Politics

No One Can Influence 2023 Elections Results, INEC Declares

Published

3 years ago

November 10, 2022

Editor

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

JUST IN: Former APC National Youth Leader Dumps Party

Published

24 seconds ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Sadiq Abubakar, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Leader has announced his decision to dump the ruling party.

Abubakar who disclosed this in an interview with Newsmen in Bauchi on Wednesday, explained that his decision was unconnected with the hardship faced by many Nigerian homes due to difficult policies and programmes by the APC.

According to him, the move was also driven by an objective of securing free and fair victory in future election primaries so as to continue to serve the people with strength and integrity.

He stated that his decision followed a series of consultations with family, friends, political associates and stakeholders saying this was after a careful reflection on recent developments within the party structure and internal arrangements.

“It is high time to adopt a party with a more clear vision and the compassion to help the common man.

“The APC processes are not working, the party is not just and fair. I’m leaving the party because there is no fairness in the electoral processes of the party as well as the consensus.

“And I know that they are not going to be fair in the forthcoming primaries but they will only use the power of incumbency.

“Also, what the party is doing to every family is becoming something else as it’s becoming too hard to put a three square meal on the table,” he said.

The Former APC National Youth Leader however, affirmed that he would soon reveal the new political party of his destination in no distant time.

Politics

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

Published

6 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

7 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.”