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Tag: LG Election

  • Nasarawa postpones LGA elections indefinitely

    Nasarawa postpones LGA elections indefinitely

    The Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) has postponed indefinitely the Local Government Area (LGA) elections scheduled for Aug. 31 in the state.

    Mr Ayuba Wandai, Chairman of the commission made the disclosure during an emergency meeting with the Nasarawa State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Monday in Lafia.

    He said that the postponement was sequel to an originating summon served on the commission by a Federal High Court, Lafia.

    Wambai said one Paul John and 12 others had dragged the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and the Commission to the court challenging section 8 (e) of the LG election Law, 2018 and the 2024 elections guidelines as released by the commission.

    “As a law abiding institution, we have studied and analysed the originating summons and issues contained therein and decided to postpone the election indefinitely, to face the court case.

    “The commission has consulted its lawyers and has been advised that a party to a suit is not expected to do anything that can tamper with the resolutions of the court.

    “The commission has directed its lawyers to apply for an accelerated hearing of the matter to enable it resume normal election activities,” he said.

    Wandai also disclosed that all scheduled activities leading to the conduct of the elections had been postponed indefinitely.

    Responding on behalf of the political parties, Mr Cletus Ogah, IPAC Chairman in the state, commended the commission for always carrying them along in its activities.

    He said many political parties had gone far in their preparation for the election based on the-time table released by the commission in 2023.

    Ogah said that they however have no option than to wait for the commission to deal with the court case.

    Recall the incumbent chairmen and Councillors were inaugurated on October 8, 2021 for a three-year tenure ending October 7, 2024.

  • Voter apathy mars Borno LG election

    Voter apathy mars Borno LG election

    Citizens of Borno trickled out to vote in Saturday’s local government election that was held in the State to elect councillors.

    The election was marred by voter apathy, as many residents blamed the development on lack of campaign by the participating political parties and candidates.

    As at 12 noon, some of the polling units that started operation only recorded a few voters.

    The Executive Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC), Alhaji Lawan Maina, who monitored the exercise, urged for peaceful conduct.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports six political parties participated in the local government election.

    The parties are the All Progressives Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party (LP) and Allied People’s Movement (APM)

    The APC is the only party with chairmanship and councillor candidates in all the 27 LGAs as the remaining parties fielded candidates in less that five LGAs.

  • Late arrival of materials, low turnout of voters characterise LG election in Edo

    Late arrival of materials, low turnout of voters characterise LG election in Edo

    Late arrival of materials on Saturday characterised the Local Government Election in parts of Edo.

    Voters were kept waiting for long in queues at many polling units in Benin as electoral materials failed to arrive at 8:00 a.m. as scheduled by the electoral umpires.

    Correspondents who monitored the poll in Egor Local Government area, one of the municipal councils within the Benin metropolis, reported that materials started arriving at the units few minutes before 10:00 a.m.

    Some political parties’ agents had defied the heavy downpour to arrive the polling units as early as 8: a.m.

    Voters, who started trooping into the polling centres some minutes past 8:a.m, expressed surprise that neither electoral materials nor electoral officers had arrived at the polling units.

    A security officer deployed to unit 44 ward 10 of Egor LGA, who preferred anonymity, said materials were still being awaited as  at 8:30 a.m.

    At units 1 to 7 ward 7 in the same council areas domiciled at Olua Primary School, Uselu, officials of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) came in with electoral materials by 9:37am.

    At Oredo LGA, materials were yet to arrive at their various units visited by 10:15 a.m.

    NAN reports that voters were already waiting at units 1 to 3 Ward 12 in front of Oba Market in spite of the closeness to the Oredo LGA secretariat.

    The situation was not different at units 11 and 31 in ward 1 of Oredo LGA, where materials were still being expected as at 10:30 a.m.

    Many voters, who spoke with NAN, expressed shock at the situation.

    One of them, Charles Osagie, told NAN that even INEC, which was usually blamed for late commencement of elections, had never been this delayed.

    Osagie called for extension of voting time since the state electoral body could not start in time.

    In Auchi, Etsako West LGA, it was observed that though materials arrived early in most polling units, low turnout of voters, however, characterised the exercise in the area.

    Only few voters were seen at the polling units to cast their vote.

    At Ward 11, unit 2, 8, 9 in Jattu, few voters were on ground to cast their votes.

    At Auchi Ward 4, unit 5, 6, materials arrived at about 9.00 a.m. with security personnel.on ground but few voters were seen.

    In Fugar, Ward 7, units 7, 8, 9, Obe primary school, low turnout was recorded as few people came out to vote.

    A voter, Mr Monday Ikhiroda, expressed displeasure over the low turnout.

    Ikhiroda blamed the low turnout to government’s late reversal order of restriction of movement.

    “As you can see, there is low turnout of voters in this ward; and from the reports reaching me, there is also low turnout of voters in some major polling units in the local government.

    “The low turnout of voters can be blamed on late reversal of the restriction of  movement order by the state government, as many have gone for their daily businesses, ” Ikhiroda said.

  • APC clears Plateau LG poll; PDP reacts

    APC clears Plateau LG poll; PDP reacts

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) has cleared the Plateau local government councils poll, winning all the chairmanship and councillorship seats in the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

    Mr Fabian Ntung, Chairman, Plateau Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) announced the result on Sunday in Jos.

    Ntung explained that APC won the entire 325 councillorship seats in the 17 LGAs.

    The chairman stated that the commission was satisfied with the manner in which the election was conducted.

    Ntung commended the electorate who ensured a free and peaceful conduct of the poll.

    The commission had barred the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the poll, following some internal crises.

    The party challenged its exclusion at the High Court and Appeal Court, but lost at both levels.

    Meanwhile, the PDP has described the local government elections as appointments and rape of democracy.

    Mr John Akans, Plateau PDP Publicity Secretary made the declaration in Jos on Sunday.

    Mr Fabian Ntung, Chairman, Plateau Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), who announced the results on Sunday, said that APC won all the 17 chairmanship and 325 councillorship seats at the elections.

    Akans, however, told NAN that what were done were not elections but clearly selections and appointment of APC members.

    He said that the party’s next line of action would be made known on Monday.

    PLASIEC had earlier barred the PDP from participating in the elections citing a judgment some members of the party secured against the leadership of PDP in the state.

    The PDP challenged its exclusion at the elections at the High Court and the Appeal Court, but lost at both levels.

    In his reaction, Mr Sati Bashir, APC’s State Secretary, said that it was not a smooth exercise for the party as the APC had challenges right from the commencement of the process.

    He expressed happiness, however, that the process ended smoothly and his party was victorious.

    “We are through with the elections and we are moving to the next level.

    “The most important thing is that there hasn’t been any problem anywhere.

    “There was no threat to peace in any part of the state and we are happy that all went well,’’ he said.

  • BREAKING: Lagos State releases timetable for LG election

    BREAKING: Lagos State releases timetable for LG election

    The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) on Wednesday released timetable for election in the 20 Local Governments and 35 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs.

    The election is scheduled to hold on July 24, as stated by the 1999 Nigerian Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The Chairman of LASIEC, rtd. Justice Ayotunde Phillips, who stated this in the Notice of Election published on Wednesday in Lagos, said that the commission would meet with political parties on Friday for the release of election guidelines.

    Phillips said campaigns by political parties for the election would begin April 30 and end on July 22.

    “Pursuant to Section 21 (I) Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2008 (as amended), Notice of Election is hereby given as follows:

    “Election into the office (s) of Chairman and Councillors in the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) shall be held on Saturday, July 24,” the chairman said.

    The chairman said the Publication of the Election Guidelines by the commission will hold on April 24 while the conduct of political parties’ primary elections will hold between May 3 and June 2, which the commission shall observe.

    She said that the collection of Nomination Forms by political parties would be between May 4 and June 3, while the display of names of nominated candidates and persons nominating them would hold on June 5.

    Phillips said that names of chairmanship and councillorship candidates would be displayed at the LGs/LCDAs headquarters and ward collation centres respectively.

    She said that June 11 to June 16 would be the window for withdrawal and substitution of candidates by the political parties, while June 12 would be the period for withdrawal by candidates through their political parties.

    The chairman said that June 19 to June 25 would be extension period for nomination, where there is One Candidate (Only Candidates), while June 28 would be the closing date for the submission of nomination forms of ‘substituted’ and ‘Only Candidates’ by political parties.

    Phillips said that June 26 would be for the display of voter register for the elections at the ward collation centres, while the submission of names and addresses of party agents for the poll would be June 28 to June 30.

    According to her, the commission will validate candidates’ documents from July 1 to July 11 and on July 14 display list of validated and invalidated candidates at the commission’s headquarters in Lagos.

    The chairman said that final validation of documents for substituted and invalidated candidates would run from July 15 to July 17, while the publication of Notice of Election at the ward collation centres would be July 16.

    She said that the final publication of the list of validated candidates at the commission’s headquarters would be July 17.

    The chairman said that July 31 had been set aside for run-off/ re-run election(s) if there was any need for it.

    The tenure of the incumbents, who have been in power since 2017, will expire in July.

  • PDP clears Sokoto State LG poll

    PDP clears Sokoto State LG poll

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has cleared the Sokoto State local government councils poll, winning all the 23 chairmanship and 244 councillorship seats.

    Alhaji Aliyu Suleiman, Chairman, Sokoto State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), disclosed this when he announced the results in Sokoto on Sunday.

    “I certify that the election was conducted hitch free and 10 political parties participated in the election.

    “The candidates that won have the highest number of valid votes and satisfied the requirements of law.

    ”They are hereby declared winners and are hereby return elected according law,” he said.

    Ten political parties including Accord Party (AP), African Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Peoples Party (APP), African Progressive Movement (APM), Boot Party (BP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Young Peoples Party (YPP), Zenith Party (ZP) and Labour Party (LP) featured in the election.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) had ealier announced its resolve to boycot the election for lack of transparency.

  • DSIEC clears 11 parties for March 6 LG election

    DSIEC clears 11 parties for March 6 LG election

    The Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) has confirmed the clearance of 11 political parties for the March 6, 2021 local government councils poll in the state.

    Mr Arubi Orugboh, Director of Public Affairs, DSEIC, who made this known on Tuesday in Asaba, named some of the parties to include Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA ), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    On the commission’s preparedness for the election, Orugboh said all arrangements and logistic have been put in place to ensure a peaceful free, fair and credible election.

    “I can tell you that here in DSEIC, we are fully prepared for the March 6 local government election.

    “All logistics, manpower requirements have been put in place to ensure the success of the election.

    “Already, we have dispatched all non-sensitive materials to the 24 Local Government Areas (LGAs). The sensitive materials will be sent to the LGAs on Saturday morning,” he said.

    According to him, the commission recently complete intensive training for permanent and ad-hoc staff to build their capacities ahead of the election.

    He said that the commission has deployed Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) across the 24 LGAs of the state to ensure proper coordination of the election at the grassroot.

    On security arrangement, Orugboh disclosed that the commission was working in consonace with the police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure the security of lives and property during and after the election.

    “In the course of this coming election, we have met with the commissioner of police in the state as well as the state commandant of NSCDC.

    “The challenge of security is a task that needs collaboration of all stakeholders, so we are working together with the security agencies in the state.

    “I can tell you that everybody and organisations involved in this election are fully prepared. The security agencies have assured us of their preparedness for the task ahead,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Police Command in Delta has assured residents of adequate security during and after the forthcoming local government election in the state.

    The Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Ali, gave the assurance on Tuesday in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri.

    Ali said that the command would deploy adequate personnel to all the polling units.

    “We will deploy officers to all the polling units and also some speculated hot spots to maintain peace and calm all through the electioneering process.

    “The command remains resolute to ensuring the sanctity of the electoral process.

    “As such, the public, all electoral materials and officials engaged in this election are secure,” he said.

    The commissioner of police appealed to candidates in the election to caution their supporters and foot soldiers to restrain from thuggery during and after the election.

    Ali also said that no police aide or security agent would be allowed to escort their principal to polling units or on any movement during election.

    “Any security aide violating this directive will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Police personnel deployed for the elections will be professional in carrying out their designated duties,” he said.

  • APC will not participate in ‘faulty’ Rivers LG election – Chairman

    APC will not participate in ‘faulty’ Rivers LG election – Chairman

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman in Rivers, Mr Isaac Ogbobula, has said the party will not participate in the forthcoming local government council elections in the state.

    Ogbobula, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Port Harcourt, alleged that the “electoral process is faulty’’.

    He further alleged that the constitution of the membership of the Rivers Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) was faulty because some of the members were card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “The electoral process is already faulty with the constitution of the commission’s membership, so they cannot conduct a free and fair local government council elections.

    “We decided that as a party that we are not going to contest to give credit to an illegitimate process, and we have the backing of the national secretariat of our party,’’ Ogbobula said.

    He urged APC members in Rivers to ignore statements and actions of “some persons without the power and authority to participate in the elections’’.

    “I call on our party members to continue to go about their activities without bothering whether anybody wants to give the impression that they are going to partake in the elections,’’ he added.

    According to him, the APC in Rivers is focused on sensitising and mobilising its members for the forthcoming membership revalidation and registration of new members.

    “We have a court judgment backing us to carry out the exercise and our interest is to have a hitch-free and successful exercise in the state.

    “There is no court order stopping All Progressives Congress in Rivers from participating in the party’s membership registration and revalidation,’’ he stated.

    Ogbobula urged APC members and intending members to participate in the exercise in preparation for the 2023 general elections.

  • Ekiti LG election: PDP clears 17 chairmanship, 177 councillorship seats

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all the 16 local government chairmanship and 177 Councillorship seats in the local polls conducted in Ekiti State on Saturday.

    Addressing newsmen and other stakeholders, Chairman of the Ekiiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC), rtd. Justice Kayode Bamisile, said the elections were peaceful, free and fair.

    He said according to results turned-in by all the Returning Officers, who were senior academic staff members from tertiary institutions in Ekiti and Ondo states, PDP swept the poll.

    In Ido Osi, council, PDP’s Aladedemi Tunde was declared winner having polled a total of 24,432 votes against his closest in National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP) candidate who polled 121.

    In Ekiti East, PDP’s Ogundana Sikiru Sunday was winner having polled 27, 918 votes against candidate of the NDLP who polled 231 votes

    Also in Irepodun Ifelodun council, PDP’s Dapo Olagunju won having polled 31,724 votes against candidate of the ADP who polled 1361 votes.

    In Moba LGA, PDP’s Ayeni James emerged winner having polled 20,444 votes to defeat candidate of the ADP who polled 237.

    In Ikere-Ekiti, PDP’s Ayeni Ezekiel, polled 22,354, to emerge winner and in Oye LGA, Sunday Alonge of PDP polled 29,380 to emerge a winner.

    Ikole LGA has Abiola Olukayode of the PDP who polled 29,956 while in Efon LGA, Yemi Owoeye, emerged winner with 11,900 votes.

    In Ekiti South West, Omolase Lanre of the PDP polled 24,657, to emerge winner while Akindele Ogidi also of PDP in Gbonyin LGA scored 24,940 to emerge the winner.

    In Ise-Orun LGA, Kolawole Oluropo polled 26,420 to emerge winner and in Ekiti West LGA, Ayodeji Daniel polled 23,162 to emerge the winner.

    Also in Emure LG, PDP’s Olubayode Okeya polled 15,293 votes against ADP’s candidate who polled 201 votes, as the winner.

    In Ilejemeje LGA, PDP’s Awolola Sunday Johnson polled 7303 to emerge winner.

    In Ijero LGA, Bayo Ojo, PDP’s Dada Biodun emerged winner having polled 23,587 votes as against the candidate of the NDLP who scored 233.

    In Ado Ekiti council, PDP’s Bamisile Clement emerged winner by polling 43,262 votes against ADP’s candidate who polled 770 votes

    The EKSIEC boss expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for supporting the state’s electoral umpire to achieve a peaceful, free and fair electiion

    “We took our work seriously and put in the best, hence we have conducted a free and fair election. We had visited all LGAs, traditional rulers, security agencies, political parties and others to seek for their support and for them to mobilise their people for participation in the poll

    “They had showed readiness for election and fullfiled their promise to vote. We have protected our people’s rights in deciding cautiously their representatives

    “We particularly appreciate Gov. Ayo Fayose for strengthening democracy. It is an indisputable fact that he always follow the constitutional dictates to conduct LG elections as at when due

    “LG is closest to the people, this is why it’s election is very important. The use of caretaker committee is an aberration which we must all reject. We appreciate all stakeholders

    “In totality, PDP has won all the 16 council and councillorship seats. I appreciate Ekiti people for peaceful conduct.

