Politics

LG Poll: Security Personnel, Election Officials Held hostage

Published

5 years ago

June 27, 2021

Editor

Voters have kept hostage security personnel and election officials at Kiyako ward in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

It was gathered that about 20 persons including ad-hoc staff and agents of the parties were rounded up and locked up in a classroom at Junior Secondary School, Kiyako, over an alleged plan to change the outcome of the election.

Also five police officers and seven vigilante members were also kept hostage at the premises of the ward collation center.

The state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Babandi Ibrahim Gumel, while addressing members of the press at a collation center, said the election officials were kept hostage after members of the party gathered at the Kiyako ward collation center to witness the announcement of the results and there was no collation officer to announce the results.

“As a result, members of the party converged and kept the election officials hostage until what they had voted for was declared.

“We are now waiting for the SIEC official to come and announce the whole result for the polling units of the ward where PDP won almost all the 19 polling units in Kiyako Ward,” he said.

He said similar incidents happened at almost all the six local government areas where the PDP participated in the election.

The party chairman therefore urged security agencies in the state to make an effort to ensure that the results are collated and announced.

A resident of Kiyako, who gave his name as Adamu, told DAILY POST that the election officials were kept hostage in a classroom since Saturday around 4:00PM and they will not release them until the election results are announced.

Kiyako ward is a political ward of ex-governor, Alh Sule Lamido.

In a statement signed by Special Adviser to Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar on Media and Publicity, Habibu Nuhu Kila, said the Governor directed State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) to declare anybody who wins the election from any political party.

The statement however urged the people of the state to remain calm and assured that the right of any voters will not be violated as promised by the Governor.

Also Chairman of the State independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), Adamu Ibrahim, said the results would soon be announced.

(DAILY POST)

Politics

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

Published

42 minutes 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

1 hour 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

2 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.