Politics
Bayelsa guber poll: We will deploy BVAS to prevent rigging – INEC
Bayelsa guber poll: We will deploy BVAS to prevent rigging – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Thursday restated that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be deployed for voter accreditation and transmission of result on Nov. 11 governorship poll in Bayelsa to prevent rigging.
This was disclosed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obo Effanga, at a news conference on the commission’s readiness for the forthcoming election at the INEC office in Yenagoa.
He said that almost all the non sensitive materials were already in the local government areas where the election would be conducted.
He explained that the sensitive materials would, on arrival, be warehoused at the Cental Bank of Nigeria from where they would be distributed to various locations.
Effanga said, “Nothing has changed with the process of election in Nigeria. We are still going to conduct election based on the provisions of the Constitution, Electoral Act and guidelines of INEC.
“After voting at the polling units, the votes will be counted there, they will be recorded in the physical result sheet, we will use the BVAS to take a snapshot of the results.
“They will be taken to the collation centre where the results are authenticated and the photograph that was taken will be uploaded onto the result viewing portal.
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“Then from there we move from the wards collation to the local government collation. From the local government collation, we come to the state collation centre.
“That is when the final collation is done and the result is announced and a winner is declared.
“I assure you on behalf of my team, we will do all our best to conduct a very good election, taking into cognisance what the Constitution says, what the Electoral Act says,” the REC said.
He explained that the guidelines for the election would be strictly followed as the commision puts finishing touches to its plan to ensure success.
“Every vote will count, we will ensure that every personnel sent to the field are adequately qualified and knowledgeable about the processes of election.
“We will not interfere in any way to aid or assist anyone. Anybody that wants to win the election should be talking to the voters,” he said.
According to him, eligible voters who have not collected their voter cards will do so from Sept. 11 to Oct. 9, adding that the collection of the voter cards will be at the local government offices of INEC.
“In registration areas also known as wards where we have more than 500 voters’ cards that have not been collected, those cards will be available at those registration centres for the voters to collect their cards.
“Every registration area that has more than 500 cards that have not been collected, the owners of those cards can go to the registration area centres and collect them.
“But where you have less than that, you have to go to the INEC office in the local government area,” he said.
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Politics
2027: Donald Duke Pledges To Bring Petrol Price Down To N300 Per Litre
2027: Donald Duke Pledges To Bring Petrol Price Down To N300 Per Litre
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has pledged to work towards reducing the price of petrol to about N300 per litre if elected president in the 2027 presidential election.
Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, made the pledge during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he outlined his proposed approach to the petroleum sector and Nigeria’s wider economy.
The PRP candidate said petroleum products for domestic consumption should be priced based on the cost of production rather than being fully exposed to international market prices.
He proposed allocating about 600,000 barrels of crude oil per day for domestic consumption, while selling the remaining crude on the international market.
Asked what petrol could cost under his proposed administration, Duke said: “I will try and bring it to about N300.”
He acknowledged that the target could appear ambitious but maintained that his proposed crude allocation and domestic pricing model could make it achievable.
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Duke argued that fuel prices have a direct impact on transportation, businesses and household expenses, making affordable energy important to economic activity.
“Fuel drives your economy. It should be available. It should be affordable,” he said.
The former Cross River governor also indicated that he would pursue a different economic approach from the policies of President Bola Tinubu if elected.
His proposal comes amid continuing debate over petrol prices, fuel subsidy removal, domestic refining and crude oil allocation in Nigeria.
The N300 target is part of Duke’s proposed 2027 economic agenda and would depend on the implementation of the policies he has outlined if he wins the presidential election.
2027: Donald Duke Pledges To Bring Petrol Price Down To N300 Per Litre
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Politics
2027: Obi Makes U-Turn, Vows to Restore Fuel Subsidy If Elected
2027: Obi Makes U-Turn, Vows to Restore Fuel Subsidy If Elected
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said he would restore Nigeria’s petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, arguing that the major problem with the policy is the corruption surrounding its implementation.
Obi made the declaration during a recent interview with the BBC, where he was asked directly whether he would bring back the subsidy if elected.
“Yes. But remember, I have qualified it, not with the corruption that’s associated with it. I’ll remove the corruption and retain the subsidy,” he said.
The position marks a significant shift from comments Obi made in August, when he said the removal of fuel subsidy should not be reversed simply because proceeds from the policy were allegedly being mismanaged.
Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Obi said at the time that he supported subsidy removal but argued that the savings should be properly invested in healthcare, education and other productive sectors.
“I subscribe, and I maintain that you need to remove subsidy. Mismanagement of the proceeds should not be the reason for not removing it,” he had said.
Obi has now drawn a distinction between the subsidy itself and what he describes as the corruption associated with the scheme.
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“From day one, I’ve talked about subsidy. I talked about corruption; corruption is the problem of subsidy,” he told the BBC.
The latest position also comes shortly after his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, said an NDC administration would introduce fuel subsidy in its own way if the party wins the 2027 presidential election.
Kwankwaso had argued that the party would seek ways to make petrol more affordable while improving domestic refining and petroleum production.
The fuel subsidy debate has remained a major political and economic issue since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced its removal on May 29, 2023.
The decision caused petrol prices to rise sharply and has remained a contentious issue amid concerns over inflation, living costs and household purchasing power.
The Federal Government has continued to defend subsidy removal as a necessary economic reform, while opposition politicians have proposed different approaches to reducing the impact of petrol prices on Nigerians.
Obi also addressed the question of opposition unity ahead of the 2027 election, rejecting suggestions that he should step aside for another candidate if opposition parties eventually agree to a consensus candidate.
“We don’t need to step down. We need to do the right thing,” he said, arguing that opposition parties should focus on mobilising more voters.
On corruption, Obi said his approach would begin with his own conduct and that of his family. He also contrasted his proposed leadership style with that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he would exercise greater control over his administration if elected.
With the 2027 presidential election approaching, Obi’s renewed pledge to retain or restore fuel subsidy is expected to keep the policy at the centre of economic and political debates, particularly as parties present competing proposals on petrol pricing and the cost of living.
2027: Obi Makes U-Turn, Vows to Restore Fuel Subsidy If Elected
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Politics
2027: Galadima Alleges APC Offering N50m, N200m to Lawmakers to Step Aside
2027: Galadima Alleges APC Offering N50m, N200m to Lawmakers to Step Aside
Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is offering millions of naira and vehicles to some opposition politicians and lawmakers to withdraw from the 2027 elections.
Galadima made the allegation during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time, claiming that the alleged financial inducements were part of efforts to reduce opposition competition ahead of the elections.
According to him, members of State Houses of Assembly who agree to step aside for APC candidates are allegedly being offered N50 million, while members of the House of Representatives are allegedly being promised N200 million and a vehicle.
“Every member of the House of Assembly who agrees to forfeit his ticket for the APC candidate is currently being given N50 million, and members of the House of Representatives will be given N200 million with a car,” Galadima alleged.
He further claimed that some politicians had already withdrawn from the 2027 race after allegedly receiving the financial incentives.
Galadima also alleged that a woman from Zamfara State was coordinating the purported distribution of the money from a hotel in Abuja.
“There’s a lady from Zamfara State who is sharing the money in a hotel here in Abuja,” he alleged.
He further claimed that the woman had recently met with APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, allegedly presenting the names of candidates who had withdrawn from the contest.
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Galadima alleged that some of the politicians had written resignation letters and collected the money.
However, he did not provide publicly verifiable evidence during the interview to independently establish the alleged payments, identify the lawmakers involved or confirm the purported distribution arrangement.
The allegations come amid increased political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, with politicians moving between opposition parties and the ruling APC.
In recent months, the APC has received politicians from opposition parties, including candidates who withdrew from some State House of Assembly contests before joining the ruling party.
Galadima presented the alleged financial inducements as part of what he described as a broader strategy to reduce competition against APC candidates.
He also alleged that President Bola Tinubu and APC governors were uncomfortable with facing strong opposition candidates and wanted to ensure that APC candidates encountered limited competition in some constituencies.
Those claims remain allegations by Galadima and have not been independently established.
The NDC chieftain has remained vocal about opposition efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In September, Galadima said he was part of a group of opposition politicians working under the coordination of former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Fayemi subsequently rejected the claim through his media team.
Galadima has also previously spoken about the NDC’s strategy for the 2027 election, including the party’s decision to zone its presidential ticket to the South.
The party has attracted prominent politicians, including former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, amid continuing political realignments ahead of the election.
Meanwhile, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda has previously rejected suggestions that the party uses financial incentives to influence political movements, saying politicians who joined the APC did so voluntarily.
The APC and Yilwatda have not publicly responded specifically to Galadima’s latest allegations that money and vehicles are being offered to lawmakers to withdraw from the 2027 elections.
The claims are therefore expected to fuel further debate over political defections, electoral competition and campaign financing ahead of the 2027 polls.
2027: Galadima Alleges APC Offering N50m, N200m to Lawmakers to Step Aside
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