News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja As 2026 Ekiti off-cycle Governorship Election approaches, Civil Society Organisation's (CSOs) have faulted delay in release of funds and zero female candidates across 13 political parties.  This is even as the CSO's pegged INEC's preparedness at 34 percent, raising concern over uncontested political space and a media environment partially suppressed by a punitive levy.  This formed the crux of discuss at the unveiling of Ekiti State off-cycle Governorship Election Pre-Assessment Report on Thursday in Abuja.  The report was endorsed by Election Observation Hub, comprising Centre For Media and Society (CEMESO), ElectHER, International Press Centre (IPC), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre and Yiaga Africa. It was funded under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase Two (EU-SDGN II) programme, which is consistent with its mission of promoting transparent, credible, peaceful and inclusi...

There is currently uproar among the residents, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended the collation of results for Saturday, April 15, 2023, supplementary election in Adamawa State.  News Rider gathered that some residents were sighted in clusters while others were engaged in heated argument over the suspension of collation of results by the INEC.  To this end, the state governor, Ahmadu Fintiri pleaded with the residents to remain calm and peaceful despite the suspended collation of the gubernatorial results.  Recall that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Adamawa State, Mr Hudu Yunusa had bypassed the INEC returning officer, Prof Mele Kyari, to declare Aishatu Binani of the APC as the winner of the rerun election. Addressing a press conference on Sunday in Yola, the state capital, Fintiri, commended the national headquarters of INEC for its prompt action by halting the declaration of APC Binani, as governor-elec...

        Governor Aminu Tambuwal The incumbent Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has won the Saturday, April 15, 2023, supplementary election for Sokoto South Senatorial District.  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer for the Sokoto South Senatorial District, Prof. Abubakar Bagudo, made the announcement on Sunday in Sokoto State.  Tambuwal, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, polled 100, 860 votes to defeat his closest rival, Sen. Ibrahim Danbaba of All Progressive Congress (APC) who scored 95, 884 votes.  Bagudo declared that the election was contested by Muhammad Faruk of ADC; Abdullahi Danbaba, APC; Umar Rabiu, APGA and Umar Abubakar of LP. Others were Aliyu Sayyinna, NNPP; Hudu Sa’idu, NRM; Labbo Bala, SDP and Muhammad Bashir, ZLP. Bagudo said, "Tambuwal having satisfied the requirements of law have been declared winner and returned elected".  News Rider reports that the Fe...

        Gov Peter Obi The Appeal court on Wednesday declined the request by Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to scan and make copies of the election materials from INEC ‘s database. Justice Joseph Ikyegh-led three-member panel said that granting the order sought by Obi would hamper the elections scheduled for Saturday. Ikyegh faulted Obi and LP for repeating their request to be allowed to scan and make copies of the electoral materials in INEC’s possession. He held that granting the order would amount to tying down the hands of the electoral body and preventing it from carrying out the functions assigned to it by the 1999 constitution. The court had on March 3 ordered INEC to allow the applicants to inspect and carry out digital forensic examination of all the electoral materials used in the conduct of the elections. Also, to provide them the Certified True Copy (CTC) of result of the physical inspection of the BVAS. The panel held tha...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Presiding officers collating results at NIA AKASS Quarters Under tree, Federal Housing Estate Lugbe on Saturday. PHOTO BY CHIKA OKEKE.  Labour Party (LP) has won the Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections conducted at NIA AKASS Quarters under tree, Federal Housing Estate, Lugbe, Abuja.  The polling unit -code 192- with 750 voters is sited under the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and registered as Local Government Area Code 06.  Though accreditation and voting commenced simultaneously at 11. 27am due to late arrival of sensitive materials, but the exercise was conducted peacefully, devoid of rancour.  BOblog reports that the voting, which ended at 5.30pm was partly disrupted by the downpour in the locality.  In an interview with a senior citizen, Pa Micheal Okosie, he commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for introducing the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).  He was op...