By Taiwo Amodu, Idahosa Moses, Aisha Cole, Alphonsus Agborh, Adeolu Adeyemo, Christian Appolos, Wale Akinselure, Olayinka Olukoya, Idahosa Moses, Kola Oyelere, Godwin Otang, Adelowo Oladipo and Biola Azeez
Don’t overheat polity, APC campaign council cautions opposition parties
AHEAD of the official announcement of presidential election results by the Indepedent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has warned opposition political parties to desist from utterances that could discredit the entire process and instigate violence.
Festus Keyamo, Director of Public Affairs and chief spokesperson of the council, issued the warning in a statement on Sunday.
He specifically called attention to remarks attributed to his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) on results of presidential election.
He accused the LP and PDP of latching on isolated incidents of violence in APC strongholds while ignoring alleged “thumb-print ballot papers for LP and massive thumb-printing of ballot papers by both PDP and LP supporters in some parts of the country.”
The APC admonished the two opposition parties to allow INEC conduct its statutory responsibility of making official pronouncement on winner of the election.
The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to some incendiary comments by spokespersons of the opposition parties, notably the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) regarding the yet-to-be-announced results of the elections that held yesterday.
“Some of them have threatened fire and brimstone if their own version of some concocted results are not announced in a bid to be the judge, jury and executioner in this election.
“Similarly, to rile up their supporters against the country, they play up some isolated incidents of violence in our strongholds, whereas we have tons of videos of massive electoral malpractices like violence against non-LP supporters, forcing and guiding women and children to thumb-print ballot papers for LP and massive thumb-printing of ballot papers by both PDP and LP supporters in some parts of the country.
“In addition, in one breath, one of the spokespersons of the PDP complained about a certain headline in a newspaper about early results, yet, in condemning the newspaper, he also makes unfounded claims about the yet-to-be released results.
“On our part, we have decided to be calm to await the official announcement of the results and to pursue any grievance (if any) in a lawful manner. But we shall not sit back and allow such unguided comments gain grounds in order to foist a particular narrative on our citizens and the international community.
“Recall that all parties signed the Peace Accord twice before the eyes of the world. Now is the time to abide by the terms of that accord and show love for country over and above personal ambitions.”
He called on international observers and friends of Nigeria not to be distracted, but to focus on the process as it unfolds.
Oshiomhole, Okpebholo win Edo North, Central seats
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the immediate past governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of Saturday’s election for Edo North senatorial district in the state.
Professor Benjamin Adesina, the INEC Returning Officer on Sunday, in Auchi, declared the former APC national chairman, Oshiomhole, as the winner of the polls with 107,110 votes.
He defeated the incumbent senator, Francis Alimekhena of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 55,344 votes
“Adams Oshiomhole of APC, having scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared as the winner of the election conducted on the 25th of February for Edo North senatorial district,” Adesina said.
Also, the senatorial candidate of the party in Edo Central, Monday Okpebholo, was declared winner of election in the district.
According to the returning officer, Professor Ray Ozuolua, the APC candidate polled 41,334 votes while candidates of Labour Party and PDP scored 32,574 and 25,225 votes respectively.
Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Honourable Peter Akpatason, was declared winner of the House of Representatives election in Akoko-Edo federal constituency of Edo State
Announcing the result in Igarra, Returning Officer, Professor Robert Okuonghae, said Akpatason scored a total of 14,982 votes to defeat his closest rival, Honourable Kabiru Adjoto of the PDP who polled 9,293 votes while the LP candidate came third with 7,993 votes.
Husband of Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson and candidate of the APC for House of Representatives, Esan South-East/Esan North East federal constituency was declared winner of the election in the constituency by the returning officer, Dr Victor Imade.
The APC candidate, according to the returning officer, scored 21,764 votes to defeat the candidates of the PDP and LP who garnered 10,007 and 11,528 votes respectively.
The APC also won the Etsako federal constituency where its candidate, Dekery Anamero, was declared winner with a total votes of 58,692, while his closest rival and candidate of the PDP, Andy Momodu, scored 25,132.
INEC admits malfunctioning of IReV •Says challenge being addressed
THE Indepedent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has admitted that its Results Viewing Portal (IReV) has not met expectations of Nigerians anxious to view results from its portal.
Festus Okoye, national commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, in a statement on Sunday, said the commission has received reports that the IReV has been relatively slow and unsteady.
He attributed the challenge to technical hitches related to scaling up the IReV from a platform for managing off-season, state elections, to one for managing nationwide general election.
“It is indeed not unusual for glitches to occur and be corrected in such situations,” the commission noted.
Okoye assured Nigerians that the challenges are not due to any intrusion or sabotage of its systems and that the IReV remains well-secured.
The statement further read in part: “Our technical team is working assiduously to solve all the outstanding problems and users of the IReV would have noticed improvements since last night.
“We also wish to assure Nigerians that results from the polling units, copies of which were issued to political parties, are safe on both the BVAS and the IReV portal. These results cannot be tampered with and any discrepancy between them and the physical results used in collation will be thoroughly investigated and remediated, in line with Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.
“While we fully appreciate the concerns of the public on this situation and welcome various suggestions that we have received from concerned Nigerians, it is important to avoid statements and actions that can heat up the polity at this time or promote disaffection towards the commission.
“We take full responsibility for the problems and regret the distress that they have caused the candidates, political parties and the electorate.”
Gbajabiamila wins in Lagos
Lagos, Feb. 26, 2023 (NAN) Mr Femi Gbajabiamila of the All Progressives Congress (APC ) has emerged winner of Surulere I Federal Constituency election held on Saturday.
Prof. Virgy Oneyene, the INEC Returning Officer for the House of Representatives election in the constituency, declared the results at INEC’s collation centre in Surulere at about 6.04 p.m on Sunday.
According to her, Gbajabiamila of APC emerged winner with 19,717 votes while Mr Bolaji Jeje of Peoples Democratic Party came second with 5,121 votes.
The returning officer said Mr Mathew Idowu of Social Democratic Party had 838 votes; Mrs Benedicta Uba of Zenith Labour Party, 660 votes; Mr Ademola Oshinaya of New Nigeria Peoples Party, 623 votes, and Lumumba Savage of Party A, 337 votes.
“At the end of voting, Femi Gbajabiamila of APC has satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes and is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected, ” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gbajabiamila is the current Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Okowa wins own LG
Vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, won the presidential election in his Ika North East council of the state with 16,696 votes .
Labor Party (LP) came second with 8,980 votes while the All Progressives Congress (APC) got 1,902 votes for the third position.
This was announced by the electoral officer in the local government, Dr James Olise.
Okowa, however, lost in the neighbouring Ika South Local Government Area where LP won with 17,868, followed by PDP with 7,485 and APC, 3,290 votes.
In Aniocha north, LP led with 11,678 votes , PDP 3,783 and APC got 1,146 votes as announced by the collation officer, Dr Onyeme Emeke.
INEC declares APC’s Tinubu winner of Ekiti State presidential election •Adjourns till today
THE Indepedent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has validated the results of presidential elections from Ekiti State, declaring All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as winner of the state’s presidential election.
Chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, reconvened the sitting of the National Collation Centre at 6.45 p.m. with some of his national commissioners and called on Professor Ayobami Salami, Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and the collation officer, Professor Akin Olawale Lasisi, who is also the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun, to present the results of the elections from 16 local government areas of Ekiti State.
The REC gave 987,647 as total number of registered voters and accredited voters as 315,058.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 201,495 while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) garnered 89,554.
Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, scored 11,397 while Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples’ Party (NNPP) polled 264.
After presentation of the result, Professor Yakubu adjourned the collation exercise till 11.00 a.m. today.
He told the gathering of journalists, polling agents, local and international observers that the commission took the decision to halt the process since only result from Ekiti State was available.
Ekiti results
All Progressives Congress (APC) 201,495
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 89,554
Labour Party (LP) 11,397
New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 264
Atiku wins in Osun
PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has been declared winner of presidential election in Osun State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He polled a total votes of 354,366 to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu, who polled 343,945.
The results were announced by the state collation officer and Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, at the state INEC headquarters in Osogbo.
The results showed that Atiku won in 20 local government areas while Tinubu won in 10 local government areas of the state.
National secretary of the APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore, delivered his local government, Ife East, to Tinubu.
Similarly, the immediate past governor of the state, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, delivered his local government of Boripe to the party presidential candidate.
In Ife East, APC had the highest votes of 20,903, with PDP trailing with 12,818 votes, while in Boripe, APC had a total votes of 15,325 while PDP polled 8,921.
Delta REC laments kidnap of INEC officials
THE Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Delta State, Mr Monday Udoh Tom, has expressed concern over the kidnap of some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials at different locations in the state during the just-concluded presidential and National Assembly elections.
Those abducted included nursing mothers, the commissioner said.
According to him, they were kidnapped because the results could not be uploaded due to poor network, a development, he said, was beyond INEC’s control.
Addressing a press conference in Asaba on Sunday, Udoh Tom, said: “Voters held our personnel hostage in many locations because the results could not be uploaded. It was the issue of poor network and it is not controlled by INEC. Voters believed our staff were trying to play pranks. I had to take a lot of people on bail. Even this morning, we had to go to Ethiope East Local Government Area and Agbarho community to release our staff.”
He said election in some riverine communities was hindered due to difficulty in hiring boats, adding that the commission intervened and solved the problems.
NLC queries INEC over irregularities in election
THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed concerns over the seemingly widespread violence and electoral malpractices witnessed during and after the presidential and National Assembly election held on Saturday.
In a statement signed by its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, NLC queried: “Is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) subverting Nigeria?”
The statement read: “We have had recourse to alert Nigerians earlier yesterday [Saturday] of our observations and reports that reached us from across the nation on the shoddy handling by the INEC of their early election day activities.
“We talked of the dangers it posed to the entire process and its outcomes if nothing was done timely and wondered why that should be so, given the huge resources invested in the commission towards this election.
“We called for an urgent action by the commission and key national stakeholders to ensure that we have free, fair and credible elections.
“Unfortunately, the situation, rather than getting better, got worse as the day went on with heartwrenching reports from across the nation of vile activities of individuals associated with some parties and utter collusion of INEC officials and security agencies to compromise the election and subvert the will of the people.
“Using of thugs in Rivers State and in Lagos to mete out violence and intimidate voters in these states run counter to the tenets and practice of democracy.
“The inability of INEC to prevent the recurrence in this election of the ills of past elections speaks volume of its ill-preparedness for this election as can be demonstrated in the late arrival of critical election materials to the polling units and the almost deliberate tampering of the BVAS in many polling units, including the outright refusal of its operatives to upload results from the BVAS to the INEC servers in total violation of the rule of the election and INEC’s own election guidelines.
“INEC must understand that not uploading the results to its server expeditiously as expected creates avoidable crisis of confidence and imperils the entire process. We continue to express our deep concerns over the apparent manipulation of results in Lagos and Rivers states and demand that the real results as captured by the BVAS be uploaded without fail.”
Presidential election: APC polls highest votes in 28 LGs in Oyo •Leads in 16 LGs in Ogun
IN the presidential election results declared thus far in Oyo State, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has the highest number of votes in 28 local government areas declared.
A cumulative of the votes from the 25 local government areas showed that the APC had 312,449 votes; Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 130,970 votes, while Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) got 68,302 votes.
The APC won in Ibadan North-West, Kajola, Atisbo, Lagelu, Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East, Oyo West, Iseyin, Ibarapa East, Saki East, Ibarapa North, Ibarapa Central, Iwajowa, Ido, Itesiwaju, Ogbomoso South, Ogbomoso North, Olorunsogo, Oorelope, Irepo, Oriire, Oluyole, Akinyele, Ibadan North, Ona Ara, Saki West and Egbeda.
Collation for the remaining local government areas was scheduled to begin at 9.00 p.m. on Sunday.
In Ogun State, Tinubu, as of the time of filing this report, had won 16 out of the 20 local government areas.
He won in Ikenne, Ewekoro, Odeda, Ijebu North East, Ijebu North, Imeko-Afon, Abeokuta North, Ijebu-Ode, Egbado South and Remo North.
Others were Sagamu, Ipokia, Abeokuta South, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside and Egbado North.
The results were declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at its headquarters at Magbon, Abeokuta.
Results of the remaining four councils of Ifo, Ado-Odo/Ota; Obafemi-Owode and Ijebu-East were being awaited.
Obi leads as INEC releases results in nine Edo LGs
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State on Sunday announced the presidential results from nine local government areas of the state.
According to the results, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, is leading other candidates with a wide margin.
Some of the results released as of press time were:
Obi wins in Ikeja, Tinubu’s LG
The Independent National Electoral Commissioner has begun the collation of results for the February 25 presidential election in Lagos State.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje opened the floor at the state collation centre in the Yaba area of the state on Sunday.
The results for the eight local governments (LGs) announced at 09:30pm are Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos Island, Badagry, Agege and Ikeja.
In Ikeja LG where the APC presidential candidate votes, Obi’s Labour Party polled 30,004 voted to beat Bola Tinubu’s APC which polled 21,276
INEC to conduct fresh elections in seven Abia LGs today
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will conduct fresh Presidential and National Assembly elections in seven local government areas of Abia State today.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the INEC Administration Secretary in Abia State, Mr Clement Oha made this known on Sunday while addressing newsmen in Umuahia.
He said the elections would be held by 8 :00 a.m at various polling units in Aba North, Aba South, Arochukwu, Obingwa, Osisioma, Ohafia and Umuahia North Local Government Areas.
He said that the fresh polls were as a result of various degrees of discrepancies with respect to the procedures that were violent to some extent.
He further said that the reported skirmishes in the affected polling units during Saturday’s election necessitated the fresh polls.
“The commission in their wisdom felt that the credibility of the election should not be compromised, and that there should be no winner by default.
“So, elections must take place in the affected polling units tomorrow (Monday).”
Oha said the affected polling units had already been communicated.
Hoodlums set fire on Kano INEC LG office, police arrest 3
OFFICE of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Takai Local Government Area of Kano State was on Sunday set on fire by suspected hoodlums.
According to information gathered, the incident happened when results from the presidential and National Assembly election were being collated.
Later on Sunday, the state police command confirmed the arrest of three suspected hoodlums who attempted burning down the INEC office.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abdullahi Kiyawa, said the suspects set ablaze the generator room and destroyed some INEC properties before they were arrested.
He, however, added that normalcy had returned to the area.
Daniel, Adeola win Ogun East, West senatorial seats
Former governor of Ogun State and the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has won the last Saturday election with 115,147 votes.
He was declared winner by the Returning Officer, Professor Christopher Onwuka, at the Ogun East Senatorial Collation Centre, Itoro Hall, Ijebu-Ode.
Daniel cleared all the nine local government areas in the senatorial district, including Ijebu North, Odogbolu, Remo North, Sagamu, Ijebu North East, Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu East, Ikenne and Ogun Waterside.
A breakdown of the results showed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second in the senatorial election, polling 58,708 votes while the Labour Party (LP) followed with 13,061 votes.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 1,716 votes, Social Democratic Party (SDP) got 1,151 votes while Allied Peoples Movement (APM) had 857 votes.
Also, Senator Solomon Adeola of APC has been declared tbe winner of the Ogun West senatorial election.
Adeola, who is currently the senator representing Lagos West in tbe National Assembly, scored a total votes of 112,887 to defeat his closest rival, Chief Ganiyu Obanibasiri of PDP , who polled 60,189 votes.
The candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Asade Micheal scored 19,244 votes.
The result was announced by Professor. Oluseye Olusegun Onabanjo of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, at the Oronna townhall, Ilaro, the Ogun West Senatorial Collation Centre, at about 7. 30p.m on Sunday.
IPAC, PFN express fear over inconclusive polls in C’River
The Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) worried over the inconclusive presidential and National Assembly polls held on Saturday across Cross River State.
While the PFN is urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel and reconduct elections in areas where there were malpractices, BVAS inefficiency and violence, the IPAC urged INEC and the state government to ensure that the results from the polling units which 80 percent are already with them, should not be altered to avoid resistance.
Dr Lawrence Ekwok, the PFN chairman in the state, urged INEC to match action with words and ensure speedy upload of results to avoid suspicion that INEC officials are trying to tamper with the results
However, in a statement made available to Nigerian Tribune by Anthony Bissong, IPAC’s chairman and signed by the secretary, Ntami Esege, in Calabar, the body warned against any attempt to compromise the original results as recorded from the polling units.
“Cross River people have spoken in their various polling units and their voice must not be diminished.
“We hereby urge the INEC not to alter, compromise or change the result of any polling unit, ward, constituency or senatorial district as such would be met with resistance from the people of the state.”
Nigerian Tribune gathered that there are fears and anxiety over the delay by INEC to commence collation and uploading of some results, especially from the the northern senatorial district and some parts of Central senatorial district.
