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Tag: LG Polls

  • Nasarawa to hold LG polls November 2 – NASIEC

    Nasarawa to hold LG polls November 2 – NASIEC

    The Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) has fixed November 2, 2024, for elections of Chairmen and Councillors of the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

    The Chairman of the Commission, Ayuba Wandai, announced the date at press conference on Wednesday in Lafia, the state capital.

    He revealed that the tenure of the 13 Local government Chairmen and 147 Councillors ends on October 7, 2024 after serving for three years.

    He explained that the commission had earlier released a timetable for the conduct of the elections on August 31, but could not go on because of the case filed against the commission.

    “We were served with an originating summons by the Federal High Court, Lafia, by one Barr Paul John and 12 others against the commission and the Nasarawa State House of Assembly challenging the local government laws.

    “They were challenging the powers confirmed by the chairman of the commission to announce the results of the 13 LGAs and 147 electoral wards and declare the winners.

    “They were also challenging the powers conferred on the commission to fixed money for nomination forms and administrative charges.

    “Thank God, we won the case at the court, and they have also withdrawn their appeal at the Appeal Court, Makurdi, to clear the coast for the commission,” he added.

    Wandai further said that now that the case at the court was over, the commission has decided to continue with the process of the elections.

    He said that candidates from the various political parties should begin their campaign on Friday, October, 18.

    He further announced that all political parties interested in presenting candidates in the election should conduct their primaries and conclude all disputes that might arise, from Friday, October 11 to Thursday, October 27.

    He, therefore, promised that the commission would conduct a credible polls and provide a level playing field for every political party.

     

  • Why INEC can’t conduct LG polls – Council boss

    Why INEC can’t conduct LG polls – Council boss

    The Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mr Fatai Ayoola, has faulted calls for INEC to take over conduct of local government  elections.

    Ayoola made his position known in an interview with NAN in Lagos.

    NAN reports that State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) currently conduct council polls.

    The calls for INEC to take over conduct of council polls followed  a recent Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local government.

    Those calling for the takeover believe that it  would prevent  state governors from  imposing their candidates on councils.

    Ayoola told NAN that the call lacked merit as INEC had never conducted a rancour-free poll in Nigeria to warrant such a call.

    “Tell me which election INEC has conducted  without a controversy,” he said.

    According to him, it is irreconcilable that some Nigerians are clamouring for state police and true federalism and, at the same time,  seeking abolition of SIECs.

    He urged Nigerians to suggest how to improve conduct of local government elections rather than agitating for INEC to do it.

    “It will only get better, it is a gradual process,” he said.

    He, however, supported calls for true federalism and creation of state police, saying that councils could not be taken away from states.

    NAN reports that the Supreme Court held that the 774 local governments in the country should independently manage their funds.

    The verdict will enable local governments to  directly  receive federal allocations from the federation account.

    With the judgment, local governments can also manage their finances, collect revenues and allocate resources without state governments’ interferences.

  • Rivers: Court stops INEC from releasing voters register for LG Polls

    Rivers: Court stops INEC from releasing voters register for LG Polls

    Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

    On Friday evening, Justice Lifu issued an order of interim injunction against INEC while delivering a ruling in a motion ex-parte brought before him by the All Progressives Congress (APC)

    The motion ex-parte was filed on behalf of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by a team of senior lawyers and brought under Section 13 of the Federal High Court Act, Order 26 Rules 1 and 3, order 28 Rules 1 and 2, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court as enshrined in Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Furthermore, the judge also ordered the Rivers Electoral Commission and Rivers Attorney-General from receiving from INEC or using part of the National Voters Register relating to Rivers State to conduct local government elections in the state.

    Additionally, Justice Lifu restrained the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Service (DSS) from participating or providing security protection for the Rivers State Electoral Commission to conduct local government elections in the state.

    Recall that Governor Fubara recently released names of caretaker chairmen to all the Local government Areas in the state.

     

  • LG Polls: Ughelli South PDP pledge massive votes for Avweromre

    LG Polls: Ughelli South PDP pledge massive votes for Avweromre

    As Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rounds off campaign in Ughelli South Local Government Area, for the July 13, Local Government council elections in the state, party faithful in Jeremi Ward 2, have declared total support for the candidacy of Dr Lucky Avweromre as Chairman of the Council.

    At a rally held in Otu-Jeremi, on Sunday, the party leaders and stakeholders pledged to vote massively for all candidates of the PDP in the forthcoming July 13, Local Government Council elections.

    Speaking during the rally, Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze while assuring of the party’s victory in the Ward and Council Area, remarked that the task ahead was challenging but surmountable.

    He described Avweromre as competent, qualified for the office and urged him to operate from the Council Secretariat at Otu-Jeremi when elected.

    Izeze appreciated Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for appointing him as Commissioner and member of the State Executive Council and charged the people to continue supporting the Oborevwori administration for more dividends of democracy in the state and council area in line with the M.O.R.E. Agenda of the Governor.

    Izeze, a former member of the Delta State House of Assembly electrified the crowd with the presentation of a Toyota Camry car to Mr Jacob Tone, a PDP stalwart and former Director-General of his defunct third term campaign council. He thanked Mr Tone for his loyalty to the party and for his support over the years.

    On his part, Senior Political Adviser to the Governor, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo tasked the Chairmanship candidate on skill acquisition and empowerment for the youths of the area to make them job creators rather than job seekers.

    Responding Avweromre who was elated by the massive reception accorded him and members of the Campaign train pledged to operate from the Council Secretariat and to deliver dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroot.

    A minute silence was observed for the late former Minister of State Chief Kenneth Gbagi and former member of the State House of Assembly, Engr. Eme Mukoro who were both from the ward.

    Dignitaries at the rally included member representing Ughelli South State Constituency, Hon. Festus Utuama; Delta Central PDP Chairman Chief Patrick Fovie; Chairman Obakpor Engineering, Chief John Oguma, Chairman Ughelli South PDP, Mr Michael Oshetigho, Director General of the Avweromre campaign council, Chief Talib Tebite, former Chairman of the Council, Dr Richard Kofi, former Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba, among other leaders.

  • Why INEC will not release BVAS for Oyo LG polls – Tella

    Why INEC will not release BVAS for Oyo LG polls – Tella

    Dr Adeniran Tella the Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, said on Friday, that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, cannot be released to the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, for the conduct of the local government elections scheduled for April 27.

    Tella made this known while speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the quarterly consultative meeting with civil society organisations in the state.

    According to Tella, BVAS contained sensitive data on voters, adding that it was the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that BVAS should not be released for local government elections.

    “What OYSIEC needs for the election is the voter register and this has been given to them. The voter register will allow the state electoral body to know the number of registered voters and those who are eligible to cast their votes during the elections.

    “But BVAS is meant for the general elections and they are sensitive devices that we can not afford to toy with,” he said.

    Tella, while addressing representatives of over 25 civil society organisations at the consultation meeting, reassured that INEC would continue to partner with them to enable them to play vital roles in ensuring free, fair, transparent, inclusive and credible elections.

  • Court sacks newly elected LG chairmen, councilors in Osun state

    The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, the state capital, has nullified the just concluded local government election  in Osun State.

    The local government poll was conducted on Saturday, October 15, 2022, by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) under the Chairmanship of Segun Oladitan.

    Justice Ayo-Nathaniel Emmanuel of Federal High Court Osogbo on Friday had declared the local government election as illegal, null and void.

    He also added that the election was not conducted in consonance with the Electoral Act of 2022.

    He also ordered the local government chairmen and councillors who were sworn in after the election to vacate Local Government Secretariats and offices with immediate effect.

    Reacting to the court judgment, the Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stated that its activism against the illegality of the outgoing administration of Adegboyega Oyetola has been vindicated.

    In a statement signed by Akindele Adekunle, the Osun caretaker chairman of the party, lamented that about N1.5 billion naira that has been deployed for workers’ welfare was wasted by the Oyetola’s administration for the conduct of the election in addition to several millions of naira illegally paid as salaries and allowances to fake council chiefs.

    “We had warned against holding that fake selection they called election. We had cited all relevant legal authorities to convince OSIEC to back out of the undemocratic scheme. The Commission Chairman who himself is a lawyer decided to act against clear provisions of the law to supervise this crudely executed lawlessness.

