Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Sunday 19th June 2022
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 19/06/22
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Zamfara Governor, Matawalle Appoints 103 Senior Special Assistants, 66 Others
Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle
The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has approved the appointment of additional 169 top government officials and aides in the state.
This is contained in a nine-page official document issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe, on Saturday in Gusau.
Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle
According to the document, Alhaji Isha Umar has been appointed Chairman, Zamfara Independent Electoral Commission, while Alhaji Usman Magami and Alhaji Bashir Abdullahi were appointed as Special Advisers.
Others are 103 Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), 28 Directors General, and 13 Special Assistants to the governor.
The list also included 10 new Permanent Commissioners and part-time members of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including the Hajj Commission and Law Reform Commission.
The SSG said the appointments are with immediate effect.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the development comes barely two months after the three, hitherto, All Progressives Congress’ camps led by Matawalle, former governor, Abdulaziz Yari and former Senator Kabiru Marafa, agreed to work together for the success of the party in the 2023 general elections.
Sequel to the reconciliation, Yari and Marafa clinched APC tickets for Zamfara West and Central senatorial districts respectively.
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Highest Bidder: How Rampant Vote-buying Marred Ekiti Governorship Election
Vote-buying has always taken the forefront in every election in Nigeria, and the 2022 governorship election in Ekiti State was no different. Interestingly, it was taken a notch higher in the just concluded Ekiti State governorship election.
The election was contested among 16 candidates, however, it was a three-horse race among Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Before the election, Civil Society Organisations, police and anti-graft agencies issued a stern warning to electorates and political parties to shun vote-buying or risk arrest and prosecution. Rather than heed the warning to rid the electoral system of money-politics, candidates and party agents devised new means to carry out transactional voting.
Also, to ensure a smooth transaction, party agents at different polling units bribed security personnel dispatched to various polling units to look the other way while the transaction is going on.
APC Allegedly Outspends PDP, SDP
Election monitoring done in different polling units across the state revealed widespread vote-buying carried out by the top three contenders in the election.
In areas like Efon, Iyin and Ifaki, party members and some voters were paid a day before the election to reduce suspicion by security operatives, election observers and the media.
Also, designated locations for money sharing were strategically located away from the polling units, while party agents were placed in different polling units to monitor who electorates voted for.
At Ward 6, Ikogosi, the hometown of Oyebanji, some party agents designated to monitor votes were seen interfering with the voting process by guiding voters on where to vote. The APC subsequently won the ward with a landslide victory.
At Polling Unit 009, Ward 02 of Ikere Local Government Area, voters were seen going into an apartment located behind Oisa Alada Hall. It was later discovered that APC agents were stationed in the house, sharing N7,000 to voters who were required to present their Permanent Voter Cards and evidence showing they voted for the party.
At Polling Unit 002, Ward 2, Sabo area in Ijero Local Government Area of the state, two women raised the alarm about not being paid despite voting for the APC candidate. The women said they were left out of the money sharing by the party agent.
They accused the APC of deception and corruption by not fulfilling their agreement of paying for votes cast for the party.
The outcry prompted an APC agent at the unit to send a man, identified as Lapo, to attend to them and pay them.
In Ipoti Ward A, party agents from PDP and SDP were also seen bribing voters in the presence of security personnel.
Similarly, at C.A.C Grammar School, Ola Oluwa II with PU code 014 in Ado-Ekiti, APC and PDP party agents were giving N5,000 to voters who confirmed they had voted for the party.
Corroborating the claim, Kemi Elebute-Halle, governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the election claimed that the APC gave voters N10,000 while the
PDP and the SDP induced voters with N5,000, and N3,000 respectively.
The candidate of the SDP, Oni, also confirmed that voters were being induced by the PDP and APC. He said, “I have been told that selling and buying of votes are going on in Ado and Oye. This is not allowed by the law.”
He urged security operatives to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those indicted in the act.
On his part, Kolawole denied his party engaged in vote-buying. He said, as an opposition, his party does not have the resources to engage in vote-buying.
