By Justina Auta

A Youths Group, under the auspices of Nigerian Youths Movement for Tinubu (NYMT), on Tuesday urged the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Bola Tinubu to join the 2023 presidential race.

Alhaji Mukhtar Mukhtar, Director General, NYMT, while addressing the media in Abuja said the legacies and ideologies of Tinubu clearly portrayed him as a National Leader, who was a rallying point for progressives in the country.

Mukhtar, represented by the group’s North West coordinator, Malam Mustapha Abdrahman,, called on the two-time governor of Lagos state to use his experience in fostering unity, peace and progress in the country and contest for the position of president in 2023 general election.

“Over the years, Tinubu has been a vanguard of true federalism and national integration even as he pays attention to the development of our dear nation.

” He is a pacesetter, a mentor, nation builder, a unifier and de-tribalised politician,” he said.

According to him, if Tinubu join the presidential race it will enable him consolidate what President Muhammadu Buhari has done and is still doing in the country.

“Asiwaju possess undeniable passion for Nigeria. He is consummate democrat and a progressive to a core.

” A political phenomenon, an astute administrator and successful businessman who has within his political sojourn become the political colossal in Nigeria.

“It is in our quest for the progress of Nigeria as a nation that we have called on an outstanding personality in person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to vie for the position of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Also, Sen. Abu Ibrahim, who represented Katsina South in the 8th National Assembly extolled the qualities of Tinubu and his contributions towards the growth of APC.

Ibrahim, represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed-Ibrahim said Nigerian youths will support the National Leader of the APC if he decide to contest for presidency in the next general election.

He, therefore, stressed the need for Nigerians to unite and support credible representatives to lead the country.

Also, General Secretary, NYMT, Mr Olugbenga Pius, said that the group was made up of various representatives of youths associations who were after the peace and progress of the country, hence will mobilise Nigerians to support Tinubu, if he decide to join the race.

“We the leaders of various youth groups and volunteers pledge to ramp up efforts to fully implement strategies and Platforms for Actions, should Tinubu decide to run for presidency in 2023 general elections,” he said.

By Deborah Coker

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta said on Tuesday that the South South zone would continue to remain strong and united in the quest by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reclaim power in 2023.

Okowa, who is the Chairman PDP Governor’s Forum, South South, said this in his opening remarks at the party’s South South Zonal Congress in Port Harcourt.

He said that the zonal leadership would be positioned to help the party to reclaim power at the centre in 2023.

According to Okowa, when the PDP South South speaks, we speak with one voice.

“That has been the strength of our party, and we will continue to thank God and continue to build on the gains of the past.

“We will continue to be a voice in the zone in national politics and continue to work in unity.”

He pledged that the governors in the zone would continue to work in close relationship with the South South zonal leadership as well as the state chapters.

He added that the strength in the unity of the party would take the party to a higher level.

“We are hopeful because our nation was better under PDP and the party would reposition the country if it comes back to power,” he said.

Similarly, Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers said that the party in the South South raised the hope of the party to return to the centre come 2023.

He noted that this had been the case since 1999, and called for the orderly conduct of the exercise to show that the party was more committed and waiting to take over power in 2023.

He assured delegates that measures were put in place to forestall any hitch or rancour during the exercise.

In his address of welcome, the Caretaker Committee National Vice Chairman South South, Chief Dan Orbih, said his committee was abreast of the challenges the zone was faced with.

Orbih, the party’s unopposed candidate for the position of National Vice Chairman, South South, added that if given the opportunity to steer the affairs of the party in the zone, the incoming leadership was more than ready to surmount the challenges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 12 positions were being contested for including the National Vice Chairman (Zonal Chairman), Zonal Secretary, and Zonal Financial Secretary.

Other positions were Zonal Treasurer, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Publicity Secretary, Zonal Legal Adviser, Zonal Auditor, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal ex officio as well as National ex officio.

By Carol V. Utulu

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has won all the chairmanship and councillorship positions in the March 6 Delta local government elections.

The Chairman of the Delta Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), Chief Mike Ogbodu, declared the election results in Asaba on Sunday.

Ogbodu said that the PDP cleared all the 25 chairmanship and 500 councillorship positions in the 25 local government areas of the state.

“The local government election in Delta State which was conducted on Saturday, March 6, 2021 has been won by the PDP.

“According to results collated across the 25 local government areas, the PDP cleared all the chairmanship and councillorship positions.

“Let me state here that there was no recorded incidence of violence during and after the election across the state,” Ogbodu said.

Meanwhile, the announcement of the results has been greeted with protest by Mr. Samson Uwandulu, a councillorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and his supporters.

Uwandulu, who spoke to newsmen at the premises of DSIEC, alleged that he won the election in Isele-Azagba Ward 6, Oshimili North Local Government Area.

“My name is Samson Uwandulu. I contested for the councillorship election in Ward 6, Isele-Azagba.

“After the election, the electoral officer for the ward counted the votes in the presence of all party agents.

“From the counted figures, I polled 408 votes, while the PDP candidate got 317 votes.

“But before I could be pronounced the winner, the officials stopped the process and they all entered a car and drove off,” Uwandulu said.

Efforts to contact DSIEC Director of Public Affairs, Mr Arubi Orugboh, for reaction on the councillorship candidate’s allegation proved abortive as he did not respond to calls or text message to him through phone.

By Muhammad Nasir Bashir

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammad Adamu, has emerged the winner of Saturday’s Kafinhausa State Constituency by-election in Jigawa.

