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Tag: Kogi State

  • IPCR urges violence-free polls in Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi

    IPCR urges violence-free polls in Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi

    Joseph Ochogwu, the Director-General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), has called for violent-free elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi governorship polls scheduled to hold on Saturday.

    Ochogwu said this on Friday in a statement signed by Esther Ndukwe Media officer of IPCR.

    According to him, the off-cycle elections present peculiar challenges because of violence in some of the states involved in the exercise.

    “During the campaigns, pockets of violence were noticed. The attitude of some political stakeholders to unleash violence should be stopped, because it has the capacity to distort the credibility of an election’’, Ochogwu.

    “The key actors in this election have the responsibility of ensuring that the election is violent free.

    “They also have the responsibility of ensuring that people come out to vote to avoid voter apathy.

    “The key actors in the elections should ensure that the credibility of the elections is not questioned. They should play by the rules.

    “The Army, Police and other security agencies have promised to ensure that the elections are violence free, but the stakeholders in the election should on their part ensure that their supporters maintain peace during and after the election,” he said.

    Ochogwu also said no fewer than 18 political parties taking part in the election in Imo state have signed a peace accord,

    “Signing of peace accords alone cannot guarantee peace. The actors involved in the elections should ensure that the peace accord signed is followed with action.

    “The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution calls for violent free, rule based elections, so that the credibility of the elections is not questioned.

    “The key actors should play by the rules. Election is not do-or-die affair, you have to be alive to be in politics. Politics is not done in isolation.

    “The key actors should have it at the back of their mind that nothing can be achieved with violence,” the D-G said.

  • INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials for Kogi governorship election

    INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials for Kogi governorship election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday began the deployment Ad hoc staff and distribution of sensitive materials to the various local government areas for Saturday’s off-circle governorship election in Kogi.

    The INEC Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Gabriel Longpet, who disclosed in Lokoja, said that the commission was 100 per cent prepared for the poll.

    Longpet added that the arrival of the sensitive materials in Kogi, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday, made their preparation complete.

    “We shall be at CBN for the distribution of the sensitive materials to the 3,508 polling units in the various local government areas.

    “We had inspected the materials on Tuesday and today, Thursday, we are distributing them in readiness for Saturday off circle governorship election in Kogi.

    “We expect that the staff and the materials will be ready at the LGAs by 12.00 noon for on ward movement to the wards and RACs, by 4.00 p.m.

    “Again, we expect that they will be in the various RACs by Saturday morning, say 6.00 a.m., with all the staff set for commencement of the election.

    “We try as much as possible to ensure that those who are at far distant locations get to their locations without any delay.

    “It’s in Lokoja here that you have some of the farthest places in the state, very difficult areas to reach. It takes like between 7 and 8 hours to get to Kupa community, ” he said.

    The REC expressed the hope that by God’s grace the commission would conduct a peaceful, free, fair and credible election on Saturday.

    He called on the residents to come out en masse to cast their votes for candidates of their choice since the security operatives have given assurance of adequate security during the election.

  • Kogi govt closes schools for guber poll

    Kogi govt closes schools for guber poll

    The Kogi Government on Wednesday announced the closure of schools for the Off Circle Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday in the state.

    Mr Wemi Jones, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, gave the directive in a statement issued in Lokoja.

    He said said “all schools must shut down from Friday, for the election”.

    “The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, hereby directs all institutions at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels be closed from Friday, Nov. 10 to Tuesday, Nov. 14.

    “This became imperative in view of the state governorship election slated for Saturday.

    “However, normal academic activities will resume on Wednesday, Nov. 15, ” he said.

    The commissioner added: “By this directive, all schools are expected to comply accordingly.”

  • Speaker Abbas mourns passage of Ohinoyi, says he was a unifier, peace maker

    Speaker Abbas mourns passage of Ohinoyi, says he was a unifier, peace maker

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed sadness over the demise of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji (Dr) Abdulrahman Ado Ibrahim, CON.

    The Ohinoyi, who is the paramount ruler of Ebiraland in the Kogi Central Senatorial District, reportedly passed away in the early hours of Sunday.

