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ICPC arrests INEC official, seizes bunch of cash he collected from party agent

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An Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official who was found in possession of a large sum of money during Saturday’s governorship election in Imo State has been placed under arrest by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission.

While keeping an eye on the polling process at Polling Unit 005, Township Primary School, Ikenegbu 1, in the Owerri Municipal Local Government Area, the anti-corruption agency apprehended the INEC official.

According to rumors, an undisclosed party gave the money to INEC employees with the intention of purchasing votes, a practice that has long threatened the integrity of Nigerian elections.

In order to prevent electoral fraud, such as vote buying and selling, the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sent officers to Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa to monitor off-cycle elections.

In the lead-up to this Saturday’s Kogi governorship election, party agents had already offered voters money incentives to support their candidates in Lokoja.

The agents set up shop 500 meters away from the voting places, where they enticed voters to cast ballots for their preferred candidates by offering them money.

Voters received between N3,000 and N5,000, depending on their negotiating position or disposition.

APC praises INEC for its conduct during Bayelsa election

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The Bayelsa All Progressives Congress (APC) has praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for loet the progress made in the state’s ongoing gubernatorial election thus far.

Shortly after voting at Unit 4, Ward 4 Okpo Play Ground II, Okpoama Brass Local Government Area (LGA), Mr. Doifie Boukoribo, the APC Publicity Secretary in Bayelsa, issued the commendation.

Nonetheless, allegations claiming that certain APC members were barred from voting in Sampou and other Kolokuma Opokuma LGA communities angered Boukoribo.

In order to guarantee that all Bayelsa citizens who are of voting age exercise their right to vote, he called on security authorities to intervene.

Kogi Guber: Ajaka, SDP candidate, raises alarm over alleged “missing” result sheets in 3 LGA

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The results sheets for the current election for three local governments in Kogi State’s Central Senatorial Zones are allegedly missing, according to Muritala Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) candidate for governor of the state.

After casting his ballot at the state’s Idah local government district, Ajaka revealed this to the media.

On the other hand, he praised the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, for what he called an ideal electoral system.

Additionally, he praised President Bola Tinubu for keeping his word to ensure voter security throughout the polls.

The President is appreciated. We are witnessing the security he promised us.

“Original result sheets for Okehi, Adavi, and Okene local government areas in the central senatorial zone are missing,” stated Ajaka in reference to the missing results sheets.

Even though the elections aren’t over, he said, the result sheets are already being filled in.

The SDP candidate asserted that there was compromise among the INEC employees in the three local government districts.

Wike to Fubara: You’ll have restless nights from me, but nothing will happen

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Former Rivers State governor and FCT minister Nyesom Wike has cautioned his successor, Sim Fubara, against undermining the political system that allowed him to rise to prominence.

At Rivers State University on Friday, Wike issued the warning during a book presentation.

Fubara was also in attendance for the function.

Wike told Fubara that he might halt state governance “and nothing will happen” in response to the current crisis that shook the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Don’t be duped by my statement that there will be issues. You can’t sleep, but I need you to suffer; I don’t need to win. Wike remarked, “I’ve completed my own eight years; people will hold you accountable for nonperformance.

“You are all extremely familiar with me and my fight with the former governor. If you are a member of a political structure and you act in opposition to it, the structure will demand that you comply.

“Racing to court is not the issue; we can all rush to court.” I’ll respond to each person at the appropriate moment,” he continued.

INEC official kidnapped in Bayelsa, result sheets lost in capsized boat

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An official of the Independent National Electoral Commission was kidnapped in Bayelsa State’s Sagbama Local Government Area.

The electoral official was abducted while waiting to board a boat at the jetty, according to a statement released on Friday by Wilfred Ifogah, the state’s head of INEC voter registration.

The official was abducted while waiting to board a boat at the jetty, according to a statement made on Friday night on its verified X account by Wilfred Ifogah, the state’s head of INEC voter registration.

He further disclosed that result sheets were lost in the event, which saw a boat that was transporting election staff and supplies to the southern Ijaw LGA capsize.

 

According to the statement, “We wish to confirm that a boat carrying election personnel to registration area 17 (Koluama) in southern Ijaw LGA capsized.”

Fortunately, nobody died because the boat operator and all 12 election workers were saved.

However, our result sheets, power banks, and staff members’ personal belongings in the bags were gone.

