From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

Kogi state governor, Usman Ododo has given an assurance that he would leave no stone unturned in ensuring free, fair and credible local government council elections slated for October 19 in the state.

Ododo in his speech at the  Flag-off Campaigns of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lokoja on Thursday promised a level playing field for all the participating political parties and provision of adequate security.

He said his administration has laid the foundation for the victory of APC by touching the lives of the people positively

While commending president Bola Tinubu for making security top priority of his administration,  Ododo said that the gesture accounted for the peace being enjoyed in Kogi, the governor assuring that the election would not only be l  peaceful but free, fair and transparent

He appealed to the people to support the president in his drive to reposition the economy of the country, saying that the president meant well for the nation, assuring that the people will soon continue to see the dividends of his efforts, adding that the hardship being experienced now will soon be a thing of the past.

Speaking further he told APC members and support to come out on October 19 to cast their votes for APC, saying that the party meant well for the people and will continue to deliver dividends of democracy to them.

“The party cares about the welfare of the people of the state. I urged you therefore to work for the candidates that will utilize your resources to work for you and those are the candidates of our party the APC.

“The mandate given to me as Governor is to work for the benefits of the people and not about noise making. I and my team will continue to do that without making noise about it.

“We have been able to intervene in the provision of quality and adequate health for our people, improved infrastructure, investment in education, youth employment and women empowerment, which he said will form the basis of the APC campaign.”

He however urged the people of the state not to be intimidated by anyone, but to go out boldly to cast their votes for the candidates of the APC.

He thanked the people of the state for their support which he said was largely responsible for the successes recorded by his administration, saying that he will not disappoint them.

The chairman of APC in the state, Abdullahi Bello in his welcome address advised members of the party and supporters to engage in door to door campaigns to garner more support for the candidates of the party.

He assured that the party is going to win all the chairmanship positions, because the party has done well in the state.

The representatives of the three districts; Ibrahim Ahovi, Kogi Central; Matthew Kolawole, Kogi west and Comfort Egwuaba in their various speeches assured that the votes from their areas will be total, saying there was no opposition anywhere in the state again.

Egwuaba particularly noted that, the emergence of women as Vice chairmen for APC across the 21 LGAs along with five Councilorship positions, along with numerous women appointed in the governor’s cabinet has made the campaign easy for them.

Earlier, the Chairman of the APC local government campaign committee, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman noted that the governor has simplified their job by over 90% with his impressive performance in office as Governor.

Usman who scored the Governor high in Agriculture, infrastructural development, payment of salary to both State and LG workers, added that this is also another campaign point for the committee.

From Yagana Ali Yola

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, Borno and Yobe states have endorsed Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum’s leadership as Acting National Chairman.

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who spoke on behalf of the five states, expressed confidence in Damagum’s leadership since assuming office.

Citing a Federal High Court Abuja restraining order, Fintiri stated that Damagum should complete former Chairman Dr.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Humwashi wonusiko, state that the governor praised Damagum for restoring public confidence in the party and urged members to respect the court’s ruling for the party’s and democracy’s sake.

The Governor who described the performance of the party in the North East region during the 2023 elections as unprecedented at all levels noted that the zone deserves the position of National Chairman more than any section in the North.

A Federal High Court in Abuja had barred the National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee, PDP, INEC, and affiliates from replacing, nominating or appointing any Chairman other than Ambassador Damagum, following a restraining order by the Court.

Alhaji Mohammed Baba-Okanla, Chairman of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC), says more than 21,000 persons applied for ad hoc jobs in Saturday’s local government elections in the state.

Baba-Okanla made this disclosure on Wednesday
in Ilorin while speaking during the 42nd edition of the Media Parliament Conversation by the Kwara Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

He also disclosed that only five political parties were registered and would field candidates in the elections.

The Commission Chairman listed the parties as the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Peoples Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Accord Party (AP).

“The number of job applicants reflected the socio-political situation in the country, even though only about 7,000 of the applicants were eventually considered.”

He however expressed the commission’s readiness to conduct hitch-free local government elections across the 2,887 poling units in the state.

“I am pleased to announce that the commission has carefully crafted a comprehensive time-table for Saturday’s local government elections to ensure that all stakeholders are adequately prepared for the electoral process.

“Polling units will open by 8 s.m. and voting will be concluded by 3 p.m., after which sorting, counting and collation of results will begin immediately,” Baba-Okanla said.

He added that results would be collated at the designated collation centres and announced after counting was concluded.

The KWASIEC Chairman said his Commission was fully prepared for the council polls, adding that they would work diligently to ensure that every aspect of the electoral process was well organised.

“From the training of electoral staff to the distribution of election materials, every measure is being put in place to ensure that the elections are conducted smoothly, transparently and in accordance with the laws.”

He disclosed that his Commission had been collaborating with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the success of the council polls.

“The issue of the voter register is one that we have taken very seriously.

“A credible voter register is the foundation of any free and fair election, as it ensures that only eligible citizens participate in the electoral process,” Baba- Okanla said.

He disclosed that the Commission had organised training programmes for its staff and the ad hoc staff who would supervise the elections across the state’s 193 wards.

The KWASIEC Chairman added that the commission has also held consultations with the security agencies in the state to ensure maximum security of lives and property during the polls.

Earlier, the Chairman of Kwara Council of NUJ, AbdulLateef Ahmed, had expressed delight that the state thought it wise to put in place democratically-elected governments at the local government level.

Represented by the Council Vice-Chairman, Hajia Binta Mora, the Council chairman urged the electoral body to conduct free, fair and credible elections.(NAN)