Author: Isah Mukhtar

Vote buying, ballot snatching mar Kogi bye-election

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, Aug. 11, 2018 (NAN) The bye-election to fill the vacant seat in the Lokoja-Kogi Federal Constituency which started on a peaceful note on Saturday was later marred by violence, vote buying and intimidation in Lokoja.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent monitoring reported that the election was marred by political thugs going from one polling unit to another to perpetrate fraud.

Although policemen and other security agents were seen at the polling stations, they looked the other way, while thugs terrorised people.

At the polling unit at Paparanda Square, voting could not hold as thugs invaded the venue, snatching election materials and beating up people queuing to vote.

The same scenario played out at polling units at Mary Primary School, Karaworo, Adnakolo and Crowther Secondary School, where thugs also disrupted voting.

At Adankolo, some thugs threw stones on people queueing to cast their votes at one of the polling units, chasing them away.

Some of voters who came in their vehicles had their windscreens smashed.

At St. Peter’s Primary School, Felele, voters were seen receiving N2, 000 each after being certified to have voted for particular candidates.

Some officials of the Kogi Government could be seen moving from one polling unit to another in convoys, accompanied by heavily armed policemen and other security operatives.

The Federal Commissioner of INEC in charge of Kogi, Niger and Nasarawa States, Alhaji Mohammed Haruna, has however, said that the election would be cancelled where discrepancies and violence were recorded.

“INEC will review every case of violence, ballot snatching, voter intimidation and vote buying and take appropriate action,’’ he said.

Haruna stated that the rules guiding conduct of elections in Nigeria were clear, noting that election would be voided at any polling unit where rules had been violated. (NAN)
KKA/SN

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Edited by Silas Nwoha

By-election
Lokoja, Aug. 11, 2018 ( NAN) The Lokoja-Koton Karfe federal constituency by-election into the House of Representatives commenced peacefully as early as 8a.m on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that electoral officials in some of the polling units arrived with materials as early as 8 a.m.

Electorate in their hundreds started trooping to the polling units as early as 6.30 a.m to exercise their civic rights.

However, attempt to snatch election materials and ballot box at one of the polling units at Ward 2 was frustrated by determined voters.

At Paparanda square, INEC staff had to flee the polling unit for safety due to confusion created by sporadic gun shots by security men attached to a government official.

The official was alleged to be going from one polling units to another in Lokoja when he was confronted by youths who questioned the legality of his action.

In Gegu and Koton Karfe towns in Kogi Local Government, the turnout of voters was impressive with women and youths in majority.

The candidate of the PDP, who hailed from Gegu, Mr Bashir Abubakar complained of intimidation and harassment of voters by some by the political appointees of the state government.

Abubakar said that he had reported the matter to security agencies.

He applauded the INEC for its level of preparation for the election but expressed fears that some people were out to frustrate the good efforts.

Police presence was observed in all the polling units visited. Also there was no incident of vote buying at the vicinity of the polling units. (NAN)
KKA/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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Accident

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, Aug. 10, 2018 (NAN) Five persons on Friday died in an auto accident at Ogbabo village on Ajaokuta-Ayangba road in Kogi.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Mr Olusegun Martins who confirmed the accident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that two other victims sustained serious injured in the accident.

He said that the accident which happened at about 3:30p.m involved two Sienna sport utility vehicles with registration number ; EPE 307 XU and AK ILIKA 1 with the sticker of Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) on it.

He said that the injured had been taken to nearby hospital in the area for treatment and the dead, deposited at a mortuary.

Martins stated that investigation into the cause of the accident had commenced.

However, an eyewitness, who would not his identity revealed, told NAN that the affected vehicles were coming from the opposite direction.

The sector said they collided when one of them was trying to avoid a deep pothole on the road. (NAN)
KKA/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed

Defections

By Wale Ojetimi

Lagos, Aug. 9, 2018 (NAN) An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Ismail Fagbemi, has advocated mandatory training and certification on party ideology for members seeking public office to stem the wave of defections among politicians.

Fagbemi, who is Treasurer of APC, South Africa Chapter and House of Representatives aspirant for the 2019 elections, said such political education was critical to building a virile and strong party.

“Before you can hold any elective or appointive post, you must have gone through training and be certified in party ideology to take that responsibility.

“If you’re coming into our party, you must go through our training programme, pass the examination and get certified at different levels.

“By then, you would have been inculcated with the ideals and ideology of the party.

“With such training, people will understand that politics should have ideological base and not a do or die affair,” said Fagbemi, APC aspirant for the Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa and Kajola Federal Constituency.

Fagbemi said politicians who jumped from one political party to another lacked clear cut ideology and were only interested in fulfilling their personal and selfish interests.

“This does not portend well for the advancement our democracy and it is affecting governance negatively because such politicians fail to imbibe party philosophy and values needed to serve the masses,” he said.

