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Parties nominate 44,687 agents for Edo governorship polls – INEC

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said details of only 44,687 out of 80,410 expected party agents for Edo governorship election were submitted on its dedicated portal, by the July 30 deadline.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, by Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.

Olumekun said that the commission met and among other matters, reviewed the preparations for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

He recalled that since 2020, INEC replaced the manual process for accreditation of observers, media, polling and collation agents with dedicated portals to which the required information, including photographs, was uploaded.

He recalled that political parties were, subsequently, required to upload the details of their agents for polling units and collation centres for all elections.

Olumekun said that for the Edo Governorship Election, the portal opened on July 17 and will automatically shut down at midnight on July 30.

 

“In Edo, there are 4,519 polling units and 211 collation centres, comprising 192 ward centres, 18 Local Government centres and the State collation centre in Benin.

“A political party fielding a candidate in the election is expected to nominate 4,730 agents.

“From the 17 parties participating in the election, the Commission expected a cumulative figure of 80,410 agents.

“However, only 44,687 were uploaded to the portal made up of 43,043 polling, 1,452 ward, 179 Local Government and 13 State collation agents.

“Put together, the 17 political parties nominated 55.6 per cent of the expected number of agents.

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“Three political parties uploaded the details of their agents for all levels of polling and collation while one party has no single agent for any level of voting or collation,” Olumekun said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, based on infographics on the political party polling and collation agents issued by INEC, 43,043 agents were nominated for polling units agents.

While the APC, PDP and NNPP nominated the highest number of 4,519 agents each, followed by LP and ZLP with 4,518, the APP submitted nine, while the Booth Party (BP) did not submit any agents.

Also, while 13 parties including APC and PDP, submitted one state collation agent each, the ADC, APGA, BP and SDP did not dominate any.

NAN also reports that of the 179 local government collation agents nominated, the summary shows that the AA, AAC, APC, LP, PDP, NNPP, and ZLP nominated eight each, APGA and APP nominated one each, while ADC, BP and SDP did not nominate any agent.

Equally, of the 1,452 Registration Areas (RAs) agents nominated for the election, APC, NNPP and PDP nominated the highest number of 192 each.

This is followed by AA which nominated 190, while Accord party, ADC, APP, BP, and SDP did not nominate any for the category.(NAN

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Lagos to Conduct Local Government Elections on July 12

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The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has announced that the local council elections will be held on July 12.

Mr. Tope Ojo, LASIEC’s Head of Public Affairs, made the announcement on Friday in Lagos. He indicated that elections for 57 council chairmanship positions and 376 councillor seats are scheduled for this date, with a potential re-run on July 19 if necessary.

Lagos State consists of 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). The election date was strategically selected to prevent any leadership vacuum within the state’s councils.

The notice from LASIEC confirmed that the elections will encompass all 20 Local Governments, 37 LCDAs, and 376 wards. As the current local government administration approaches its conclusion, LASIEC has intensified its efforts to ensure a seamless electoral process.

The commission has officially initiated the electoral process with the release of the Notice of Election. Political parties are required to visit the LASIEC headquarters to acquire nomination forms for their candidates.

Ojo also announced a meeting with all registered political parties scheduled for Tuesday. “The Election Guidelines will be published on April 17,” he added.

LASIEC has expressed its preparedness for the upcoming polls in Lagos councils. Campaign activities and rallies are set to commence on April 18 and will conclude on July 9.

Nomination forms for “substituted” and “only candidate” submissions must be completed and submitted between June 18 and June 25. LASIEC Chairman, Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (rtd), has pledged to ensure a fair and equitable environment for all political parties. He reiterated the commission’s dedication to conducting a free, fair, inclusive, and credible election, urging political parties and aspirants to adhere strictly to the electoral timetable.

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Ndume To Tinubu: Buhari’s Support Is Crucial

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….He remains adorable figures in the north

Senator Ali Ndume has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be worried if ex-President Muhamamdu Buhari is not on his side.

Speaking during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, the lawmaker said although Buhari has just one vote, he remains an adorable figure in Northern Nigeria.

Ndume spoke after former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar led key opposition figures to Buhari’s residence in Kaduna, on Friday.

The senator said he was also planning a visit to Buhari.

He said, “Buhari’s followership has diminished naturally because it is different when you are not in power and after spending like eight years in power. Of course his popularity, everything has diminished, it is natural, but you can’t write him off especially with the Northern masses. The followership of Buhari has been occultic. You cannot explain it.

“If Buhari is coming here now, you will see people rushing to see. Everybody including those in the vegetable market will rush here. Buhari is still with the Talakawas

“Tinubu should be worried if Buhari is not on his side. Every number counts and Buhari has one vote. Tinubu should also be worried about my position. Because I have one vote for him. He does not have a vote for me.”

Elanza News learnt that there were concerns over the potential exit of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc from the APC.

This was amplified following a recent meeting between former Buhari and APC governors.

The visit, which took place on Monday in Kaduna, was initially perceived as a routine courtesy call but has since sparked speculation about its deeper purpose.

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It was gathered that the governors reportedly sought Buhari’s intervention to halt defections from the party, particularly by key members of the CPC bloc.

The governors’ appeal reportedly arose from growing concerns about potential defections ahead of the 2027 general elections. The defunct CPC, a key bloc within APC, remains highly influential, with Buhari regarded as its central figure.

There are fears within APC that the exit of this bloc could spell disaster for the party on a national scale.

The Monday meeting took place amid a wave of defections by Buhari’s allies from APC to SDP. Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai was the first to publicly announce his departure, claiming he had secured Buhari’s blessing before leaving the party.

Several former ministers who served in Buhari’s cabinet are also reportedly finalising plans to join the SDP, and in Buhari’s home state of Katsina, numerous APC members have already defected to the SDP.

The CPC, founded in 2009, merged in February 2013 with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to form what is now known as the APC.

Elanza News gathered that the governors feared Buhari’s enduring cult-like followership in the North could become a major liability for APC if he backs his CPC associates. His bloc vote, they feared, could be catastrophic for the party in 2027.

It was gathered that the governors specifically urged Buhari to dissuade his CPC associates from leaving APC. However, the former president reportedly declined to make any such commitment.

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While reaffirming his loyalty to APC, he insisted that others must be allowed to make their own political choices—a principle he said he has upheld throughout his political career.

Meanwhile, Buhari has said he remains a committed member of the ruling APC.

In a statement by Garba Shehu, his spokesman, Buhari was quoted to have said after Wl-Rufai’s defection, he would never turn his back on the APCy that gave him the platform to become Nigeria’s number one citizen.

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‘No vacancy in Aso Rock come 2027,’ ex-lawmaker declares

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A two-term former Lagos State House of Assembly member, Sir Jude Idimogu, says there will be “no vacancy” in Aso Rock come 2027.

Idimogu, who represented Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II between 2015 and 2023, made the declaration in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

He was reacting to the recent announcement by an opposition group, which vowed to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Idimogu, who is also the deputy leader of Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ndigbo, Lagos State, and APC member, said no alliance between opposition leaders could pose a significant threat to Tinubu’s re-election.

The former lawmaker described the coalition of opposition politicians against the second term aspiration of the president as nothing but an exercise in futility.

He noted that the ruling party had a strong leadership and grassroots support that would propel the party to victory in 2027.

Idimogu maintained that the president deserved a second term because he was building a legacy of sustainable development.

“In Nigeria, power is being rotated between the North and the South, so I believe it is the turn of the South to complete their eight years in office.

“So there is no vacancy in Aso Rock come 2027 and I am appealing to all the Northerners in the party to support the president to complete his eight years.

“Regarding the coalition, I can tell you, there is really no political gang-up that can unseat Tinubu in 2027,” he said.

Idimogu said that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda was yielding positive results, hence he did not see the prospect of any opposition candidate reeling out anything better than his.

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“I don’t know which of the candidates will come out today and reel out a policy that is better than what the administration of Tinubu is doing.

“This is because Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda is yielding positive results and we can see improved power supply.

“Our naira against the dollar is now gradually appreciating with the restoration of the naira-for-crude deal, and the export drive,” he said.

The ex-lawmaker also noted that the prices of food items were gradually reducing in the market with the implementation of favourable policies to increase farmers’ outputs.

“So I will give it to him (Tinubu). In two years’ time, I will be one of those that will quickly champion his re-election in 2027,” he said.

Idimogu advised the people behind the coalition to instead join hands with the president in the interest of the country. (NAN)

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