TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY,  MONDAY 

TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY,  MONDAY 

1. Maiduguri Fire Outbreak: President Buhari Reacts

In the wake of a disastrous fire incident that devastated the well-known Maiduguri Monday Market, President Muhammadu Buhari has called for vigilance.

According to a statement by the Spokesman of President Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Sunday, the risk of fire in woods, households, public buildings, and markets increases owing to winds and rising temperatures.

The President, who expressed grief over the destruction caused by the early Sunday morning fire, stated that the nation’s prayers and condolences are with the hardworking traders and their families, who have supposedly managed to save very little or nothing from the fire.

President Buhari urged efficient coordination and cooperation between federal and state agencies to give the required help to individuals who are affected. He commended the governor’s administration, led by Professor Babagana Zulum, for acting quickly to deal with the situation.

2. 2023 Elections: INEC Gives Clarification On IReV Access Issues

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified issues experienced by Nigerians in accessing the Results Viewing Portal (IReV).

Against speculations, the commission, in a press release on Sunday (today), said the IReV was not under attack as claimed in some quarters.

The statement dated February 26th signed by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the commission would take full responsibility for the problems and regretted the distress they had caused the candidates, political parties and electorates.

Okoye explained that the problems experienced are due to technical hitches related to scaling up of the IReV from a platform for managing off-season state elections to one for managing nationwide general elections. It is not unusual for glitches to occur and be corrected in such situations.

He reiterated that the challenges were not due to intrusion of any kind. Okoye said the commission regretted the setback, primarily because of the importance of IReV in its results management process and noted that unlike in off-season elections where the portal was used, it has been relatively slow and unsteady.

3. DSS Arrest INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner In Abia

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have reportedly arrested the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abia State, Prof Ike Uzochukwu.

Uzochukwu was arrested on Sunday after he went into hiding in Hotel Royal Damgrete in Umuahia during the Presidential and National Assembly elections held in Abia State.

According to The Whistler, Uzochukwu was picked up in his hotel room after the DSS broke the door of the room following his refusal to open the door when he was asked to do so.

The INEC Director of Admin in the State was asked to take over the election process in the state following the REC’s arrest.

4. Some Governors Trying To Change Election Results – Atiku Raises Alarm

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar on Sunday alleged that some state governors were attempting to manipulate election results from their states.

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Atiku in a statement on Sunday said the governors are trying to compromise the results at the local government collation level.

As a way of curbing the Governors, the PDP candidate in a statement addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, therefore, asked the INEC boss to instruct the Collation Officers for yesterday’s election to upload the results to the INEC server immediately.

The statement signed by Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe reads: “It will be a disservice to Nigerians and a negation to democracy for anyone to subvert the will of the people as freely expressed in their votes of yesterday.”

He called on Nigerians to be calm but vigilant to ensure that anti-democratic elements who are masquerading as progressives do not steal their mandate.

5. #NigeriaDecides2023: Why Labour Party May Sue INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which was tasked with compiling the results of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections held on Saturday, has come under fire from the Labour Party (LP), which has threatened to sue the electoral body.

Most Labour Party supporters, according to the party, were allegedly purposefully disenfranchised using a variety of tactics around the nation but were more discerning in its strongholds.

In a statement released by the party’s national secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, on Sunday, the party claimed that LP members had been purposefully barred from voting, violently ejected from polling places, or had ballot papers and boxes demolished and burned in other areas, despite the party having gained ground with high vote totals in most of Northern Nigeria.

He mentioned several states where such offenses were frequently committed in contravention of the Election Act of 2022, as Amended, which are: Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Kano, Yobe, and Edo.

Umar claims that in some places, INEC staff and election supplies were either not deployed to areas known to be strongholds for the Labour Party or were deployed too late to annoy party supporters who, psychologically weary of waiting, were forced to leave the polling units out of fear of the unknown.

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6. INEC Explains Reason For Delay In Collation Of Presidential Election Results

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has disclosed the reason for the delay in the collation of presidential election results, with a promise to begin by 6pm on Sunday.

According to him, there was a delay because the State Collation Officers for the Presidential Election (SCOPE) have not arrived with the results.

Yakubu disclosed this on Sunday during a press conference at the National Collation Centre domiciled in the International Conference Centre ICC, Abuja.

”As we await the arrival of the State Collation Officers for the Presidential Election SCOPE, will now take a break and resume at 6pm. We are certain that by 6pm, one or two of the SCOPEs will arrive with the results. So we begin the process of collation. I thank you very much. We will resume at 6pm”, he said.

On the delay in the collation of results, Yakubu said the process has to go through four levels.

7. 2023: Gbajabiamila Wins Election, Returns To The House For 5th Term

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has been declared the winner of the Surulere 2 Federal Constituency election.

Gbajabiamila who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner on Sunday with 19, 717 votes.

The win means Gbajabiamila will be returning to the House for a 5th term to represent the people of his constituency.

According to the results declared by returning officer, Virgy Ebere Chukwu Onyene, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 5,121 votes to clinch the second position while Labour Party had no candidate in the election.

8. We Have Electoral Malpractice Evidence Against PDP, Labour Party – Keyamo

The Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesperson, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has asked opposition parties to conduct themselves with decorum not to overheat the polity.

In a statement on Sunday, Keyamo, who is the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) have evidence of electoral malpractices perpetrated by the Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said the APC has decided to be calm to await the official announcement of the results and to pursue any grievance (if any) in a lawful manner.

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9. Hoodlums Attempt To Set INEC Office Ablaze In Kano

Hoodlums on Sunday attempted to set the local government office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ablaze in the Takai local government area of Kano state.

A witness who spoke with Daily Trust on condition of anonymity said the incident happened on Sunday morning.

He claimed that there was a clash between political supporters in the LGA headquarters in Takai town.

The witness said, “The fire was set up from behind the building but it was quenched before it makes serious damage and security operatives disperse the crowd.

“However, some people have sustained injuries from the fracas that initially broke out and were taken to the hospital for treatment while four were said to be dead.”

Another source said the clash started as a result of issues during the collation of results at the LGA.

10. #NigeriaElection: INEC Shifts Collation To Monday

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday disclosed that the collation of the votes for states has been shifted to Monday.

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The National Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu stated this shortly after the result of Ekiti State was read.

Yakubu said the gathering would meet again on Monday by 11.00 am.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu was declared the winner of Ekiti State after defeating the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).

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