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The Member representing Umuahia North constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Anderson Akaliro, has appealed to the Abia State government to establish a functional fire service outstation in his Ohuhu constituency.

His appeal followed the recent fire outbreak that destroyed a petrol station at Nkwoegwu, Ohuhu, when a petrol tanker exploded inside the facility while discharging its contents.

In a motion of Urgent Public Importance during plenary, the Lawmaker noted that the devastating effects of the incident make it necessary that a fire service outstation should be established in the area to meet with the growing population of humans and commercial establishments.

Akaliro, however, thanked the  Abia State Fire Service, whose timely intervention saved adjourning buildings from being consumed by fire.

He also called for the provision of modern firefighting equipment, emergency vehicles, and adequate personnel to enhance disaster management and public safety within Umuahia North and adjoining communities.

Following extensive deliberations, the Abia State House of Assembly, unanimously adopted the motion, with the members acknowledging the strategic importance of strengthening emergency response mechanisms across the State.

In a related development, Abia State government has said it would establish a functional fire station within the Abia State University Uturu, to swiftly respond to any fire incident or other emergencies and protect students and staff of the institution from harm.

The plan was announced by the Senior Special Assistant to Abia State Governor on Homeland Security, Fire and Medical Emergencies, Chukwunenye Alajemba, when he led a team from his office to the Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Professor Ndukwe Okeudo.

Abia lawmaker calls for fire service outstation in constituency as inferno destroys petrol station

Vote counting has commenced in polling units across Ekiti State as the governorship election enters the collation stage, with electoral officials sorting and counting ballots cast by voters under the watch of party agents, observers and security personnel.

At Polling Unit 031, Ward 9, in Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area, counting was completed after voting ended peacefully.

The polling unit has 782 registered voters, while 128 voters were accredited and cast their ballots.

The results announced at the unit showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 86 votes, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 36 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) received five votes.

Similar counting exercises were underway at other polling units where voting had concluded, as INEC officials sorted ballot papers and recorded results before moving them to the ward collation centres in accordance with the Electoral Act and the commission’s guidelines.

At Polling Unit 015, Ward 9, which has 610 registered voters, election officials were counting ballots after the close of voting.

The same process was ongoing at Polling Unit 009, Ward 10, where 373 registered voters were expected to vote, with officials tallying votes cast at the polling unit.

Vote counting was also underway at Polling Unit 017, Ward 9, which has 893 registered voters, while officials at Polling Unit 003, Ward 9, with 1,232 registered voters, were similarly sorting and counting ballots after voting ended.

Across the state, party agents closely monitored the counting process while security personnel maintained order around the polling units.

INEC officials were expected to transmit and physically move the results to the appropriate ward collation centres for the next stage of the electoral process.

The governorship election is being held across Ekiti State’s 16 local government areas, with results expected to emerge progressively as counting and collation continue.

Ekiti Election: Vote Counting Begins Across Polling Units is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Election Observation Hub, which includes Yiaga Africa, has raised concerns over the conduct of security agencies during the Ekiti State governorship election, alleging that some security personnel appeared to have looked the other way while vote-buying took place at polling units.

Presenting the Hub’s joint situational statement in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, the observers said although the election was largely peaceful and election officials arrived early with adequate materials, the integrity of the process was being undermined by organised voter inducement, vote buying and isolated incidents of violence.

The Hub, comprising The Kukah Centre (TKC), TAF Africa, Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Yiaga Africa, International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), deployed 598 observers across the 16 local government areas of the state to monitor the election.

Speaking at a press conference for the group, Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of International Press Centre, said, “The overall security situation is largely peaceful with the deployment of five to 10 security personnel to each of the 2,442 polling units across the state. Voting is proceeding in most observed locations without any significant disruption, large-scale violence or major operational failure.”

However, it noted that “the credibility and integrity of the election is threatened by isolated cases of violence and well-organised voter inducement and vote-buying schemes.”

