| Source | Date | Story Title | Summary of Reports | Subject/Category | Website Link/Page Number | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, 25th November 2019 | Do not surrender your Independence, PDP counsels National Assembly | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday, 23rd November 2019 urged the leadership of the Senate to resist any forms of intimidation from President Muhammadu Buhari to surrender its independence and pass bills and requests without statutory legislative scrutiny and oversights. The party’s position is predicated on the blanket comment credited to the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan, that any request from President Buhari to the National Assembly is good for the country, even without subjecting such requests to statutory legislative scrutiny. The PDP in a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, described such stance as unconstitutional and unacceptable, as it amounts to relinquishing statutory powers of checks and balances of the National Assembly. According to PDP, “This, our party notes, will create an alarming impression that the present National Assembly has been annexed by the executive and reduced to a rubber stamp legislature. The statement by the Senate President has heavily detracted from the expected independence of the legislature. It is fast eroding the confidence Nigerians have on the Senate and the National Assembly, as true representatives of the people at the national level”. | National Assembly, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/25/dont-surrender-your-independence-pdp-counsels-nassembly/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, 25th November 2019 | Buhari Demands Investigation on Murdered Kogi PDP Woman Leader | President Muhammadu Buhari has demanded a thorough investigation of the gruesome murder of Salome Achejuh Abuh, woman leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Wada Aro, Ochadamu Ward in Ofu Local Government of Kogi State, after the concluded governorship election in the State. The 60- year- old woman was burnt alive when political thugs barricaded her house, doused it with petrol and set it ablaze. Buhari said the evildoers of the act must be brought to justice irrespective of whatever allegiances they hold. President Buhari expressed outrage at the gruesome murder, while also decrying whatever reason could spur anyone to take the life of another human being, particularly a woman. In a statement issued on Sunday, 24th November 2019 by one of his media aides, Femi Adesina, the President charged all security agencies involved in the investigation to do a thorough and expeditious job on the matter, so that justice could be served without fear or favour. The President also stated that, “We must learn to behave decently, whether during elections or at other times. No life should be taken wantonly under any guise, and the fact that this reprehensible act occurred two days after voting shows primitive behavior, which should not be accepted in a decent society”. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, PDP Woman Leader, President Buhari | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/25/buhari-demands-investigation-on-murdered-kogi-pdp-woman-leader/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, 25th November 2019 | Tension in Kwara over continued Recognition of sacked APC Lawmaker | Tension now mounts in Kwara State over the purported continued recognition by the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly (KSHA), Hon. Yakub Danladi, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Ilorin East and Ilorin South’s State constituency, Hon. Abdulazeez Hassan Elewu, who was sacked one month ago by the Court of Appeal. Elewu, in spite of his removal by the Court of Appeal over issues of his eligibility as the APC’s candidate during the last general election, has been attending legislative sitting at the Aassembly complex. The Court of Appeal affirmed the election of Abdulraheem Agboola as the lawmaker representing Ilorin East and Ilorin South constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly. The judgment, which was delivered by Justice Hamman Barkar Hkawu, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue the PDP’s candidate, Agboola, with a certificate of return. The court based its decision on the disputed APC’s primaries which produced Suleiman Abdulsalam, who was later replaced with a 28-year-old Elewu. The Appeal Court held that APC had no valid candidate for the 2019 House of Assembly elections and thereby declared the candidate with the second highest votes st the State Assembly election, which was the PDP candidate, Agboola, winner of the election. However, Danladi is yet to swear-in Agboola as lawmaker representing Ilorin East/Ilorin South’s state constituency. | Kwara State, APC, House of Assembly | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/25/tension-in-kwara-over-continued-recognition-of-sacked-apc-lawmaker/ | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, 25th November 2019 | Yobe, Kogi APC Chairmen deny calling for Oshiomhole’s sack | The APC chapter chairmen in Yobe and Kogi States have denied asking the party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to resign. In separate statements issued on Sunday, 24th November 2019, the Yobe State APC Chairman, Adamu Achilare, and his counterpart from Kogi State, Abdulahi Bello stated that they were not in support of the group that met in Abuja after the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to demand for Oshiomhole’s resignation. Achilare expressed surprised to his inclusion in the group, which according to him, forged his signature without consent. He added that he has nothing against Oshiomhole. The Kogi State Chairman of APC, who also distanced himself from the meeting and its resolutions, stated that he would not hesitate to take legal action against the masterminds of the purported list. Chairman of the Forum of APC State Chairmen, Bukar Dalori, had earlier issued a statement insisting that the forum never met to demand for Oshiomhole’s resignation. | APC, Adams Oshiomhole | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/yobe-kogi-apc-chairmen-deny-calling-for-oshiomholes-sack.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, 25th November 2019 | PDP’s statement boycotting Kogi West re-run, deceitful — Adeyemi | The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Kogi West re-run election, Senator Smart Adeyemi, has faulted the claims of the opposition PDP to boycott the supplementary election slated for November 30, 2019. Adeyemi, who spoke in Lokoja on Sunday, 24th November 2019 while reacting to a statement issued by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, urged his party members not to take the opposition statement seriously. He described it as “deceitful tactics to make APC go to sleep". The APC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a press statement also stated that nobody would be fooled by the PDP’s statement of boycotting the supplementary election. Issa-Onilu stated that the APC would not let its guard down in the quest to get a clear majority of the remaining votes in the affected units. He called on INEC and relevant security agencies to ensure that everything needed to make the November 30 senatorial supplementary election in Kogi transparent, free, credible and safe was put in place. | Kogi West Senatorial District, PDP, Smart Adeyemi | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdps-statement-boycotting-kogi-west-rerun-deceitful-adeyemi.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, 25th November 2019 | Akinlade files appeal against Abiodun’s victory at Supreme Court | Movement (APM) in the March 9 gubernatorial polls in Ogun State, Adekunle Akinlade stated that he has filed notice of appeal at the Supreme Court, challenging the victory of the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun in the March 2019 governorship elections. It will be recalled that Abiodun had won the court cases filed by Akinlade and his party at the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, respectively but the petitioners have vowed to take the legal battle to the apex court. The media aide to Akinlade, Azeez Adelani, in a statement on Sunday, 24th November 2019 hinted that the appeal was filed on Saturday, November 23, 2019 to challenge judgement of the Court of Appeal Ibadan delivered on November 11, 2019. According to the statement, Akinlade stated that his resolve to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion was hinged on the constitutionality and the need to truly represent the people who came out in their thousands on March 9, 2019 to vote for him. He further stated that, “To Akinlade, this is not about his personal ambition but a call to duty and honour. It may help to note that each stage of this struggle from the Tribunal, Court of Appeal and now Supreme Court comes at a very high cost in terms of legal fees but no amount is too much to pay for justice“. The statemnet also stated that, "Akinlade therefore, thanks everyone who had contributed one way or the other to this struggle. No matter how this ends, we must remain resolute and determined because it is not the end for us but the beginning of greater heights. I enjoin you all to remain hopeful and prayerful for only God can decide our fate. Victory is sure by His grace.” | Akinlade, Abiodun, APM | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/akinlade-formally-files-appeal-against-abioduns-victory-at-supreme-court.html | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, 22nd November 2019 | PDP Seeks Travel Ban on INEC Chiefs, Police | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, 21st November 2019, through its National Chairman, Uche Secondus, called on the international community to impose a travel ban on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and other officials of the Commission, as well as some top officials of the Nigeria Police Force for their perceived roles in the Bayelsa and Kogi States governorship elections. The party also called on INEC to cancel the two governorship elections and the Kogi West senatorial election, for the brazen rigging, violence and thuggery that marked the November 16 polls. Secondus added that the wave of terror that took place during the November 16 elections, was threatening democracy, constitutional order, national cohesion and safety of citizens. PDP also dismissed reports of its plan to sanction former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for allegedly aligning with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defeat the party’s governorship candidate in the November 16 election. Jonathan, it added, remained a respected leader of the party. | Kogi and Bayelsa 2019 Governorship Elections, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/22/pdp-seeks-travel-ban-on-inec-chiefs-police-high-command/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, 22nd November 2019 | Slain Kogi PDP Women Leader’s Family demands Justice | The family of Mrs. Salome Abuh, the late Women Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ochadamu Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, killed after last Saturday’s election in the State, has cried out for justice. In a statement issued by her husband, Mr. Simeon Abuh, the family stated that her murder and the destruction of her property were premeditated just as the culprits were known to the community. According to him, before her death, his wife had contested in the last general elections for the State House of Assembly on the PDP platform, adding that until the unfortunate incident, she was an active member of the party and a campaign team member for Musa Wada, the PDP governorship candidate. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/22/slain-kogi-pdp-women-leaders-family-demands-justice/ | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 22nd November 2019 | Protests storm APC secretariat, demand Oshiomhole’s resignation | Protesters demanding the resignation of the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, stormed the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, 21st November 2019, carrying placards with various inscriptions including “Oshiomhole must go”. The protesters called for the immediate resignation of Oshiomhole. One of the leaders of the protesters, Iyoha Toni Osakbovo, from Edo State, stated that they stormed the secretariat to "secure the soul of APC as a national party". They urged President Muhammadu Buhari, National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other chieftains of the party to prevail on Oshiomhole to resign as national chairman. | APC. Adams Oshiomhole | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/protests-storm-apc-secretariat-demand-oshiomholes-resignation.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 22nd November 2019 | Lyon, Bello receive certificates of return, unveil agenda | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented Certificates of Return to Bayelsa State Governor-elect, David Lyon and his Kogi counterpart, Yahaya Bello. The Commission presented the certificates to the Governors-elect at separate events in Bayelsa and Kogi States. The two Deputy Governors-elect, Senator Degi Eremienyo (Bayelsa) and Edward Onoja (Kogi), were also presented with their certificates by the Commission. In Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu presented the certificate to Lyon. She expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, including the police, army, traditional institutions, women and the youth for abiding by the law. Speaking after receiving his certificate of return, Lyon, dedicated his victory to the people of the State, who he said made it possible. In Lokoja, INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Kogi, Nasarawa and Kwara States, Malam Mohammed Haruna, presented the certificates to Bello and Onoja at the Commission’s headquarters in the Kogi State capital. He advised the winner of the election to embark on reconciliation since, he noted, the election was characterised by violence, adding that there was need to heal the wounds of the past. | Kogi and Bayelsa 2019 Governorship Elections, David Lyon, Yahaya Bello | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/lyon-bello-receive-certificates-of-return-unveil-agenda.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 22nd November 2019 | INEC fixes November 30 for Melaye, Adeyemi rerun | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed November 30 for the conduct of the supplementary and re-run elections for Kogi West Senatorial District and Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, respectively. INEC National Commissioner/Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mr. Festus Okoye, disclosed this on Thursday, 21st November 2019 at the end of the Commission’s management meeting. The Commission also stated hat the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Kogi West election, Senator Smart Adeyemi, scored 80,118 votes while the PDP candidate Senator Dino Melaye, scored 59,548 votes after the conduct of the November 16 rerun. According to Okoye, the development was necessitated by the pronouncement of the Collation/Returning Officer for the Senatorial District, which affects 20 Registration Areas (RAs), 53 Polling Units (PUs) and 46,767 registered voters spread across seven Local Government Areas of the Senatorial District. | Kogi West Senatorial District Election, INEC, APC PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/inec-fixes-nov-30-for-melaye-adeyemi-rerun.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 22nd November 2019 | Kogi Governorship: Persons with disabilities tell tales of woe | A coalition of persons with disabilities (PWDs) under the auspices of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has stated that the November 16 governorship and senatorial bye-election in Kogi State was a set back to the gains earlier recorded for PWDs. This was contained in the preliminary statement on the election signed by the CDD Executive Director, Mr. David O Anyaele. According to him, on the ballot materials in the over 120 polling units (PUs) visited, only two PUs were observed to have magnifying glasses. Within Lokoja, the State capital, materials printed in bold, instructional material in Braille or Braille Ballot guides were limited in the field, as more than 80 percent of PUs visited had none of the materials. He stated that the development was at the disadvantage of persons with visual and hearing impairments, as well as persons with albinism. He added that it raises a question on the much talked about provisions for voters with disabilities. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, PWDs | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kogi-govship-persons-with-disabilities-tell-tales-of-woe.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 22nd November 2019 | Buhari, Tinubu, others attend APC national caucus meeting | President Muhammadu Buhari, National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s first Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande attended a meeting of the national caucus at the State House, Abuja on Thursday, 21st November 2019. Also present were the Governors of Zamfara, Gombe, Kebbi and Jigawa States and the Deputy Governor of Kano State, among others. Resolutions at the meeting will be ratified at the National Executive Committee meeting of the party billed to hold at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Friday, 22nd November 2019. The meeting is expected to resolve the lingering tussle between the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State ahead of 2020 governorship election in the State. A resolution is also expected on the vacant positions in the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, particularly the offices of National Secretary and Deputy National Chairman (South). The outcome of the recent governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States is another matter expected to be reviewed. | APC., Adams Oshiomhole | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-tinubu-others-attend-apc-national-caucus-meeting.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, 21st November 2019 | ‘Extent of Bayelsa Governorship poll violence frightening’ | The Nigeria Election Violence Report (NEVR), a project coordinated by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), has said that last Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa State fell below acceptable standard. The NEVR Coordinator and Executive Director of KDI, Bukola Idowu, who led the team that observed the election, stated this while addressing a press conference in Osogbo on the Bayelsa poll. Idowu said the extent of violence that characterised the election was frightening and called for the setting up of special electoral court to prosecute electoral offenders. He expressed concern that with the way perpetrators of election offences were rewarded by politicians, the problem of election violence would persist unless the violators are apprehended and sanctioned accordingly. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, KDI | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/extent-of-bayelsa-govship-poll-violence-frightening.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, 21st November 2019 | Kogi West senatorial re-run: Dino Melaye storms INEC, demands poll cancellation | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in last Saturday’s re-run election in Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye, on Wednesday, 20th November 2019, demanded the immediate cancellation of the poll. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the re-run election as inconclusive because the margin of win was less than the total cancelled votes. Melaye, a former chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was received by the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who was represented by INEC Secretary, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony and National Commissioner/Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mr. Festus Okoye. Melaye, who came with 21 video clips, which he said contained details of violence and indiscriminate shootings by alleged agents of Kogi state government, with the connivance of security agents, told journalists that his determination to retrieve the stolen mandate “is a battle of no retreat, no surrender.” The five-page petition by Melaye addressed to the INEC Chairman was dated November 18, 2019 and titled: “A call for cancellation of the Election for Kogi West Senatorial District held on 16th November 2019 in certain areas”, was filed by his lawyer, Tobechukwu Nweke. Okoye who received the petition on behalf of Prof. Yakubu, said the Commission would look into the petition and take necessary action, assuring that the Commission remains non-partisan. | Kogi West enatorial District Election, INEC, Dino Melaye | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kogi-west-senatorial-re-run-dino-melaye-storms-inec-demands-poll-cancellation.html | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, 21st November 2019 | Edo APC Crisis: Ganduje Heads APC’s Fact-finding Committee | The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed the Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje to head the party’s five-member fact-finding committee as the party commenced move to amicably resolve the crisis rocking the Edo State chapter. Its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement issued yesterday, said other members of the committee included: Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari; former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi; former governor of Borno State and serving senator, Kashim Shettima and Hon. Ahmed Wadada as Secretary. He said that the committee is expected to meet with all disputing interests and present its findings to the party. According to him, “You would recall that the party took a decision earlier in the week to constitute a committee of prominent party leaders on the lingering crisis in our party in Edo State. “This marks another step in our party’s efforts to find a lasting solution to the crisis and ensure our party comes out of it even stronger”. | Edo State, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/21/edo-apc-crisis-ganduje-heads-apcs-fact-finding-committee/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, 21st November 2019 | APC Condemns Post-election Violence, Killing in Kogi | The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the post-election violence reported in Kogi State, which led to the death of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) woman leader, Salome Abuh and destruction of property in the state. The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement issued yesterday condoled with the family of the deceased and others affected by the post-election violence. He stated: “The APC abhors violence and other criminalities which sadly continue to plague our electioneering process. We urge partisans to see election as a democratic contest and not a do or die affair that we pay with our lives. We pray that the culprits are caught and the full weight of the law is brought to bear on them. “While the Kogi State Police Command says the killing was as a result of a reprisal attack, we urge the Kogi people to ensure this does not escalate. We are aware that the Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has already directed law enforcement agencies to fish out the perpetrators.” The ruling party noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had advised partisans that are not satisfied with the results of governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states to seek redress in court and shun violence. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/21/apc-condemns-post-election-violence-killing-in-kogi/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, 21st November 2019 | Electoral Act Amendment Bill Passes Second Reading in Senate | The Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2019, sponsored by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, wednesday passed through second reading. The bill, which has 26 clauses and co-sponsored by Senator Abubakar Kyari, seeks to amend the Electoral Act to strengthen and protect Nigeria’s democracy, as well as cure specific mischiefs plaguing the nation’s elections and electoral processes. A key aspect of the bill is its provision for electronic voting as section 52(2) of the bill, which seeks to introduce a new subsection reads: “The commission may adopt electronic voting or any other method of voting in any election it conducts as it may deem fit.” Leading the debate on the bill, Omo-Agege said though the process under the Eighth Senate was fraught with mutual suspicions and bitterness, electoral reform for the Ninth National Assembly remains a priority in its legislative agenda. Contributing to the debate, Senator Ibikunle Amosun noted that improving on the nation’s electoral experience required serious amendments to the electoral law. Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, after the general debate on the bill, referred it to the Senate Committee on INEC headed by Senator Kabir Gaya for further legislative work within one week. | Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, Senate | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/21/electoral-act-amendment-bill-passes-second-reading-in-senate/ | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, 20th November 2019 | Thugs burn Kogi PDP Women Leader, prevent Rescue Operation | Suspected political thugs have set ablaze and killed Mrs. Acheju Abuh, the Women Leader of PDP’s Wada/Aro Campaign Council in her home at Ochadamu in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, following the governorship election in the State. The incident took place on Monday, 18th November 2019. It was learnt that the suspected thugs who invaded the home of the victim at about 2:00pm, locked all exits in the house and poured petrol on it before setting the place on fire. They were also said to have prevented locals from coming to the rescue of the woman as they shot sporadically to scare people away and kept watch until the building was razed. When contacted, the spokesman of the Kogi Police Command, William Aya, confirmed the incident, stating that it was a case of culpable homicide and mischief by fire. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/just-in-thugs-burn-kogi-pdp-women-leader-prevent-rescue-operation.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, 20th November 2019 | Imo governorship: Appeal Court upholds Ihedioha’s election, dismisses three appeals | The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed three appeals challenging the election of Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State. A five-member panel of justices presided by Justice Oyebisi Omoyele on Tuesday, 19th November 2019 dismissed appeals by the Action Alliance (AA) candidate, Uche Nwosu; All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hope Uzodinma and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ifeanyi Ararume challenging the election of Ihedioha. While the appeal by the AA and APGA were dismissed by unanimous judgements, that of the APC was decided by a four to one split judgement. The appellants had in their appeal against the judgement of the Imo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, contended that the election was marred by corrupt practices, non-compliance with the electoral laws and failure to secure the majority of lawful votes cast. Reacting to the judgement, counsel to the APC candidate, Olusola Oke (SAN) stated that it was good that one of the judges saw reason for their appeal, and indicated their intention to challenge the judgement at the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff to the Imo State Governor, Chris Okewulonu stated that, “Ihedioha rightly and comprehensively won the governorship election. Justice has prevailed in this matter”. | Court of Appeal, Governor Ihedioha | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/updated-imo-governorship-appeal-court-upholds-ihediohas-election-dismisses-three-appeals.htm | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, 20th November 2019 | CPI raises alarm over Violence against Kogi Women | A non-governmental organisation based in Kogi State, Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI), has expressed concern over violence perpetrated against women in the just concluded governorship election in Kogi State. The Executive Director of CPI, Eunice Agbogun, raised the issue in Lokoja on Tuesday, 19th November 2019 while presenting the organisation’s post-election statement on violence against women during the 2019 governorship election. She stated that CPI and other partners, with the support of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), had been carrying out the Stop Violence Against Women in Politics (Stop-VAWIP) campaign in the State, to check violence against women and encourage them to actively participate in politics. Agbogun added that the Stop-VAWIP campaign opened toll free hotlines for the electorate during the just concluded election and that over 100 calls reporting concerns about violence against women, integrity of the electoral process and electoral malpractices were received, adding that 28 of the calls specifically reported violence against women in politics. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/cpi-raises-alarm-over-violence-against-kogi-women.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, 20th November 2019 | PDP NWC divided over Elumelu’s ‘extended’ suspension | The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi and the National Youth Leader, Sunday Udeh Okoye, are not on the same page with the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan and many others ver the 'extended suspension' of the House of Representatives Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu. ELumelu was earlier suspended over alleged anti-party activities. Ologbondiyan, in a statement extended the suspension of Elumelu and others, explaining that the NWC would not reward disobedience and disloyalty. But the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi and the National Youth Leader, Sunday Udeh Okoye on Tuesday, 19th November 2019 told journalists in Abuja, that Elumelu’s suspension was not extended, adding that it would be unconstitutional if that happened. | PDP, NWC, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-nwc-divided-over-elumelus-extended-suspension-others.html | ||||||
| The Guardian Newspaper | Wednesday, 20th November 2019 | ‘How fake police overpowered 66,241 officers in Kogi, Bayelsa’ | The Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu on Tuesday, 19th November 2019 blamed the violence reported during the November 16 gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States on persons he described as fake policemen. Before the elections, Deputy Inspector General of Police AbdulMajid Ali, in charge of Kogi and Bayelsa States, had disclosed that 66,241 personnel (5,200 to Kogi and 31,041 to Bayelsa) would be deployed for the elections. He added that the deployment shall involve the conventional police personnel who will be complemented by special units. While responding to questions from State House correspondents after he had debriefed President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, IGP Adamu stated that there were reports prior to the polls that politicians had sewn police and military uniforms for thugs. He further explained that, “During the elections, anybody you saw either in police uniform or military uniform that did not carry the tag that had been given for the election, that person was not a genuine police officer or military officer or he was not on official duty". He addressed the issue of a Police helicopter seen in Kogi state during the election, stating that it was on patrol and had released some teargas in the process of intervening in identified incidents. However, PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the statement credited to the IGP that fake policemen disrupted the elections in Kogi and Bayelsa as nothing but careless and most unfortunate. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, Nigeria Police, IGP | https://guardian.ng/news/how-fake-police-overpowered-66241-officers-in-kogi-bayelsa/ | ||||||
| Punch Newspaper | Wednesday, 20th November 2019 | Lyon to get Certificate of Return on November 21 | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it will issue a Certificate of Return to the Bayelsa State governor-elect, David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress, on Thursday, 21st November 2019. A statement released on Tuesday, 19th November 2019 by the Head, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Bayelsa State, Wilfred Ifogha, stated that the ceremony would take place at the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Media Centre in the Commission’s office in Yenagoa. According to Ifogha, “Certificate of Return will be issued to the winner of the November 16 Governorship Election in Bayelsa State — David Lyon on Thursday, November 21, 2019”. Lyon polled 352,552 votes to defeat his closest rival, Senator Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party who scored 143,172 votes. He was declared winner by the State Returning Officer of INEC, Prof. Faraday Orumwense, who is also the Vice Chancellor, University of Benin. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, APC, David Lyon | https://punchng.com/lyon-gets-cor-thursday/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, 20th November 2019 | Reported Violence not enough to discredit Kogi Election, Yahaya Bello Insists | The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Tuesday, 19th November 2019 stated that the just-concluded governorship election in the State was free and fair, despite damning reports to the contrary by election observers. Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the election conducted on 16th November 2019 with 406,222 votes to defeat Musa Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 189,704 votes. Bello who spoke during an interview on Channels Television accepted that there was violence during the election but insisted that it was not enough to discredit the poll. The Governor stated that the election was credible, as a level-playing field was provided. He stated thus: “In every election, there is bound to be one issue or the other and you can not take a pocket of issues to judge the general conduct of the election. Regarding the comments of the civil society organisations, they are entitled to their own opinions but let us know the parameters with which they are judging this election". Bello’s reactions came after criticisms by many observers and civil society groups, condemning the reported widespread incidents of violence and voter intimidation. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, Governor Yahaya Bello | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/20/reported-violence-not-enough-to-discredit-kogi-election-yahaya-bello-insist | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, 20th November 2019 | PDP to file law suit against INEC, Police over Kogi, Bayelsa Elections | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday, 19th November 2019 stated that it will file legal actions in court against officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police for their various roles in the just concluded governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States. According to the party, it will also file legal actions against identified INEC and security officials who aided the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the violent rigging of the election. The PDP further stated thus: “Our party has been made aware of the roles played by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, as well as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, in the governorship elections”. According to the statement, PDP urged INEC and security officials to do some introspections on the "anguish they have caused the people with the rigging of the elections", promising that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party will never hesitate to expose such ignoble roles at the appropriate time. The PDP also stated that it remained undeterred in its determination to use all legitimate means available within the democratic practice to confront the "usurpers" and retrieve its mandate in Kogi and Bayelsa States. | Kogi and Bayelsa 2019 Governorship Elections, PDP, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/20/pdp-to-drag-inec-police-to-court-over-kogi-bayelsa-elections/ | ||||||
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, 19th November 2019 | Go to court, Buhari tells losers of Bayelsa, Kogi polls | President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, 18th November 2019 urged persons dissatisfied with the outcome of the governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States to seek redress in court. Governor Yahaya Bello who sought re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in Kogi State while David Lyon, also of the APC, triumphed in Bayelsa. Musa Wada, the candidate of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi and his Bayelsa counterpart, Duoye Diri, have since rejected the results. Buhari, in separate statements by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, admitted that the elections featured “isolated incidents of violence” which he blamed on “desperate politicians”. He stated thus: Violence during elections vitiates our commitment to demonstrate to the world and upcoming generation that we are a people capable of electing leaders in a peaceful and orderly manner”. He, however, noted that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies did their best within the ambit of the law to ensure free, fair and credible elections. According to the statement, “All those dissatisfied with the outcome of the election should, in seeking redress, approach the courts and seek redress through the constitutionally-established channels”. However, opposition candidates, especially in Kogi State, blamed the APC-led government for the violence. Wada described the election as a scam. Addressing journalists at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, Wada faulted INEC for declaring the results despite disruptions to the process. | Kogi and Bayelsa 2019 Governorship Elections, President Buhari | https://guardian.ng/news/go-to-court-buhari-tells-losers-of-bayelsa-kogi-polls/ | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, 19th November 2019 | Kogi: Wada heads to tribunal as INEC declares Bello winner | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State. Returning Officer for the election and Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, who announced the results, announced that Bello polled 406,222 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Engr Musa Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 189,704 votes. Bello defeated the candidate of PDP with a margin of 216,518 votes. Wada has disclosed his plans to institute a case against Bello and his party before the Election Petitions tribunal when constituted. The results declared by INEC showed that Bello won in 12 Local Government Areas (LGAS) out of the 21 LGAs of the State, while Wada won in 9 LGAS. Candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Barr. Natasha Akpoti, polled 9,482 votes to emerge third in the contest. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, PDP, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kogi-wada-heads-to-tribunal-as-inec-declares-bello-winner.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, 19th November 2019 | I am the authentic winner of Bayelsa Governorship poll — PDP’s Diri | Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded election in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare him winner. INEC had on Sunday, 17th November 2019 declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Chief David Lyon, as the winner of the election, having polled a total of 352,552 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Douye Diri of PDP who polled 143,172 votes. According to him, the results from the PDP situation room showed that the party scored a total of 98,502 votes to defeat APC, with 55,903, before the entire results were allegedly later changed in favour of APC. Diri states thus: “INEC should declare my humble self and the PDP as winner of the election, but before we talk about that, I want to express my gratitude to Bayelsans who turned out in their large numbers to exercise their franchise and ensure that the will of the people to elect who should lead them prevailed". | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/im-the-authentic-winner-of-bayelsa-govship-poll-pdps-diri.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, 19th November 2019 | Taraba Governorship: Court of Appeal upholds Ishaku’s re-election | The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the re-election of Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 9 governorship election in the State. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Abubakar Danladi had filed the appeal against the Taraba State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal for dismissing their petition on the grounds that they failed to prove allegations of irregularities and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2010. But a five-man panel of the appellate court led by Justice C. N. Uwa on Monday, 18th November 2019 held that the APC had no candidate in the March 9 election in Taraba State by virtue of the disqualification of its candidate, Danladi by a Federal High Court in Jalingo on March 6. It also held that having failed to overturn the order of the Federal High Court that disqualified him at Court of Appeal and Supreme Court respectively, Danladi himself withdrew his participation at the tribunal. | Court of Appeal, Taraba Governorship Election, Governor Ishaku | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/taraba-govship-court-of-appeal-upholds-ishakus-re-election.html | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, 19th November 2019 | Police Service Commission decries proliferation of Arms in Kogi, Bayelsa Guber Polls | The Police Service Commission (PSC) has decried the proliferation of arms in the Kogi and Bayelsa gubernatorial elections held on Saturday, 16th November 2019. The Commission, in assessing the performance of the Police during the election, stated that policemen were overwhelmed in the conduct of their duties. In its interim report issued after monitoring the performance of police personnel assigned for the election, the PSC stated that the police were professional despite numerous challenges in the two States. According to the report signed by the Spokesman of the Commision, Ikechukwu Ani, “The strong monitoring team of the Commission to the two states observed the over proliferation of illegal weapons, inadequate logistics and challenging terrains as militating factors”. The Commission therefore called on the leadership of security agencies to mop up arms in the two States. The interim report also indicated that the PSC received 31 distress calls to its advertised dedicated telephone numbers and most complaints were on snatching of ballot boxes and indiscriminate shootings, as well as other election malpractices such as vote buying and multiple thump printing. Ani stated that the Commission monitored the conduct of police officers on election duties in Bayelsa and Kogi States on Saturday, November 16, 2019 and observed that the Police were professional in their conduct during the elections, while the activities of illegal armed men over-stretched the capacity of these officers to protect the voters and the electoral materials”. | Kogi and Bayelsa 2019 Governorship Elections, Police Service Commission | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/18/psc-decries-proliferation-of-arms-in-kogi-bayelsa-guber-polls/ | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 15th November 2019 | Kogi/Bayelsa: IGP orders withdrawal of security aides to Yahaya Bello, Dickson, others | Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Kogi and Bayelsa States, the Inspector General of Police has ordered the withdrawal of all security aides attached to Governors, their deputies, public office holders, politicians and other personalities involved in the elections, with effect from Frday, 15th November 2019. The order affects the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, his Bayelsa counterpart, Seriake Dickson, among others. TDeputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police in charge of operations at the Force Headquarters, DIG Abdulmajid Ali, disclosed this in Lokoja on Thursday, 12th November 2019, while briefing journalists on preparation for the two elections. He explained that the security aides would remain withdrawn from the affected political actors and public office holders until after the elections. The DIG stated that the Nigeria Police has made adequate deployments to guarantee a safe environment for the conduct of the polls. He also stated that 66,241 personnel have been deployed to Bayelsa and Kogi to handle election security in the two States. According to him, “We are not unaware of the possible security threats that some misguided political actors and their followers may attempt to pose during the elections in both States". | Kogi and Bayelsa 2019 Governorship Elections, Nigeria Police | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kogi-bayelsa-igp-orders-withdrawal-of-security-aides-to-yahaya-bello-dickson-others.html>https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kogi-bayelsa-igp-orders-withdrawal-of-security-aides-to-yahaya-bello-dickson-others.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 15th November 2019 | 48 hours to Bayelsa Governorship: High Court sacks APC candidate as Appeal Court reinstates deputy | The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Thursday, 14th November 2019, ordered a stay of execution of the judgement of the Abuja Federal High Court which disqualified the APC deputy governorship candidate in Bayelsa, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, over allegations of providing false information in his nomination form. The appellate court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain status quo which existed on or before the 19th day of September 2019 when the suit, now on appeal to this court, was filed at the lower court pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed on 13th November, 2019. The judge consequently adjourned hearing of the motion to Wednesday, 20th November 2019. However, on Thursday, 14th November 2019, a Federal High Court in Yenagoa nullified the Bayelsa State governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that produced David Lyon as candidate, stating that the party primary was not conducted in accordance with the rules of the party. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, APC, Court of Appeal | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/48hrs-to-bayelsa-govship-high-court-sacks-apc-candidate-as-appeal-court-reinstates-deputy.html | ||||||
| The Guardian Newspaper | Friday, 15th November 2019 | "Bayelsa guber poll must not be won by superior violence" - Timi Alaibe | Politicians in Bayelsa State have been cautioned to ensure that the governorship election must not be contested and won based on superiority of violence. A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) , Timi Alaibe, who gave the advice on Thursday, 14th November 2019, urged security agents to rise to the challenge of sudden upsurge in violence ahead of Saturday's poll. He described the violence that claimed aboyt five lives in Nembe-Ogbolomabiri in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Wednesday (13th November 2019), as sad and an embarrassing development in the State in the build-up to the gubernatorial election. Alaibe stated that elections to public offices were supposed to be based on acceptability of the candidates by the electorate. That acceptability, according to him, ought to be a product of popularity of ideas. He stated thus: “Election must not be contested and won based on superiority of violence but on superiority of ideas. Ideas speak to the heart of the people. Ideas generate transformation. Violence brings about torture and death. The result of violence is bloodshed and tears. Elections must be contested and won based on the freewill of the voters. Voters must not be intimidated by threat of violence. We must resolve to depart from this path. Every democratic society is tailored after the ideological concept of freedom, welfare, equality, solidarity and progress”. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, Timi Alaibe | https://guardian.ng/politics/bayelsa-guber-poll-must-not-be-won-by-superior-violence/ | ||||||
| The Guardian Newspaper | Friday, 15th November 2019 | Senate swears in Olujimi as Senator representing Ekiti South | The Senate on Thursday, 14th November 2019 swore in Abiodun Christine Olujimi representing Ekiti South after the Independent National Electoral Commission issued her Certificate of Return. The Court of Appeal in Kaduna had affirmed the judgment of the election petitions tribunal declaring Olujimi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the 2019 National Assembly election in Ekiti State. The court also nullified the victory of Dayo Adeyeye, the former spokesperson for the Senate. President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, congratulated Olujimi who was the Minority Leader in the Eighth Senate, saying: “With this, we now have eight very solid female senators. We pray that this addition will bring additional productivity and stability to the Senate. | Senator Biodun Olujimi, Ekiti South Senatorial District, Senator Dayo Adeyeye | https://guardian.ng/politics/senate-swears-in-olujimi-as-senator-representing-ekiti-south/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, 15th November 2019 | Kogi Guber Poll: Court asked to disqualify PDP’s Candidate | With less than 48 hours to the 2019 governorship election in Kogi State, the Federal High Court in Abuja has been urged to disqualify the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Musa Wada, over alleged false information contained in his form CF 001 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his clearance for the election. Wada, in the suit filed on November 6, is specifically accused of forging his primary school certificate which he attached to his Form CF001 submitted to INEC. One Femi Joseph, who filed the suit through his counsel, Mike Enahoro Ebah, stated by the virtue of Section 31(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), he reasonably believes that the information supplied by the PDP candidate, Wada, in his Form CF001 and the attached First School Leaving Certificate as to his primary school education were false. He, therefore, prayed the court to determine that the information was indeed false, and on that basis, disqualify him from contesting as the candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. | Kogi State 2019 Governroship Election, Musa Wada | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/15/kogi-guber-poll-court-asked-to-disqualify-pdps-candidate/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, 15th November 2019 | Guber Polls: Signals from Kogi, Bayelsa Disturbing, Jonathan warns | Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday, 13th November 2019 described the signals from Bayelsa and Kogi States as disturbing, insisting that only electronic voting process could stop thuggery and other forms of violence during elections in Nigeria. Speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers State during the presentation of a book authored by a former Deputy Governor of the State, Sir Gabriel Toby, entitled ‘In the Cause of Service: Memoir of Gabriel Tamunobiebere George Toby’, the former President lamented that people were already being killed in the two States when the governorship elections had not begun. He insisted that the only end to the ugly trend was electronic voting. Jonathan argued that electronic voting would work in Nigeria, noting that several Nigerians transferred billions of dollars from one bank to the other through electronic means. Jonathan further noted that political offices in the country did not change their holders, rather, the people with low integrity were being voted into offices. According to him, when the country develops to a point where voter cards matter, politicians would mend their ways. | Kogi and Bayelsa 2019 Governorship Elections, Goodluck Jonathan | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/15/guber-polls-signals-from-kogi-bayelsa-disturbing-jonathan-warns/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, 15th November 2019 | PDP, Diri condemn alleged attack on Party Members in Bayelsa | The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the candidate of the party in the November 16 governorship election, Senator Douye Diri, on Thursday, 14th November 2019, condemned the attack on party members by persons suspected to be All Progressives Congress (APC) loyalists in Nembe, Bayelsa State. National Vice Chairman of the PDP in the region South-South, Mr. Emmanuel Ogidi, wondered why the opposition would renege on its promise after signing several peace accords to maintain the peace during the election. According to Ogidi: “It is very unfortunate that after the peace accord where everyone was to maintain peace, this is happening. What happened in Nembe is worse than what happened earlier this year because nothing was done when it happened. This is unacceptable. We expect the armed forces and the police especially to intervene and fast too”. While condoling with the families of those who lost their lives during the incident, the PDP leader maintained that the APC was treating the election like a war, stating that, “Nigerians should come out and speak because the leadership of the APC is not saying anything about the incident". | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, Nembe, PDP, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/15/pdp-diri-condemn-alleged-attack-on-party-members-in-bayelsa/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, 14th November 2019 | APC constitutes Fact-finding Committee on Edo Crisis | The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that it has constituted a fact-finding and reconciliation committee of party leaders to meet with all aggrieved party members to ensure that all issues affecting the Edo State chapter of the party are addressed and resolved. The National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, 13th November 2019 after the NWC meeting held at the party secretariat in Abuja. He stated that the NWC also received a notification of the suspension of the Edo State APC Chairman, Mr. Anselem Ojezua, by eleven (11) out of the sixteen (16) members of the Edo State Working Committee (SWC). Issa-Onilu added that the NWC reviewed the suspension process and concluded that they have fulfilled the required conditions. The NWC therefore, upheld the suspension of Ojezua while it awaits the outcome of the fact-finding and reconciliation committee. | Edo State, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/14/apc-constitutes-fact-finding-cttee-on-edo-crisis/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, 14th November 2019 | PDP Senators kick as Senate Approves N10bn Refund for Kogi | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate on Wednesday, 13th November 2019 kicked against the Senate’s approval of the refund of N10.06 billion to the Kogi State Government for road projects it executed on behalf of the Federal Government. According to the opposition lawmakers, the refund should be delayed by a week to ensure that the money will not be diverted to fund the State governorship poll due for Saturday, 16th November 2019. The legislative approval followed the presentation of the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, headed by Senator Clifford Ordia, seeking approval for the issuance of N10.06 billion promissory notes programme to the State government and a bond issuance to settle inherited local debts and contractual obligations for projects executed on behalf of Federal Government. Earlier on, President Muhammadu Buhari had in a letter a to the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, requested for an approval for the refund to be made to the State government. Presenting his committee’s report, Ordia, stated that, “The approved sum is in capital expenditure, which has to do with refund to the State government for monies spent in the execution of Federal Government projects in the State”. According to him, key officials of the State government were invited to brief the committee during its legislative work. Ordia added that the committee also assessed all submissions made by the Federal Ministry of Finance, alongside documents from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the State government. He said the committee undertook an oversight visit to Kogi State to assess the projects and ascertained that they met the required standard by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. | Kogi State, PDP, Nigerian Senate | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/14/pdp-senators-kick-as-senate-approves-n10bn-refund-for-kogi/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, 14th November 2019 | Bayelsa Radio Staff, four others killed at PDP Rally | Simon Onu, an Outside Broadcast (OB) van driver with Radio Bayelsa was killed at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign rally on Wednesday, 13th November 2019 in Nembe Local Government Area of BAyelsa State, while many others were critically injured and rushed to hospitals in Yenagoa, the State capital. The incident, which occurred in the volatile community of Ogbolomabiri, disrupted the rally while Governor Seriake Dickson and the governorship candidate of the party, Senator Douye Diri, were yet to arrive the venue of the event. It was learnt that the heavy shooting by the armed men rocked the King Koko Square, venue of the campaign, as party supporters were waiting for the dignitaries to arrive Ogbolomabiri, which was also a flashpoint during the state and National Assembly elections held earlier in the year. It was gathered that some journalists covering the rally were also caught in the crossfire, as many others sustained different degrees of injuries. Governor Dickson, who was billed to attend the rally in company with the candidate of the party, was said to have cancelled the event to prevent further loss of lives. This is coming as the United States of America has again reiterated that it will not tolerate any act of violence during the conduct of the governorship election in Bayelsa State. The United States also warned that the international community will be watching the election closely in order to deter potential instigators of violence or those who seek to undermine the democratic process. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, PDP Campaign rally | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/14/bayelsa-radio-staff-four-others-killed-at-pdp-rally/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, 14th November 2019 | Appeal Court reaffirms Governor Emmanuel’s Election | The Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has validated the election of the Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 2019 governorship election of March 9. Delivering a unanimous judgment on Wednesday, 13th November 2019, the five-member panel of the court headed by Justice Justice M.A Mishelia, declared that the petitioners failed to prove their case. The judgment which was read by Justice Tunde Awotoyi, declared that the appeals filed by Nsima Ekere, the governorship candidate of the APC, and his party lacked merit, and therefore rejected their prayers which sought the invalidation of the result declared by the INEC. According to Justice Mishelia, “The petitioner must not only assert but must be able to satisfy the court that the non-compliance affected the result, to justify nullification. | Court of Appeal, Cross River State, Governor Emmanuel | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/14/appeal-court-reaffirms-gov-emmanuels-election/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, 14th November 2019 | INEC decries indiscriminate Court Orders | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over indiscriminate court orders. INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Voter Education and Publicity, Festus Okoye, stated this while speaking at a press conference in Lokoja, ahead of Saturday’s government elections in Kogi State. Okoye stated that notwithstanding that the Commission had resolved to obey every court order relating to conduct of elections, it had become a source of worry as such orders often slowed down the job of the Commission. He stated thus: “For instance, when a court gives an order 48 hours to an election, which must be obeyed, it means the Commission will have to put in extra efforts to meet the deadline”. Okoye called for dialogue on the extent to which it could exercise its powers guaranteed by the constitution and electoral laws. He further stated that the Commission would embark on presentation of robust proposals on electoral reforms to the National Assembly next year (2020). “We will be bold, strong and courageous in our efforts to get our electoral system reformed so that our country can enjoy full benefits of democracy”, he added. Okoye also called for proper scrutiny of politicians to avoid recycling impunity. | INEC, Court Orders | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/14/inec-decries-indiscriminate-court-orders/ | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, 14th November 2019 | Police order restriction of movement in Kogi | Ahead of Saturday’s governorship and senatorial rerun elections in Kogi State, the state police command has ordered restrictions of vehicular movement. Kogi State Commissioner of police, Hakeem Busari, who announced the restrictions at a press briefing on Wednesday, 13th November 2019 stated that vehicular movement would be restricted with effect from midnight of Friday, November 15, 2019 and will last till 6pm of Saturday, November 16, 2019. He said all entries and exits of Kogi State borders will be shut down accordingly. He advised all members of the public to adhere strictly to the restrictions order, saying anyone that contravenes it will be dealt with according to extant laws. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, Police | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/police-order-restriction-of-movement-in-kogi.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, 14th November 2019 | Edo APC faction suspends Obaseki, Deputy Governor | A faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state loyal to the party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has suspended Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shuaibu. The factional State Chairman, Col. David Imuse (rtd), and factional State Secretary, Lawrence Okah, while addressing journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, said the duo together with Secretary to State Government, Osarodion Ogie, were suspended from the APC after passing a vote of no confidence on them. They accused Governor Obaseki of suppressing all forms of perceived opposition and removing elected council officials “indiscriminately” from office with impunity in his determination to ensure that no credible opposition emerged in the forthcoming primaries. The faction said there was “clear and unambiguous evidence” by the admission of the Governor himself that he supported and worked with opposition candidate in areas where his favoured aspirants did not pick the party ticket.” “The chronicles of events are geared towards weakening and eventual destruction of the APC and intended to truncate our ability to win the forthcoming gubernatorial election. “In light of the foregoing, it has become obvious that Mr. Obaseki has become a liability to the APC. We can no longer fold our arms and watch him drag our collective political fortunes into the abyss in his desperate bid to destroy the party. The only option is to protect the interest of all stakeholders who have laboured assiduously to build up the party. “Consequently, we hereby pass a vote of no-confidence on Mr Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki and his leadership team comprising Hon. Phillip Shaibu (Dep. Governor) and Osarodion Ogie (Secretary to Government) and they are hereby suspended from the party. | Edo State, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/edo-apc-faction-suspends-obaseki-deputy-governor.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, 14th November 2019 | Court orders Ayade to conduct Local Government elections | A High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has ordered Governor Ben Ayade to conduct local government elections in line with the 1999 Constitution. The order was given yesterday by High Court (No. 4) presided over by Justice E. Ita in suit No: HC/514/2018 filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) through their lawyer, Chief (Barr) Utum Eteng against Ayade and the state’s attorney general. The court held that it was a breach of Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution for Gov. Ayade not to conduct election to usher in democratically elected Local Government chairmen as contemplated by Section 7(1) of the constitution and Section 2(1) of the Cross Rivers Local Govt. Law 2007. APC had claimed that Ayade’s government has no constitutional power to stop elections into the 18 local government councils of the State. | Cross River State, Local Government Election | Daily Trust Online | Thursday, 14th November 2019 | PDP ignores court order, holds election in Lagos | Despite a court order stopping the conduct of fresh election of new members of the State working committee (SWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC) on Wednesday, 13th November 2019 went ahead to hold a congress. Justice T. A. O. Oyekan-Abdullahi of the Lagos High Court had ordered that status quo be maintained in the affairs of the PDP in Lagos State. This followed a suit filed against the proposed special election for State executive positions of the party. But the representatives of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party sent in to conduct the election converged at a Hotel in Lagos, where the special election was conducted with Deji Doherty, a former Governorship candidate of the party, emerging as chairman. Senator Obi who is the chairman of the three-man panel sent in by the NWC stated that the election had 68 delegates approved by the NWC of the party but only 45 delegates voted at the election. | Lagos State, PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-ignores-court-order-holds-election-in-lagos.html | |
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, 13th November 2019 | APC suspends Oshiomhole, sacks APC State Secretary | Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has been suspended by the Edo State chapter of the party over his alleged role in the crisis rocking the party in the State. The decision, according to a statement signed by the Edo State party State Chairman, Aslem Ojezua, and Assistant State Secretary, Ikuenobe Anthony, followed the vote of no confidence passed on Comrade Oshiomhole by the chairmen of the APC in the 18 local government areas of the State. The statement read in part: “Consequent on the development, the State Executive Committee has adopted the vote of no confidence passed on him and the subsisting suspension order from the organs of the party in the State. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is the one behind the crisis in Edo APC. We have passed a vote of no confidence on him and he stands suspended from the party”. It further stated that the decision was necessary to prevent a repeat of what happened in Zamfara State, where the party was unable to field any candidate in the 2019 general elections. Meanwhile, the Edo State chapter of the APC on Tuesday, 12th November 2019 removed its secretary, Lawrence Okah, from office. A statement signed by the Assistant State Secretary, Mr Ikuenobe Anthony, explained that the decision was taken after a meeting of the State Executive Committee, where a vote of no confidence was passed on Okah. | Edo State, APC, Adams Oshiomhole | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-suspends-oshiomhole-sacks-state-secretary.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, 13th November 2019 | Court disqualifies Bayelsa APC Deputy Governorship candidate | A Federal High Court in Abuja has disqualified the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, over false information. Justice Inyang Ekwo on Tuesday, 12th November 2019 barred Degi-Eremienyo from participating in the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 16, after it found him guilty of supplying false information about his education to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Justice Inyang found that the APC deputy governorship candidate gave false information in his form CF001, which contains his bio-data, as submitted to INEC for the election. The judge observed that the documents of his educational qualification carried different names. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa had filed the suit challenging the documents submitted to INEC by the APC. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/court-disqualifies-bayelsa-apc-dep-govship-candidate.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, 13th November 2019 | Imo North: Appeal Court affirms Uwajumogu’s election | The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri has affirmed the election of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu as the duly elected Senator representing Imo North senatorial district . Justice S.J. Adah dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. Charles Onyirimba and his counterparts in Action Alliance (AA) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Onyirimba had appealed the judgment of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, which earlier dismissed the petition he filed against Uwajumogu’s election. Delivering his judgment, Juatice Adah stated that the petition filed by other candidates following the 2019 general elections lacked merit and could not be substantiated. Speaking after the delivery of the verdict, Uwajumogu described the judgment as a victory for the People of Imo North senatorial district who freely gave him the mandate. He appealed to his opponents to join hands with him in taking the zone to a higher level. He added that all hands must be on deck to enable Okigwe zone enjoy the dividends of democracy. | Court of Appeal, Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/imo-north-appeal-court-affirms-uwajumogus-election.html | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, 13th November 2019 | Gombe Deputy Speaker impeached | Deputy Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Hon. Shuaibu Adamu Haruna, has been impeached. He was impeached on Tuesday, 12th November 2019 by 21 out of 24 members of the House. Hon. Adamu Saleh Patah (East Constituency), who moved the motion for the impeachment and the House Committee Chairman on Information, Hon. Tulfugut M. Kardi, in an interview refused to give reasons for the impeachment, insisting that it was an internal decision of the Assembly. However, THISDAY checks reveal that the impeachment was a fallout of the lingering rift between the legislators and the Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya. Also, it is insinuated that the members are expressing their anger over the refusal by the Governor to approve the purchase of their official vehicles only to approve and present those of newly sworn-in Commissioners at their inauguration on Saturday, 9th November 2019. It was observed that the former Deputy Speaker was the only member who attended the Commissioners’ inauguration and by that flouted the unanimous decision of the House not to attend any executive function. Following the impeachment, the Deputy Speaker was immediately replaced by Hon. Siddi Buba, representing Kwami West constituency. He was immediately sworn in by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sadiq Abubakar Ibrahim. | Gombe State House of Assembly, Deputy Speaker, Impeachment | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/12/gombe-deputy-speaker-impeached/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, 13th November 2019 | Bello, Wada 22 others Sign INECs Peace Pact in Kogi | National Peace Committee, major political actors in Kogi State have signed another peace pact on Tuesday, 12th November 2019, to ensure a violence free governorship election on November 16. All the 24 governorship candidates were present at the ceremony , including Governor Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Musa Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The National Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu who was present at the event, stated that the peace pact became imperative with a view to conducting peaceful governorship election in Bayelsa and Kogi States. He explained that INEC expects the political actors in the governorship election to be of good behaviour before, during and after elections. He stated that a similar peace accord was signed last week in Kogi State which was organised by National Peace Committee, adding that the INEC peace pact was aimed at ensuring a hitch free governorship election in Kogi State. The same exercise was carried out in Bayelsa State last week. The Inspector General of Police , IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu explained that the police and other security agent are ready to provide adequate security for lives and property before, during and after elections in Kogi. He pointed out that with the security architecture put in place for the election in Kogi State, there will be no violence. He added that while police officers will monitor polling units , there will be detachments of officers on constant patrol . | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, INEC Peace Pact | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/13/bello-wada-22-others-sign-inecs-peace-pact-in-kogi/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, 13th November 2019 | Bello pledges to consolidate his Achievements | The All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in in Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has pledged to consolidate on the achievements of his administration if voted back to power. Bello who gave this assurance when his campaign train arrived in the ancient city of Isanlu, the headquarters of Yagba East Local Government Area, also promised to ensure that the Kabba – Ayetoro Gbede – Islanlu – Egbe – Ilorin road is completed to ease the plight of motorists plying the road. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, Governor Yahaya Bello | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/12/bello-pledges-to-consolidate-his-achievements/ | ||||||
| The Guardian Newspaper | Wednesday, 13th November 2019 | APC leaders storm Bayelsa for Lyon as Diri gets endorsements | Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Governors, Senators, and House of Representatives members were in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital on Tuesday, 12th November 2019 to solidarise with the party’s governorship candidate, Chief David Lyon. Speaking at the event, Oshiomhole stated that with the 'one man, one vote' mantra of the party, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State would be history at the conclusion of the election. The Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, stated that desperation had set in the camp of the opposition. According to him, “They have gone to every court in the land to try to discourage us but the APC is more powerful than they think”. Others who spoke at the mega rally include the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godwill Akpabio, Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola; Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari and Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu. Lyon, in his remarks, assured Bayelsans of 24-hour electricity, infrastructure development and robust security. Meanwhile, the Ijaw Leaders Forum has declared its support for the flagbearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Douye Diri, and his running mate, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo. Leader of the forum, Timi Ogoriba, communicated the position on Tuesday, 12th November 2019 in Yenagoa. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, APC, PDP | https://guardian.ng/news/apc-leaders-storm-bayelsa-for-lyon-as-diri-gets-endorsements/ | ||||||
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, 12th November 2019 | Hoodlums burn SDP Secretariat ahead of Kogi Governorship election | On Monday, 11th November 2019, barely five days to the governorship election in Kogi State, suspected political thugs burnt down the secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Lokoja, the State capital. Windows and doors were shattered. Banners, posters and other campaign materials at the office were also destroyed and reportedly replaced with the posters of one of the governorship aspirants. The SDP candidate, Natasha Akpoti, who visited the office after the incident alleged there had been a plan by Governor Yahaya Bello to attack her convoy. She stated that the attack on the SDP secretariat confirmed her claim. She also accused the police of taking sides with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State. | Kogi and Bayelsa 2019 Governorship Elections | https://guardian.ng/news/tension-in-kogi-bayelsa-ahead-of-guber-elections/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, 12th November 2019 | Military appeals for Violence-Free Poll in Bayelsa | The Nigerian Army has urged the people of Bayelsa State to shun violence and see the coming election in the State as a sport where one team must emerge winner. Speaking in Nembe, Bayelsa, during a novelty football match between 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and Nembe Football team at the Nembe City Stadium, Brig.-Gen Valentine Okoro, commander of the Brigade stated that like good sportsmen, politics must be played without bitterness. Brig. Gen Okoro also urged Bayelsans to embrace peace during the November 16 governorship poll, stating thus: “We expect that in the coming election, the people should also imbibe the same spirit of sportsmanship. In every contest, there is a winner and a loser; therefor, no one should feel bitter about it”. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, Nigerian Army | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/12/military-appeals-for-violence-free-poll-in-bayelsa/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, 12th November 2019 | INEC restricts Military Participation in Bayelsa, Kogi Governorship Elections to Patrol | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday, 11th November 2019, stated that the military would not be involved at the polling booth security on Election day, except on the invitation of the lead security agency, the Nigeria Police. However, the military would only patrol as a standby force in case of trouble beyond the control of the internal security forces. The Commission clarified that the Nigeria Navy and the Nigeria Air Force have been selected for a special duty of airlifting sensitive electoral materials and protection of the INEC staff in Bayelsa State, but ruled out the presence of the Nigeria army completely within the polling areas. INEC further stated that the Nigeria Police shall be in charge of all security issues during the two elections on November 16. The position of INEC was disclosed by the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, in a document which stated thus: “The Nigerian Police is the Lead Agency co-ordinating election security operations. The Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies have presented their deployment template to the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) co-chaired by the Chairman of INEC and the National Security Adviser and it has been adopted and approved. A rainbow coalition of unarmed security personnel will be deployed in the inner cordon of the polling units. Armed Mobile Police Officers will patrol the outer cordon of the polling units while a combined team of armed security personnel will protect critical national assets, the Registration Area Centers, INEC offices at the Local Governments and INEC State Offices. In accordance with section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has requested the assistance of the Nigerian Navy to assist with gunboats to protect electoral officials and personnel on the high seas, especially in the riverine areas of Bayelsa State. The Nigerian Air Force will also assist in airlifting electoral materials for the Commission to far distances and difficult topography. | Kogi and Bayelsa 2019 Governorship Elections, INEC, Military, Police | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/12/inec-restricts-military-participation-in-bayelsa-kogi-gov-elections-to-patrol/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, 12th November 2019 | PDP set for landslide victory in Bayelsa, says Dickson | Governor Seriake Dickson stated on Monday, 11th November 2019 that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will convincingly coast home to victory in next Saturday’s governorship election. Dickson who spoke during a media chat in Yenagoa, explained that his confidence of major victory for the PDP was hinged on the overwhelming support shown by the people during the constituency-based campaigns of the party. He further stated that the dominance of the PDP in Bayelsa politics was not under any threat from the APC, because of the "exceptional performance of his administration", especially in the area of enthroning a tolerant political culture. He urged the people of Bayelsa to cast their votes for Senator Douye Diri in order to sustain the prevailing peace, stability and other enduring legacies of his administration. He also called on traditional rulers to be neutral and to avoid heating up the polity by adopting a political party, as all the candidates are their subjects. He added that the government has made history by providing an enabling environment for all political parties to campaign round the State without any breach of the peace. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/12/pdp-set-for-landslide-victory-in-bayelsa-says-dickson/ | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, 12th November 2019 | Appeal Court affirms Sule as Nasarawa Governor | The Court of Appeal, sitting in Makurdi, on Tuesday, 12th November 2019 affirmed the election of Engr. Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected Governor of Nasarawa State. The court also dismissed in its entirety the appeal filed by the People Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate in the March 9 election, Mr. Emmanuel David Ombugadu. The court upheld the judgement of the Election Petitions tribunal which also confirmed the declaration of Abdullahi Sule as Nasarawa Governor by INEC. | Court of Appeal, Nasarawa State | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/just-in-appeal-court-affirms-sule-as-nasarawa-governor.html | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, 8th November 2019 | INEC can not disqualify Candidates, says Court | Justice Folashade Ogunbiyi-Giwa of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, 7th November 2019 held that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was wrong to have excluded the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State. Governorship candidate of the SDP, Natasha Akpoti, her running mate, Adams Khalid and their party, SDP had instituted a court suit against the electoral body before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, challenging their exclusion from the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State. The Commission had in a letter through its Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, written the SDP to inform the party that it has no lawful candidate in the forthcoming governorship poll in Kogi State. In the letter, the electoral umpire claimed that its decision to exclude the SDP from the Kogi governorship poll was hinged on the non- qualification of its earlier deputy governor-nominee, Mohammed Yakubu, who was said to be under 35 years. The Commission also declined to accept Yakubu’s substitution by the SDP on the grounds that Yakubu’s nomination was invalid. Delivering judgment in the suit, Justice Ogunbanjo-Giwa, held that INEC had no power to disqualify any candidate for an election as it is the exclusive reserve of a competent court of law. According to the judge, the provisions of sections 31(1) and 83 of the Electoral Act, which holds that INEC cannot disqualify or reject candidate nominated by a political party for an election or refuse to affix the logo of a party contesting election, was aimed at ensuring that it does not lie within the power of INEC to determine who participates in an election, adding that the intention of the law is to make INEC a truly unbiased umpire. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, SDP, Natasha Akpoti | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/08/inec-cant-disqualify-candidates-says-court/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, 8th November 2019 | Bayelsa Poll: INEC, Police meet Stakeholders, warn against Violence, Vote Buying | The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and the Inspector General of Police, IGP Adamu Mohammed met with political stakeholders in Bayelsa State on Thursday, 7th November 2019, ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the State. During the meeting which held in Yenagoa, the INEC Chairman maintained that the police would take over the primary duty of securing lives and properties, noting that any other function engaged upon by the security forces will be secondary. He added: “I want to reassure you that INEC is ready. We have so far successfully implemented 12 out of our 14-point plan for the election as required by law”. Let me also reiterate that voter inducement in all forms, including vote-buying at polling units is a violation of the law. The ban on the use of mobile phones and other photographic devices in the voting cubicles is still in force and will be strictly enforced and monitored. He affirmed that the Commission would commit to non-violence before, during and after the election and ensure a free, fair and credible process. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, Stakeholders' Meeting | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/08/bayelsa-poll-inec-police-meet-stakeholders-warn-against-violence-vote-buying/ | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 8th November 2019 | Appeal Court upholds El-Rufai’s election | The Kaduna Division of the Court of Appeal, on Thursday, 7th November 2019 upheld the election of Malam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai as Governor of Kaduna State in the March 9 governorship election. In Kaduna, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Isah Ashiru, had filed an appeal before the court, challenging the decision of the Election Petition tribunal which upheld the victory of El-Rufai at the poll. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier declared El-Rufai winner of the governorship election. The five-man panel of appellate court judges – Justices U.I. Anyanwu, H.A.O. Abiru, T.Y. Hassan, B.M. Ugo and B.B. Aliyu – unanimously affirmed the decision of the tribunal and declared El-Rufai as the duly elected Governor of the State. | Kaduna State, Govenror El-Rufai | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/appeal-court-upholds-el-rufais-election-decides-nasarawa-govs-fate-tomorrow.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 8th November 2019 | Appeal court upholds Okorocha, Kalu’s election | The Owerri Division of the Court of Appeal on Thursday, 7th November 2019 upheld the election of a former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, as the Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District. The Chairman of the Court of Appeal panel, Justice R. A. Ada, who read the judgment, dismissed the appeals filed by Senator Osita Izunaso of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Jones Onyereri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Okorocha’s election, stating that the appeals lacked merit. The judge also stated that the judgment of the Election Petition tribunal, which upheld Okorocha’s election, was in order, as the petitioners could not prove their allegations of violence, over voting, mutilation of electoral results and hijacking of electoral officers against the respondent. Similarly, the Court of Appeal in Owerri affirmed Senator Oji Uzor Kalu as the winner of the February 23 election in Abia North Senatorial District. The Chairman of the Court of Appeal panel, Justice R.A Ada who read the judgment, overturned the decision of the Election Petitionn tribunal which ordered a re-run election in some wards in Abia North, stating that the premise in which the tribunal cancelled Orji’s victory was unknown to law. | Imo West Senatorial District, Abia North Senatorial District, Court of Appeal | "https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/appeal-court-upholds-okorocha-kalus-election.html">https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/appeal-court-upholds-okorocha-kalus-election.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 8th November 2019 | Police deploy 32,000 personnel for Bayelsa poll | The Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu has announced that the Nigeria Police would deploy about 32,000 personnel for the governorship election in Bayelsa State, to ensure a violence-free exercise. Adamu announced this in Yenagoa on Thursday, 7th November 2019 during the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) stakeholders' meeting. The IGP assured the people of the State of maximum security during and after the election, explaining that the police is ready to protect lives and property, especially in all the polling units. He also stated that, “All security arrangements have been made. This election is an isolated one and we must do what we can to achieve credible poll, come November 16”. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, Police | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/police-deploy-32000-personnel-for-bayelsa-poll.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 8th November 2019 | 65 Governorship candidates in Bayelsa, Kogi sign Peace Accord | No fewer than 65 governorship candidates in Bayelsa and Kogi States have signed a Peace pact to ensure peaceful conduct of the November 16 governorship election in the two States. While 42 governorship candidates signed the accord in Bayelsa State, 23 governorship candidates signed the accord in Kogi State. In Bayelsa, the accord was signed in the presence of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu and other stakeholders. The governorship candidate of PDP in Bayelsa, Senator Douye Diri, signed for his party while the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Eremenyo Degi, signed for his party. Speaking during the stakeholders' meeting in Yenagoa, the INEC chairman reiterated the Commission’s readiness to conduct free, fair, credible and conclusive poll for the people of Bayelsa State. The INEC boss urged all stakeholders to continue to eschew violence and maintain peaceful conduct during the election. | Kogi and Bayelsa 2019 Governorship Elections, INEC, Peace Accord | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/65-govship-candidates-in-bayelsa-kogi-sign-peace-accord.html | ||||||
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, 7th November 2019 | Stakeholders urge free, fair guber polls in Bayelsa, Kogi States | With less than 10 days to the Bayelsa and Kogi States gubernatorial elections, stakeholders have continued to harp on the need for violence-free elections in the two States. A coalition of development associations in Kogi State, including Ebira Peoples Association (EPA), Igala Cultural Development Association (ICDA) and Okun Development Association (ODA), has noted the already growing tension over the November 16 gubernatorial poll and appealed to all citizens to co-operate in order to achieve a peaceful election in the interest of the overall development of the State. The coalition represented by Presidents of EPA, Dr. Abdulrahman Adeiza; ICDA, Abdulrasaq Sadiq and ODA, Barr Femi Mokikan, directed all the ethnic groups within the State to pursue peace and unity. This is just as the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party Youth Network (PDPYN) in Bayelsa State urged caution in the deployment of the military for the elections. PDPYN Secretary General, Comrade James Oputin, regretted that in the past, soldiers displayed bias by providing cover to some interested parties, particularly during the last general elections. It would be recalled that although there are strong indications that the two elections are prone to violence, the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, assured Nigerians during an interactive session with the Senate Committee on INEC, that concerted efforts are being put in place to check such excesses before, during and after the elections. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election | https://guardian.ng/politics/stakeholders-urge-free-fair-guber-polls-in-bayelsa-kogi | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, 7th November 2019 | APC begins House-to-House Campaign in Kogi Central | The Secretary, Media Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kogi State Governorship Campaign Council, Mr. Tom Ohikere has revealed the commencement of house-to-house voter education and sensitization programme which will run from Thursday, 7th November to Sunday, 10th November 2019, in the five Local Government Areas of Kogi Central Senatorial District. A statement issued by the party's Campaign Council in Lokoja on Wednesday, 6th November 2019 explained that the programme aims to educate and enlighten registered voters on the electoral processes and voting procedure in the November 16 governorship election. It also stated that the APC recognises the role of the grassroots in the re-election quest of Governor Yahaya Bello, thereby making it imperative to carry them along. The statement also read that the exercise will serve as a platform to enunciate the achievements of the APC-led government to the people of Kogi Central and also articulate what they should expect in the next four years, if Bello is re-elected with their support. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/07/apc-begins-house-to-house-campaign-in-kogi-central/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, 7th November 2019 | APC’s Lyon vows to slash Varsity Fees, end Blackout | The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Bayelsa State, David Lyon, has promised to end the incessant power cuts in the State and drastically reduce the fees currently paid in the State-owned Niger Delta University (NDU). On his campaign trail to Igbogene, Agudama, Opolo, St Peters and Amarata in Yenagoa, Lyon stated that public funds belonging to Bayelsa will be used judiciously to end the current electricity challenges being encountered by residents of Bayelsa State. He asked the people to remain focused in their decision to vote for him and the APC at the poll, stressing that he would correct ‘all the mistakes made by the PDP’. According to him, " My team and I want to serve Bayelsans and we depend on you all to vote for APC. Our government will empower women and issue them appointments. We will not disappoint women". | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, APC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/07/apcs-lyon-vows-to-slash-varsity-fees-end-blackout/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, 7th November 2019 | Jonathan, Wike shun PDP Mega Rally in Bayelsa | Former President Goodluck Jonathan was absent at the grand finale of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign in Bayelsa State on Wednesday, 6th November 2019. The absence of Jonathan, who failed to send either a written message or a representative, at the rally attended by some PDP Governors, further lent credence to the reports of breakdown in relationship between him and the State Governor, Seriake Dickson. Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike was also not in attendance at the mega rally held at the Ox-Bow Lake Pavilion, Yenagoa, the State capital. The National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus led other national executive members of the party to the occasion, which was attended by members and supporters of the party. The Governors of Sokoto, Imo and Delta States, attended the event, as well as Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who is the Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council. Secondus, who presented the flag of the PDP to the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Douye Diri, described Bayelsa as a PDP state and warned security agencies against compromising the election. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/07/jonathan-wike-shun-pdp-mega-rally-in-bayelsa/ | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, 7th November 2019 | Olujimi bounces back as Appeal Court sacks Senate spokesman, Adeyeye | The Kaduna Division of the Court of Appeal has upheld the judgment of the Ekiti State Election Petition tribunal which declared Senator Biodun Olujimi, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as winner of Ekiti South Senatorial District election held on 23rd February 2019. This has ended Senator Dayo Adeyeye's bid to reclaim the seat after he was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Senator Olujimi challenged the election result at the tribunal on the ground that she scored the highest number of votes cast and asked the tribunal to nullify Adeyeye’s victory, alleging that the election was marred by massive irregularities. The tribunal in its judgment nullified the election in some polling units and declared Olujimi the authentic winner of the polls. Adeyeye and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), filed a petition at the Court of Appeal, asking it to set aside the ruling of the tribunal. However, while delivering a unanimous judgement on Wednesday, 6th November 2019, Justice Uzor Anyanwu upheld the judgment of the tribunal and ordered INEC to issue a fresh certificate of return to Senator Biodun Olujimi. | Senator Biodun Olujimi, Senator Dayo Adeyeye | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/olujimi-bounces-back-as-appeal-court-sacks-senate-spokesman-adeyeye.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, 6th November 2019 | PDP loses appeal against Senator Gobir, 3 APC House of Representatives Members in Sokoto | The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has dismissed the appeal filed against the election of Senator Ibrahim Gobir (APC, Sokoto East) by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Salihu Maidaji. Maidaji had filed the appeal against the judgement of the Election Petition tribunal that dismissed his petition and upheld Gobir’s election. The tribunal had held that the petition was filed out of time, and dismissed it for being statute-barred. Delivering judgment at the Court of Appeal, Justice Hamman Akawu Barka, stated that the tribunal was right to have dismissed the petition for being statute-barred. Meanwhile, in separate judgements involving four Federal Constituencies, the Court of Appeal upheld the elections of three APC and one PDP House of Representatives members. Those of the APC were Abdullahi Salame representing Gwadabawa/Illela Federal Constituency; Architect Aliyu Almustapha representing Rabah/Wurno Federal Constituency and Abubakar Umar representing Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency. The Court of Appeal also upheld the election of PDP’s Mani Maishinko Katami represeting Binji/Silame Federal Constituency. | Court of Appeal, PDP, APC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-loses-appeal-against-senator-gobir-3-apc-reps-in-sokoto.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, 6th November 2019 | INEC deploys sign language interpreters to Bayelsa polling units | As part of preparations for a hitch-free governorship election in Bayelsa State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it will deploy sign language interpreters to various polling units and communities to help persons with hearing impairments to cast their votes without challenges. INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Bayelsa State, Pastor Monday Tom Udoh, disclosed this on Tuesday, 5th November 2019 in Yenagoa during a voter education and sensitization forum for sign language interpreters in the State. Accoridng to Udoh, “We have recruited some Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to be part of the process as election officers. This is to ensure that they have a sense of belonging as Nigerians". He also stated that INEC has done everything within its power to ensure that PWDs take part in the forthcoming governorship election in the State and future elections. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, INEC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/inec-deploys-sign-language-interpreters-to-bayelsa-polling-units.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, 6th November 2019 | Journalists walk for peaceful polls in Kogi | Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State, members of the Kogi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in collaboration with an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Search for Common Ground, held a road walk in Lokoja to demand for peaceful, free and fair election in the State on Tuesday, 5th November 2019. The walk tagged "State Media Peace Day”, saw the journalists walk from the NUJ Secretariat to INEC Headquarters and the Police Command Headquarters in Lokoja, where letters containing their demands regarding the election were handed over to INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. James Apam and the Police Commissioner in the State, CP Hakeem Busari. Presenting the letter to INEC REC, Kogi NUJ Secretary, Seidu Adamu, urged the electoral umpire to ensure all its staff and ad hoc staff are neutral and professional in the discharge of their duties during the election. Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in Kogi State, Ann Olurinde, while presenting their letter to the Commissioner of Police, urged him to ensure adequate provision of security before, during and after the election. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, NUJ, NAWOJ | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/journalists-walk-for-peaceful-polls-in-kogi.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, 6th November 2019 | Suit against Wada’s candidacy adjourned till after poll | A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has adjourned a suit seeking to disqualify Engr Musa Wada as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 16 governorship election, to 27th November 2019 for defence. Abubakar Idris, son of a former Governor of the State instituted a suit against Musa Wada on the ground that he was not properly elected at the party’s primary as candidate of the party and therefore urged the court to disqualify him and declare him (Abubakar) as the winner of the party’s primary. The judge stated that since the case was a pre-election matter, the court is constitutionally allowed to adjudicate on the matter within 180 days and would therefore not be rushed in a way that may lead to miscarriage of justice. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, Wada | "https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/suit-against-wadas-candidacy-adjourned-till-after-poll.html">https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/suit-against-wadas-candidacy-adjourned-till-after-poll.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Wednesday, 6th November 2019 | Kogi Elections: Senatorial candidates step down for Smart Adeyemi, endorse Bello | A group of Kogi West Senatorial candidates for the November 16 re-run election in the Senatorial District have stepped down and endorsed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Smart Adeyemi, as well as the Governor Yahaya Bello, his running mate, Chief Edward for the governorship election in the State. The candidates, who made this known to newsmen on Tuesday, 5th November 2019 at a joint press conference held in Lokoja alongside their LGA Campaign Coordinators, stated their decision to step down was informed by “current political exigencies” in the State. Amongst the candidates represented at the press conference were: Olabode Adeyemi of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Princess Roseline Ibitoye of Accord Party (AP), Chief Samuel Atteh of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Olasunkanmi Aina Olayinka of Change Advocacy Party (CAP), Noah John Abiodun of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Olasunkanmi Aina of People's Trust (PT) and others. According to Olabode Adeyemi who spoke on behalf of the candidates, "As important stakeholders to the November 16 gubernatorial and senatorial election, we have reviewed the obvious realities, appraised the political journey of the past and have resolved collectively, to defer our ambitions till future election year and support the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the November 16 gubernatorial and senatorial election. “By this decision, we have instructed our agents in all the polling units, canvassers and co-ordinators across board to campaign, work, mobilize and vote for all the APC candidates for the November 16 election”. | Kogi West Senatorial Election | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kogi-guber-senatorial-candidates-step-down-for-smart-adeyemi-endorse-bello.html | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, 5th November 2019 | PDP cautions INEC over Deployment Of Extra RECs, National Commissioners to Kogi, Bayelsa States | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against e thdeployment of National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), from other States, to Kogi and Bayelsa for the November 16 governorship elections in the two States. Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP stated that the PDP already has due diligence reports on each of the National Commissioners, adding that, “The PDP cautions the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to note that the deployment of officials with known integrity issues is capable of triggering crisis and jeopardizing the credibility of the electoral process. It is also important to state that Kogi and Bayelsa elections present an opportunity for INEC to show that it has become committed to free, fair and credible elections without being influenced or manipulated”. | Kogi and Bayelsa States 2019 Governorship Elections, PDP, INEC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/05/pdp-cautions-inec-over-deployment-of-extra-recs-national-commissioners-to-kogi-bayelsa-states/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, 5th November 2019 | APC blames attack of its supporters in Ankpa on PDP | The Secretary of the Media and Publicity Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2019 Kogi Governorship Campaign Council, Dr. Tom Ohikere has reacted to the latest outbreak of violence at the party’s campaign rally in Ankpa area of Kogi State, describing it as a clear show of the intimidation by its main opponent, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ohikere alleged that the PDP wants to frustrate the APC’s campaign, particularly in Kogi East because of the wide acceptability of the Governor and his deputy in areas the PDP adjudged as their strongholds. Ohikere stated this while addressing journalists in Lokoja on Monday, 4th November 2019. He added that, “The attack in Ankpa at our rally is a clear demonstration of their (PDP) tactic, to coerce, to bulldoze the people not to show their support for the Governor and his deputy’s re-election”. HEecalled on security agencies to be pro-active in tackling the incidence of violence in the State. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, APC, PDP | ttps://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/05/apc-blames-attack-of-its-supporters-in-ankpa-on-pdp/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, 5th November 2019 | NSIEC clears 753 Candidates to contest Local Government Polls in Niger | The Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) has cleared 83 Chairmanship and 670 Councillorship candidates from nine political parties to contest the November 30 Local Government election in the State. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are fielding equal numbers of 25 chairmanship and 274 councillorship candidates. The Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Aminu Baba Alhaji, who disclosed this at the opening of a three-day “Train the Trainers” workshop organised in partnership with the the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) for Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers, in Minna on Monday, stated that everything was set for the election. Alhaji commended the political parties for their orderly and peaceful conduct so far, and charged them to keep the flag flying. | Niger State, Local Government Elections, NSIEC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/05/nsiec-clears-753-candidates-to-contest-lg-poll-in-niger/ | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, 5th November 2019 | INEC trains Bayelsa visually impaired persons on voting | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has trained visually impaired persons in Bayelsa State on the use of the ‘Braille Ballot Guide’, a new technology to aid them in voting in the November 16, 2019 governorship poll. The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in charge of the State, Pastor Monday Tom Udo, while declaring the training open in Yenagoa on Monday, 4th November 2019, explained that the initiative by the Commission to introduce the device was to make persons with disabilities part of the election, as it is their constitutional right to do so. Udo also urged over 100 visually impaired persons who attended the training to endeavour to go out on election day and exercise their franchise, because INEC has made adequate arrangement to help them participate in the election. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, INEC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/inec-trains-bayelsa-visually-impaired-persons-on-voting.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, 5th November 2019 | LG poll crisis: Elected Chairmen, Councillors shun KESIEC certificate presentation | Elected council Chairmen and Councillors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, 4th November 2019 boycotted the ceremony organised by the Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission (KESIEC) to present certificates of return to winners of the October 26 council election in the State. The elected Chairmen and Councillors from Dandi, Fakai, Gwandu, Jega, Sakaba, Aliero, Argungu, Bagudo and Suru Local Government Areas boycotted the certificate presentation ceremony as directed by their party (APC). Speaking on the development, Alhaji Kabiru Muhammed, KESIEC Commissioner 2, who represented the Commission’s Chairman, has however warned that the Commission would mete out penalties to any elected Chairman or Councillor that refused to come and collect their certificate at the ceremony. It would be recalled that APC had stated that it would not accept the results released by the electoral body. | Kebbi State, Local Gopvernment Elections, KESIEC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/lg-poll-crisis-elected-chairmen-councillors-shun-kesiec-certificate-presentation.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, 5th November 2019 | Court sacks House of Representatives Majority leader, Doguwa | The Court of Appeal, sitting in Kaduna, has nullified the election of a member of the House of Representatives representing Tudunwada/Doguwa Federal Constituency, Alhassan Ado Doguwa over electoral irregularities. Delivering judgement on Monday, 4th November 2019, Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie ordered the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in the entire constituency within 90 days. It would be recalled that the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Kano had upheld the electoral victory of the House Leader, a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2019 National Assembly election, when it was challenged by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Air Commodore Salisu Shehu (rtd). Shehu challenged Doguwa's election on allegations of over-voting and other electoral malpractices. The tribunal had dismissed the petition on the basis that the petitioners had failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt. | Alhassan Ado Doguwa, House of Representatives, Court of Appeal | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-court-sacks-reps-majority-leader-doguwas-election.html | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, 4th November 2019 | Imo Guber Poll: Araraume takes battle to Court of Appeal | The legal tussle between the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the March 9, governorship election in Imo State, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and Governor Emeka Ihedioha has moved to the Court of Appeal, with Araraume asking the court to set aside the judgement of the Imo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld the election of Ihedioha as Imo State Governor. The three-man panel of the tribunal had in a unanimous decision delivered on September 21, held that Ihedioha was lawfully declared winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The tribunal chaired by Justice Malami Dongondaji, had in the judgement dismissed Araraume’s petition for lacking in merit on the grounds that the petitioners failed to prove allegations made in their petition. | Imo State, Ifeanyi Ararume | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/04/imo-guber-poll-araraume-takes-battle-to-court-of-appeal/ | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, 4th November 2019 | PDP rejects Kebbi LG poll results, heads for tribunal | The Kebbi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected results of the October 26 Local Government election declared by the State Independent Electoral Commission (KESIEC) stating that the exercise did not reflect the yearnings and aspirations of the electorate in the State. While addressing journalists at the party secretariat in the State capital, Birnin Kebbi, the State party Chairman, Alhaji Haruna Saidu, stated that the election did not take place in many of the Local Government Areas (LGAs) where results were declared by KESIEC in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He added that, “The election was fraught with many irregularities such as ballot box stuffing, snatching and many of the candidates declared by KESIEC as winners were not the actual winners of the election”. According to him, PDP was heading to the tribunal to recover its mandate in Zuru, Fakai, Sakaba, Jega, Aliero and Gwandu LGAs. Other LGAs where he stated that the PDP would be challenging the elections include Arewa, Augie, Argungu and Dandi. | Kebbi State Local Gopvernment Polls | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-rejects-kebbi-lg-poll-results-heads-for-tribunal.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, 4th November 2019 | EU tasks Kogi stakeholders on credible governorship election | The European Union (EU) and the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) have called on critical stakeholders and the electorate to join hands with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure free, fair and credible election in the Kogi State. The Programme Coordinator, ECES representative in Nigeria, Mauro Maria Teresa, made the call in Lokoja during the Election Monitoring Support Centre (EMSC) programme hosted by INEC. She stressed that the success of any electoral process largely depended on the support extended to INEC by all the critical stakeholders before, during and after the exercise. According to her, "The conduct of a free, fair and credible election is in the overall interest of Nigeria as a democratic nation; therefore it is imperative to support the electoral umpire to fulfill its core mandate of conducting unbiased election that will be in the admiration of the people". She also appealed to the political parties and their supporters to play their collective roles in ensuring that the forthcoming election in the State was devoid of rancour and crisis that would impede the integrity of INEC and the election. | Kogi and Bayelsa 2019 Governorship Elections, European Union | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/eu-tasks-bayelsa-kogi-stakeholders-on-credible-govship-election.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, 4th November 2019 | Diri will win in a free, fair election — Dickson | Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has expressed optimism that in a free, fair and credible contest, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Douye Diri will emerge victorious in the November 16, 2019 election in the State. The Governor stated this while speaking at the annual State thanksgiving service on Sunday, 3rd November 2019, in Yenagoa. The Governor thanked God for giving him the wisdom to institute the State annual Thanksgiving Day celebration to give God His proper place. Governor Dickson highlighted some of the achievements of his administration to include the establishment of critical infrastructure such as roads, health facilities, airport, educational facilities and public buildings such as the Ecumenical centre, which according to him, have elevated the status of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship, Duoye Diri, PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/diri-will-win-in-a-free-fair-election-dickson.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, 4th November 2019 | Kogi election an examination, not a war – Audu | Former First Lady of Kogi, Prof. Aisha Audu has called on the Federal Government to remove all illegal arms and ammunition in the Kogi State ahead of the November 16 governorship election. Audu, who is the candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) for the November 16 election, made the called in an interview with journalists in Abuja. According to Prof. Audu, “We are going into an examination, that is how I see the November 16 Kogi governorship election. The world in watching, the international community is concern and the reports are not good". Commenting on the number of police personnel (35,200) to be deployed to the State for the election, Audu staed that the numbers looked good to secure the process. | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election, Prof. Audio | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/bayelsa-kogi-guber-persons-with-disabilities-want-better-deals.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 1st November 2019 | How we will transmit Kogi, Bayelsa elections results – INEC | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it will transmit all election results manually during the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections on November 16, 2019. INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated this on Thursday, 31st October 2019 at the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Dialogue Session with Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) of Kogi and Bayelsa States in Abuja. Yakubu, who was represented by Mr. Festus Okoye, a National Commissioner of INEC, stated that the Commission would adhere to the rules and regulations of the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended). He stated thus: “While section 52, subsection 2 of the Electoral Act gives the Commission the discretion to make a determination relating to the procedure to adopt in any election, Sections 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 and 73 of the same Act prescribed the mode of transmission of election results and it is manually. So, we are going to conform to the provisions of the Electoral Act (as amended) and also conform to provisions about regulations and guidelines in relations to the transmission of the election results in the spirit of the law”. | Kogi and Bayelsa States 2019 Governorship Elections, INEC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/how-we-will-transmit-kogi-bayelsa-elections-results-inec.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 1st November 2019 | Edo APC urges INEC to commence recall of member-elect | The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ovia North East Local Government of Edo State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence the process of recalling Vincent Uwadia as the elected member representing Ovia North East Constituency 2 at the State House of Assembly. Uwadia is among the 13 members-elect who are yet to be inaugurated following the crisis rocking the party and the Assembly over their inauguration on 17th June 2019. According to the resolutions signed by the Chairman of the party in Okada East wards 2 and 25, and other executive members of the party, Uwadia waived his right to fair hearing when he did not honour an invitation to a general meeting of the party on 13th October 2019. The party leaders, however noted that the recall was in line with the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, explaining that the constituents want to ensure adequate representation for all seven wards in the constituency. | Edo State House of Assembly, INEC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/edo-apc-urges-inec-to-commence-recall-of-member-elect.html | ||||||
| Daily Trust Online | Friday, 1st November 2019 | INEC to PDP: No plot to disqualify Wada | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has faulted the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it planned to disqualify its candidate for the November 16 governorship election in the State. The PDP had alleged that INEC was working with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to delist its Kogi State governorship candidate, Musa Wada. Reacting to the allegation, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, told journalists that it was not in the nature of the Commission to collude with a political party to disqualify a candidate of another political party for any election. According to Oyekanmi, "The Commission’s actions at all times have always been guided by the provisions of the 1999 Constitutions (as amended) and the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended). The grounds for disqualifying nominated candidates for different levels of elections are well stated in the law and INEC cannot possibly act outside what the law stipulates. To that extent, the allegation by the PDP is false and completely baseless". | Kogi State 2019 Governorship Election | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/inec-to-pdp-no-plot-to-disqualify-wada.html | ||||||
| The Guardian Newspaper | Friday, 1st November 2019 | INEC, EU move to sensitise young female voters ahead of Bayelsa guber poll | Ahead of the November 16, 2019, gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified its sensitisation campaign with a forum organised for young female voters in the State. According to the Commission, the forum which was organised in collaboration with the European Union (EU), is part of its commitment to providing a level-playing field for all stakeholders in the discharge of its duties. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voters Education, Festus Okoye, stated that the sensitisation programme for young female voters was in line with the mandate of the electoral umpire, given that equal participation of women and men in all aspects of public life is a key principle of democracy. Okoye, who was represented by Edwin Enabor, stated thus: Democracy offers equal opportunity for citizens of all status and gender to participate in governance. INEC, as an umpire, has ensured that Nigeria’s political landscape is and will continue to be level and gender-sensitive. In her remark, the Programme Co-ordinator of the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), Maria Teresa, stated that the sensitisation programme, which was meant to mobilise young female voters in the forthcoming governorship election, is indeed a positive step towards fostering an inclusive electoral process. | Bayelsa State 2019 Governorship Election, INEC | https://guardian.ng/news/inec-eu-move-to-sensitise-young-female-voters-ahead-of-bayelsa-guber-poll/ | ||||||
| ThisDayLive Online | Friday, 1st November 2019 | INEC Commences Prosecution of Staff Implicated in 2019 Election Rigging | At the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Dialogue Session with Resident Electoral Commissioners of Kogi and Bayelsa States which held on Thursday, 31st October 2019, INEC’s National Commissioner of Information, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye, stated that the Commission had barred some ad-hoc staff from participating in the conduct of its elections for allegations of electoral malpractices, while some who participated in the 2019 general election would be facing prosecution.According to Okoye, “Majority of our ad-hoc staff performed creditably well in the last general election and we commend them for their patriotism. However, the Commission has barred some of them who violated its rules and some of them will be handed over to the police for prosecution while some are already being prosecuted”. The NAtional Commissioner further stated that INEC would commence the process of creating new permanent polling units and constituencies by the first quarter of 2020 following consultations with stakeholders. | INEC, Situation Room | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/11/01/inec-commences-prosecution-of-staff-implicated-in-2019-election-rigging/ |