The State PDP vice chairman (Central), Mr Hakeem Olalemi,  disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos.

He said that the primaries would hold at the various council areas and that candidates would emerge by consensus.

Olalemi said: “Our great party, PDP, will be holding its primaries for the forthcoming local government election in Lagos State at the various local government secretariats of our party on Saturday, May 17.

“Chairmanship and councillorship candidates will emerge through consensus,” the PDP chieftain said.

According to him, the PDP is participating in the council polls to win.

“We are very sure that our chances are very bright in the next local government election. We are sure of our chances and hope the election will be credible.

“We know that the ruling party dictates to the state electoral commission, but we will be on the field with the APC and square it up with them.

“By the grace of God, we shall win. We are ready for the election physically, morally and otherwise,” he added.

In a separate interview with, the Lagos State PDP chairman, Mr Phillips Aivoji, also expressed  optimism that the party would do well in the election.

“We are participating to win. We will continue to mobilise for support of the people, to vote for PDP.

“I believe that PDP chances are bright in some areas, while we will slug it out in some other council,” Aivoji said.

READ ALSO: FEC approves Medipool to lower cost of pharmaceutical products

He said that residents of the state would witness liberation and would enjoy  people-oriented leadership and programmes if they vote PDP to govern at  the various councils.

The chairman added: “Lagos residents stand to gain a lot with PDP. They stand to gain good governance.

“They stand to gain purposeful and meaningful administration. The people will be number one in everything we do if PDP is voted.”

Source: NAN

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SP Omolola Odutola, the command’s spokesperson said this in a statement in Abeokuta on Friday.

She said that the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, had put in place security strategies to ensure law and order during the election process.

Odutola said that the police would ensure safety of voters and electoral materials.

She urged members of the public to cooperate with the process and avoid interference or taking laws into their hands.

The spokesperson called on politicians and electorates to refrain from acts inimical to election laws such as snatching of ballot boxes, election violence and utterance capable of inciting violence.

“Restriction has been placed between 6:00 a.m and 3:00p.m within the state to ensure a seamless voting process.

“Movement has been initiated to control commercial transporters of all sorts to comply with the process.

“Flash points have been manned by police mobile force, tactical teams and intervention squad as well as plain clothes detectives.

“These operatives have been adequately equipped to clamp down on troublemakers and anyone or groups with nefarious intent to cause mayhem will be arrested and prosecuted,” she said.

Source: NAN

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Tinubu made the assertion on Wednesday during the inauguration of Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover in Rivers State.

Wike invited Tinubu for the inauguration of the project and declared a public holiday for a rousing welcome for him (the president-elect).

Expressing his gratitude to Wike, Tinubu said: “Nyesom, I say thank you for your contribution to my victory. I couldn’t have done it without some structural support.”

Tinubu who pointed out that his presence to perform the inauguration of the flyover for public use was another way of building bridge, most essential for the country also described Wike as a dependable ally who promoted the unity of Nigeria, fairness and championed justice.

The President-elect noted that Governor Wike, without succumbing to gossips and speculations, stood his ground as a principled man and worked for the presidency to come to the South.

“In His Excellency (Nyesom Ezenwo Wike), I see a man of principle, he took a principle stand that the presidency must return to South and he had the courage to stand by his conviction, not minding whose ox is gored. He is indeed a man of great integrity, he did not chose to serve his own interest. Not about him, rather the interest of the nation. You promoted unity, you promoted fairness, you championed justice. Thank you.”

He commended the audacity demonstrated by governor Wike in delivering quality projects to Rivers people to make them happy, create excitement for them and enhanced development across the state.

Reacting to a demand earlier made by Wike, the president-elect said the demand for a refund on the flyover bridges so constructed on federal roads, though a worthy request, should not be borne with the mindset that he is owing the state because the projects are within Rivers and are used by the people.

Tinubu, however, said there would be need for Governor Wike to further discuss the issues with him and intensify his lobby to secure the refund.

The president-elect recalled that he went through gruesome campaign, fought hard, and with the likes of Governor Wike providing structural support, he won the presidential election squarely.

The President-elect commended the Rivers State governor elect, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his electoral victory.

Meanwhile, Wike has drawn the attention of the federal government to the need to amend its procurement law in order to end incessant abandonment of projects that it handles.

Wike, speaking at the inauguration of the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover explained that the current procurement law of the federal government only allowed for about 15/30 per cent to be paid as mobilisation fee to a contractor.

Such meagre sum, he said, usually did not allow the contractor to make appreciable progress on the project before being caught up by inflation effects and high cost of materials, which eventually required variation of the contract terms.

Governor Wike said when he noticed a similar snag in the procurement law in Rivers State, on assumption of duties, he interfaced with the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, who worked together with other lawmakers to amend the then existing law.

With the amended law, Governor Wike emphasized that his administration got the latitude to pay an upward of 70 per cent mobilisation fee to contractors handling various projects in the state.

The governor noted that such practice had led to the great accomplishment recorded in the delivery of development projects in the state by his administration.

Governor Wike said the Phase two of Ahoada-Omoku -Egbema road and the Emohua-Tema Junction road projects that were ongoing were at the cost of N80 billion.

The payment pattern, he explained, that was adopted was a monthly deduction of N4 billion by the contractor from the internally generated revenue of the state, which would last 18 months that the projects would be completed.

Commenting on the 12th flyover bridge, Governor Wike explained that it was one among others started from 2019 and delivered by his administration.

The governor stressed that ordinarily some of the flyovers were on federal roads  and the state should be refunded by the federal government.

He therefore, requested the incoming administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider a possible refund to the Rivers State.

That, he pointed out, would serve as a motivation to other states, which would feel more encouraged to also work on federal roads in their jurisdiction.

In his description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinama Alabo said the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover Bridge was 1007.5 meters long, completed in 8 month instead of 10 months and delivered to eliminate traffic congestion by 98 per cent in the state.

According to him, “the flyover is the longest of the flyovers constructed by the Wike’s administration and has district features because whereas the other eleven flyovers are straight, it has a parabolic curve with a curvature radios of 225 meters.”

In his welcome remark, Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, George Ariolu said the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover was the 12th among similar projects that was conceived and constructed by Governor Wike.

He noted that, as an evidence of the legendary infrastructural achievement of the governor, the 12th flyover had greatly eased vehicular traffic, boosting commerce and improved the aesthetics of the metropolis.

Some of the dignitaries present at the occasion included the wife of the Rivers State governor, Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila;  governors of Oyo State, Seye Makinde; Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa),  Senator Hope Uzodinma (Imo), David Umahi (Ebonyi).

Other are former governors of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili; Chief Abdulkareem Adebisi Bamidele Akande (Osun); James Ibori (Delta); Chief Ayo Fayose (Ekiti); Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Comrade Adams  Oshiomhole  and Chief Timipre  Sylva (Bayelsa).

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INEC had failed to transmit results electronically from polling units nationwide in the February 25 presidential election despite assuring electorates before the election day.

Logistics glitches, violence, intimidation of voters, ballot box-snatching, and insecurity dominated reports from observers and civil society groups.

Speaking during Public Conscience, an anti-corruption radio programme produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja, data analyst at Dataphyte, Dennis Amata, called on INEC to prevent a repeat of logistics and technology glitches, as well as other forms of electoral malpractice ahead of March 11, state elections.

Amata asked the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led commission to adhere to its guidelines and ensure the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and INEC Result Viewing Portal, IREV, works.

Amaka noted that the failure of the electoral body to transmit election results from polling units cast doubt on the credibility of the process.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was declared the winner of the February 25 presidential poll, sparking outrage and dissatisfaction from some political parties, some local and foreign observers, and some electorates over the manual transmission of results.

His words: “INEC must take a big lesson from what we experienced in the general election, which are issues of logistics, the IREV particularly is the major thing.

“INEC must ensure that things work. You (INEC) made a promise. They must keep to that promise. You have regulations and guidelines. Follow the guideline, ensure that the BVAS work properly, and transmit and scan the result uploaded on the IREV so that people at every level can track the result from each level to the final point.

“INEC must also boost security, especially in Lagos state where we had violence in the election. In Rivers also, there were issues of rigging and all of that. Those are comments we have seen. This must also stop. INEC must play its part. Citizens also have their role when voting, counting and ensuring the result is uploaded.”

Similarly, speaking on the integrity and transparency of the 2023 presidential election, Chief Facilitator at Equity Advocate, Ene Ede, stressed that “many things went wrong” while blaming INEC and the National Assembly.

Her words: “We (Civil society organizations) and Nigerians didn’t do enough to hold all stakeholders accountable, media CSOs, faith organizations, we didn’t do enough.

“Let me give you an example. When there was a problem with whether INEC had gotten money, we were not even pushy enough; we were not holding the National Assembly accountable enough. The National Assembly has to bring so much light to each responsibility of holding all stakeholders accountable; they failed in all their functions, even in the appropriation; we are not sure what transpired or how much money was released because we know what the Electoral Act states, so generally, the preparation was not good enough. The failure rests more squarely on the National Assembly, then INEC.”

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The party men and women gathered in Abuja Monday night to listen to the governor who advanced his quest for the party nomination at the party presidential primary coming up later this month.

In a statement by the spokesperson of Udom Emmanuel Presidential Council, Mr. Bola Bolawole, the presidential aspirant was introduced by Senator Gabriel Suswam.

After Emmanuel’s presentation, a cross-section of speakers and former speakers who spoke at the well-attended event were united in the position that the knowledge of the economy, which the aspirant could boast of, was the number one qualification for anyone aspiring to lead Nigeria in 2023.

They also described the turn-around that Akwa Ibom State had witnessed under Emmanuel within a short period as evidence of his ability and capacity to also turn Nigeria around if given the opportunity.

Suswam had earlier said: “Fix the economy and everything else will fall in place.

“We have not as a country had the good fortunes of having as a leader someone with a sound and deep knowledge of the economy like Udom Emmanuel has.

“That is why there is no longer a middle class in the country today. It is either you are rich or you are poor and we have been described as the poverty capital of the world.

“We have had leaders that have been bamboozled over the economy.

“More than ever before, we now need a president with a difference who can take this country to a positive level.

“Unlike them, we are not moving this country from top to bottom but we shall be moving it from bottom where they have dropped it to the top, which is the expectation of Nigerians.

“Nigeria needs a president who is creative and we must move away from primordial sentiments because it has not helped us.

“We must now choose a leader with capacity and capability to deliver the goods. We must choose a leader with requisite training in financial matters and whose track records speak eloquently for him.”

Responding, Emmanuel referred to his training in the leading accounting firm, Pricewaterhouse, and his achievements in the public sector.

He said while the nation’s economy was contracting and shrinking, that of his state was expanding through his ingenuity of creating money in a cash strapped economy.

He said while industries were relocating from Nigeria, Akwa Ibom had attracted not less than 22 new industries through creativity of ideas and innovations that had catapulted the state into the second best Foreign Direct Investment destination, coming only after Lagos.

He said while Nigeria is a net importer of foreign goods, Akwa Ibom now is an exporter of quality products like Made in Nigeria syringes.

“We are even struggling to meet up with demands,” he added.

He also said while Nigeria as a country had been unable to manage an airline, Akwa Ibom’s Ibom Air was one of the best managed airlines in the country today.

Reeling out series of his other achievements as governor, he said if he could do all of those things at the sub-national level where he did not control policies and where frustrations abound, he would do more as president of the country.

He therefore enjoined the speakers and former speakers to take the message to their colleagues that help was on the way and hope was not lost.

“We are coming to rescue and restore the lost glory of this country,” he added.

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In a video which was recorded in Abuja on Tuesday during a visit by a group from Lagos for APC Women Conference, Tinubu said their PVC had expired.

But in a swift reaction, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Tinubu’s claim, declaring that he was incorrect.

According to INEC, the PVCs remained valid.

In his response to the reaction by NEC, Tinubu admitted that he erred and expressed his regret.

Tinubu’s response to the reaction of INEC is contained in a statement issued by his media office.

The statement reads in full:

“On Tuesday night in Abuja, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu granted audience to a delegation of women from Lagos and across the country attending the All Progressives Congress Women Conference.

“While charging the women to check the status of their voting cards and mobilise supporters to vote, he mistakenly used the word ‘expire’ instead of stating that the cards may have to be updated.

“Immediately upon being apprised of this, Asiwaju apologised for the incorrect statement and felt sorry for any confusion it may have caused.

“Asiwaju Tinubu also stressed that he appreciates the patriotic and necessary work of INEC and its personnel in assuring a free and fair electoral process for all Nigerians in all political parties.

“At the meeting convened at the behest of the women, Asiwaju emphasized the need for people to fully participate in elections so we strengthen our democracy. He urged them to continue to mobilise voters to update their PVCs and help thwart the prevailing voter-apathy. Women must mobilise heavily to reverse the trend, he said.

“The gap between those who registered for elections and those who usually turned up to pick their PVCs was wide, adding that such constitutes a serious challenge, which may impede the growth of our democracy.

“Asiwaju Tinubu would like to reiterate this call to women to mobilise at the grassroots levels so that elections reflect the sovereign will of all the people for a true democracy to be established.

“He enjoins them to review their voting details with INEC so that these details will be updated before the coming elections.”

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INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

Okoye said that the slight adjustment for the commencement and closing time for the said election was made in line with the commission’s extant rules and regulations.

He said that voting in respect of the supplementary election for Ihiala council area would commence on Tuesday at 10 am. and end at 4 pm.

“This decision, which will be strictly complied with, has been taken, following a careful review of the prevailing situation in Anambra State and is being widely shared with the stakeholders, including security agencies.

“We urge political parties, voters, election duty officials, election observers, the media and the general public to note this slight modification.

“We also appeal to citizens to conduct themselves in an orderly manner to ensure that the election is brought to a peaceful conclusion,” Okoye said.

INEC had scheduled the supplementary election, following the suspension of collation of the governorship election results, as announced on Sunday by the state Collation/Returning Officer, Prof. Florence Obi.

Source: NAN

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The operation room, according to the spokesman of the command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, is for members of the public to contact the police when necessary to avoid breach of peace.

The step was said to have been taken to ensure the electoral process was free of violence.

The joint operation room which is going to be manned by representatives of all security agencies, the police said, could be contacted through the numbers below in case of any security threat during the period of the election.

The numbers are:

09010979737

08081770416

09010480520

08032136765

08031230631

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The Ogun State electoral body made the announcement through a statement in Abeokuta by its chairman, Mr Babatunde Osibodu.

Osibodu said that OGSIEC had scheduled a briefing for media and representatives of political parties participating in the poll for May 4, as part of efforts to ensure transparency, free and fair electoral process.

He explained that the commission would unveil guidelines for the election at the briefing.

The chairman, therefore, requested all registered political parties wishing to participate in the election to present two representatives at the briefing which, he said, would be in strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.

Source: NAN

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That name may also help the compilers of the dictionary add a new synonym to the word irresponsibility and executive rascality.

I wouldn’t have bothered my head so much about the unusual folly currently being displayed by Trump but for the simple reason that the new madness has a way of permeating and strengthening the bones of our own leaders, most of who have left no one in doubt that they have long signed a pact with the devil. I will look away as much as I can from dwelling on our own leaders in order to stay focused on the subject. Reason is that the case of Nigerian leaders is almost beyond repair.

Trump has defied all known logic and reason. He stands today for everything un-American and has practically rewritten that country’s history in such a very bad way that it has the capacity to affect how our made-in-hell politicians will go henceforth since America, over the years has been the mirror from which democracies in other parts of the world are viewed.

This is the first American President that will tarnish the country’s democratic process by refusing to concede defeat even when his opponent scored the highest popular vote in the history of that country.

As I write, Biden has a comfortable win of 81,272,003 over Trump’s 74,209,273; a difference of over seven million votes with a yawning lead of 306 to 232 in the Electoral College vote.

I wouldn’t have bothered my head so much about the unusual folly currently being displayed by Trump but for the simple reason that the new madness has a way of permeating and strengthening the bones of our own leaders, most of who have left no one in doubt that they have long signed a pact with the devil.

More votes were cast in this year’s presidential election than in any other American election in history and the turnout was the highest in over 100 years with the president-elect, Biden, earning over 80million votes and more than seven million votes over Trump – again the highest ever in history.

But in a shameful attempt to stall the democratic process and the democracy which America has guarded so jealously for over 200 years, Trump and his band of blustering co-travellers of reprehensible record have instituted not less than 46 cases, alleging widespread fraud. So far, none is known to have been upheld, as he has failed to substantiate any of his wild allegations. Most of the cases have been denied, dismissed or withdrawn. One of the judges ruled saying “calling an election unfair does not make it so” and no court has found even one single instance of fraud.

Several states have gone ahead to certify their election results, meanwhile, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Michigan and Nevada, frustrating Trump’s baleful attempt to overturn the results by mounting legal challenges which have failed to show any traction.

Even when nothing points in positive direction for Mr. Trump, he has continued to press on. The bulk of Republican leaders, including former two-term Republican President, George W. Bush have recognised and congratulated Biden as President-elect and Senator Kamala Harris as Vice-President elect and called on Trump to concede.

A group of leading Republican national security experts — including former homeland security secretary, Tom Ridge, have asked congressional Republicans to demand President Trump concede the election and immediately begin the transition to the incoming Biden administration, according to a report by Washington Post.

“President Trump’s refusal to permit the presidential transition poses significant risk  to our national security, at a time when the U.S. confronts a global pandemic and faces serious threats from global adversaries, terrorist groups, and other forces,” according to a statement signed by over 100 Republican leaders.

The signatories included Ridge, the former Pennsylvania governor who served as homeland security secretary under President George W. Bush, former CIA director, Michael Hayden and John D. Negroponte, who served as director of national intelligence, the report further said.

The message called on “Republican leaders — especially those in Congress — to publicly demand that President Trump cease his anti-democratic assault on the integrity of the presidential election.”

A number of perceptive Republican Senators, governors, house of Reps members have also called on Trump to accept defeat and allow the will of Americans, as expressed on November 3 to prevail.

Senator Mitt Romney, a former 2012 presidential candidate from Utah who has served since January 2019 and previously served as the Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 wrote on behalf of himself his wife, Ann.

“We know both of them as people of good will and admirable character,” Romney wrote. “We pray that God may bless them in the days and years ahead.”

Romney also told NBC News reporters as far back as November 10 that Biden should be given the tools to begin a transition.

“It’s very much in our national interest, in our foreign policy interest, national security interest, to make sure that if there’s a new team that may become the leadership team, that they be given all access as quickly as possible.”

Susan Margaret Collins, serving senior Senator for Maine since 1997, released a statement congratulating Biden and Harris on their “apparent victory,” but also acknowledging Trump’s efforts to question the election results. While urging patience during the vote count, Collins, unlike Trump, reaffirmed confidence in the system saying “The process has not failed our country in more than 200 years, and it is not going to fail our country this year.”

There is no doubt that Trump would by all means, vacate the White House, come January 20,2021 and I think he knows. But why he has elected not to tow the line of honour seems to me mysterious.

John Cornyn of Texas, when asked if Biden would be the next president, replied “I haven’t seen anything that would change the outcome.”

Lisa Murkowski of Alaska in her congratulatory statement has even pledged to work with the Biden administration. “While we may not always agree, I will work with them to do what is right for Alaska — just as I will continue to emphasize collaboration and bipartisanship with my colleagues in a narrowly divided Senate,” she wrote.

Jim Risch of Idaho also acknowledged Biden as president-elect, in an interview, saying “This is my second transition where we move from one political party to another in the White House,” adding that the transition “is a change in the music playing in the background.”

There is no doubt that Trump would by all means, vacate the White House, come January 20,2021 and I think he knows. But why he has elected not to tow the line of honour seems to me mysterious.

A number of members of the House of Representatives have expressed support for Biden and Harris. Fred Upton of Michigan raised his hand to work with the president-elect and both sides of the aisle in Congress, saying, “We have to find a way to come together, bridge divisions and focus on solutions that help the millions who are struggling.” Upton quoted Fredrick Douglass in his statement, writing, “I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.”

Francis Rooney of Florida congratulated Biden on a “successful campaign” and called for all Americans “to come together to support” him. Rooney urged bipartisanship, saying “our nation will only be successful if the new admin is.”

Will Hurd of Texas, Tom Reed of New York , Paul Mitchell of Michigan, Denver Riggleman of Virginia John Shimkus of Illinois  Don Bacon of Nebraska, John Curtis of Utah, Don Young of Alaska, Dusty Johnson of South Dakota and Adam Kinzinger of illinois among others have signed in support of the Biden presidency.

Governors too are not left out. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts congratulated the president-elect and vice president-elect on their victory after a “long and divisive campaign.” “It is critical for us all to focus on the very real and immediate challenges facing this nation.”

Phil Scott of Vermont congratulated the next president and vice president on their historic moment, saying it is his “greatest hope that they will be successful in uniting our country and leading us forward through these difficult times.” “The voters have spoken,” Scott said.

 “It is now up to all of us to rise above the anger and divisiveness and to turn our focus to common humanity and love of family, freedom and country. This is what real leadership would call on us to do — win or lose.”

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