    “I implore all to accept the results, no victor nor vanquished as we are all working together for good of all. Certificates of return to be given to all winners in not too-distant time”, he said

    NAN reports that the All Progressives Congress boycotted the exercise, owing to alleged lack of trust in the election managers.

    Five other parties participated, they are the Action Democratic Party, National Democratic Liberty Party, PDP, People’s Party of Nigeria, and Social Democratic Party .

  • Lagos LG election: Police deploy sniffer dogs, helicopters, urge electorate to be law abiding

    A minimum of three helicopters, dozens of sniffer dogs, anti-bomb experts and thousands of armed policemen are being deployed around Lagos State today as residents go to the polls to elect chairmen and councilors for the 20 local government area and 37 Local Council Development Areas.

    Complementing the police to keep trouble makers in check are soldiers drawn from the army, navy and the air force.

    The navy and marine police will be keeping an eye on the waterways and coastal areas while army and police personnel will patrol the highways and other strategic areas.

    The Commanding Officer of the 9th Brigade -Gen. Adiku Attu and his NNS BEECROFT counterpart, Commodore Maurice Eno, said Friday ahead of the election that every necessary arrangement had been made to ensure maximum security all through the election period.

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni held a separate security meeting with heads of other agencies including the military, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), urging them to perfect all security arrangements.

    He warned against the use of firearms near polling units by stakeholders, likening such action to a suicide mission. Owoseni gave the warning while candidates and party leaders signed an undertaking towards a violence-free exercise.

    He said: “If you want to commit suicide, come out with your firearms. We have profiled you and have taken your biometrics. We have also interfaced with you personally and we will tell you what to expect from us.

    “During this election, we don’t want political thuggery like we have witnessed in certain elections from different camps.”

    He said some people have already been arrested by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yaba.

    He warned politicians against sponsoring thugs, saying “If any of the hoodlums are traced back to you, it will jeopardise your chances. Talk to your supporters not to be overzealous because we will not hesitate to write an intelligence report to your party and the government.”

    Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Ayotunde Phillips pledged a level playing ground for all the parties and asked them not to cast aspersion on the integrity of the commission.

    “The Commission shall remain committed to its responsibilities of conducting free, fair and credible elections into the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas,” she told reporters at the Sabo, Yaba, headquarters of LASIEC on Friday.

    She added: “Nobody, therefore, has any cause to entertain any fear or doubt on the neutrality of the Commission as an electoral umpire at the Local Government level of Lagos State. We are very much aware of our responsibilities as provided for in the relevant enabling laws.”

    She said the Commission had, by Friday, deployed non-sensitive materials to the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of the State so that “Electoral Officers have adequate time to distribute the materials to locations where they would be used for tomorrow’s (today’s) elections.

    “Deployment of sensitive materials to the various Local Government and Local Council Development Areas of the State has also commenced this morning (yesterday) and will be completed in due course. With the early deployment of the materials, I am confident that the elections would be conducted without any hitch whatsoever.

    “Accreditation and voting will take place simultaneously between 8.00 and 3.00pm. I want to reiterate that the results of the Chairmanship elections will be declared at the collation centre in each of the Local Governments or Local Council Development Areas while the results for Councillorship elections will be declared at each of the Ward collation centres.

    “The only condition that may warrant the declaration of the results outside the collation centres is if it is discovered that the environment is not safe and conducive.”

    She appealed to the media to be fair, objective and patriotic in their reportage of the elections.

    “As patriotic citizens you owe the nation and the Lagos State the duty of performing your reportorial duties in a most responsible and patriotic manner, devoid of narrow self-centredness that could cast doubt on the electoral process and plunge the state into crises. I need not remind you that pen is mightier than the sword. As holders of the pen, you must be circumspect in the way you use it so that the remaining part of the electoral process can be peaceful and hitch-free,” she said.

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, who was also at the briefing, said media are the most important unit that would determine the success of the poll.

    He appealed to journalists to verify issue before sharing it on social media. This, he said, will go a long way to mitigate the effects of misinformation.

    According to him, the police have opened an Investigative Desk to handle cases of crisis during the elections, urging people to call 08063299264 or 08033040870 to report such.

    Owoseni warned those who have stockpile ammunitions to surrender them before midnight as police will deal decisively with anyone found with ammunition.

    He enjoined the politicians not to sponsor hooligans during the poll, vowing to prosecute them and the hoodlums if caught.