“There are 5,368 registered voters overall in the impacted registration regions, and 5,311 PVCs have been obtained.

“INEC is working to guarantee that elections are held in the impacted area.

Additionally, the INEC claims that while waiting to board at Amassoma Jetty, the SPO assigned to registration area 06 (Ossioma) in Sagbama LGA was kidnapped.

“The announcement has been forwarded to the security agencies,” it said.

NASS establishes diaspora liaison office, assures of beneficial laws

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A liaison office has been formed by the 10th National Assembly to improve collaboration with non-governmental organizations, civil societies, Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and Nigerians living abroad.

This was revealed yesterday at the third round of the Zumunta Association USA Inc Benevolent Palliative Project Awards in Abuja by Sen. Victor Umeh, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora, NGOs, and Civil Societies.
The chairman stated that the office, which had not previously existed, aims to strengthen and broaden the interaction between Nigerians living abroad and those at home for the benefit of the nation. Sen. Anthony Siyako Yaro, who is the deputy chairman, was present.

The senator promised that reciprocally advantageous laws will be enacted by the National Assembly to safeguard the interests of Nigerians living abroad while also advancing national development in their home country.
He declared, “We in the Senate have actually fashioned out our programs and goals in the next four years to ensure that Nigerians living abroad are Nigerians at heart. Our primary goal is to enact new legislation and change existing legislation to reflect current conditions.

We truly value your help and will provide it to you to the fullest extent necessary to advance our initiative. Because they constantly provide something new and extra, diasporans are the engine level.

In addition to assisting your people, we are working with financial institutions to develop financial instruments that will allow you to profit from your own wealth and investments. Therefore, we will enact legislation to ensure that these things are done correctly, that they are used, and that we reap the rewards.

He declared, “We in the Senate have actually fashioned out our programs and goals in the next four years to ensure that Nigerians living abroad are Nigerians at heart. Our primary goal is to enact new legislation and change existing legislation to reflect current conditions.

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, stated in her remarks that a N700,000 check was given to a number of NGOs and beneficiaries chosen from Yobe, Zarmfara, Kebbi Jigawa, and Katsina States to carry out a number of palliative projects.

Speaking on behalf of the NiDCOM Secretary, Dr. Sule Bassi, the chairman stated that Nigerians living abroad, including those affiliated with Zumunta Association USA Inc., play a crucial role in the country’s development through remittances sent home, talent and skill transfer, exposure to the world, and participation in the newest Diaspora Direct Investment (DDI) programs.

“The Zumunta Association USA Inc. is a cultural community organization that is based in the United States of America and is a nonprofit organization.” The organization’s membership is made up of people of Northern Nigerian descent from the FCT, the 19 Northern states, and a few southern states of Nigeria. Its chapters are dispersed among twelve (12) states in the USA.

The Republic of the Philippines, Haiti, and Nigeria have all seen humanitarian operations carried out by Zumunta Association USA Inc. Additionally, it actively supports students attending universities in Nigeria through scholarship programs.

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According to her, “the Association decided to collaborate with NIDCOM for the first time in 2022, as a way of demonstrating their commitment towards achieving the objectives of national development in Nigeria,” while the palliative project presentation was initially completed in 2021.

Earlier, the association has made great progress in supporting impoverished communities through the Palliative project in partnership with NIDCOM, offering grants and collaborating with over 30 NGOs throughout Nigeria, according to the president of Zumunta USA Inc., who was represented by the vice president, Rhoda Embu.

Our prior support has gone toward school improvements, health initiatives, and projects in all 19 northern states as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

We are giving out awards in a more organized manner this year. To reach a wider audience, we plan to work in tandem with government efforts.

Through the enrollment of vulnerable communities in Northern Nigeria in the critical health care package initiatives, the grants will be used. According to her, “Our objective is to help lessen the burden of diseases like typhoid, malaria, and mortality among children under five.”

Kefas condmens grusome murder of Taraba teacher by his students

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Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has said that no educator should die while delivering instruction.

In response to the horrific murder of a secondary school teacher in Jalingo, the state capital, by some students, he made this statement on Friday.

Calling the event “extremely regrettable,” he asked parents and other concerned parties to step up their supervision of their children both at home and at school.
The act is a sign of societal deterioration, according to the governor, who expressed his sorrow over it in a press release made accessible to reporters in the state by his Special Advisor on Media and Digital Communications, Emmanuel Bello.

“Parents and all stakeholders should intensify their supervisory roles over their wards at home and in schools,” he emphasized.

He called attention to the fact that drug use among certain young people is one of the main causes of social vices and urged security personnel to do everything within their power to apprehend those responsible.

He thought they could do this by looking at the incident’s causes in great detail.

Assuring the welfare and well-being of both instructors and students is a component of the free education policy, according to Kefas, who sees it as safeguarding the future of the youth.

He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ridding the educational system of its problems and underlined the importance of securing and making schools safe for instruction.
It was stated that Bassey Sarduana Nkuphee, a secondary school teacher, was fatally stabbed on Thursday by a former student. The police verified that the kid had planned with a few other school pals.

Two people killed, others injured as Fulani, vigilantes clash in Niger market

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Two people are killed after a fight between Fulani and vigilantes occurred at the weekly market in Beji, in the Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State. Seven more people are being treated at the Primary Healthcare Center in Beji.

According to a source, the event happened on Wednesday at around 5 p.m., when the market was at its busiest.

About 30 kilometers from Minna, the capital of Niger State, lies the agricultural village of Beji, which has a national livestock and grain market.
Nine victims were transported to Beji Primary Healthcare Center with varying degrees of bullet wounds, according to Aliyu Yusuf, Assistant Head of Medical Services.

“While the remaining seven victims, all Fulani, were responding to treatment,” he clarified, two were confirmed dead.

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The incident was confirmed by Umar Rabe Sands, the Niger State Commissioner for Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs, who cautioned against taking any kind of retaliation.

He went on to say that in order to resolve the conflict between Fulani and Gbagyi farmers, the state administration would involve all relevant parties.

In order to promote ongoing peaceful cohabitation among the people, he further advised both groups from taking the law into their own hands and emphasized the presence of several peaceful dispute resolution procedures.

I won’t be Muslim, Christian governor in Kogi – Melaye

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Senator Dino Melaye, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) nominee for governor of Kogi on November 11th, has vowed to abolish racial or religious discrimination in state governance.
Melaye declared that if elected, he will rule the state with the fear of God during the governorship campaign’s big finale on Thursday at the state party secretariat in Lokoja, the state capital.

Speaking to party supporters, Melaye pledged to industrialize, investigate the state’s abundant mineral resources, and increase domestic revenue from tourism—a move he claimed would draw in investors.

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Melaye claimed to be the most experienced, knowledgeable, exposed, and competent of the eighteen candidates vying to become the state’s governor.

“I will govern with the fear of God; I will not be a governor who follows the Muslim faith, a Christian one, an Egbira governor, or an Okun governor,” he declared.

Melaye went on to say that individuals fired by the current administration during the screening process would be brought back and have their outstanding debts fully settled within six months.

“Don’t vote for the small parties that have no keyholders and nothing to offer; this is your chance to break free from the shackles of tyranny,” he continued.

Bayelsa election: Dozens of protesters demand removal of state police commissioner

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In Yenagoa, the state capital of Bayelsa, dozens of female protestors have surrounded the police command, demanding that Commissioner of Police Tolani Alausa be fired.

The demonstrators said that Alausa’s resignation would guarantee the police’s impartiality and peaceful elections in Bayelsa State.

Wearing all-black clothes, the women pleaded with President Bola Tinubu and Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to make sure that the people’s ballots are counted.

Alice Daniels, one of the women, stated: “All we are requesting is a state election free of violence.”

“Can’t we just peacefully cast our ballots for the candidate of our choice? We desire a non-aggressive workout. We should be able to vote for the people we want to and the police should protect us.

According to Ms. Daniels, “this shouldn’t be like other elections where people manipulate elections.”

Human rights activist Timitimi Ebipador was among the demonstrators who pleaded with the police and other security services to “properly oversee” the electoral process.

“We are appealing to you for the conduct of a peaceful election; we want a peaceful process,” the woman stated.

“You should not meddle in the election process; instead, you should be in charge of ensuring our safety and security.

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We implore you to keep us safe; after the exercise, we want our husbands, kids, and even brothers to be safe.

“It has happened to us multiple times. It was tainted by violence in 2015 and 2019, although no one has been charged with a crime or put in jail as of yet.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Sokari Pedro greeted the demonstrators and promised a calm election on Saturday.