By Yakubu Uba

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has announced a relief package of N1 billion for victims of Maiduguri Monday Market fire incident.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN,) reports that an early morning fire on Sunday destroyed most of the market.

Zulum announced the support in a broadcast after visiting the market.

He said the support was to provide urgent assistance to victims pending assessment of the damage caused by the incident.

“We woke up today with a very sad and unfortunate fire disaster at the Maiduguri Monday market. This is very unfortunate but we believe that this is decreed by Allah.

“I feel deeply pained by this incident and I know how painful it is for anyone to work hard over the years to build his or her business, but end up losing that investment in seconds.

“I really feel the pains of everyone affected by this incident. I commiserate with all of you,” Zulum said.

He also announced the setting up of a committee that would include representatives of the victims, to speedily assess the damages and compile comprehensive list of those affected and their loses.

“I am going to see Mr President and seek for presidential intervention on how to get support for victims.

“We will also reach out to other humanitarian establishments to seek help.

“We will be taking firm measures towards preventing re-occurrence of this fire disaster,” Zulum added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Maharazu Ahmed

By Olayinka Owolewa

Rep. Tunji Olawuyi,  (APC-Kwara), representing Ekiti, Isin, Irepodun and Oke-Ero Federal Constituency has been reelected.

Dr Nurudeen Bello, INEC Returning Officer, declared Olawuyi as winner at the collation centre in Omu Aran on Sunday.

Announcing the official result, Bello said out of the  59,075 accredited voters, APC polled a total of 22, 140, PDP polled 19,092, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) polled 933.

He said: ”In view of that, the candidate of the APC is declared winner as the party had polled the highest number of votes.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Bashir Rabe Mani

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Nigerians Unite for Tinubu/Shettima Mandate, a political pressure group, has expressed confidence that the 2023 elections would be a turning point for the ruling APC in the nation’s capital.

The Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr Seyi Adesina, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, shortly after some of its key members monitored elections in some polling units across the territory.

Adesina also expressed optimism that the ruling party would win the FCT for the first time.

“We are very happy with the conduct of the elections in the FCT, and for the reports so far, the ruling All Progressives Congress will change the narratives.

“Before now, we thought history will repeat itself as it has been the tradition to defeat the ruling party in the territory. However, the turnout of our members and their determination indicate that we are coasting to victory,” he stated.

Adesina urged all supporters of Tinubu/Shettima to be vigilant and remain calm till the finality of the results across the 62 political wards in the territory.

The group also commended their supporters and indeed residents of the FCT for coming out enmasse to exercise their civic duties. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari says he openly displayed his ballot paper, with thumb print for the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu, as rare show of loyalty and support.

According to Buhari, after campaigning for the political leader in many parts of the country, he has reaffirmed on his preferred successor.

The president assured that he had always supported the candidature of Tinubu, and the show of his ballot paper to the media and the public had further shown his commitment to the party and the national leader.

Buhari, who cast his vote alongside his wife, Mrs Aisha Buhari, and other family members, at Ward A, Sarkin Yara Polling Unit 003, said it was a pity that only one female emerged as gubernatorial candidate of the APC, Aisha Binani, urging support for the candidate.

“I am very impressed because I have seen how the people turned up. I am very impressed and very happy.

”Well, the candidate I voted for I have already mentioned him in many states in Nasarawa, Katsina and Sokoto.

“All over the places I mentioned my favourite candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu, and I believe my constituency will elect him 100 per cent,’’ he said.

The president advised Nigerians to ensure that their rights to vote were always respected.

“Nigerians should make sure that they are respected; that means that the candidate they want to vote for they are allowed to vote for him.

“It is a pity there is only one female candidate from Adamawa State, so the electorate should kindly follow our party,’’ he added.

Asked how he felt that it was the first time since 2003 that he was not on the ballot paper, the president said:

“It is very exciting. I look at those who are competing and some of them are so agitated and they didn’t know that I tried three times and ended up in the Supreme Court three times.

