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2023 Elections

Election: God Has Special Assignment For Atiku, He Disobeys, He Fails – Primate Ayodele

The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has claimed that God has chosen the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar for a special assignment.
According to the clergyman, God gave Atiku an assignment to rule Nigeria for just one term if he eventually wins.
In a statement by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, Ayodele listed some of the assignments to include restructuring, fixing the education sector, reducing the price of petrol, and reviving the economy.
He, however, warned Atiku against neglecting all God-given policies if he doesn’t want to see the wrath of God.
Primate Ayodele claimed his statement is not to campaign for Atiku or to declare him the winner of the election, as it is only the people’s vote that can determine who wins.
He, however, said if he doesn’t win, Nigerians will suffer more than they have in the past administrations.
He said: “Among these three candidates, Atiku has been given an assignment from God to fix the nation within four years. If God gives Atiku victory in this election, he is to use only four years for this special assignment. If he wins and refuses to do the will of God for the people, he will see the wrath of God.
 
“He will not complete his term because God’s anger will be placed on him. His assignment is to form an all-inclusive government, take care of security within six months, restructure before his term ends, reduce petroleum prices, fix the education sector, and revive the economy.
 
“He must not start selling Nigeria’s property to his friends and if he does, he will see God’s anger. If God helps him to get there and he neglects all these policies, God’s wrath will be kindled against him.
 
“I am not saying Atiku will win the election, it’s only the people’s vote that can determine that but I am only saying what God sent me to say to Nigerians; Atiku has an assignment placed into his hands by God to fix the nation within four years. It’s your choice to vote for him or not but if he doesn’t emerge, the person that wins will only add to the yoke of Nigerians as it is written in 1king 12vs14. The people will suffer more than they have ever suffered in the past administrations.”
 
Primate Ayodele urged Atiku not to spend beyond four years, adding that God has made him the answer to Nigeria’s present crisis and that if Nigerians reject him, many more troubles will be experienced.
 
“Atiku, the Lord said I should tell you that if you win, you must not spend beyond four years or else you will see the anger of God. You must do an all-inclusive government, restructuring, security, health and everything to put Nigeria in order. If you don’t do these, God will be angry with you,” he said.
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News

APC Suspends Governor Sani Bello’s Uncle

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has handed an indefinite suspension to Sani Bello Mustapha aka ‘Sani Basket’, the uncle of Niger state Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, over alleged anti-party activities, specifically campaigning against his party.

The decision to suspend him was reached following the resolution of the APC Central Ward Kontagora according to a notice signed by the APC Ward Chairman, Alhaji Hamza Majidadi and Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Kira.

It read;

“We strongly write to convey the resolution of our great-party APC Central Ward Kontagora for the suspension of Honourable Sani Bello Mustapha (Basket) indefinitely.

“Our collective resolution to suspend the aforesaid member from the party is due to his anti-party activities i.e campaigning against his party which is capable of tarnishing the good image of the party.

“Your utterances in the landmark F.M. station dated 21st February 2023 is a clear testimony that the person in question has not been adhering to the party’s constitution. With this letter of suspension, the person in question (Hon. Sani Bello Mustapha) is hereby suspended indefinitely from the party.”

The Nation reported that the letter was copied to the Niger APC Chairman the Kontagora Local Government, the APC Zonal Chairman, and all APC Stakeholders of the Central Ward, Kontagora.

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2023 Elections

BREAKING: APC Suspends Orji Kalu

Senate Chief Whip and former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu has been suspended by the All Progressives Congress (APC) over alleged anti-party activities and other offenses.

APC, in a letter conveying Kanu’s suspension, said it was with immediate effect.

Kalu had been at loggerheads with the leadership and members of Abia APC over allegations that the former Abia governor had been undermining and sabotaging the party in the state.

According to the letter dated February 21, Kalu was suspended for “acts of disobedience and gross anti-party activities”.

The letter was signed by the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Paul Nwabuisi; State Secretary, Chief Chidi Avajah, and the State Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu.

It noted that Kalu, who had been at loggerheads with many APC chieftains in Abia, “has remained unrepentant and without remorse despite several warnings.”

APC explained that Kalu’s suspension came after “thorough investigations and recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee set up by the Igbere Ward A in Bende Local Government of Abia State.”

The Abia APC leadership further stated that Kalu’s suspension was in consonance with Article 21B(i-v) of the APC Constitution, which he violated.

The letter read in part: “You are hereby suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

The former governor has been accused of working against the APC governorship candidate, Chief Ikechi Emenike.

He has also been accused of promoting the interests of the Action Peoples Party(APP), where his younger brother, Mascot Uzor Kalu, is the governorship candidate.

Meanwhile, Kalu in an interview last Tuesday, publicly admitted and justified supporting and promoting the candidacy of his younger brother, Mascot, saying he is fit to lead the state.

Kalu also claimed that the APC governorship candidate never informed him formally that he was in the governorship race.

He also accused Emenike of abusing him and bearing grudges against him for decades, hence his reluctance to work for him.

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2023 Elections

Anambra Party Chairmen, Journalists Kick Over Electoral Material Inspection

Various party chairmen and journalists have complained about election materials inspection.

The chairmen and journalists, who were at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Awka, on Thursday, were left stranded as the state Resident Electoral Commission, Dr Queen Agwu, refused to attend to their enquiries.

The party chairmen and the media men had wanted to observe the movement of electoral materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Awka, but were shut out.

The party chairmen and party agents who were spotted around 8 pm at the CBN office alleged that INEC loaded voting materials into trucks without them having the serial numbers for documentation.

Speaking to journalists, the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ndubisi Nwobu, described the attitude of the INEC officials as “very disappointing”, adding that the party agents wanted to know the details of the voting materials so they could communicate to their party officials to cross-check them when they arrive.

“We want to believe that the materials will not leave this night. We are hoping that by tomorrow morning, INEC will avail them of the serial number of the materials before leaving CBN,” Nwobu stated.

He, however, said they saw some of the INEC officials though it appeared they were very busy.

“We are hoping that tomorrow morning before the materials leave CBN, INEC officials will avail us with the serial numbers of various local government councils. It is already 8 pm,” he said.

The state chairman of Young Progressive Party, Prince Moses Obi, on his part, said they were surprised that INEC ignored them while loading the voting materials.

Obi said, “We were here to inspect the arrival and the leaving of INEC voting materials from the CBN for the Saturday elections. I am not happy with the process they adopted. INEC needs to avail us of the details of the serial numbers of materials to local government councils.”

Meanwhile, journalists who went to cover the distribution of the materials did not have access to the REC.

Less than 24 hours to the general elections, INEC in Anambra is yet to accredit journalists for the election.

The journalists who have been visiting the INEC office in Awka since Wednesday said that the commission kept giving excuses over their failure to distribute the accreditation tags.

The PUNCH observed that the Anambra INEC Public Relations Officer, Kingsley Agwu, and other officials of the commission have remained unperturbed as they kept tossing journalists around.

It was also observed that when the journalists visited the INEC office on Tuesday for the accreditation, they were told to check back on Wednesday (the following day).

A journalist who doesn’t want his name in print said, “It was the same story that was given again when we visited on Wednesday. We were told to check back on Thursday.

“None of the INEC officials offered cogent reasons. The PRO only told us that tags have not come and that they will soon come and until now we have not gotten any.”

However, journalists who gathered at the commission on Thursday for the tags left disappointed and angry as they were told that the accreditation tags were not ready.

Our correspondent gathered that journalists in other states have all been accredited and gotten their tags.

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2023 Elections

INEC Receives Sensitive Materials From CBN For Adamawa Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa state has received sensitive election materials from the Yola branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the general elections.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Hudu Ari received the items on Thursday, saying they would be taken to the various local government areas for the elections beginning this Saturday.

Ari said, “We have come to the CBN to collect the sensitive and other election materials, and they will be conveyed to the various LGAs.”

Ari had earlier convened a press briefing on Monday and declared that INEC was ready to conduct the February 25 and March 11 elections across the state.

He had said his office had received 4,104 BVAs for the 4,104 polling units in the state where 2,196,556 registered Adamawa voters would be expected to vote.

The state chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), Bello Babajo, who was at the CBN branch in Yola when INEC received the election materials, said he believed INEC was prepared for the elections.

“We’ve seen the materials. I think INEC is ready. We the political parties are also prepared for the elections,
” Babajo said.

INEC will be conducting elections to fill Electoral offices in 37 constituencies in Adamawa State in the course of the February 25 and March 11 elections.

The constituencies are governorship, one; senatorial, 3; House of Representatives, 8; and House of Assembly (25).

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Uncategorized

Banks Shut Branches Early Ahead Of Polls

Deposit Money Banks have made some new announcements.

The banks announced they will be closing early on Friday, a day ahead of the presidential polls holding nationwide on Saturday.

In notices issued by banks to their customers seen by our correspondents, the banks said they would be closing earlier than their 4:00 pm official closing time.

They, however, advised their customers to make use of their alternative banking solutions such as USSD, mobile apps etc.

First Bank in its notice told customers, “Kindly be informed that our branches nationwide will close to customers earlier than usual on Friday, 24 February 2023 by 1:00 pm.”

Stanbic Bank in an email addressed to customers said, “Please be informed that our branches will close by 1pm on Friday, 24 February 2023.

“Our customer contact centre will also not be available on Saturday, 25 February and Sunday, 26 February 2023 to attend to your calls and requests because of the election.”

Access Bank is closing earlier also at 12 noon.

In a circular issued on Thursday via email to customers, the bank said, “Our branches will close early on Friday, February 24, 2023, at 12 noon. This is to allow for the timely departure of customers and staff to their respective locations in preparation for the 2023 general elections scheduled for Saturday, February 25, 2023.”

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2023 Elections

Two Injured As Gunmen Attack Lagos PDP Rep Candidate’s Convoy

Two persons sustained injuries on Thursday as gunmen attacked the convoy of Segun Gbayi, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the House of Representatives, Lagos Mainland Constituency.

The attack by the yet-to-be-identified gunmen happened in the Makoko area, Yaba, Lagos.

The gunmen also attacked the security escorts attached to the convoy, opened fire and vandalised their vehicles.

However, Gbayi escaped the attack unhurt.

Reacting, Gbayi said the attack was to prevent members and supporters of the party from exercising their franchise in tomorrow’s election.

“This attack was violently carried out to discourage us from exercising our political franchise,” 
he said.

He advised voters and the general public to remain safe during this period and report any case of threat to lives, vandalisation, or violent attack to security officers.

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2023 Elections News

Residents Flood Kaduna ATMs Seeking Travelling Funds Hours To Election

The residents of Kaduna state have continued to flood Automated Teller Machines in the metropolis and its environs, less than 24 hours to the general elections.

Customers waiting to withdraw money lamented that they had waited for days repeatedly without a dime being dispensed to them.

Many said they needed the money to travel to their various villages where they registered to vote and where their polling units are located before the election day.

Speaking to DAILY POST at an ATM queue, Joseph Musa said he lives in Kaduna but his polling unit is in Kafachan and that he needed the money to fund his trip to his polling unit location.

Mrs. Ruth Mahalo, another resident said her polling unit was in Kaduna but was transferred to Kachia where she had hoped to be during the election and now needs money for her trip home.

Many others still in the queue claimed they only need their transportation fares to get to various destinations before the Saturday election when there will not be any movement.

They also claimed that travelling has become very difficult as transporters refused to accept money transfers as they too cannot withdraw their monies from anywhere.

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2023 Elections

Quick Facts You Should Know About 2023 Presidential Election

Very soon, millions of Nigerians will head to the polls to elect President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.

Apparently, the much-awaited Nigerian presidential election is here and will be kicking off in less than 24 hours.

Being the world’s first big election of 2023, the election’s impact will reverberate worldwide, as Nigeria remains Africa’s biggest economy and most populous black country.

18 Political Parties/Presidential candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, disclosed that 18 political parties will participate in the February 25 election.

Among them are Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC; Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP; and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP.

Registered Voters

The current voter register contains 93,469,008 voters according to the electoral body, INEC.

Collected PVCs

INEC also disclosed that a total of 87,209,007 PVCs were collected as of 5 February, when the exercise ended.

The implication is that over 87.2 million voters would decide the fate of the 18 presidential candidates.

Uncollected PVCs

There were 6,259,229 uncollected voter cards. These cannot vote in either of the elections, Presidential/National Assembly or Gubernatorial/State Assemblies.

Polling Unit

There are 176,846 Polling Units where elections will be taking place. Polling Unit is the smallest unit where elections are held.

Registration Areas/Wards

The Polling Units are scattered across the country in 8,809 wards. These are also known as registration areas. A collection of Polling Units make up a Ward/Registration Area.

Local Government Area

The Registration Areas/Wards are found at the local government level across the nation, which are 774 in number.

Electoral Constituencies

There are 1,491 Electoral Constituencies in the country. These are electoral units from which each member of the National/State Assemblies come from.

It is the function of the INEC to delimitate the country into electoral constituencies for easy representation in the National/State Assemblies.

Contestants

A total of 15,331 contestants will be participating in the February 25 and March 11 elections.

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News

FG Orders Total Closure Of Land Borders For Elections

The federal government has ordered the closure of land borders ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
The announcement was made by the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Isah Jere in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
In the statement signed by the NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr Tony Akuneme Jere said that all land borders were to be effectively closed from 12 midnight on Saturday to 12 midnight on Sunday Feb. 26.
 
“Accordingly, all command comptrollers especially those in the border states are to ensure strict enforcement of this directive,” he said.