Politics

Absence Of Electoral Materials, Officials Disrupt Abia Local Govt Polls

Published

4 months ago

November 3, 2024

The Local Government Elections in Abia State on Saturday faced significant challenges due to a lack of electoral materials and officials at polling stations.

Reporters from the News Agency of Nigeria, who were monitoring the election, observed that the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) had not delivered materials to polling stations by 11 a.m., although the commission had scheduled distribution for 7 a.m., with voting set to begin by 8 a.m.

At various locations, including Umuahia South, Osisioma, Aba North, and Aba South LGAs, neither materials nor officials were present at some polling units. Some ad hoc staff were seen waiting at local government headquarters for the arrival of election materials.

In addition, there was a noticeable low voter turnout at many polling units visited across the state. A few voters were present at some locations, waiting for the materials to arrive and for voting to start.

In areas such as Umuahia South, Aba North, South, and Osisioma LGAs, polling units were largely empty of voters, officials, and security personnel. Units visited included Polling Units 009 and 015 at Avonipupe Primary School, Unit 008 at Ipupe Village Hall, and several units at Ogbo Central School and Umuosu Community School.

In an interview, two prospective voters in Ubakala, near Umuahia, voiced frustration over ABSIEC’s failure to facilitate the election effectively. Mrs. Joy Eze shared that she was monitoring her polling unit for updates but eventually decided to tend to her salon customers while waiting. She was eager to vote in support of her preferred candidates for Chairmanship and Councillorship.

Another resident, Mrs. Onyinyechi Ishmael, expressed disinterest in voting, saying her previous experiences made her feel that votes do not count in the country’s elections.

“If our votes count as the leaders claim, I believe there will be signs that election will actually take place.

“Unfortunately, there is no sign that election will take place at the various polling units around my neighborhood,” Ishmael said.

In Aba, Mr Collins Ogbonna, a resident of Ward 3, said that he came out by 8 am to his polling unit 007 to vote but did not see any election officials.

Ogbonna attributed the poor voter turnout to “voter apathy and fear of gunmen” in Aba.

He called on the residents to come out and vote to ensure the right persons assumed political leaderships at the grassroots.

The Deputy Chairmanship Candidate for Zenith Labour Party in Osisioma LGA, Mr Aguwa, told NAN that the eletoral materials had been brought to the council headquarters for the polls.

Aguwa further said that the representatives of other parties inspected and confirmed the materials to be complete.

He, however, said that the materials had yet to be shared “because the LGA, which has about 301 polling units, is complex.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Voter Education and Enlightenment in ABSIEC, Dr Kelechukwu Okere, has described the report of absence of materials at the polling units as “pure falsehood”.

Okere told NAN that the commission made adequate arrangements for the seamless distribution of materials and election officials to ensure a smooth exercise.

Politics

Ex-Delta Reps member Ossai dumps PDP for APC

Published

3 hours ago

February 23, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A former member of the House of Representatives from Delta State, Hon. Dr. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, has dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ossai, who represented the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State for three consecutive terms from 2011 to 2023, cited the need to align with a party he believes is better positioned to serve his constituents, Delta State, and Nigeria as a whole.

During his tenure in the National Assembly, Ossai held key leadership positions, including Chairman of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges in the 8th Assembly and Chairman of the House Committee on Treaties, Protocols, and Agreements in the 9th Assembly.

However, his political career faced a major setback when he was blocked from securing a return ticket in the 2022 PDP primary elections—an outcome he attributes to internal party politics allegedly driven by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other influential stakeholders.

In his resignation statement, Ossai expressed deep dissatisfaction with the direction of the PDP, describing it as “rudderless, cantankerous, envious, and lacking vision.”

He stated: “After deep reflection and wide consultations with my family, political leaders, supporters, and associates, I have decided to resign from the PDP and heed the patriotic call to join the largest progressive family in Africa, the APC.”

Ossai emphasised that his move was driven by a commitment to good governance and national development.

Politics

Wike excited as Orbih is re-elected PDP S/South Chairman

Published

8 hours ago

February 22, 2025

Naijablitznews

The re-elected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-South Zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, has described the ongoing crisis within the party as self-inflicted.

He noted that the party’s constitution had been disregarded in favour of personal interests by a few members.

Speaking at the South-South Zonal Congress of the PDP in Calabar on Saturday, Orbih urged party faithful to make the necessary sacrifices to revive and strengthen the party.

He called for the election of officers who would uphold the party’s constitution in the zone, emphasising that such individuals must also have the fear of God.

Orbih said: “We must follow the party’s guidelines if we are to revive it. These guidelines are subject to the constitution.

“The power to elect new officers of the party is not subject to anything but the constitution.

“We must start rebuilding the party from here. The party cannot dictate who an individual should associate with, nor determine their friends or enemies.”

Similarly, Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, noted that, by all indications, the party remained strong in the zone.

He commended Orbih and his re-elected executive members for maintaining the party’s stability in spite of its challenges.

He, however, urged the party’s leadership to speak truth to power if it truly sought to regain its lost glory.

Wike added that the zonal congress held in Calabar would be the last to elect the Zonal Working Committee.

“Presently, we have leaders who can’t speak the truth and are full of betrayal.

“No part of the constitution says that congress should not be held when some persons are indisposed. No any other congress will hold after this.

“This is our job. This is our terrain. We are not new to this. The constitution didn’t say national working commitee shall conduct the zonal congress.

“This is the final congress in the South South. We don’t need quantity but quality,” he said.

In his address, former Governor of Cross River, Mr Donald Duke, urged PDP members in the zone to remain focused and fully committed to the party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Orbih and all the immediate past zonal officers, who were elected four years ago in Port Harcourt, were re-elected during the congress in Calabar.

They were all returned unopposed, but an election was conducted to reaffirm their positions.

The zonal executive consists of 10 members, in addition to six ex-officio members.

The congress was attended by former governors, former and serving members of the National Assembly, among others.

GWG.ng however, reports that the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said the outcome of the Calabar purported congress was null and void.

Ologunagba said that the party NWC’s attention was drawn to a reported social gathering in Calabar, Cross River where the organisers falsely claimed same to be the PDP South South zonal congress .

He recalled that the NWC at its meeting on Thursday, in exercise of its powers under Section 29 (2)(b), pursuant to Section 31 (2) (c) and (j) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) postponed the conduct of the South South zonal congress from the earlier scheduled date of Feb. 22.

Ologunagba said that the postponement was to allow for further consultation on critical issues relating to the smooth conduct of the congress in the Zone.

He had earlier been tackled by Orbih who claimed that the NWC of which he is a member never met to give directives on the zonal congress.

Politics

THREAT! FG tells Gov Adeleke to stop LG poll

Published

2 days ago

February 21, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has cautioned Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, against proceeding with a fresh local government election, describing the move as unconstitutional and legally untenable.

Fagbemi, in a statement on Thursday, emphasised the legal implications of the recent Court of Appeal judgment delivered on February 10, 2025, which returned the initially sacked local government officials.

The appellate court overturned an earlier Federal High Court ruling that had nullified the election of local government officials under former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, declaring the suit incompetent and striking it out.

By implication, the ruling restored the previously removed elected officials to their offices.

The AGF while expressing concern over Adeleke’s insistence on conducting new local government elections on February 22, 2025, argued that the reinstated officials’ tenure remains valid until October 2025, rendering any attempt to replace them a direct violation of the Nigerian Constitution.

Fagbemi criticized the governor’s handling of the situation, urging him to uphold law and order rather than escalate the crisis.

Referencing a recent Supreme Court decision affirming local government autonomy, Fagbemi warned that any fresh election under the current circumstances would be invalid and urged the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to halt its plans.

“The constitutional order that existed before the dissolution must be restored immediately since the judgment upon which the governor acted has been declared a nullity,” Fagbemi stated, emphasizing that the Court of Appeal’s decision is superior and legally binding.

He called on Adeleke to respect the rule of law, stressing that political disagreements should not lead to unnecessary conflict.

The AGF also expressed his readiness to engage with the Osun State government in dialogue to ensure a peaceful resolution to the crisis.