COVER
APC Takes Lead in Governorship Polls, Wins Eight States
From Alfred Babs (Ilorin), Kunle Idowu (Abeokuta), Dan Amasingha, Minna
Some of the governorship election results from last Saturday’s polls were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) winning six of the states, while the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) claiming two of the sight states announced yesterday.
In Kwara State, the incumbent Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was declared the winner of the 2023 governorship election in the state.
Governor Abdulrazaq, who is of the All Progressives Congress (APC), won in all the 16 local government areas of the state in the election results declared by the INEC Returning officer for the polls, Professor Isaac Itodo, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue state.
The INEC had on Saturday night started announcement of the 2023 governorship election results with only that of three local government areas with the governor clearing the three local government areas of Ekiti, Isin and Offa local government areas.
At the resumed announcement of the election results on Sunday morning, which lasted till evening the APC governor also won in additional 13 local government areas.
Our correspondent, Kunle Idowu reported that Governor Dapo Abiodun of APC was also declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Ogun State, defeating Mr Oladipupo Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to retain his seat.
The state Returning Officer for the Governorship poll, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, made the declaration yesterday in Abeokuta at about 6.17 p.m, saying that Abiodun scored 276, 298 votes to win the election.
“That Abiodun Adedapo Oluseun of APC, having satisfied with the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and he is returned elected,” Adebowale, who is also Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, declared.
He explained that Abiodun defeated his closest rival, Adebutu, who scored 262, 382 votes.
Adebowale said that candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Biyi Otegbeye, came third with 94, 754 votes.
A breakdown of the results on local government basis, as announced by the local government Collation Officers, showed that Abiodun won in 12 council areas, while Adebutu won in eight out of the 20 local governments in the state.
Abiodun won in Ijebu-Ode; Odeda; Egbado North; Egbado South; Ewekoro; Ijebu North; Abeokuta North and Ipokia.
Others were: Imeko Afon, Ado Odo-Ota, Obafemi Owode and Ifo, while Adebutu won in Sagamu; Abeokuta South; Odogbolu; Ikenne; Ijebu North East; Ijebu East; Ogun Waterside and Remo North.
According to Adebowale, the registered voters were 2 ,688,305, while accredited voters were 666, 406.
He said the numbers of valid votes were 645, 133, while 18,835 votes were rejected, adding that the votes cast were 663, 968.
In Oyo State, one of the G5 governors, Seyi Makinde, who took up arms against the PDP leadership, won the gubernatorial election for a second term.
The election was conducted in all the 33 local government areas of the state on Saturday.
Makinde, one of the G5 Governors, who contested on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared the winner of the election.
The returning officer in the state, Professor Adebayo Bamire, who announced the result of the election, declared that Makinde, who is seeking another term in office defeated all other candidates to win the election.
Bamire, the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, said that Makinde scored a total of 563,756 votes to defeat all other candidates.
Bamire while speaking announced that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin scored 256,685 votes.
The Accord candidate, Adebayo Adelabu scored a total of 38,357 votes.
In Akwa Ibom State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Mr Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the governorship election.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Emmanuel Adigio, Vice Chancellor, Nigerian Maritime University, Delta, announced the results yesterday in Uyo.
Adigio said Eno won in 29 out of 31 Local Government Areas of the state to defeat Sen. Bassey Akpan of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
He said that the PDP candidate scored 354,348 votes, beating closet rival, of Young Progressive Party (YPP), who got 136,262 votes.
He also said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 129,602 votes while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) got 12,509 votes while Labour Party (LP) scored 4,746 votes.
Also yesterday, the APC candidate in Katsina State, Dikko Umar Radda was declared winner of the Saturday governorship poll.
Dikko, a former director of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, polled 859,892 votes to beat Garba Yakubu Lado of PDP, who scored 486,620 votes.
Prof. Ma’azu Abubakar Gusau, Returning Officer for Katsina governorship poll, however, is yet to officially announce the result.
Incumbent Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya was yesterday declared the winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Maimuna Waziri, the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University, Gashua, Yobe declared the result in Gombe yesterday.
Waziri said that Yahaya of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 342, 821 votes to defeat his closest rival Mr Jibrin Barde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 233, 131 votes.