Adamu polled 14,924 votes to beat other candidates in the election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the poll took place in the 120 polling units in the area.

Prof. Ahmed Kutama, the Returning Officer, declared the result at the collation centre in Kafinhausa Local Government Area.

He said the APC candidate defeated his closest rival, Garba Muhammad Tambale, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 8,612 votes.

The electoral officer declared Adamu the winner, having secured the highest number of votes.

The third contestant was Usman Isyako of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) who secured 72 votes. (NAN)

The Speaker, Delta House of Assembly, Mr Sheriff Oborevwori, has commended the peaceful conduct of Saturday council poll across the state.

Oborevwori made the commendation shortly after he cast his vote at about 10:05 a.m. in Unit 9 Ward 6 in Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area of the state.

“I want to tell you that the election is peaceful. Everybody accepts the candidature of Mr Isaiah Isiovwa as Chairman of Okpe Local Government Area.

“Victory is sure for the PDP in Okpe Local Government Area,” he said.

In the same vein, Isiovwa said that the election was peaceful, adding that the massive turnout was an indication that the electorate were ready to cast their votes.

Also, Dr Michael Tidi, the immediate past Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, commended the peaceful conduct of the election.

Tidi said shortly after he cast his vote at about 10:30 a.m. in Idudu Unit 14 Okere Ward 6, Warri South, that the exercise was peaceful.

The immediate past chairman, who is seeking re-election under the platform of the PDP, said he was optimistic of clinching the chairmanship seat.

He urged those who had yet to exercise their franchise to do so noting that it was their civic rights.

“The election is very peaceful. If you were there when I cast my vote, you would have seen the warm reception accorded us.

“We believe we will be elected because we went about our campaign,” he said.

Meanwhile, Isaac Aguanah, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate for the Patani Local Government Area, says he is optimistic of winning the election.

The PDP candidate who voted in Unit 3, Ward 13, noted that the process was peaceful.

Aguanah, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in his Bulu Angiama country home, said that when elected, he would ensure meaning development in the area.

“My aim is to carry on with the ongoing development of the local government area.

“I will also ensure that my administration embarks on human and infrastructural development as well as provision of social amenities,” he said. (NAN)

By Mercy Obojeghren

Residents of Delta on Saturday obeyed the restricted vehicular movement order imposed by government as Local Government election holds across the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that markets, filling stations, shops, motor parks and other business organisation were closed in Asaba, Ughelli, Sapele, Agbor and other parts of the state.

However, few motor parks opened for vehicles travelling outside the state as early as 5.30 a.m.to be able to leave the state before daybreak as there was light traffic in some major roads in Warri metropolis.

Some of the commercial drivers complained that the restriction order had actuall affected their work for the day.

A bus driver at the popular Koka Park in Asaba, Mr Ben Ike, said he had spent hours without having any passenger.

”I came out here as early as 6:30 a.m. to enable me beat the restriction order, but here I am and there are no passengers,” he said.

Meanwhile, some residents of Asaba and environs told NAN that they were not aware of the local government poll.

Mrs Agnes Afam, a business centre operator, said, “I never knew today is election. I only came out to discover that today election.”

Sunday Ugwu, a carpenter who lives on Ibusa Road, said that he was not aware that there was an election, and as such, would not go to vote.

Others have also complained that their polling units were far from their homes and would not participate in the election as a result.

Mr Okechukwu Onu told NAN that he lived around ULO Ibusa Road and his polling unit was at the College of Education, Asaba, a distance he considered too far.

“I advise the people in charge of elections to bring polling units closer to us. I cannot go all the way to that place to cast my vote ” he said.

Anothe resident, Mary Uke, said that if the polling unit was close to her, she would go and vote.

“Considering the situation we are in right now, I cannot spend up to N1000 to and fro the polling station to cast my vote.

“Eeven when the politicians are voted in they will not remember us,” she added. (NAN)

The restricted vehicular movement lasts from 12 a.m to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

State governors and their deputies are to take the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday (March 10).

Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Chairman of  Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti, disclosed this at a virtual news conference on Thursday.

Fayemi said that the vaccination was part of resolutions made by the governors during an emergency virtual meeting held on Thursday.

The NGF chairman read a communique issued by the governors at the end of the meeting.

He said that the vaccination would be done publicly.

Fayemi  said the governors  would  enlighten more  Nigerians on the need to take the vaccine, which, he said, was safe.

He expressed the governors’ commitment to work with the Federal Government to ensure that the  required cold chain would be set up for the vaccine.

The governor encouraged citizens to use the e-registeration portal on the  National Primary Health Care Development Agency  website – nphcsaict.com.ng/publicreg –  to register for vaccination.

He said that Mr Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation,  at the meeting, briefed the governors on the 3.92m doses of the vaccine received by Nigeria on Tuesday.

He disclosed that the leadership and frontline health workers would be the first to receive the vaccine as from March 6, beginning with President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

Fayemi gave the assurance that the vaccine was researched to be safe for persons up to 18 years.

The meeting also attended by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu; Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, and other medical experts. (NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the leadership of the National Assembly, particularly members of the House of Representatives, over the passing of a lawmaker, Yuguda Hassan-Kila.

In a condolence message by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Thursday, the president commiserated with Hassan-Kila’s family, friends, associates, people and government of Jigawa State on the sad incident.

He urged all those mourning the deceased to have more trust in God who determines the fate of everyone on earth.

President Buhari prayed that almighty God would accept the soul of the departed, grant him Aljannah firdaus. (NAN)