    “This judgement is an affirmation of the correctness of many alerts we have issued in recent times. The outgoing Governor had deliberately committed a lot of infractions and lawlessness. We will deploy all legal means to correct the anomalies in compliance with public service rules, extant laws and the constitution of the republic,” the party leader stated.

  • 2023: Labour Party to refund nomination fees to aspirants in Cross River

    2023: Labour Party to refund nomination fees to aspirants in Cross River

    Cross River chapter of the  Labour Party  has called on all councillorship and local government chairmanship aspirants to come for a refund of nomination fees paid into its account following Tuesday’s cancellation of the LG polls initially billed to hold this year.

    This announcement was made by the Chairman of Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), Dr Mike Ushie, on Friday in the state.

    Ushie announced that due to paucity of funds, the election has been postponed to May 2023.

    Speaking in Calabar Friday, the Chairman of the Labour Party, Ambassador Ogar Osim said there was no need for the party to tie down such money whereas the owners could have better and immediate needs for them presently.

    “Unlike in other parties where the issue of refund of the money has sparked big problems, we are a people-friendly party and do understand the plights and wants of the people.

    “We have invited all the councillor and chairmanship candidates in our party to come forward and collect their money. We cannot tie down people’s money. They may have more urgent needs for the money before the envisaged time. But no one is sure if in May next year it would hold.”

  • LG poll: APC wins 31 of 34 LGAs in Katsina — KTSIEC

    LG poll: APC wins 31 of 34 LGAs in Katsina — KTSIEC

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) has won 31 out of 34 local governments areas in Katsina state.

    This was disclosed by the Secretary of the Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission (KTSIEC), Alhaji Lawal Faskari. He further stated that the election was not completed in Daura and Funtua local government areas.

    He also said that the election was cancelled in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area due to some challenges, saying that the exercise was peaceful in all other areas.

    He added that “the exercise was peaceful, and no fewer than 12 registered political parties participated, except in Dutsin-Ma, where challenges forced the commission to use Section 60 of the Katsina State Local Government Elections Law, 2002 to stop the process.

    “The commission has so far received complete results from 31 local government areas, 328 wards, awaiting that of Funtua and Daura, while elections in Dutsin-Ma have been cancelled.

    “The commission, therefore, wishes to announce that APC has won all the 31 chairmanship and 328 councilorship seats so far collated.”

    He congratulated the winners of the elections and appreciated the political parties’ high level of maturity and sportsmanship exhibited during and after the exercise.

    Faskari added that “KTSIEC also wishes to express its gratitude to the electorate and other stakeholders, and the entire people of the state for the overwhelming support and cooperation extended to it.”

  • Kaduna LG Polls: APC wins Sabon Gari Chairmanship seat

    Kaduna LG Polls: APC wins Sabon Gari Chairmanship seat

    Alhaji Mohammed Usman of All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared winner of the Sabon Gari Local Government Council Chairmanship election.

    The Returning Officer, Malam Abubakar-Mohammed Sadiq, announced the outcome of the election on Sunday in Sabon Gari, Zaria.

    He said Usman had satisfied the requirements of the law, having scored highest number of votes,totaling 32,405, to defeat his closest contender, Alhaji Abdu Bello of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), who had 13,777 votes.

    The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission conducted the elections on Sept. 4 across 19 Local Government Areas in the state.

    In spite of some technical hitches occasioned by the malfunctioning of electronic voting machines, as well as low turn-out of voters, the exercise was conducted peacefully.

  • Kaduna LG Polls: APC wins Zaria chairmanship seat

    Kaduna LG Polls: APC wins Zaria chairmanship seat

    The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM) has declared Alhaji Idris Ibrahim of All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Zaria Local Government Council chairmanship seat.

    The Returning Officer (RO), Dr Aliyu Yamusa, announced the result in the early hours of Sunday in Zaria.

    Yamusa said Ibrahim satisfied the requirements of the law and scored highest votes of 34,006 to defeated his closest contender, Alhaji Yusuf Sambo, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 14,019 votes.

    “Therefore, Alhaji Idris Ibrahim of the APC is hereby returned elected,” Yamusa declared.

    The KADSIECOM conducted the council elections on Sept. 4 across the 19 local government areas of the state.