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Uzodimma, Anyanwu differ over Imo guber election amidst low voter turnout

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Gov. Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, on Saturday expressed diverse views on the conduct of the Saturday governorship election in Imo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both candidates spoke shortly after casting their votes at their various polling units on amidst low voter turnout.

Uzodimma, who voted at 11:35a.m. at Polling Unit 032, Ekwenja Ukwu-Ozu ward, Omuma Community, Oru East Local Government Area, said reports he received showed that the election was peaceful in most parts of the state.

“The election, contrary to what they said on the social media, is going on free, fair and very peaceful.

“You can see how freely I have gone out to cast my votes and also how INEC was able to process my accreditation under few minutes.

“It is evident for all of us in the country to know that the patriotic people of the state are desirous of having Imo state blossom,” he said.

However, the governor urged those in the opposition allegedly sponsoring mischief and other forms of criminality to repent.

”Some of us are in politics to serve the people and are in politics for the interest of the people.

“We say things as they are really on ground.

“Some are out to confuse the populace. They just go to the social media and fabricate stories and publish.

“But when you visit the polling units, you will now see that there is peace there,” he said.

Uzodimma commended INEC and security agencies for ensuring proper deployment of material and personnel for the election.

“The entire space is manned and occupied and people are responding positively.

“I have not heard any knockout, so I think Imo state is safe and it is good to go.

“I have just voted and some people are still voting.

“At the end of the day, whatever God approved will be announced by INEC,” he said.

On his part, the candidate of the PDP, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, expressed worries over reports of alleged ballot box snatching in some areas of the state.

”Though they started very late which was the problem we had here where others started by 8:00am, I just cast my vote at about 10:25am.

”This is my home town and my people are excited to cast their votes because one of their own is coming out for election”, he said.

He alleged that materials and votes were catered away at about seven wards in Orlu.

He said similar incidents were reported at Orsu and parts of Oru West, wondering why opposition parties would not allow free and fair election in the state.

“We should not encourage hooliganism. When you bring people like that to help you win.

“That is not the type of society we want and a responsible government should not encourage such.

“Imo people are desirous of change but some people are trying to truncate it. It will never work,” he stated.

Politics

Bribery allegations: Kano court fixes date for Ganduje’s arraignment

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Kano State High Court No. 7 has re-scheduled the arraignment of the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje to June 5.

Ganduje is standing trial alongside his wife Hafsat Umar, his son, Abdullahi Umar and five others

The defendants in the case included Abubaka Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari textile Ltd., and lasage General Enterprise Ltd

Kano State High Court No. 5 presided over by Justice Usman Na’abba had earlier scheduled May 16 for ruling on the request substituted service on the defendants.

This was before the State Chief Judge, Justice Dije Aboki reassigned the case to High Court No 7 presided by Justice Amina Adamu.

The new charge sheet sighted contained 11 count charges against the initial eight count charges against Ganduje and his co-defendants.

They include allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.

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Edo elections: INEC to commence distribution of 373,030 uncollected PVCs

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Over 373,030 uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will be redistributed to the owners from May 27, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Anugbum Onuoha stated that the PVC collection exercise would be done side-by-side with the CVR exercise, also scheduled for May 27.

Recall that the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, had announced to begin the CVR exercise in Edo and Ondo ahead of the governorship elections in the two states.

Onuoha says while the statistics of registered voters in Edo is 2,501,081, collected PVC is 2,128,288 and uncollected PVCs stand at 373,030.

He said both the CVR and the PVC collection would be a 10-day exercise, starting from May 27 to June 5, from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. daily, including weekends.

The REC explained that the exercise would be conducted in the 192 wards and the state headquarters of INEC in Edo.

He also disclosed that each registration centre would be managed by two officials drawn from the commission and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

“In addition to the registration of voters, the commission will also make available the uncollected PVCs for collection during CVR.

“Also note that no PVC will be collected by proxy. Registered voters should come in person to collect their cards.

“There will be no pre-registration option because of time constraints,” he said.

Onuoha, however, appealed for the support of the media, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), traditional rulers and religious leaders in encouraging voters to locate and pick up their PVCs.

According to him, the commission has published the final list of candidates for the Edo governorship election following the conclusion of primaries of the political parties.

The Deputy Director, Voter Registry, INEC Abuja, Mrs Doris Kande-Wyom, who took stakeholders through CVR processes, appealed to them to mobilise prospective registrants for the exercise.

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Gov. Namadi inspects road projects, insists on timely completion

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By Umar Akilu Majeri, Dutse

The Jigawa state governor Malam Umar Namadi  has inspected 26 ongoing road projects across the state and insisted for timely  completion of the work.for the benefit of the public.

The ongoing projects inspected by the governor were mostly rehabilitation and reconstruction of the  roads and bridges damaged by the flooding in the last two years.

Speaking to various contractors, Governor Namadi expressed satisfaction on the quality of the job at the site and urged a speed  work rate for a timely completion.

The Governor told the contractors that Jigawa state is ready to continue patronising any company that demonstrates seriousness and sincerity in handling its work.

“We will not joke about paying your money as soon as you complete the work, however, we will not tolerate or accept any breach of contractual agreement particularly on quality and timely completion in accordance with the specification.”

Governor Namadi assured the Jigawa state people that his government will ensure the completion of all the ongoing road projects, and award new ones to facilitate the movement of goods and services for social and economic development.

While shading more light, the State Commissioner for Works and Transport Engineer Gambo S Malam said, the ongoing road projects have a total distance of 360 kilometers, while in some roads the works included rebuilding the collapsed bridges and provisions of new ones .

He added that so many measures were taken in the reconstruction of the roads and bridges damaged by the flood to prevent such problem In case of any flood in the future..

On their side, the contractors handling various road projects across the 27 local government areas of the state, assured the state governor that they will deliver a quality job and in a good time.

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