By Cecilia Ijuo

The Peoples Alternative Political Movement (TPAP-M), a political association, has called on Nigerians to prepare for life after election.

Prof. Omotoye Olorode, a member of the TPAP-M Secretariat, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Olorode said Nigerians ought to go beyond casting their votes, to preparing to hold the incoming government accountable.

He said it was important to ensure that candidates that would emerge victorious in the 2023 General Elections were “put on their toes” to address the concerns of the masses.

The don said Nigerians had grappled so long with rising debt profile, poor minimum wage, unemployment, deteriorating health infrastructure, lack of respect for human rights among others.

He further that said in view of the prolonged hardship, Nigerians must ensure that the new leaders hit the ground running.

Olorode said one of the ways Nigerians could close the huge gap between them and the ruling class was to ensure that they did not “go to sleep” on their responsibilities.

“Nigerians have been victims of imposition by the ruling class for a long time and it is time to unite to ensure they delivered on their mandate.

“It is unfortunate that they sell public property to themselves and still fall back to government for funding.

“Debts of many of the allegedly commercialised and privatised companies are funded with taxpayers’ money as bailouts.

“An example is the energy costs incurred by the Power Generating Companies (GENCOs), following the so-called unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN),” he said.

The don said, “Our position as TPAP-M is that Nigerians should not allow the elites to divide them along ethnic or religious lines but insist on good governance.

“It is worrisome that almost everything is owned by the ruling class, so much so that the voices of the people are not heard.”

According to him, average Nigerians do not need soothsayers to know that until they used peaceful and legitimate means to demand for their rights, the elites will continue to impoverish them.

He said the ongoing Naira scarcity was a typical example of the level of hardship Nigerians were going through.

“Talking about the cashless policy of the Federal Government for instance, the banks are owned by the elites.

“So, it will be easy for anyone of them to call up a bank manager to reserve the new Naira notes while the masses suffer.

“We all see how difficult it has been for the common man to access Naira anywhere.

“Also, the rich own the supermarkets where they go to shop, making them not to feel the pains of an ordinary Nigerian, who may not be able to afford three square meal.”

Olorode said TPAP-M would continue to ensure that Nigerians kicked against anti-people policies, adding that “we must understand that the other ethnic group is not our problem but the elites.”

“The issues of employment, health, education, gender, poverty and inequality must be addressed.

“It must be stressed that growth is always inclusive and sustainable.

“And while we are aware that our economy experienced ups and downs, but over-time it must be seen that the standard of living of her citizens improve.”

He said it was high time Nigerians registered a pro-masses political party or seek a socialist alternative that would guarantee employment, quality education, quality health service, security, gender equality among others.

He further said it was high time Nigerians sought a system that would emphasise hard work, efficiency and dignity of labour.(NAN)(www.nan.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

By Mercy Osajiugo

Sen. Mohammed  Sani-Musa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been re-elected for Niger East at the National Assembly.

Prof. Tsado Mohammed-Shaba, the Independent Electoral Commission ( INEC) Returning Officer, declared the result on Monday in Minna.

Mohammed-Shaba said that Sani-Musa pulled 159,650 votes to defeat Alhaji  Isyaku Ibrahim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 125,292 votes.

He said that Mr Joshu Bawa of Labour Party scored 35, 941 votes. (NAN)www.nannews.ng

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Adeyemi Adeleye/Taiye Olayemi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday concluded state collation of Presidential Election’s results in Lagos State after about 18 hours of collation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Presidential and NASS elections were held simultaneously across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday.

The collation of results from the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Lagos state, which started at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday evening was rounded up at 12 noon on Monday, 48 hours after conclusion of the Saturday’s election.

The exercise was carried out at the Lagos State Collation Centre for the Presidential Election situated at INEC Media Centre at the commission’s headquarters in Yaba.

It was. however. stopped intermittently to wait for the arrival of results from some LGAs within the period.

The Lagos State Collation Centre Officer, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) after concluding the collation, commended all stakeholders for patience and support.

Oladiji called in various party agents to sign the result before it would be moved to the nation’s capital, Abuja, for the National Collation of results from the 36 state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

The exercise was conducted under the watch of party agents, domestic and foreign observers, security agencies, the media and other stakeholders.

Reacting to the outcome, Mr Olusegun Mobolaji, the Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Committee, Lagos State told NAN that the results showed that INEC had passed the test of democracy.

“The commission has shown that they do not belong to any political party. Kudos to INEC. Democracy is about the wishes of the majority of the people in any clime,”Mobolaji said.

Speaking, the PDP Agent at the collation centre,  Capt. Tunji Shelle (Rtd), said that the election lacked credibility, as BVAS were allegedly comprised. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Edith Bolokor/Maureen Atuonwu

By Rita Iliya
The All Progress Congress (APC) candidate, Mr Abdullahi Lado for the Suleja, Tafa and Gurara Federal Constituency has lost his re-election to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanko Adamu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lado is the present member representing Suleja/Tafa/Gurara Federal Constituency.

The Independent Electoral Commission ( INEC) Returning Officer, Tanimu Garba while announcing the result said the PDP candidate polled 40,632 votes to defeat the APC candidate who scored 38,217 votes.

Garba declared the candidate of the PDP winner having satisfied the requirements of the law and returned elected.

Other contestants were George James of ADC who scored 344 while Ibrahim Ibrahim of ADP got 231 and Tanko Ahmed of APGA scored 979 as well as Yusufu Muhammed of APP got 94 while candidate of Labour Party scored 19,219.

Also, candidate of NNPP scored 1,255, NRM got 101, PRP scored 145, SDP got 46 and Isah Jagaba of ZLP scored 297 votes.

In the same vein, Alhaji Abdullahi Maud of the All Progress Congress (APC), has been declared winner of Agaie/Lapai Federal Constituency.

Maud polled 29,671 votes to defeat his closest opponent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate who scored 25,439 and candidate of NNPP got 2,157 votes.(NAN)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Olukayode Babalola

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Ahmed Wadada of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) winner of the Nasarawa West Senatorial District election.

Prof. Nasirudeen Baba, INEC Returning Officer for the Nasarawa West Senatorial District election made the declaration after the collation of results on Monday at the Zonal collation centre in Keffi local government area of the state.

According to him, following the election held on Feb 25, Wadada polled a total of 96488 votes as against the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who scored 47717 votes.

The name of APC candidate was not on the list due to legal case at the Supreme Court that has been resolved in favour of Shehu Tukur.

Baba added that Alhaji Musa Galadima of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 46820 votes while Mr Bala Tongurma of Labour Party scored 33228 votes.

He said total votes cast for the election was 234040, while total valid votes amounted to 228917 with 5123 votes rejected.

“I Associate Professor Nasirudeen Baba hereby certify that I am the returning officer for the 2023 Nasarawa West Senatorial District election held on the 25th of February, 2023.

“That Wadada Ahmed of SDP having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” he said.

Mr Yakubu Mohammed-Salisu, SDP Party Agent for the election attributed Wadada’s victory to his antecedents of mentoring the young and poor.

“This election is the people’s choice,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nasarawa West Senatorial District is where the APC National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu comes from.
Adamu was the senator representing the zone at the Senate before his election as the APC National Chairman in 2022. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

Olukayode Babalola

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Hon. Jonathan Gaza, Member of the House of Representatives for Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal constituency, as the winner of Saturday’s election for the constituency in Nasarawa.
Prof,George Genyi, INEC Returning Officer for the election, declared Gaza who polled 60,265 votes as winner at the Keffi Zonal collation centre in Keffi local government area of the state on Monday.
Genyi said the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Bulus Ishaku, had 33,180 votes with that of the Labour Party, Mr Iliya Gambo scoring 29,665 votes while that of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr Auta Koro, pulled 28,417 votes.
“That Gaza Jonathan of the SDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared winner and is returned elected,” he said.
Speaking after the declaration of the results, Mr Usman Enoch, SDP party Agent for the election, expressed gladness over the victory and gratitude to the people of Karu/Keffi/Kokona federal constituency for giving Gaza the mandate to represent them again at the House of Representatives.
“This happened all because of his laudable performances. He has touched almost every part of the constituency. I also applaud the electoral process which was peaceful and laudable,” he said.
Also speaking in an interview, Mr Ifeanyi Maduabuchi, Labour Party Agent, also commended the conduct of the election by INEC and the transparent manner in which the results were declared.
“I can really say our eyes are everywhere but with what we have seen so far and our observations, everything moved smoothly,” he said. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Moses Omorogieva
The Nigeria Police Force has warned Nigerians against spreading news of election results not announced by INEC.

Force spokesman CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi issued the warning in a statement on Sunday, in reaction to the alleged spreading of fake INEC results of elections on social media by members of the public.

The police, therefore, urged Nigerians to instead, wait for the official results of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections to be announced by INEC.

According to him, the police consider the spread of news about election results not announced by INEC as a calculated attempt to heat up the polity and possibly create post-elections chaos.

“We have observed the spreading or circulation of alleged/fake election results on social media and other news platforms, which is contrary to the policy and guidelines of INEC.

“We regard this as a disservice, unpatriotic, and disinformation.

“The Nigeria Police hereby warns those who are spreading these alleged/fake election results to desist from such mischievous acts and wait patiently for INEC’s official results, which are authentic and tenable,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to remain calm, and go about their lawful engagements, while those billed to go on election duty on Sunday should be orderly.

“You should be law-abiding as we have re-enforced our security strategies for the smooth conclusion of the 2023 General Elections,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

(Edited by Deborah Coker/Emmanuel Yashim)