    Speaker Abbas commiserated with the people and the government of Kogi State over the exit of the revered monarch, saying the life of the late Alhaji Ibrahim was a great example for Nigerians to follow.

    The Speaker described the death as a huge loss to the country, not just Ebiraland and Kogi State.

    He said the late Alhaji Ado Ibrahim was a unifier, peace maker and a bridge-builder, who played a significant role in ensuring unity among Nigerians, beyond Kogi State.

    The Speaker recalled how the Ohinoyi was a businessman and lived in different parts of the country before answering the clarion call to rule over the Ebira people. He also noted that Alhaji Ado Ibrahim was one of the oldest traditional rulers in the country.

    The Speaker prayed to Allah to grant the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland a peaceful resting place in Jannatul Firdaus.

    Signed:

    Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • SAD! Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Ado Ibrahim, dies at 95

    SAD! Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Ado Ibrahim, dies at 95

    The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr Ado Ibrahim, is dead, bringing to an end a luminous reign on the throne.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the paramount ruler of Ebiraland was said to have died in the early hours of Sunday at the age of 95.

    Palace sources told our correspondent in Lokoja that he died in an Abuja hospital where he had been receiving treatment for age-related ailment.

    Before ascending the throne, he was a successful businesman who spent a great part of his life and times in Lagos.

    His remains will be buried today in Okene according to Islamic rites.

  • Supreme Court quashes Adeyemi’s appeal against Ododo

    Supreme Court quashes Adeyemi’s appeal against Ododo

    The Supreme Court has quashed an appeal filed by Senator Smart Adeyemi against the judgments of the two lower courts on the All Progressives Congress’ primary election which held in Kogi State on April 15, 2023.

    In a unanimous judgement, the court held that the appeal lacked merit, having failed to challenge the concurrent findings of both the High and Appeal Courts, or demonstrate that same were perverse.

    The apex court also held that the two issues raised in the Senator Adeyemi’s brief were unreasonable, vexatious, and against the provisions of Section 132 and 133(1) of the Evidence Act 2011.

    Senator Adeyemi, who represented Kogi West Senatorial District in the 9th Assembly, had filed a suit at the Federal High Court seeking to nullify the primary election of the APC which produced Usman Ododo as the party’s flag bearer for the state’s governorship election slated for November 11.

    The case was dismissed by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal for lacking in merit.

    The court also described as contemptuous, the practice of parties appearing on TV stations to discuss pending appeals.

  • Gov Bello denies assassination attempt

    Gov Bello denies assassination attempt

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has denied alleged assassination attempt on his life on Sunday.

    Addressing newsmen in the evening of Sunday, Bello explained the incident on Lokoja-Abuja Highway as a mere altercation between his security details and some military personnel at a check point.

    But his Information Commissioner, Mr  Kingsley Fanwo, in a  statement,  alleged assassination attempt on the governor’s life along the Lokoja-Abuja Road around 4.20.p.m. of Sunday.

    Fanwo had claimed that the assassins were in military uniforms during the attack, which was repelled by security men attached to the governor.

    A contrary statement  in Lokoja by Bello’s Media Aide, Onogwu Mohammed, said: “What happened along the Lokoja-Abuja road was a minor disagreement between the security details attached to him and some military personnel providing security on the road.

    In an interview granted to  newsmen a few moments ago at his residence in Abuja, Bello stated that there was no attempt whatsoever on his life.

    He clarified that while there was a minor fracas between men of the Nigerian Police Force attached to his convoy and those of a military unit manning the highways, it  was in the course of both units performing their lawful security duties.”

    The governor  commended the security agencies for their joint contributions to the improved security of lives and property enjoyed by the residents of Kogi.

    Bello, however, called on the high command of the agencies involved to investigate overzealousness or unprofessional conduct by any of their men involved in the incident and apply the necessary sanctions.

    The governor also called on residents of Kogi to ignore any attempt by political profiteers to use the incident to unsettle the polity as the state’s 2023 governorship elections slated for  Nov. 11 drew nearer.

