Politics

No One Can Influence 2023 Elections Results, INEC Declares

Published

3 years ago

November 10, 2022

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday said the outcome of the 2023 elections can only be influenced by peoples’ votes and not by any officials of the electoral body.

Obo Efanga, Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Edo State, said any candidates that want to win elections should convince the electorate and the results will be announced based on the actual votes counted.

“It is not possible for any REC to influence the outcome of 2023 elections. Even if it were possible, I will not do it. For the politicians, anybody that want to win election should be able to convince people to vote for them.

“I will be fair to everyone. One of the assurances I want to give is that the only way politicians can win elections is through the people votes and not anyone influencing the outcome of the election.

“So, anybody that want to win election should go to the field, talk to the people, tell them why they should vote for you, encourage them to vote, and when they vote, the vote would be counted and results announced based on the actual vote counted. That is the only way to win election,” he said.

Efanga, while receiving hand over note from the state INEC administrative secretary, Caroline Bassey, in Benin City, disclosed that preliminary voter register will soon be displayed at the ward level for prospective voters to check their names and file for any objections if there is any infractions.

“It is the comprehensive voters list of each polling unit that will be on display at the ward level, so anybody who is eligible to vote in the next election, is encouraged to go and check if their names are not there, or a mistake in it so that they can bring it to our attention and would be corrected.

“Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) are going to be available at the ward level where comprehensive voter list would be displayed and that people who have not collected their PVC can also pick them up from there,” Efanga said.

Speaking on the purported emergence of parallel candidates by political parties, he noted that it is not possible to have double candidates for the elections as only the candidates on the list published by INEC are the candidates known to the electoral body for the elections in the state.

“I don’t know how you came about referring to a party having double candidates, there can only be one candidate in an election for a party and that is the candidates INEC released and published.

“I am here to work, we have a little over a 100 days to the general election and so we have to double up the programme we are doing. I understand that we have received non sensitive materials, and now looking at the sensitive materials closed to the election” he said.

Politics

PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Turaki-led NWC

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.

This was as contained in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Commission stated that it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.

According to INEC, its position was guided by subsisting court decisions and pending litigation relating to the leadership crisis within the PDP.

The electoral body further noted that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.

Politics

Govt That Fails To Protect Its Citizens Has No Business Remaining In Office – Kwankwaso

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network.

He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in addressing banditry and other security challenges.

According to him, Nigeria’s military “remains one of the most gallant in the world,” having served in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Liberia, and other conflict zones.

However, he said the armed forces are not being adequately supported to perform optimally.

“Today, many innocent Nigerians are being killed, while the perpetrators walk freely as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence, added: “When I was Defence Minister, I knew the capability of the Nigerian military. They are courageous and professional but need clear direction, support, and political will to do the needful.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces had historically ranked among the best globally and urged the government to equip them properly to change the current security situation.

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security.

“Any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has failed woefully and has no business remaining in office,” he declared.

He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, like the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security system to boost morale and improve intelligence-driven operations against criminals.

Politics

ADC Announces Temporary Closure Of Secretariat

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress, ADC , says it has temporarily closed its National Secretariat as part of the end-of-year break.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said full operations are scheduled to resume in the New Year.

According to the statement, the secretariat will close on December 23, 2025, and reopen on January 5, 2026.

The party, however, said essential skeletal services will remain available throughout the period, while all other official activities at the National Secretariat will be suspended to allow staff and party officials observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“This is to inform the public that the African Democratic Congress National Secretariat will close for the year on 23rd December 2025 and will resume full operations on 5th January 2026.

“During this period, only skeletal services will be available, while all other official activities at the Secretariat will be temporarily suspended,” the statement said.

The party thanked its members, partners and supporters for their continued loyalty and cooperation throughout the year, noting that their support remains critical to the growth and stability of the party.

The ADC also said it is committed to its ideals and to democratic engagement as it prepares for activities in the coming year.