The All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted indirect primary for all elective positions apart from the presidential election.
The decision was taken at the 6th national executive committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja on Thursday.
Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau state, told reporters that states may consider direct primary when the need rises.
Details later…
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, has notified President Muhammadu Buhari of her plans to join the race for the Taraba State governorship in 2019.
The minister, who informed the president of her intention in a letter dated July 27, said she would vie for the governorship under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
There were suggestions that the minister, who is popularly called Mama Taraba, would follow ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar to the PDP.
The permission she sought from Buhari had laid to rest her planned defection.
President Buhari had already responded to Mama Taraba’s request saying he was committed to free and fair election.
The letter sighted by TheNewsGuru.com titled ‘Re- Request for permission to contest for the governorship of Taraba State in the 2019 general elections under our great party, the APC,’ President Buhari said, “Let me thank you on behalf of the Federal Executive Council and Nigerians for your services as minister under this administration.
“I note with passion your past contributions to our great party APC during and after the 2015 general elections.
“As you are aware, I am totally committed to free and fair elections. Our policy is to support all APC candidates. I wish you well in your ambition to be governor of your state. Rest assured that all the security agencies as well as INEC will have my support to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in 2019.”
It is not clear when the minister would finally resign to pursue her ambition in Taraba. She had contested for the governorship in 2015 and challenged Governor Darius Ishaku up to the Appeal Court.
Governor Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa State has denied reports making the rounds that he supported and donated N70 million to the political rally held in the state on Saturday by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to formally declare his presidential bid under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Recall that Atiku is from Adawama State and the state is currently governed by the All Progressives Congress, (APC).
Bindow in a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser Press and Media Affairs, Martins Dickson, said the report trying to portray him as engaging in anti-party activities was cheap blackmail by those worried over his rising profile and that of APC in the state.
“The publication is false, malicious, misleading and an attempt to mask the rising profile, good virtues and sacrifice of Senator Bindow in upholding and promoting APC as the most popular party in Adamawa.
“The authors of the fabricated lies have run out of substance with which to discredit him and have resorted to cheap blackmail and childish stories.”
The statement urged journalists and the media to always strive to verify their facts and be professional in their operation.
“The good work of APC under Bindow is spread glaringly across the 21 local government areas of the state for all to see and there’s no amount of falsehood that will make anyone believe that a governor and party that have done so well in the state will be involved in any form of clandestine anti-party activity”.
The statement reiterated the governor’s commitment to remain focused on fulfilling his campaign promises in line with his party’s manifesto.
Bindow was an associate of Atiku until the latter left the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party where he hopes to achieve his presidential ambition.
Former Deputy National President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Vice President Industrial Global Union All, Comrade Issa Aremu has declared his intention to run for the post of governor of Kwara state during the 2019 election.
Issa Aremu has a Master’s degree in Labour and Development from the Institute for Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague, The Netherlands. He holds a Bachelor’s degree (honours) in Economics from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and is an alumnus of the George Meany Labour Centre, Maryland, Washington, USA (1987 and 2003).
Aremu joined the Nigerian labour movement as Head of the Economic/Research department of the Nigeria Labour Congress. In August 1989, he joined the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria. After 20 years, he became the General Secretary of this union.
Aremu was a two-term Vice-President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and was also elected as its Deputy President.
Aremu has distinguished himself as a leader of the Nigerian trade union movement. He has been globally acknowledged as an ambassador of the trade union movement and is a member of key institutions across the world.
There was a massive turnout of voters in Ekiti as the accreditation and voting process got underway in Saturday ’s governorship election.
Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) monitoring the election across the three senatorial districts of the state report that many voters had arrived their polling units as early as 6.30 a.m. to wait for election officials.
Across many polling units in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, there was an impressive turnout of enthusiastic voters determined to exercise their civic responsibilities.
At ward 10 Unit 12 a&b, Basiri area of Ado-Ekiti, the Assistant Presiding Officer, Miss Nafisat Jamie, told NAN that though they collected all the election materials as early as 6.00 am, the process could not start due to transportation challenge to the unit.
As at 8.53 am, the names of eligible voters were just being pasted for viewing and confirmation.
An observer from the Transition Monitoring Group, Mrs Tosin Abati, told NAN that the process started late due to late arrival of INEC officials.
At Ward 10 Unit 9, Okesha area of the state capital, the Assistant Presiding Officer 2, Mr Owoseni Taiwo, addressed the voters, who were already on the queue and opened the ballot box for everyone to see and confirm that it was empty.
Visits to Wards 3, Units 5 and 13 Idemo, and Ward 9 Unit 12 Odo-Ado revealed that accreditation and voting were going on simultaneously with security men on standby.
Dr Mike Omilusi, an observer from the Allaince for Credible Election, commended INEC for its pro-active strategies in terms of voter education and sensitisation ahead of the poll.
He also commended INEC on the use of the card readers for the election, but advised that more card readers be made available in future elections.
The observer said that the new idea of accreditation and voting simultaneously was commendable, noting that this would ensure quick conclusion of the exercise.
At the St Michael’s School, Ajilosun, opposite Mobil filling station, the turnout was also impressive while the accreditation and voting process was also going on simultaneously.
Speaking with NAN, an observer from the Justice Development and Peace Initiative, Mr Aluko Isiaih, said that, the election started well until when the card reader in one of the wards stopped working for about 45 minutes before it was rectified.
Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, elections were going smoothly in all the eight units located within the school ’s premises while there was no report of violence.
Efforts to speak with members of the monitoring team from the British High Commission, however, failed as they declined comments.
Mr Wale Adebayo, a member of the team, told NAN that they had no comment to make.
In Isan-Ekiti, where the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, hails from, accreditation and voting commenced across many polling units between 8.03a.m and 8.38.
In Fayemi’s Polling Unit 009 Ward 11, NAN reports that accreditation and voting commenced at about 8:38 a.m. although INEC officials arrived at about 7:26 a.m.
Accreditation and voting began in Polling Units 006 and 007 as well as 005 between 8: 03 a.m. and 8:10 a.m.
At Unit 009, no fewer than 345 names of voters appeared on the pasted registered list.
In Ikere –Ekiti, the hometown of the PDP flagbearer, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, voters trooped out as early as 6.30 a.m. to various polling units.
NAN reports that a huge crowd was sighted at the Ofamofuru Polling Unit 007, Ward 02, of Olusola.
The Presiding Officer of the polling unit, Mr Layeni Segun, had urged the voters to conduct themselves in an orderly manner after displaying the empty ballox box to those gathered.
He equally appealed to the voters to allow the elderly and nursing mothers to cast their votes first.
Other polling units visited such as L.A Pilot Polling Unit,08, Ward 002, Custom Polling Unit,08, Idiyin Polling unit 006, Ward 002 also witnessed a massive crowd of voters.
NAN reports that no fewer than 667,064 eligible voters had collected their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) out of the 913, 334 registered.
NAN also report that the electorate would vote in 2,195 polling units spread across 177 wards in the 16 local government areas of Ekiti while 35 candidates are contesting.(NAN)
![#EkitiDecides2018: [LIVE UPDATES] Ekiti electorates decide next governor](https://thenewsguru.ng/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Fayemi-andEleka.jpg)
The voting process in the Ekiti State governorship election has commenced.
A total of 35 governorship candidates representing 35 political parties will take part in today’s election in the State.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), there are 913,334 registered voters in Ekiti, however, only 667,270 collected their permanent voter cards. So, technically the next governor of the state will be decided by 667,270 eligible voters
See live updates from our correspondents at polling stations across the state below:
L.G.A: Irepodun/Ifelodun
Ward: Peru’s Compound
P:U: 001
Voter accreditation and voting commenced
Very large voter turnout
L.G.A: Oye
Ward: 9
P:U:
Time: 9:01am
Card readers are not reflecting thumbprints of voters. INEC is trying to resolve the issue. The voters are calm and the atmosphere is peaceful.
L.G.A: Ado-Ekiti
Ward: 001(Udi)
P.U: 01
A little misunderstanding between party agents as one pours acid on the other.
L.G.A: Ado-Ekiti
Ward: Federal Housing Estate
P:U: 2
INEC officials arrived at 9:11 am. Verification of names and voting commenced almost immediately.
L.G.A: Irepodun/Ifelodun
Voting ongoing at: Irepodun/ifelodun local government ward II, polling unit 13/13/06/015.
Two(2) party agents PDP and APC and unarmed security men sighted.
L.G.A: Èkìtì West
Ward: 11
PU: 012
Ad-hoc staff on ground
One Security personnel present
Things are going on smoothly.
Accreditation and voting going on, hitch-free so far.
L.G.A: Ado-Ekiti
Ward: Ado Garage, Sawmill Ikere
P:U: 009
@inecnigeria and security personnel present
Accreditation of voters and voting commenced
Large voter turnout #EkitiDecides2018 #EkitiSR2018 @PLACNG
Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State on Monday said he nearly abandoned his job after going through huge debt profile and uncompleted projects left behind by the immediate past governor of the state, Sule Lamido.
The governor said the debts were in excess of over N31.3 billion.
“The first day I went through the handover note submitted to me by the then PDP administration, I felt like running away because of the gravity of problems contained in the document,” he said.
Badaru stated this in an interview with journalists at the government house, Dutse, marking the activities of his third year in office. He outlined his achievements as well as the challenges he encountered since he came on board.
“Since 2015, we have spent N51billion on road projects comprising N31.3 billion on inherited projects and N19.3 billion on new project as well as N841 million in road rehabilitation,” he said.
Badaru said the efficient way he employed in managing public treasury has earned him so many foes even within his party (APC). He said this has not deterred him from delivering his campaign promises.
“With the little resources available, I have been able to complete 90 per cent of the inherited capital projects and commenced new ones,” he said.
He said the austerity measure his administration embarked upon was to prevent the state from backlog of salaries and pensions, adding that, the approach has successfully negotiated a discount of over N11 billion on inherited projects. He said he ploughed the savings into new projects.
“Prior to my swearing in, the opposition PDP dug a hole for the incoming administration to fall. They left only N16 million in the treasury thinking that we can’t even pay salary. However, with prudence and God willing, Jigawa is among the states paying workers salary unfailingly on 25 of every month and now paying leave grant.
