NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Matawalle signs Anti-thuggery bill into law

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By Ishaq Zaki

Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has signed into law, the Bill establishing the state Anti-thuggery Agency.

This is contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Sunday by the Press Secretary to the Governor, Jamilu Iliyasu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Matawalle had in February 2022 issued an Executive Order setting up a committee to tackle thuggery, drug abuse and related offences in the state.

The governor later forwarded a bill to the state House of Assembly for a law to establish the state anti-thuggery agency, which was passed by the lawmakers.

The governor said the agency was established by his administration to complement the efforts of security agencies in curtailing thuggery related cases in the state.

He added that the agency would also help to inculcate good morals in the youths towards a more decent society.

According to the statement, the governor also assented to the amended law setting up the state Area Development Councils.

He said the area development councils were created to bring people closer to government and enhance development at the grassroots, to meet the aspirations of the electorate.

The governor thanked the Assembly for passing the two bills into law and supporting the government to ensure the overall development of the state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abubakar Ahmed/Maharazu Ahmed

Polls: Lai Mohammed lauds Nigerians’ determination

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By Rotimi Ijikanmi

As Nigerians await the outcome of the Saturday general elections, Information and Culture minister Lai Mohammed has lauded his compatriots’ determination to elect credible leaders for the country.

Mohammed, who voted at his Polling Unit 006 in Oro Ward 2, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, particularly lauded the voting process which he described as “peaceful”.

He also lauded the massive turn-out of voters.

“What struck me the most is the turn-out of the young, old, strong, the physically challenged men and women; they all came out to cast their votes.

“You can see the determination and resolve on their faces in an atmosphere of conviviality.

“I hope that it will be the same atmosphere and ambience in every other polling unit,” the minister said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat of the President, the 109 slots in the Senate and the 360 seats in the House of Representatives were up for graps on the first election day.

The next election day is March 11 when Nigerians will elect new state governors and members of state houses of assembly. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams and Ephraims Sheyin

Heavy rain disrupts election in Edo

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By Usman Aliyu

An heavy rainfall on Saturday slowed down electoral activities in many parts of Edo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the downpour, which started at 3 p.m., halted the exercise at Afuze, Sabo Ora and Uben in Owan West Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Usman Bello, Daily Trust Correspondent in Benin, also said that a similar rainfall occurred in the state capital, thereby elongating polling exercise in the area.

In Uben, voting still continued as of 5 p.m. when a Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) got to the village.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police on Election Duty in Edo, Mr Benjamin Okolo, has said that the police were investigating a reported case of vote buying in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

Okolo said this while speaking with newsmen during a monitoring of situation in Edo North Senatorial District.

Comrade Adams Oshiomole, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the senatorial election, and Mr Philip Shaibu, Deputy Governor of Edo, are from the area. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Angela Okisor/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Voting to continue in C’ River on Sunday, Feb. 26 – INEC

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has extended voting in the presidential and national assembly elections in Cross River to Sunday, February 26.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Mrs Anthonia Nwobi, Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, on behalf of Prof. Gabriel Yomere, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Cross River.
According to Nwobi, the extension became necessary for the presidential and national assembly election to hold in areas of the state where it could not hold on the original date of Feb. 25
“The extension to Sunday was for the exercise to hold in polling units and wards in Cross River that election did not take place, including Bakassi Local Government Area, Dayspring 1 and 2 as well as Qua Island.
“Voting in the affected areas will resume by 8 am and end at noon.
“All stakeholders, including members of political parties, Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), Observers, the press, INEC staff and ad-hoc personnel for the 2023 general elections should be guided,” she said.
She added that the commission reassures all eligible voters of its resolution that no registered voter would be disenfranchised in the 2023 general election.
ACG James Bassey of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), had said earlier that some hoodlums were preventing movement of people.

Bamidele wins polling unit for Ekiti Central senate

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By Julius Toba-Jegede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial Candidate for Ekiti Central, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, has defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the race in his polling unit in Iyin Ekiti.

The current Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, defeated his closest rival Oladimeji Ajijola of PDP  with 171 votes.

Ajijola pulled two votes, according to the result confirmed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Polling Unit 003 of Ward 13 on Saturday.

NAN reports that Bamidele is seeking a re-election to National Assembly where he’s the Chairman, Southern Senators’ Forum.

In the same polling unit, APC Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu scored 155 against his opponent, Atiku Abubukar of PDP who scored two.

Also in  the same polling unit the APC House of Representatives Candidate Steve Fatoba  polled 165 votes, while his closest opponent from the PDP scored only one vote.

Bamidele appreciated the people of his ward for the overwhelming victory and promised to report his qualitative representative he’s offered in the last three years. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

JTJ/IAA

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

INEC living up to expectations – Sen. Bamidele

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By Julius Toba-Jegede

The Senatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ekiti Central District, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, has given kudos to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for going ahead with the 2023 general elections in spite of initial challenges.
Bamidele gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, after casting his vote at Polling Unit 003 of Ward 13, Ibedoyin Ward, Iyin Ekiti.
NAN reports that the current Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, arrived at the polling unit at about 12 noon and voted by 12:27pm.
While describing the process of his accreditation and voting as smooth, he said that INEC deserved commendation for overcoming some initial obstacles on its way of carrying out the exercise.
He made allusion to the problems created by the introduction of new naira notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) few months to the general elections.
He said that initial challenges of non-functional BVAS in some parts of his senatorial district were corrected by INEC, thereby making the process hitch-free.
“We give God the glory that this election is even holding today. This election is holding today against the backdrops of daunting challenges in our country; owing to certain policies of government, especially through the CBN.
“But we’re happy that people refused to be pushed to violence and everybody worked hard to prevent the eventual breakdown of law and order.
“This is an election that would have been enmeshed in crisis due to recent development, but we’re happy that the election is holding.
“I took my time before coming out to vote, I came here after 12 noon because I needed to touch base with different parts of my senatorial district and different parts of the state.
“With respect to my senatorial district, what I gathered from various reports from the field is that the turnout of voters has been impressive and secondly INEC has lived up to expectations,” he said.

Sen. Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele( 2nd left) and his wife, Yemisi (3rd left) with other family members on queue for accreditation and voting in Iyin Ekiti on Saturday

“As you can see, voting is going on without any hitch. My hope is that what we’re witnessing here is also what is happening in other parts of the country.
“The electioneering process is peaceful, smooth, fair and credible. And, I know that at the end of the day votes of Nigerians will count. By the grace of God, I look forward to a victorious outing that will give me an opportunity of a renewed mandate to go back to the Senate to serve my people.
“I also pray that through this process, the best will emerge for our own country at all levels of governance; in respect of the three positions that are being contested for today. If we have the right person as the president and right people in the Senate, Nigeria will move forward,” he said.
Also, Mr Ayodele Adetilewa, the Assistant Presiding Officer (APO 1), at the polling unit, described the process as hitch-free.
He said that electoral materials reached the venue at scheduled time, while there were no cases of thuggery and disturbances.
NAN further reports that Bamidele,  who is the Chairman of the Southern Senators’ Forum of the 9th Senate, was accompanied to the voting venue by his wife, Yemisi and members of his immediate family.  (NAN)
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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

 

Oba Elegushi hails Police, others for violence-free election

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Oba Saheed Elegushi while performing his civic rights in Lagos on Saturday.

 

By Aisha Cole/Mateen Badru
Oba Saheed Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom in Lagos State has commended the Police and other security agencies for ensuring peace and orderliness during the general election at Ikate-Elegushi area of the state on Saturday.
Elegushi said this while briefing newsmen after exercising his civic responsibility at Polling Unit 008 within the Ikate-Elegushi Palace in Lagos.
“Everything is going on well, I have been out earlier to exercise my own civic rights as a citizen of Nigeria. I voted for the candidate of my choice and I am back to my palace now.
“I was just visited by the Army Commander and the Police. They told me about the incident and the issue had been settled. I am not aware if any arrest was made,” he said.
He, however, decried the transferring of voters from their polling units to another without proper verification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“I have one question to ask INEC. How can someone just go to your website, make a transfer and upload an address to vote without verifying it.
“We see lots of strange faces that don’t live in this vicinity coming here to vote. We can’t accept that because it’s a fraud.
“Definitely after the election, we have to take it up because it is not right. To see a lot of strange faces that they don’t even live within this local government and they are voting here.
“When you do a transfer, you must be able to verify the address,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that there had been fracas at some polling units outside the palace, where some voters claimed they were not allowed to vote.
NAN also reports that security operatives were on ground, following an allegation of destruction of voting materials at some polling units around the area.
Elegushi, however, said that the Army Commander had subsequently paid him a visit and that the situation had been put under control.
NAN also observed that normalcy had immediately returned to the polling units outside the palace after which security operatives with armoured personnel carrier patrolled the area. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

My vote important for my future, we can’t all relocate — Youth says

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By Oluwakemi Oladipo
A youth, Miss Chiamaka Ketewe, said on Saturday that her vote in the Presidential and National Assembly elections was very important to her, especially for her future.

