Ibori's trial starts in London Court

James Ibori

The trial of the former governor of Delta State, Mr. James Ibori has commenced on Thursday at the Southwark Crown Court, in London.
Reporters were informed that Ibori would not be attending the trial but would only participate via video link.
The trial which was billed to start by 10 am commenced at 10:15 with the trial the Judge, Judge Rivlin ruling that a video link be established to Wandsworth Prisons where Ibori is currently detained.
Mr Ibori dressed in beige jacket and light was asked by the Court clerk via the video link if he was James Ibori, to which he responded with "yes, I am James Ibori". The clerk then read out his charges.
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His lawyer, Mr. Akinsanya, told the judge upon enquiry that the huge cost of bringing former governor to court prompted the video conferencing option used.
Crown prosecutor thereafter sought the leave to be granted an eight-week period in which to serve relevant papers on Ibori since he is said to be involved in another pending trial.
In the end, his aides sought to have the case combined into one, just as the request that was granted by the unnamed trial judge who allowed for consolidation of all the pending cases and also fixed further hearing till June 24.
In his response, the judge replied that it was in the interest of justice that the defendant should be in court at the date scheduled for resumed hearing of the case.
Courtesy Of: Channels TV

Imo Election Stalemate:INEC to Hold Supplementary Elections in Four LGAs

Following the April 26th,2011 Governorship Elections in Imo State which the Returning Officer ruled inconclusive,the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled supplementary election to hold in selected areas on Friday,May 6th,2011.

The supplementary election will hold in four (4) local government areas namely Ngor-Okpalla,Mbaitoli,Oguta and Egbema,as well as in Orji ward in Owerri North local government area.

 

INEC urges all stakeholders to ensure the highest level of integirty and good conduct in the supplementary election to allow for smooth conclusion of the governorship poll.

Courtesy Of: Channels TV

Ajimobi to probe Alao-Akala’s administration

Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Governor Elect

Oyo State Governor-elect, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has given an indication that his administration would, upon assumption of office on May 29, probe the activities of the outgoing government of Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala.
He gave the indication while addressing journalists at his Oluyole Extension, Ibadan residence on Thursday.
He spoke about the same time that Alao-Akala and the governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, issued separate statements congratulating him on his victory in the Tuesday governorship election.
Ajimobi had polled 420,852 votes against Alao-Akala’s 387,132 votes and Senator Rashidi Ladoja’s 275,773 votes to emerge the winner of the race.
The governor-elect said it was normal for a new administration to review the activities of the past government with a view to ascertaining the position of the state.
He said, “When one takes over newly, there is always the need to review all past activities to ascertain where we were before; where we are now and, of course, where we are going.
“If you call our efforts at reviewing the state’s activities a probe or an audit, so be it. Probing is auditing and stocktaking.
“If in the process of stocktaking, you found out that some stocks are missing, well ... it is auditing.”
He however extended his hands of fellowship to Alao-Akala and Ladoja, promising to form “a rainbow government of transformation.”
He said the good fight put up by Alao-Akala brought out the best in him (Ajimobi) and proved that God and the people were with him.
“Ours will be a government of transformation, reformation and repositioning. Our goal is to place Oyo State in the league of comfortable progressive states and not in the precipice,” he added.
Meanwhile, Alao-Akala, in a statement he personally signed on Thursday, described Ajimobi’s victory as “hard-won” and wished him a successful tenure and God’s guidance as he stirs the ship of the state for the next four years.
He said, “Though bickering and though words were exchanged in the weeks leading to the elections, I was convinced that he (Ajimobi) and I are able to grapple with the vast difference between personal foes and political opposition.
“To my mind, we both desire to serve our people, therefore, the hot exchanges were a reflection of our individual views on burning issues concerning the development of our state rather than anything personal.

“This statement by me is necessary to stem further tension in our state, so that our people can get on with their lives.”
Alao-Akala said that his administration had laid a profound legacy that would make it easy for the incoming administration to build on.
While congratulating Ajimobi, Ladoja on his part prayed that God gave the governor-elect the wisdom, patience and strength to face the challenges ahead in transforming the state into a true pace-setting state, full of opportunities for the people.
“I wish you could use your position to bring about total reconciliation of all peoples of Oyo State, who have been traumatised over the past four years.”
By Olalekan Adetayo, Ibadan         Courtesy Of: Punch

INEC meets over Imo election deadlock

Protests broke out in some parts of Asaba, Delta State and Owerri, Imo State over Tuesday’s governorship elections.
While in Asaba, more than 5,000 supporters of Democratic Peoples Party candidate, Great Ogboru took to the streets protesting the declaration of incumbent Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan as winner, youths in Owerri demanded the release of the results of the poll in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had on Tuesday suspended the announcement of the governorship election on the grounds that it was inconclusive.
In Asaba, the supporters of Ogboru, who came second in the poll, alleged that INEC manipulated the results in favour of the incumbent governor.
Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic scored 525,793 against Ogboru’s 433,834 and Action Congress of Nigeria’s candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege’s 15,526.
But shortly after INEC Returning Officer in the state, Prof Abhulimhen Anao, announced the result, more Ogboru’s supporters hit the streeets to protest the results.
They distrupted both commercial and social activities in Asaba for several hours. Traders were seen shutting down their stalls while business premises were securely locked by workers to avoid looting.
But no life was lost and no injuries were recorded during the protest which was well controlled by policemen.
Our correspondent in the state gathered that the protest started around the popular Ogbogonogo Market and then spread to some major streets in the city.
Ogboru later arrived at the scene in a convoy of four jeeps and about 10 buses to address the protesters.
Our correspondent also saw him making frantic calls to the leaders of his supporters in Warri to ensure that protest did not also break out in the volatile oil-rich city.
Thursday’s verdict marked the third in about four years that Ogboru would lose governorship elections in the state.
The PDP also cleared most of the house of assembly seats in the state while a few were said to be inconclusive.
The DPP Chief Agent in the state, Mr. Fred Olokor, had after the announcement of the results refused to sign the result sheet.
Alleging that massive fraud was perpetrated during the poll, he said that the DPP would again challenge the results at the tribunal.
Reacting to his victory and protest, Uduaghan urged those who were dissatisfied with the outcome of the poll to approach the election tribunal.
He said, “I thank God and Deltans for this victory. And for those who did not support me during the election, I have listened to you and I know all the issues you have raised.
“But it is not right for our young people to be exposed to this kind of violence (protest) at this time. Everyone who feels dissatisfied with the results should go to the election tribunal.’’
In Owerri, aggrieved youths, who had besieged the INEC office, heightened tension in the city when they took to the streets calling for the immediate release of the governorship poll.
The youths, and a few elderly protesters, carried placards and chanted songs of freedom as they patrolled major roads such as Owerri-Port Harcourt, House of Assembly , World Bank, among others. Some of their placards read “Rochas is the man we want,”, “we need a change in Imo” and “Declare Rochas Okorocha the winner.”
As they moved round parts of the city with armed soldiers and riot policemen ensuring that they did not resort to violence, they threatened to burn down INEC office if the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, was not declared the winner of the election.
Four vehicles, including an FG marked Toyota Hiace, were also damaged. It was gathered that many government officials no longer move around in their sport utility vehicles to avoid being attacked by the aggrieved youths.
INEC has, however, appealed for patience over the Imo governorship election, saying it would meet today to take a final decision over the deadlock.
The commission said it had consulted with its lawyers for advice on the next line of action following difficulties experienced during the conduct of the poll.
A statement by Mr. Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, also urged all those directly involved in the conduct of the elections to await further instructions the headquarters.
Idowu said, “The commission is scheduled to meet tomorrow (today) to take a final decision. INEC hereby urges everyone concerned to be patient and await further directives, which will be communicated as soon as a decision is taken.
“The commission also urges everyone to be peaceful and avoid taking the laws into their hands.”
Meanwhile, in Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai of the PDP garnered 361,176 votes to beat his closest rival, M. Mustapha of Congress for Progressive Change,who polled 176,342 votes. Governor Jonah Jang scored 823,536 votes in Plateau State to beat his closest challenger, Mrs. Pauline Tallen of the Labour Party. Tallen garnered 494,975 votes.
By Emmanuel Addeh, Simon Utebor and John Alechenu              Courtesy Of: Punch

... jubilation halted in Ogbomoso as Ibadan goes agog

The jubilant atmosphere in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, in the early hours of Wednesday in anticipation of victory for the state governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, in the state governorship election disappeared as soon as it was announced that the governor lost the election.
Earlier in the day, many Ogbomoso indigenes had taken to town, declaring that the governor had been re-elected.
Men, women, artisans and youths danced to the tunes supplied by a roving musician.
Motorcycle riders displayed with their bikes and thugs took to the streets in large numbers.
But in the evening when the news filtered in that the Action Congress of Nigeria governorship candidate, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, won the election, the rhythm stopped abruptly and soberness replaced jubilation.
Many traders hurriedly closed shops for fear of attack by aggrieved supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in the town.
The loss was discussed in hushed tones and some visited the governor’s family house in Taraa and his residence located at Randa to sympathise with the family.
In the contrary, Ibadan, Oyo State capital was in festive mood on Thursday following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Ajimobi as winner.
Our correspondent learnt that there was free supply of bottles of beer on Wednesday night in some bars around Mokola, Agbowo, Samonda, Sango and Eleyele.
But the celebration was postponed to Thursday when news spread that curfew had been imposed on the state.
But on Thursday, broom-wielding residents of the state capital stormed major roads to continue celebration of the victory.
Most of them displayed campaign posters of Ajimobi, they rode on motorcycles and cars round the town, singing victory songs.
The story was the same in Mokola, Agodi, Bodija, Mobil, Challenge, Oluyole and Molete, among other areas in the metropolis.
Many of them besieged the Oluyole Extension residence of the governor-elect, where he addressed them.
In another development, the Oyo State Police Command has called for an end to the public celebration that greeted the declaration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the governor-elect of the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Saliu Hashimu, disclosed this to journalists in Ibadan, the state capital on Thursday.
Hashimu said that it was against the Public Order Act for any group of individuals to demonstrate or jubilate along major streets without police permit.
By Olalekan Adetayo and Gbenga Adeniji          Courtesy Of: Punch

Security agents subject outgoing NASS members to search

Security agents at the National Assembly in Abuja are conducting a stop-and search on the vehicles of some outgoing senators and members of the House of Representatives.
Investigations by The PUNCH on Thursday indicated that security personnel got a directive to “closely monitor” the vehicles, usually in the possession of drivers and political aides, soon after the April 9 National Assembly election was concluded.
The tenure of the current legislature will come to an end on May 29.
Our correspondent learnt that the majority of the outgoing senators and members of the House of Representatives were still in their respective constituencies and were not expected to resume before May 3.
However, their aides and drivers were said to be driving in and out of the National Assembly complex in suspicious circumstances while their bosses were away for electioneering.
The development reportedly forced the bureaucracy of the National Assembly to introduce surveillance measures, including a random stop and search of the vehicles driven by the aides.
A National Assembly source told our correspondent on Thursday that “The legislative session is coming fast to an end and a new one is to about to start.
“We have to take stock of all National Assembly property; it is expected that all manner of movement will be taking place within this period.
“What is happening is just a proactive measure; nobody is being targeted for anything.”
Investigations showed that on Tuesday, April 19, some legislative aides had an altercation with policemen at the second gate of the National Assembly.
The row reportedly resulted from a protest by the aides, who were said to have opposed the insistence by the policemen to search their vehicle, a Peugeot 407 car.
When contacted, the Sergeant-At-Arms of the National Assembly, Col. Emeka Okere (retd.), claimed that the stop-and search was a routine exercise and not directed at senators and members of the House.
Okere clarified that a vehicle conveying a senator or member of the House would not be searched, as doing so could mean being disrespectful to their position as lawmakers.
“Nobody is searching senators or members; we can’t do that. These are men of honour.
“But, legislative aides? Yes, their vehicles can be searched in the course of routine security checks so long as their bosses are not inside the vehicles.
“Our men cannot search a vehicle if a lawmaker is inside”, Okere told our correspondent in a telephone interview in Abuja.
By John Ameh, Abuja                Courtesy Of: Punch

Ladoja, others blame Obasanjo for PDP’s failure

The governorship candidate of the Accord Party in Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has attributed the failure of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South West during the last general elections to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Ladoja, who was a member of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, apportioned the blame in a post-election press conference at his Bodija, Ibadan residence on Thursday.
He said that Obasanjo was the architect of the party’s downfall because he remained an ungrateful man.
He recalled how he persuaded some other unnamed persons to invite Obasanjo to contest the 1999 presidential election on the platform of the party.
The former governor regretted that the former president soon began to lord it over other party chiefs who made him.
He said, “I have not seen him (Obasanjo) but I know that he will be a sad man wherever he is now.
“We parted ways because I told him he could not run for third term.”
Similarly, prominent leaders from the Ogun West Senatorial District of Ogun State have accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of scuttling the ambition of the area to produce a successor to Otunba Gbenga Daniel in the last governorship elections
They accused Obasanjo of using a Yewa indigene, Chief Adetunji Olurin, to play “the spoilers show”, thus denying the Yewa/Awori people the opportunity, which had eluded them since the state was created over 35 years ago.
Speaking during what they described as an “appreciative visit” to the Asoludero Court, Sagamu residence of the state Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Thursday, the Ogun West leaders including the former Minister of State for Education, Mrs. Iyabo Anisulowo, the Asiwaju of Aworiland, Senator Ayo Otegbola, Chief Alamu Alagbe, Dr Dele Ogunsiji, Chief Sina Adeboye and Chief (Mrs) Iyabo Apampa among others, castigated Obasanjo for the botched Yewa Awori agenda.
“Chief Obasanjo used Gen Adetunji Olurin to destablise us for his own ulterior motive and despite all efforts, Chief Olurin refused to step down for our consensus candidate,” Otegbola said.
But the former President through the Chairman of Media and Publicity of Olurin’s campaign, Chief Lai Labode, stated that the group of elders should be blamed for the botched Yewa/Awori agenda.
“Obasanjo worked tirelessly, spending his time and resources to ensure that a Yewa man in person of Chief Adetunji Olurin became the governor but all the efforts were thwarted by certain identifiable leaders from the area,” he stated.
Olusegun Obasanjo also blamed the Peoples Democratic Party loss of Ogun State on the people’s frustration with the style of governance of the Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s led administration.
Obasanjo, in his reaction to the loss of the state to the opposition party, Action Congress of Nigeria, in the governorship election said that the people of the state decided to vote for the ACN and not his candidate, Chief Adetunji Olurin, because of the pervading frustration of the people of the state with the PDP-led government in the last eight years.
Meanwhile Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has advised ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to retire from active politics.
In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, on Thursday, Aregbesola said it was high time Obasanjo quit politics and took a deserved rest.
According to the governor, the former president should preoccupy himself with his United Nations peacekeeping duty rather than engage in local politics.
Aregbesola described Obasanjo as a statesman, who had served the country to the best of his ability.
He said, “There are political problems in Libya, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Tunisia, Uganda, among other African countries. Former President Obasanjo should help in these areas as an eminent citizen of the world.”
By Tunde Odesola, Francis Falola, Sesan Olufowobi and Olalekan Adetayo, Courtesy Of: Punch

ACN rejects results in Kwara, heads for court

The Caretaker Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria, Kwara State, Mr. Kayode Olawepo, has said the party has rejected the results of Tuesday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in Kwara State.
He added that the party would go to court over what he called the irregularities and massive electoral malpractices allegedly perpetrated by the Peoples Democratic Party and the Kwara State Government .
Speaking during a media briefing in Ilorin on Thursday, Olawepo said, “We reject the outcome of the elections because it does not reflect the true wishes of our people. In too many places, people were prevented from exercising their right to vote. Where voting took place, results were sexed up to favour the PDP. It is on the basis of this that we instructed our chief agent not to sign the result because we are heading to court to challenge these anomalies to restore the mandate of our people.”
He alleged that in Budo Egba, Asa Local Government, five ballot papers were given to each voter to thumb print, saying that the ACN supervisor there was tied to a tree and already thumb printed ballot papers were stuffed in the ballot box.
He also alleged that there was intimidation of the party’s agents and electorate, underage voting and multiple thumb printing by the PDP people. According to him, some security agencies were compromised or felt unconcerned while the alleged malpractices went on.
Also the governorship candidate of the ACN in Kwara State, Mr. Dele Belgore, said the party would defend what he called the right and mandate of the people, saying he would have congratulated the winner if the election was credible, free and fair.
Belgore said, “The people and their will can not be silenced. The force of change can not be held back. Personally, I believe that I am the people’s governor. The people have voted for me and it is my duty and responsibility to continue to fight to win that mandate.”
Meanwhile, members of The Kwara Patriots have said the elections were free and fair and advised the ACN to put in place what they called credible leadership at the state level.
By Success Nwogu, Ilorin        Courtesy Of: Punch

Police arraign lawmaker over possession of gun

A member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Bisi Kolawole, was on Thursday arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti for illegal possession of gun and other dangerous weapons during the last legislative poll in the state.
Kolawole, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party representing Efon Constituency at the House of Assembly, was arraigned before Magistrate Richard Adegboye on a two-count charge.
The charge sheet reads, “That you, Hon. Bisi Kolawole ‘m’ on the 26th day of April, 2011 at about 1100 hours, at Efon-Alaaye in Efon Magisterial District, did act in a disorderly manner to disrupt the National Assembly, State House of Assembly election of Ekiti Central Senatorial District and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 128 of the Electoral Act 2010.
“That you, Hon. BIsi Kolawole ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did possess an offensive weapon such as gun and cartridges within a distance of 300 metres of a polling unit and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 129 (1) (f) of the Electoral Act 2010.”
The prosecution counsel, Mr. A. E. Arogundade, told the court that the offence committed by the lawmaker was punishable under section 128 of the Electoral Act 2010.
But the lawmaker, who was represented by his counsel, Mr. Lekan Olatawura, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
The counsel, who prayed the judge to admit the legislator to bail on personal recognition, argued that the offences preferred against his client was a bail-able one.
The prosecution counsel did not object to the bail application.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Richard Adegboye, admitted the lawmaker to bail on personal recognition and adjourned the case till May 30 further hearing.
By Femi Makinde, Ado-Ekiti             Courtesy Of: Punch

Polls: Mixed fortunes for governors

It was a tale of shocking upsets as results of Tuesday’s governorship election trickled in, with some incumbents tumbling out of power.
Two suprising upsets were the governors of Oyo and Nasarawa states — Adebayo Alao-Akala and Aliyu Akwe-Doma — respectively.
Against some permutations, both first term governors, incidentally of the Peoples Democratic Party, were defeated in the fierce contest.
While Alao-Akala lost to Abiola Ajimobi of the Action Congress of Nigeria by 387,132 votes to 420,822, Akwe-Doma’s 320,574 ballots could not stand the 324,823 votes picked by Alhaji Tanko Almakura of the Congress for Progressive Change.
A surprising outcome in the contest in Oyo State was Senator Rashidi Ladoja of the Accord Party, who came a strong third with 275,773 votes.

However, a number of first term governors got re-elected.

They include the governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Sullivan Chime(Enugu), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Sule Lamido(Jigawa), Theodore Orji(Abia), Gabriel Suswam(Benue) and Saidu Dakingari(Kebbi).
Fashola of the Action Congress of Nigeria, polled 1,509,138 to beat his closest rival, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, who got 300,450.
Geidam of the All Nigeria Peoples Party returned as Yobe governor with 436,998 votes, pushing Usman Albishir (PDP), to second place with 195,449 ballots.
Chime (PDP) scored 419,138 to beat Okey Ezea of the Labour Party (29,565); Akpabio (PDP) clinched 957,585 votes against 163,449 by his closest challenger, John Akpanudoedehe (ACN). Amaechi (PDP) polled 1,178,529 votes to beat his main rival, Mr. Celestine Omehia of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, who got 112,528 votes.

Shema was declared winner of the election in Katsina with 1,027,912 votes while his main challenger, Aminu Masari (CPC), got 555,769. Dakingari (PDP) garnered 559,424 ballots to beat Abubakar Mallam (CPC), who got 326,482.
Another returnee governor, Lamido polled 676,307 votes to defeat his close rival, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar of ACN, who scored 343,177.
In Abia, Orji (PDP) was re-elected. He polled 641,158 votes to beat his closest opponent, Reagan Ufomba (All Progressive Grand Alliance), who secured 49,421 votes.
Governor Suswam (PDP) secured a second term by polling 568,129 votes against 499,646 votes by Steven Ugbah (ACN).
Some newcomers to governorship seats are Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Ahmed Abdulfatih (Kwara) and Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe).
Shettima scored 531,378 votes to beat Mohammed Goni (PDP) who got 450,140 votes; Dankwambo garnered 596,481 votes to beat his closest contestant, Abubakar Aliu (CPC), who polled 91,781 votes.
Abdulfatih (PDP) won by 254,969 to the 152,580 votes by Dele Belgore (ACN).
By Our correspondents           Courtesy Of: Punch

ACN sweeps South-West states

The Action Congress of Nigeria has confirmed its emergence as the new dominant political party in the South-West as it won Tuesday’s governorship seats in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States.
It also recorded more than 90 per cent performance in the legislative elections which also held the same day with the three states.
The Peoples Democratic Party had produced five governors in the South-West while the ACN produced one during the 2007 governorship poll. But the PDP later lost Ondo to the Labour Party as well as Ekiti and Osun states to the ACN through the courts.
ACN’s victory in Lagos on Wednesday has put to rest the ‘ political war’ declared on the state by the PDP with the re-election of Governor Babatunde Fashola.
In Ogun and Oyo states, the ACN also made nonsense of the political bravado of PDP chieftains like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Gbenga Daniel.
ACN’s candidate in the poll, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, floored PDP’s candidate, Maj.-Gen. Adetunji Olurin (retd.) and Peoples Party of Nigeria’s candidate, Mr. Gboyega Isiaka, by scoring 377, 487 votes.
While Olurin, who is Obasanjo’s candidate garnered only 188, 698 votes, Isiaka, who was sponsored by Daniel had 137, 051 votes. Labour Party’s Chief Olajide Awosedo garnered 4, 109 ballots.
At the Independent National Electoral Commission collation centre in Lagos, the Chief Returning Officer, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, who declared Fashola as the winner, said he scored 1, 509,113, representing 81.03 per cent of the total valid votes cast.
His closest opponent, Dr. Ade Dosumu, came a distant second by polling 300,450 votes, representing 16.13 per cent of the votes cast.
Fourteen other candidates representing different political parties, including the Congress for Progressive Change and the National Advance Party, participated in the poll.
Akinterinwa said having satisfied the requirement of the electoral law Fashola was qualified to rule the state for another four years.
Jubilation broke out among the ACN supporters led by the party agent , Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi , as soon as the professor of international relations declared Fashola the winner of the election.
Afikuyomi said that the massive votes recorded by President Jonathan Goodluck during the April 16 presidential election created tension among the ACN members.
Earlier, Akinterinwa had declared that the ACN won all the 40 seats in the House of Assembly election.
In Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, INEC Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Olaiya Balogun, explained that Amosun did not only score the highest number of votes cast, he also recorded the mandatory 25 per cent total votes cast in two-third of the state.
He said, “The relevant electoral law stipulates that candidate to be declared must certify two conditions. The first condition is 25 percent of total votes cast in two third of the state and the second condition is that he must score the highest votes cast.
“The ACN candidate scored over and above 25 percent in all the 20 local government areas in the state. Amosun having certified the requirement of law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared as the winner of the election,” he stated.
Amosun, while speaking with journalists at the INEC premises in Abeokuta, dedicated his victory to God and to the people of Ogun.
The governor-elect, who ran for the same post in 2007 on the platform of All Nigeria Peoples Party but lost to the outgoing governor, said he had put the experience behind him.
He added that INEC had used his declaration now to right the wrong it allegedly perpetrated during the 2007 election.
The governor-elect, who trekked from the NNPC junction to the INEC office, about 500 metres away, was accompanied by a crowd of party faithful.
In Ekiti, where only the legislative polls took place on Tuesday, the ACN defeated the PDP by winning all three senatorial seats and the six seats at the House of Representatives.

The ACN also won 24 seats in the state House of Assembly, losing only two to the PDP.

The three senators-elect are the former Managing Editor of The News, Mr. Babafemi Ojudu; Mr. Olu Adetumbi; and Chief Tony Adeniyi.
Ojudu scored 67,747 votes to defeat a former governor of the state, Mr. Ayo Fayose, who polled 29,773 ballots.
In Ekiti North, Adetumbi scored 58,568 votes to beat Senator Ayo Arise of the PDP, who scored 38,422 votes.
In Ekiti South Senatorial District, Chief Tony
Adeniyi won with 70,360 votes in Ekiti South to beat incumbent Senator Sola Akinyede of the PDP, who polled
43,537 ballots.
Those who won the House of Representative election include Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, Mr. Bimbo Daramola, Mr. Ife Arowosoge and Mr. Bamidele Faparusi.
Governorship election did not take place in the state because Governor Kayode Fayemi of the ACN is yet to complete his tenure in office.
Fayemi, who thanked the people of the state for voting massively for the ACN said that the victory had further established that the party was fully on ground in the state.
He said, “Ekiti people have shown that they are moving towards the direction of the progressives where other Yoruba states belong. They are also following the train of change which began in Lagos.”
During the April 9 National Assembly elections, the ACN won 13 seats in the Senate out of the 72 seats so far declared, while PDP won 45. It also won 47 seats in the House of Representatives out of 234 seats declared so far.The PDP won 123.
Story by: Francis Falola, Sesan Olufowobi, Segun Olugbile, Femi Makinde, Dayo Oketola and Allwell Okpi.
Courtesy Of: Punch

Ajimobi beats Alao-Akala in Oyo

Senator Abiola Ajimobi Governor Elect

The governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Wednesday emerged the winner of the governorship election held in the state on Tuesday.
Ajimobi defeated Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Governor Rashidi Ladoja of the Accord Party to emerge the governor.
According to the result released by the state Returning Officer, Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, the governor-elect polled a total of 420, 852 votes against Alao-Akala’s 387,132 votes and Ladoja’s 275,773 votes to emerge the winner of the contest.
He won in 17 out of the 33 local government areas in the state. Alao-Akala won in 12 while Ladoja won in four councils.
The governor-elect also secured a minimum of 25 per cent of total votes cast in 26 local governments of the state while Alao-Akala had 25 per cent in 22 local governments. Ladoja got same in 10 local governments.
Ajimobi had, in 2007, contested the governorship election on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party against Alao-Akala and lost.
Although he was believed by many to have won the election, he sought redress up to the Court of Appeal, the highest level allowed by law, but without success.

He later joined the ACN where he emerged the party’s governorship candidate.

Penultimate week, some leaders of thought in Ibadanland under the auspices of the Ibadan Elders’ Forum had endorsed him as the best among the three leading contenders.
Their endorsement drew the ire of Alao-Akala and Ladoja, who insisted that the elders could not impose their decision on the people of the state.
Ladoja had at different times rebuffed pleas by well-meaning individuals and groups for him to step down for Ajimobi.
With Alao-Akala’s defeat, the governor failed in his bid to break the jinx that no governor of the state had succeeded in securing second term in office.
There was however tension in some parts of the state as some supporters of the PDP-led by the state deputy governor, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, went on wild jubilation on major streets despite the party’s loss in the election.
Security was quickly beefed up in the state capital with various security agencies patrolling the streets in convoy.
For the House of Assembly election, ACN won 14 seats; PDP won 10 while AP won eight.
One of the major casualties of the election is the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Moroof Atilola, who lost his re-election bid.
Meanwhile, the ACN has been declared the winner of the rescheduled election into the Ibadan North West/ South West Federal Constituency held alongside the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
With the victory, ACN and the PDP have five seats each in the House of Representatives while AP has four.
By Olalekan Adetayo, Ibadan           Courtesy Of: Punch

Fashola floors Dosunmu, others to retain Lagos gov seat

Lagos State Governor elect, Babatunde Raji Fashola

The Chief Returning Officer, Independent National Electoral Commission in Lagos State, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, on Wednesday declared the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), as the winner of the April 26 governorship election in the state.
The election, which many had thought would be a close contest between Fashola and the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, turned out to be a one-sided affair as the ACN candidate scored 1, 509,113, representing 81.03 per cent of the total valid votes to beat the PDP candidate to a distant second.
Dosunmu polled 300,450, representing 16.13 per cent of the votes, to come a distant second in the election. The ACN also won all the 40 seats in the state House of Assembly.
Fourteen other candidates, representing political parties, including the Congress for Progressive Change and the National Advance Party, participated in the poll.
He said having satisfied the requirement of the electoral law, Fashola was qualified to rule the state for four more years.
Jubilation broke out among the ACN supporters, led by the party agent at the collation centre at the Lagos INEC office, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, as soon as the Professor of International Relations at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, declared Fashola the winner of the election.
Speaking with our correspondent after Fashola was declared the winner, Afikuyomi, who is also the state Commissioner for Tourism, described the victory as a well-deserved one.
“The election was free and fair, the collation process was transparent and acceptable to us and the whole process has shown that INEC’s promise that the votes of voters will count has been kept. In fact, Prof. Jega has come to prove to us that he is a man of his words.”
Asked what magic the ACN that lost the presidential election on April 16 did to turn the table against the PDP in the governorship election, Afikuyomi said that hardwork, the party’s reputation and the enviable performance of Fashola tilted the election in favour of his party.
Afikuyomi added that the massive votes recorded by the candidate of the PDP, President Jonathan Goodluck, during the presidential election also created tension among the ACN members.
This, he said, forced the party to increase the intensity of its campaign and political strategies, adding that this contributed to the landslide victory recorded by the party in the generally peaceful election.
He denied insinuations that Jonathan won in Lagos because of an alleged collaboration with the President, saying that Lagosians were peculiar voters who could decide to vote for any candidate of their choice without being tele-guided.

He, however, said that if the ACN/CPC alliance had worked out, the voting pattern might have changed.

Earlier, Akinterinwa had also declared that the ACN also won all the 40 seats in the House of Assembly election, with the party candidate in Eti-Osa 2 state constituency scoring 11,214 to beat the son of Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Ibrahim Obanikoro, who scored 9,446 votes.
He also added that the incumbent Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, was re-elected after he polled 16,348 votes to beat the PDP candidate, who scored 8,853, to clinch the Ikeja 2 State Constituency ticket.
Giving a further breakdown of the results on local council basis, Akinterinwa said that Fashola scored 55, 108 of the 74,698 total votes cast as against the 16,218 garnered by Dosumu in Ikeja Local Government.
He also said that Fashola polled 52, 130 votes to defeat his closest rival, Dosumu, who scored 14, 147 votes in Eti-Osa Local Government.
Fashola also garnered 38,201 of the 50,623 valid votes to beat Dosumu, who scored 8,828 in Apapa Local Government.
Akinterinwa also said that the incumbent governor also defeated the PDP candidate in Epe Local Government with a vote of 24,983 as against Dosumu’s 5,610 votes.
By Segun Olugbile and Dayo Oketola                  Courtesy Of: Punch

Amosun beats Olurin, Isiaka, emerges governor-elect

The Action Congress of Nigeria governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, was on Wednesday declared the winner of the governorship election in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Returning Officer for the governorship election, Prof. Olaiya Balogun, who announced the results on Tuesday in Abeokuta, said Amosun polled 377,487 votes to emerge winner.
He also said that the PDP governorship candidate, Maj.-Gen. Adetunji Olurin (retd.), came second with 188,698 votes, while his Peoples Party of Nigeria counterpart, Mr Gboyega Isiaka, scored 137,051 votes to emerge third.
The returning officer put the total votes cast at 764,384, out of which 34,713 votes were rejected, with 729,671 as the total valid votes cast during the election.
Balogun, the Vice-Chancellor of University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said that Amosun scored 25 per cent votes in all the 20 local government areas of the state.

The governor-elect vowed not to abuse the goodwill enjoyed from the people of the state.

Both Amosun and the chairman of the party, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello, spoke in separate interviews with journalists in Abeokuta on Wednesday shortly after the declaration of the governorship election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Amosun, who in his reaction ascribed his victory to God, vowed to carry all the people of the state along irrespective of political differences.
“If you are a governor, you are a governor for everybody, including the outgoing. From today, I believe we are all one irrespective of political parties. So, I am going to carry everybody along,” he stated.
He promised that his administration in the state would not witchhunt anybody while describing his own reaction promised that the people of the state would enjoy good governance under the ACN-led administration.
He attributed the victory of the ACN at the poll to the people’s disenchanted with the performance of the Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s led PDP administration in the state.
“We are taking our victory as a challenge and we are not going to abuse the goodwill and confidence reposed in us by the electorate. We are aware that we must not be disconnected from the people, because as a government, in as much as you remain connected with the people, you will be relevant,” he stated.
He stated that the emphasis of the ACN government in the state would be on the development of education from primary to secondary and tertiary education; provision of good roads and qualitative healthcare among others.
By Francis Falola, Sesan Olufowobi, Abeokuta, with agency report           Courtesy Of: Punch

Ngige wins senatorial re-run in Anambra

FORMER Governor of Anambra State and candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Dr. Chris Ngige, was on Wednesday declared the winner of the Anambra Central senatorial district re-run election by the Independent National Electora Commission.
Announcing the results in Awka, the Returning Officer, Prof. Charles Esimone, said Ngige polled 69,765 votes to defeat former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili of All Progressive Grand Alliance, who scored 69,292 votes.
Reacting to the victory, Ngige, who waited at the Awka South INEC office where the results were announced, described his victory as that of the whole state.
The re-run was conducted as a result of the inconclusiveness of the election in seven wards in the zone on April 9.
While declaring the election as inconclusive on April 11, Esimone announced that the APGA candidate polled 66,263 votes while Ngige scored 65,576 votes and Annie Okonkwo of the Peoples Democratic Party got 19,999 votes.
Meanwhile, Akunyili on Wednesday said she would not congratulate Ngige because he did not win by fair means.
Akunyili, who spoke to journalists at her Agulu home in Anambra State, said the rerun was fraught with violence, intimidation and rigging, which denied her many supporters the opportunity to vote.
“If Ngige had won a free and fair contest without rigging, without intimidation and without violence, I would have congratulated him yesterday night and not even this morning,” Akunyili said.
“I feel pained by what happened yesterday not because I was not declared winner, but because of the level of violence and intimidation that took place,” she stressed.
The APGA candidate, who said she reported the happenings at the rerun centres to the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, said, “The governor told me that he had the capacity to match force with force, but that he would not do so because it would lead to bloodshed.”
She however said that in spite of the pain of losing the election through unfair means, she was not bitter about it. “I wish everybody luck and God’s choicest blessings,” she added.
The former minister said she would proceed on a vacation to spend time with her family.
She said she would later consult with the Anambra State Governor, her party, and her family to decide on what next line of action to take.
By Emmanuel Obe with agency report              Courtesy Of: Punch

How Ajimobi of Action Congress Sacked Governor Akala

Senator Abiola Ajimobi Governor Elect

With  fifty  armed soldiers and policemen, providing security cover, the deciding votes in Oyo State from Ibadan South West were unfurled at  6:30pm, with the  ACN winning with 46,695 votes followed by PDP with 18,641  and Accord with 17,436.
It was the last rite in the arduous task of compiling the result of Tuesday’s governorship election in Oyo state, southwest of Nigeria. But the ultimate outcome did not fulfil the wish of the incumbent Adebayo Alao Akala.
According to  Professor Olufemi Bamiro, the returning officer,  the  Action Congress Candidate, Abiola Ajumobi  got 420, 852 votes  to defeat the  PDP Candidate and incumbent, who got 387,132. A former governor of the state, Rasheed Ladoja who ran on the platform of the  Accord Party got  275,773 votes.
Other results are, AD 5, 763, ANPP 4, 925, APGA 1,700, APS 1,040, CPC 15,797, FPN 620, LP 2508, MPPP820, NCP 1,442, NTP 2,168, RPN 362 and UNDP 929.
Profesor Bamiro stated that for any candidate to win, he must not have less than 25 percent in at least 22 local government saying that Ajimobi has 25 percent of 26 local government while PDP has 22. After the party representatives signed the result,  Bamiro at 7.20 pm  declared Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the winner of the election and  the governor elect of the state.
Professor Bamiro disclosed that total number of registered voters in the state was  2,651,842 and  total valid votes 1, 125,090.
The result of the election has now effectively brought five  states in South western Nigeria—Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Lagos and Osun, under the political control of the Action Congress. The sixth state, Ondo, is being controlled by the Labour Party.
By Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan         Courtesy Of PM News

Fashola, Chime in, Alao-Akala out

Lagos State Governor elect, Babatunde Raji Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SN), secured a second term ticket in results of Tuesday‘s governorship election declared today.
Fashola beat his closest rival, Dr. Ade Dosunmu of the Peoples Democratic Party, by 1,509,138 to 300,450.

Others who were declared winners include Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Theodore Orji (Abia); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); and Gabriel Suswam (Benue).

However, Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala was beaten by the Action Congress of Nigeria candidate, Abiola Ajimobi.
The election in Imo State was declared inconclusive.

 Courtesy Of: Punch

Election Result

Lagos Guber: 

INEC official result - ACN 1,509,113. PDP 300,450. Babatunde Fashola re-elected gov.

Ogun Guber: 

Senator Ibikunle Amosun Declared Winner, INEC official result - ACN 377,487. PDP 188,698, PPN 137,051.

Enugu Guber: 

Gov. Sullivan Chime Declared Winner, INEC official result - PDP 419,790. LP 30,135. PDC 29,565.

Jigawa Guber: 

 Sule Lamido is re-elected as Jigawa State Governor, INEC official result - PDP 676,307. ACN 343,177.

Fashola wins in 8 declared LGs

Lagos State Governor and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) gubernatorial candidate, Babatunde Raji Fashola wins in 8 local governments declared by INEC so far. They are: Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, Badagry, Ibeju-Lekki, Epe, Ikeja, Eti-Osa, Apapa.
Courtesy Of: Vanguard

Governor Chime wins in Enugu State

The Governorship Election Result for Enugu State has been declared with Governor Sullivan Chime winning with 419,790 votes. The Labour Party candidate, Barr. Okey Ezea came second with 30,135 votes while the People for Democratic Change, PDC scored 29,565 to occupy third position.
By Tony Edike       Courtesy Of: Vanguard

Ngige Wins Anambra Senatorial Poll As ACN Clears Osun Assembly Seats

Dr.Chris Ngige,Anambra Central Senator-Elect

Dr.Chris Ngige of the Action Congress of Nigeria was Wednesday morning declared the winner of the concluded election into Anambra Central Senatorial election.

Ngige secured 69,725 votes to beat his closest rival ,Prof.Dora Akunyili of the Peoples Democratic Party who got 69,236 votes in an election held Tuesday in nine wards of the senatorial district to
conclude the election held on April 9 in the area.

Also on Wednesday morning, the result of the Osun state House of Assembly poll held on Tuesday was released with the ACN winning all the 26 seats state assembly seats.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner , Mr Rufus Akeju who announced the results in Osogbo, the state capital  said the ACN also  won the re-scheduled House of Representatives election for Ife federal constituency.

Courtesy Of: This Day

I’ll accept defeat – Dosunmu

Whichever way the result goes, I will accept it as the will of God,’’ the People’s Democratic Party governorship candidate for Lagos State, Dr Ade Dosunmu, said on Tuesday.
Dosunmu, however, told journalists after casting his ballot at the Nathan Street, Surulere that he was optimistic of victory.
“I have got to this stage; we have put out the right strategies and have gone to the nooks and crannies of this state. So, I leave the judgment to the people,’’ he said.
Interestingly, Dosumu, lost the election in his ward to the Action Party of Nigeria.
The ACN candidate in the poll is the incumbent governor of the state, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, (SAN).
Also, the former PDP Chairman for South-West, Chief Bode George, was beaten in his ward by the ACN.
Indeed, in Dosumu’s ward Fashola scored 174 votes to Dosumu’s 90, while at George’s ward, the PDP got 74 votes against the ACN’s 210.
Meanwhile, at the State Junior (Special) Grammar School on Itolo Street, where Fashola voted, he polled 317 votes to Dosumu’s 16.
Curiously, during the April 16 presidential poll, the PDP standard-bearer, Goodluck Jonathan, garnered 141 votes against 77 votes scored by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the ACN.
By Agency Reporter              Courtesy Of: Punch

Jonathan won presidential election – Tinubu

BOLA AHMED TINUBU

Former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday said President Goodluck Jonathan won the April 16 presidential election.
Tinubu, who is also a leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, noted that until his party said otherwise, the presidential poll could be described as free and fair.
Speaking at Unit 047, Ward 3 where he cast his vote during the governorship/House of Assembly election, Tinubu, however, said the electoral reform initiated by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua was on course but still needed a review.
According to him, after the general elections, there will be a need to review the electoral reform in order to make amends where necessary.
He said, “A democrat sincerely must be ready to accept the result of a free and fair election at any time, in order to deserve the joy of victory at any given time, that is my principle, that is what I believe.
“Our party is yet to review the entire general elections, collate necessary data and do a verification test, we are still in election mood, I have accepted the result of the presidential election for now, until my party calls a meeting.”
Condemning the spate of violence which rocked some parts of the North last week, the former governor said, “I am not indifferent to the sanctity of human life, leadership altercation can’t bring back lost lives, we should examine the causes of the problem while government should provide adequate compensation, though nothing can buy back the lives of the dead youth corps members. We need to restore hope in the system.
By Kemi Obasola           Courtesy Of: Punch

Soldiers intercept Adedibu’s son in Ibadan

Military men attached to the 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Odogbo, Ibadan on Tuesday intercepted Senator Kamorudeen Adedibu for alleged loitering during the governorship election.
Adedibu, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industry, is a son of the late Ibadan politician, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu.
He is currently representing Oyo South in the Senate.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s chieftain was said to have been intercepted at Mapo area of the state capital.
The division’s General Officer Commanding, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Abubakar, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone.
Abubakar said that his men on duty around the area found Adedibu contravening the order on the restriction of movements during election period.
By Olalekan Adetayo, Ibadan         Courtesy Of Punch

Governorship poll: FG to deploy more soldiers

Less than 48 hours to the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, the Federal Government has mounted intense surveillance all around the country by deploying more soldiers to prevent rigging and curb further violence in the flashpoint states.
To ensure that all soldiers would be on ground for the elections, the FG has suspended the airlifting of soldiers for all international peace keeping operations until after the elections.
This came as the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, plans to deploy more policemen to the 24 states where the remaining elections will hold on Tuesday.
The fresh security initiative came on the heels of the violence that accompanied the announcement of the result of the April 16 presidential poll. Indeed, many lives were lost and properties destroyed in the aftermath of the violence.
The incumbent president and Peoples Democratic Party standard-bearer, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, defeated other contenders including the Congress for Progressive Change candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to win the poll.
Speaking on the increased surveillance, a police boss who pleaded anonymity said that this was not a time for any security agencies to attempt to outshine one another. The police, he said, had asked for more help from the army because, “disgruntled elements will be more in number because Tuesday’s election is a grass root oriented one.”
He said, “We have asked the military for more help. You know, we are partners in the progress of this nation. Specifically, we want the military to guard sensitive places like all INEC centres and collation points. Yes, they have been there during the previous polls but we will have more. All public places will be guarded by the military; not all policemen on duty have guns and that is why more soldiers will be around to help us.
“We are fortunate that elections are not holding in all the states so we can concentrate on other states especially the flashpoints. Anytime from now, the IG is going to give the directive and the policemen will move to other states.”
An army top official who pleaded anonymity said that the police had indeed contacted them for more help. “It is not a strange request. We all know that this is the last election and some politicians may be desperate. Even without the police asking us, we were going to put more men out to maintain order. We have also increased the number of armed patrol teams to take care of mischief makers,” the source said.
While addressing journalists on Saturday, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Suleiman Abba, said that with the members of the Armed Forces on ground, “security is absolutely assured.”
Abba warned that violence during Tuesday’s election would not be tolerated. He said, “In particular, violence including the unlawful brandishing of weapons at election venues or anywhere at all in the state, threatening violence or disrupting elections through snatching of election materials will be decisively dealt with. Sponsors of violence are warned.”
The police boss assured the National Youth Service Corps members in the state that maximum security would be available, “We have been protecting NYSC members adequately since the beginning of this election. There will be a minimum of two security personnel in each of the 8,454 polling units. We have about 35,000 security personnel including those from other agencies that will protect the voters, the electoral staff and the votes.”
Also, the Force Public Relations Officer, Shola Amore, said, “We are ready every step of the way; both pre and post elections, we are ready all the way.”
Amore said that the police had observed the challenges with the previous elections and were prepared to improve on them.
He said, “We are increasing our armed patrol vehicle movement all around the country and they will be very visible. We are more than ready.”
On his part, the Commissioner of Police of the anti-bomb squad, Ambrose Aisabor, said that apart from the presence of his men at the Independent and National Electoral Commission and collation centres, some voting units have been identified as volatile. Aisabor said that the voting points would also have the presence of anti-bomb policemen.
Aisabor who did not mention the volatile voting units said, “We are beefing up security. We are going to man some voting points that we have observed to be prone to violence.”
By Toyosi Ogunseye         Courtesy Of: Punch

Oyo’s epic battle beckons

With just 48 hours to the day of decision in Oyo State, Olalekan Adetayo once again, X-rays the chances of the leading candidates in the race for the Agodi Government House I, ........, do solemnly swear/affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that as the Governor of Oyo State, I will discharge my duties to the best of my ability, faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law, and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; ........ that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as Governor of Oyo State, except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as Governor; and that I will devote myself to the service and well-being of the people of Nigeria. So help me God.”
The dream of the Peoples Democratic Party standard-bearer and incumbent governor of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala; his Action Congress of Nigeria counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and Senator Rashidi Ladoja of the Accord Party is that by May 29, 2011, one of them will be able to fill his name in the gaps provided in the above oath of office and read the same before the cheering residents of the state.
Indeed, these candidates have toiled day and night; they have spent money in millions of Naira; they have traversed the 33 local government areas of the state and they have fasted and prayed according to their religious inclinations just for one thing: that this dream may become a reality.
These men are not the only ones in the race to occupy the Agodi Government House from May 29. The Congress for Progressive Change has a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Bayo Shittu, as its candidate. Mr. Taiwo Otegbeye is the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance, while Dr. Azeez Adeduntan is the candidate of the Labour Party. But without prejudice to these other contenders, the race is clearly between Alao-Akala, Ajimobi and Ladoja.
Alao-Akala is the incumbent governor and by virtue of the provision of the Constitution, he is entitled to a second term of four years. Ajimobi contested against the incumbent on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party in 2007. Ladoja is the immediate past governor of the state before Alao-Akala.

Alao-Akala on the verge of making history
The Ogbomoso-born former police officer is referred to as “a man of destiny.” Even his campaign office in Mokola, Ibadan is called “Destiny House.” He came about the issue of destiny as a result of the circumstances surrounding his emergence as the governor. Alao-Akala was the deputy governor to Ladoja. He was named the governor after Ladoja’s removal was declared illegal by the court. He ruled illegally for a couple of months before the court re-instated his boss. During his reign, he won the PDP’s governorship ticket to contest the 2007 election before his boss was restored to his office and he subsequently won the election.
Of late, he has been flaunting his achievements in office as a way of wooing the electorate in the state. Some of the achievements being flaunted by the governor are what he called massive road constructions, provision of streetlights, construction of classrooms and provision of furniture and instructional materials for schools, upgrading of health facilities as well as upgrading of all the stadia in the state among others. His campaign organisation has since produced a 112-page glossy booklet tagged “151 reasons Akala should have a second term” depicting the governor’s achievements in pictures. He is also believed to have a deep pocket, profound enough to sway electorate to his side.
His re-election bid has, however, been filled with thorns. The ambition is suspected to be opposed by some bigwigs in his party, some traditional rulers and leaders of thought, especially in Ibadan, the state capital. But despite this opposition, the governor has been weathering the storm. Even if he will triumph on Tuesday, it is obvious that the victory is not going to be on a platter.
If, nonetheless, he wins, he will be making history as the first governor of the state to serve for two terms .In fact, no governor has served two terms in the state.

Ajimobi on a return match
Ajimobi, a former senator is very popular among the electorate in the state,the majority of who still believe that he won the 2007 poll but was denied victory. The ACN candidate, an Ibadan man, may be a beneficiary of the votes of Ibadan elite and their supporters. But he may have to share those votes with Ladoja who is not only an aborigine, but also an Ibadan traditional chief. He will also reap massively from the crisis in the PDP which shut the door against many of its hitherto members. Mr. Ayo Adeseun, a sentor-elect on the platform of the ACN is one of the PDP members forced out of the party. Mr. Kamil Akinlabi, who won the election to represent Afijio/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of the ACN was also forced out of the PDP. A former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Sharafadeen Alli, is also a victim of the PDP crisis. He has since defected to the ACN and is working assisdiously for the party. The most recent case is that of the eight anti-Alao-Akala House of Assembly lawmakers, who publicly declared for the ACN and promised to work for Ajimobi’s victory.
The initial challenge that Ajimobi faced followed the manner in which he emerged as the party’s standard-bearer, but that has been resolved, at least, so it seems. One of then aggrieved aspirants, Chief Olufemi Lanlehin, has since returned to the fold. In fact, he is now a Senator-elect and is campaigning enthusiastically for Ajimobi. Dr. Adebayo Adewusi too is campaigning for him in Ibarapa where he is calling the shots.
Though their positions would not allow them to adopt a candidate publicly, many leading monarchs in the state are said to be behind Ajimobi. This, of course, is an advantage for his ambition as many people would want to align with their rulers out of respect for the institutions.
Interestingly, if Ajimobi triumphs, he will be revenging the loss he suffered in the hands of Alao-Akala in 2007. He will also be revenging, politically speaking, for the leader of the ACN in the state, Alhaji Lam Adesina. Ladoja and Alao-Akala as his running mate beat Adesina who was the candidate of the then Alliance for Democracy in the 2003 election. “This is a return match. Alao-Akala and Ladoja rigged me out in 2003. Now, my younger brother, Ajimobi will trounce them. It is payback time. We will not rig, but Ajimobi will defeat them,” Adesina has said.

Ladoja with a mission to complete unfinished project
Since his exit from office in 2007, Ladoja, who is the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland has been nursing an ambition to return to the Agodi Government House to complete the developmental projects which he started, most of which he has accused Alao-Akala of mismanaging. When he discovered that it was getting increasingly difficult for him to achieve the objective in the PDP, he joined the AP and helped build the party from scratch to maturity within four months to the extent of winning four House of Representatives seats of the 14 slots available to the state. The party also made a strong showing in the senatorial election, coming second in all the three senatorial districts.
Ladoja’s rising profile is obviously a threat to other contestants in the race. Admitting his political clout, individuals and groups including Ibadan elite have prevailed on him to drop his ambition and back Ajimobi so that Ibadan people can form a common front to fight “their common enemy.” But Ladoja will not hear any of these. He seems too sure of victory.
If Ladoja wins, he will be returning to complete the works he could not complete during his first time as a result of the dirty politics played by his erstwhile godfather,the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, in connivance with some members of the state House of Assembly.
Will Alao-Akala break the jinx and take the oath again on May 29 or will Ajimobi revenge the defeat he suffered in the hands of Alao-Akala in 2007? Again, will Ladoja succeed in his bid to right the wrong done him in the past? But whatever is the political stand of these leading contenders, it is just a matter of 48 hours for the electorate to choose the next governor of the state.
By Olalekan Adetayo          Courtesy Of: Punch

The popularity test for ACN in Ekiti

In this piece, FEMI MAKINDE writes about the prospects of leading political parties and their candidates in the coming National Assembly and the state House of Assembly polls in Ekiti State The Ekiti State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria which swept the Peoples Democratic Party government headed by Mr. Segun Oni out of office on October 15, 2010 amidst wild jubilation will on Tuesday April 26 test its level of acceptability among the people of the state. The April 26 poll will be unique in the state because the earlier postponed National Assembly elections as well as the House of Assembly poll will be held on the same day.
Although the ruling ACN in the state led by Governor Kayode Fayemi won the by-election conducted to fill the vacant seat created by the demise of the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Saliu Adeoti, at the House of Assembly, Tuesday will offer the party the opportunity to know if those singing hosanna on October 15 have not changed their song to nail the party.
The governor who enjoyed tremendous support from the majority of the people of the state during his struggle to retrieve his stolen mandate from the ousted government is quite aware of the fickleness of the support of his people and, as such, has made deliberate move which would endear him to the people. Although Fayemi himself is not standing for election until 2014, his actions were intended to garner votes for his party’s candidates in the poll.
Some of those who will fly the flag of the ACN during the National Assembly poll are former Managing Editor of The News magazine, Mr. Babafemi Ojudu, former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, in Lagos State, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele popularly known as MOB, Chief Tony Adeniyi who was a member of Fayemi’s legal team at the election tribunals and Mr. Olu Adetunmbi.
MOB, who is seeking to represent the people of Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I at the House of Representatives, will contest against Mr. Tope Aluko of the PDP who is also from Iyin-Ekiti but the ACN candidate is expected to have an easy ride because of his popularity.
The election in Ekiti Central Senatorial District where Ojudu will slug it out with former Governor Ayo Fayose of the Labour Party, Mr. Kayode Alufa of the PDP and Mrs. Feyisayo Fajuyi of the All Nigeria Peoples Party is expected to be keener.
Ojudu, apart from being a chieftain of the ruling party will also enjoy support from Ado-Ekiti where he hails from. Also, the popularity of MOB who is from Iyin-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area will rub off on him.
Fayose, however, seems to be the highest hurdle before Ojudu. The former governor has a general acceptability in the state.
Another interesting contest will come from Ekiti North Senatorial District where Senator Ayo Arise of the PDP will run against Adetunmbi who is from Ifaki in Ido-Osi Local Government Area.
Arise, who is from Oye in Oye Local Government Area, enjoys the support of Oni, Chief Femi Akinyemi and former minister of Education, Prof. Babalola Borisade. But the ACN candidate will bank on the support of Fayemi and this will be boosted by the Secretary to the State Government and all the chairmen from the five local government councils.
Security arrangement must be tight in the senatorial district to forestall a repeat of what happened during the rerun of governorship poll in Ido-Osi LG where results were cancelled due to electoral malpractices. There was allegation of ballot snatching in Usi in Ido-Osi LG during last Saturday presidential poll.
In the House of Assembly elections, the ACN which now has 15 legislators against 11 by the PDP is expected to increase its number of lawmakers as the party still appears to be the toasted bride in the state.
Fayose, a revered politician in Ekiti politics had initially teamed up with Fayemi during the rerun to oust Oni but both of them have since parted ways. Some ACN candidates are obviously doting on the achievements of Fayemi administration as a launch pad for victory.
However, the fortunes of the ACN might be affected by Governor Fayemi style of appointment as some people had earlier expressed their reservations.
Notwithstanding, going by the ACN’s exploit in other states in the South West during the National Assembly poll, analysts believe that the party in Ekiti may, as well, win the ‘broom revolution’ in the state.
By FEMI MAKINDE          Courtesy Of: Punch

Kwara: Between a bitter father and a defiant son

EMMANUEL ADDEH writes that two days to the governorship election, the Sarakis of Kwara State are still toeing different party lines over who superintends the state in the next dispensation


The uncertainty that had enveloped the genuineness of the widely reported disagreement between the governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and his father, Olusola, finally seems to have gradually paled. Every action currently points to the fact that there is a real dissent between the two, albeit on what appears to be on the grounds of principle, with the son insisting on change.
Already, the governor, it appears, has built his own circle of political loyalists with the huge support he has given Mr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, the erstwhile Commissioner for Economic Planning, who emerged the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate for the Tuesday poll.
Whereas the elder Saraki, alluded to as the strongman of Kwara politics, going by his antecedents, wants the entrenched tradition of determining who gets what, when and how to continue, the governor desires, rather defiantly to alter the balance of power in the state.
While the elder Saraki, known as Oloye by his admirers had almost single-handedly determined civilian governors who occupied the Ahmadu Bello Government House in the last four decades is convinced that it is his destiny so to do, his son feels it was high time the 78-year-old politician handed over to “the new generation.”

Oloye had indeed floored sitting governors.

However, ahead of Tuesday’s poll, what is different is that the opposition is coming from his flesh and blood. His son seems to be insisting that the field should be liberalised and democracy be allowed to take its course.
As things stand, the belief is that the strength of the political gladiators will be established in the next two days when the governorship election must have been held and the proverbial chicken would have gone home to roost.
However, beyond the unbelievable confidence exuded by both parties as to their capacity to wrestle the governorship position in favour of their protégés, is an increasing closeness in the gap of the strength of each of the contenders.
Today, Oloye, an infectious politician, whose bluntness is difficult to rival, cuts the picture of a sad man whose authority, as it were, has been challenged by his own blood and some analysts opine, justifiably too.
He has at various fora taken a swipe at his first son for daring to challenge the status quo, remarks the younger Saraki has taken with some level of calmness. The governor has also struggled endlessly in his various public campaigns not to make any reference to his father and by extension the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, his father’s party.
While anybody meeting Oloye would ordinarily be won over by his charm and sense of frankness, even if sometimes not altruistic, those who support the governor laud his courage for propping up a candidate outside his family and his zone.
The veteran politician, who analysts have observed, has mastered the art of body language and facial expression to appeal to the sensibilities of the people in his recent campaigns, had taken full advantage of his political skills.
In an emotion laden voice, Oloye not long ago lamented that those he had helped to stardom were the ones now condemning him for fielding his daughter as a governorship candidate.
He said, “I have always been there for Ilorin and Kwara’s progress all my life. But what I am seeing, hearing, and witnessing today are insults and abuses from all those very junior to me in all respects.
“I don’t have more than a three-bedroom flat each in Lagos and Ilorin and I have a rented one in Abuja. Yet, those who are now abusing me were those who benefited immensely from my goodwill and now have mansions in choice cities of the world.”
Interestingly, analysts have linked these comments to the new crop of young politicians thrown up by his son, who are currently in the PDP and battling to end Oloye’s over four-decade hold on the political space of the state.
This is his blunt perception of his son’s aides and supporters some of whom were ‘imported’ from outside the country.”
He added, “We do not know the lineage and pedigree of those that are now behaving like tin gods without due deference to those they should.
“I am the leader in this state and everyone should be ready to follow me. I don’t even know some of these people. It has never happened. In this hall (Illofa residence) we take decisions on whom to support after due consultations.
“Bukola has left everything loose and all kinds of characters, even those that can’t even win councillorship elections are emerging. This is my quarrel with him.”
He has also on many occasions expressed his angst with the PDP from where he defected to the ACPN, on the need to separate the political leadership of the party from the governor of the state.
Saraki, who also recently told his supporters that he had never been a card-carrying member of the PDP because it had failed to separate the party from personality, added that the development had created some level of indiscipline in the PDP.
He would also reveal his thinking about his son’s challenge. He said, “It is a mistake for Bukola to think that because people have been praising him for his achievements, then he has become a leader.
“I have told him, but he doesn’t seem to believe; I told him all the boys surrounding him are deceivers, but he said I am the one being deceived. No problem. I am waiting for the final day. Honestly, you don’t know how sad I am that this is happening. I am really sad.”
It would also seem that the strongman is throwing everything into the ring as he recently hinted to his supporters that this could be the ‘last’ political outing.
He declared, “I didn’t pray to continue in politics till now. I never wanted to be permanently involved in politics. After this last outing, I will call it quits.
“By now, I should be calling my son (Bukola) on the political field and asking him how far he has gone, but for the turn of events that is unacceptable. I can’t see most of my contemporaries that we started politics that are still active today. This is a test that my supporters and I must surmount.”
But, it would appear that the governor, steely, resolved and focused has seemingly freed himself from the shadows of his biological and political father with his strategy of winning some of his father’s allies taking effect.
In fact, he had at various times warned his supporters against desecrating the name of his father and had indeed been instrumental in the suspension of the party’s recently reabsorbed Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Isiaka Danmairomo, for allegedly describing his father’s exit from the PDP as ‘’good riddance to bad rubbish.”
Though this attitude initially fuelled speculations that there was a conspiracy between the incumbent governor and his father and that he was playing to the gallery, emerging political developments however point otherwise.
While the governor, who now is a senator-elect, is confident that the PDP and its other candidates would win all the remaining positions in which it fielded candidates, his father thinks otherwise.
When recently confronted with the defection of two aides of his to the opposition ACPN, the governor said, “I don’t know what the fuss about two commissioners resigning is all about. Look, I know of states where the entire legislators have defected to another party.
“I am aware of others where all the ward and local government chairmen have moved en masse to another party. But you can see that I still have all my ward and local government chairmen with me.
“I have more than 20 commissioners, just two have left. The leadership of the state PDP is with me in this battle and someone is talking about two commissioners defecting? People should learn to face facts and not dwell on unfounded sentiments.”
The governor, apparently defiant, is also said to be investing every drop of his sweat in the raging battle. Already, the hard stance of Kwara Patriots has caved in to the governor’s entreaty and has declared support for his candidate, Ahmed.
Also, some of Oloye’s former foot soldiers in some of the local governments, comprising Nimota Ibrahim and Ajape Bibire, who were recently granted pardon for their past misdeeds have joined the son in his bid to loosen his father’s grip on the politics of the state.
He has also succeeded in winning back all those who felt aggrieved during the last primaries in the state. All the aspirants are still within the PDP.
Given that older Saraki looks unperturbed by the development, some analysts think that it may just be the turn of the opposition-- the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change and the Democratic Peoples Party-- to take advantage of the seeming division in the ranks of the Sarakis and get as many votes as it can, since the chances of a coalition has become very remote.
But beyond the angling for the soul of the state, is the near impossible task of predicting with any amount of precision, what the outcome of the Tuesday election will be in the state as the gladiators appear equally matched and determined to outwit one another.
By EMMANUEL ADDEH                Courtesy Of: Punch