Category: 2023 Elections

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2023 Elections

Gov’t Closes Schools For Election In Bauchi

The Government of Bauchi State, has closed down schools for the elections.

The government, on Thursday, declared a two-day break for all public schools ahead of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Jamila Dahiru, during a news conference in Bauchi.

The commissioner further informed that there would also be a two-day break for all public schools in the state for the March 11 gubernatorial and the state House of Assembly elections.

According to Hajiya Dahiru, public schools in Bauchi State will be closed on Friday, 24th February and Monday, 27th February 2023, while academic activities resume on Tuesday, 28th February.

Similarly, the schools would not open on Friday, 10th March and Monday, 13th March 2023.

She, however, said the closure only affected day students, while boarding students would remain in their respective schools during closures.

“Students of day schools should remain at home on Friday, 24th, and Monday, 27th, February 2023, for the presidential elections, and school activities are to resume on Tuesday, 28th February 2023.

“For the gubernatorial elections, day students are to remain at home on Friday, 10th and Monday, 13th March 2023.

“School activities are to resume on Tuesday, 14th March, 2023 while all boarding school students are to remain in their respective schools during the break,” the commissioner informed.

According to her, the school closure was to enable public school teachers and parents actively participate in the general elections.

The commissioner added that the state government is aware that some public school students may travel with their parents to their respective local government areas to vote in the elections.

“We are also conscious of the fact that some of our teachers do participate in the electioneering and so we want to give them the opportunity to prepare ahead,” Dahiru added.

She, however, reiterated the state government’s commitment to not only the quality of education in the state but also to students’ welfare for the betterment of all.

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2023 Elections

Presidential Election: Nigerians Deserve To Choose Their Future – Biden

Joe Biden, the President of the United States of America, has called for peaceful and credible elections in Nigeria on Saturday February 25.

More than 93 million registered voters are going the polls to queue up behind their favourite candidates in the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

President Biden, in a statement on Thursday, commended the accord by the presidential candidates and political parties on Wednesday.

The frontrunner are Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Rabiu Kwankwaso, New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, favoured by most of the polls.

Biden said by signing the pledge, the parties and candidates have committed to accept the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and to support a peaceful transition of power.

“Elections are a fundamental part of a functioning democracy, and all Nigerians deserve this chance to choose their future — freely and fairly”, Biden said.

“While the United States does not support any single candidate or party, we strongly support a peaceful and transparent process that reflects the will of the people of Nigeria.

“On election day, I encourage all Nigerians — no matter their religion, region, or ethnicity —to exercise this fundamental freedom and make their voices heard — including young voters, many of whom may be heading to the ballot box for the first time.”

Biden stressed that America stands with the Nigerian people as they chart a path toward a more democratic, prosperous, and secure future.

“I appreciate President Buhari’s firm commitment that the will of the people will be respected,” the U.S. leader added.

President Biden encouraged voters to remain peaceful and patient as their ballots are tallied, and urged the political parties and candidates to live up to their pledge.

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2023 Elections

Why Nigerians Won’t Vote For Tinubu – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has revealed why Nigerians will not vote for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
According to PDP, voting for APC and Tinubu is an endorsement of corruption.
The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba, in a press conference on Wednesday, said Nigerians will not support the ruling party because of their “level of corruption, incompetence, insensitivity, lack of leadership and arrogance in failure”.
He said, “It is therefore clear that any vote for the APC and its Presidential Candidate is an endorsement of corruption, incompetence, insensitivity, lack of leadership and arrogance in failure.
 
“In contrast however, the All Progressives Congress and its embattled presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, in their vacuity, arrogance and entitlement mentality treated Nigerians with unpardonable disdain by refusing to engage the people in interactive sessions, debates and media interviews.”
He claimed that the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has a sense of duty and readiness to lead Nigeria’s nation at this critical time.
Ologunaba added, “Through the course of the campaign, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa energetically traversed the nooks and crannies of our country, engaging various segments of Nigerians in diverse fora; consultative meetings, interactive sessions, town hall meetings, faith-based platforms, media interviews and political rallies articulating their plans, solutions and selling the message of hope to Nigerians.
 
“While Atiku Abubakar continues to engage Nigerians on issues that are critical to our nation; including national unity and stability, security, restructuring, infrastructural development, empowerment of the people through diversification, Asiwaju Tinubu abdicated because he has no solution to the myriads of problems brought upon our nation by the APC which he admitted to having brought into the office.
“Since his emergence as the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Tinubu and the APC have not been able to engage in a campaign on issues rather their focus has been on individuals and irrelevances, even display of unseriousness and comics.”
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2023 Elections

Presidential Polls: We Are Optimistic That Tinubu Will Win – APC Reacts To ACF’s Endorsement Of Atiku

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, on Wednesday, said its principal, Asiwaaju Bola Tinubu is unbothered about the endorsement of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF.

APC PCC said it would not take ACF’s endorsement of Atiku seriously because a lot of Northern groups support Tinubu.

A few days ago, a chieftain of the ACF, Muhammad Yakubu, said Atiku was the body’s preferred candidate ahead of Saturday’s election.

Speaking with journalists, Yakubu said the comments by Zango Daura, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, were enough evidence that the region had settled for Atiku.

Yakubu said the North is supporting Atiku because he has the capacity, competence and integrity to rule Nigeria.

Reacting, the APC PCC Director of Strategic Communications, Idris Mohammed, said: “As far as we are concerned, the ACF is just a group. There are lots of northern groups out there who have also supported Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He is not only reaching out to groups, he is also campaigning to the masses.

“Everywhere you go, you will see the kind of crowd that Tinubu has amassed and the commentaries people make about him. So, we really don’t take the ACF endorsement seriously.

“What we take seriously is the way Nigerians, especially the Northerners you talked about are going to vote. We are very optimistic that Asiwaju is going to emerge victorious in Saturday’s poll.”

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2023 Elections

New Naira Policy To Frustrate Tinubu – Akeredolu Claims

Rotimi Akeredolu, the Ondo State Governor, has slammed the new naira policy.

He said the naira redesign and swap policy was targeted at truncating Saturday’s presidential election and national assembly elections.

He added that the policy was also targeted at the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to ensure he lost the election.

The governor stated this at the state broadcast aired on electronic media outfits in the state on Thursday morning, barely 48 hours to the election.

According to him, the cash swap policy of the APC-led government and the alleged artificial scarcity of fuel “are both lethal injections deliberately administered to de-market the APC government, create an uncontrollable crisis in the nation and finally frustrate the 2023 general elections.”

He said, “The goal is to truncate the election and deny the country the service of a true patriot, an endowed visionary with a proven record of character, knowledge, leadership and performance.

“It is also an attempt to abuse the principle of the rotational presidency by denying a section of this country its legitimate right thereby fuelling ethnic disaffection and creating a grave constitutional crisis in the country.

”Recall that in the course of these circumstances, I have offered clear and unequivocal statements as our stand on this dangerous and unfortunate adventure.

“To say the least, it is a dagger drawn at the heart of the ruling APC on the eve of the elections in order to destroy it and the governments it controls at the federal and state levels. As the nation trudges on, our resolve to deepen democracy and good governance must remain unflinching and abiding.

“Despite the desperate efforts by selfish and subversive elements within the government, to destroy the multiparty politics in Nigeria, the dividends of good governance brought to the people by the APC remain indelible in the recent history of our state in particular and the nation in general.

“The central purpose (of the naira swap policy) is to frustrate his ( Tinubu’) popularity and renowned acceptability across all tribes and religions in this country. The goal is to truncate the election and deny the country the service of a true patriot, an endowed visionary with a proven record of character, knowledge, leadership and performance.

“It is also an attempt to abuse the principle of the rotational presidency by denying a section of this country its legitimate right thereby fuelling ethnic disaffection and creating a grave constitutional crisis in the country.”

While calling on the people of the state to vote for the presidential and other candidates of the APC in Saturday’s election, Akeredolu assured that Tinubu, if elected, would tackle many challenges facing the country and the state in particular.

“As your governor, my duty to you at this time of great confusion and frustration is therefore to provide you with a clear vision of the path of redemption and hope. It is to charge you all to shake off the artificial frustration and the temporary barriers on your way to choosing a president who represents hope and assured brighter days ahead.

“My message to you is that despite all the well-planned intrigues to deny you of your democratic rights and the future and prosperity of your offsprings, which Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu represents, I urge you to troop out massively and vote for the APC on Saturday.

“This is the time to separate the past from the future. For us in Ondo State, this is our time to vote for a president who identifies with our challenges and who would help us to actualize our ongoing plan for the establishment of Ondo Deep Sea Port and massive industrial revolution, tackle youth unemployment, achieve our dream of state police to solve our insecurity problem and ensure human capacity development. It is time to set a new flag and make Nigeria great,” the governor added.

