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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that results from polling units are safe, on both the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
The commission gave the assurance in a statement by Mr. Festus Okoye, national commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee in Abuja, yesterday.
He said the commission was aware of challenges with the IReV and its technical team were working assiduously to solve all outstanding challenges with the portal.
“Unlike in off-season elections where the portal was used, it has been relatively slow and unsteady.
“The commission regrets this setback, especially because of the importance of IReV in our results management process.
“The problem is totally due to technical hitches related to scaling up the IReV from a platform for managing off-season, state elections, to one for managing nationwide general elections.
“It is indeed not unusual for glitches to occur and be corrected in such situations.”
Okoye assured Nigerians that the challenges were not due to any intrusion or sabotage of INEC systems, and that the IReV remained well-secured.
“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.”
Okoye said that Nigeria fully appreciated the concerns of the public on this situation and welcomed various suggestions that it had received from concerned Nigerians.
He said while that was being appreciated, it was important to avoid statements and actions that could heat up the polity at this time or promote disaffection toward the commission.
“We take full responsibility for the problems and regret the distress that they have caused the candidates, political parties and the electorate,” Okoye said.
…Conduct fresh elections in 7 Abia council areas
INEC has said it would conduct fresh polls for the presidential and National Assembly elections in seven local government areas of Abia, today.
Mr. Clement Oha, INEC administration secretary in charge of Abia, told newsmen in Umuahia, yesterday, that the elections would be held by 8:a.m at various polling units in Aba North, Aba South, Arochukwu, Obingwa, Osisioma, Ohafia and Umuahia North local government areas.
He explained 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 explained 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.
…Reconducts voting in 7 wards in Warri South
INEC in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta has conducted elections in the various wards in the area where elections could not hold on Saturday.
Movement of voting materials to the respective wards started at about 12:10 p.m. and lasted till 3 p.m. Voting materials started leaving the INEC office on Saturday at about 2:00 pm.
Mr. Bukola Ojeme, acting head, Voter Education and Publicity of INEC in Delta, had earlier in a statement listed the affected Registration Areas (RA) and Units to include: RA 1, (units 8, 9, 12 and 15), RA 4 (all it’s 30 units); RA 5 (units 9, 10, 11, 15, 28 and 29); RA 6 (unit 16); RA 7 ( all it’s 25 units); RA 9 ( all it’s 46 units); RA 11 (units 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 27).
There were complaints by some ad hoc staff that some of the result sheets were missing. Based on that, the staff in the affected polling units had refused to go to their units for the fear of being lynched by angry voters. They were, however, begged by party officials to go to their respective polling units and conduct the elections.
At about 4p.m., the INEC office was still crowded while some of the ad hoc staff looked tired.
Crisis almost erupted in the INEC premises but was quickly put under control by the prompt intervention of military personnel.
According to a member of the ad hoc staff, the Supervisory Polling Officers ought to have sorted out the voting materials before dispatching to the various wards.
When Mr Kingsley Ogboe, the INEC Electoral Officer in Warri South was asked on phone to respond to the series of complaints, he simply said he was not authorised to speak with journalists.
Senate spokesperson, Reps deputy minority whip, lose
Senate spokesperson, Ajibola Bashiru, has lost his bid for re-election Osun Central on the platform of APC.
He lost to the candidate of the PDP, Fadeyi Olubiyi.
Prof. Ibrahim Usman, INEC Returning Officer, who announced the results in Osogbo, said Olubiyi polled 134, 229 votes to defeat Bashiru, who scored 117, 609 votes.
For Osogbo Federal Constituency, INEC returning officer, Dr Isiaq Egbewole, announced the PDP candidate, Adewale Muruf, as winner.
The returning officer said Muruf polled 71,677 votes to defeat Mrs. Abosede Ogo-Oluwa of APC, who scored 58,992 votes.
Also, the House of Representatives member representing Ijebu-North/East/Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency of Ogun State and the Deputy Minority Whip in the House, Segun Adekoya failed to secure his seat.
Adekoya, popularly known as “Attacker” contested on the platform of the PDP. He was defeated by the candidate of the APC, Adegbesan Joseph.
The Returning Officer, Adeyemi Bamgbose, said Adekoya polled 25,450 votes while the APC garnered 35,708 votes.
PDP wins Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa Federal Constituency of Katsina State
INEC has declared Ismail Dalha-Kusada of the PDP as winner of the Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa Federal Constituency seat in Katsina State.
Declaring the result in Kankia, INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Saifullahi Ibrahim, said Dalha-Kusada polled 34, 056 to beat Abubakar Yahya-Kusada of the APC with 31, 017 votes and Kabir Abdullahi of PRP who scored 8, 613.
LP candidate wins Kaduna Reps seat
Mr. Donatus Mathew of the LP has won the Kaura Federal Constituency seat in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Elijah Ella, said Mathew polled 10,508 votes, to defeat his closest opponent and incumbent, Mr Gideon Gwani of PDP, who garnered 10,297 votes.
The defeated PDP lawmaker was taking a shot at the seat for the fifth time.
Alaafin’s son, Akeem, retains Reps seat, Akinola beats incumbent
Akeem Adeyemi, one of the sons of the late immediate past Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, has won the Atiba/ Afijio/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency seat for the third time.
Adeyemi, popularly known as SKIMEH, had earlier won the federal constituency seat in 2015 and 2019.
The result was declared at the collation centre for the federal constituency situated within the premises of INEC office in Oyo East Local Government area in Akunlemu area of Oyo.
Adeyemi scored 34, 822 votes to defeat all other candidates who participated in the election.
Also, INEC declared the candidate of APC, Aderemi Oseni, winner of Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency.
Prof. Dayo Akinola, the INEC Returning Officer, announcing the results, said Oseni scored 26, 285 to defeat his closest rival and incumbent, Oluyemi Taiwo of the PDP, who polled 10,988 votes.
Alao-Akala’s son, Oyedeji win
Olamijuwonlo Akala, son of the late former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, has won the Ogbomoso Federal Constituency election.
The former chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government polled 33, 268 votes to beat Olufemi Onireti of the PDP, who polled 27,126.
Also, Najeem Oyedeji, candidate of the PDP, won the Reps seat election for Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Adeolu Adeleke, said Oyedeji scored 30, 372, while Dr Soliu Gbadamosi, of the APC scored 28,821 votes.
PDP, APC LP win Reps seats in Niger, Abia
Mr. Joshua Gana of the PDP won the Lavun, Edati and Mokwa Federal Constituency seat of Niger.
In a related development, Benjamin Kalu of the APC won the National Assembly election for Bende federal constituency.
Kalu, spokesperson of the House of Representatives, who sought re-election on the platform of APC, defeated his opponents including the PDP and L candidates.
Elsewhere in Isiala Ngwa, LP’s Ginger Onwusibe defeated ACB Agbazuere, former Chief of Staff to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, to win Isialangwa North/South Federal Constituency.
Onwusibe polled 20,411 votes to beat Agbazuere with 13,508 votes.
Lagos APC Rep., Raji wins 3rd term in Epe
Wale Raji, lawmaker representing Epe federal constituency has been reelected for a third term.
Six political parties: Accord Party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), APC and PDP.
Prof. Olufemi Saibu, INEC Returning Officer, for the election from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Sunday, declared Raji as winner at the collation centre in Epe.
He said out of the 29,222 accredited voters, APC polled 19,337, PDP – 9,039, while the ADC polled 439.
Saibu is of the Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences UNILAG.
3-time guber candidate, Isiaka, wins Reps seat in Ogun
A three-time gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, popularly known as GNI, has won the Egbado North/ Imeko-Afon federal constituency election on the platform of the APC.
He was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in 2011, PDP in 2015 and ADC in 2019.
He Isiaka polled 29,543 votes while his closest rival, Olusoji Titus Eweje of PDP, polled 17,760 votes.
APC retains Akoko Edo Fed. Constituency
Mr Peter Akpatason of the APC has been declared winner of Akoko Edo federal constituency seat in Edo.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives won the seat for the 4th time.
Prof. Robert Okuongbae, INEC Returning Officer in Igarra, said Akpatason polled 14,982 votes to defeat his main rival, Kabiru Adjoto of PDP, who scored 9,293 votes
PDP kicks as ADC Yagba Reps seat
Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Elder Leke Abejide, has won the House of Representatives election in Yagba federal constituency of Kogi State.
He won in all three local government areas in the federal constituency (Mopamuro, Yagba West and Yagba East) in a landslide victory.
The results announced by INEC collation officer, Dr. Okpanachi Stephen showed that Abejide polled 23271 votes to defeat the candidates of the APC, Folorunsho Olafemi who garnered 10426 votes and the PDP, Tolorunjuwon Faniyi with 6,421 votes.
Ibrahim Shaaba of the PDP lost his Koton/Lokoja federal seat to Aliyu Aguye of the APC while central senatorial district election between Natasha Akpoti of PDP and Saliu Ohere of the APC was ongoing as at the time of filing in this report last night.
It is also gathered that election in some polling units in the eastern senatorial district was ongoing as INEC cancelled the results of some polling units due to violence. Victor Adoji is the candidate of the PDP while Isa Echocho is candidate of the APC
Meanwhile, PDP candidate for Dekina/Bassa federal constituency, Usman Austin Okai, has rejected the result on the ground of wanton irregularities.
INEC declares Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Reps election inconclusive
The result of the Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu House of Representatives election has been declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Returning Officer, Dr Adams Baba, disclosed this at the collation centre in Kabba, Kogi on Sunday.
Baba said the declaration was due to the difference between the margin of winner and voided results in two polling units.
He said that the difference of the results between the winner, Mr Salman Idris of African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kolawole Matthew, was less than the number of registered voters in the cancelled polling units.
“The ADC candidate polled 13,867 while the APC polled 13,605 leaving just 262 votes difference, whereas the number of PVC collected in the cancelled polling units of Iya in Otu ward, Kabba/Bunu LGA is 485 and Open Space polling unit in Egbeda ward of Ijumu LGA 100.
“The two figures added together is far higher than the 262 vote difference between the winner and the runner up,” he said.
No date has been fixed for a rerun election in the affected polling units.
Oba of Benin warns against election violence
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has cautioned politicians and other stakeholders in Nigeria against election violence.
Oba Ewuare II, gave the advice when the delegation of European Union Mission Long Term Observers monitoring the general elections paid him a visit in his palace on Sunday in Benin City, Edo.
Oba Ewuare II said: ”There is no point shedding blood or getting involved in violence, acts of impunity and other outrageous activities.”
He urged the electorate, politicians and other stakeholders in the elections to be well behaved, stressing that the Benin throne had been praying and working hard for peaceful polls in Nigeria.
The traditional ruler said: “We are expecting politicians and electorate to behave. We pray that the elections will be peaceful.
“We have been praying and working hard for peaceful elections. There is no point in shedding blood. So, we are optimistic.’
Addressing the Oba earlier, the Team Lead of the Mission, Jeroen De Vries, commended him for the privilege to receive the European Union delegation in his palace.
He said the delegation was in Nigeria on the invitation of the Federal Government to assess the conduct of the elections conforming to relevant laws in Nigeria and international norms.
The team lead also expressed optimism that the outcome of Nigeria’s general elections would bring in prosperity to Nigerian citizens.
He was accompanied by two other members of the European Union, Mashu Poulsen and Menyeneabasi Chuks.
Most voters stranded, release more cash, CBN urged
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has, once again, been urged release more cash in order to ameliorate the sufferings of citizens, especially in remote areas.
Co-founder of BAT TV, Maryam Ahman, who made the call yesterday in Abuja, regretted that the recent monetary policy by the CBN has further impoverished the masses, adding that the policy came at a time the country was struggling to win the war against poverty.
He noted that if things work better after the general election, Nigeria would be one of the greatest countries in the world, adding that the country has a creative and vibrant youth and women population, vast natural resources, resilient people, a dominant diaspora population and an enviably rich cultural heritage.
She called on Nigerian women and youth to take up the challenge of renewing the hope of the land by actively participating in the forthcoming presidential election and to do so based on basic democratic tenets.
“In an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence and unity in diversity, where a suitable governance structure is in place with leadership that prioritizes good governance and accountability, we can renew our hope and a new Nigeria can be born.
“For the past eight years, the current administration has been battling with protracted national crises inherited from the previous administration. At some point, it felt like Nigeria was at the precipice and needed urgent actions to be taken to rescue it from a myriad of challenges.
“However, through creative strategies anchored on an open and transparent governance model, a lot has been achieved to stabilize the country and return it to the path of growth and prosperity.
“The present administration has invested heavily in critical infrastructure, agricultural development, security and accountability in governance.
“Therefore, it is important to sustain and improve upon the current trajectory. It is against this backdrop of recent events in the polity that we at BAT TV have decided to collaborate with progressive-minded individuals to brainstorm on how to ensure that recent gains are sustained while fresh thinking is deployed to contain these challenges.
“Listen to the voice of reason and logic and vote for a candidate who offers renewed hope and in whom you are sure that accountability and equity would be sacrosanct.”
