Why Obi Won Nasarawa State

The candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, was declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election in Nasarawa State where Mr Obi polled 191,361 votes to defeat Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 172,922 votes.

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party came third in the state with 147,093 votes which has left a few analysts puzzled. But our analyst Sunday Gyado writes why this was not surprising and was expected.

For the longest time in Nigerian history, Nigerians only perceived the North as a monolith.

There was a presumption that everyone in the aforementioned “North” was Hausa, Fulani and Muslim, and there was no desire to learn about other ethnicities.

Peter Gregory Obi’s candidacy would somewhat alter that as most Nigerian youth, who primarily spearheaded the endsars marches, and Peter Obi’s Labour party campaigns, started to become more curious about the demographic of their target areas in the  various states of the Federation and in this case Nasarawa.

Based on this, they began to understand that the Eggons were Nasarawa’s largest ethnic group, followed by the Alagos and Mada. The Obi’s team specifically targeted them as they were the biggest groups in the state.

Other ethnic groups in the state that were targeted were Gbagyi, Tiv, Hausa, Fulani, Koro, Miligi, Chala, etc., with grassroots campaigns planned in markets, streets, and even most importantly, one-on-one interactions.

Throughout Nasarawa’s history, despite being the majority, these groups were uninterested in politics and how it influenced society because politics was viewed as a dishonest game according to a resident who chose to be kept anonymous.

He further added that Nasarawa’s attitude of politics is beginning to shift due to the majority groups’ growing involvement in politics.

Even the churches, he claimed, who in the 1970s discouraged their members from running for office, had since changed their minds.

“Because we rarely cast ballots, many people believed all sorts of things about the state, for instance that Nasarawa is a Muslim state.”

“Now that we are visible, people are learning about the state’s religious variety as well as the ethnic identity of the major populations like mine, Alago, which are primarily Christian.”

He also differentiated between the Obi movement and those of the other political parties where he said he stated that, the Obi movement appears more interested in getting to know us.
They mix with locals, enquire about things, and offer help when required. Such is the operation of grass-roots politics.

He urged other political parties to follow the labor party’s example.

Another interviewer, Martin Adagyo, an Alago resident in Lafia, discussed how voter apathy in Nasarawa was shifting from among both the youth to the elderly.

He attributed the killings that have primarily hit Nasarawa state and the shifting political landscape, which includes elements like the Muslim muslin ticket, etc. as contributory factors

Analysts anticipate a wider exploration into the cultural and religious diversity in other Middle Belt states including Gombe, Niger, Taraba, and Adamawa States as the political climate in Nigeria keeps evolving.

Gov Yahaya apologises to Christians in Gombe

The governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, apologized to the Christian faithful’s in the state on Saturday.

According to our correspondent, there have been audiovisuals and letters distributed in public spaces stating that the governor despises the religion and imploring believers to stop supporting him on March 11, 2023.

However, among the complaints leveled at the administration are the choice of the Mai Tangle stool and the appointment of Beatrice Iliya as Chief Judge.

The governor emphasized that elections “should be achievement oriented and infrastructural development that has direct impact to the people as a guiding consideration” rather than being based on feelings.

If elected into office, he also expressed regret to the Christian community for any wrongdoing committed against them and vowed not to repeat it during his second term in office.

According to him, “As in every human endeavour me and this administration might have committed errors. I request the gathering to forgive and chart a new course for continued development of the state.”

While thanking the people for giving him their support in 2019, he listed some of his administration’s accomplishments, such as the provision of high-quality healthcare facilities, educational advancement, improved road infrastructure, and, most importantly, the state’s pervasive peace and security.

The governor added that when he took office in 2019, he inherited a massive amount of debt and crumbling infrastructure in all sectors, which forced his administration to act quickly to fix them during its first term.

He also urged the Christian community to vote for him once more in order to preserve the state’s progress.

In order to link the state with the central government and take use of its inherent advantages, he utilized the occasion to urge the population to turn out in droves to vote for the APC’s candidates in the upcoming elections.

Zubair Umar, the Director-General of the APC Campaign Organization, had stated that the interactive meeting was necessary to clarify some misunderstandings and impressions regarding the State Governor and the administration. He urged those present to be sincere in their remarks.

Professor Ibrahim Njodi, secretary to the state government, thanked the Christian community for attending the conference in large numbers and warned them to ignore any bad audiovisual messages that are influenced by media views.

Additionally speaking, Rev. Abare Kalla, the chairman of the North East CAN, praised the governor’s foresight in calling the meeting, his candor in clearing up any misperceptions, and his request for pardon from the Christian community for any wrongdoing on his part or by the policies and programs of his administration.

At the conclusion of the interactive meeting, the Christian community unanimously decided to pardon the governor and vowed to work tirelessly on his behalf to win re-election for a second term.

Benue PDP accuses INEC of violating electoral law, rejects election results 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused of violating the Electoral Act by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, which they claim has a negative impact on the credibility of the recently held presidential and National Assembly elections.

As a political party and a significant participant in Nigeria’s democratic process, it is our opinion that provisions of the Electoral Act (2022 As Amended) in Sections 60 (5) and 148, which give INEC the authority to establish guidelines for the conduct of the elections, were grossly violated. This accusation was made by the party’s chairman, Isaac Mffo, during a press conference on the results of the elections.

“The PDP in Benue State rejects the outcome of both the presidential and National Assembly elections held in certain local government areas of the state on 25th February, 2023, for the reason of the breaches of law cited above.

“The party had shortly after the said elections issued a statement to the effect that it had mandated its legal department to study reports received from its agents who had been deployed to the over 5000 polling units across the state.

“After due consideration of the findings by the legal department, it is the position of our great party, the PDP, that the process of conducting both the presidential and National Assembly elections in Benue State did not conform with the standards stipulated in the enabling laws.

“In this regard, we consider it a matter of grave concern that Clauses 38 and 93 of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Election, 2022, which make mandatory the transmission of election results electronically from the polling units to the INEC Server were serially flouted.”

Don’t vote who will misrule Plateau AGAIN!!!! Jang warns

A former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, has urged the populace not to choose a governor who will mismanage the state for a further eight years just one week before the governorship and state House of Assembly elections scheduled for March 11,2023.

He explicitly urged the electorate to abstain from voting for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress and the Labour Party, as they had collaborated during the previous eight years to inflict immeasurable miseries and suffering on the residents of the state.

He also congratulated the election’s winners and thanked voters for supporting PDP candidates in the elections for the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Prior to the gubernatorial and state House Assembly elections, Jang made a statement on Friday in Jos.

Expressing confidence in the ability of the PDP and its candidates to reverse the ugly past and bring about development to Plateau, the former governor urged the people to vote wisely in the interest of the state.

Jang said, “The presidential election of February 25 has come and gone. It may not have been our desire or preference, but only time will reveal what is best for our dear country Nigeria as it pleases God almighty.

“The governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are almost here, and it is hoped that urgent steps will be taken to close the ranks, shelve all differences, and pursue the election as a common front. The manipulated presidential poll should propel us to do what is right to put all our candidates on a winning streak.

“We should not allow our emotions to overtake our sense of purpose at this time; the successes achieved in the past election must be the driving force for more outstanding achievements in the forthcoming polls, which are, indeed, local.

“Having secured five out of eight House of Representatives positions and two Senatorial positions already in the kitty with a third on the horizon, we should be working hard to install a governor and a House of Assembly who will join hands to stand for the interest of our dear state.

“The pains and lessons of the past eight years, where we had the APC in government both in Plateau and at the national level but have had no benefit, is instructive. The outcome of the presidential polls has shown where the leanings of Plateau people are; an APC government in the state is a subscription to further neglect, as experienced in the last eight years.

Let’s not forget that the last eight years brought us untold hardship; we were almost robbed of our identity.

He called on the people to resist those who attempt to coerce our mind into believing that we are second class people.

“Let us, therefore, vote for a governor who will have the backing of the state and National Assembly members in pursuing the interests of the Plateau people.

“The time to act is now! The decision to build a virile Plateau where unending peace reigns is ours to make. We must not sit on the fence; we must defend our heritage, not just for ourselves but for our children and the on-coming generations,” he beckoned.

The former governor called on all including the Obidients not to lose faith but join hands with the PDP to redeem the heritage of the stage.

He added, “We must insulate Plateau by voting for the PDP and must force INEC to make our votes count. No retreat, No surrender.”

Asake Still In Race – LP Campaign Council on Kaduna elections

Rumors that the Labour Party’s (LP) governorship candidate, Hon. Jonathan Asake, had withdrawn from the contest in Kaduna State have been refuted by the Asake/Bashir campaign organizations.

This is to call the attention of our party members, our teaming supporters in and out of Kaduna state, to disregard all lies and rumors peddled by PDP that Hon. Jonathan Asake, the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party for Kaduna State, has stepped down from the race for Hon. Isa Ashiru Kudan, the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP for Kaduna State.

“Those who are spreading these rumours are political bandits of the PDP who are forced to face the hard fact that Asake is the choice of Kaduna state under a free and fair election come 11th March, 2023.

Despite the cruel and malicious rumors that have been spread to damage his well-earned reputation, Asake is very hot in the competition and is not looking back.

“We are aware of several organizations and clergy members who have broken their morals and callings in order to amass large sums of cash from their sponsors in order to sway voters’ opinions against Asake.

“They have become scare mongers who are driving fear and hate in the heart of some undiscerning minds that Asake is sponsored to divide the votes of the PDP so that the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket will be retained in Kaduna State.

Under a free and fair election, we don’t see where the APC will win the gubernatorial seat of Kaduna state after the destruction it had brought upon Kaduna State.

“And in any case, it was the indolent, cowardly and timid way the PDP played politics that gave grounds for the APC to do what it liked with the people, assets and fortune of Kaduna state. It is the same PDP that wasted the votes of the people of Kaduna state in 2019. It is the same characters that are parading the same candidate for the 2023 elections. Our people have no confidence that the PDP has the capacity to coast to victory or after victory, sustain the victory from being snatched by the APC from the courts.

“We have identified our lapses in the February 25th Presidential election and we have taken all necessary corrections to avoid the kind of votes robbery that the Labour Party suffered in Kaduna State. The APC and the PDP know from their hearts that Peter Obi and most of our candidates for the National Assembly elections won in Kaduna State, and we are going to get back our victory from the courts.

“We are therefore calling on our supporters not to be intimidated or be deceived by anyone or groups.

They should mobilise themselves and convince more electorate for a landslide victory in the gubernatorial race come 11th March, 2023”.

Herdsmen killings: Benue APC guber candidate, Fr Alia fumes

The All Progressives Congress’ (APC) candidate for governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has decried the latest round of attacks by armed men on communities in the state, particularly Kwande and Gwer-West Local Government.

Since the Saturday presidential and National Assembly elections, multiple attacks in Local Government Areas have claimed the lives of over ten people.

Fr. Alia responded by asking why the herdsmen invasion of Benue Communities and the horrible death of innocent residents could not be stopped in a statement released on Friday by his media assistant, Isaac Uzaan.

The APC candidate criticized the return of the terrible killings, bemoaning the timing of these attacks after the elections that delivered Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the new president.

Fr. Alia warned those who may be profiting from the unrest in Benue State and also using it for political purposes to rethink and consider turning over a new leaf as soon as possible to avert God’s wrath. He also called on security agencies to deploy enough personnel and step up surveillance at the troubled areas.

Given the amount of security agencies based in the state and reporting to the state chief security officer, the priest of God specifically questioned why Benue State has continued to be exposed to similar attacks.

Presidential Election: Judges acting like juju priests, no hope for justice, says Odinkalu

As opposition parties announced plans to contest Saturday’s presidential election results in court, rights activist Chidi Odinkalu says he does not expect justice to be dispensed by the judiciary, likening judges’ conduct to that of juju priests and courts to voodoo shrines.

