Politics

Late Arrival Of Materials, Voters Apathy, Anger Mar Sokoto Polls

Published

3 years ago

April 15, 2023

Sokoto state supplementàry polls have been characterised by the late arrival of materials in addition to seeming voters apathy and anger across affected polling units.

Aside from that, there is anger amongst voters who could not hide their concerns over the delay even as women’s turnout remain impressive across polling units amidst improved security and movement restriction arrangement jointly monitored by personnel.

Dr Balarabe Shehu Kakale Shuni, a national assembly member representing Bodinga/Dange Shuni /Tureta Federal Constituency who spoke to reporters monitoring the exercise at polling unit 017, expressed dismay and disappointment over the electoral umpire’s(INEC) action.

Kakale Shuni, who was a former Health Commissioner in Sokoto state noted that the trend was discouraging, and disclosed that a formal protest had been registered before INEC.

According to him, despite the assurances by INEC to conduct free, fair and credible supplementary polls, the electoral umpire failed to show the same by its action.

” The supplementàry election ought to have started by 8:am but the election materials are yet to arrive at polling units as of 10:am.

“At Magajin Gari Ward B, Garkan Alkali Yahaya polling unit 003 in Sokoto North, election commenced at 9:am, an hour behind starting time as the Presiding Officer, Abdullahi Garba confirmed BVAS was in order and working smoothly for accreditation.”

In a similar development, Kakale allegedly described INEC’s action as a ploy tilted at rigging the exercise.

He urged the electoral body not to deny voters their right to franchise adding “INEC should allow the will and wishes of electorate prevail”

The lawmaker also noted that most of the BVAS machines were malfunctioning, adding ”even the ad-hoc staff on the ground to man the machines were inexperienced.”

” Huge resources had been committed for INEC to conduct the exercise but you can see what is happening. The ad-hoc staff are not well trained for the exercise”, he observed while lamenting.

”Almost everywhere is the same experience. Amanawa, Dange, Shuni among others”, he mentioned.

“In Yabo and Bodinga LGs where the exercise was in progress, Aminu Usman and Maryam Mukhtar who cast their votes, said the exercise was peaceful and commended INEC and security agencies for ensuring security.

” Unlike in the last exercise, this one is absolutely peaceful without tension or fears of threats”, they noted.

Related Topics:#INEC Sokoto supplementary elections

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Politics

Dino Melaye Reacts To Malami’s Arraignment For Money Laundering

Published

2 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Ex-Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has reacted to the arraignment of a former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, before an Abuja Federal High Court.

Melaye wished Malami well as he began his trial for corruption.

Posting on X, the former lawmaker recalled how he was prosecuted by Malami over what he described as frivolous cases while he was the AGF.

He wrote: “Reminded me of how I was appearing in different courts when Malami as AGF was prosecuting me over frivolous cases including taking over one of the police cases against me. Wish him.well.”

Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and another individual are facing a 16-count charge of money laundering.

They were arraigned on allegations of unlawful acquisition and concealment of funds.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Politics

What PDP Said About Wike’s Media Parley

Published

3 days ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, of being a constant agent of provocation in the political space, alleging that he creates trouble to mask selfish intentions.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, stated this in a statement issued on Monday in response to Wike’s media parley with selected journalists in Port Harcourt, also held on Monday.

According to the PDP, remarks made by the minister on several occasions are proof that he falls short of being a locus classicus of anti-democratic adventurism.

The party said Wike’s conduct was not new, stressing that he has consistently acted as an agent provocateur in the political arena, stirring controversy to advance personal interests.

The PDP further stated that since Wike assumed office as Governor of Rivers State in 2015, he has remained a recurrent source of trouble within the party’s leadership.

“From the Sheriff era, where he was a forerunner in the Sheriff-for-National Chairman movement and later turned to fight and remove Sheriff; later he championed the Uche Secondus-for-National Chairman movement (in fact, he granted a very combustible interview that polarized the party just before the convention) and then was the same person fighting to remove Secondus.

“The same Wike led the movement to produce Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman against the advice of many party leaders, and so soon thereafter, it was Wike again who led the Ayu-must-go struggle.

“By his end-of-year media chat, Minister Nyesom Wike has reiterated his support for, and in fact declared that he is the ‘number one supporter’ of the presumptive candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 Presidential election, while remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, confirming the basis of his expulsion from the PDP, for anti-party activities,” the statement said.

Politics

JUST IN: INEC Excludes PDP From Ekiti Governorship Election

Published

3 days ago

December 29, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election, Dr Wole Oluyede, and his deputy were conspicuously absent as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released the provisional list of party candidates ahead of the election.

INEC on Monday posted the list of candidates from 12 political parties vying for the state’s top job at its office on New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The list shows that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is fielding the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, with Monisade Afuye as his running mate.

Other candidates include Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, with Omoyemi Olaleye as deputy; Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress, paired with Oluwasanmi Fajuyigbe; and Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party, with Itunu Ibitoye as running mate.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress is presenting Oluwadare Bejide and Paul Olowoyeye, while the Action Peoples Party has Bidemi Awogbemi and Akinyemi Adewumi on its ticket.

The PDP’s absence may not be unconnected with the leadership crisis currently rocking the party at the national level.