Jerry Gana’s son, Audu of PDP emerges winner of Lavun, Mokwa, Edati fed constituency
Honourable Joshua Audu Gana, the son of a former Minister of Information,Professor Jerry Gana, has defeated the incumbent member, Abdullahi Usman-Gbatamayigi of All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Lavun, Mokwa Edati federal constituency of Niger State in the House of Representatives.
Professor Yahaya Tayo-Iyanda, the Returning Officer for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Joshua Audu-Gana, polled a total of 47,942 to defeat the incumbent APC member who got a total of 40,003 votes.
“I satisfy that I am the returning officer for the 2023 House of Representative election for Lavun, Edati and Mokwa federal constituency held on Saturday, February 25.
“I declare that Joshua Audu-Gana of PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared winner and is returned elected.”
Gana, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to God for making it possible for them to be a living witnesses of the just-concluded presidential and National Assembly elections
“I thank our electorate, party supporters and the entire people of our federal constituency.
“Your trust and belief would bring development for the people and our party”.
Gana further promised not to let the people down, saying, “I will strive to be diligent and patriotic.
“I will also try to attract more federal projects to the constituency, Niger and Nigeria,” he further stated
APC wins House of Reps seats in Kwara
All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has won four seats in the House of Representatives in the declared results of the Saturday’s National Assembly election.
Honourable Tunji Ajuloopin of the APC in the Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero/Ekiti federal constituency had won in the result of the poll released by the Independent Natonal Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer, Dr Nurudeen Bello, earlier in the day at the collation centre in Omu Aran.
Other victories got by the APC are the re-election of Honourable Ismail Tijani for Oyun/Offa/Ifelodun federal constituency, Honourable Mukhtar Tolani Shagaya for Asa/Ilorin West federal constituency and Honourable Yinka Aluko for Ilorin East/Ilorin South federal constituency of the state.
The INEC declared that APC candidate, Honourable Tijani polled 24,103 while PDP candidate, HonourableHassan Oyeleke, polled 15,247.
Also, Honourable Mukhtar Shagaya, son of business mogul, Hajia Muinat Shagaya, was declared elected as the lawmaker representing Ilorin West/Asa federal constituency of the state.
According to the INEC result, Shagaya polled 59,019 votes ,while his major opponent from the PDP, Ibrahim Ajia, secured 45,172 votes.
Also, a former special adviser on Special Duties to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Yinka Aluko, emerged as the lawmaker representing Ilorin East/ Ilorin South federal constituency of the state.
He polled 47, 093 to emerge as winner while his PDP opponent Hon. Wahab Issa, polled 26, 183
Other results are being awaited.
Senate’s spokesman, Bashiru, loses to PDP in Osun, as Salaam wins
Hope of the Senate spokesperson, Senator Ajibola Basiru, representing Osun Central senatorial district to return to National Assembly for the second term at the weekend met the brick wall as he was defeated by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fadeyi Olubiyi, in the just concluded National Assembly election in the atate
While reading the result of the election at the Osun Central senatorial collation centre, Olonkoro in Osogbo City Hall, the collation officer, Professor Ibrahim Usman, said that Olubiyi scored 134, 229 to defeat Basiru, who polled 117,609, while the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Oyebode Babasola, scored 2,292.
Also, the collation officer for Osogbo federal constituency, Dr Isiaq Egbewole, announced the PDP candidate for the constituency, Moruf Adebayo as the winner, saying he polled 71,677 votes to defeat his All Progressives Congress (APC ) rival, Abosede Kasumu-Ogo-Oluwa ,who scored 58,992 votes, while the LP candidate scored 1,930 votes to emerge third.
However, Honourable Bamidele Salam, representing Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, Ejigbo federal constituency in the National Assembly, was returned as lawmaker representing the constituency ..
In the contest, Salam of PDP defeated Mr Atanda Bello of APC.
While announcing the results in Ede, the INEC federal constituency Returning Officer, Dr Muritala Monsuru of the Department of History, University of Ibadan, said “Honourable Bamidele Salaam of PDP polled 64,236 votes, while Atanda Bello of APC came second with 35,444 votes; a margin of 28,792 votes.
Speaking to newsmen on his victory, Honourable Salam thanked God, Governor Ademola Adeleke and the people of the federal constituency for the renewed trust and confidence reposed in him through his re-election and especially, the overwhelming victory.”
“I assure the people of my readiness to rededicate myself to the cause of my engagement as a lawmaker and representative of the people of the federal constituency.”
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