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Tag: LG Election

  • Rivers Electoral Commission fixes date for fresh LG elections

    Rivers Electoral Commission fixes date for fresh LG elections

    The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC) has announced that the Local Government (LG) elections in the state will be on August 9, 2025.

    The Chairman of the commission, Justice Adolphus Enebeli rtd, made the remark during a stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

    Enebeli, who unveiled the election guidelines officially during the meeting, said that the commencement of the election process was due to the Supreme Court’s invalidation of Oct. 5, 2024 LG elections.

    He said that the political parties that would field candidates in the election must complete and submit an Expression of Interest Form from Monday, April 24 to May 12, 2025 to be eligible to participate.

    He further said that the election campaign would commence from July 7, 2025 and end on August 7, 2025.

    Enebeli said that interested candidates were required to pay the compulsory sum of N5, 000 for councilorship position while N10 000 would be paid for Chairman and Vice Chairmanship positions.

    He said that the rulings of the Supreme Court must be obeyed by all Nigerians, including the electoral body.

    According to him, we are unavoidably and painfully plunged into a restart, but as a responsible law-abiding statutory body, we must demonstrate our fidelity and obedience to the rule of law.

    ‘’This setback is our ineluctable phase right now; in a philosophically speaking, in the affairs of man and society in history, it says and I quote;

    ‘’A setback is a set up for a come back; do not let failure stop you, let it be the road you need to succeed.

    ‘’A come back is always stronger than a setback and every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow.

    Enebeli stated that a ‘’setback can inspire all of us to restart and move forward and become stronger and more successful than before.

    ‘’The great the challenge face by man, the more triumphant he is,’’ he said.

    Enebeli, however, assured the people of transparency in the election and requested the cooperation of stakeholders to ensure a successful election.

  • LG election: APC wins 18 chairmanship, 203 councilorship seats in Ondo

    LG election: APC wins 18 chairmanship, 203 councilorship seats in Ondo

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) has won all the 18 chairmanship and 203 councilorship seat in the Local Government (LG) election held on Jan.18 in Ondo State.

    Dr Joseph Aremo, Chairman, Ondo State  Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), made the announcement at the commission’s headquarters on Sunday night in Akure.

    Aremo, who explained that the election was keenly contested by 13 different political parties, said it was peaceful without any casualty or loss of lives and properties during the exercise.

    According to him, there are 203 wards and 18 Local Governments in Ondo State.

    “The election across the 203 wards was keenly contested, and candidates sponsored by APC emerged as councilors elect in the 2025 local government election of Ondo State.

    “Also for the chairmanship election as well, it was keenly contested and from presentations made at the respective LG level, the candidates of APC emerged winner across all the 18 councils,” he said.

    Aremo, therefore, appreciated Ondo State residents for upholding the tenet of rule of law, and for coming out to vote for the candidates of their choices.

    According to him, the presentation of the results show that Saturday’s election was free, fair, credible and transparent.

    The chairman assured residents of the commission’s readiness to do more in subsequent elections, and called on political parties to play their roles in terms of voter education and participation.

    “Whatever the short coming we might identify in the process, we will definitely improve, especially in the area of enlightement.

    “But we cannot do it alone, because political parties must step up the desire to enlighten their members in terms of voter education and participation.

    “Sovereignty ultimately belongs to the people and they should be allowed to choose whoever they want as their leaders,” he said.

    NAN reports that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) withdrew their participation 48 hours to the election.

    They alleged the lack of confidence in ODIEC to conduct free, credible, and transparent election.

  • Despite insecurity, Zamfara fixes November 16 for LG election

    Despite insecurity, Zamfara fixes November 16 for LG election

    Despite insecurity the Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC) has fixed November 16, 2024, for the Local Government Election in the State.

    The new Chairman of the Commission, Bala Aliyu Gusau, who was earlier today sworn in by the state chief Judge, Justice Kulu Aliyu represented by Mukhtar Yusha’u of the Zamfara State High Court at the council chamber of the Government House, Gusau, announced this while addressing journalists on the preparation ahead of the conduct of the local council poll.

    He also revealed that the sale and return of expression of interest forms would commence on 25th October. 2024 to 1st November 2024.

    The chairman said the commission is acting in line with law number four of the Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC), and it would keep the public posted on any other development regarding the local council poll.

  • LG poll: Court reserves judgment in Rivers APC suit against INEC

    LG poll: Court reserves judgment in Rivers APC suit against INEC

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, reserved judgment in the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the conduct of the local government election in Rivers.

