By Angela Atabo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mrs Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party (LP) as the winner of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)Senate seat.
INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Sanni Saka of the University of Abuja announced the result on Tuesday in Abuja.
Saka said that Ireti scored 202,175 votes to emerge winner, adding that Mr Philip Aduda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 100,544 votes, while Mr  Angulu  Dobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) placed third with 78,905 votes.
” I Prof. Sanni Saka thereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the 2023 FCT  Senatorial district election held on Feb. 25.
“The election was contested and the candidates received the votes as announced.
“That  Ireti  Kingibe having  satisfied the requirement  of the law has been declared the winner,” Saka said.
He said that the problem with the Bwari result that was earlier canceled was rectified and the result certified as valid.
He however, said that the result for Abaji  remained canceled because the problem had not been sorted out.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Sulieman Ango, the APC agent and that of PDP Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed refused to sign the result sheet saying it was not authentic.(NAN)(nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Naomi Sharang

Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele representing Ekiti Central District has urged Nigerians to ignore what he described as the ill-motivated advice by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the ongoing 2023 general elections.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Legal Matters and Human Rights made the call in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

The former president had, on Monday in a letter to the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, called for the halting of the collation of the results of the presidential election and cancellation of the entire electoral exercise.

Bamidele, however, expressed concern that Obasanjo’s claims were spurious, flimsy and unjustifiable to cancel a general election where huge financial and human resources had been committed.

The senator said Obasanjo’s position was a deliberate attempt to truncate Nigeria’s democracy and open invitation to anarchy.

“It is a devious assault on the collective civility and sensibility of the people of Nigeria who came out enmasse to exercise their franchise in fulfillment of their civic responsibilities on Feb. 25.

“It is also an utter disrespect to the democratic world and the delegation of international observers who monitored the election with keen interest and adjudged it as a free, fair and credible process,” he said.

Bamidele described the entire process so far as an improvement on the previous elections in the country.

The Chairman, Southern Senators’ Forum, also said ‘’Obasanjo’s unsolicited reactionary posturing on the just-concluded presidential election is characteristic of his anti-democratic and subversive tendencies which he had displayed on several occasions over the years.

“This is the same Obasanjo who publicly adopted Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party and urged Nigerians to vote for him. Unfortunately, Peter Obi lost woefully in the polling unit right in front of his (Obasanjo’s) house in Abeokuta. Apparently.

“Obasanjo is jittery because of the outcome of the election which invariably may not be in favour of his adopted candidate. He is a bad loser ”

Bamidele said that it was ridiculous and highly disheartening for Obasanjo to utterly question the credibility of an election where many sitting governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives failed to win their National Assembly elections.

He said in addition to this was the inability of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Bola Tinubu to win in Lagos State, an outcome he said he had accepted in good faith.

He added that Obasanjo as incumbent President of Nigeria was alleged to have massively rigged the 2003 general elections for his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and perpetrated the same executive lawlessness in 2007 when he foisted late Umar Yar’adua on Nigerians, following his failed third term agenda.

He said, ” how could a former president call for cancellation of the election where the APC failed to win in Lagos State, an election where President Muhammadu Buhari lost Katsina State to PDP, an election where the Director-General of APC Presidential Campaign Council?

“Gov. Simon Lanlong lost in his state, an election in which the Governor of Kano State, Umar Ganduje and the Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade failed to deliver respectively for their political parties, as not free and fair elections.

” We are all living witnesses of what transpired during Obasanjo’s tenure when he said “election is a do.or die affair”, in which many results were announced when people were still voting.

” I pray that Nigeria will not again witness such dark days of Obasanjo when his own anointed candidate, Umar Musa Yara’dua himself admitted that the election that brought him to power was not free, fair and credible.

“It is obvious that Obasanjo is pained that he is unable to install his own candidate with the outcome of the election and that is the reason for his emergency televised address in Abeokuta, Ogun State.”

Bamidele pointed out that the credibility of the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections is unprecedented in the political history of Nigeria, such that it is largely devoid of financial inducement and electoral malpractices.

He said that the pockets of violence and irregularities that trailed the process in some parts of the country were not enough reasons for anybody to call for cancellation.

