NEWS
#NigeriaDecides: Voters Criticise Late Arrival Of INEC Officials In Abuja Community
Several voters at the 007 Polling Unit in Wuse District Ward of Abuja expressed their dissatisfaction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for starting the elections late on Saturday.
According to individuals who were interviewed separately by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), as of 8:30 a.m., INEC officials had not yet arrived at the polling unit, but security personnel were present at key locations to maintain law and order.
In addition, upon arrival, voters were assigned numbers to guarantee orderliness during the accreditation process.
Elemchukwu Onouha, 65 years old, told newsmen that he was excited and was eagerly awaiting the outcome of the election.
According to him, “it is a long-expected election; it has many things different from the ones we have hard in the past.”
He said INEC had tried to cope with the demands, expressing hope that the officials would arrive soon.
“This is the first time the number of major candidates contesting for the seat of the president is more than two.
“It is a day we are thinking that we will get the democratic process in Nigeria right by seeing people coming out to vote, we are full of expectations,” he said.
Also, Henry Tersoo, a voter and an agent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the increment in the number of polling units could be responsible for the late arrival of INEC officials.
He said Wuse Ward previously had 35 polling units but now had over 100 polling units, saying that in previous elections, agents reported as early as 6.00 a.m. to polling units and by 7.00 a.m., officials had arrived.
“But this time around, I do not know how they are going about the logistics but I am sure any moment from now, they will arrive.
“Besides, Wuse Ward is a very big ward, initially we had about 34 polling units but now they are over 100 so you have to mobilise.
“I am not exonerating INEC; I blame them. If they had done their homework well, this election should have started on time.
“We do not want crowd, the plan is vote and go but now, see the crowd gathering,” he said.
A tragic building collapse in Rivers State has left a middle-aged contractor, identified as Udeme, feared dead after a two-storey structure under construction caved in at the Egbelu Mgbaraja area of Ogbogoro Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
This incident comes just one week after a three-storey building collapsed at the Iriebe axis of the same local government, though that incident fortunately recorded no casualties.
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The latest collapse occurred on Monday, November 4, 2024, around 2 p.m., with construction workers on site when the structure gave way.
According to eyewitness Mr. Jonathan Obey, the building’s second floor suddenly buckled, trapping Udeme beneath the rubble, while another worker managed to escape with serious injuries.
Obey, who attempted to rescue the trapped contractor, suspected negligence, saying, “We couldn’t reach him despite our efforts. An inspection revealed substandard materials had been used, with the foundation only three feet deep for a two-storey building, which is insufficient. The rebar was of poor quality, and essential supports, such as a center beam, were absent.”
The Rivers State Government has since sealed off the property and declared the developer, Vincent Nwoye, wanted for questioning.
Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, visited the site and expressed his dismay, attributing the collapse to gross negligence.
“This tragedy was preventable,” Bipi stated. “The developer failed to obtain an approved building plan and used inferior materials. The government will ensure accountability and take severe action.”
Bipi extended his condolences to the victim’s family and the Ogbogoro Community, affirming that the government will facilitate the family’s recovery of their loved one’s remains. “We sympathize with the bereaved family and the entire community,” he added.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Samuel Anya, also condemned the developer’s actions, highlighting the dangers posed when profit is prioritized over safety. “This loss is a direct consequence of unethical practices,” he said.
The government has committed to a thorough investigation and tighter regulatory enforcement to prevent further tragedies in Rivers State.
The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon Justice Oyewole Adeyeye has passed on.
The news of his passing was leaked by a reliable source under the condition of anonymity.
The sad incident, according to the source, happened in Ado Ekiti in the early hours of Tuesday.
His death is being traced to a sickness which came upon him following the injury he sustained when a section of the Ekiti State High Court Complex, Ado Ekiti wall collapsed in July 12, 2023.
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The late Justice Adeyeye was at the office when the building collapse happened and sustained injuries.
While the state and his family were yet to issue statements on his demise, the Ekiti State Chapter of the Association of International Female Lawyers (FIDA) has sent condolences to the family.
The condolences message read: “With deep sorrow in our hearts and in total submission to the will of God, FIDA Ekiti consoles with the family of the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon Justice Oyewole Adeyeye on his call to glory.
“May He find rest with his maker.
“I pray that God grants the family, the Judiciary and the people of Ekiti State, the grace to bear this irreparable loss.
Adieu great one.”
Justice Adeyeye was born 1960 in Araromi Ugbesi in Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti State and was called to bar in 1986.
He started his career as a State Counsel in the civil service of the then Ondo State before joining the Ekiti State Judiciary Service Commission shortly after the state was created in 1996.
He was promoted to the position of a judge in the state’s high court in 2002 and has served at different occasions in the election petition tribunal.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed all charges against 76 individuals accused of participating in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
The ruling came after the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, moved to discontinue the case under orders from President Bola Tinubu.
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Justice Obiora Egwuatu, presiding over the matter, struck out the charges after hearing a motion from the AGF’s representative, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Mohammed Abubakar.
Citing Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, the AGF formally took over the case from the Inspector General of Police, then requested to drop all charges against the defendants, many of whom are minors.
The judge granted the AGF’s application without objection from defense counsel, ordering the immediate release of the accused, who were not present in court.
This decision follows a directive issued on Monday by President Tinubu, instructing the AGF to withdraw charges against the protesters.
More to follow……….
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