She said that Khamisu Mailantarki of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) polled 19,861 votes while Keftin Amuga of Labour Party polled 1,753.
Waziri said that the number of registered voters was 1,575,794, while 618,231 voters were accredited adding that the number of valid votes was 605,355, while 11,390 votes were rejected and 616,745 total votes cast.
Yahaya won in nine out of the 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, while the difference between APC and PDP scores was 109,690 votes.
In Jigawa State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Malam Umar Namadi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the Jigawa governorship election.
The Returning Officer for the poll, Prof. Umar Zaiyan of Federal University Birnin Kebbi, announced the result yesterday in Dutse.
Zaiyan said that Namadi scored 618,449 votes to beat his closest rival, Mr Mustapha Sule Lamido who polled 368,726 votes.
He said: “I Prof. Umar Zaiyan hereby certify that Umar Namadi of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the Law is declared the winner of Jigawa governorship election.”
According to him, 1.07 million voters were accredited in the March 18 election with 1.05 million votes cast, out of which 1.03 million votes were the total valid votes cast at the exercise.
The 60-year-old politician and chartered accountant also defeated Malam Aminu Ringim of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) who clinched 37,156 votes.
The PDP had earlier called on the returning officer to declare a section of the election as inconclusive.
When the party agents were called in by Zaiyan to sign the result sheets containing the scores of each candidate in the governorship contest, the PDP’s agent, Malam Abubakar, declined to endorse it.
He said that the returning officer ought to had address his complaints before proceeding to perfect the formalities of signing the result sheets, as such he left the collation centre without signing the result.
Namadi, the incumbent deputy governor of Jigawa, who represents was born on April 7, 1963, obtained degree in Accountancy and Masters degree in Business Administration from Bayero University, Kano.
The governor-elect had served in various capacities both in public and private sectors.
Niger PDP Guber Candidate Concedes Defeat as APC Leads in Nine LGAs
The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State, Alhaji Isah Liman Kantigi has called to congratulate his counterpart from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umar Mohammed Bago before the final announcement.
As at the time of filling this report, 14 local government election results were being awaited after break.
Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon Muhammed Umar Bago was leading, having won nine out of the 11 local government areas so far declared yesterday, while his main challenger, Isah Liman Kantigi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won two.
DAILY ASSET Correspondent, who monitored the announcement of results at governorship collation centre at INEC Office along David Mark Road Minna, observed that so far the exercise is peaceful.
Both candidates, the APC candidate, Umar Bago and Isah Liman Kantigi won their respective local government areas of Bida and Edati.
From the result announced so far, the All progressive congress party won in Tafa, Gurara, Paikoro , Bosso, Suleja , Katcha, Bida, Chanchaga (Minna)and Lapai local government Areas.
The PDP candidate on his part won his home council, Edati and Munya Local Government Area.
The All progressive congress party Governorship Candidate is leading his main opponent with 29, 352 votes from the results collated from the eleven local government Areas result declared so far with fourteen more councils to go.
From the results announced, the APC Governorship Candidate recorded 216, 660 votes as against the PDP Candidate who got 187, 308 votes from the councils declared.
APC Wins Eight of 10 LGAs in Ebonyi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) won eight out of the 10 local government areas (LGAs) of Ebonyi state so far announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday.
The local government areas are: Ebonyi, Ivo, Ezza North, Izzi, Afikpo South, Ohaozara, Ohaukwu and Abakaliki.
Ebonyi has a total of 13 local government areas.
The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won in one each, Ezza South and Onicha respectively.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs Onyeka Ugochi, announced that the remaining LGAs of Ikwo, Afikpo North and Ishielu would be announced as soon as the results are ready.
The major contenders in the governorship race are: Francis Nwifuru, APC, Dr IfeanyiChukwuma Odii, PDP, and Bernard Odo of the APGA.
Sanwo-Olu in Early Lead as INEC Announces Results of 19 LGAs in Lagos
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the APC gubernatorial candidate, is currently leading 15 other candidates in the Governorship Election held on Saturday in the state.
The state collation of results of the gubernatorial poll is ongoing at the INEC Media Centre, located within the premises of the state headquarters of the commission.
The exercise, which started at 12 noon yesterday with the arrival of results from 19 out of the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, is being monitored by representatives of political parties, domestic and foreign observers, media and other stakeholders under the watch of security agencies.
As at 2.40 pm, results from 19 LGAs have been announced by the respective INEC Local Government Collation Officers one after the order.
The results of LGAs so far released are Lagos Island, Apapa, Epe, Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Ikeja, Mushin, Surelere, Ibeju-Lekki, Ifako-Ijaiye, Badagry, Lagos Mainland, Alimosho, Ojo, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu, Amuwo-Odofin
In the 19 LGAs announced so far, APC’s Sanwo-Olu is leading while the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is coming second.
The Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, is in a distant third position.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
As part of efforts to reposition the newspaper for optimum corporate performance, the management of Asset Newspapers Limited, Publishers of DAILY ASSET, has announced the appointment of David Torough as the Editor of the Abuja-based national daily.
A statement by the management said the appointments were part of the company’s new strategy to further penetrate the various states in the country and raise its readership and patronage.
“DAILY ASSET is widely acceptable across the country and to maintain our leadership position, we need to increase management presence, hence the need to create new Bureau offices in some locations outside Abuja and Lagos,” the statement quoted the Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief, Dr Cletus Akwaya to have said.
In a statement yesterday, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the fast-growing daily, Dr. Cletus Akwaya said the appointment was part of the new strategy to properly situate the paper for better productivity.
“DAILY ASSET has a commitment with the Nigerian people. We are determined to weather the storm and give Nigerian readers a Newspaper that satisfies their yearnings and reading pleasure and we can only do that with the right set of professionals,” the statement said.
Akwaya, a former Commissioner of Information from Benue State said the difficult times being faced by Nigerians posed a great challenge to the media as the people deserved credible information with which to make choices.
“We have a bond with the people, to offer credible information at all times in the best tradition of the Nigerian Press and on this scale of objectivity, truth and fairness, we pledge to remain steadfast no matter the challenges,” Akwaya was quoted to have said.
He said the newspaper will maiantin its daily print run and circulation to all states of the federation and urged advertisers to take advantage of the deep penetration of the Daily Asset brand to send their messages.
Torough, the new Editor has had a steady rise in the Newspaper in the last five years.
A graduate of Mass communication of the Benue State University, Makurdi, Torough joined the company in 2022 as Benue State Correspondent. He was spotted for his brilliance and redeployed to Abuja the following year and promoted to Deputy News Editor. He was subswuently named Deputy Editor of the paper, a position he held until the recent appointment.
Torough has attended several journalistic workshops and trainings to properly equip himself for the task ahead.
The statement also said the Management named Eze Okechukwu as Deputy Editor.
Before his elevation as Deputy Editor, Eze has been Deputy Politics Editor and DAILY ASSET Newspaper correspondent covering the Senate, having joined the organization in 2021.
Born on March 10, 1975, Eze holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Eze began his journalism career with Daily Star, Enugu and later worked with Daily Trust Newspaper, Abuja as sports reporter.
Aside from his journalistic excellence, he has a great deal of passion for sports.