He called on all well-meaning Nigerians and lovers of democracy not to keep silent in the face of Obasanjo’s onslaught, urging them to rise up to defend the sanctity of Nigeria’s fledgling democracy and the constitutionality of the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.

He added that Nigerians must condemn the unjust, undignified, undemocratic and unpopular interjection of Obasanjo in the ongoing electoral process.

He also enjoined Nigerian youths to totally ignore Obasanjo and his cohorts who are making devious and desperate moves to plunge the entire nation into another season of civil unrest and political instability.

He urged them not to be swayed into any action capable of derailing the nation’s, saying they should rather question the credibility and ulterior motives of the anti-democratic forces calling for the election cancellation.

Bamidele urged INEC to proceed with the collation and declaration of results and ensure that the winner of the 2023 presidential election is announced without any delay for Nigeria to move forward as a democratic nation.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Saturday’s National Assembly elections in Abia South inconclusive.

The Returning Officer for Abia South National Assembly elections, Prof. Georgina Ugwuanyi, announced this on Tuesday, while addressing the party agents at the collation centre in Aba.

Ugwuanyi said that there was a substantial number of polling units, totalling 108 which had issues requiring a rescheduled election.

She, however, announced the available result of the elections without declaring the winners.

According to her, the results of the elections showed that Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe of APGA scored 49,693.

She further announced that LP’s Chinedu Onyeizu scored 43,903, while Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu scored 28,422 votes.

For Aba South and North Federal Constituency, she said that the LP’s Emeka Nnamani polled 35,502.

She said that Alex Ikwecheghi of APGA polled 22,465 votes, while the incumbent Rep. Chimaobi Ebisike of PDP scored 13,388 votes. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sam Oditah

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the Saturday presidential election in Adamawa and Kastina States, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) won Jigawa State.

The State Collation Officer, Prof. Mohammed Mele, announcing the results for Adamawa State said that the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar polled PDP- 417,611, while Sen. Bola Tinubu of the APC came second with -182,881 votes.

Mele, who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Central Administration, University of Maiduguri, said that the LP scored 105,648 while the NNPP- polled 8,006 votes.

Other results are: A- 654, AA -536, AAC-646, ADC-3,398, ADP -1,906, APGA-887, APM-650, APP-372, BP-522, NNPP-8,006, NRM-1,563,PRP-701,SDP-1,944 YPP-958, and ZLP-2,257

The state registered voters was 2,196,566 out of which 764,834 were accredited, the total votes cast was 761,621, cancelled votes 23,097 and total Valid votes was 731,140, while rejected votes was 30,481 .

The PDP also won Katsina State with 489,045 votes, while APC secured 482,28 followed by the NNPP with 69,386 and LP-6,376.

According to the State SCOPE, Vice- Chancellor, Federal University of Gusau, Prof. Abubakar Gusau, the total vote cast in the state was 1,091,187, while 1,097,663 voters were accredited out of the 35156719 register voters in the state.

Gusau listed other parties votes as Accord-255, AA -523, AAC-234, ADC-1,405, ADP -1798, APGA-1,391, APM-603, APP-269, BP-327-LP-6,376, NRM-1,053, PRP-1,986, SDP-339, YPP-1,029 and ZLP-371

He said while the total valid votes was 1,058,673, rejected votes was 32,514 and cancelled votes 51,421.

Meanwhile, the APC won in Jigawa State with 421,390 votes while PDP came second with 386, 587 votes and NNPP third with 98,234 votes followed by LP with 1,889

The State SCOPE, Mohammed Bashir, says number of registered voters in the state was 2,651,298 out of which 961670 was accredited .

He said while total votes cast was 954,805 the total number of valid votes was 920,531, and the rejected votes was 34,274.

Similarly, LP won Nasarawa state with 191,361 votes out of the 540,566 total valid votes in the state.

The Nasarawa State SCOPE and V-C University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, said that APC- 172,922, PDP- 147,093 and NNPP-12,715 votes.

Other parties votes according to Ishaya were Accord-494, AA -554, AAC-117, ADC-973, ADP -788, APGA-989, APM-356, APP-187, BP—340, LP-191,361, NRM-405, PRP-317, SDP-8046, YPP-249 and ZLP-2660.

The total valid votes was 540,566, rejected votes-16,371, total Votes Cast- 556,931 and cancelled votes 51,42.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that so far results from 13 states has been declared, while collation was adjourned to Tuesday 11 a.m. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

By Ahmed Kaigama

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Dr Samaila Kaila of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of Bauchi North Senatorial District election.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Ahmad Set’le, announced the result in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area Tuesday morning.

He said Kaila secured 102,043 votes to defeat his closest rival, Sirajo Tanko, of All Progressive Congress (APC), who got 100,246 votes.

“Dr Kaila of the PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared winner and returned elected,” he announced.

Meanwhile, INEC has declared Mr Auwalu Gwalabe of PDP winner of Katagum federal constituency seat.

Prof. Abdulsalami Gital, the Returning Officer, declared that Gwalabe emerged victorious with 28,154 votes over his closest opponent, Ghali Abdulhamid, who scored 17,751 votes. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

By Abbas Bamalli

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State has won the three senatorial seats and nine out of the 15 House of Representatives seats.

This development is coming after the party lost the majority of votes cast in the state during the presidential election to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PDP won six seats of the House of Representatives in the state.

For Katsina Central zone, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yar’adua of APC was declared winner, having scored 153,512 votes against PDP’si Aminu Sirajo, who got 152,140.

Yar’adu’a was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) senatorial Returning Officer, Prof. Aminu Dalhatu-Kankia.

For Northern Katsina senatorial district (Daura zone), incumbent Sen. Ahmed Babba-Kaita of the PDP lost to APC’s Nasir Zangon-Daura.

Zangon-Daura, a current member of the House of Representatives, got 174,062 votes, while Babba-Kaita polled 163,586 votes, according to the Returning Officer, Prof. Umar Sanda.

In the Southern zone, APC’s Muntari Dandutse, who is also an incumbent House of Representatives member, clinched 203,245 votes to defeat Shehu Garba of the PDP, who received 151,519 votes.

The result was announced on Monday by the Returning Officer, Prof. Iliyasu Yusuf-Gobir. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Gabriel Yough

Gov. Darius Ishaku and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial candidate for Taraba South has lost his bid to the All Progressives Congress (APC ) candidate, Mr David Jimkuta.

Announcing the results in Wukari on Monday, Prof. Adeyeye Solomon, the Returning Officer for the senatorial election, said Jimkuta scored 85,415 votes to defeat Ishaku who got 45,708 votes.

The results from the various local government areas that make up the zone indicate that the APC candidate polled 17,607 votes in Donga Local Government Area while Ishaku clinched 10,492 votes.

The APC got 13,087 votes as against PDP’s 8,092 votes in Ibi LGA, 22,246 votes against 4,098 votes in Ussa/Yangtu, 20,892 votes against 12,988 votes in Wukari and 11,581 votes against 9,640 votes from Takum.

According to him, the APC candidate won in all the local government areas including the governor’s home town of Takum.

Meanwhile, the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Sen. Shu’aibu Lau, has won his re-election bid for Taraba North Senatorial district.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Taraba North comprises six local government areas of Jalingo, Lau, Karim Lamido, Zing, Yorro and Ardo-kola.

The Returning Officer for Taraba Northern Senatorial District, Prof. Chibiya Chingu, who is the DVC Central Administration, Federal University, Wukari, said the candidate returned elected after polling 74,645 votes to defeat his closest APC opponent, Sani Danladi, who netted 61,878 votes. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Muhammad Lawal

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kebbi State, on Monday, declared collation officer for Marafa ward in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Mr Yusuf Isa-Yahaya as ‘persona non-grata’.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Alhaji Ahmed Bello-Mahmud said on Monday in Birnin Kebbi that the commission would, however, not be deterred by this development.

He said the commission had no option than to declare him missing following series of meetings on the issue in accordance with the law, adding that a new competent collation officer had been appointed to carry on with the job.

Bello-Mahmud assured that the newly appointed officer would continue from where the missing officer stopped and possibly make announcement today.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that tension was high at INEC office in Birnin Kebbi in view of the strong contest between the two political giants in the state.

