TheNewsGuru

Tag: Vote

  • JUST IN: Man City lose major premier league vote

    JUST IN: Man City lose major premier league vote

    The Premier League have approved changes to Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules after a crunch summit.

    On Friday morning, top-flight sides gathered in London before voting in a ballot over the Premier League rules.

    The competition had been forced to act after an independent panel found sections of the existing rules on associated party transactions (APTs) – deals between clubs and parties linked to their owners – to be unlawful after a legal challenge from City.

    However, the champions called on clubs to vote against the amendments, accused the Premier League of rushing its consultation and raised the prospect of further legal action should they be enforced.

    Yet the Premier League champions were dealt a blow after the English top-flight voted to approve the changes to ATP rules.

    More shortly…

  • Liberia: My people registered their anger by voting against me- Weah

    Liberia: My people registered their anger by voting against me- Weah

    Liberia’s incumbent president and football legend George Weah conceded defeat on Friday evening after nearly complete returns showed opposition leader Joseph Boakai leading with 50.89 per cent of the vote.

    “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight the CDC (party) has lost the election, but Liberia has won.

    “This is the time for graciousness in defeat, to put national interest above personal interest,” he said in a speech on national radio.

    Results published by the electoral commission after tallying the ballots from more than 99 per cent of polling stations gave Weah 49.11 per cent of the votes cast.

    The 78-year-old Boakai beat Weah by just over 28,000 votes.

    Weah said he had spoken to Boakai “to congratulate him on his victory”.

    “The Liberian people have spoken, and we have heard their voice. However, the closeness of the results reveals a deep division within our country,” Weah said in his speech.

    Around 2.4 million Liberians were eligible to vote on Tuesday, but no turnout figures have been released.

    Dozens of Boakai’s supporters danced in celebration outside one of his party’s offices in the capital Monrovia.

    The elections were the first since the United Nations 2018 ended its peacekeeping mission, created after more than 250,000 people died in two civil wars in Liberia between 1989 and 2003.

  • Erdoğan promises peaceful transition if he loses Sunday’s vote

    Erdoğan promises peaceful transition if he loses Sunday’s vote

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday says he will accept Sunday’s vote results and step down if he loses, refuting concerns that he may not leave power.

    Erdoğan gave assurance in reaction to the question whether he will cling to power if he loses.

    “A very ridiculous question … We come to power through democratic means in Turkey … If our nation decides otherwise, I will do what democracy requires, there is nothing else to do,’’ he added.

    Erdoğan therefore said his bloc will respect “any results coming out of the ballot box,’’

    He advised the opposition to deploy people to monitor the election.

    If the opposition is concerned about electoral safety, they should monitor all polling stations and “ensure safety’’ just as Erdoğan’s party members do, he said.

    “The will of the nation cannot be compromised,’’ Erdoğan added.

    The Turkish President believes that he will be re-elected for another term as well as secure parliamentary majority on Sunday.

    After 20 years at the helm of Turkey, Erdoğan faces his toughest election test amid public resentment over economic troubles, and the handling of February earthquakes and about  3.5 million Syrian refugees.

    A united opposition candidate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, is polling slightly ahead.

  • Voters Apathy, vote buying mar election in Calabar

    Voters Apathy, vote buying mar election in Calabar

    Wevole Ezin

    Most polling units in Calabar, Cross River State have experienced low turnout of voters, and vote buying in the on going Guber and State Assembly elections in Cross River State.

    At ward one, units 001-005 in Akim town, Calabar Municipality, the INEC members of staff and the security personnel were sighted at the various polling units at 7:50am, despite the near absence of prospective voters.

    However, few minutes after casting his vote at the same unit at 9am, the polling unit and other adjoining units, according to our correspondent, started recording slight increase in the number of potential voters.

    It was also observed that some party agents in other areas including Ward 7, unit 5, Ikot Ishie, also in Calabar Municipality, were tactically engaging most voters, promising to reward them for casting their votes for the respective parties.

    The situation was not different in Ward 4, unit 15, State Housing Estate in Calabar Municipality.

    The INEC workers, who came out early for the exercise, were greeted with low turnout of voters.