    Justice Peter Lifu said that a date for the judgment would be communicated to parties after lawyers in the suit adopted their processes and argued their case for and against the suit.

    NAN reports that APC in the suit  prayed the court to pronounce that INEC can only release the register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) “in strict conformity and compliance with the mandatory provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.”

    The party argued that the electoral umpire, in line with the provision, can stop continuous voter registration at least 90 days before the poll date.

    It argued that the condition precedent for the conduct of local government election in Rivers had not been met by RSIEC.

    Upon resumed hearing, the court listened to all pending preliminary applications, including those seeking joinder brought by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Boot Party as well as the substantive suit.

    Goddy Uche, SAN, also presented his motion for change of counsel and discontinuance of the suit on behalf of the Rivers chapter of the APC.

    The motion was filed by Uche and signed by chairman of the party in the state, Chief Emeka Beke, and Sam Etetegwung, APC Secretary in Rivers, respectively.

    However, Joseph Daudu, SAN,.who appeared for the plaintiff (APC national body), prayed the court to grant their reliefs.

    In their arguments, Taiwo Taiwo, SAN, counsel to for the Attorney General of Rivers, and Femi Falana, SAN, who appeared for INEC, challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case.

    They equally challenged the competence of the suit on the ground that it was statute-barred.

    The respondents further contended that the proper court with jurisdiction to entertain the case is the Rivers division of the Federal High Court.

    They also argued that being a vacation court, the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case without obtaining the consent of both parties.

    Justice Lifu consequently reserved judgment in the matter after listening to the parties.

  • BREAKING: LG election timetable in circulation fake – DSIEC

    BREAKING: LG election timetable in circulation fake – DSIEC

    The Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) has declared the notice of election, timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of 2024 local government council elections in the State as fake.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports an election timetable in circulation had fixed the State local government council elections for Saturday July 20, with directive for political parties to conduct their primaries to elect chairmanship and councillorship candidates between May 5 and May 19.

    However, in a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Dr Jerry Agbaike, Chairman of DSIEC, the State electoral umpire openly refuted the election timetable.

    According to the statement, DSIEC was yet to fix any date for the conduct of the 2024 local government elections in the State, adding that the authentic date for the conduct of the elections “shall be officially announced soon”.

    The statement reads in full below:

    “The attention of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission has been drawn to a document containing the outlines of a “proposed public notice of Election Time-table and schedule of activities for the 2024 Local Government Council General Elections” purportedly issued by the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission.

    “The fake “public notice” which has gone viral on numerous social media handles is hereby refuted by the Commission and should be discountenanced in all its ramifications.

    “We wish to inform the general public that the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission is yet to fix any date for the conduct of the 2024 Local Government Elections. The authentic date for the conduct of the 2024 Local Government elections shall be officially announced soon”.

  • Oyo LG election mockery of democracy – APC

    Oyo LG election mockery of democracy – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has described the outcome of Saturday’s local government elections in the state as a mockery of democracy.

    APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Olawale Sadare, in an interview with NAN on Monday in Ibadan, said that the election was ‘a script poorly written and poorly executed.

    The results of the election announced by the Chairman of Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Isiaka Olagunju, had indicated that PDP won the chairmanship and councillorship in all the 33 local governments in the state.

    But, Sadare said it was regrettable that OYSIEC had made itself available for such manipulations.

    While rating the election, Sadare said that it fell below standard and lacked any semblance of a real election.

    He said that the state government just wasted the state resources and people’s time.

    “As a party, we have done our part; the ball is now in the court of public opinion.

    “I believe the general public will not want the situation to remain like this, in the interest of our state,” he said.

    Sadare said that APC stakeholders would meet before the end of the week to review the exercise.

    “Leaders in the APC in the state will soon meet to deliberate and take collective stand on the election.

    “Whatever decisions we arrive at will be made available to the public,” he said.

    NAN reports that Gov. Seyi Makinde, while commenting on the elections on Saturday, had said the security report about the elections had been excellent, indicating that it was violence-free.

    He noted that his administration had successfully eradicated caretaker administration at the local government level, which had made people not to have a say in who should govern them.

    The governor also urged people who might notice any untoward activity to report to relevant authorities for redress.

  • Gov Oborevwori gives update on conduct of LG polls in Delta

    Gov Oborevwori gives update on conduct of LG polls in Delta

    Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Sunday, ruled out imposition of candidates in the forthcoming local government council elections in the state.

    Governor Oborevwori who disclosed this at the PDP Delta Central Stakeholders meeting held at his Osubi country home, said Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, would soon come out with a timetable for the conduct of the election.

