By Leonard Okachie

The Speaker, Abia House of Assembly, Mr Chinedum Orji, has lost Saturday’s poll for Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency.

Orji, son of the former Gov. Theodore Orji, lost to the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Mr Obi Aguocha.

Announcing the results on Monday, the Returning Officer, Prof Uma Oke, said that LP candidate polled 48,199 votes to defeat Orji of the PDP, who scored 35,196 votes.

He said that Mr Ogbonnaya Obilor of APC had 4,042 votes, while Mr Ogbonna Abariukwu of APGA got 2, 758.

He also said that Mr Obinna Nwosu of ADC scored 2386, while Mr Friday Chimaobi of YPP polled 1013 votes.

Others, including Patience Okorie of NNPP got 644 votes, Mr Christian Ibekwe Christian of NRM got 68 votes whereas Mr Nnamdi Ogbuagu of APP scored 347 votes.

Oke later told newsmen that they were awaiting the outcome of Osisioma Local Government Area polls to declare the results for Abia Central Senatorial District.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abia Central Senatorial District comprises six Local Government Area, including Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Ikwuano, Osisioma, Isiala Ngwa South and Isiala North. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sam Oditah

By Rita Iliya

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Gov. Abubakar Sani-Bello as the winner of Niger South seat at the National Assembly.

INEC Returning Officer, Kolo Zacchaeus, announced the result on Monday in Kontangora.

Zacchaeus said that Sani-Bello scored 100,197 votes to defeat his closest opponent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Shehu Abdullahi who scored 88,153 votes.

He said that Wali Ibrahim of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) scored 13,886 votes, while Sani Sule of APGA got 2,747 votes and Musa Yakubu of ADC scored 636 votes.

The returning officer said that Buhari Haruna of PRP scored 1,597 votes, while Ibrahim Muhammad of NRM scored 307 votes and Adamu Tainmu of ADP got 515 votes.

He said that Sama’ila Yahaya of SDP scored 169 votes, while Yamaha John of ZLP got 937 votes and Mohammed Usman of Accord Party scored 220 votes. (NAN)( www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Hajara Leman

Former governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo has won the Gombe North Senatorial District election, defeating the incumbent Sen. Saidu Alkali of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Dankwambo, a two time governor of the state, constestdd the election under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The Returning Officer, Prof. Umaru Gurama, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Federal University, Kashere, announced the result on Monday in Malamsidi headquarters of Kwami Local Government Area of the state.

He said that Dankwambo polled 143,155 votes to defeat his closest rival, Alkali of the APC, who scored 77,948 votes.

”Having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest votes, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” he said.

He said that 239,339 voters were accredited and  237,116 voted while 8,566 votes rejected.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dankwambo contested in the 2019 elections and lost to Alkali.

The Gombe North Senatorial District consists of Gombe, Kwami, Dukku, Funakaye and Nafada LGAs. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Ehigimetor Igbaugba

Gov. Ben Ayade has lost his bid to return to the Senate following his defeat by the incumbent senator representing Cross River North, Sen. Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe.

Ayade who was in the Senate between 2011 and 2015, lost the National Assembly elections conducted on Saturday with 56,595 votes against Agom-Jarigbe’s of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 76,145 votes.

The returning officer, Dr Emmanuel Emanghe, who spoke on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the result for the polls around 3:05 a.m. on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Agom-Jarigbe, a two-time member of the House of Representatives, was elected into the Senate through a bye-election in September 2021 following the death of Dr Rose Okoh.

Simirlarly, Ayade who is serving out his two-term as Governor of the state, sought to replace Agom-Jarigbe as the Senator representing Northern senatorial district of Cross River.

However, the re-elected Senator could not be issued with the Declaration Form after his declaration by the retuning officer.

Upon demand for the Declaration Form, Agom-Jarigbe was told that it was mistakenly taken to Obudu by the electoral body in the state.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Gabriel Yomere, who spoke on phone said, “the form was mistakingly taken to Obudu but he can be issued with a temporary one pending when the original one will be brought.”

Meanwhile, Godwin Offiono of the PDP, was returned elected for the Ogoji/Yala Federal Constituency election.

Offiono defeated the incumbent lawmaker representing the area, Mr Jude Ngaji of the All Progressives Congress, by 36,651 votes to 32,973 votes.

The Ogoja/Yala Federal constituency result was announced by Dr Wakasor Ofem. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Naomi Sharang

The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has urged stakeholders and the electorate to remain calm as INEC collated results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Prof. Anthony Olusanya, a member of the Team of Experts for CTA, an election observer group, made the call in its preliminary statement on “The Observations of the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections of Feb. 25.

Olusanya said that as the collation process and election in places where elections were rescheduled continued, all stakeholders should continue to conduct themselves in a peaceful and responsible manner.

He specifically called on INEC to hold itself to the highest level of neutrality and accountability.

Olusanya said the group’s preliminary findings from their field observers showed that INEC officials and materials generally did not arrive on time at the majority of polling units observed.

“Although INEC proposed commencement of accreditation was for 8.30 a.m., on the average, polling officials and materials did not arrive the polling units before 10.30 a.m.

“However, reports from our observers across 982 polling units so far reported across the country showed that INEC officials and materials arrived between 7a.m. and 8.30 a.m. in 53 per cent of the polling units.

“While security personnel were expected to be on ground before the commencement of the voting process, our observers noted that in most of the polling units, security personnel were not present until about 9 to 10 a.m.

