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Apathy, Low Turnout Mar Bayelsa LG Polls

Published

1 year ago

April 6, 2024

The Bayelsa State local government elections conducted on Saturday were characterized by late arrival of materials and low voter turnout in polling units visited.

In Yenagoa the state capital, Ogbia, Nembe, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Sagbama, and Ekeremor local government, the exercise was peaceful though many residents and voters shunned the exercise.

Some residents who spoke to VANGUARD, claimed they were not aware of the elections, just as some residents took advantage of the partial restrictions of movement to go ahead with their normal routine businesses.

Speaking shortly after casting his vote alongside his wife, Dr Gloria, at his Kalamaowei Wari unit 4 ward 6 in Sampou Community, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Governor Douye Diri expressed satisfaction with the exercise, describing it as generally peaceful.

He said: “You can see that the exercise is peaceful here and it was seamless and the voting process is seamless and I think this is the way it is in every other units and wards and we expect a peaceful and successful local government elections will usher in a new leadership in the local government.

“Eventually, people will come out because they know that the local government chairmanship and councillorship are the closest to the people and I also remember that during our own party nomination processes, the level of interest that it generated across the whole state. Clearly people are aware that today is local government elections in Bayelsa State.

“During the build up to this election, the PDP went round campaigning across all wards and local government areas, we have candidates in the eight local government areas and 105 Wards and so by the grace of God I am sure that at the end of the day we have the support of the people judging by the outcome of the 2023 elections.”

Also speaking after casting his vote at Ofoni Primary School, the state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewrudjakpo, while expressing the confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will sweep the polls, however, pointed out that the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission, BYSIEC, must improve on late arrival of materials.

He said: “You can see, the community has just gathered, the materials have just arrived. The only criticism is that the materials are arriving a little bit late and that is the only criticism I have for BYSIEC as far as these issues are concerned. I believe they will learn their ropes. It is a gradual process, it is a new curves they are going into and I believe they will improve on it.

“But for sure, you know that Ofoni is PDP and the whole of Sagbama is PDP. You are also aware that in the last governorship election, it is only in Sagbama that APC did not get up to 25 per cent. So we don’t expect anything different from that. The voting will be going on, I just casted my vote, the process is going on fairly, squarely and transparently.

“The turnout will be massive, the materials have just arrived. It is a local election and politics is more local. Emotions and sentiment are high than the governorship election. Let them come out enmass and support their councilors and the chairmanship candidate.

“PDP is winning all the eight seats and we are sure of winning at least hundred and three councilorship votes. We may give one or two to other parties depending on what the strength of the other people are. But in Ofoni, it is a no go area for other party.

“Local government should not be a pay point, it must not be a POS, it is not a point of payment of service. Local governments are supposed to be the first unit of development and that is what we are doing now. Even our RDA which are functioning, you are aware they are awarding contract because we want them to be very effective.

“They are very closer to the people and they understand the developmental challenges of the people which they will address and then we will address at a higher level. This is very important to us and that is why we are doing everything possible, turning every stone to make sure that elections hold today.”

The exercise was also peaceful in Yenagoa, the state capital where voters were sighted casting their votes.

It was also gathered that the All Progressives Congress, APC, boycotted the exercise while seventeen political parties including the Labour Party,LP, took part in the exercise.

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News

Tinubu Approves Portfolios For 5 NCDC Executive Directors

Published

9 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has approved portfolios for five executive directors on the board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

Mr Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made the announcement in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

The appointees and their portfolios are: Hajiya Biliquis Jumoke- Administration and Human Resources, Mrs Aisha Rufai Ibrahim-Commercial and Industrial Development.

Others are, Mr James Abel Uloko-Corporate Services, Prof. Muhammad Bashar-Finance and Atika Ajanah-Projects.

The president urged the executive directors to work closely with the governing board of the commission to promote and coordinate sustainable development of the North-Central geopolitical zone.”

News

Court Orders Arrest Of 2 Lawyers Over Alleged Forgery, Impersonation

Published

9 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Apo, on Monday, issued a bench warrant against two lawyers charged with forgery and impersonation.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie made the arrest order following repeated failure of the defendants- Victor Giwa, and Ibitade Bukola- to appear before the court to enter their plea to the charge that was preferred against them by the Inspector General of Police.

In the charge marked: CR/150/25, the duo were accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Prof. Awa U. Kalu, with the intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.

According to the three-count charge, the alleged offence occurred on June 28, 2024.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of the SAN, requesting the AGF to suspend a scheduled arraignment.

The contentious letter, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023”, was allegedly addressed to the AGF.

It allegedly sought intervention of the AGF to halt an arraignment that was scheduled before trial Justice Samira Bature of the high court.

The IGP, in the charge, maintained that the two lawyers committed offences punishable under Section 97, 179 and 364 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.

At the resumed proceeding of the court on Monday, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Eristo Asaph, noted that the defence lawyer told the court that the 1st defendant was bereaved, hence his absence for the scheduled arraignment.

The prosecution counsel further noted that it was on the strength of an application by the defendant that the case was adjourned.

He, therefore, wondered why the duo were also absent in court for the case to proceed.

Responding, the defence counsel, Mr. Ogbu Aboje, told the court that the 1st defendant, Giwa, wrote a letter that was accompanied with a medical report dated September 3, indicating that he had a health challenge he described as “Degenerative disorder of the lumber vertebrae,” in addition to his hypertensive condition.

He added that the 2nd defendant equally went to the hospital on Monday morning to keep to a routine appointment for the immunisation of her daughter.

More so, he drew attention of the court to an application the defendants earlier filed to challenge its jurisdiction to entertain the case.

Dissatisfied with the developments, the prosecution counsel urged the court to issue a warrant for the defendants to be arrested y security agencies and produced for their trial.

In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that having listened to both parties, he was minded to accede to the prosecution’s request.

He court stressed that the medical report did indicate that the 1st defendant would not be able to attend court, adding that the 2nd defendant did not adduce any material to justify her absence.

Consequently, relying on the provision of section 266 (2) and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Justice Onwuegbuzie issued a bench warrant for the defendants to be arrested and produced before the court on October 8.
(VANGUARD)

News

Community Attributes Access Road To Reduction In Maternal Mortality In Bauchi

Published

13 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

A cross-section of residents in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State has attributed the reduction in maternal mortality to the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of the Kirjaule–Lame roads.

Mr. Samila Jauro, who spoke on behalf of the community, made the disclosure during a media tour of ongoing Bauchi State projects in the area.

He explained that in the past, no fewer than 50 pregnant women and their babies had lost their lives due to delays in accessing healthcare caused by the poor condition of roads.

“We have lost many of our pregnant women and their unborn babies in the past because of bad roads.

“But the present administration has changed our lives through its infrastructural development,” Jauro said.

While commending the state government, he appealed for the electrification of Kirjauke community.

“We are grateful for the road project, but we still call on the governor to provide us with electricity.

For the past 18 years, we have had no source of power,” he added.

The Bauchi State Government, through the Ministry of Works, in 2023 awarded a 40.5-kilometer road construction and rehabilitation projects in the aforementioned sites.

Speaking on the progress of the projects, the Site Engineer, Mr. Ado Shehu, said the project had reached 75 percent completion.

“The Kirjaule–Lame and Magama–Gumau roads were awarded at the end of November 2023.

“Some portions are already completed, while others are at the second layer and shoulder stage to ensure a successful outcome.

“The duration of the project according to the contract is 36 months.

” But with 75 percent already completed, the project will be finished ahead of schedule,” he said.