COVER
Governorship Poll: Upset in Benue, Plateau as Oppostion Parties Win

From David Torough (Makurdi), Jude Dangwam (Jos), Dan Amasingha (Minna), Nicolas Dekera, (Kaduna) & Yagana Ali, Yola
After the declaration of 19 governorship election results, out of the 28 states where the elections took place last Saturday, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) took the lead with victories in 13 states, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won in five states.
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) claimed one state.Among the states won by the APC was Benue State, where the incumbent PDP lost to APC, following the declaration of Rev. Fr. Hycinth Alia of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Fr. Alia polled 473,973 votes to defeat his closest rival, Rt. Hon. Titus Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 223,915 votes to come second position.
The winner of the governorship election was announced after results from the 22 Local Government Areas (LGAs), were collated out of the 23 LGAs in the state.
Professor Farouq Kutah, who was the Returning Officer for the election, made the declaration yesterday at the INEC headquarters in Makurdi, the state capital.
Prof. Kutah, who is also the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Mina, while announcing the result said; “This former declaration is hinged on the fact that we rely on the Electoral Act ‘section 24 sub-section 1 and the Electoral guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
“That Hycinth Iornen Alia of APC having satisfied all the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected, this day, 29th of March, 2023”.
It was a mix-fortune for the APC in Plateau State where its governorship candidate, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda lost to candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Caleb Mutfwang.
Mutfwang scored 525, 299 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 481, 370 votes.
The governorship candidate for Labour Party, Dr Patrick Dakum also got 60, 310 votes.
The state collation and returning officer, Prof. Idris Amali, the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Lafia, declared Mutfwang the winner of the March 18 polls, having scored the highest votes.
Mutfwang won 10 local government areas out of 17 local governments in the state.

In the state assembly lection, PDP won 16 seats, with the APC winning seven seats, while YPP won one out of the 24 State Assembly seats in Plateau State.
Mutfwang, the former Chairman, Mangu Local Government, Plateau, was born on March 12, 1965 in Wussasa, Zaria, Mutfwang had his primary education at LEA Primary School Ampang-West, Mangu from 1973 to 1977.
He later went to Boys Secondary School, Gindiri graduating in 1982.
He worked briefly with the then Federal Office of Statistics and the defunct Nigerian Bank for Commerce of Industry before continuing his educational pursuit at the School of Preliminary Studies, Keffi from 1983 to 1984.
He was at the University of Jos and graduated between 1984 and 1988 and the Nigerian Law School from 1988 which qualified him to be called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court on Dec. 14, 1989.
Mutfwang served the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Kaduna State during which he was elected by his colleagues as the President of the Nigerian Christian Corpers’ Fellowship in Kaduna State.
The Governorship candidate of the APC, Hon Muhammed Umar Bago was also declared as the winner of the March 18th Governorship election in Niger State.
The Chief Collation Officer of the Governorship Election in the State, Professor Clement Alawa, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic University of Abuja announced the result after a protracted tussle over the result from Rijau local government Area.
The Returning Officer announced that, Muhammad Umar Bago of the APC scored 469, 896 to defeat his closest challenger, Hon Isah Liman Kantigi of the Peoples Democratic party who scored 387, 476 votes.
The Labour party Candidate, Mr. Joshua Bawa came a distant third with 3, 415 votes while, Ibrahim Yahaya of New Nigeria peoples Party came fourth with 3, 378 votes.
“I professor Clement Alawa, the returning officer of the March 18th Governorship election in Niger State hereby declared that Hon Muhammed Umar haven satisfied the requirement of the law is declared the winner and returned elected,” he declared.
The APC candidate had won in twenty one out of the twenty five local government Areas of Niger State while his PDP Counterpart won in four councils namely Edati, Mokwa, Lavun and Gbako local government areas.
However, a mild drama played out as the signing of the final result sheets at the collation centre a PDP agent, Hon. Sani Kutigi refused to append his signature to the documents after the Governorship Candidate had initially conceded defeat.
In Ebonyi State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday declared APC’s governorship candidate, Mr Francis Nwifuru as winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The INEC’s State Collation Officer, Prof. Charles Igwe, Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsuka (UNN) declared Nwifuru as the winner having satisfied the electoral act.
Igwe said that Nwifuru polled 199, 131 votes to win the poll.
According to him, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of the APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected by the Returning Officer.
He said that the Prof. Bernard Odoh of APGA, polled 52,189 to emerge second, while Dr Ifeanyi Odii of the PDP, polled 80,191 votes.
He said that the total number of accredited votes was 350,345, out of the 1,597,646 registered votes in the state.
He added that the total votes cast was 349,941, valid vote, 342,554, while the rejected votes stood at 7,387.
The governor-elect won in 10 out of the 13 Local Government Areas of the state, while the APGA candidate won in two LGAs and the PDP candidate one.
Nwifuru would be the fourth executive governor of the 27 year-old state. (NAN)
Incumbent Professor Babagana Zulum was declared reelected as the Governor of Borno State.
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state having polled 545,542.
Also in Cross River State, the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Out, has been declared winner of the election, after winning in 15 out of the 18 local government areas in the state.
Announcing the result yesterday at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Collation Centre in Calabar, the Returning Officer, Prof. Teddy Adies, said APC polled 258,619 votes.
He said that the People’s Democratic Party got 179,636 votes while the Labour Party garnered 5,957 votes.
According to him, the total number of registered voters was 1,766,466, accredited voters 466,294, valid votes 451,933, and void votes 8,923.
“Eleven political parties participated in this election and for the results to get to us here at the state level, it had to pass through the Polling Units, the Ward Collation Centres and the collation centre at the local government levels.
“Otu of the APC after satisfying the requirement of the law has been returned elected,” the Returning Officer said.
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Sheriff Oborevwori was declared the winner of the March 18 governorship election in Delta State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
State INEC Collation Officer, Prof. Onuwari Georgewill, the Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, made the declaration yesterday in Asaba.
Georgewill said that Oborevwori polled a total of 360,234 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressive Party (APC) who scored 240,229 votes.
“Sheriff Oborevwori having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner of the governorship election and returned elected,” he said.
Georgewill said that Mr Kennedy Pela of the Labour Party came third with 48,027 votes, while Mr Great Ogboru of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) came fourth with 11,021 votes.
He said the number of registered voters was 3,221 687, while the total number of accredited voters was 710,829.
Georgewill added that the total number of rejected votes was 15,384 and the total votes cast was 687,121.
A breakdown of the results on local government basis, as announced by the local government Collation Officers, showed that Oborevwori won in 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs), while Omo-Agege won in four out of the 25 LGAs of the state.
Oborevwori won in Ika North East; Aniocha North; Ndokwa East; Ika South; Patani; Sapele; Aniocha South; Uvwie; Okpe; Bomadi; Ethiope East; Oshimili North; Warri South; and Oshimili South.
He also won in Isoko North; Ethiope West; Isoko South; Ukwuani; Ndokwa West; Warri North; Burutu; and Warri South West.
Omo-Agege won in Udu, Uvwie, Ughelli South and Ughelli North.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), also declared APC’s Uba Sani, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of Kaduna governorship election.
INEC’s Returning Officer for Kaduna State, Professor Lawal Suleiman Bilbis made the announcement yesterday night.
He said Sani polled 730,002 votes to defeat his closest rival, Isa Ashiru of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 719,196 votes.
The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Jonathan Asake polled 58,283 votes while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate, Suleiman Hunkuyi scored 21,405 votes.
NEC Declares Adamawa Governorship Election Inconclusive
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has declared the March 18 governorship election in Adamawa as inconclusive.
State INEC Returning Office, Prof. Mohammed Mele, said this when he spoke with newsmen yesterday in Yola.
Mele said that the election was cancelled in 47 registration areas, 69 polling Units with the total number of 41,796 registered voters.
“The number of Permanent Voter Cards (VCs) from the affected polling units in the different Local Government Areas (LGAs) affected is 37,016.
“After the collation we calculated the total number of votes with the two leading candidates with the highest votes, APC with 390,275 and PDP with 421, 524 votes.
“So this gives us the margin of 31,249 and the total number of PVCs collected in the places amounts to 37,916,” he said.
COVER
FG Disburses N5.12bn Pension Arrears to 90,689 DBS Pensioners

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Federal Government has released funds for the disbursement of N5.12 billion in pension arrears to 90,689 Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) pensioners under the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate.This was contained in a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications of PTAD, Olugbenga Ajayi.
He said that the directorate had finalised the disbursement of the money. The Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and Prisons Pension Department (CIPPD) pensioners are 8,626, received N276,032, for one-month arrears; the Police, Pension Department (PPD) pensioners are 9,681, received N619,584, for two months as arrears. The Civil Service Pension Department (CSPD) pensioners are 12,773, received N408,736, for one-month arrears, and the Parastatals Pension Department (PAPD) pensioners are 59,609, received N3,814,He said that the payment reaffirms the administration’s commitment to ensuring that pensioners receive their due entitlements in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola TinubuAccording to the statement, the approvals align with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.“This move shows President Tinubu’s strong commitment to senior citizens’ welfare and marks a new era in DBS pension management,” said PTAD, Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya.Among the key measures is the immediate implementation of an extra budgetary allocation to enforce new pension rates for DBS pensioners.The President also endorsed the adoption of a proposed pension harmonisation policy, which will be incorporated into the 2026 pension budget. Additionally, health insurance coverage for all DBS pensioners has been approved, ensuring access to essential healthcare services.The proposed reforms include a new pension rate of N32,000 and incremental increases of 10.66% and 12.95% for pensioners from defunct and privatised agencies. Other components of the reform package include harmonisation of pension rates across all DBS pensioners and their enrolment into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).In June, PTAD announced the successful disbursement of N8.6 billion in pension arrears to 148,625 eligible DBS pensioners across various sectors. The payments reflect the implementation of the N32,000 pension increment approved by President Tinubu in 2024.PTAD had previously settled arrears related to the first pension increment of 20% to 28%, which came into effect in January 2024.COVER
NAF Offensive Decimates 592 Terrorists, Destroys 372 Assets in Eight Months