There are allegations of widespread fraud and violence during the presidential poll, with some international observers saying the election was “distorted.”

“I am one of those who have lost hope. So, please don’t speak about some. That is one of the reasons I no longer can claim to be a lawyer,” said Mr Odinkalu in an interview published by THISDAY.

The former National Human Rights Commission boss added, “The kinds of things that come out of our courts these days can only be manufactured by juju priests and voodoo shrines. I did not train for either and lack the qualifications to practice any of those.”

Mr Odinkalu added, “This is not just about technicality; it is also about bare-faced abuse of judicial office. Going to court these days cannot be fulfilling or meaningful for those who do it at any level, from the area courts, magistrates’ court or district courts to the Supreme Court.”

He alleged that “most of the people appointed to the Bench these days are related to powerful judges or powerful politicians – the son of this, the daughter of that, the wife of the other one, or the mistress of that one. It is no longer about competence, character, skill or qualification.”

Mr Odinkalu censured INEC for its role in the contentious presidential poll, leading to PDP and the Labour Party calling for the election’s cancellation.

He faulted INEC for its inadequate preparations in the build-up to the poll and failure to extensively test-run the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, which recorded widespread malfunctions in many parts of the country during the election.

“Anyone who took minimal interest in the matter would have figured that INEC’s assurances of a seamless process or flawless BVAS deployment were both empty and not believable. I wrote about this more than once, but I guess, as Nigerians, we are wired to miracles and magic,” the ex-NHRC chief stated.

Mr Odinkalu mentioned that “BVAS was untried on anything approaching the scale of the claim INEC made on it” regarding the Saturday polls. 

“Prior to this, it had only been tried in three off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun, as well as in the FCT local elections. In all of those, the flaws were very evident,” said the rights activist.

Gazette

Our votes Peter Obi took in South-East, South-South insufficient to make him president: Atiku

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party said though Labour Party’s Peter Obi took chunk of votes from his party’s traditional strongholds in the South-East and South-South, the regional ballots could not have made Mr Obi win presidency.

Fielding questions from journalists after a press conference on the outcome of the February 25 presidential election on Thursday evening, Mr Abubakar admitted that “It is a fact that he took our votes in the South-East and South-South.” He however added that “That of course will not make him a president. You all know that to become a president in country you need votes from everywhere.”

Per declared results, Mr Obi’s Labour Party won in a landslide in all southeastern states as well as in three South-South States of Edo, Delta and Cross River.

Mr Obi was the running mate to Mr Abubakar in the 2019 presidential election. He left the PDP a few weeks before the party’s primary citing a gang up against his emergence. After he emerged candidate of Labour’s flag bearer, Mr Obi enjoyed wavy support from his Igbo kinsmen and many youths who are angling for a departure from the old political order.

Mr Abubakar however said had Mr Obi remained in PDP, he would have been offered the vice presidential slot on his ticket. 

Mr Tinubu polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, winning 12 of 36 states of Nigeria. 

Mr Abubakar came second polling 6,984,520 votes, while Mr Obi came third, polling 6,101,533 votes.

A former vice president between 1999-2007, Mr Abubakar has vowed to challenge Mr Tinubu’s victory in the court. 

Gazette

Accept Defeat, Retire to Dubai -Fayose Tells Atiku

…Says the PDP lacks moral standing to complain of rigging

A former Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has berated the Peoples Democratic Party PDP for alleging that the 2023 presidential election is rigged. Fayose who wrote on his verified twitter handle said the PDP lacks the moral standing to complain of rigging saying that the party chased out Obi, Kwankwaso, others despite knowing their potentials and threats.

“I commend the courage and resilience the Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate HE. Peter Obi, for his uncommon and unprecedented outing and outcome of this election. It is not unexpected going by support he enjoys with Nigerians.

However, I cannot but berate the PDP which has no moral right to cry foul. Those handling the party obviously knew this was going to be the outcome and possibly the end of their arrogance and sense of entitlement, especially bearing in mind they were the 2015 traitors.

In life, they say what goes round comes round. Beyond this, does the PDP wants to win an election with a fractured party that it is now? Kwankanso, Obi, etc were driven out of the party and they claimed they can win without the G5 Governors.

‘Almighty’ lyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman even lost his Ward and Local Government to another party after cashing out like a man struck and stock with poverty.

As it is now, PDP turning around to cry foul has no place with Nigerians. Not at all.

Most importantly, election is a process and those not satisfied can vent their anger in court.

It is therefore time to allow Nigeria and Nigerians to move on.

If you think Nigerians loves or still want PDP as alternative, by now the message should be instructive.

The present managers of the PDP need to be told that the sympathy of Nigerians is not for the party. They should stop hiding under Peter Obi’s LP to pretend to have a sense of patriotism that they don’t have.

Therefore, no sense of comradeship with Obi will work. After all, they knew his potentials, yet, he was not deemed fit for the party’s ticket and he was eased out. Today, he has retired all of them.

Our candidate, H.E. Atiku Abubakar (aka ‘Atiku is coming’) should accept defeat in maturity and retire peacefully to Dubai.

At this juncture, may I say good night and good bye to all you represent.” He said.

Presidential Election: Obasanjo writes Buhari, Alleges Electoral Fraud, Warns of Pending Anarchy, Wants Counting of Results Stopped

Nigerian Brothers and Sisters, greetings to you all.

I am constrained to speak at this point.

I crave the indulgence of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency General Muhammadu Buhari, to make this statement because I have had opportunity to keep him aware of what I know is happening and the danger looming ahead.  

On many occasions in the past, I have not hesitated to point out lacuna in the action of the President and his government.  But as far as the election issues are concerned, the President has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he will want to leave a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

Until last Saturday night, February 25, 2023, the good and noble plan and preparation for the elections seemed to be going well.  For the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a lot of money was spent to introduce Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the Server for immediate transmission of results from polling units.  It is no secret that INEC officials, at operational level, have been allegedly compromised to make what should have worked not to work and to revert to manual transmission of results which is manipulated and the results doctored.  The Chairman of INEC may claim ignorance but he cannot fold his hands and do nothing when he knows that election process has been corrupted and most of the results that are brought outside BVAS and Server are not true reflection of the will of Nigerians who have made their individual choice.  At this stage, we do not need wittingly or unwittingly to set this country on fire with the greed, irresponsibility and unpatriotic act of those who allegedly gave money to INEC officials for perversion and those who collected the blood money.  Let me appeal to the Chairman of INEC, if his hands are clean, to save Nigeria from the looming danger and disaster which is just waiting to happen.  If the Chairman can postpone elections four days to the election, he can do everything to rectify the errors of the last two days – no BVAS, no result to be acceptable; and no uploading through Server, no result to be acceptable.

Whereas, BVAS and Servers have been manipulated or rendered inactive, such results must be declared void and inadmissible for election declaration.  Chairman INEC, I have thought that you would use this wonderful opportunity to mend your reputation and character for posterity.

Your Excellency, President Buhari Muhammadu, tension is building up and please let all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test be cancelled and be brought back with areas where elections were disrupted for next Saturday, March 4, 2023, and BVAS and Server officials be changed.  To know which stations or polling units were manipulated, let a Committee of INEC staff and representatives of the four major political parties with the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association look into what must be done to have hitch-free elections next Saturday.  Mr. President, may your plan and hope for leaving a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible election be realised.  Mr. President, please don’t let anybody say to you that it does not matter or it is the problem of INEC.  On no account should you be seen as part of the collusion or compromise.  When the die is cast, it will be your problem as the Chief Executive of the nation.  The Chairman of INEC may sneak out of the country or go back to his ivory tower.  Your Excellency, thank you for hearing me out.  

Compatriot Nigerians, please exercise patience until the wrong is righted.  I strongly believe that nobody will toy with the future and fortune of Nigeria at this juncture.

Long live Nigeria in peace, security, stability and in the hope for greater future.

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO

February 27, 2023