From Ngutor Dekera, Kaduna and Aliyu Askira, Kano
Northern governors and traditional rulers yesterday called for the suspension of mining activities across the region for six months, blaming illegal mining for worsening insecurity in many states.The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
The meeting, chaired by the Gombe State Governor and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, had in attendance the 19 northern governors and chairmen of the 19 states’ traditional councils. The Forum expressed concern over the escalating violence in parts of the North, including the killings and abductions recently recorded in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué said, noting that the attacks on schoolchildren and other citizens had become “unacceptable tragedies” that required urgent collective action.It commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions and insurgency threats, especially the rescue of some abducted pupils.The governors also saluted security agencies for their sacrifices on the frontlines.“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the Forum stated.A major highlight of the meeting was the North’s renewed push for the establishment of state police, with governors and traditional rulers insisting that decentralised policing had become inevitable.“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué added, urging federal and state lawmakers from the region to “expedite action for its actualisation.”On illegal mining, the governors said criminal mining networks were fuelling violence and providing resources for armed groups.As a corrective measure, they asked Tinubu to direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to impose a six-month suspension of mining activities in order to allow for a full audit and revalidation of licences.“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria. “We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining,” it said.To strengthen the fight against insecurity, the governors also announced the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund.Under the proposed arrangement, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1bn monthly, to be deducted at source under an agreed framework.They said the fund would help provide sustainable financing for joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions and coordinated security responses across the region.At the end of the meeting, the Forum reaffirmed its commitment to unity and collective responsibility.“Only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us,” it declared.The Forum agreed to reconvene on a date to be announced.Meanwhile, Nigeria’s worsening security crisis took a grim turn on Monday as bandits launched fresh attacks in Kano State, abducting 25 villagers, even as the Federal Government raced to secure the release of more than 300 Catholic school children kidnapped in Niger State.In the early hours of Monday, armed bandits invaded Unguwar Tsamiya—popularly called Dabawa—in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, whisking away nine men and two women after shooting into the air and assaulting residents. The attackers also rustled two cows.A resident lamented the community’s helplessness: “We cannot do otherwise; most of us cannot leave because we have nowhere to go. This is our place, our land and everything is here.”The assault came less than 24 hours after a similar attack on Yan Kamaye in Tsanyawa LGA, a community along the volatile Katsina border.In Niger State, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has assured distraught families of St. Mary’s Co-Education School, Kontagora that the more than 300 students and staff abducted on November 21 will return home “soon.” Ribadu, who led a high-level federal delegation to the school on Monday, said the abductees are safe, though he offered no specifics on their location or the status of rescue operations.According to Daniel Atori, spokesman for the Catholic bishop overseeing the school, the NSA reassured officials: “The children are where they are and will come back safely.”The St. Mary’s attack is part of a worrying resurgence of mass kidnappings reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. Security analysts warn that banditry has evolved into a “structured, profit-seeking industry,” with hundreds of Nigerians abducted in November alone.The Kontagora school abduction occurred the same week 25 girls were kidnapped in Kebbi State—victims who authorities say have since been rescued through “non-kinetic” means. About 50 of the St. Mary’s hostages have also managed to escape.Ribadu’s delegation, which included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing the freedom of all abducted citizens.As communities from Kano to Niger continue to bear the brunt of these violent incursions, the escalating spate of kidnappings underscores the urgent national demand for a more decisive and coordinated security response.
By David Torough, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, will face a team of interrogators at its office daily throughout December.A credible source in the EFCC said on Monday that the daily appearance was part of an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of an alleged 490 million dollars Abacha loot secured through a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT) request.
The source said that Malami, who was summoned for interrogation by the EFCC on Saturday, was barred from leaving Nigeria for the next one month.According to the source, one of the conditions for his release on Saturday was that he should report daily to the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja for further interrogation.The source said Malami would have to appear daily at the anti-graft office due to the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him.”We seized his passport, it is the normal routine during investigation, but he has to report at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja every day for the next month.”He will be reporting for further investigation throughout December.”He will be reporting every day, starting from Dec. 1st to Dec. 31st.He will appear before the team of investigators for the entire month of December.”He will be reporting to EFCC for investigation for the period because of the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him,” the source added.According to the source, a fact sheet on the former minister revealed that Malami had several issues to clarify with the EFCC within the coming weeks.“We have asked him to explain the whereabouts of the $490 million Abacha loot secured through MLAT.“We didn’t say he stole money, but he should account for the loot. This is one of the issues he will clarify to our investigators.”The commission cited the large volume of documents he must review and the need for extensive interviews as reasons for seizing his passport.The source said EFCC would not engage in a war of words but would release its findings after a thorough investigation.Malami, in a statement by his media aide, Mohammed Doka, on Monday in Abuja, however, described the EFCC investigation as a political witch‑hunt.He confirmed he honored an EFCC invitation on Nov. 28, describing the engagement as fruitful and expressing confidence that the probe would vindicate him.Malami described the EFCC’s allegations as baseless, illogical and devoid of substance, insisting they collapse under factual scrutiny.
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