Politics
Saturday elections: Mahama, Boni Yayi, other African leaders arrive in Abuja
Former Ghanaian president, John Mahama, and former Benin president, Boni Yayi of the West African Elders Forum, WAEF election mediation mission, have arrived Abuja to observe the Saturday presidential and national assembly elections.
The communications officer, Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Wealth Ominabo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.
Mr Ominabo also confirmed the arrival of former Burkinabe Prime Minister and President of the ECOWAS, Kadre Ouedraogo; and former Deputy Chair of the African Union, Dr Erastus Mwencha.
Also in the team were former vice president of The Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang, and Board member of Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Adebayo Olukoshi.
Mr Ominabo said that as former leaders of the sub-region, the mission were in the country to lend their support to the democracy consolidation efforts in Nigeria.
He said that the mission would on Saturday v isit polling stations in Abuja to observe election day procedures and results collation processes.
READ ALSO:
- Go out and vote tomorrow, American President, Joe Biden charges Nigerians
- Man Utd 2-1 Barcelona: Fred and Antony star as Ten Hag’s side progress in Europa League
- FACTS CHECK: Did FG plans to shut down telecommunications network, online transfer, others for election?
He listed other members of the mission to include representatives from Open Society-Africa, including Muthoni Wanyeki; director for Policy and Engagement, George Kegoro; and division director for Participation and Expression, Hawa Ba.
The executive director of Goodluck Jonathan Foundation and Head of the WAEF Secretariat, Ann Iyonu, said the elders would be engaging with stakeholders in Nigeria to ensure peaceful and successful elections.
“The respected leaders will chiefly be on hand to engage key stakeholders including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), international organisations, security authorities, candidates and other key stakeholders, towards ensuring free and fair processes as well as peaceful outcomes.”
Mr Iyonu described WAFF as a non-partisan platform for past Heads of State and Government, former Presidents of the ECOWAS Commission and other prominent statesmen in West Africa.
“The role of WAEF Mission is to provide advisory, mediation and conflict resolution support services to the political leaders of the sub-region.”
He recalled that in December 2022, WAEF deployed a three-man delegation to Nigeria to undertake a pre-election mediation mission.
The delegation made up of former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma; former vice president of the Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang.
Mohammed Ibn Chambers, former President of the ECOWAS Commission and former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the UNOWAS was also present.
Mr Iyonu said that members of the Mission would remain in the country until the election procedures were peacefully concluded.
“The mission’s engagements in the country will be guided by the experience and wisdom of its members who, as former Presidents and leaders in the sub-region, had managed elections and overseen successful conflict resolution and peace processes,” she said.
NAN
Politics
Ondo gov: Aiyedatiwa leads in 13 LGAs, result collation resumes 5am
Ondo gov: Aiyedatiwa leads in 13 LGAs, result collation resumes 5am
Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressive Congress in Saturday’s governorship election Ondo State is leading in all the 13 local governments so far declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Aiyedatiwa is also the incumbent governor of the state.
The collation of the remaining five council areas would resume by 5am today (Sunday), the collation officer, Prof Olayemi Akinwunmi, said Saturday night.
Akinwunmi, who announced the recess, said it was to allow for the arrival of results from the remaining local governments.
He said, “We have five more local governments but we are going to take our recess now until 5am to receive from Akure North, Okitipupa and Odigbo, then Ilaje and Eseodo. We resume at 5am for these local governments.”
Politics
INEC replaces LP candidate hours to Ondo gov election
INEC replaces LP candidate hours to Ondo gov election
In less than 24 hours to the Ondo governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced that Olusola Ebiseni would be replaced with Olorunfemi Festus as the Labour Party candidate.
INEC stated on X on Friday that the replacement of Mr Ebiseni with Mr Festus followed a judgment of the Court of Appeal.
The appellate court ordered INEC to restore the name of Festus as the Labour Party candidate in the Saturday election.
INEC was served with the certified true copy of the judgment on Thursday, which set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
READ ALSO:
- CBN to penalise banks selling new naira notes to hawkers
- How much is Mike Tyson, Jake Paul getting paid for the fight?
- NAF air strikes kill scores of bandits in Kaduna, free kidnap victims
“The FHC, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024, had on Sept. 27 ordered the commission to accept Ebiseni as the candidate of the LP for the 2024 Ondo state governorship election.
“However, in the appeal with reference number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024 filed by the LP, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, struck out the judgment of the FHC for lack of jurisdiction.
“In obedience to the court order, the commission has restored Festus, whose name was first published as the LP candidate for the 2024 Ondo Governorship election and uploaded the same to our website for public information,” INEC said.
INEC replaces LP candidate hours to Ondo gov election
(NAN)
Politics
Ondo poll: Three gov candidates withdraw for Aiyedatiwa
Ondo poll: Three gov candidates withdraw for Aiyedatiwa
Three gubernatorial candidates have withdrawn from Saturday’s election in Ondo after endorsing Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the APC candidate.
The candidates disclosed this during a solidarity visit to Mr Aiyedatiwa by Ajibola Falaye, the candidate of the Accord Party, who spoke on behalf of the three parties on Thursday in Akure.
The other two are the governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement, Jenyo Ataunoko and the deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Olaide Rasheed Ibrahim.
The governorship candidate of the ADC, Adeyemi Nejo, had earlier declared support for Mr Aiyedatiwa.
Mr Falaye said their decision to back the incumbent governor for Saturday’s election was based on observations of his longstanding commitment to public service since his time as the deputy governor.
READ ALSO:
- $6bn fraud: Judge scolds Agunloye’s counsel over delay tactics
- Emefiele printed new naira notes different from what Buhari approved – Ex-CBN official
- Train attack: ECOWAS court dismisses SERAP suit against FG
“We have been watching him, and his doors are always open to all. The state has been experiencing relative peace under his watch, which reflects his commitment to safeguarding the lives of our people,” said Mr Falaye.
The politician added, “We see the infrastructural development that has taken place even within this short period. It is clear that the governor is actively working for the people.
“This Saturday, we will turn our commitment into votes. We will vote for continuity in Ondo state.”
Responding, Mr Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude for the endorsement, calling it a quality decision made out of goodwill by the candidates and their parties.
“I didn’t call for this, but I am grateful that my colleagues in the race have voluntarily identified with my mandate and are ready to mobilise their supporters to vote for the APC,” the Ondo governor stated.
Ondo poll: Three gov candidates withdraw for Aiyedatiwa
(NAN)
-
Sports2 days agoBREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025
-
Aviation3 days agoDisaster averted as bird strike hits Abuja-Lagos Air Peace flight
-
metro2 days agoCourt orders varsity to pay lecturer N40m compensation for wrongful dismissal
-
metro14 hours agoSouth-West NURTW: Why we chose Oluomo over Baruwa
-
Opinion2 days agoApomu king turns warmonger for PDP
-
Politics2 days agoOndo poll: Three gov candidates withdraw for Aiyedatiwa
-
News3 days agoEdo Gov Okpebholo freezes govt accounts, reverses ministry’s name
-
News1 day agoLate COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes