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Low turnout, logistics mar council polls in Delta
Low voter turnout and late arrival of electoral materials marred Saturday’s local government elections in Warri and its environs in Delta state.
In Warri South and Uvwie, materials arrived about 11 a.m. This is even as traders at Igbudu market were seen going about their trade, and commercial operators going about their businesses.
Addressing reporters shortly after casting his vote at Osubi ward 6, unit 33 in Okpe LGA, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori who spoke on the Supreme Court judgement granting local government councils financial autonomy, said he is not worried by the judgement, as the state government does not tamper with local government funds.
According to him, “The Supreme Court has given judgment. It does not affect Delta State Government. In Delta State, we don’t tamper with local government money. As we speak, the money for the local governments is still there. Almost 15 billion is still there.
“I’m a supporter of financial autonomy and as a former speaker; we’re at the forefront of financial autonomy for the legislature and the judiciary. I still believe in it.”
He further expressed confidence that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would emerge victorious in the councils.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) has been accused of hoarding sensitive materials for the polls from the opposition.
As of 1p.m, sensitive materials were yet to be delivered across wards in Warri North.
The development led to the major opposition in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to boycott the exercise in some LGAs, citing loss of confidence in DSIEC.
Speaking on the matter, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas who represents Delta South Senatorial District condemned the commission for failing to release sensitive electoral materials, including result sheets and ballot papers, for the local government council elections.
He spoke at his country home in Emede, Isoko South LGA, accusing DSIEC of colluding with the ruling PDP to deny citizens their fundamental right to vote, effectively rendering the election invalid.
The Senator alleged that the PDP, APC’s readiness to take over local government affairs, conspired with DSIEC to manipulate the electoral process.
“Democracy worldwide is about the will of the people, but DSIEC and the PDP have conspired to deny citizens their right to elect local government leaders. This is undemocratic and unacceptable,” the senator said.
APC chieftain in Delta South, Chief Ayirimi Emami, had earlier advocated for INEC to conduct council elections in order to enthrone good governance at the grassroots on the heels of the Supreme Court granting LGs financial autonomy.
Chief Emami who hailed the judgement during the campaigns for the council elections, said President Bola Tinubu was doing what ought to be done.
The candidate of the APC for Warri North Akatakpo Omatseye and the Labour Party (LP), along with other party leaders and supporters, including Sir. Amorighoye Mene (for the APC), were gathered at DSIEC office in Koko as early as 6a.m for the distribution of voting materials but waited endlessly for the arrival of the commission’s officials.
Speaking on behalf of the APC, Sir Mene said despite directing them to be at the DSIEC office as early as 6 a.m., there was no sign of its officials.
Also the Ughelli North APC leaders in a signed statement by its party Chairman, Obakpororo Onoabedje, and Scribe, Mrs. Beauty Ubogun-Nze, accused the electoral umpire of recruiting PDP members as ad-hoc staff for the conduct of the election.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, says more than 10 million vulnerable Nigerians who benefited from the N75,000 conditional cash transfer programme do not have access to mobile phones or social media.
Yilwatda disclosed this on Saturday while speaking with journalists after a three-day retreat of the APC National Executive Council in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The beneficiaries, whom he described as poor and vulnerable Nigerians, were largely unable to participate in public discussions about government policies because they lacked access to phones, television and social media.
“We have given 75,000 naira to over 10 million Nigerians across the country using the conditional cash transfer under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
“Mind you, these people who are poor and vulnerable don’t have telephones to make calls; they are not on social media. They don’t have a television. They cannot come and challenge and discuss as we are doing here, but they are out there,” he said.
Yilwatda also criticised former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his position on the fuel subsidy.
“We are constructing roads and paying people that are working on the road site, and construction is going across the country,” he said.
“Over 30 states could not pay salaries and pensions. After we removed subsidies, all states can pay salaries and pensions, and no state is left behind.
“Today, if you return it, you are saying states shouldn’t pay salaries again. And what suffering are you bringing to Nigeria?”
The APC chairman also argued that a return to fuel subsidy would affect the government’s student loan scheme and other projects.
“The projects we’re doing across the country, like the coastal road and gas project to the north, which have passed Abuja, which are aimed at easing the suffering of Nigerians, will be suspended,” he said.
Yilwatda further accused Atiku of seeking to reverse the gains of the Tinubu administration in pursuit of the presidency, saying the APC and Nigerians would not accept such a move.
The APC chairman said the NEC retreat also reviewed the party’s activities at the national, state, local government, ward and polling-unit levels.
According to him, the party concluded that it remained strong and prepared for the 2027 general elections.
He said the NEC passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other APC candidates who emerged from the party’s primaries for the 2027 elections.
Ivie Atuwatse III, wife of Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri, has opened up on the joys and challenges of being married to the traditional ruler, saying she takes pride in seeing people celebrate his achievements.
Ivie spoke in a recent interview with BBC News Pidgin, where she discussed life as the wife of the monarch and the demands that come with his position.
She said one of the things she enjoys most about the marriage is watching people appreciate her husband’s personality and achievements.
“The thing wey I like about being married to His Majesty is that, all the fame or the popularity wey him get, na say I get to see the world celebrate his genius, his swag also, cos me too I dey celebrate am,” she said.
“And when the world dey celebrate am, e dey ginger me more. I dey extremely proud of am as a human being, and to see that they also appreciate am dey give me much joy.”
However, Ivie admitted that the Olu’s responsibilities can sometimes make it difficult for her to have enough time with him.
“But on the other side, dem say food wey dey sweet sometimes flies dey like to chop from am,” she said.
“Sometimes e dey busy and it can be hard to want to share my husband with all the many different duties that he has, and so that can be equally difficult.”
She said they were learning to adjust to the demands of his position.
“And so, we are learning to navigate it because sometimes I just want him to myself,” she added.
The interviewer also asked whether she would accept another wife if the Olu changed his position on polygamy, having previously said he was not open to it.
Ivie dismissed the possibility, insisting that she was confident her husband would not change his mind.
“Firstly, His Majesty no go fit change him mind about polygamy. Make we just settle that one for there,” she said.
“Me alone, one me, I be like three women, so I dey alright for am.”
Old Trafford, Manchester United’s 74,000-capacity stadium, became a house of worship on Saturday as Nigerian pastor Jerry Eze led the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference, drawing believers from across Britain and beyond.
Hosted by Streams of Joy International, the conference brought together believers from across the United Kingdom and around the world for prayer, worship and fellowship.
Worshippers at the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference held at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. Photo: X / @AgborMoses34
Admission to the event was free, though attendees were encouraged to register in advance as places were limited.
Despite that, demand reportedly outstripped availability, with some social media users claiming the event was fully booked and turning to TikTok in the days leading up to the conference in search of spare tickets.
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
The gathering featured several well-known gospel ministers alongside Eze, including Sunmisola Agbebi, Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan and Kaestrings.
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
(Credit: Saturday PUNCH)
10m beneficiaries of cash transfers don’t have phones, not on social media – APC Chairman
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