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  • Appeal Court affirms Natasha Akpoti winner of Kogi Central Senatorial Seat

    Appeal Court affirms Natasha Akpoti winner of Kogi Central Senatorial Seat

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Tuesday, affirmed the election victory of Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial election held in February.

    The three-member panel, in a judgment, upheld the judgment of the state’s election tribunal and dismissed the appeal filed by Sen. Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The court agreed with the submission of counsel for Akpoti-Uduagan, Mr Joshua Usman, SAN, for being meritorious.

    The appellate court also awarded the sum of N500, 000 against the Ohere.

    The Kogi State National and State Assemblies Tribunal, had, on Sept  6, declared Akpoti-Uduagan the validly elected candidate for the poll.

    The tribunal also invalidated the victory of Sen. Ohere.

    The Tribunal Chairman, Justice K. A. Orjiako, delivered the unanimous judgment of the three-man panel, revealing that Sen. Ohere’s results were inflated in nine polling units in the Ajaokuta Local Government Area.

    He added that the Independent National Electoral Commission reduced Natasha’s results in those areas and omitted the results of three other polling units meant for Natasha in the same LGA.

    Following the necessary corrections, the court declared Natasha as the winner of the election with 54,074 votes, surpassing Ohere, who garnered 51,291 votes.

    But unsatisfied, Ohere approached the Court of Appeal seeking to upturn the election.

  • UPDATE: Remains of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland for burial at 2:00pm

    UPDATE: Remains of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland for burial at 2:00pm

    The remains of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr Abdulrahman Ado-Ibrahim, who died at 95 early Sunday morning, will be buried by 2:00 p.m. of Sunday.

    The Secretary of Ebiraland Traditional Council, Alhaji Yunusa Sule, told NAN in Lokoja that arrangements were being made to give him a befitting burial in Okene.

    “The burial ceremony is being scheduled for 2:00 p.m. today in Okene. We are waiting for the arrival of the corpse from Abuja, where he died, ” the secretary said.

    Sule said that the paramount ruler died at around 2:00. a.m. on Sunday in an undisclosed Abuja Hospital after a protracted illness.

    The scribe said his death was “very sad and a big blow” to Ebiraland.

    “We lost our daddy and leader this early morning of Sunday in an Abuja Hospital where he had been treated for age related ailment for three weeks now.

    “We are in shock and pain over his death. He was indeed a good father and leader to not just Ebiraland but Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.

    “His death has left a vacuum in the entire Ebiraland,” he said.

    NAN reports that Abdulrahman Ado-Ibrahim was born on Feb. 7, 1929 and was the fourth traditional ruler and Ohinoyi of Ebiraland with headquarters in Okene, Kogi State.

    He was a son of the second Attah (now “Ohinoyi”) of Ebiraland, Ibrahim Onoruoiza of the Omadivi Clan, who reigned from 1917–1954.

    Ado-Ibrahim was enthroned as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in 1997 and reigned until Sunday, when he died.

    Nevertheless, before ascending to the throne, Ado-Ibrahim was a successful businesman who lived most parts of his life in Lagos.

    Dr Ado Ibrahim was born to His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Onoruoiza Attah and Hajiya Hauwawu Ozianuva.

    Young Ado Ibrahim completed his Nursery and Quranic education at the age of 11 years.

    He was enrolled at the Okene Native Administration School from 1934 to 1940 for his elementary education. Upon completion of his elementary education, he was admitted to Okene Middle School in 1941.

    After spending two years, he moved to the famous Ondo Boys High School for his secondary education from 1943 to 1946. From 1947 to 1949, he moved to Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife, Osun where he completed his secondary education.

    He was employed by the United African Company (UAC) in 1950 as a special entrant for accelerated management. Having successfully gone through the Accounting and Sales Department in 1952, he was promoted to the post of Manager at the Kingsway Stores, Kaduna.

    In January 1953, he quit Kingsway Stores and moved to Jos as Personnel Manager of Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria Limited in charge of maintaining operation areas of Bukuru and Barkin Ladi.

    In that same year, he attended the first Mining School in Jos and qualified as a Mining Prospector and Area Manager.

