Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has assured a level playing field for all political parties ahead of the upcoming local government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024.

During the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign launch in Gboko on Wednesday, Alia emphasized his commitment to a transparent electoral process.

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He was represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, who reiterated the governor’s promise for free and fair elections.

Ode encouraged party supporters to mobilize and ensure victory for APC candidates across all positions in the forthcoming polls.

“Governor Hyacinth Alia is resolute in his commitment to a fair election process, ensuring that every political party has an equal opportunity,” he stated.

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During the event, Ode presented party flags to 23 APC chairmanship candidates and their deputies, urging them to prioritize service to their constituents.

In his welcome address, Benjamin Omale, the APC caretaker committee chairman, highlighted the committee’s efforts to address the concerns of dissatisfied aspirants, ensuring that all voices were acknowledged and valued.

Omale emphasized the state APC administration’s dedication to fulfilling its campaign promises and urged party supporters to turn out in large numbers on October 5 to vote for all APC candidates.

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He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman of APC, and the working committee for their support in fostering unity within the Benue APC and establishing the caretaker committee.

A Federal High Court in Kano has dismissed an application by the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking to halt the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) from conducting local government elections.

The APC, along with Hon. Aminu Aliyu Tiga, had filed a motion ex parte on September 20, requesting the court to issue an interim injunction to stop the council election scheduled for October 26, 2024, across the 44 local government areas.

The plaintiffs also requested that the court direct all parties to maintain the status quo and prevent KANSIEC from proceeding with election preparations until a motion on notice could be heard.

They further sought permission for a court bailiff to serve the necessary legal documents to KANSIEC and other defendants, including the Kano State House of Assembly and the Attorney General, via the Attorney General’s office.

However, in his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Simon Amobeda refused to grant the interim injunction that would have delayed the election process.

He allowed the APC to notify KANSIEC and the other defendants about the court proceedings and abridged the timeline for hearing the substantive application to five days from the date of service.

The judge set the hearing for October 4, 2024, and emphasized the need for all parties to avoid actions that could prejudice the case.

This decision follows an earlier ruling by Justice Ado Maaji of the Kano State High Court, which had issued an interim injunction restraining the APC, PDP, NNPP, and 16 other political parties from interfering with KANSIEC’s statutory responsibility to organize the council elections.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidates in Kwara State, Musbauhdeen Esinrogunjo and Ismail Muhammed, have urged their supporters to remain calm following the recently concluded local government elections.

Both candidates, who ran for the Ilorin West and Ilorin East council seats, expressed their dissatisfaction with the election process, alleging widespread irregularities and vowing to challenge the results in court.

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Speaking to journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Ilorin, Esinrogunjo described the election as a “charade” and accused the state government, in collaboration with the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), of rigging the outcome.

He claimed the election was marked by voter intimidation, harassment, manipulation, and vote-buying, and stated that the people’s mandate had been stolen.

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Esinrogunjo called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and restore faith in the democratic process, while also advocating for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take charge of conducting local government elections nationwide.

He further alleged that results were announced from undisclosed locations and that the state’s ruling party hastily swore in its candidates despite their poor performance at the polls.

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He argued that election results should have been declared at designated collation centers in the wards and council secretariats.

Despite the alleged irregularities, Esinrogunjo assured supporters that they would pursue all legal avenues to reclaim their mandate, expressing confidence that the judiciary would deliver justice.

He emphasized that they had video evidence supporting their claims and intended to present it in court to contest the election outcome.

The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Anti-Corruption and Correctional Service to investigate bribery allegations against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service.

The directive followed the adoption of a motion presented by Rep Patrick Umoh, highlighting the need to address the accusations.

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Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, made the claims, alleging that the EFCC dropped money laundering charges against popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, after receiving a ₦15 million bribe.

Otse further alleged that Bobrisky, convicted of defacing the Naira, did not serve his sentence in a correctional facility but was housed in an apartment outside the confines of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

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Rep Umoh emphasized that these accusations raise serious concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies and the nation’s image in the global fight against corruption.

The House unanimously agreed to the motion and tasked the committee to investigate the matter and report back within three weeks for further legislative review.

The federal government has filed a new 16-count charge against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, accusing him of criminal breach of trust involving N110.4 billion.

The charges were brought before a federal high court in Abuja, with allegations dating back to between 2016 and 2023.

The charges include using public funds to acquire properties in Abuja and Dubai.

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In addition to Bello, two Kogi State officials, Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha, are also named in the case.

The charges outline various real estate acquisitions, including properties in upscale Abuja districts such as Maitama, Asokoro, and Wuse, and a Dubai property worth millions of Dirhams.

One charge also accuses the defendants of sending over $1 million to accounts in the United States.

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The former governor has also taken legal action, dragging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Supreme Court, challenging an arrest warrant issued against him in April.

Bello’s legal team, led by A.M. Adoyi, urged the court to halt his arraignment pending the outcome of the appeal at the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the EFCC’s lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), pushed back against the defense’s request, accusing Bello’s legal team of disrespecting the judicial process and attempting to evade trial.

The court, after hearing both sides, adjourned the matter until October 30 for a ruling.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially presented the certificate of return to Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, following his victory in the Edo State governorship election.

The presentation took place at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

Okpebholo secured the governorship seat by garnering 291,667 votes in the September 21st election, surpassing his nearest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 247,274 votes.

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Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, finished in third place with 22,763 votes.

A total of 14 other candidates participated but fell significantly behind the top contenders.

The APC’s Okpebholo won decisively in more than 10 out of the state’s 18 local government areas, while Ighodalo managed to win a few councils with slim margins.

Additionally, Okpebholo’s party took control of two out of the three key senatorial districts, further solidifying his lead in the contest.

In anticipation of Senator Shehu Sani’s rumored defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), over 10,000 of his supporters have officially switched allegiance to the ruling party in Kaduna State.

Sani, who previously served as the Senator for Kaduna Central from 2015 to 2019 under the APC, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his bid for the governorship ticket in the 2023 general elections.

However, sources have confirmed that the Senator is expected to rejoin the APC in the coming days.

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Supporters from across Kaduna State’s 23 local government areas gathered at the 2023 APC Campaign Office at NEPA Roundabout in Kaduna, holding banners and posters welcoming their leader back to the party.

They expressed confidence that Senator Sani would soon make his defection official, stating that they had urged him to return to the APC.

One of the defectors, Mr. Monday Jaji, who served as Sani’s former campaign director, revealed that he had been working for over two years to convince the senator to return to the APC.

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He highlighted Sani’s numerous achievements while serving as a senator on the APC platform, citing his contributions to infrastructure and community development in Kaduna Central.

“When he was a senator, Comrade Shehu Sani established seven hospitals across his constituency, distributed over 200 transformers to communities, and supported the poor by even purchasing a house for the destitute along Kano Road,” Jaji said.

He also mentioned hospitals built in areas such as Chikun, Rigachikun, and Giwa Local Government.

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The APC Chairman in Kaduna State, Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada (Rtd.), warmly welcomed the defectors, expressing optimism that their return would strengthen the party and boost its development agenda in the state.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that several former lawmakers, who lost their bids for re-election in the last polls, may be preparing to leave the PDP as well.

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has refuted claims that 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have joined their party.

The lawmakers, led by Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, announced their defection amidst a political rift between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his former political ally, Nyesom Wike.

However, the Chairman of the APC caretaker committee in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, stated on Monday that these lawmakers are not officially members of the APC.

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Okocha clarified during a press briefing in Port Harcourt that although the party is courting the lawmakers to join them, there is no formal record of their defection.

“The House of Assembly members have consistently stated that they are not members of the APC, and I can confirm that,” Okocha said.

“We are engaging with them, but as of now, they have not officially joined the party. There is no documentation to show otherwise.”

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Okocha also expressed the APC’s optimism about expanding its influence in the South-South region.

Following the party’s success in the recent Edo State governorship election, Okocha revealed plans to make significant gains in Rivers and Delta States by 2027.

He confidently stated that the APC is working toward controlling all six states in the South-South geopolitical zone.

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In addition, Okocha criticized the planned local government elections in Rivers State, scheduled for October 5, 2024.

He described the elections as an attempt to bypass legal rulings, noting that the APC has filed a lawsuit to halt the process.

According to him, the ongoing legal challenges make it unlikely that the election will proceed as planned.

“The proposed local government election is a clear disregard for the Courts and the rule of law,” Okocha said. “The matter is in court, and the governor is misleading the public by suggesting that the election will go ahead when there is a legal dispute that has not been resolved.”

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As a member of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Okocha emphasized that the legal and political climate in Rivers State does not support the election proceeding as scheduled, calling on Governor Fubara to halt the process.