    He said: “Delta State is one of the most solid states in Nigeria. Very very soon we will have our local government elections. Like what the State Chairman of our party said, it is DSIEC that is in charge. They will come out with a timetable after their meeting with the parties.

    “Only popular candidates that the people love and generally accepted by all stakeholders, will emerge as candidates of the party.

    “We will not accept any candidate through the back door. For anybody to emerge, it must be a collective decision from the wards and must be a popular candidate. Collectively we must agree on candidates so that the primary election can be smooth.”

    The Governor had earlier thanked the party leaders for their support and for the vote of confidence passed on him and his administration.

    “I appreciate our leaders for standing by me since after my swearing-in. This is the first time that we are holding a meeting like this.

    “You have been praying for me and supporting me, God will continue to bless you all. It is good for us to be united as it is in other Senatorial districts.

    “I will not disappoint Deltans. Delta State is PDP and PDP is Delta State and what is happening in other states is not happening here. There is no power tussle or fight in Delta. Everything is going on well and our people are happy.

    High point of the meeting was the passing of vote of confidence on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his enormous performance in nearly one year in office.

    The vote of confidence was moved former Secretary to the State Government, Rt. Hon. Festus Agas and seconded by former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Ighomena.

    In moving the motion, Agas said Governor Oborevwori has continued to steer the ship of state by faithfully implementing the MORE Agenda through the execution of life changing projects across the three senatorial districts of the state.

    On his part, State Chairman of the party, Dr Kingsley Esiso said it was the responsibility of leaders from the district to continue to support the Oborevwori led administration in the state.

    He said following the expiration of the tenure of the outgone executives at the Wards and Local Governments, Caretaker Committees have been set up to function for three months.

    He said the National Executive Committee of the party had put machinery in motion to elect substantive executives through congresses.

    Earlier in his remarks, Chairman,  Delta Central PDP, Chief Patrick Fovie said the meeting was called to deliberate on issues that would move the party forward in the district and the entire state.

  • BREAKING: PDP clears Oyo LG polls

    BREAKING: PDP clears Oyo LG polls

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the chairmanship seats in all the 33 local governments in the council elections held in Oyo State on Saturday.

    Chairman of Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Isiaka Olagunju, announced the results at a news conference at the commission’s headquarters in Ibadan on Sunday.

    Olagunju attributed the success recorded in the exercise to the support given by Gov. Seyi Makinde and other stakeholders in the state.

    The OYSIEC chairman, who doubles as the Chief Returning Officer, acknowledged the fact that there were some aspects of the election that required improvement.

    He said such areas would reflect in election report that would be submitted to the state government.

    Olagunju commended such stakeholders as Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) for allowing a robust relationship with the OYSIEC toward achieving free and fair elections.

    “I want to appreciate those who contributed in one way or the other to the success recorded.

    “We must also appreciate the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State and other security agencies for standing by the commission before, during and after the elections.

    “We are not claiming to be angel or saint. We acknowledge that we have areas of improvement; we promise that this will reflect in our report to the government,” he said.

    Gov. Seyi Makinde, while commenting on the election on Saturday, had said that security report about the election had been excellent, indicating that it was violence-free.

    He noted that his administration had successfully eradicated caretaker administration at the local government level, which had made people not to have a say in who should govern them.

    The governor also urged people who might notice any untoward activity to report to relevant authorities for redress.

    In his remarks, the newly re-elected Chairman of Ibadan North-East Local Government, Mr Ibrahim Akintayo, promised the people of his local government area a better performance.

    “It is a matter of continuity. We will try to improve on our bottom-up approach through which we will be listening to the plights of our people,” he said.

  • OYSIEC okays NIN, international passport for LG election

    OYSIEC okays NIN, international passport for LG election

    The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has approved the use of National Identification Number (NIN) and international passport for the conduct of Saturday’s local government elections in the State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports a Presiding Officer made this known while stressing that NIN and international passport could be used by voters as alternative for voter’s card.

    The presiding officer, Mrs Abiodun Iyiola for Ward 11, Unit 15, Ibadan South-West apologised for the lateness of officials and materials experienced in some Local Government Areas (LGAs).

    Mrs Iyiola attributed the lateness to the lack of enough vehicles to convey electoral officers to their different units.

    “There are not enough vehicles to bring us, and I was able to reach here because I joined security operatives in their vehicle,” she said.

    Iyiola, however, urged the citizens to come out to vote, saying they could also use their international passport and not only their voter’s card as means of identification.