    Later in the year, the company sent him on a further technical training course, organised by the Anglo-American Mining Corporation, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Upon his return, he was immediately promoted to Area manager and assigned the responsibility to excavate the Lead/Zinc Ore deposits at Izom in the Abuja district, and to lead a team prospecting for gold and base materials in the location.

    Meanwhile, he had enrolled in 1952 as an external candidate for a degree at the London School of Economics, by utilising the extramural study facilities organised by the British Council in Jos.

    He combined his mining and prospecting duties successfully with the undergraduate study programme and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics from the London School of Economics in 1954.

    In 1955, he won a Ford Foundation Sponsorship to undertake a six-month course in Marketing and Business Strategy at the Business School of Harvard University.

    On the strength of his performance, he was readmitted into the Master’s Programme of the school as a full-time student. He thus earned the celebrated Harvard MBA in 1959.

    Having fortified himself with practical industrial experience and sound academic training, he settled into marriage with Miss Abimbola Solomon on Nov. 1, 1959.

  • Just In: APC suspend campaign in honour of Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, King Ado Ibrahim

    Just In: APC suspend campaign in honour of Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, King Ado Ibrahim

    The governing All Progressives Congress in Kogi state has suspended all campaign activities in honour of the Ohinoyi of Ebira land, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Ibrahim who died early hour of today.

    This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the secretary of the campaign council, Barrister Deedat Ozigi and made available to the newsmen in Lokoja.

    He said the decision was taken to honour the revered royal father.

  • Guber Polls: Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa most difficult states in Nigeria to conduct elections – INEC

    Guber Polls: Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa most difficult states in Nigeria to conduct elections – INEC

    Mahmood Yakubu, the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC,) on Friday said Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states are the most difficult places to conduct elections.

    According to Yakubu, the difficult terrain and insecurity caused by political actors in the states make it difficult to conduct elections in the areas.

    He made this known while speaking at a meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in Abuja.

    Yakubu also urged security agencies to tackle those behind insecurity and ensure the protection of lives during elections.

    He said, “The three states of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi are not the easiest states in Nigeria to conduct elections. The difficult geographical terrain and prevailing insecurity are compounded by negative mobilisation by political actors, especially since the commencement of campaign in public on 14th July 2023.

    “Our message to politicians is that they should call their candidates and supporters to order. Violence and other undemocratic activities such as vote buying, attacks on election officials and disruption of the electoral process must stop.

    “However, ultimate responsibility for election security lies with the security agencies. Our message to the security agencies is to take decisive action against perpetrators of electoral violence.

    “This is the surest way to guarantee a safe environment for the peaceful conduct of elections and electoral activities. In doing so, security personnel on electoral duty should remain neutral and committed to the established professional code of conduct and rules of engagement.”

  • Kogi guber: ADC candidate vows to lodge monarchs in 5-star hotels if voted gov

    Kogi guber: ADC candidate vows to lodge monarchs in 5-star hotels if voted gov

    The guber candidate of the African Democratic Party (ADC) in Kogi, Leke Abejide, has assured traditional rulers in the state that he lodge them in five star hotels if voted governor.

    Addressing traditional rulers during a recent visit, Abejide said he would ensure that they are kept in the best hotels when invited.

    The politician also promised to accord the traditional rulers the respect due to them.

    “I will respect all my traditional rulers: I will give you the due respect that is needed. I wi make sure that anytime I invite you, I will put you in the best hotels for you to enjoy yourselves,” Abejide said.

  • Court voids Yahaya Bello’s Task Force on Firearms Control

    Court voids Yahaya Bello’s Task Force on Firearms Control

    A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja has nullified the Special Task Force on Illegal Smuggling of Firearms established by Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi.

    Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, held that regulation and control of firearms were sole responsibilities of the appropriate federal agencies and not the state governments or agencies set up by them.

    It would be recalled that Hon Ahmadu Danjuma had, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/697/2023, sued the governor, Mr Friday Sani Makama, Director-General (DG) of State Security Service (also known as DSS) as 1st to 3rd defendants’ respectively.

    Others joined in the suit include DG of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, and the National Security Adviser (NSA) as 4th to 6th defendants.

    Danjuma, through his lawyer, Promise Ogbadu, had challenged Gov. Bello’s setting up of the task force and giving them powers to regulate firearms within the state.

    The governor, after the establishment of the task force, appointed Makama as the director general of the group.

    Delivering the judgement on Oct. 5 and a copy of it made available to newsmen on Tuesday, Justice Omotosho declared the task force as “illegal, null and void.”

    He held that Bello had “no power to unilaterally regulate or control the possession of, or dealing in firearms in Kogi State or any part thereof.”

    He said that the DSS, NIA, I-G and the NSA were the constitutionally recognised agencies saddled with the responsibility of firearms regulation in the country.

    The judge held that the appointment of Makama as DG of the task force constituted a threat to the security of the state and nullified his appointment forthwith.

    He consequently, ordered the retrieval of all arms in the possession of the task force, as well as a thorough investigation into the activities of Makama and all those under him.

    Reacting to the judgement on Tuesday, counsel to the plaintiff, Ogbadu, said the judgement was in line with the rule of law, expressing optimism that the state government and relevant security agencies would comply with the order of the court.

  • Kogi 2023: INEC to conduct mock accreditation Saturday

    Kogi 2023: INEC to conduct mock accreditation Saturday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has slated Saturday for mock accreditation of voters in preparation for the Nov. 11 Governorship Election in the state.

    The INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, disclosed this at the Kogi INEC Headquarters in Lokoja during the presentation of official publication/presentation of Register of Voters to the 18 participating political parties in the upcoming governorship election

    Yakubu, who was represented by a National Commissioner, Prof. Sani Adam (SAN), said that the exercise would take place in only nine polling units; three each from the three senatorial districts of the state.

    The chairman announced that similar excise shall simultaneously take place in Bayelsa and Imo states, whose governorship election shall also hold on Nov. 11.

    He called on the residents/voters in the selected polling units to come out en masse to participate in the exercise, which he described as a litmus test to the real election.

    According to him, the commission is well prepared for the governorship poll, and appealed to politicians and electorate to abide by the rules of the game for a peaceful, credible and successful conduct of the election.

    “We have all it takes in terms of staff and logistics as well as the necessary security support by security operatives to conduct a peaceful and successful election in Kogi.

    “As a commission, we expect everyone to eschew any form of violence or crisis to help usher in a leader that will pilot the affairs of the state after Jan. 26, for the desired growth and development,” he advised.

    Yakubu said that the publication and presentation of register of voters to the 18 political parties was imperative toward getting fillers from them on the upcoming election.

    He said that the total number of registered voters in Kogi for the election is 1,932,654, comprising 953,941 males and 953,941 females.

    “A copy of the Register of Voters in PDF will be issued to all the political parties contesting the election.

    “The commission will deploy Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in all the 3,508 polling units in Kogi for the election.

    “Already, we have trained technical support staff that will be deployed to all the Registration Areas (RAs) and the local Governments to provide technical support for BVAS,” he said.

    Responding, the state IPAC Chairman, Mr Ukwenge Musa, commended INEC for its preparations and readiness for the Nov. 11 governorship election.

    He assured the commission of the support of the participating political parties to ensure that the election was peaceful and successful.

  • Guber poll: APC ‘ll record overwhelming victory in Kogi – Yahaya Bello

    Guber poll: APC ‘ll record overwhelming victory in Kogi – Yahaya Bello

    Gov. Yahaya Bello says the All Progressives Congress (APC) would record an overwhelming victory in the Nov. 11 governorship election, because of its wide acceptance across the state.

    Bello said this at the APC stakeholders’ meeting at the Glass House, Government House, Lokoja.

    He said that the party support base cut across ethnic groups in the state, as it was devoid of tribal or religious sentiment.

    The governor said that ethnic politics had no place in the state.

    “The APC is a party for all ethnic groups in the state, which explains why it will win overwhelmingly in the Nov. 11 governorship election in the state.

    “The victory won’t be on the basis of ethnic sentiment but on the strength of the APC and my administration’s achievements. We won 99 per cent of elective positions in the state in the last general election.

    “We must jettison ethnicity in Kogi. Those championing ethnic agenda do not mean well for our unity. In Kogi, we have every ethnic group in APC; let us not allow undeserving elements to drag us back.

    “We won all senatorial seats; we won all the House of Representatives and State Assembly seats, except one, presently, all opposition parties have joined the APC in the state,’’ he said.

    Bello added: “With about 1500 political appointees in the state, the APC structures are everywhere, we are united in the state with no ethnic colouration.

    “The Nov. 11 governorship election is like a boxing match between Mike Tyson and a malnourished boxer. We will win overwhelmingly, not on the basis of ethnic sentiments but on the strength of the APC.”

    He called on the party members to go back to the grassroots and campaign, in order to consolidate on the party’s winning strategies for the November election.

    Bello cautioned against thuggery and violence and urged party members to engage in issue-based campaigns as well as ensure peace.

    ‘’The late Prince Abubakar Audu won his election in 1992 and 1999, not on ethnic sentiments; Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, who won on two occasions; as well as Capt. Idris Wada in 2012 and 2018, won not on the basis of ethnic sentiments.

    “I can assure you that in 2023 and moving forward, election will also be won in Kogi not on ethnic sentiment, but on popularity and acceptability of the people,” he said.

  • Kogi 2023: Kogi LP records setback as 21 LG chairmen defect to APC

    Kogi 2023: Kogi LP records setback as 21 LG chairmen defect to APC

    The Labour Party (LP) on Friday suffered a setback as all its 21 Local Government Chairmen defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The defected chairmen defected to the ruling APC with scores of their supporters.

    They were received by the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, at the Lugard House, Lokoja.

    The leader of the defectors, Mr Awe Kayode, said that they decided to collapse their structure into the APC in order to support the party’s Governorship Candidate, Usman Ododo, in the forthcoming Nov. 11 governorship poll.

    Kayode also said that their defection became imperative when they realised that the LP was no longer viable in state.

    “Another reason for our defection is our conviction that the APC candidate, Usman Ododo, has shown that he is a unifier whose nationalist qualities are needed to consolidate on the achievements of Gov. Yahaya Bello.

    “I was in APC before I left to join the Labour Party. I am back today with more people and we are ready to add value. LP got more than 76,000 votes in the last presidential election; we still have the same people that worked to achieve that feat.

    “The state belongs to all of us and we have decided to jettison ethnic or religious agenda to support the candidate of APC who promotes the Kogi Agenda.

    “Indeed Labour Party structure in the state was a formidable one that delivered massive votes to the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, without inducement or support, but we want to do same to APC and Ododo this time around,” he said.

    Kayode added that their decision to collapse the LP structure into the APC was to join forces with the progressives to actualise the ‘Kogi Agenda’ which sought to further unite the people and ensure even development across board.

    Similarly, the LP Chairman for Bassa LGA, who doubles as the Chairman of LP Chairmen Forum, Jimba Emmanuel, noted that a political party was just a platform to power.

    He added that good governance was about individuals passionate about development and attracting dividends of democracy to the people.

    He said that the governorship candidate of the LP lacked the required quality, hence their decision to abandon “the sinking ship”.

    According to him, “I and my colleagues here have agreed to mobilise all our structures across the 21 local government areas to deliver massive votes for the APC candidate come Nov. 11.

    The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones, commended the leader of the “Obidient Movement” in Kogi, Awe Kayode, for his doggedness and mobilisation ability.

    Jones said that the crowd seen was a testimony of the genuineness of their decision to join the progressives.

    He urged the defectors to join forces in canvassing and mobilising for the victory of the APC governorship candidate to ensure sustainability and consolidation of the gains made by the Yahaya Bello’s administration.

    Receiving the defectors, the Kogi APC Chairman, Abdullahi Bello, said “APC is a party that believes in development, equality and has good reward system.”

    Bello, assured the new members of enjoying all the privileges as other members of the APC, adding that he was glad that the defectors were passionate and reasonable enough to distinguish between right and wrong.

    “Your decision to join the APC shows that you appreciated the developmental efforts of Gov Yahaya Bello and his unwavering commitment to the unity, security and wellbeing of the people of Kogi State.

    “Aside from the character and leadership qualities of Usman Ododo, who is a critical member of the New Direction Administration, our governor has further equipped him with the needed knowledge and experience to lead the state and consolidate on his achievements,” he said.

    He urged members of the APC to disregard noise makers in opposition parties and go all out to ensure massive victory for the APC candidate.

    According to him, as far as the Nov. 11 governorship election is concerned, APC has no rival as victory is sure.

    NAN

  • Kogi guber: This election is a walkover for PDP – Dino Melaye

    Kogi guber: This election is a walkover for PDP – Dino Melaye

    The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Dino Melaye has said the November 11 governorship poll in Kogi State will be a walkover for his party.

    He stated this in Lokoja during the inauguration of the PDP Local Government election campaign committee of the 21 local government councils held at the party Secretariat on Thursday.

    The former Kogi West Senator who berated the ruling party over alleged maladministration, non-payment of salaries, and insecurity, admonished electorates not to be intimidated, before, during and after the November Governorship election.

    Melaye, while appreciating the Local Government Chairmen for their steadfastness towards securing victory for the party, posited that, when elected, Kogi State will be wearing a new look.

    The PDP candidate said ” This election is a walkover for PDP because of maladministration, poverty, non-payment of salaries, gratuity, promotion are not being cash backed and many more. The people of Kogi State are not happy as they are looking for a messiah that will save them from captivity.

    “Dino Melaye and Habiba are saying here we are, send us. I want to advise especially our Local Government Chairmen, you have all become evangelists and Imam to encourage our people to come out and vote. Our people are afraid because APC has sold fear in the minds of the people. I am telling you that as Dino Melaye, I am not afraid of Yahaya Bello or the APC.

    ” I am assuring us, let the people of Kogi State show that we are not cowards. As citizens of Kogi State, we are not a conquered territory. We will come out and vote, and campaign in all the nooks and crannies of the State including Agasa, the home town of Governor Bello.

    “The PDP is a party with plans, well organized, who uses power for the interest of the People. Today, any Kogites that are still thinking of voting for the APC have what I call Arthritis of the brain. No sane logical human being will today vote for APC in Kogi State.

    “Is it about our roads? In the last year, there has been no drop of water in Lokoja, the capital city of Kogi State. Is it about the dilapidated hospitals that have become mere consulting clinics? Is it about non-payment or percentage payment of salaries? Is it about insecurities of lives and properties?

    “This is the first time in the history of our State that House of Assembly members and Commissioners have no vehicles. This is the first time in the history of our State that a permanent Secretary will be using Okada to move to office. This is the first time in the history of our State where workers were retrenched for frivolous reasons.

    “This is the first time in the history of our State that 120 Professors were ceremoniously sacked from Kogi State University. They are qualified Professors who graduated from first-generation Universities in this Country. The screening at Kogi State University took them out of the system. By the grace of God, we are going to build a new Kogi State”

    While appealing to electorates to kick against any form of ethnic agenda ahead of the November Governorship election, Melaye assured Kogites that his administration would reunite the people when elected.

    Earlier in his remarks, the caretaker Chairman of PDP in Kogi State, Sen. Philip Aduda said the opposition party will put an end to bad governance in the state.

    ” We want activities to start immediately for the PDP to win convincingly in Kogi State. The party is fully on ground to deliver for Dino/Habiba in November. It is operation deliver your polling units and guide them from any obstacles.”

    Speaking on behalf of the 21 Local Government Chairman, Olajide John from Kabba/Bunu assured his party faithful that no stone will be left unturned to guarantee victory for the PDP.

    He maintained that the Chairmen will work in synergy and support the newly constituted Executive to deliver for the opposition party.

    “It is all about the party, our destiny and setting Kogi State free from the hand of a tyrant. By the special Grace of God, Kogi State will be free. We must work together by having trust, and confidence in each other. With this, we will attain our desired victory” he stated.v