“To show I mean business, I left my house at 5.00 a.m and trekked from Cement area, Ikeja to Shasha ,Alimosho in order to vote.
“All of us can not relocate to another country; we need to fight for our right and vote the right candidate into power.
“I did this because my future is very important to me,” Ketewe, a banker, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Another youth, Mr Akin Adewale, who also voted in the Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA), said it was his first time of voting and he was glad it was successful and peaceful his polling unit.
Adewale, an IT expert, said that governance could be better as there were a lot of challenges in the society, and his consolation was that he had exercised his right by voting.
Meanwhile, a Sexagenarian, Mrs Ajoke Adewunmi, urged Nigerians to have faith in the country because it would be great and fruitful again.
Adewunmi, a retired civil servant, told NAN at Ward 01, polling unit 049, in Alimosho LGA that Nigeria was known as a giant in Africa but a lot of challenges had been affecting the country due to leadership problems and economic issues , among others.
“I will be 70 years old this year and I have been voting since 1984, which is the right thing to do as a citizen of Nigeria.
“My prayer is, let the will of God be done in Nigeria; we will enjoy good leaders again and all the necessary blessings.
“Nigerians are tired of struggling, this is the right time to get it right and play our part by voting.
“I am out today to fight for my grandchildren’s rights so they can experience a great Nigeria in the future, because we can not suffer for another eight years,” Adewunmi said.
Voters in Alimosho LGA had different experiences at their wards and polling units, with some having a long wait for INEC officials to arrive and others having them come in early.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Editing by Oluwole Sogunle

Elections: Be peaceful, vote your conscience, group urges voters

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By Ikenna Osuoha

As Nigerians go to the polls on Saturday, a group, Initiative for Leadership Development and Change (ILDC), has urged voters to conduct themselves peacefully in exercising their electoral rights and vote their conscience.

Mr Ugochukwu Nnam, President of the group, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

He called on the voters to see the election as an opportunity to make statement without fear or favour.

Nnam said: “Today is a remarkable day, it is historic in the sense that it is the long expected day for Nigerians to decide their future.

“So, I advise voters not to be intimidated but vote whosoever is their choice considering their vote as power to make or mar their future.”

The youths leader, who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for promising free and fair elections, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to compromise its set standards.

”Every hand should be on deck to support INEC deliver  credible, peaceful, free and fair elections.,” Nnam appealed.

He lauded Buhari for signing the Electoral Act which had reduced possible incidents of thuggery and rigging in elections.

The ILDC leader advised voters to resist temptations of vote-buying and other acts capable of undermining a credible electoral process.

Nnam promised that the group was committed to the promotion of good governance in the country for a united and prosperous Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerians will be going to the polls on Saturday to elect a new President and National Assembly members. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi/Bashir Rabe Mani

Obasanjo, Osinbajo express satisfaction over election conduct in Ogun

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By Olawale Jokotoye

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, have adjudged the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Ogun as smooth and credible.

Osinbajo and Obasanjo expressed their views in separate interviews with journalists after casting their votes in Ikenne and Abeokuta respectively.

Commenting, Obasanjo who voted at about 10:32 a.m. at Ward 11, Polling Unit 22, Olushomi Compound, Sokori area of Abeokuta-North, expressed satisfaction at the peaceful and orderly conduct of the polls.

“I think we are getting it through in election in our country.

“One can see things that are encouraging and giving hope for future as far as election is concern, because there are improvements,” he said.

Obasanjo, particularly, commended INEC for the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), saying that technology had improved the voting process.

“I came in and I was checked. I was asked to remove my glasses and the gadget was placed before my face and my picture appeared.

“That is a new one and if that will happen all over the country, I think we are making progress.

“One should encourage and support anything that will help the credibility, integrity and transparency of the electoral process, because credible election is the begining of good governance of any country,” he said

Obasanjo expressed optimism over the outcome of the polls, adding, “my expectation is high”.

Also, Osinbajo, who cast his vote at Unit 014, Ward 1, Ojurege in Ikenne Local Government area of the state, also described the exercise as peaceful.

He expressed hope that the election would be orderly and peaceful across the country.

“This is my polling booth. The Ojurege polling booth is very peaceful.

“I hope this is the same all across the state and the country,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

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