Politics
Delta Poll: APC Petitions INEC Over Election Outcome
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received a petition from the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the governorship election held in Delta State on March 18th.
Godwin Anaughe, the Director of Election and Strategy for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, signed the petition on Saturday in the state capital, Asaba.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Sheriff Oborevwori was declared the winner of the governorship election held on March 18th in Delta State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Onuwari Georgewill, the State INEC Collation Officer and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, said that Oborevwori had garnered 360,234 votes, defeating his closest opponent, Ovie Omo-Agege of the APC, who scored 240,229 votes.
Godwin Anaughe, stated that the collation of the results in the state was not in line with the Electoral Act of 2022.
The petition reads in full, “Following the conduct and announcement of results, the Electoral Act makes provision for the collation of the announced results in order to determine the winner of the election.
“Section 64(4) of the Electoral Act provides; a collation officer or returning officer at an election shall collate and announce the result of an election, subject to his or her verification and confirmation that the;
“(A) number of accredited voters stated on the collated result are correct and consistent with the number of accredited voters recorded and transmitted directly from polling units under section 47(2) of this Act; and
(B) the votes stated on the collated result are correct and consistent with the votes or results recorded and transmitted directly from polling units under section 60(4) of this Act,” he said.
Mr Anaughe added: “The All Progressives Congress in the course of this state collation exercise, has raised questions as to the correctness of the votes stated in the collated results being produced from many of the Local Government Areas before the returning officer as it is contemplated under section 64(6) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which provides:
“(B)The smart card reader (in this case-the BVAS) used for accreditation of the voters in each of polling units where the election is disputed;
(C)Data of accreditation recorded and transmitted directly from each polling unit where the election is disputed as prescribed under section 47(2) of this Act; and
(D)The votes and results of the election recorded and transmitted directly from each polling unit where the election is disputed under section 60(4) of this Act.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, without prejudice to the correctness of any collated result, as may arise from any inquest, the APC has disputed and is still disputing before this Collation Body, the correctness of the collated results from all polling units” in the Local Government Areas of the state.
”In Delta North Senatorial District, all the nine councils were listed. They are Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North East, Ika South, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Ukwani, Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West.
”The areas listed in Delta South Senatorial District are Bomadi (Only Wards 07, 08 and 09, that is, Akugbene 1, Akugbene 2 and Akugbene 3), Burutu, Patani, Warri North, Warri South West, Warri South and Isoko North
”Delta Central Senatorial District has the following: Ethiope East, Okpe, Ughelli South (only Wards 04, 05, 07 and 08), Sapele (Only Wards 02, 03, 05, 08 and 10).
“We know for a fact that every political party and candidate or its agent has the right to contest the correctness of any collated result pursuant to section 64(6) of the Electoral Act, 2023 and once that is done the Collation Officer or Returning Officer has a bounden or mandatory DUTY to inquire into the disputed collated result by taking the steps outlined in this section of the Electoral Act”.
“The collation officer does not have discretion in the matter.
“Section 64(5) provides that a collation officer or returning officer shall use the number of accredited voters recorded and transmitted directly from the polling unit under section 47(2) of this act and the votes or results recorded and transmitted directly from the polling unit under section 60(4) of this act to collate and announce the result of an election if a collated result at his or a lower level of collation is not correct.
“It is our contention that in the above LGAs, there was a massive bypass of the BVAS and illegal entry of false results”.
In the quest to ramp up the push against the negative effects of climate change, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has approved changes in the leadership of the state’s climate change team.
Consequently, Gov Adeleke directed the abolition of the office of Senior Special Assistant on Climate Change and the redeployment of the SSA on Climate Change, Prince Moruf Adedapo, out of the sub sector to the pool of SSAs.
To add bite to the changes, Gov Adeleke also directed the movement of the office of the consultant to the state on climate change and renewable energy from the Ministry of Environment to the Governor’s Office.
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Biztellers reports that with the changes, the consultant, Prof Chinwe Obuaku will henceforth be reporting to Gov Adeleke directly.
A government statement underpins these to “a strategy to give bite to the administration’s push to fast track implementation of adaptation and mitigate climate actions”.
As part of the leadership reforms, Gov Adeleke further directed that liaison between the state government and federal agencies as well as development partners on climate matters should be coordinated by the state consultant.
It was gathered that stakeholders would henceforth be relating with the state consultant on climate related matters as the office of SSA on Climate Change no longer exists.
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has expressed the view that his administration is an agent of development that has positively touched all sectors of the Osun society within just two years in office.
He made the pronouncement while presenting Budget 2025 tagged “Budget of Sustainable Growth and Transformation” to the State House of Assembly, with members of the State Executive Council present at an annual event hosted by the House Speaker, Right Honourable Adewale Egbedun.
Gov Adeleke noted that “the total size of the Budget 2025 is Three Hundred and Ninety Billion, Twenty-Eight Million, Two Hundred and Seventy-Seven Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty Naira Only (390,028,277,740.00).
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“The expenditure comprises Capital Expenditure of One Hundred and Forty-Four Billion, Two Hundred and Thirty-One Million, One Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira (N144,231,183,800.00), Recurrent Expenditure of Two Hundred and Forty-Five Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Seven Million, Ninety-Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty Naira Only (N245,797,093,940.00).
“Recurrent Expenditure is divided into Personnel cost, which is made up of salaries and allowances, as well as Pensions and Gratuities and stands at One Hundred and Two Billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Five Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-One Thousand, Ten Naira Only (₦102,895,821,010.00).
The balance of One Hundred and Forty Two Billion, Nine Hundred and One Million, Two Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty Naira Only (₦142,901,272,930.00) is set aside.
“Our Revenue consists of Recurrent Revenue, where Government share of FAAC is One Hundred and Ninety-Six billion, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand, One Hundred and Eight Naira Only (₦196,778,975,180.00 and Independent Revenue is One Hundred and Nine Billion, Eight Hundred and Seventy Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty Naira Only (₦109,870,932,830.00).
Other receipts from development partners are Fifty-Three Billion, Three Hundred and Seventy-Seven Million, Two Hundred and Forty-Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Ten Naira Only (₦53,377,244,610.00).”
He affirmed that his administration has recorded unprecedented progress across the sectors which will be unveiled in details during the midterm anniversary holding for a week later this month, submitting a synopsis to the Assembly.
According to the Governor, “our administration has reduced rural Health Access gap by 40% through rehabilitation of over two hundred Primary healthcare centers; We have increased health care access to all pensioners from less than 10% to 90% within two years;
“We closed road infrastructure gap and deficit by 50% from 80%; we took agric mechanization from 0% to 35%; We built digital economy policy structures from 0% to 55%; We built public service integrity from 25% to almost 70%;
“We expanded local content from 0% to 75%; We built climate agenda from 0% to over 70%; We raised state financial support for cooperative societies from 0% to 66%; We expanded financial support to ward cooperative societies from 0% to over 60%;
“We built Ilesa University from 15% to over 90%; We redeveloped Odeomu Cooperative College to HND institution; We increased Osun Google coverage from 20% to 65%; We launched phased bursary award from 0% to 40%; We liquidated 40% of inherited salary debt;
“We paid up over 35% of inherited pension debt; We improved School infrastructure by over 40 percent; We enhanced rural Infrastructure by over 40 percent with over 300 completed rural projects”, the Governor affirmed, adding that “Osun State has not taken any loan (External or Domestic).
“We rely solely on the prudent management of available resources to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the good people of Osun State. This is our goal and with God on our side we will not derail”, the Governor told the lawmakers.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced a sweeping dissolution of executives across all state boards of government agencies and parastatals.
In a statement released by Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor confirmed that the affected officials are to vacate their positions immediately.
The decision, which was made public on Wednesday, also impacts Permanent Secretaries who were appointed from outside the Edo State Public/Civil Service, as well as political appointees across various government departments.
Governor Okpebholo directed that all outgoing officials hand over government property in their possession to the highest-ranking public officer within their respective agencies or departments.
“It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the dissolution of executives of all boards, agencies, and parastatals in Edo State Public Service with immediate effect,” the statement read.
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