Buhari wins Ekiti, first result by INEC
President Muhammadu Buhari won Ekiti state, the first officially declared presidential election result by Independent National Electoral Commission. In the result announced by the returning officer, Professor Idowu Olayinka, vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Buhari of the All Progressives Congress polled 219,231 votes, while Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party got 154,032 votes. Total valid votes were 381,132, rejected votes 12,577, while total total votes were 393 709. The APC has already won two of the senate seats for the state and several House of Representative seats.
PDP says Atiku’s campaign spokesman Galadima ‘kidnapped’
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party claimed the Spokesman of the party’s presidential campaign, Buba Galadima arrested by masked security operatives. “Nigerians and the world over should know this— Alhaji Buba Galadima has just been kidnapped by masked security operatives, his whereabouts is unknown,” PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan said on Sunday. “Buhari/APC are hell-bent on destroying our hard earned democracy. We will never be cowed, the will of the people MUST prevail,” he added. Galadima, in the run-up to the election, was one of the most vocal critics of the Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari beats Atiku in Kwankwaso’s local council, in runaway victory in Kano
President Muhammadu Buhari recorded a resounding victory over his closest rival Atiku Abubakar of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the presidential poll in results of 10 of the 44 local governments in Kano state declared so far by INEC. Highlights of the results indicate that President Buhari defeated Atiku in the Madobi local council, where former Governor of Kano state and leader of the Kwankwasiyya hails from. President Buhari scored 26,110 votes às against Atiku’s 13,113 votes declared by the presidential collation officer in Kano, Prof Magaji Gambo who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Gusau. Kwankwaso, however, was able to deliver his polling unit for Atiku who scored 278 as against Buhari’s 215 votes during the poll held on Saturday. Declaration of results in the remaining 34 local councils of the state was still awaited.
PDP sweeps National Assembly polls in Awgu, Enugu
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the National Assembly polls in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State. Announcing the result in Awgu on Sunday, the INEC Returning Officer in the council, Prof Emmanuel Eze disclosed that the PDP polled 18, 879 votes while the All Progressives Congress (APC) got 2,710 for Enugu West senatorial seat. For the House of Representatives, Eze said the PDP polled 18, 958 followed by the APC with 2,817 votes and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), 1,335 votes. The returning officer said that valid votes cast were 23,607 out of the total 24,442 registered voters with 840 void votes. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the senatorial contest was between the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP and Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, former Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Justice Reform for the APC. NAN reports that PDP two term lawmaker; Toby Okechukwu is contesting with an ace broadcaster, Obiora Ilo of the African Independent Television (AIT) for the APC for Awgu/Aninri/Oji River federal constituency.
INEC official killed in Rivers State, says INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission Sunday confirmed the death of the commission’s ad-hoc staff in Rivers State during the presidential and parliamentary elections on Saturday. According to INEC Chief Mahmood Yakubu the staff, Amakiri Ibisaki, female, was hit by a “stray bullet” “We have recorded the first fatality, an adhoc staff was hit by bullet,” Yakubu said. “We condemn this attack and will forward a comprehensive report for security agencies to investigate,” he added. It was not immediately clear whether Ms Ibisaki was a corps member. Most of INEC’s election duties staff is made up of university and polytechnic graduates undergoing a one-year compulsory national youth service.
Ajimobi loses four of nine LGs in Oyo South
The ALL Progressives Congress candidate for the Oyo South Senatorial District, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, has lost four of the nine local governments in the district.
Ajimobi is seeking a return to the Red Chamber after serving two terms as the governor of the state.
In Ibadan Northwest local government, Ajimobi had 8,916 votes, while the People’s Democratic Party candidate Kola Balogun scored 12,144 votes.
In Ibarapa North and Ibarapa East local governments APC polled 5,837 and 6,951 votes respectively while PDP’s scored 8,083 and 9,982.
In Ibadan North local government APC had 17,946 votes as against the PDP’s 18,690 votes.
However, in Ibadan North, according to the Returning Officer of the senatorial district, Wole Akinsola, results of three polling units are missing. They are PU 001 in Ward 008 and Agbowo Ward (Ward 012) in PU 025. In the latter, security operatives were said to be interrogating the officials involved.
The other polling unit is Unit 019 on Taiwo street in Sango area of Ibadan. The presiding officer of the PU was said to have absconded. Collation of results from other local governments was still ongoing at the time of this report. Official senatorial results for four of the nine local governments in Oyo South Senatorial District have been announced.
Atiku, Buhari split Sokoto councils
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won Silame and Isa local governments in Sokoto state, while President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won Wurno. Results of the three councils were declared at the presidential election collation centre on Sunday night. In Silame, Abubakar polled 13, 949 votes and President Muhammadu Buhari scored 10, 910 out of 25,875 votes cast during Feb. 23, presidential and National Assembly elections.
The Silame Local Government Returning Officer, Dr Yarima Musa of Pharmaceutical Science Department of Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto presented the result. Musa said 675 votes were invalidated while other remaining votes were shared among the participating parties accordingly. The Returning Officer of Wurno local government area, Dr Francis Patrick, said APC scored 20, 307 while PDP scored 9, 847 out of 33, 048 total votes cast in the presidential election.
Prof. Bello Zaki-Abubakar, the Returning Officer of Isa local government area said PDP scored 17, 892 votes while APC obtained 15, 264 votes out of the 35, 372 valid votes . However, an agent of APC, Abdurahman Sani, objected to the admissibility of the result because no voting took place at ‘Yanfako and Kagara Makaranta polling units as the residents had relocated following threats by bandits. The Chief Returning Officer of the state, Prof. Yahuza Bello, who is the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University Kano directed the question to Council’s Electoral Officer, Mr Abubakar Aliyu.
Aliyu said he received the complaint letter and sought advice from the security officers. He claimed the election materials, on the advice of the traditional ruler of the area, were taken to Kamarawa village, where voting commenced. He said he later directed the election officials to relocate voting to the stipulated places. Prof. Bello said the incident report would include the explanation in his submission, according the electoral regulation. The results of the remaining 20 local government areas are being collated
Orji Kalu wins Senate, Reps seats for APC in Abia
Former Abia State governor, Chief Orji Kalu has defeated incumbent Senator Mao Ohuabunwa in the battle for Abia north senatorial seat. Kalu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 31,203 votes to defeat Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who secured 20,801 votes. The returning officer for the senatorial election Dr. Charles Anumodu declared Kalu winner while the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief David Ogba scored 11,410 votes.
Ohuabunwa has rejected the result of the election in a statement issued by Ukpai Ukairo for his campaign Organisation. Ohuabunwa said “the true results” of Abia North senatorial election were still being collated. According to him: “It has come to our knowledge that INEC operatives in their haste to arrive at a pre-determined conclusion manipulated the electoral process to the shock of all well- meaning patriots who believe in democracy.
“In this respect, it is tragic that INEC could conduct an election without the issuance of form EC40G, a form used to capture cancelled votes and places where there was no voting. In the circumstances of the above, we demand that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Abia State should direct the Returning Officer of the Abia North Senatorial Election to make the requisite declaration in accordance with the dictates of Rule 17E(e) of the guidelines for the conduct of elections issued by INEC by cancelling the elections completely”.
Kalu also delivered his Bende Local Government for President Mahamadu Buhari. Buhari polled a total of 9,233 to defeat the candidate of Peoples Democratic party Atiku Abubakar who polled 6649. The returning officer for the presidential election in the area Prof Nnennaya Ibiam, announced the result at the INEC headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital on Sunday.
Also in Bende federal Constituency, Benjamin Kalu of the All Progressive Congress also polled 9,138 to defeat Chimanyaso of the Peoples Democratic Party who polled 5591. The returning officer for the constituency Mr. Martin Okoro declared him winner. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the member representing Isikwuuato/ Umunneochi federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in Abia state, also won a return to the House of Representatives for the fourth term. She was declared winner after polling 14,712 votes to defeat her closest rival of the Peoples Democratic Party Mr. Ude Achara who polled 10,064 votes.
Buhari Floors Atiku in Gov Dankwambo’s Polling Unit
Results released by the presiding officer of Hassan Manzo polling unit in Herwagana ward of Gombe metropolis of Gombe State, Ahmed Jamilu Makko, has shown that PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, failed to win substantial votes during Saturday’s election as he polled only 80 votes against his rival, President Muhammadu Buhari, who polled 457 votes.
Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, a PDP governor, however won in the polling unit with 325 votes against his main rival, Saidu Ahmed Alkali of the APC, who polled 212 amidst jubilation by APC supporters who sang as they escorted the result to the collation centre.
The election in Gombe was generally peaceful in most parts of Gombe North Senatorial district where our correspondent monitored the election.
Election started on time as many voters lined up even before the arrival of election officials. As at the time of filing this report, Gombe, the Gombe State capital was generally peaceful and calm as attention was shifted to the collation centres across the state.
