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2023 Election: INEC Releases Voter Eligibility Figures, FG Order Closure Of Borders

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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.

 

 

 

 

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Politics

Enugu Threatens N50m Fine Over Illegal Political Posters Ahead of 2027

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The Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency has warned politicians, political parties and campaign organisations against the unauthorised pasting and display of posters across the state.

The agency said violators could face fines of up to N50 million, as political activities intensify ahead of the Enugu State local government elections scheduled for September 26, 2026, and the 2027 general elections.

SEE ALSO: JUST IN: Gov Mbah Defects To APC, Says ‘Enugu Must Connect to the Center’

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its General Manager, Hon. Francis Aninwike, the agency said the ban covers all posters bearing the names, photographs, logos, slogans or messages of political parties, candidates and aspirants.

According to the agency, no individual, political party, candidate, aspirant, campaign organisation or supporter is permitted to paste, affix or display posters on buildings, walls, fences, bridges, electricity poles, road infrastructure, public facilities or any public or private surface in the state.

ENSSAA said the restriction was aimed at preventing the indiscriminate defacement of public and private property while preserving the environmental and aesthetic quality of cities, towns and communities across Enugu State.

The agency said the ban was backed by the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency Law No. 12 of 2016, particularly Sections 4(1)(g), 33 and 34(4)(9), which provide for the regulation and control of outdoor advertising and the display of posters and other advertising materials.

ENSSAA also extended its warning to printers and printing establishments, cautioning them against producing or facilitating posters intended for unauthorised display or pasting.

“Where any such poster is traced to a printer, the printer may be subject to investigation and appropriate sanctions where its involvement in the violation is established in accordance with the law,” the statement said.

The agency further warned that anyone caught violating the ban would face applicable financial penalties and other sanctions prescribed by law.

It advised political parties, candidates, aspirants and campaign organisations to use radio, television, print and digital media platforms, as well as approved billboards, for their campaigns.

ENSSAA stressed that the restriction would be enforced “equally and without fear or favour” against all persons, political parties, candidates, aspirants, organisations and individuals, regardless of political affiliation or status.

“The ban remains in force. All are hereby advised to comply accordingly,” the agency said.

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2027: ‘I Can Improve Nigeria the Way I Did in Anambra’ — Obi Hits Back at Datti

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Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, has hit back at his former running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, insisting that he has the experience and capacity to improve Nigeria.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said his record in the state demonstrated what he could achieve at the national level if elected president.

Baba-Ahmed, who was Obi’s running mate on the Labour Party ticket in the 2023 presidential election, had recently said that none of the politicians challenging President Bola Tinubu in 2027, including Obi, could improve the country.

SEE MORE: 2027: ‘Nobody Owns Rivers Votes’ — ADC Fires Back at Wike

However, speaking in an interview previewed by Arise Television on Monday, Obi rejected the assessment, saying, “I passed through Anambra State, and I improved the state in critical areas of development. And I can do the same thing in Nigeria.”

The former Anambra governor said his administration would prioritise good governance, reduce waste and tackle corruption if given the opportunity to lead the country.

“I am sure that if given the opportunity, first I will bring civility and order in governance, and I will be able to cut costs of governance, which is irresponsible today. I will be able to do quite a number of things that will bring honour and respect to the country,” Obi said.

He also outlined some of the measures he intends to pursue, including fighting corruption, reducing waste, strengthening law and order and ensuring credible elections.

“I will fight corruption; I will deal with issues of waste, law and order, and rigging won’t take place under my watch; political parties will function, and things will be done properly,” he said.

According to Obi, national unity and security would also be among his major priorities, alongside investments in healthcare and education and efforts to reduce poverty.

“I will focus on our priorities to unite the country, as it’s not united today, and secure the country. Secondly, secure the country.

Thirdly, to ensure we prioritise critical areas of development, like health, education and pulling people out of poverty,” Obi added.
Datti’s Position

Baba-Ahmed made his comments during an interview on the Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye and posted on Saturday.

“I will simply advise Uncle (Tinubu) to please prepare to hand over and move away, but not to the people contesting against him because none of them will improve Nigeria,” he said.
When asked whether he was referring to all

the opposition candidates, Baba-Ahmed replied, “Tinubu should leave the stage. All those people contesting against him, too—they were all in bed together at some point or another.”

Asked specifically whether he was referring to Peter Obi, Baba-Ahmed said, “Including Peter Obi, I’m sorry to say.”

 

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2027: ‘Nobody Owns Rivers Votes’ — ADC Fires Back at Wike

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The Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has hit back at Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over his prediction that ADC vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi would be defeated in the 2027 election.

The ADC warned that elections are not won through boasting, intimidation or political declarations, stressing that the people of Rivers State would ultimately determine who wins at the polls.

The state chairman of the party, Chukwudi Dimkpa, made the remarks in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.

SEE MORE: ‘It’s a Lie’ — Wike’s Aide Debunks Peter Obi’s ‘No Shishi’ Claim

Dimkpa was reacting to comments reportedly made by Wike during a civic reception organised in his honour by the Ikwerre Local Government Area in Omagwa on Saturday.

Wike had reportedly stated that Amaechi would be defeated by 12 noon on election day.

But Dimkpa dismissed the declaration, insisting that the former Rivers State governor’s political fate would be determined by voters and the electoral process.

“Elections are not won by boasts, intimidation or political strongmen announcing results in advance. Rivers people will vote, the votes will be counted, and INEC, not Wike, will declare the winner,” he said.

The ADC chairman also condemned the decision to hold the political reception around the same period Amaechi was burying his mother, Dame Ezinne Amaechi, in Ubima.

According to him, Wike and the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Charles Wobodo, used the occasion to attack and taunt Amaechi while sympathisers from across the country were travelling to the community for the burial.

Dimkpa described the development as “insensitive, provocative and embarrassing.”
He questioned why Wike’s political rivalry with Amaechi could not be put aside, even temporarily, during the burial.

“If Wike could not suspend his political obsession with Amaechi even for the few hours in which the man was laying his mother to rest, then Rivers people should ask themselves who really is consumed by this rivalry,” he stated.

The ADC chairman said his party had deliberately refrained from responding immediately because its focus was on ensuring that Amaechi’s mother received a befitting burial.

He, however, warned that no individual or political leader should assume ownership of Rivers State or its electorate.

“Rivers State belongs to all of us. Nobody owns the people, nobody owns their votes, and certainly, nobody can declare an election result by 12 noon,” Dimkpa said.

He urged Rivers voters to reject intimidation and make their choice based on the candidate they believe can deliver meaningful development and improve their lives.

 

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