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2023 Elections

Election: Osun Declares Friday Work-Free Day

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has declared Friday a work-free-day for residents of the state.
Adeleke gave the approval for the holiday on Wednesday.
A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Teslim Igbalaye, said the holiday would enable residents and indigenes to travel for Presidential and National Assembly elections holding on Saturday.
The statement also said public servants were expected to utilise the opportunity to travel for the electoral process.
It further read in parts, “This is time for all citizens to exercise their voting rights. His Excellency again appeals to all residents to be law-abiding as they peacefully exercise their voting rights on Saturday and subsequent elections.”
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2023 Elections

Presidential Election: EFCC Uncovers New Ways Politicians Are Planning to Buy Votes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has uncovered new tactics politicians are planning to use to buy votes during Saturday’s presidential election.
Chairman, Abdulrasheed Baw, who spoke on Channels Television on Wednesday, said intelligence at its disposal has shown that some politicians are planning to buy votes in kind rather than with cash.
This is following the scarcity of the new naira notes experienced by Nigerians nationwide.
Bawa advised the electorate to cooperate with the EFCC in its efforts in tackling vote-buying during the Saturday’s polls.
Bawa said that Nigerians should get it right this time by voting into power people with integrity and ethical standards.
“We have intel that a lot of people have bought some items that they want [to use] to buy votes in kind, not in cash. Some of these things are out there,” he stated.
“Politicians are also Nigerians. We too have a way of doing our own things. We have our own experiences in this as well.”
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2023 Elections

Labour Party Senatorial Candidate, Oyibo Chukwu Murdered

Barrister Oyibo Chukwu, the Labour Party candidate for Enugu East Senatorial district, has been killed.

The trained lawyer was reportedly shot and killed in Enugu while returning from a campaign trip and the vehicle he was in was set ablaze.

Video shows his vehicle burning with him inside on Wednesday evening, Feb. 22.

Three persons were suspected to be with him in the vehicle but it was not yet known if any of the occupants survived.

A top member of Labour Party has confirmed the fatal attack but said he should not be quoted until the family speaks, Vanguard reports.

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2023 Elections

INEC Distributes Sensitive Materials To LGAs In Ekiti

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has distributed sensitive materials for the poll to the sixteen local governments in Ekiti State, ahead of Saturday’s election.

During the distribution of the materials at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ado-Ekiti, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Prof Ayobami Salami said the early distribution was to avoid lateness of the materials to the polling units on election day.

He pointed out that everything needed for the smooth conduct of the poll was ready, saying the election would hold as scheduled, as against rumours in some quarters that it would be postponed.

The REC reassured Nigerians that their votes would count, calling on them to come out to exercise their franchise during the election.

Speaking on behalf of other political parties, the chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, in Ekiti State, Mr Owoola Daramola expressed satisfaction with the distribution process of the materials and expressed optimism that the election would be transparent.

Earlier during the briefing of observer groups that will participate in the election in Ekiti State, Prof Salami urged them to be transparent and neutral, and also avoid partisanship in the discharge of their duties.

He told them not to be judgemental in their reports, saying the legitimacy of the 2023 elections could be affected by their reports, hence they must be factual while giving the reports.

“We expect a final report that will guide us in future elections and the report should look at the entire electoral process, rather than concentrating only on the proceedings of just one day,” he stated.

In his remark, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr Moronkeji Adesina said the police in conjunction with other security agencies in the state are prepared to ensure the safety of voters during the polls.

Represented by Mr Olu-Victor Babayemi, the Commissioner of Police, noted that a control centre has been created where observations and complaints could be forwarded for quick response.

The materials were distributed in the presence of stakeholders including security agents and party representatives.

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2023 Elections

2023: No Postponement, We Are Ready For Election – INEC Declares

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is ready to conduct the 2023 presidential election on the 25th of Saturday, 2023.
The assurance was given by INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The INEC chairman gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja at the signing of the national peace accord by presidential candidates
According to Prof. Yakubu, the electoral umpire is ready to conduct a free and fair election and Nigerians should be rest assured that their votes will count.
The INEC boss further gave assurances that the commission is neutral and has no preferred candidate in the forthcoming general elections.
In his words, “I want to, first of all, appreciate the untiring efforts of the National Peace Committee for convening this important event.
 
“This is the third peace accord to be signed by political parties and candidates on the eve of a general election in Nigeria since 2015, and the ninth overall, if we include the accord signed before the commencement of electioneering campaign in September last year and ahead of five off-cycle governorship elections in Edo and Ondo in 2020, Anambra in 2021, Ekiti and Osun states in 2022.
 
“The signing of the peace accord today comes at a critical moment in the electoral calendar. Campaign for presidential and national assembly elections ends at midnight tomorrow, Thursday, 23rd February, 2023. Election will hold on Saturday this week. INEC is ready.
 
“This morning, we commenced the movement of sensitive materials to the various local government areas nationwide. By Friday, we will activate the registration area centres, so that at first light on Saturday, polling units will open on time.
 
“The commission is committed to free, fair, and credible elections in compliance with the electoral framework and the spirit of the peace accord.
 
“All political parties and candidates are hereby reassured of the commission’s neutrality. INEC is not a political party. We have no candidate in the election. Our allegiance is to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and our loyalty is to Nigerians. Therefore, Nigerians should feel confident that their votes will count.”

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