TheNewsGuru

Tag: LG Elections

  • Gov. Obaseki promises safety in Saturday’s LG polls

    Gov. Obaseki promises safety in Saturday’s LG polls

    The Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, has assured of safe passage and heightened security for citizens during the upcoming Local Government Area (LGA) election scheduled for Saturday, September 2, 2023.

    This announcement was made during a press briefing held after a state Security Council meeting convened at the Government House in Benin City on Thursday.

    Governor Obaseki also reiterated that there will be no restriction of movement and people would be able to move freely within and through the state during the electoral process.

    “The local government election will be held on Saturday, and one unique thing about the election is that movement is not restricted.

    “People will be allowed to go about their normal activities after voting. Movement within the state and commuters going through the state will not be restricted,” Governor Obaseki stated.

    The Governor urged voters to participate en masse in choosing their preferred candidates, while expressing confidence in the readiness and preparedness of all security agencies involved in ensuring a secure electoral process.

    “Enough preparation has been made to secure the people so that they can go to the polling unit, vote, and go home. If they need to come back and wait for the votes to be counted and the election declared, they can also do so, but it must be peaceful,” Governor Obaseki urged.

    The state Commissioner of Police Muhammad Dankwara, also assured the public that security agencies were fully prepared and ready for the local government election.

    Dankwara said that all security agencies were aligned in their commitment to ensuring a peaceful electoral exercise.

    “We are prepared for the election, and we are all on the same page with our sister security agencies, and surely the election will be very peaceful,” Dankwara affirmed.

    He added that only eligible voters with proper identification will be allowed at polling units, and agents approved by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission will oversee the voting process.

    The Police Commissioner reassured the public of the police’s unwavering commitment to professionalism, neutrality, and thoroughness in executing their duties before, during, and after the exercise.

    Dankwara also issued a stern warning against the use of dangerous weapons during the local government elections, stressing that no weapons of any kind would be permitted at the voting arena.

    Additionally, individuals or party representatives would not be allowed at polling units with political party logos or any form of political party identification. These measures are intended to maintain order and prevent violence during the election.

    The local government elections are scheduled to take place in 4,519 polling units across 192 wards in the 18 local government areas of Edo State.

  • APC sweeps 17 chairmanship seats in Ogun LG polls

    APC sweeps 17 chairmanship seats in Ogun LG polls

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) has swept all the 17 chairmanship seats so far announced as counting of votes of Saturday’s local government elections in Ogun continues.

    The results were announced on Sunday morning by Mr Babatunde Osibodu, the Chairman of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGISIEC) at the commission’s head office in Abeokuta.

    Osibodu said that pending results from Odeda, Ado-Odo/Ota and Abeokuta-South Local Government areas would be announced as soon as they were received from the collation centres.

    He said that results of the elections into all the 236 councillorship positions in the state would also be announced when they were ready.

    The OGISIEC chairman assured that all the results would be announced on Sunday.

  • Card readers delay LASIEC officials as LG elections get underway in Lagos

    Card readers delay LASIEC officials as LG elections get underway in Lagos

    As elections into local government councils get underway in Lagos, some officials of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) have blamed their late arrival to polling unts on the non-availability of card-readers.

    The officials spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kosofe.

    They said that they were forced to settle for manual checking of the voters so as to save time and ensure that no one was disenfranchised.

    At Ward G, Polling unit 040\041, Ogudu Junior Grammar school, GRA, Ogudu, NAN observed that LASIEC officials arrived there at 9.20 a.m.

    The APC Chairmanship candidate for Kosofe Local Government, Mr Moyosore Ogunlewe, will vote at that polling unit.

    The Presiding Officer of Unit 041, Ward G, Mr Abiodun Bisayo, said that the delay was as a result of the endless wait for the card-reader.

    “We left for the voting venue when we were told to use manual checks.

    “It is not our fault that we came late. LASIEC officers are responsible. We have all other materials, except the card readers,” he said.

    His counterpart at Unit 040, Ms Jenipher Osayande, corroborated Bisayo’ claim.

    “We have other materials for the elections, except the card reader.

    “We are going to use manual identification devices as there is no card reader machine,” she said.

    An Octogenarian, 83-year-old Madam Ebun Babatunde, told NAN that she got to the venue at about 5.30 a.m. from Ikorodu where she is resident.

    She said she registered at Ogudu but relocated about two years ago, stressing that she left Ikorodu early in the morning due to restriction in movement.

    Babatunde said she came to vote because it was her civic responsibility, calling on those to be voted for to represent the people and not their selfish interests.

    She urged the voters to always vote for the best persons that would do well for the people.

    “I have participated in all elections in Nigeria because I believe my vote will count.

    “Even in the Bible, some people were elected. Election is Biblical. I am not happy that up now (8.45am), the election officials are not here.

    “They told us to come on time. Now we are here and they are nowhere,” she fumed.

    NAN reports that voting started at the units at 9.50 a.m. with less than 20 people around.

  • OYSIEC fixes date to hold Oyo State LG poll

    OYSIEC fixes date to hold Oyo State LG poll

    The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) says it plans to hold election into the 33 local government councils of the state on May 15.

    Mr Isiaka Olagunju, Chairman, OYSIEC, said this on Monday when he addressed a news conference at the commission’s headquarters in Ibadan.

    Olagunju said that the election would hold in compliance with Section 30 of Electoral Act 2010(as amended) and Paragraph 1(1) Schedule 2 of the State Independent Electoral Commission Law CAP 154, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.

    He said that the election would be conducted in all the 33 recognised Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, assuring of a transparent, free and fair election.

    “We are preparing for election in the 33 LGAs of the state and not LCDAs.

    “We do not have the power to conduct election into the LCDAs. We only have power to conduct election into the 33 LGAs,’’ he said.

    He said that the choice of May 15, for the election was to take care of pending judgment of the Supreme Court in a case instituted by dissolved democratically elected local government executives in the state.

    Olagunju said that candidates can obtain nomination forms at the commission’s office up till Monday, April 30.

    He said that the cost of nomination forms was N250, 000 for chairmanship and N100, 000 for the councillorship positions.

    “Let me conclude by appealing to all stakeholders that we need their support in other to organise and conduct free, fair, credible and transparent local government election in the state,’’ he said.

    The last local council election in the state was held on May 12, 2018 under administration of late Gov. Abiola Ajimobi.

    The Supreme Court had slated May 7, for judgment in the suit filed by the dissolved democratically elected local government executives in the state.

  • APC to boycott Sokoto LG election

    APC to boycott Sokoto LG election

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Sokoto State Chapter, has resolved to boycott the forthcoming local government (LG) election in the state.

    The position of the party was made known by the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Isah Achida, at a news conference on Sunday in Sokoto.

    According to Achida, the resolution was based on the recent happenings in preparation for the forthcoming LG election in the state.

    “It is on record that when the members of the present Sokoto State Independent Electoral Commission were inaugurated, the APC issued a statement expressing its total lack of confidence in the composition of the commission.

    “Our position is due to the glaring fact that they are all card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “Indeed, all of them are very close cohorts of the leadership of the government in Sokoto State, who are always dancing to its tunes,” he said.

    Achida blamed the party’s decision to pull out of the exercise on what he described as a lack of transparency by the state government

    “When the state government announced the belated decision to conduct the local government election, we expected the electoral body to arrange consultative meetings with political parties for the successful conduct of the election.

    “This, they refused to do, because we feel that they are working with some selected political parties for their own ulterior motives.

    “To our dismay, however, the commission went alone and prepared their own timetable, convenient for them and their paymasters, which was sent to us only for information,” Achida said.

    He said that the position was in due consultations with all the stakeholders of the party in the state.

    Achida thanked the people of the state for their support to the APC and called on all the party members and supporters not to participate in the election.

  • APC restates commitment to peaceful, credible LG congresses

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has restated its commitment to peaceful and credible local government party congresses in Ebonyi.
    The state Chairman of APC, Chief Eze Nwachukwu, gave the assurance at the party secretariat on Saturday in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen.
    He spoke on the preparedness of the party for successful conduct of the congresses.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that APC holds its local government congresses across the 774 councils and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
    He said that the party had concluded arrangements for smooth and peaceful conduct of the exercise holding across the state on May 12.
    “Every arrangement is in place for the local government congresses of our great party, APC.

    “Forms have been sold to the contestants and it was done without bias, the congresses committee from the National Secretariat, Abuja, are here for the exercise.
    “The Police, Department of State Security, other relevant security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission have been duly informed.
    “Venues for the congresses at the various local government areas have been communicated and party members have been sensitised and well mobilised to participate in the congresses.

    “We have also made adequate security arrangements to protect lives and congress materials.
    “We are expecting nothing but peaceful, credible and hitch-free exercise in all 13 local government areas of the state.
    “We are going to repeat our success story in the just concluded ward congresses in the local government congresses,” Nwachukwu said.
    He promised that the exercise would be open, peaceful and devoid of manipulation.
    He called for support and cooperation of members to make the exercise hitch-free, noting that the Ebonyi wards congresses were adjudged the best throughout the federation.

    “We have gone a long way in harmonisation to avoid frictions and rancour; and virtually all the local government areas have harmonised their lists ahead of today ‘s exercise.
    “The stakeholders on their own came together in their respective local governments and zoned positions to wards, while some local governments peacefully conducted ‘mock’ congresses to choose their consensus candidates.
    “Our congresses today will be more of affirmative congresses because we have laid a foundation of peace, harmony and understanding of one another,” he added.
    Nwachukwu said that APC was committed to take over power from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, adding that the party is working hard to achieve the objective.

    “Our success in the ongoing party congresses puts us a few miles away from achieving our target of taking over power from the ruling PDP in 2019.
    “We have put aside individual differences and collectively will work for the overall success of the exercise,” he said.
    Meanwhile, Chairman of the electoral committee, Chief Nicolas Ajayi, has assured readiness of the committee to conduct credible, peaceful and transparent exercise in the state.

    Ajayi told newsmen that the committee’s mandate was to ensure that the congresses in the state were peaceful, credible and that no qualified aspirant was denied right to contest.

    He urged leaders, stakeholders and contestants to adopt consensus mechanism enshrined in the party’s constitution in choosing their candidates to reduce tension and friction.

    “We have one mandate and the mandate is to ensure that the congresses in the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi are conducted freely and that winners emerge through credible and popular means.
    “We appeal to party leaders, stakeholders and contestants to make the exercise easy for us by adopting consensus method to choose candidates.
    “We will however move to local governments where consensus fails to conduct congresses for qualified aspirants,” Ajayi said.

  • PDP’s decision to boycott Edo LG election ‘silly’ – Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Saturday condemned the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for boycotting the Edo State local government election.

    Recall that the party had vowed not to participate in the election, claiming that it did not have confidence in the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission and urged voters to shun the exercise.

    It had also challenged the alleged unlawful amendment of the notice of election from 90 to 45 days by the House of Assembly before a state High Court.

    But Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke to journalists shortly after casting his vote in Ward 2, Unit 2, Oredo Local Government Area of the state, described the opposition party’s withdrawal as “silly”.

    He stated that the PDP had only done itself more harm as the election would have provided an opportunity for the opposition party to mobilise its supporters.

    The national chairman’s spokesman said, “It is silly because however much you rate your chances as low, it is still an opportunity to mobilise and energise your followers. The injury is to the boycotting party.

    “From our history in this country, that has always been the case; you do not boycott elections. If you do so, you are paying a heavy price for it and we wish it luck. But I pray that they will boycott the others also.”

    Odigie-Oyegun blamed the low turnout of voters on the nature of the election, which he said was less emotive.

    He explained, “Well, it is a local government election; it is not usually as emotive as when you are electing a governor or a president. So, one expects the turnout not to be as much.

    “But all that is important is that our candidates get the majority and that they get down to work; that is why we are here.

    He added, “There is always apathy with local elections. You do not have the kind of star quality that comes with a governorship or presidential election. So, voting in local elections are much more lower.”

    Odigie-Oyegun also disagreed that council polls in Nigeria were lopsided because the ruling political party always held sway.

    The national chairman, “It was not the case in Edo State; the opposition did win a few local governments (in previous elections). But that is to be expected.

    “We are talking about local people. So if you do not mobilise at that level, then God help you.”

  • LG Elections: No evidence of underage voting in Kano – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fact finding team on alleged underage voting in the last Kano council poll said it has not received any evidence of underage voting.

    The Chairman of the committee, Abubakar Nahuce, told journalists on Friday that from their interaction with civil society organisations and media, none presented evidence of underage voting.

    INEC set up the committee following public outcry that greeted videos and photos of underage voting believed to be during the Kano election.

    “From all what we have seen and discussed with you media men, none of you has seen any underage voter in the line or voting,” Mr. Nahuce said on Friday.

    The team has so far met with Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) Chairman, the media and other relevant bodies.

     

    Details later…

  • Lagos Council Poll: ‘Don’t congratulate a pregnant woman till she delivers’, NNPP blasts Tinubu

    Lagos Council Poll: ‘Don’t congratulate a pregnant woman till she delivers’, NNPP blasts Tinubu

    …Says it will contest in just 15 council areas

    Sequel to a statement credited to a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu doing a stakeholders meeting that his party (APC) would win all the seats in the July 22 local government election, The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has said Tinubu was entitled to his opinion, saying he (Tinubu) should not congratulate a pregnant woman till she delivers.

    The party noted that the electorates and not Tinubu will determine who wins.

    The state chairman of the party, Malam Shakirudeen Olofin, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Sunday.

    “Election is open to anyone. That is, any candidate, irrespective of political affiliation, could emerge as winner.

    “Local government election is about who is who in your loyalty and it has nothing to do with party.

    “Tinubu has every right to his opinion but you don’t congratulate a pregnant woman until she delivers, July 22 will decide,’’ he said.

    The party also said it will present candidates in just 15 of the 57 council areas of the state.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Lagos State has 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    Olofin said the party would present candidates in Ayobo/Ipaja LCDA, Agbado-Oke Odo LCDA, Mosan-Okunola LCDA, Oshodi/Isolo LGA, Oriade LCDA, Eredo LCDA, and Ikotun-Igando LCDA.

    He listed other areas as Badagry LGA, Somolu LGA, Kosofe LGA, Ikeja LGA, Epe LGA, Apapa LGA ,Apapa LGA and Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA.

    The chairman said the decision of the party to contest only in these council areas was a deliberate strategy to focus on its areas of strength and manage resources.

    “You know elections are capital intensive. But we do not have enough resources to cover all the council areas of the state.

    “So what we have done is to focus on our areas of strength, the areas where we have more presence and we are relatively popular.

    “We believe this is better, as it would enable us put our resources to optimal use and create impact at the polls,”he said.

    Olofin said that the party would soon hold its primary to elect its chairmanship and councillorship candidates for the polls.

    He said that the primary would be transparent and not fall short of acceptable democratic principles.

    The chairman said that the party was working hard for the election and expressed optimism that it would make impact at the poll.

     

     

    Meanwhile, the Labour Party is set to hold a sensitisation programme for its aspirants towards the forthcoming council polls.

    The state’s party secretary, Mr Bolaji Oshinowo, said the programme, which would hold on Monday, was to prepare the aspirants for the elections.

    He said that the programme would also update them with what was required by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) ahead of the election.

    Oshinowo said that aspirants were expected to submit their Expression of Interest form at the party secretariat in Tejuosho on Monday, which was the deadline.

    He said that the party would later hold its primary before the deadline set by LASIEC.

    “Our preparation is in top gear for the election. We will contest in all council areas and we are sure of a good showing,’’ he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that LASIEC has fixed July 22 as date of the council polls and July 29 for run-off.

     

     

     

    NAN