    One of the electorates, a 26 -year- old Patricia Ekpo said the general Voters’ apary could be related to the outcome of the Presidential election which she said was a stolen mandate of the people.

    She added, ” Today’s exercise is orderly and peaceful no doubt, but the whole essence is about the trust in the system that matters most.”

    At ward 7, unit 5, the level of voter aparthy was quite high compared to the last general elections held in the same area.

    An observer in the unit, Mr. Okon Ete, attributed the situation to the outcome of the last elections.

    ” We are not surprised to see the turn out of voters in today’s election, but we have hope that our party will win. Most of our supporters are not happy with the results of the last elections, and so they refused to come out”, he said.

    Also speaking, the PDP agent in Polling unit 012, ward 6, Pst. Dominic Etim, said “today’s turnout is not really encouraging compared to the Presidential election. People are aggrieved, they feel their votes were not counted in the previous exercise and still believe their vote will not be counted this time around.”

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  • I believe we are going to win at the end of the day – Omo-Agege

    I believe we are going to win at the end of the day – Omo-Agege

    Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, the Delta All Progressives Congress (APC ) governorship candidate says he believes the party will win the election in the state.

    Omo-Agege said this shortly after he cast his vote at Ohromuru Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Areas of the state.

    ”The die is cast. Today is the day. I have cast my vote.

    ”With my assessment so far, I believe we are going to win at the end of the day. There is no doubt about that,” he said.

    Omo-Agege who, however, alleged attacks by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in some polling units across the state, noted that PDP entered the contest with determination to ensure attacks were launched in polling units across the state.

    “Having said that, the PDP entered into this contest with a determination to ensure attacks are launched on polling units across the state, mostly those in Delta Central senatorial district to destroy votes.

    ”Since morning, we have been receiving reports of those attacks in polling units in Erhueni in Ughelli North LGA. We also received same report in Ughelli South LGA.

    ”We also received reports of attacks from Oteri in Ughelli North LGA and of course some mischiefs are going on since last night in Gbaramatu and Oporoza communities in Warri South West LGA.

    ”Uvwie LGA is almost a war zone where people are being threatened that if you are not voting PDP, don’t come out and those who have come out are being threatened that they will be killed.

    ”All along, we have been getting security agencies to respond and they have been responding; but it thus appeared that they are being overwhelmed .

    ”But we are here out to protect our votes because we have votes across the state.But inspite of these attacks, we are very confident of our victory,” he added.

    Omo-Agege, therefore, appealed to the electorates and the people of the state to remain calm.

    “Do not be provoked at the end of the day, we  will be declared winner,” he assured.

    The deputy senate president was accredited at about 11. 08 a.m.and he voted at 11.11 a.m.

  • Nigerians believe in us, they will vote for us again, says Buhari

    Nigerians believe in us, they will vote for us again, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari says outcomes of the Governorship and State of Assembly elections will favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the country as Nigerians know the party “means what it says, and says what it means.’’

    The president stated this while addressing newsmen after casting his vote at polling unit 003 at Sarkin Yara Ward A in Daura, Katsina State, on Saturday.

    Buhari said that he was not surprised at the results of the Presidential elections on February 25, 2023, which saw Sen. Bola Tinubu emerging as President-elect, since the APC campaigns were thorough, and detailed.

    “I am sure we are going to win, again,’’ he reassured.

    The president urged the electorate to follow their conscience in choosing the right leaders, both state executives and legislatures, admonishing that the era of vote buying had been diminished.

    “I am aware that the money is not there like before for people to sway voters, like they used to do.

    ”And if they bring out money now, the people should pocket it and still vote their conscience,’’ Buhari said.

    The president said that the APC followed the constitutional procedure for the entire electoral process, choosing a party Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu.

    Buhari said Adamu had served as a two-term Governor in Nasarawa State, and legislator in the Senate, with an experience that would secure the electoral value and relevance of the party.

    He said: “Nigerians trust us because we mean what we say and say what we mean. We have maintained that trust.

    ”We told Nigerians that we will work for them, and we have done our best in education and health facilities, and Nigerians appreciate our efforts,’’ he said.

    On deepening of democratic culture and rising awareness among Nigerians, the president said the media had played a major role in empowering people with information on their rights, and providing a platform for voters to challenge leaders on promises and records.

    “The media is doing very well in creating awareness and enabling the right conversation. You can hear the tough questions for leaders during interviews on TV, radio and other platforms, and the journalists always press for answers,’’ he noted.

    President Buhari’s family members and aides also voted at the ward.

  • Too early to give judgment on INEC – Shettima finally casts vote

    Too early to give judgment on INEC – Shettima finally casts vote

    The Vice Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress ( APC), Kashim Shettima finally cast his vote at his Shettimari unit 001 on Saturday.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalled Shettima left the polling centre earlier due to the absence of election officials.

    He urged all contestants to accept the outcome of the election in good faith.

    ”Nigerians need to work for the greater good of the nation.

    “The longer journey is the call for national unity and progress.

    On the challenges experienced which affected his chance to vote earlier, Shettima said it’s normal in view of huge tasks involved in organising elections in a populous country like Nigeria.

    “It’s too early to give judgment on INEC, we need to give them the benefit of doubt.

    “I believed INEC is pragmatic enough to extend the voting up to 6 pm or even 10 pm to enable the public exercise their right to vote, ” Kashim said.

  • Ganduje votes, says BVAS ‘ll enhance credibility of electoral process

    Ganduje votes, says BVAS ‘ll enhance credibility of electoral process

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State says the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will enhance the credibility of the 2023 general election.

    He said this on Saturday shortly after casting his vote at Cikin-Gari Ward, Unit 008 at Ganduje in Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area of the state.

    Ganduje noted that the measure was one of the innovations toward achieving sustainable electoral reforms to accelerate national development.

    The governor said that INEC had taken elections to the next level with the introduction of BVAS, adding that he was satisfied with the conduct of the electorate and the exercise by INEC.

    “I am impressed with the prompt commencement of the exercise in the area, as well as the peaceful conduct of voters,” he said.

    Ganduje, however, noted that the accreditation was slow, but expressed optimism that the exercise would pickup before the end of the day.

    He also expressed hope that the peaceful and large turnout of the electorate and adequate security arrangements that characterised the exercise so far would be sustained to ensure that it ended peacefully.

    The governor also urged the electorate to turn out en masse during the March 11 Governorship and State Assembly election.

  • Vote Buying: Nigerians urged to reject ‘Greek Gift’ from politicians

    Vote Buying: Nigerians urged to reject ‘Greek Gift’ from politicians

    Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Nigerians have been urged to resist selling votes to politicians, warning that electing the wrong candidates is dangerous to the nation’s democracy and will further shrink the civic space.

    Vote buying has become a disturbing phenomenon in recent off-cycle elections in Nigeria and is now a major concern ahead of the general 2023 polls.

    The Executive Director of Daily Trust Foundation, Dr Theophilus Abbah, issued the caution during PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, an anti-corruption radio programme produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja, asking electorates to reject the “Greek gift” by politicians.

    While stressing the need for citizens to participate in the 2023 general elections, Abbah urged Nigerians to vote their conscience, noting that the outcome of the coming elections will shape what happens in the next four to eight years.

    He urged electorates to jettison the idea of collecting money offered by politicians during the election and voting their conscience, warning that any politician paying to vote is making an “investment” and will seek to recoup the money spent.

    “Nigerians are well aware that vote buying is not good for our democracy, anybody who gives money to get elected is actually making an investment, and if he wins the election, he will want to recoup that money as his salary is not enough to recoup that money.

    “The president does not earn up to N2 million per month according to the official salary of the president. Imagine if he distributed 100 billion to get elected. You can imagine how long it will take him to recoup that money from his salary. It doesn’t happen. That means anybody who gives so much money definitely is going to use the resources we have, that should have been used to develop society and provide social services to replenish his coffers.

    “And anyone who pays to get the vote, his conscience will not be pricked if he is stealing the money. He will say, after all, I paid to be elected.

    “You cannot in all conscience vote for another person. Your conscience will tell you, and you have eaten from this man, you cannot go against him; you must fulfil your promise. So, it is not the right thing to do, even if your preferred candidate is not going to win an election, you should shun that momentary pleasure, advantage derived from the little money,” stressed.