“The fourth time I said ‘God dey’ and God sent technology, Permanent Voters Card, so no fraudulent person can claim anything,’’ he stated.

According to the president, APC will win ”from Daura to Lagos”.

The president’s family members and staff also voted at the polling unit. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Kemi Akintokun

A 78-year-old woman, Mrs Atinuke Ayoola, said she insisted on coming out to vote in Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in spite of fears by her children based overseas that there could be violence.

Ayoola spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Ward 4, Polling Unit 073, at Yusuf Olatunji/Banjo Street, Egbe/Agodo, in Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State. while complaining of late arrival of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials at the polling unit.

“My children abroad begged me not to come out to vote because of fear of violence but I insisted that I will come out to vote for my preferred candidate.

“I’m a bit disappointed that the INEC officials are late for the exercise,” she said.

She said she would have stayed back home for some few hours before coming to vote.

A NAN correspondent in the area reports that as at 11.30a.m., accreditation and voting had yet to begin in her polling unit as well as several others in the Ward, including PU O6 at OlojolHolmes street junction Egbe/ Agodo, PU 06 Market Zone Egbe/Agodo, PU 065, Holmes street, Egbe /Idimi, PU 065 at Olabisi Street Ikotun /Ijegun and PU 10 Akin Coker Junction, Egbe Agodo.

She was among some other elderly people who spoke with NAN complaining of the delay in kick-off of the exercise in their area.

Seventy-year-old Mr Abiodun Adeleye, a retired civil servant, told NAN at PU  06. Market Zone that he had been sitting under the sun since 8:30 am for his accreditation and voting exercise.

Adeleye said:” Myself and some elderly people have been sitting under the sun since 8:30 am to exercise our civic right but the INEC officials arrived late and they are yet to start anything.”

In the same vein, 65-year-old Mr Anthony Okeya, a businessman, expressed his displeasure about the situation at PU 065, on Olabisi Street.

“As you can see, we are under the sun still waiting for INEC officials who arrived late to set up their electoral materials so that accreditation and voting can commence.

“I hope this is not a move or tactics to disenfranchise voters from voting,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

By Ifeanyi Olannye

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice-Presidential Candidate, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa has lauded President Muhamadu Buhari for ensuring fairness in the 2023 general elections.
Okowa, who is the Governor of Delta, also lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the efforts it put into organising the elections.
The Delta governor cast his vote on Saturday at about 9.45a.m after he was accredited at Unit 17, Ward 2 at Eghoma Primary School 1, Owa Alero, Ika North East Local Government Area of the state.
He confirmed that the Presidential and National Assembly Elections were peaceful and hitch-free, adding that INEC has done a good job of ensuring smooth voting.
Okowa expressed confidence that his party, the PDP, would emerge victorious in the presidential election.
According to him, the PDP is ready to work for Nigeria.
“I want to commend INEC for a good job. As you can see everything is working perfectly and the elections are going on smoothly.
“We are certain that the PDP will win the election nationally because we have put in a lot of work and we have put out our document – Our Covenant With Nigeria – and we believe in what we have said to Nigerians.
“We thank God for the very peaceful elections and I must say thank you to INEC for what we see at the moment and we say thank you to Mr President for ensuring that there is fairness in the elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the voting process was orderly and peaceful with a large turnout of voters in the area. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo, have cast their votes in the presidential election holding across the country.

The vice president and his wife, both from Ikenne, voted on Saturday  at Polling Unit 14, Egunrege, Ikenne Local Government Area.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that  officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived at the polling unit as early as 7:15 am while accreditation of voters and voting  commenced at 8:35am.

Osinbajo and wife arrived at the unit at 9:54a.m; got successfully verified by the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)  at 9:58 a.m. and voted at 10am.

Speaking with newsmen shortly voting, Osinbajo said he was impressed with the conduct of the exercise at the unit.

He expressed optimism that the orderly conduct at the unit would be replicated across the country.

No fewer than 133 voters are expected to exercise their franchise at the polling unit.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz