Edo States; five federal constituencies in Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo States; and nine state constituencies spread across Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna (2), Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara States.

    Recall that security operatives arrested a suspected vote buyer with cash totalling N25,963,000 in Kaduna metropolis, barely hours before the conduct of the bye-elections in parts of the state.

    The suspect, identified as Shehu Aliyu Patangi, was apprehended around 3:30am on Saturday by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with the Department of State Services, DSS, at a popular hotel along Turunku Road.

    The Kaduna State Police Command said a preliminary investigation revealed that the huge cash was meant for inducing voters to compromise the electoral process.

    The spokesman of the Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the suspect had already confessed to the crime during interrogation and pleaded for leniency

  • By-election: Many heavily armed thugs nabbed in Kano

    By-election: Many heavily armed thugs nabbed in Kano

    Many heavily armed political thugs have been arrested by security agents during the ongoing by-election in Kano State.

    Kano state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Ambassador Abdu Zango, confirmed to newsmen that the thugs were moving into Bagwai, where voting was taking place, when the security agents apprehended them.

    Zango also disclosed that some thugs around Shanono nearly disrupted the movement of election materials.

    He said it took the intervention of security personnel to restore normalcy in the area.

    Shanono is known to be a volatile area during elections but the REC said the presence of security operatives has ensured that the by-election is moving smoothly.