Saturday’s Rivers local government councils poll, recorded low voters turnout, as only a handful voters were seen in polling units across the state.
Some residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt blamed the situation on mass boycott by the electorate, because there were no opposition parties in the state.
Mrs Beatrice Chuku, a resident of Obio/Akpor area said that she needed not to worry herself going to the poll because the ruling party in the state would always win the election at all cost.
Chuku stated that the current political situation in the state had made it possible for candidates of the ruling party to emerge winners without stress.
Mr Princewill Chinedu, another resident, corroborated the claim, saying that the system of voting without other parties made him to lose interest in the exercise.
” I have gone to my ward and it’s only PDP and APGA agents present and these agents I know them as PDP members, so casting my vote looks like am stabbing myself because I know that this is not proper election.
“You can see people walking around, see boys playing football on the street, this should tell you that people no longer want to fool themselves in the name of voting.
“Government should do the right thing regarding our current system of election, they should start voting through electronic system so that anybody that win election will work for the masses that elected him or her into that position,” he said.
But, Mr Sunday Uche, another resident said Nigerians have duties to elect their representatives at all levels.
” I have voted and am happy that I voted because it is my constitutional right to vote and elect those who will lead the local councils in the state.
” Many people have decided to boycott the election for some reasons, but the same people will start complaining about bad governance after failing to play their roles in ensuring that good candidates were voted to power.
“I think there’s need for us to change our attitudes of boycotting elections and complaining of bad governance later, ” he said.
Tag: LG Poll
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Voter apathy mars Rivers LG Poll
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Delta LG poll: We are confident of landslide victory – PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed optimism of a landslide victory at the March 6 Delta local government councils poll.
Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, said this when he spoke with news in Asaba on Wednesday.
“The PDP is fully confident of achieving a landslide victory in the March 6 council poll.
“We have campaigned vigorously and comprehensively with visible and verifiable achievements in all the Local Government Areas (LGAs).
“We want to assure the people that the administration of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa still has much more democracy dividends to deliver once our vibrant and result-oriented candidates take charge once again at the local councils.
“Our campaigns were colourful, robust and issues based as our candidates showcased PDP’s achievements in every LGA with the pledge to consolidate on what has already been accomplished.
“The APC on the other hand has nothing to showcase or campaign with as it has failed people of Delta woefully,” he said.
He, however, cautioned the electorate to endeavour to observe all COVID-19 protocols and observe strict guidelines during the election.
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APC clears all chairmanship, councillorship seats in Yobe LG poll
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared all the 17 Chairmanship seats at the Saturday’s Yobe local government council election.
Dr Mamman Muhammad, Chairman, Yobe State Independent Electoral Commissions (YBSIEC) disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Damaturu.
Muhammad said the party also won all the councillorship seats in the entire 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
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Voter apathy mars Kano LG poll
Saturday’s Kano State local government election, recorded low turnout of voters, as only a handful voters were seen in polling units, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
NAN correspondent who went round polling units across the metropolis, reports that there was voter apathy in almost all polling units during the poll.
Areas visited included Chedi, Zage, Zango, Gandu, Sharada, Wailawa, Dorayi, Kabuga, Rijiyar Zaki in Kano Municipal, Gwale, and Ungogo Local Governemnt Areas (LGAs) of the state.
NAN reports that the election started around 10:30 a.m. with heavy presence of policemen and other security personnel.
However, voters interviewed, expressed delight at participating in the election.Malam Jazuli Yusuf a voter in Gwale, said he voted at the election to exercise his civic right.
Yusuf said the election would enable the electorate to elect their leaders at the local government level.
Mrs Amina Isa, a voter in Zage, corroborated the claim, commending the few voters for conducting themselves in orderly manner during the voting process.
Twelve political parties fielded candidates for the 44 chairmanship and 484 councillorship positions in the election, according to the State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC).The commission also deployed about 48,000 staff to the 11,500 polling units for the poll, while 10, 000 police officers and security agents were deployed for the election.
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LG poll: Stray bullet kills teenager in Oyo as hoodlums, NSCDC clash
A teenager simply identified as Kofo was killed by a stray bullet when some hoodlums clashed with personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Idi Oro area of Ibadan during Saturday’s local government election in Oyo State.
The girl was said to have gone to a pharmaceutical shop to buy some drugs when she met her untimely death.
Residents that some hoodlums were fomenting trouble in the area when personnel of the NSCDC in the state were called in to quell the violence.
The residents alleged that the girl was killed by a stray bullet belonging to the NSCDC in the ensuing clash.
The hoodlums thereafter attacked the NSCDC Divisional Office in Ibadan North West Local Government Council at Ekotedo, vandalising the premises.
It was gathered that officers of the NSCDC later mobilised and repelled the attack.
The spokesman of the NSCDC in the state, Mr Olusegun Oluwole, who confirmed the incident, however, said that men of the command were not responsible for the killing of the teenager.
Oluwole said the hoodlums were already shooting before the arrival of the NSCDC team.
He said the case was now under investigation by the police.
“Our men are not responsible for what happened, but I can tell you now that the case is with the police,’’ he said.
Efforts to get the reactions of the police spokesperson in the state, Adekunle Ajisebutu, proved abortive as calls put through to his line were not answered.
He did not also respond to a text message sent to his line.
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Lagos LG Poll: APC wins 369 councillorship seats, PDP, Accord take 7
Details of final results of Saturday’s local government election in Lagos released by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) on Monday indicated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won four councillorship seats in the polls.
A statement issued by the commission ‘s Director of Publicity, Mr Oladapo Olatunde, indicated that Accord Party also won three councillorship seats in the election.
According to the statement, the PDP won the four councillorship seats in Agege Local Government Area (LGA) Ward C, Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area (LCDA)Ward A, Ikorodu LGA Ward G, and Oriade LCDA Ward A.
Accord Party won in Agege LGA Ward E, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA Ward D and Shomolu/Kosofe Ward E.
Aside the seven councillorship seats, the All Progressives Congress swept all the chairmanship seats and the remaining 369 councillorship seats in the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs in the state.
The analysis of the results showed that nine out of the 12 parties that participated in the election did not record any win.
The LASIEC chairman, retired Justice Ayotunde Phillips, according to the statement, congratulated all winners and urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them.
She urged them to do so by making impact with their leadership in their respective areas.
Phillips thanked the political parties and their agents for the peaceful way they conducted themselves during the election.
The commission’s Chairman also commended security agents for helping to maintain law and order during the election.
She thanked the media and civil society organisations that partnered the commission to conduct the polls.
Ayotunde said the election was largely successfully conducted, but admitted initial delays in the deployment of materials to polling units.
She attributed the delays to the downpour on the day of the polls, which affected easy movement of materials to polling units.
The chairman thanked all Lagosians for the support given to the commission to ensure successful conduct. (NAN)