Nigeria Decides: Anxiety as states elect governors, lawmakers | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News ⚠️
• Hot Contests In Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Enugu, Others• HURIWA, Others Condemn Violence Threats In Lagos
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye, in a statement, said a date would be fixed for the supplementary elections. “However, this should not be confused with the two National Assembly elections earlier suspended by the Commission and rescheduled to hold along with the Governorship and State Assembly elections. First is the Enugu East Senatorial District election, which was countermanded to allow the Labour Party conduct a fresh primary election to replace its deceased candidate in line with the provision of Section 34 of the Electoral Act 2022.
He disclosed that Deputy Inspectors-General of Police have been deployed to the six geo-political zones to oversee the election security management. “Additionally, the Inspector-General of Police urges all citizens to exercise their right to vote without resorting to violence or intimidation while obeying the law and respecting the rights of others. The IGP also calls on political parties to ensure that their activities are conducted in a peaceful and respectful manner.”
“MC Oluomo said this in a viral video shared on social media on Thursday appearing to be talking to the Igbo ethnic group, many of whom reside in Lagos. Atiku, in a statement released by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, yesterday, specifically frowned at how “lackeys of political leaders in Lagos State continue to make ethnic slurs aimed at intimidating voters in the state.”
First is the security of the entire process, especially in some seemingly volatile states like Oyo, Lagos, Rivers, Kano, Rivers and others where there have been threats of violence since the results of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections were announced. IN Lagos State, for instance, there are fears that unless security personnel live up to expectations, there could be a breakdown of law and order as a particular ethnic group in the state is said to be mobilisng support for the candidate of the Labour Party , Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and all candidates of the party, a development that appears to have enraged supporters of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress , who is seeking re-election.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, who called in on a programme on Fresh FM, Ibadan, said the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department had been mandated to lead an investigating team to the scene of the incident. With those figures, and if the turnout of voters, particularly youths, continue today, perhaps LP would be the party to beat. Certainly, the last election has brightened the chances of both the LP and APC, just as it appeared to have dimmed that of the PDP. More so, the one-week shift of the election date afforded all the parties the opportunity to campaign more vigorously.
This is a major factor that could hinder LP and Pela from winning the election. But if the momentum is sustained, Delta is in for a big upset. On this note, the party and its candidates have been going round mobilising supporters, insisting a new Nigeria is still possible. Apart from the court case instituted by the first runner-up, David Edevbie, who was Ibori’s preferred candidate, some other members left or remain aloof in its affairs. Even Ibori himself has not fully identified with the party since then, though his daughter won election into the House of Representatives. Some political analysts said Governor Ifeanyi Okowa might be losing grip of the state’s politics if LP repeats its last feat.
The state chapter of People’s Democratic party under the leadership of former governor Ibrahim Shekarau has been decimated in strength and size by protracted litigation over the authentic governorship candidate of the party in state.
This was as the police also disclosed that some elements were plotting mayhem by bringing thugs into the state with the sole aim of disrupting the elections. For instance, the LP’s National Working Committee, in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Julius Abure, directed the state chapter party to collapse its structures and join the PDP as approved by the National Executive Council of LP.
The Guardian observed that some residents of Jos, the state capital, have travelled to their villages where they registered to enable them exercise their franchise. However, today’s election would be a hot contest between the APC candidate, Uba Sani, Isah Ashiru of the PDP and Jonathan Asake of the Labour Party .IN Abia State, there are fears of the election being a “do or die” exercise, as 18 political parties presented candidates. One clear indication of this was that a state government official had, while addressing an open political rally, threatened death for any voter that would not or did not vote for his party.
The LP victory was attributed largely to the influence of the Peter Obi movement. Though still palpable, the other political parties have been desperately dousing it, urging the electorate to vote for the governorship candidates of their choice since Obi is not a contestant. While the ruling PDP has vowed not to lose the governorship election and thus vigorously canvassing for votes, the LP is hoping to latch on its February 25 victory to ascend to Abia State Government House.
A registered voter, Mr. Gab Ike, also stated that if the lapses observed in the February 25 had been addressed, a better poll was expected.ENUGU became one of the flash points in the 2023 elections, following the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party , which had dominated the politics of the state during the presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 25.
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