“Generally, observers reported that the security personnel behaved and conducted themselves professionally.”

Olusanya also said that voter turnout was generally impressive, adding that in most cases, voters came out earlier than the arrival of INEC officials, materials and security personnel.

“They mostly conducted themselves peacefully and in accordance with voting guidelines.”

On the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Olusanya said that in some cases, INEC ad hoc staff demonstrated insufficient familiarity with the operation of the BVAS.

“Observers reported that wrong codes and poor network were some of the challenges faced by the ad hoc staff.”

Similarly, Executive Director of CTA, Ms Faith Nwadishi commended INEC for creating special polling units for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

She said that on the whole, all stakeholders on the electoral value chain had put in their best to make sure that the country had free, fair and credible elections.

“However, the political parties and actors seem not to be taking a queue. You go to the field you see a party agent not wearing an INEC approved identity card.

“We commend Nigerians; a lot of them were out to vote even at centres where there was late arrival of INEC officials.

“This shows that the Nigerian voters now understand their role in our electoral history.”

Executive Director, Persons With Disabilities Action Network, Mr Ubaka Betram, recalled that before the commencement of the election, INEC had registered no fewer than 5,362 persons with disabilities.

He said that observers discovered that over 95 per cent of PWDs did not participate in the election.

Betram, however, called on governments and stakeholders to educate the populace against stigmatisation of PWDs.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Chioma Ugboma

By Thompson Yamput

Cancellation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has threatened to cancel election results of crises ridden areas during the presidential and NASS election in Kogi.

Dr Hale Longpet, Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), sounded the warning while reacting to the crises that erupted in some Local Government Areas while Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja.

There were reports of thugs interfering with some polling units in Anyigba and Dekina in the Kogi East and Mopa in the Kogi West as well as parts of Kogi Central, where voting materials were allegedly carted away by thugs.

“You know the electoral Law says that where there are disruption to the process, the result will be cancelled, the very particular units’ results will be cancelled.

“The issues, initially were only in the Kogi East and Central but I can’t tell exactly where and where in the state have been affected until the results are brought by the electoral officers.

“We understood that because of the violence those affected areas couldn’t conclude election there.

“I’m shocked that people can go to that level and disrupt something that everybody should have enjoyed.

“Election is a peaceful and willful thing that people are offered to freely participate.

“Again, If people are given assurance that everyone will enjoy a pleasant experience, why then should we have thugs invading the whole town or the local government, disrupting the conduct of the elections?” he asked.

According to him, his is very sad and shocking, when you look at the loss of lives involved.

He explained that “election is not war,” so If you were standing in for election to provide services for your people, you don’t need to engage in these distructive activities.

He said anyone feels he does not want to be part of the elections, he or she does not have go out there to vote.

According to him, People who have interest to bring good things to their communities do go out to positively engage and vote or exercise their franchise and they should not be stopped or denied the opportunity.

He disclosed that he went out with heads of the security operatives in the state in a motorcade to monitor the elections starting from Adankolo to Crucial, through to Kabawa and Falele.

He said, “yet in all these places, we didn’t see anyone angry but people were all smiling and casting their votes peacefully”.

The REC expressed happiness that everywhere inside Lokoja was very peaceful, not even a voice was raised. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will commence the collation of 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday at midday.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced this at a news conference on the 2023 general elections on Saturday in Abuja.

Yakubu said results were expected by the commission from the states starting from Sunday.

“I will like to invite you at midday tomorrow (Sunday) for the official opening of the National Innovation Centre for the 2023 general elections.

“We hope that by tomorrow, we expect to have some of the election results coming from states, particularly for the presidential election.

“So, the collation centre for the presidential election will open midday tomorrow,” Yakubu said.

He added that there won’t be need to address Nigerians before Sunday (Feb. 26), except if there was need to do so. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Adeyemi Adeleye

About 24 hours after the opening of polls in Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in Lagos State, no single result from the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) has arrived at the State Collation Centre.

Prof. Adenike Oladiji, the State Collation Officer and Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) disclosed this during the official opening of the centre for final collation of election results in Lagos State at about 12:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Oladiji, who described the collation as a serious assignment, said that the centre was still awaiting results from all the 20 LGAs as at midnight.

The professor said: “This is a serious national assignment that has brought us together here.

“It is also an assignment that is of international importance, and that explains why we have international observers here with us.

“Our job is simple. If we follow the well laid out procedures of INEC, we know it is very simple and easy.

“It is a call to duty, it is a national assignment and we hope that we will not fail our country. As we can all see, the result are not here yet.

“So that we wont keep ourselves just waiting expecting the results, we are proposing that we reconvene tomorrow (Sunday) at 10.am.

“We know that by that time some of our results will be here and we will be able to process them all in this hall.”

Earlier in his opening address, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, who commended the state collation officer, said that collation was at various stages in the state.

According to Agbaje, at the end, Nigerians will be happy that INEC has done a lot to ensure that people are allowed to vote in spite of few hitches.

“We want to assure Nigerians that their votes will count,” the commissioner said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Collation Centre for the 2023 Presidential Election in Lagos State is situated at INEC Media Centre at the commission’s headquarters in the state.

The Presidential and NASS elections were held simultaneously across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday.

Journalists, observers among other stakeholders, awaited the commencement of the collation on Sunday.

Collation of results was still at various stages, some at the registration areas, federal constituency, senatorial district and local government collation centres.

NAN reports that some security agents were sighted at the centre. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Idris Abdulrahman