By David Torough, Abuja
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has killed no fewer than 592 terrorists and destroyed 372 enemy assets in Borno within the last eight months, surpassing the total operational gains recorded in 2024.A statement by NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame yesterday said the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said this during a courtesy visit to Gov.
Babagana Zulum of Borno. Abubakar said the offensive had destroyed 206 technical vehicles and 166 logistics hubs in deep hostile territory, with coordinated day-and-night strikes from Gonori to Rann, Dikwa to Damboa, Azir to Mallam Fatori.He said the offensive had been boosted by the deployment of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft capable of precision and night missions, Mi-171 helicopters for medical evacuation and logistics, and enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms for round-the-clock target tracking.He added that a new Mi-35 gunship was expected to further intensify close-air support for ground troops in the theatre.“Backed by an upgraded fleet and precision night-strike capabilities, NAF aircraft executed 798 combat sorties, clocking over 1,500 operational flight hours in the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.“This year, our air war is faster, sharper, and more surgical.“We are taking out high-value targets, crippling their logistics, and hunting down every cell that threatens the peace of the North-East,” he said.The CAS also praised the “Borno Model” of combining community-driven non-kinetic measures with decisive military action, saying it had proven effective in the counter-insurgency campaign.He also inspected facilities at the NAF Base, met with aircrew and ground personnel, and received operational briefings.He reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to precision air power, intelligence-led operations, and inter-agency collaboration to protect Nigerians.In his response, Gov. Zulum praised the NAF for its sustained air support in degrading terrorist capabilities and protecting communities.According to him, the NAF has been a steadfast partner in their fight against insurgency.“Your operations have saved countless lives and allowed our communities to begin rebuilding.“The people of Borno recognise your sacrifices and stand firmly behind you,” he said.COVER
Over 8,000 Mentally ill Inmates in Custody Nationwide, Says NCoS

By Divine Ndukwe, Abuja
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has disclosed that at least 8,246 inmates across the country’s custodial centres are living with mental health conditions.Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of Medical Services, Dr.
Glory Essien, revealed the figures yesterday in Abuja during the third public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture and Other Inhumane Treatment by the NCoS. Essien described incarceration as a deeply stressful experience, noting that the loss of freedom can trigger or worsen mental health conditions. She explained that inmate-leaders are trained to identify and report cases of psychological distress for early intervention, but available resources remain insufficient.“If you’re in a facility housing 500 to 1,000 inmates, with just one doctor or psychologist, monitoring everyone individually is impossible,” she said, citing logistical and funding challenges that hamper adequate care.Similarly, the NCoS Assistant Controller General in charge of Pharmaceutical Services, Mohammed Bashir, acknowledged that drug shortages and limited staffing remain major obstacles despite government funding.He revealed that a psychological services unit has been established, partnering with psychiatric associations to visit major facilities, though resources still fall short of demand.Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, called for urgent private sector support, stressing the need to deploy more psychiatric professionals to underserved states. “Please come to Macedonia and help us,” she appealed to the Nigerian Medical Association and pharmaceutical companies.Meanwhile, in Kwara State, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed alarm over rising mental health issues among doctors, linking the trend to burnout, workplace violence, and poor working conditions.Kwara NMA Chairman, Prof. Olushola Abdulrahman Afolabi, said a significant proportion of doctors experience depression, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders, often without seeking help due to stigma.Former NMA chairman, Prof. Issa Baba Awoye, warned that current figures could be worse than past studies, especially in resource-poor settings.The NMA is advocating for mandatory mental health evaluations for doctors, alongside increased awareness and stigma reduction campaigns. “Our healthcare system can only be as strong as the mental and physical well-being of those who sustain it,” Afolabi stated.Both the NCoS and NMA agree that mental health care must be prioritized, not just for inmates, but for those tasked with caring for the nation.