    Abbah decried the shrinking civic space in Nigeria owing to a spate of attacks on journalists and human rights activists by non-state actors and thugs working for politicians, cautioning that the development is impeding democracy.

    “When you look at the issue of civic space, in a situation whereby journalists, right civil activists, and anti-corruption activists are not finding it convenient to operate effectively in the country, it is not good for democracy.

    “if you vote for the wrong candidate in a sense that candidate who doesn’t respect the role of the media, who doesn’t respect the fact that the media are partners in the country’s democratic experiment, if you vote in leaders like that, it will affect the civic space,” He stated.

    Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program used by PRIMORG to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

    The program has the support of the MacArthur Foundation.

  • Vote credible personalities come 2023 general elections, TUC urges Nigerians (photos)

    Vote credible personalities come 2023 general elections, TUC urges Nigerians (photos)

     

    …as CRS council elects new EXCO

     

    Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Cross River State, has advised civil societies and Nigerians not to sit on the fence but participate and vote for credible personalities in the coming 2023 general elections.

    The state Chairman, Mr. Monday Ogbodum who was declared unopposed made the call on Wednesday during the 6thTriennial Delegates Conference in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.

    According to him, those crops of leaders in the country have failed Nigerians as he called on citizens to brace up and make effective change with their PVC in the coming general elections.

    Lamenting on the harsh economic situation in the country, the state TUC Chairman said there is an urgent need to enthroned transformative governance through democratic emergence of competent and visionary leaders at all a level.

    The crops of leaders in the country have failed Nigerians. May I at this junction call on workers, civil societies and indeed Nigerians to breeze up, hold the bull by the horns, to effect and change the narratives by voting personality, Nigerian with vision come 2023.

    “We can’t continue this way, you and I and all of us must be challenge, don’t sit on the fence, come out and participate and exercise your civil responsibility come 2023.” He charged.

    On his achievement in the past years, he said his administration had been able to fast track the implementations of Civil Servants who were promoted in 2016 without implementation and approval and release of N200,000 million for payment of gratuities that was left unattended to since 2014.

    He however commended the state government for lifting the embargo on employment of civil servants by granting approval for fresh employment into the civil service.

    In his remark, the National President, TUC, Mr. Festus Osifo who was represented by Mr. Tony Mokwenye called on the Cross River State government to implement the new minimum wage to ease the sufferings of civil servants especially as the country is facing harsh economy.

    Speaking also, the state Governor, Senator Ben Ayade who was represented by the Head of Service (HoS) Mr. Timothy Akwaji, congratulated the union for a successful end of leadership term and a peaceful election of leaders into office.

    He however stated that the governor has always placed a premium on the welfare of workers by paying salaries regularly.

    He added, “Yes, there are challenges, as we sit down here, there are states in Nigeria owing salaries up to one year but in Cross River State, our story is not as bad as that and we will continue to do the needful. Giving the challenges that we have concerning payment of gratuities that is being address.” he assured.

    Similarly, the 6th Triennial Congress also ushered in a fresh executive that will pilot the affairs of the Union for the next three years.

    The Chairman, Com. Monday Ogbodum returned unopposed and Com. Gabriel Effiong as Vice Chairman while Com. Ken Bassey as Secretary.

    Others include Com. ( Dr ) Joseph Ewa as assistant Secretary, Moses Ekpo , treasurer , Itoro Anselem, Com.(Dr) Bassey Icha as PRO , Com Celestine Ogbu Auditor , Com. Clarkson Otu ex-officio, Com Mustapha Okon Auditor II.

    While Com. ( Mrs ) Josephine Abobi is Chairperson women Commission and Com. ( Mrs) Regina Odunsi is Secretary women Commission.

    In his acceptance speech, the newly sworn in Chairman, Com Monday Ogbodum said he was committed to the welfare of workers in the state while urging them to always verify information before sharing.

    Ogbodum however assured the union of a more robust council as he seeks for total support of members,

    He also promised to ensure that all their entitlement as civil servants would be given to them.

    “I can’t do it on my own, I need the support of every worker in Cross River state, I want to also beg you to desist from sharing unverified information to avoid unnecessary panic in the system,” he said.

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