    He assured the state of both his safety and the adequacy of security arrangements to ensure that the elections were peaceful, free and fair.

    “This afternoon at about 14:00hours, I took off from Lokoja coming to Abuja and the journey was smooth along with the convoy and just about 16:00 hours, my convoy especially the security had an encounter with another sister agency and there was a fracas.

    “Immediately, we waded in and it was resolved. From there, we had a smooth journey down to Abuja and ever since I came, I’ve been engaging in all the activities that brought me to Abuja and it’s been very smooth.

    “Thereafter, I began to hear in the social media about assassination attempt. I want to state categorically very clear, dear Nigerians, there was no assassination attempt on me Yahaya Bello, the executive governor of Kogi State by the military or by anybody.

    “Between Kogi State and FCT, it is a secure route, thanks be to God Almighty and members of the military, the Nigeria Police, the DSS, the Navy, the Civil Defence, the vigilantes, the professional hunters and the citizens of our dear state.

    “We have been able to secure that route courtesy these various agencies and bodies that I enumerated. So nobody would have attempted to assassinate me or any member of our convoy.

    “It is natural or let me put it this way, most often or sometimes, there will be misunderstanding or fracas between sister agencies that are performing their lawful duties. That sometimes cannot be ruled out but assassination attempt, there is nothing like that.

    “It has been resolved and I don’t condone any act of indiscipline, that fracas to even have happened in the first place, I’ve called on all law enforcement agencies that are around me and on the road to investigate it and ensure that whoever is culpable is punished according to the rules and regulations of the various Forces or the various Services.

    “I am a law-abiding citizen and our security men have done greatly in securing our lives and livelihood. I respect men in uniform, I respect the Nigeria Army, the Nigerian Military generally, our Nigeria Police Force and all security agencies,” Bello said.

  • BREAKING! Gov Bello of Kogi escapes assassins attack

    BREAKING! Gov Bello of Kogi escapes assassins attack

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has narrowly escaped an assassination attempt while on his to an official event in Abuja on Sunday evening.

    His Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo revealed this development in a statement on Sunday.

    Fanwo said the attackers who were clad in military uniforms ambushed the governor’s envoy and started shooting at his vehicle.

    The statement reads: “The Kogi State Government wishes to inform the general public that there was an assassination attempt on the Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, a few kilometres away from Abuja, on his way to an official engagement from Lokoka. The attack occurred at about 4pm on Sunday, October 22, 2023.

    “The attackers who were dressed in military uniforms waylaid the Governor’s convoy and started shooting sporadically at his vehicle and other vehicles in the convoy.”

    While the attack was reportedly foiled by the quick intervention of the security agents, the commissioner blamed it on the activities of certain people who were trying to display the state as unsafe ahead of the governorship election scheduled for next month.

    “It took the swift intervention of the security personnel attached to the Governor to foil the satanic plans of the unknown soldiers. The attacks were at three different points, the last barricade being around Kwali Federal Capital Territory at about 4.20pm.

    “The report of these strange attacks has been properly documented at security offices in the state and at the national level for prompt and thorough investigations to avert future occurrences.

    “We are not oblivious of the fact that certain elements are bent on painting Kogi unsafe ahead of the Governorship Poll slated for November 11, 2023. As an administration, we will spare nothing to ensure our citizens are not subjected to security threats by desperate politicians sponsoring violence and terrorism.

    “We call on the citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements in the domain to relevant security agencies. It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure security and we want to assure you that the peace we have enjoyed as a state in the last eight years won’t be lost on the altar of violent politics.”

  • Kogi guber: SDP, APC trade words over disrupted rally

    Kogi guber: SDP, APC trade words over disrupted rally

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring thugs to disrupt its rally at Ejule-Kogi in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi.

    Mr Faruk Adejoh-Audu, the Director, Communications, Muri/Sam SDP Gubernatorial Campaign Council, made the accusation in a statement in Lokoja.

    “At about 9:30 a.m., about two hours before the rally was scheduled to commence, thugs invaded the St. Matthew Primary School venue and destroyed canopies, public address systems, chairs and the podium arranged for the event.