The incumbent governor of the state, Sen. Atiku Bagudu and ex-governor, Sen. Adamu Aliero, which led to security beef up at the commission office.

NAN also reports that Bagudu is contesting the Kebbi Central Senatorial District seat on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) while Aliero is contesting on the platform of People’s Democratic party (PDP).

Results from eight Local Government Areas of Kebbi Central Senatorial District had arrived but the absence of Marafa ward results delayed the announcement of the winner.

Also speaking, Aliero advised his supporters to remain calm, adding that the decision of the commission was in line with the laws of the land.

He lamented that his people had spent two days awaiting the announcement of the result but to no avail.

He appealed to the commission to hasten efforts to do the needful within the confine of the law to announce the result.

“Therefore, I urge all our supporters to be law abiding, mature and ensure that they maintain the relative peace being enjoyed for the good and progress of the state and the nation at large,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

By Cecilia Ijuo

There is tight security in and around the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Karu, as collation of results continues.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that no fewer than 30 Police officers and other security agents were stationed in the area to forestall break down of law and order.

There is also restriction of movement in and around the INEC premises, while the road leading to the office was cordoned off.

Meanwhile, the AMAC INEC Electoral Officer, Mr Yahaya Mustapha, told NAN that collation of the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections was ongoing.

He said that there were 12 wards under AMAC, seven of which had presented their results.

Mustapha said results from the remaining five wards were still being expected, adding that the delay stemmed from a few hitches experienced in some wards.

He said once the results were collated at the centre, which is the Local Government Collation Centre, the Presidential and Senatorial results will be transmitted to the State INEC office at Garki Area 10.

He, however, said the result of House of Representatives for AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency would be announced at the AMAC Collation Centre.

NAN reports that the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) has two Federal Constituencies, AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency and Kwali/Kuje/Gwagwalada Federal Constituency. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman/Ekemini Ladejobi

By Cecilia Ijuo

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the use of Bimodal Verification and Accreditation System (BVAS).

Adamu gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

”Although the system malfunctioned in some places, it is not overwhelming to question the credibility of the election.

”We heard from INEC that some BVAS malfunctioned. We expected it because it is a technology and with the political environment like our own, I am not expecting it to be 100 per cent.

“I must commend INEC that though there were hitches, they were not particularly overwhelming to a point of questioning the credibility of the election.

“I think it has been worth the experiment and it should be used for subsequent elections, “he said.

Adamu said he is optimistic that the APC Presidential Candidate Sen. Bola Tinubu will win the election.

“If the information we are beginning to receive from various parts of the country is anything to go by, one has every reason to be optimistic that our candidate will win.

“I know Tinubu will win because of his faith in God and we have worked for it and we believe Nigerians have listened to us just as they have listened to others.

“I believe our message has gone deeper and has bigger spread and understanding of what we are,” he said.

On what the party intends to do differently for national development should Tinubu win, Adamu said everything is contained in the manifesto.

He said APC party members were not beginners, adding that they had been “tested” by Nigerians.

According to him, there is no denying the fact that given their expertise, understanding and goodwill their candidate qualify to win.

On vote buying, the chairman said he did not believe in it.

He said, “I do not believe in this idea of people claiming to be purists, having holier than thou attitude to life and being pretentious.

“I believe very electoral system and every country has problems that are peculiar to it.

“I want the person that would come out to say from the beginning to the end that there was no money in his or her political activity till the day he or she was declared winner or loser.”

On whether or not the cashless policy affected the conduct of the election, the former governor said “the problems have stayed but we were able to move on.

“If you have a choice then you talk of what to do and what not to do but we do not have a choice for the election to wait for it.

“I think our ability and doggedness to achieve certain feat in the face of difficulties has made us to withstand this,” he said.

Adamu thanked Nigerians for turning out enmass for the election and conducting themselves peacefully.

He said in spite of the few hitches experienced in some places, there had not been any major mishap.

While thanking God for taking control of the election, the chairman said the election was about one of the biggest he had witnessed.

On his ability to manage some crisis the party faced prior to the election, Adamu thanked God for His guidance as well as the leadership and other members of the party for their cooperation.

He further said he was able to manage the crisis because he provided the leadership that represented different interest and a common goal. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza