The Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) office in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area has been set on fire by unidentified hoodlums.

The state police command confirmed the incident, sparking concerns over potential disruptions to the local government elections.

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According to ASP Timfon John, the Police Public Relations Officer, the fire did not affect the electoral materials stored at the facility, allowing the elections to continue as planned.

“Hoodlums partially set the AKISIEC office ablaze, but the election materials were untouched, and voting is proceeding,” he stated.

In response to the attack, security measures have been heightened at all AKISIEC offices and key locations across the state to prevent further incidents.

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The police have assured the public that efforts are ongoing to ensure the election process remains smooth and secure.

Jigawa State is experiencing a low voter turnout as it conducts local government elections today.

Reports indicate that many polling units are seeing few voters despite the presence of security personnel and presiding officers.

At Jigawar Tsada ward polling unit JSS 16, election officials were seen waiting with materials.

This trend of minimal participation was observed across several polling locations.

The Action Peoples Party (APP) appears to be on track for a significant victory in the ongoing local government elections in Rivers State.

Reports from various polling units indicate that APP candidates are leading in the 23 local government areas of the state.

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DAILY GAZETTE reports that rival parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Young Progressives Party (YPP), among others are participating in the election.

As at the time of this report, APP supporters are optimistic about the results, eagerly anticipating a new era of governance that prioritizes the needs of the people.

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Party leaders have urged their supporters to remain calm as they await the official announcement of results from the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

In a surprising turn of events, former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has lost his polling unit to the Action People’s Party (APP) in the ongoing Rivers State Local Government election.

Wike, who has been a dominant political figure in Rivers State, failed to secure victory for his party at Unit 7, Ward 9, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, where the APP candidate emerged victorious.

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Wike currently serve as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scheduled for October 24, 2024, is shaping up to be a contentious affair, featuring a power struggle between state governors, former vice president and PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

This political tussle intensifies as the party grapples with internal strife, exemplified by the suspension of Ali Odefa, the National Vice Chairman for the South East zone, by the party’s local chapter in Oguduokwor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

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At the heart of the conflict is the quest for the position of substantive national chairman of the PDP.

Ambassador Iliya Damagum has served as acting chairman since Dr. Iyorchia Ayu’s ouster, following his suspension by his ward in Gboko.

The PDP constitution, specifically Section 45(2), allows for an acting chairman until a replacement is elected, thereby complicating the party’s leadership dynamics.

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The current leadership issue is exacerbated by a recent victory for the Wike-led group over Atiku’s faction at a previous NEC meeting, suggesting a potential shift in control as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.

If the Wike faction chooses to replace the acting chairman, they are likely to leverage their influence in the North-Central zone to nominate candidates who align with their agenda.

Rumors indicate that Emmanuel Agbo, the former Deputy National Secretary and current Director General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, is being considered as a viable candidate for the national chairmanship.

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Additionally, David Ombagudu, a governorship candidate from Nasarawa State, may also receive support.

However, some analysts speculate that Damagum could find ways to retain his position until December 9, 2025, when the current NEC’s term officially ends, citing legal justifications from the PDP constitution.

Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, a PDP chieftain, has asserted that the North-Central geopolitical zone has the constitutional right to nominate Ayu’s successor.

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Ologbondiyan clarified that Section 47(6) of the PDP constitution, which was enforced in 2017, still holds relevance and will guide the process of filling the vacancy left by Ayu.

He encouraged party supporters to dismiss criticisms from those who believe they are above the party’s constitution and are merely seeking personal gain.

The push to remove Damagum has polarized the 13 state governors elected on the PDP platform. Seven governors, led by Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, advocate for Damagum’s removal, while four others, including Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, back his continued leadership.

The divide is evident as pro-Damagum governors ally with Wike, while some, such as Ademola Adeleke, the Governor of Osun, have publicly opposed Damagum’s tenure.

Support for Damagum remains from several governors, including Makinde and Ahmadu Fintiri from Adamawa, while others, including Godwin Obaseki of Edo and Douye Diri of Bayelsa, oppose him.

Tensions between Atiku and Wike have simmered since last year’s elections, during which Wike and several governors publicly rejected Atiku’s presidential ambitions.

Meanwhile, sources indicate that Atiku has engaged with anti-Damagum factions and other key party stakeholders in a bid to unify the party.

Damagum has faced criticism for not implementing necessary reforms and for transferring control of the Rivers State PDP structure to Wike instead of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

This decision has further incensed the PDP Governors’ Forum, which contends that the party leadership in each state should rest with the elected governor.

The goal, as articulated by a source close to the situation, is not personal but rather to ensure the party’s integrity so it can offer a viable alternative to voters in future elections.

They assert that Damagum should return to his original role as Deputy National Chairman and facilitate the nomination of a North-Central replacement.

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Atiku’s allies are reportedly working to ensure compliance with the PDP constitution regarding the leadership issue, emphasizing that the party’s rules must be upheld.

As the October NEC meeting approaches, the extent to which these conflicting interests will influence the outcome remains uncertain.

Supporters of former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, took to the streets of Port Harcourt on Saturday, protesting the ongoing local government elections in the state.

The demonstrators urged the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to respect a recent High Court judgment concerning the polls.

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The protest, which attracted a significant crowd, was sparked by what Wike’s supporters described as irregularities in the electoral process.

Holding placards with slogans such as “Obey Court Order” and “No Justice, No Election,” the protesters voiced their dissatisfaction with the conduct of the elections and called for their immediate suspension.

A recent ruling by the Rivers State High Court had reportedly halted the elections, citing procedural irregularities.

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The court found issues with the organization and scheduling of the polls, prompting Wike’s supporters to demand a postponement.

Despite the court’s decision, RSIEC proceeded with the elections, leading to protests from Wike’s camp, who insist that the commission should comply with the court ruling and suspend the election process until the legal matters are resolved.

The local government election in Rivers State is currently taking place, even though police personnel are noticeably absent from the process.

Our correspondent confirms that sensitive electoral materials have been distributed to various local government areas.

Despite growing tensions in the state, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has remained firm in his commitment to holding the election as scheduled.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that three out of the 18 political parties eligible to participate in the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election, scheduled for November, have failed to submit polling or collation agents.

Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, revealed in a statement on Friday that a total of 74,790 agents are expected to participate in the election.

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However, only 32.3% of the required agents have been provided by the political parties.

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Boot Party, and National Rescue Movement (NRM) are the three parties that did not submit any agents at either polling or collation levels.

On the other hand, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leads with 3,931 agents, followed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) with 3,892 agents.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has also nominated 2,757 agents.

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The statement reads in part: “Following the closure of the portal for the upload of polling and collation agents for the Ondo State Governorship election, the Commission is pleased to publish the summary of submissions made by political parties.

“The portal opened on 20th August 2024 and automatically shut down at midnight on Monday 30th September 2024 as indicated on item 9 on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election released almost a year ago in September 2023.

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“In Ondo State, there are 3,933 polling units and 222 collation centres, consisting of 203 ward centres, 18 Local Government centres and the State collation centre in Akure.

“A political party fielding candidates in the election is expected to nominate 4,155 agents.

“From the 18 parties participating in the election, the Commission expected a cumulative figure of 74,790 agents.

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“However, only 24,148 were uploaded to the portal, made up of 22,689 polling, 1,249 ward, 196 Local Government and 14 State collation agents.

“Three political parties have no agents at all levels of polling or collation.

“A detailed breakdown of the submissions has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information.”

In the early hours of Saturday, an explosion struck the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, causing significant damage to the building and surrounding property.

The blast, suspected to have been caused by dynamite, destroyed the entrance gate, shattered windows, and wrecked doors and other facilities within the secretariat located along Aba Road.

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This marks the second time the APC secretariat, led by Chief Tony Okocha, has been targeted in such an attack this year.

The explosion occurred just as local government elections were set to take place in the state, with the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission confirming on Friday that all sensitive election materials had been distributed to the various local government areas.

A video of the aftermath circulating on social media showed workers inspecting the scene to assess the extent of the destruction.

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Meanwhile, Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State police command, stated that she had not yet received a formal report on the incident but would provide updates.

As of now, the APC has not released an official statement regarding the attack.