Badaru went further to rank himself high in agriculture where he said his efforts have resulted in the commencement of large investment in sugar, rice, livestock and poultry whose combined turnover will be in excess of N250 billion with at least 30,000 direct and indirect Jobs.
On healthcare, he said Jigawa is 31 primary healthcare centres away from achieving a one healthcare facility per ward target of the federal government. He also said he has increased to 500 per cent, budget intervention for pregnant women and children below five years.
On education, he said his administration started by unlocking federal counterpart funding for basic education. It followed up with a N9.8 billion capital spending to construct and upgrade 4,520 classrooms, 411 toilet cubicles, 6 administrative blocks and 97,659 set of pupils furniture, 3,416 sets of teachers furniture, 188 staff houses, 4 hostel blocks and 79 hand pumps.
On water supply, he said an addition of 9.2 million litres daily to the township water supply through a series of intervention, has been achieved.
Also, as part of the activities marking his third year in office, the governor launched the construction of an 18-room corps members’ lodge to be constructed in the 27 local councils across the state. The building, if completed, will accommodate almost 4,000 corps members, he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned a former governor of Zamfara State, Mahmud Shinkafi, alongside three others before Justice Fatima Murtala of the Federal High Court sitting in Zamfara on a five-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering.
Others charged alongside Mr Shinkafi are the former Minister of State, Finance, Bashir Yuguda, Aminu Nahuche, and Ibrahim Malaha.
The defendants allegedly conspired and received a cash payment of N450 million, part of the $115 million that was allegedly distributed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Deizani Allison-Madueke, for the purpose of influencing the outcome of the 2015 general election.
One of the charges read that “You Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, Aminu Ahmed Nahuche and Ibrahim Malaha on or about 27th, March 2018, at Gusau, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired among yourselves to receive cash payment of the sum of N450, 000,000 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only) from Odia Akpotune without transacting through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act and punishable under 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.
The counsel to the prosecution, Johnson Ojogbane, requested the court for a trial date in view of the plea of the defendants.
The defence counsel, J. C Shaka, moved a motion for bail asking the court to admit the defendants to bail pending the conclusion of the matter.
Subsequently, Mr Ojogbane informed the court that the prosecution had filed counter affidavit praying the court to refuse bail.
Justice Murtala, after listening to the arguments between the parties, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N5 million each and two sureties in like sum.
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One of the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court while the other must own a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. Both sureties shall be public or civil service not below grade level 16.
The court also ruled that the defendants deposit their recent passport photographs and international passports with the registrar.
The case has been adjourned to June 27 and 28 for the commencement of trial while the defendants are remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of their bail terms.
Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State has described as `false and untrue’ allegation that he frustrated his deputy, Alhaji Nuhu Gidado out of office.
Recall that Gidado had on May 23 tendered his resignation letter to the governor through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.
The spokesman to the former deputy governor was quoted as saying that Gidado resigned because he was not being treated as part of the government.
The governor, however, dismissed the allegation, saying that his former deputy was fairly treated while in service.
“I think he is wrong. Go to the House of Assembly and check, I went on official leave twice since I took over and each time I transmitted a letter to the House of Assembly making him the Acting Governor of the state.
“Moreover, I gave him the most important ministry, the Ministry of Education, where I have been allocating the largest share of the budget of the state since 2008,’’ he added.
Abubakar further explained that there was nothing negative that transpired between him and the former deputy governor.
He said: “What transpired is in the letter of Gidado, and I think people should read that letter, read the entire letter and you will see that there was nothing bad that transpired between us. His final paragraph is that he remains loyal to his leader and brother.
“In my response, I eulogized him and wished him the best in his future endeavour and assured him of the support of the good people of Bauchi State. There was no problem whatsoever.’’
The governor, who had earlier joined President Muhammadu Buhari to perform the Juma’at prayer at the Aso Rock Mosque, said he had `fantastic working relationship’ with the former deputy governor.
President Buhari also met behind closed doors with the former Inspector General of Police, Mr Musiliu Smith, at the presidential villa, Abuja, on Friday.
The President had on Thursday nominated Smith as the chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
Smith is to replace former I-G Mike Okiro, who has completed his five-year tenure as chairman of the commission.
Alfred Mutua, a governor in Kenya, fell off a bridge while taking a selfie alongside Joash Maangi, his deputy.
According to Capital News, a Kenyan publication, both men who ended in a river were pulled out and taken to Ogembo Hospital in Kisii County.
The newspaper said the incident happened a few hours after the governor was lambasted for “county-trotting while a bridge in his backyard, developed cracks”.
Although STAR, another Kenyan publication, quoted reports on Mutua and his deputy bending to check the depth of the bridge when the incident took place, Capital News said one of its correspondents witnessed them taking a selfie on the bridge when they fell over.
Kisii communication director Maseme Machuka was quoted as saying the bridge was weak.
“The governor and DG were unhurt in the incident and they went on to address residents before going for lunch,” Machuka was quoted to have said.
He added that two journalists who sustained minor injuries were taken to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital.