News

Ijaw Elders Condole With Clark’s Family

Published

9 months ago

February 21, 2025

As eminent Nigerians continue to mourn the death of Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, the Ijaw Elders Forum, Lagos, has sent its condolences to the family for the loss of the late elder statesman.

While paying glowing tributes to the foremost ljaw leader in a release signed by its Chairman, Chief Bukazi Etete, the forum described the deceased as an astute politician and a fearless advocate for justice and equity in Nigeria.

The group further lamented that the loss came less than a week after the demise of his fellow compatriot, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural group.

The statement reads in part: “The Ijaw Elders Forum, Lagos, mourn the death of our National Leader and voice of the Ijaw Nation, Chief (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark. OFR,CON.

“The voice of the Ijaw Nation has gone silent. Our chief advocate and minority interest defender has gone to the great beyond. The strong advocate of minority interest and restructuring is gone. We weep as a people for this great loss but are consoled by the fact that he lived a well fulfilled life as a great national patriot.

“As if in a conspiracy, he departed this world to the great beyond a few days after his soul mate and co-advocate for minority rights and restructuring, Pa Ayo Adebanjo (The great Afenifere Leader) also departed to the great beyond.

“Pa Clark was a fearless advocate for justice and equity in Nigeria. He was concerned about the sufferings and oppression of the Ijaw and the People of the Niger Delta. He did not mince words in speaking truth to power. He was a strong voice expressing concern about the marginalisation of the Ijaw people and the yoke of oil exploitation, which has devastated the environment of the Niger Delta and ravaged the lives of the people.”

Expressing condolences to the family, the IEF noted that Clark had left an indelible mark in the sand of time and prayed to God to grant his soul eternal rest.

“IEF celebrate the life and times of this great sage and Patriot. We are encouraged by the inspirational life he lived and the ideals he stood for,” the group added.

News

Anambra Poll: CDD Releases Post-election Findings, Recommends improved INEC’s Operational Capacity

Published

4 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Editor

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), has released its post-election findings on the just concluded Anambra governorship election, recommending improvement in INEC’s operational capacity, prioritised voter education, issue-based campaigns, amongst others.

In a post-election press briefing held in Akwa on Sunday, the CDD said the “2025 Anambra election reveals that Nigeria’s electoral challenges are deeply linked to wider governance failures; weak institutions, elite dominance, economic hardship, insecurity, and lack of accountability continue to shape voter behaviour and electoral outcomes.”

In the post-election statement signed by Dr. Dauda Garuba, Director, CDD, and Professor Victor Adetula, Chair,
CDD-West Africa Election Analysis Centre, recommended that the “ongoing electoral reforms must target improving INEC’s operational capacity through timely funding, decentralised planning, and consistent communication.

“Such operational issues include logistics, mandatory real-time result publication via IReV, early voting for essential personnel and adequate personnel training.”

The CDD, while urging political parties to prioritise voter education and conduct issue-based campaigns, the organisation urged politicians to uphold internal democracy and adhere to transparent campaign financing.

“Elections cannot be treated as temporary security events. The government at all levels must develop a more sustainable security architecture that addresses root causes and provides year-round safety for residents.

“Only then can we safeguard electoral processes without relying on massive deployments that strain national resources and offer no long-term protection.”

The CDD, while decrying the prevalent of vote trading in the election, said conscious steps must be taken to discourage this “through deliberate efforts to deliver good governance while promoting civic education across all strata of society to discourage transactional politics.”

“The National Orientation Agency must take centre stage on this. Ongoing reforms of the electoral act must take into consideration the need to arrest and prosecute electoral offenders.”

The CDD said that “as the country prepares for the 2026 off-cycle elections and the 2027 general elections, these reforms must be prioritised.”

It added: “Nigeria’s democratic survival depends not just on voting but on the strength of the institutions and the governance practices that surround it.”

News

UPDATED: INEC Declares Soludo Winner Of Anambra Guber Poll

Published

12 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has been declared the winner of the Saturday, November 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election by the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Edoba Omoregie.

Soludo, who polled a total of 422,664 votes, defeated his closest rival, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Nicholas Ukachukwu, who scored 99,445 votes, while the candidate of the Young Progressives Party, Sir Paul Chukwuma, came third with 37,753 votes.

According to INEC, a total of 16 candidates from various political parties participated in the election.

The state had 2,788,864 registered voters, out of which 598,229 were accredited. A total of 595,298 votes were cast, while 11,244 votes were rejected across the 21 local government areas.

From the results announced, Soludo of APGA won in all 21 local government areas of the state in a landslide victory.

Announcing the results at the INEC headquarters in Awka on Sunday, Omoregie said, “The number of registered voters was 2,788,864, while accredited voters were 598,229. The total valid votes stood at 584,054, rejected votes were 11,244, and the total votes cast amounted to 595,298.”

He added, “After collating the results as tallied into Form EC8E, it is now my privilege to declare the figures each candidate scored according to their political parties.

“There were a few areas affected by incidents, leading to cancellations in some wards across Anambra West, Anaocha, Awka South, and Onitsha South LGAs, amounting to 10,481 affected votes. However, the margin of lead between the top candidates did not affect the overall outcome of the election.

“I, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, Returning Officer for the 2025 Anambra State Governorship Election, hereby declare that the election was peaceful. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, having scored 422,664 votes — the highest number of valid votes cast and having satisfied the requirements of the law — is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”

Breakdown of results:

Total registered voters: 2,788,864

Total accredited voters: 598,229

Total valid votes: 584,054

Rejected votes: 11,244

Total votes cast: 595,298

Votes by political parties:
A – 224
AA – 1,145
AAC – 292
ADC – 8,208
APC – 99,445
APGA – 422,664
APM – 892
APP – 73
BP – 126
LP – 10,576
NNPP – 525
NRM – 36
PDP – 1,401
SDP – 241
YPP – 37,753
ZLP – 453

News

BREAKING: Soludo Sweeps Anambra Guber Election

Published

15 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Anambra governorship election, Prof. Charles Soludo has been declared winner of the poll.

Returning Officer of the election, Prof. Edoba declared Soludo winner having polled
422,664 votes to defeat his closest opponent.

More details coming