    “They can also use their NIN, International passport or voter’s card as we were told officially; but I don’t know if it’s only for this local government election or not,” she said.

    Accreditation and voting had, however, commenced in some polling units across the LGAs.

    The election is being conducted in the 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state by OYSIEC

    There had been a series of complaints of the late arrival of materials in some polling units such as in Ido, Ibadan North and Ibadan North-East LGAS.

    At Polling Unit 1, Ward 11, Ibadan North-East LGA, NAN confirmed that accreditation and voting had commenced.

    An electoral officer told NAN that the exercise started around 8.30 a.m.

    “You can see that people have been coming here to vote,” the officer said.

    At Unit 13 of Ward 11, Ibadan South-West LGA, NAN reports that while OYSIEC officials arrived at 8.56 a.m., accreditation and voting started simultaneously at 9.15 a.m.

    However, at Units 12, 14 and 15, all within Ward 11, South-West LGA, the electorates were observed waiting for the arrival of electoral officers and voting materials.

    At exactly 9.15 a.m., at Ward 11, Unit 1, Abayomi area of Iwo Road, Ibadan North-East, only 17 out of 750 registered voters had voted.

    Although accreditation and voting started early at Units 19 and 21 of Ward 10, Ibadan South-West, very few voters were seen performing their civic rights.

    It was observed that there was no queue in the units as those present cast their votes with ease.

    OYSIEC ad hoc staff arrived at Ward 9, Units 1, 3, 4, 8 and 10 at the Queen’s Cinema area of Ibadan North-West LGA at around 9:30 a.m.

    They, however, said the voting materials they brought to the polling units were not complete, hence voting could not commence.

    They alleged that OYSIEC officials at the distribution centre told them to go ahead and that the remaining materials, such as the ballot papers and cubicle, would be sent to them.

    Speaking to NAN on the development, Mr Deji Adeoye, the All Progressives Congress (APC) agent for Unit 4, said he would not start to point accusing fingers at anyone at this point.

    Adeoye said the electorates would wait patiently to see what would happen at the end of the day.

    LG election: Makinde urges residents to take outcome of election in good faith

    Meanwhile, Gov. Seyi Makinde has urged the residents of Oyo State to take the outcome of the ongoing local government election in good faith.

    Makinde stated this on Saturday shortly after voting at exactly 10.21 a.m. at Polling Unit 1, Ward 11, Abayomi area of Ibadan North-East Local Government.

    He advised the residents to approach the appropriate authority with any form of complaint arising from the exercise, promising that it would be dealt with.

    He said reports reaching him, however, showed that the exercise was hitch-free, saying that grassroots democracy has come to stay in Oyo State.

    According to him, the people are going about the exercise peacefully while traffic restrictions are being obeyed by the people.

    “So, I will commend our people for coming out to exercise their civic responsibility.

    “Before we came in, it had always been caretakers’ administration at the grassroots level without the people, really, having a say in government.

    “But we are holding local government election for the second time in almost our fifth year in office,” he said.

    He expressed optimism that the whole exercise would be successful at the end of the day.

    However, in Oluyole LGA, PDP chairmanship candidate, Hakeem Olatunji, was seen still campaigning without restriction.

    When queried by journalists, Olatunji said he was not campaigning but rather going from house to house urging people to come out and vote for their preferred candidates due to the low turnout of people.

  • LG election: PDP remains best option in Oyo State – Makinde

    LG election: PDP remains best option in Oyo State – Makinde

    Ahead of the April 27 Local Government election in Oyo State, Gov. Seyi Makinde, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains the best option among other political parties in the state.

    Makinde said this on Monday in Ido town, Ido Local Government Area, where he attended the PDP campaign and presentation of flags to party candidates in the council’s election.

    He emphasised that his administration had delivered massive infrastructure, educational and health projects in the state.

    The governor, who advised PDP faithful to remain strong, united for the victory expected, urged them to continue to work for the progress of the party.

    He equally assured party members yet to be compensated that plans were on the way.

    Makinde presenting flags to Mr Sheriff Adeojo, the chairmanship candidate for Ido Local Government, urged the people of the state to vote for all candidates of PDP in the forthcoming election.

    In their separate remarks, the state deputy chairman of PDP, Mr James Olukunle and the party chairman in Ido Local Government, Mr Akinsola Ayuba, commended the unprecedented achievements of Makinde’s administration.

    Olukunle expressed the readiness of party members in Ido and the state in general to ensure PDP’s victory in the local government election.

    Ayuba, on his part, said the party had started house to house campaign to enhance the chances of the party during the election.