    “But SDP leaders in the locality, led by Elder Obolo, Rabi Emaiku and Gambo Haruna, encouraged supporters to ignore the intimidation and still show up for the rally.

    “The moment supporters began trooping to the rally ground, a group led by a motorcade again, unleashed thugs, this time shooting sporadically.

    “Several persons were injured in the course of the mayhem, while the thugs equally destroyed several vehicles they identified as belonging to SDP supporters,’’ he said.

    He added: “This is the second time that an SDP rally will be attacked by identified aides of an opposition party,” he said.

    The SDP campaign director alleged that a similar attack was carried out on an SDP rally in Koton Karfe on Sept. 29.

    Reacting, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the spokesperson for APC Campaign Council in Lokoja said the allegations were untrue as the party had no hand in the attacks.

    “We are not ready to join issues with SDP because doing so is glorifying them; we won’t be dragged into their frivolities, gasping lies and lack of direction.

    “As a government, our concern and responsibility is to create an enabling environment for all to pursue their normal businesses.

    “We are a government and our priority is to protect all the people of Kogi irrespective of political leanings,’’ he said.

  • Kogi 2023: ADC expects landslide victory

    Kogi 2023: ADC expects landslide victory

    The African Democratic Party (ADC) says the victory of its gubernatorial candidate, Leke Abejide, is a “tsunami waiting to happen” in Kogi in the Nov. 11 governorship election.

    Adagu Suberu, Director General of Leke Abejide/Idris Omede Governorship Campaign Council of the ADC, made the remark during the party’s campaign rally in Okehi and Adavi local government areas of Kogi.

    Suberu, a former Chairman, Okehi LGA, said the composition of ADC’s leadership in Kogi  was a “coalition of former stalwarts” of the APC and the PDP.

    He said the coalition came together for the purpose of actualisation of power shift to Kogi West in the Nov. 11 poll.

    He said that the ADC candidate’s anticipated victory would be a repeat of the “tsunami” of Feb. 25 National Assembly elections in Kogi Central Senatorial District.

    Suberu explained that what united the coalition was the commitment to the actualisation of power shift to Kogi West Senatorial District in January 2024, in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice.

    “This time around, the beneficiary governorship candidate in the state will be no other person than Abejide.

    “The result of the February elections was a sign of rejection of the ruling APC in the area as the people revolted against the ruling party as a repayment of its anti-people policies.

    “You should know that the same Okehi/Adavi people that turned the table against the ruling party on Feb. 25 are still very much on ground. They have resolved to vote en masse for the ADC candidate.

    “Abejide is a successful merchant, who before venturing into politics, had carved a niche for himself in the business world as an honest, trusted and reliable leader,” he said.

    He disclosed that Abejide’s achievements recorded in Yagba federal constituency from his first term in the House of Representatives, was a path way for his re-election in the February election.

    The State ADC Chairman, Mr John Adaji, called on the public to ignore false reports that the state ADC chairman had dumped the party and had collapsed the party structure into APC.

    “I stand here before you live and direct, that I am the authentic chairman of ADC in Kogi State.

    “There can’t be two captains in one ship, and here I am with you and with our governorship candidate, Elder Leke Abejide.

    “ADC structure is intact. The man who claimed to be chairman and said he has defected to the APC has been expelled from the ADC a long time ago,” he said.

    Abejide, on his part, promised to revisit the civil service screening embarked upon by Gov. Yahaya Bello’s administration, if elected.

    This, he said, was with a view to reabsorbing workers wrongly dismissed from the service, complemented with full benefits of their salary arrears.

    “We will ensure the local government system in Kogi is fully functional as a third tier government with full control of its allocations.

    “ADC will ensure that the payment of percentage salary in Kogi will become a thing of the past. We will put an end to the ungodly payment of between 17-25 per cent of salaries to workers.

    “My aim is to ensure that Kogi is stimulated economically on every side for the desired growth and development,” he said.

    The ADC candidate urged the residents of the state to come out en masse to effect the new change by voting for him during the Nov. 11 governorship election.