Politics

Absence Of Electoral Materials, Officials Disrupt Abia Local Govt Polls

Published

3 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-aspirant sues APC, demands N10m nomination form refund

Published

13 hours ago

January 22, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A former aspirant for the position of the All Progressives Congress Deputy National Chairman (North), Sunny Moniedafe, has sued the ruling party, demanding the refund of the N10m he paid for the Nomination Form in 2022.

Moniedafe filed the suit before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

The case, which was scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, was, however, stalled due to the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu.

In the suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/2434/2024, Moniedafe explained that ahead of the March 26, 2022 National Convention of the APC, he picked up the N10m Nomination Form to contest the position of the APC Deputy National Chairman (North).

He explained that during the convention, the party’s leadership, under then-President Muhammadu Buhari, urged aspirants to step down, as the position of Deputy National Chairman had been agreed to go to someone from Borno State in the North-East geopolitical zone.

According to Moniedafe, ahead of the party’s convention, leadership agreed on a consensus candidate and urged other aspirants to step down, while ex-President Muhammadu Buhari directed that the aspirants who stepped down should be refunded with N10m.

However, he stated: “Disappointingly, the leadership of the defendant (APC) reneged on its promise and blatantly refused, failed, and neglected to refund the said N10m from March 2022 to the time of filing this case, despite repeated demands by me.”

He added that several letters were sent to key APC officials and leaders, including Buhari, former Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, President Bola Tinubu, and former Senate, President Ahmad Lawan, among others.

Moniedafe said despite these efforts, the letters—along with reminders about the refund— failed to produce the desired outcome.

He emphasised that at all material times concerning the directive, former President Buhari was regarded as the leader of the APC.

On this basis, Moniedafe sought reliefs, including an order directing the APC to refund N10m to him within seven clear days after the judgment, a fine of N100m as general damages for expenses incurred while campaigning for the position in 2022, and any further orders the court may deem fit and appropriate under the circumstances.

Politics

Edo Guber Election Petition Tribunal to Reconvene Tomorrow

Published

3 days ago

January 19, 2025

Naijablitznews

The ongoing legal battle regarding the September 21st governorship election in Edo State, the state’s election petition tribunal convened on Saturday, January 18, 2025, to consider the petition filed by Ighodalo Akintunde Asuelimen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Asuelimen is challenging the election victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The tribunal, operating under petition number EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, is tasked with reviewing the claims brought against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other respondents involved in the contentious election process.

During the proceedings, the tribunal provisionally admitted a plethora of documents submitted by the petitioners, a step viewed as crucial in validating their claims.

Counsel for the petitioners outlined the verification process undertaken by all parties prior to the submission of diverse documents as evidence, despite facing objections from the opposing respondents. These objections were noted, with the respondents opting to reserve their arguments for the final written addresses, indicating a protracted legal battle ahead.

The tribunal’s provisional admission of these extensive documents is one step for the petitioners, albeit with the understanding that further conditions may be imposed before these documents are fully accepted as part of the case record. The evidence presented included a total of over 70 exhibits from various local government areas, along with multiple forms and booklets that are critical to substantiating the petitioners’ claims.

Among the documents provisionally admitted were:
1. Certified True Copies (CTCs) of Forms EC8B from various wards across Akoko Edo, Egor, Esan Central, Esan North East, and Esan South East.
2. Forms EC8EL and EC8D, marked as Exhibits PA1 and PA2.
3. CTCs of Form EC8D from 18 polling units, designated as Exhibits PA3-PA20.
4. An extensive array of 320 copies of polling unit forms EC8A, admitted as Exhibit PCA1-PCA320.
5. 58 CTCs of Form EC8A obtained from INEC’s IREV portal, marked as Exhibits BDA1-BDA58.
6. 308 CTC polling unit booklets containing Form BC25B, noted as Exhibits PCB1-PCB308.

The atmosphere at the tribunal on Saturday was notably charged, with heightened security measures in place as armed Police and other security operatives ensured a secure environment, reflecting the increasing tensions surrounding the tribunal’s sessions leading up to this point.

The extended hearing on Saturday was indicative of the tribunal’s commitment to thoroughly addressing the substantial evidential submissions made by Ighodalo Akintunde Asuelimen and his legal team.

Following the extensive examination of the documents, the tribunal adjourned, scheduling its next session for Monday, January 20, 2025.

This upcoming session promises to be pivotal as the tribunal continues to navigate the complexities of the case and the implications it holds for the political landscape of Edo State.

All eyes will be on the tribunal as it picks up where it left off, amidst a charged atmosphere and a community eager for resolution.

Politics

Just in: Senator Nwoko reportedly dumps PDP for APC

Published

4 days ago

January 18, 2025

Austin Ojomah

Senator Ned Nwoko has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The move, confirmed through reliable sources, has sparked discussions within political circles about its potential implications for the 2027 elections.

According to reports, Senator Nwoko’s decision to join the APC is influenced by speculation that former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is eyeing a Senate seat in the next electoral cycle.

This development is said to have prompted the senator to reconsider his political alliances, aligning with a party that may better support his future ambitions.

Senator Nwoko, who has been a prominent figure in Delta State politics and a key member of the PDP, is known for his strong advocacy for developmental projects and his stance on national unity.