Few Arrests Made
In a bid to curb vote-buying in the Ekiti, security operatives were able to arrest some party agents involved in buying votes. No fewer than three arrests were made during the election.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested a party agent as the governorship election commenced.
He was arrested with a bag of cash as he was sharing the money to voters.
In another operation, EFCC operatives stormed a building where money was being shared to voters.
The suspects were caught with nylon bags containing money and a list of names of people who had allegedly voted.
Those arrested were paraded at the Oke Ori Omi Area Division of the Nigerian Police Force.
Also, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) seized a huge parcel of money which was meant to buy votes at Polling Unit 09, Ward 10, Ikere LGA.
CSOs React
CSOs have reacted to the rampant cases of vote-buying in the Ekiti governorship election.
The CSOs hailed security operatives for the arrests made and demanded that those arrested should be prosecuted.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of over 70 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) led the call for the police authority to prosecute those it arrested
Also, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, called on the officials of EFCC deployed to ensure full prosecution of individuals caught in the act of vote-buying.
“We commend the EFCC for the arrests made of people buying votes. We call on the officials of EFCC deployed to ensure full prosecution of individuals caught in the act of vote-buying/voter inducement,” Itodo said.
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APC Wins Ikere, Oye Local Government Areas, PDP Clinches Efon
The All Progressives Congress won in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State in Saturday’s governorship election. The party’s candidate, Biodun Oyebanji won with a large margin after securing 13,399 votes.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabisi Kolawole had 4,122 while the Social Democratic Party whose candidate is Segun Oni got 5,391 votes.
APC also won in the Ikere Local Government Area with 12,086 votes, while PDP secured 3,789 votes. The ADC followed closely with 3,764 votes while the SDP secured 1,943 votes. However, the PDP won in Efon Local Government Area with 6,303 votes. The APC came second with 4,012 votes while the SDP garnered 339 votes. The Action Democratic Party had 77 votes while the People’s Redemption Party had 20 votes.Sixteen candidates were on the ballot at 2,445 polling units. They included Oluwole Oluyede of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Kemi Elebute Halle of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); former Governor Oni, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Ranti Ajayi from the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
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#EkitiDecides: APC Wins At Polling Unit Of PDP House Of Reps Candidate, Lere Olayinka
Lere Olayinka, the Peoples Democratic Party House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti federal constituency 2 lost his polling unit at Okemesi-Ekiti to the All Progressives Congress in Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti. Olayinka was the Special Assistant to former Governor of the state, Ayo Fayose, on Public Communications and New Media.
At the polling unit, the APC candidate, Biodun Oyebanji had 44 votes while the PDP candidate, Bisi Kolawole had 20 votes. The candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Segun Oni had 21 votes. Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that Kolawole won in his polling unit. Results from polling unit 1, Ward 8 in Efon local government area showed that Kolawole had 98 votes out of the 116 votes recorded there. The APC secured 13 votes and the SDP had 2 votes.
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E2%80%93-buhari%E2%80%99s-minister-keyamo-defends #Ekiti Decides: Vote-buying Not Peculiar To Ruling APC – Buhari’s Minister, Keyamo Defends Party
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has defended the vote-buying practice allegedly embarked on by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties in the ongoing governorship election in Ekiti State.Keyamo made the statement on his verified Twitter page, @fkeyamo, while reacting to reports that his political party, the APC, was involved in mass vote-buying.
He argued that vote-buying was not common with only the ruling party.According to the minister, the reports are mere subtle messages being circulated by opposition parties just to discredit the ruling party and make it lose the election.He wrote, “Incidences of vote-buying can’t be synonymous only with the ruling party, but the subtle message the other parties try to pass to the gullible is that only the ruling party engages in illegalities & that the only way an election can be deemed credible is if the ruling party loses.”Whereas the ongoing Ekiti State gubernatorial election has been reported to be peaceful, there have been massive reports of vote-buying and selling and bribing of security officers mostly by the APC and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).There have also been some reports of violence, harassment of election observers by security personnel and party agents and a few cases of ballot snatching.Also, it was reported that some APC agents were arrested by the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for alleged vote-buying.SaharaReporters reported that some of the arrested party agents were paraded at the Oke Ori Omi Area Police Division.The agents were agents reportedly caught with monies allegedly used to give voters in exchange for their votes.It was also reported that the EFCC operatives also bursted a residence where some persons were caught with a book containing details of voters of some polling units and wards.
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E2%80%93-nigerian-agency-nysc-warns-participating #Ekiti Decides: Avoid Actions That Will Implicate You – Nigerian Agency, NYSC Warns Participating Corps Members
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig Gen Muhammad Fadah, has advised corps members in Ekiti State to avoid actions that can implicate them, even as they serve as ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the ongoing gubernatorial election.He noted this during his visit to Emure-Ekiti.
He urged the corps members participating in the election to abide by the electoral laws and avoid any action that could tarnish their image and that of the scheme.”Play by the rules and remember that you are serving as good ambassadors of your institutions, families and the Scheme,” he said, in a statement by Eddy Megwa, the NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations.While addressing those at the orientation camp, Fadah urged the corps members to be security conscious warning them against embarking on unauthorised journeys.He urged them to shun vices adding that violators of NYSC laws would be sanctioned.Fadah called on the corps members to embrace the dignity of labour through hard work, selfless service and strong determination.General Fadah also appealed to them to apply the lessons of the three weeks Orientation Course to cultivate a long-lasting relationship that will enhance nation-building.
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E2%80%98stingy%E2%80%99-comments Father Mbaka Obeys Diocesan Order, Shuts Down Adoration Ministry Over ‘Stingy’ Comments On Peter Obi
Rev Father Ejike Mbaka
The Enugu Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has obeyed the order of the Bishop of the Diocese compelling him to shut down his Adoration Ministry over his comments against Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.The cleric published a statement to his followers, notifying them that programmes would no longer hold in the Ministry via the official Facebook page of the Ministry.
Rev Father Ejike Mbaka
The statement reads: “Dear Adorers, there will be no programme starting from tomorrow being 19th June 2022 at Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria Amen, Umuchigbo Emene, Enugu State.”Sunday Mass, Wednesday (E No Dey) And Night Programs will not hold till further notice.“God bless Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria Amen and God Bless Our Spiritual Director, Rev Fr, Ejike Mbaka. Keep praying for Our Daddy and may God bless you.”SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Calistus Onaga, banned the Catholic faithful from attending Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry.This comes following Mbaka’s recent comments against the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Obi, whom he called a “stingy man.”
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Media Group, ICIR Hosts African Experts To Discuss Sustainability, Financial Growth
A media organisation, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), has said it will on Wednesday, June 22, hold a conference on media sustainability. The conference, according to a press release by the ICIR’s Managing Editor, Ajibola Hamzat, is part of the Centre’s 10th anniversary celebration.
Hanzat noted that the issue of financial viability and sustainability has become a major concern for media organisations around the world.According to him, “This challenge is exacerbated by the erosion of advertising revenues through the rise of technology platforms such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, and several others, leaving the media business in a fragile condition.”This, he said, has been worsened in the last two years by the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. He noted that whereas the Western Media could to a large extent be said to have found winning formulae to do media business profitably, the case is different with the media in the Global South, particularly Africa countries, which are still struggling to stay afloat.“It is in view of these multiple challenges that the ICIR is inviting media practitioners and other stakeholders to a conference on media sustainability in Nigeria,” he stated.Similarly, the Executive Director and Founder of the Centre, Dayo Aiyetan, emphasised that “The time is now to have a conversation on the future of the media in Africa, particularly its viability and profitability.“Many news organisations are not profitable because of dwindling sales and ad revenue, many media companies cannot pay salaries and are laying off staff. The media in Nigeria is hemorrhaging.”The Executive Director added that “Industry leaders must discuss how to find profitable ways of running media businesses.”Expected at the conference which will be held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, include Tshepo Mahloele, Chairperson of Arena Holdings, one of Africa’s largest English newspaper publishers in South Africa, who will deliver a keynote address on Sustainability Imperatives for African Media.Others who will be discussants during panel discussion are; Chairman of Thisday Newspapers, Chief Nduka Obaigbena; Chief Executive Officer of Hot FM, Ms Chris Anyanwu; Chief Executive Officer of Daily Trust Newspapers, Mallam Kabir Yusuf; Chief Executive Officer of RadioNow, Ms Kadaria Ahmed and the Ndisika of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Abigail Ogwezzy.While the Managing Director of Guardian Newspaper Limited, Martins Oloja, will moderate the conversation a high profile TV personality, Euginia Abu, would compère the event.
