POLITICS
Breaking: Wada Emerges Kogi PDP Governorship Candidate

Mr Musa Wada has emerged the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Nov. 16 governorship election in Kogi State.
The Chairman of the governorship primary election committee, Ahmadu Fintiri, told newsmen on Wednesday in Lokoja that Wada emerged by polling 748 votes to beat 12 other aspirants.
Fintiri, who is the Governor of Adamawa, also disclosed that another aspirant, Abubakar Ibrahim, polled 710 votes to come second, while former Gov.
Idris Wada came third with 345.Other aspirants and their scores as announced by Fintiri were Sen. Dino Melaye, 70 votes, Aminu Abubakar Suleiman, 55, Victor Adoji, 54, Erico Ahmeh, 42, AVM Salihu Atawodi (rtd), 11, Mohamed Shaibu, 4, Bayo Averehi, 2, Emmanuel Omebije, 9 and Mrs Grace Adejoh polled 0.
The committee chairman said that he decided to announce the results, having been satisfied that the conduct of the primaries had complied substantially with the provisions of the party’s constitution.
“We have performed well and we should be commended by all the aspirants,” the governor said.
He said that 2,388 delegates were accredited for the election while 2,109 votes were cast. He also said that 54 voided votes were recorded, with 244 unused ballots, while 247 ballot papers could not be accounted for.
Fintiri also said that the 247 missing ballot papers could be as a result of the invasion of the venue of the primary by yet-to-be-identified gunmen, saying that the number was not enough to damage the integrity of the exercise.
He added that any aggrieved aspirant was free to lodge appeal with the national secretariat of the party.
In his reaction, Melaye expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct and the outcome of the election.
He claimed that the winner was allowed to bring over 600 votes from his house which, he said, the committee accepted and counted in his favour.
Melaye, who spoke through his agent, Mr Femi Obalemo, said that he would appeal the decision of the committee.
Also speaking, Ibrahim, who came second, said that the winner defeated him with 38 votes, which, he said, was not up to the missing 247 ballot papers.
He expressed the confidence that if the missing ballot papers could be recovered, he would emerge the winner.
Wada, who was declared winner, appealed to other contestants to accept the result in good faith and in the interest of the party, promising to carry them along in all the processes leading to the real election. (NAN)
KKA/WAS
POLITICS
Peter Obi Promises to Change the Country for the Better

Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi has asked Nigerians to hold him accountable if a new Nigeria fails to emerge with him as president.
Obi threw the challenge in Abakaliki on Friday at his campaign rally.
He pledged to reform Nigeria back from consumption to production.
The LP candidate assured that the country would be restored when most qualified candidates with character, trust and competence were elected.
He maintained that the 2023 general elections must be based on character and not on or and tribe.
“We will offer you a new Nigeria and also secure and unite the country.
“Let no one deceive you with religion or tell you it is their turn. Just vote people that understand governance.
“I am not contesting as an Igbo man, a south-easterner, but as a Nigerian who is most qualified and competent to revive the country,’’ Obi said.
He commended the people of Ebonyi for their solidarity and support for the Labour Party.
He urged the electorate to vote for Mr Edward Nkwegu, the gubernatorial candidate of LP in Ebonyi to build a better nation.
In his remarks, National Chairman of Labour Party, Mr Julius Abure, appreciated the people of Ebonyi for their show of solidarity, support and commitment to the party.
Abure said the LP would produce most intelligent and credible candidates to fight poverty and insecurity in the country. (NAN)
POLITICS
Alia Polls 219,009 at APC Governorship Re-run in Benue

From David Torough, Makurdi
Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has again, won the gubernatorial primary rerun election conducted by the Sen. Bashir Lado led rerun committee.
Alia polled a total number of 219,002 to defeat 12 other aspirants to emerge winner.
Recall, that the court of appeal sitting in Makurdi while delivering judgement in a case filed by one of the gubernatorial aspirants, Prof.
Terhemba Shija directed the party to conduct a primary re-run election in eleven(11) local government areas of the state.While announcing the result at the APC Secretariat Makurdi, which also served as the collation Centre for the rerun, Sen. Lado, Chairman of Benue State Rerun Election Committee stated that the primary election rerun which was won by Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia was not only free, fair and credible but represented the wishes of APC members in Benue State.
Chairman of the party in the State, Comrade Augustine Agada while commending APC members in the state for a peaceful primary election, thanked them for their show of maturity during the rerun and termed the results of the election as no victor no vanquish, explaining that the winner in the election is not only Fr. Alia but for the entire Benue APC family.
In a good will message, Amb. Prof. Stephen Ugba who spoke on behalf of party Stakeholders, commended Benue APC for a successful exercise and called on all those who participated in the primary election to see themselves as winners.
The party immediately after the declaration of results went into a Special Congress to ratify the primary elections.
The Congress unanimously ratified and adopted Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth Alia as the candidate of APC Benue state for the position of governor.
The Special Congress was attended by members of the State Executive Committee of the party, Critical Stakeholders, teeming members of the APC in Benue state and members of the press.
POLITICS
I’ll Ensure Nigeria is Restructured in 6 Months – Atiku

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar says he will ensure Nigeria is restructured within six months of his administration if elected.
He said this at the PDP Presidential Diaspora Campaign Grand Finale held in Abuja.
Atiku, who was represented by former National chairman of the PDP, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, said that sufficient research work needed to achieve restructuring in Nigeria had been concluded.
Nwodo is the Deputy Director, Research and Strategy, of the PDP residential Campaign Council ( PCC).
He said that Nigeria worked better when every region controlled its natural resources.
The former Vice president recalled that existing socio-economic developments were put in place when regions controlled their resources.
“When we are talking about restructuring by Executive Order, in the first six months, this country will not be what you are seeing today.
“This has been worked out and I’m just waiting to be sworn in on May 29 and the plans will be rolled out.”
He said that Nigeria was a great country, adding that all that it required was good leadership.
“We will provide that kind of leadership,” he declared.
Atiku further said that if elected, he would rescue Nigeria from all indices that had portrayed it in bad light.
He listed his five-point agenda to include education and security, saying that he would restore security to the country by nipping in the bud factors responsible for rising violence.
Earlier, Director, Directorate of Diaspora Groups, PDP PCC, Prof. Isa Odidi, had said that Nigerians in Diaspora believe that Atiku would articulate and implement the Diaspora Policy Framework to help capture, harness and channel their expertise to the country.
“Atiku’s government will do more to remove obstacles and create opportunities for Nigerians in the Diaspora to engage in economic development of Nigeria.
“We all unequivocally support Atiku/Okowa for President and Vice President of Nigeria,” he he asserted.(NAN)