He also urged the APC to establish a Progressives Business Forum (PBF) as the commercial arm of the party to assist in funding its activities.

According to him, the proposed PBF is a forum of progressive businessmen who will form an alliance with the party.

He commended the dexterity of Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in sacking Lawal Daura, Director General, Department of State Service (DSS) over Tuesday’s invasion of the National Assembly.

“Apparently, Daura has been handling the DSS with highhandedness. His sacking is,therefore, a welcome development which has been applauded by all well-meaning Nigerians.

“We hope that we are going to move away from this type of military gestapo era where impunity hold sway.

“We hope the new DSS leadership will shape up discipline and professionalism in the operation of the service.

“This development is not good for democracy and rule of law and should be condemned by all, irrespective of party affiliation because we cannot in any guise justify illegality,” he said.

The APC chieftain said that the incident should be thoroughly investigated and bring to book all principal actors to serve as deterrent to others involved in similar act of impunity.

On the introduction of state police, Fagbemi said the nation was not ripe for its establishment as it could be abused by politicians.

According to him, the nation is not mature for state or municipal police in view of the incessant inter agency rifts among various national military and paramilitary organisations.

“All we need now is to strengthen the state police commands and put their control in the hands of the governors who are the chief security officers of their states,” Fagbemi said. (NAN)

WOJ

Edited by Wale Ojetimi

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AEDC asks owners of buildings under high tension wire to quit

AEDC

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, Aug. 8, 2018 ( NAN) The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has asked owners of buildings and shops under its high tension wires to vacate immediately for their own safety.

The Kogi State Regional Manager of the AEDC, Mrs Amina Ibrahim, who gave the order on Wednesday in Lokoja during a safety sensitisation/stakeholders meeting, also asked those trading under high tension cables to vacate.

She said that the quit order became necessary because of the approaching windstorm and heavy downpour, which could make the cables to snap.

Ibrahim also warned residents against loitering around transformers and electric poles during this rainy season.

According to her, the AEDC will not accept responsibility for any occurrence due to the negligence of electricity consumers, especially issues of safety of life and property.

On the issue of crazy bills, the manager urged consumers with genuine complaints to come forward for resolution before the commencement of installation of pre- paid meters.

She said that over 151,000 electricity consumers will soon be given pre-paid meters, saying that the installation of the meters would be in phases.

Also speaking, the Deputy Director of Risk and Compliance of AEDC, Mr Henry Digu, said that the company was not after profit now, adding that it has been re-investing all the money it was making from the state into the state.

He explained that electricity supply to the state had increased to between 18 and 24 hours, urging consumers to reciprocate by paying their bills regularly.

He advised consumers to only patronise licensed electrical constructors for installations, saying that some fire incidences recently recorded were due to substandard electrical materials.

Digu said that fake AEDC staff had been going around to extort money from unsuspecting consumers.

He said that the company did not charge money for repair of transformers, electric poles and other services to consumers.

The Officer pleaded with the people to join hands with the AEDC to protect electrical equipment from vandals, disclosing that the company was in the process of securing the services of the Kogi State Vigilante Service, to help secure power equipment in the state.

Earlier, the AEDC team had paid a courtesy call on the Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Muhammed Maikarfi, who commended the organisation for the noticeable improvement in power supply to the town.

The traditional ruler also praised the company for its prompt response to customers’ complaints, promising to ensure that the message on safety is passed on.

Consumers and stakeholders at the sensitisation meeting urged the company to sustain its current level of performance to encourage consumers to pay their bills.

They also asked the AEDC to open more cash collecting centres in Lokoja, to bring payment points closer to the people. ( NAN)
KKA/IFY
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Edited by Ify Omowole

08033702984

173, 381 voters set to elect new Rep for Lokoja/Kogi constituency

Bye-election

Lokoja, Aug. 8, 2018 ( NAN) The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) said on Wednesday that 173,381 voters would participate in the August 11 bye-election to fill the vacant Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency position in Kogi State.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. James Apam, who disclosed this in Lokoja during a stakeholders meeting, said that the number of voters comprised 125, 770 from Lokoja Local Government and 48, 611 from Kogi Local Government.

Recall that the seat became vacant following the death of the Hon. Umar Baba Jibrin on March 30.

Apam said that the election would hold in 310 polling units/voting points across the two local governments, with accreditation and voting holding simultaneously on the Election Day.

Apart from those who registered for the 2015 elections, the Commissioner said that those who registered during the ongoing Continuous Voter registration between April and December 2017 are eligible to vote during the election.

According to him, nine political parties: Accord Party, African Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress, Democratic Alternative, Labour Party, Mega Party of Nigeria, National Conscience Party, Peoples Democratic Party and Social Democratic Party are fielding candidates in the election.

He said that 1,500 ad hoc staff, comprising corps members, and senior officers of the commission, would be deployed to the various polling units.

The Commissioner said that adequate security measures had been put in place to ensure a hitch-free election, reiterating the INEC’s resolve to create a level playing ground for all contestants.

He also allayed fears being expressed over the use of money to induce voters, saying that anybody caught sharing money within the vicinity of polling units would be arrested and prosecuted.

While stating the readiness of the INEC to conduct the election, he said that non-sensitive materials like ballot boxes, voting cubicles, generators and others had been deployed, while sensitive materials will be deployed on Aug. 10.

He solicited the support and understanding of all stakeholders to enable the INEC to conduct a free and fair election that will be acceptable to all.

Apam said that the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration would be suspended on Aug. 17, while the issuance of old and newly printed voter cards would continue until a week before the 2019 elections.

Some of the stakeholders at the meeting, including representatives of political parties, civil society organisations and religious groups, urged the INEC to remain neutral in the election.

They also demanded transparency and openness from the voting points to the collation centres, to make the outcome of the exercise acceptable.(NAN)

KKA/SOA

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Man drops dead at bus stop in Lagos

Death

By Lilian Okoro

Lagos, Aug. 7, 2018 (NAN) The body of a middle-aged man, who reportedly slumped and died, was found at Orile Iganmu bus stop in Lagos on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered at the scene that the deceased was a passerby who suddenly slumped and died after he took ill in the early hours of Tuesday.

Mr Yinus Olayiwola, a trader close to the scene, said that the deceased was seen shivering on the spot at about 6:30 a.m.

The deceased’s situation was worsened by an early morning drizzle, he said.

“It seems the deceased was asthmatic. Though, the early drizzle worsened his condition, his life may have been saved if he got prompt medical assistance,” he said.

Another resident, Bamidele Adejoke, said that the deceased was not a mad man but normal passerby and urged individuals to take their health seriously to avert sudden death of that nature.

He expressed disappointment that relevant agencies were yet to evacuate the corpse over eight hours after the incident. (NAN)

LUC/WOJ

Edited by Wale Ojetimi

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Monarch

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, Aug. 6, 2018 (NAN) The Police in Kogi have arrested five suspects said to be behind the kidnap of a traditional ruler, a catholic cleric and the recent spate of armed robbery on Okene -Lokoja road.

Presenting the suspects to Journalists in Lokoja on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ali Janga, said that the suspects were also responsible for cattle rustling in Lokoja and its environs.

Janga said that one of the suspects was a member of a gang that kidnapped the Obaro of Jakura, Alhaji Ibrahim Adoga, and the Priest in charge of St Michael Catholic Church, Obajana, Reverend Father Leo Michael, on July 24.

He said that the suspects who held the traditional ruler in captivity for five days also killed a son of the monarch.

He said that the suspects received N1.1 million as ransom before releasing their victims, stating that N240,000 suspected to be part of the suspect’s own share of the ransom was recovered from him.

The commissioner said that the police were on the trail of other members of the gang.

He said that the suspects were also responsible for cattle rustling in Lokoja and its environs, saying that the suspected buyer of the rustled cows had also been arrested.

He said that the suspects were arrested inside bush with sophisticated weapons, including, ammunition, machete, Jack knife and a locally made pistol.

The traditional ruler who later spoke with newsmen said that the kidnappers detained him for five days without food and water.

He said that he was still in shock over the incident and the death of his son.

The suspected buyer of the rustled cows said that he only bought two cows from the suspects in June.

Janga said that the suspects had confessed to the crimes and would be charged to court very soon. (NAN)
KKA /JI/AMY
Editing by Joseph Idika and Abdullahi Yusuf

N-Power
Lokoja, July 31, 2018 (NAN) Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi  has commended the Federal Government for recruiting  7,425 unemployed graduates from the state into the second batch of  the N-Power programme.

Bello,  in a statement in Lokoja on Tuesday, said that the programme had  given hope to the beneficiaries who were selected on merit from the 21 local government councils  of the state.

According to him, the recruitment of the unemployed graduates into the scheme was timely and a relief to the beneficiaries as many of them had  been jobless   for years.

Those selected were mostly from indigent  background,  the governor said in the statement signed by Adoga Ibrahim, the Coordinator of the N-Power programme in the state.

Bello also commended President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for the introduction of the N-Power scheme under which beneficiaries are entitled to  a N30,000 stipend per month.

He re-affirmed the support of the people and government of Kogi State for the president.

“  We will work to strengthen the effort of the President Buhari led-administration by ensuring that the beneficiaries are deployed to critical areas that will impact on the development of the state,” Bello was quoted as saying.

He urged the beneficiaries to give their best services to the nation and refrain from any form of misconduct.(NAN)
KKA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

 High Court in Owerri stops the swearing-in of Callistus Ekenze, Head of Civil Service of Imo, as Deputy Governor of the state.