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E2%80%93-white-house-reacts-bike-accident US President, Biden Got His Foot Caught In Pedal – White House Reacts To Bike Accident
President Joe Biden is “fine” after falling off his bike Saturday during a ride in a state park near his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, a White House official has said.No medical attention is needed, the official added in a statement released to reporters travelling with the President.
“As the President said, his foot got caught on the pedal while dismounting and he is fine. No medical attention is needed. The President looks forward to spending the rest of the day with his family,” the official said.Biden took a tumble when he was finishing a bike ride alongside first lady, Jill Biden. The President deviated from the group as he biked over to a crowd that had gathered nearby.Biden came to a stop and appeared to get his foot caught on the pedal while trying to dismount.”I got my foot caught” on the toe cage, Biden told reporters travelling with him later. “I’m good.”US Secret Service agents quickly helped the President up after his fall.The crowd clapped when the President, who turns 80 in November, got back on his feet. Biden then chatted with the crowd for several minutes, bringing one onlooker over to meet his dog commander.Asked by a child in the crowd what it was like to run the country, Biden joked, “Oh, it’s like any other job.””Some parts are easy, some parts are hard,” he added.The Bidens are spending the long weekend at their home in Rehoboth Beach, in part to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary.
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Nigerian Soldier Flogs Student To Death For Having ‘Bushy Hair’ At Command School In Enugu
A student of Command Secondary School, Enugu has been reportedly flogged to death by a soldier whose identity is yet to be revealed.The student who was in senior secondary one (SS 1) was beaten repeatedly on the head for allegedly having bushy hair and not having a haircut before school day.
The mother broke the news in a Facebook post on the Nkanu People of Enugu State Nigeria platform with pictures of the deceased showing a swollen eye and head before his demise.Sources told SaharaReporters that the boy’s head started swelling, causing the parents to move him from one hospital to another until his untimely death.The mother of the deceased, Adaeze Chibuzo, on her Facebook page, wrote; “It is still very hard to believe that you are gone my son but one thing I know is that God will surely fight for us, rest in peace my son.”Army man flogged my son in school to death in command sec, sch enugu. Rip my first fruit in life.” Facebook users have reacted to the incident, describing it as cruel as they called for justice.A Facebook user, Mrs Eneh Nididiamaka wrote, “It is indeed a sad story what on earth did this boy commit to warrant such beating from a heartless soldier.RIP son.”Nnaji Miriam Izuogu wrote, “This is exactly what happened to my kid brother last year November 2021, in the same skool (school) and now this story, today Paschal my brother is no more Rip to this soul, it’s so painful, Paschal is supposed to be writing his WAEC exams by now, let the anger of God descend on the army killer of Paschal and this son of Ndidiamaka.”Another user, Oge Ezeji wrote, “Madam, is very painful you have to lose your son yesterday I was very bitter when my son came back and was narrating the story to me. A boy who is supposed to start his inter command exam today. Soldier it will not be well with you.”Meanwhile, efforts to get the reaction of the Army were unsuccessful as the Deputy Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Col Abubakar Abdullahi, didn’t pick up his phone when SaharaReporters called him on his mobile line. Also the Nigerian Army Public Relations Officer, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu did not also answer his calls nor reply to messages sent to him.
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