NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Elections

Election: Cleric tasks newly elected political leaders on fulfilling promises

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By Salisu Sani-Idris

An Abuja based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahya Al-Yolawi, has called on newly elected political leaders in the country to fear Allah and fulfill their electioneering campaign promises when they assume office.

Al-Yolawi gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that being truthful in promises and covenants was one of the best characteristics by which true believers were known.

“I will like to remind our brothers and sisters in Islam, those who were elected in the President and National Assembly elections to fear Allah and endeavour to fulfill their electioneering campaign promises.

“They should also justify the confidence reposed in them by the electorate, by ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of resources that will be
entrusted to them.

“They should also ensure the protection of lives, properties and learn from the mistakes of their immediate predecessors; leadership is about trust and you will be asked by God on what you were entrusted with.”

The cleric also enjoined them to work hard and emplace policies that would enhance the living conditions of ordinary citizens.

“This means that leaders must have very close relationship with followers so that they can contribute their energy and work together towards realising and achieving set goals,” Al-Yolawa said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Maharazu Ahmed

Elections

Gov. Bagudu loses senatorial race to Aliero

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By Muhammad Lawal
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Sen. Adamu Aliero of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of Kebbi Central Senatorial District election held on Feb. 25.
The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Abbas Yusuf-Bazata, who announced the result on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi said Aliero beat Gov. Abubakar Bagudu to the seat.
He said that Aliero scored 126,588 votes to defeat Bagudu, the incumbent governor of Kebbi and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 92,389 votes.
The Returning Officer added that Abubakar Bello-Tilli of Social Democratic Party (SDP) scored 1,874  votes, while Umar Rufa’i of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) got 992 votes.

“Adamu Muhammad Mainasara Aliero of PDP having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared winner and returned elected as Senator for Kebbi Central Senatorial District,” he said.

Aliero, a two-term governor of the state, is the current Senator representing the zone.
He defected to the PDP when he lost the bid to get the APC endorsement during the primary to recontest for the seat.
Aliero, also a former minister, thanked God and the constituents for giving him another opportunity to serve.
He said that it was a victory for all and encouraged the people to remain peaceful and respect constituted authorities. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Maharazu Ahmed
Politics

PDP wins Adamawa, Katsina, as APC wins Jigawa, LP takes Nasarawa

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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

Politics

PDP picks Bauchi North senatorial seat

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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

Politics

APC sweeps 3 Senatorial seats, 9 Reps in Katsina State

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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

Elections

Prepare for life after election- coalition tells Nigerians

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By Cecilia Ijuo

The Peoples Alternative Political Movement (TPAP-M), a political association, has called on Nigerians to prepare for life after election.

Prof. Omotoye Olorode, a member of the TPAP-M Secretariat, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Olorode said Nigerians ought to go beyond casting their votes, to preparing to hold the incoming government accountable.

He said it was important to ensure that candidates that would emerge victorious in the 2023 General Elections were “put on their toes” to address the concerns of the masses.

The don said Nigerians had grappled so long with rising debt profile, poor minimum wage, unemployment, deteriorating health infrastructure, lack of respect for human rights among others.

He further that said in view of the prolonged hardship, Nigerians must ensure that the new leaders hit the ground running.

Olorode said one of the ways Nigerians could close the huge gap between them and the ruling class was to ensure that they did not “go to sleep” on their responsibilities.

“Nigerians have been victims of imposition by the ruling class for a long time and it is time to unite to ensure they delivered on their mandate.

“It is unfortunate that they sell public property to themselves and still fall back to government for funding.

“Debts of many of the allegedly commercialised and privatised companies are funded with taxpayers’ money as bailouts.

“An example is the energy costs incurred by the Power Generating Companies (GENCOs), following the so-called unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN),” he said.

The don said, “Our position as TPAP-M is that Nigerians should not allow the elites to divide them along ethnic or religious lines but insist on good governance.

“It is worrisome that almost everything is owned by the ruling class, so much so that the voices of the people are not heard.”

According to him, average Nigerians do not need soothsayers to know that until they used peaceful and legitimate means to demand for their rights, the elites will continue to impoverish them.

He said the ongoing Naira scarcity was a typical example of the level of hardship Nigerians were going through.

“Talking about the cashless policy of the Federal Government for instance, the banks are owned by the elites.

“So, it will be easy for anyone of them to call up a bank manager to reserve the new Naira notes while the masses suffer.

“We all see how difficult it has been for the common man to access Naira anywhere.

“Also, the rich own the supermarkets where they go to shop, making them not to feel the pains of an ordinary Nigerian, who may not be able to afford three square meal.”

Olorode said TPAP-M would continue to ensure that Nigerians kicked against anti-people policies, adding that “we must understand that the other ethnic group is not our problem but the elites.”

“The issues of employment, health, education, gender, poverty and inequality must be addressed.

“It must be stressed that growth is always inclusive and sustainable.

“And while we are aware that our economy experienced ups and downs, but over-time it must be seen that the standard of living of her citizens improve.”

He said it was high time Nigerians registered a pro-masses political party or seek a socialist alternative that would guarantee employment, quality education, quality health service, security, gender equality among others.

He further said it was high time Nigerians sought a system that would emphasise hard work, efficiency and dignity of labour.(NAN)(www.nan.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Politics

Taraba Senate: APC’s Jimkuta floors Gov. Darius

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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

General News

U.S. extends Tourist Visa validity for Nigerians to 5 years

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The U.S. Mission says effective March 1, 2023, it will increase visitor visa validity from 24 months to 60 months for Nigerians who want to enter the U.S. temporarily for business and/or tourism. 

The visa validity extension allows Nigerians to use the visa for 60 months to make short trips to the U.S. for tourism or business purposes before having to renew their visa, a statement said on Monday.

The visa application fee, currently USD160, will not increase as a result of the increased visa validity, it said. 

“Increasing visa validity is one of several initiatives taken by the United States to reduce visa appointment wait times in Nigeria.

“The U.S. Mission continues to offer No-Interview Visa Renewals to those who meet the eligibility criteria. 

“Appointments for No-Interview Visa Renewals are readily available.” 

On No-Interview Visa Renewal, it said: “You may be eligible for a visa renewal without an interview if your application is for a B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L, or C1/D (combined only) visa, AND you meet each of the following criteria:

 “You are physically present in Nigeria; Your previous visa was issued in Nigeria.

“Your previous visa is in the same classification as your current application. Your previous visa was a full-validity, multiple-entry visa.

“Your previous visa expired within the last 48 months or will expire in the next 3 months from the date of application.

“You have all your passports covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa and the passport with the most recent visa.

“You have never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if you later received a waiver or pardon.

“You have never worked without authorization or remained beyond your permitted time in the United States.”

 The Mission urged that further information be sought at the website :  https://ng.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/ .  

 “If you are qualified based on the above criteria, visit https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng to start
your application.

“Please note that processing times for the program are expected to be up to two months and
you will not be able to retrieve your passport during that time.

“Each applicant must individually meet the criteria; minors can apply without an interview only if
they meet the eligibility criteria on their own.”

On Emergency Appointments, it said: “If you have a life-or-death emergency, you may request an expedited, in-person interview;

“However, to accommodate No-Interview Visa Renewals, appointments will be very limited.

“Business travel, conferences, weddings, and graduations are not considered emergencies.

“If you have an emergency and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at
https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng or +234-1-227-8955 to request an emergency appointment.”

The Mission alerted that third parties unaffiliated with U.S. Embassy Abuja and Consulate General Lagos
might seek to take advantage of various visa services to target visa applicants with fraudulent
offers or claims.

It advised applicants to fill out their own forms and make their appointments themselves via the
official websites.

“As future opportunities for Interview Waiver appointments become available, they will be
communicated via our website.

“Remember to rely on information only from genuine sources: https://travel.state.gov,
https://ng.usembassy.gov/visas/, and https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng.

“Avoid becoming the victim of a scam!,” the U.S. Mission advised. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Elections

Niger North Senator secures second term mandate for APC

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By Mercy Osajiugo

Sen. Mohammed  Sani-Musa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been re-elected for Niger East at the National Assembly.

Prof. Tsado Mohammed-Shaba, the Independent Electoral Commission ( INEC) Returning Officer, declared the result on Monday in Minna.

Mohammed-Shaba said that Sani-Musa pulled 159,650 votes to defeat Alhaji  Isyaku Ibrahim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 125,292 votes.

He said that Mr Joshu Bawa of Labour Party scored 35, 941 votes. (NAN)www.nannews.ng

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Politics

Drama as INEC declares collation officer ‘persona non grata’

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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

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