Politics

Gov Poll: 30 Ballot Box Snatching, 50 Vote-buying Cases Recorded – CSO

Published

3 years ago

March 21, 2023

Editor

A civil society organisation, Connected Development, says it recorded 30 incidents of ballot box hijacking and 50 cases of vote-buying during the just concluded governorship polls across the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Hamzat Lawal, revealed the statistics during a post-election briefing in Abuja, on Tuesday.

According to him, data from the 20,000 election observers deployed by the organisation through its ‘Uzabe’ platform to monitor the polls, showed a 27 percent voter turnout on election day, due to issues of intimidation, violence and voter suppression.

Lawal explained that the figures represented a disturbing trend for democratic governance in the country, and called on stakeholders to ensure the prosecution of those responsible for the electoral malpractices and other infractions.

It said,: “Our statistics show that there were 30 cases of ballot box hijacking across the country in the gubernatorial election, an increase from the previous election. Specific results show Ahoada west LGA in Rivers state, and Oshodi/Isolo LGA in Lagos state just to mention a few. Also, cases were recorded in Bayelsa, Delta, etc.

Vote buying, which our statistics also recorded 50 cases in this present election, also shows an increase across different polling units in the country, for example in polling unit 003 Gidan Bunu ward of Zuru LGA in Kebbi state, in polling unit under tree 021 Gidan Alhazi ward, Wudil LGA in Kano.

“The 2023 general elections had 27 percent which is 24.9 million out of 90 million registered voters deciding the fate of a country of over 200 million people. It is unfortunate as well that despite the mass cry of the public for security agencies to respond to issues of intimidation, violence and voter suppression, the security agencies kept mute.

“There were massive cases of the aforementioned issues in states like Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara, kaduna and sokoto in the North West, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta in the South South, Lagos, Ogun in the South West, Imo, Enugu, Abia in the South East, Kogi, Benue in both elections”.

In his address the CODE boss also condemned all forms of thuggery and violence reported across the country, while stating that the actors must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“We frown against all forms of electoral fraud, violence and thuggery perpetuated by any political party throughout the course of this election cycle.

“We are appalled by it and we must make sure that these actors of these heinous crimes face the full wrath of the law. We cannot sit back and watch our democracy overridden by these acts. We must do well to do better.”

Lawal also condemned the ethnic profiling that took place in most parts of the country before and during the elections and cautioned Nigerians against such ugly development.
PUNCH

Politics

Defection: Peter Obi Simply Looking For ‘Food Is Ready’ Party – Wike

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe on former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent defection.

Speaking during a media parley on Wednesday, Wike said Obi is looking for a ‘food is ready’ political party.

The minister said, “Obi was in APGA, he couldn’t build APGA. He went to Labour, he ran away again from Labour. All he’s looking for is food is ready political party.”

Recall that Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, on Sunday officially joined the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Politics

2027: Nobody Wants Fubara – Wike

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that there is widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to return in 2027.

Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike suggested that Fubara can’t claim to enjoy unanimous backing from the public.

He explained that the political crisis in Rivers State had earlier been addressed through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, particularly during impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.

According to Wike, the President advised all parties to embrace peace, leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly after agreements were reached.

Wike, however, alleged that the governor failed to fully adhere to the terms agreed during the arbitration process.

Reacting to claims that the people were urging Fubara to seek re-election in 2027, Wike rejected the assertion, insisting that such narratives were misleading.

Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome, noting that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments.

He said: “The President, intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let their be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested for this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment.

“Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”

Wike continued, “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me.

You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?

“Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.

“That you appeared before a President of the country on arbitration, the two parties on arbitration, and these people respected Mr. President, and have done their own part.”

Politics

2027: Wike Opens Up On Preferred Rivers Guber Candidate

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday said he hasn’t endorsed any candidate for the Rivers state gubernatorial election in 2027.

Wike stated this on Wednesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

Wike said that the endorsement will come only after a meeting by the joint coalition in the state.

He said: “I haven’t endorsed anybody. And I can’t endorse anybody until the joint coalition meets.”

DAILY POST reports that questions have been raised concerning the fate of current governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in 2027.

The FCT Minister was reported to have endorsed former State Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, as his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.

Sources told DAILY POST that Wike settled for George after a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday.