Politics
2023 Election: INEC Releases Voter Eligibility Figures, FG Order Closure Of Borders
With less than 24 hours until Nigerians head to the polls to elect their next president and National Assembly members, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that out of the 93.4 million registered citizens, 87,209,007 Nigerians are eligible to vote.
These numbers represent the total number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) that have been collected.
Out of the total number of registered voters in Nigeria, which stands at 93.4 million, only 87,209,007 citizens have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). This represents a collection rate of approximately 93.3 percent. However, there are still around 6.2 million registered voters who have not collected their PVCs.
According to Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman, during his daily briefing held at the national collation center in Abuja, approximately 13.6 million new Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were printed to cater to citizens who recently registered to vote, applied for a transfer of their PVC, or requested a replacement.
As of February 5, 2023, Lagos State has recorded the highest number of collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) with 6,214,970 citizens collecting their cards. Kano State follows in second place with 5,594,193 PVCs collected, while Kaduna takes third place with 4,164,473 PVCs collected.
Katsina is in fourth place with 3,459,945 PVCs collected, and Rivers is in fifth place with 3,285,785 PVCs collected. On the other hand, Ekiti has recorded the lowest number of collected PVCs, with only 958,052 citizens collecting their cards.
The states with the highest number of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are Lagos with 845,225 uncollected PVCs, Oyo with 515,254 and Ogun with 410,281 uncollected PVCs.
However, Bauchi State boasts the highest PVC collection rate of 99 percent, with a total of 2,721,780 PVCs collected out of the 2,749,268 total registered voters in the state.
Prof. Yakubu, the INEC chairman, has assured Nigerians that the Commission is adequately prepared for the upcoming elections despite the challenges encountered during the preparation period.
“We remain fully committed to a free, fair and credible process. I want to once again declare that our allegiance is only to Nigeria. Our commitment is to ensure that in this election, we put everything in place for free choice, fair contest and credible outcome,” he stated.
During the briefing, Prof. Yakubu also addressed rumors circulating on social media regarding the supposed existence of a preloaded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) that could potentially be used to rig the upcoming elections.
The INEC chairman said he does not know about the existence of such a device. “I don’t know what that means. I’m not sure what that means. The BVAS can’t be operated before the election. It would only start working by 8:30a.m. on election day.”
According to a communiqué from the office of the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Isah Idris, the Federal Government has ordered the closure of Nigeria’s borders for the duration of the elections.
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Isah Idris, has directed that Nigeria’s land borders be closed from 00:00 hours (midnight) on Saturday to 00:00 (midnight) hours on Sunday.
To ensure strict enforcement of this directive, all command comptrollers, especially those in the border states, have been instructed to comply with the order.
Politics
US Election: Davido Celebrates Voting For The First Time
Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, known as Davido, is thrilled to have cast his vote in the ongoing US elections, marking his first time of participating in an American election.
Born in Atlanta, Davido shared his excitement about the milestone.
READ MORE: JUST IN: Minors Freed By Nigerian Govt Arrive Presidential Villa
Sharing a picture of himself shortly after casting his vote, the singer wrote, “First time voter !! ”
Earlier, he shared a post on X urging Americans to go out and cast their votes peacefully.
“Election Day yall be safe as you perform your constitutional rights ❤️,” he wrote.
However, he refrained from publicly endorsing any candidate.
Politics
JUST IN: Minors Freed By Nigerian Govt Arrive Presidential Villa
The minors who were just released by the Federal Government for their involvement in the end bad governance protest have arrived at the presidential villa, where they will meet briefly with government officials.
Recall that the Federal Government dropped the treason charges levelled against them for their participation in the protest that was held across the country.
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However, a source within the presidency confirmed that the governors of Kano and Kaduna States are already on ground to receive the minors and thereafter hand them over to their respective families.
The source also noted that the meeting will commence by 2pm at the Auditorium in the State House.
Following the directive of the President, Bola Tinubu on Monday, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had early Tuesday morning, took over the case file and notified the Federal High Court in Abuja of his decision to discontinue the case against the protesters.
Politics
US Election: Cardi B Expresses Nerves
Grammy-winning rapper, Cardi B has shared her intense feelings about the upcoming U.S. presidential election, admitting that her nerves are so high she feels as though she’s running for president herself.
With the election only a day away, Cardi B took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express her anticipation, telling her 36 million followers, “I don’t know why I’m so nervous for tomorrow. I feel like I’m running for president.”
The Bronx-born rapper and cultural icon recently made headlines for her passionate endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s candidate, at a rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Friday. Speaking to a crowd of supporters, Cardi B gave a rousing speech, highlighting her concerns about the Republican Party’s candidate, former President Donald Trump. She criticized Trump’s stance on women’s rights, calling him “a hustler who is trying to hustle women out of their rights and hustle Americans out of their money.”
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The rapper, known for her outspoken political views, did not hold back, asserting that Trump is “selling more than watches and sneakers” and accusing him of promoting “bigotry, misogyny, division, chaos, and confusion.” Her words resonated with supporters, many of whom see Cardi B as a voice for younger voters who care about issues like women’s rights, racial equality, and social justice.
Addressing rumors circulating online, Cardi B also clarified that she was not paid to endorse Harris, dispelling speculation that financial incentives were behind her appearance at the rally. “I did this because I believe in the future that Kamala Harris stands for, not for any money,” she tweeted.
Cardi B has been vocal about her political stance throughout the election season, using her platform to encourage her fans to vote and make their voices heard. Her support for Harris has added significant star power to the Democratic campaign, especially among younger and minority voters. As the election approaches, her rally speech and social media statements have brought renewed attention to the high-stakes issues on the ballot.
With her passionate stance, Cardi B has become one of the most influential celebrity advocates in this election cycle, drawing both praise and criticism. As Americans prepare to vote, her message continues to reverberate across social media and beyond, emphasizing the rapper’s commitment to political engagement and advocacy for her beliefs.