The observers disclosed that 24 incidents of violence were reported across 10 local government areas, including Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ado-Ekiti, Emure, Ido-Osi, Ilejemeje, Ijero, Ise/Orun, Gboyin, Ikole and Oye.

On electoral offences, the report stated that “reports of vote-buying and voter intimidation were received from across nine LGAs where 24 incidents were recorded with specific cases mainly in Irepodun/Ifelodun and Ado-Ekiti LGAs to compromise the secrecy of the ballot.”

The observation mission also identified inconsistencies in the electoral materials deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It said, “There are identified inconsistencies in the number of parties and candidates on the ballot papers and result sheets. For example, while INEC’s final list of candidates contains 14 names, the Form EC8A polling unit result sheets provide spaces for 15 political parties and there are 19 political parties on the ballot papers.”

Despite the reported irregularities, the Hub said election officials and materials arrived early in most polling units, while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned optimally.

It reported that 246 of the 250 sampled polling units recorded the early arrival of officials and election materials, with INEC officials present in 75 per cent of polling units by 7:30 a.m. It added that 69 per cent of polling units commenced accreditation and voting by 8:30 a.m., while BVAS recorded a 96 per cent functionality rate.

The observers also commended the level of inclusion recorded during the election, noting significant participation by women and persons with disabilities (PWDs). It, however, cited isolated cases where accessibility challenges and operational lapses affected some vulnerable voters.

Addressing the conduct of security agencies, the observation mission urged them to maintain neutrality and actively confront electoral offences.

It recommended that security agencies should “maintain professionalism and absolute neutrality in the electoral process in compliance with the code of conduct and rules of engagement for security personnel on election duties” and “intensify vigilance around the polling units to arrest those engaging in vote-buying and voter intimidation.”

Commenting on the security situation, the observers warned that allowing vote buying to occur unchecked could further weaken public confidence in elections.

“If the security agencies can be supervising and looking the other way while vote buying is going on, then it further deepens the culture of impunity in the course of our elections,” the group said at the press conference.

The Hub also urged INEC to replace malfunctioning BVAS devices where necessary, extend voting hours in affected polling units, ensure immediate uploading of polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and enforce compliance with electoral guidelines during voting and collation.

It further appealed to political parties to “desist from weaponising poverty through voter inducement and vote buying,” while urging voters to reject financial inducements, protect the secrecy of their ballots and exercise their franchise freely.

The EU-SDGN Election Observation Hub said its assessment was preliminary and based on observations available as of 2 p.m., adding that it would continue to monitor voting, collation and the declaration of results before issuing a final post-election report.

EU Group Accuses Security Agencies Of Supervising Vote Buying is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the ongoing Enugu North senatorial bye-election, Dr Nestor Ezeme, has lamented reported electoral violence at Obollo Afor, headquarters of Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State. Ezeme also decried late arrival of materials in his catchment areas.

He spoke shortly after casting his vote at his Umundu polling unit. According to him, “The delay in the process is alarming. The voting started here at about 11am. At Inland Primary School 2, where I am coming from, up to now, the time is 11.47am and there are no materials there as we speak. The same applies to the health centre at Ogwu Obollo. There is no material as we speak. These are my catchment areas. I understand the game they are playing.”

He however expressed optimism that his supporters have remained firmed. “But the people are voting for me, notwithstanding all the intimidation that is going on in the whole entire Nsukka Zone. At Ogwu, Obollo, they were carting away the whole materials as we speak. Hoodlums came and carted away the whole material. They are not popular. They are not popular, so they want to disrupt the system. But the God will vindicate us.”

He expressed hope that he would win the election despite all odds. “We will win. This is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise my people, a calculated attempt indeed to disenfranchise my people. Just like in Inland Primary School 2, where voters have been waiting since 7am.”

Meanwhile, there was a large turnout of voters at Iheaka Central School in Igboeze South Local Government Area, the polling unit of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate, Mr Ikeje Asogwa.

Some of the voters expressed frustration with the failure of the Biomadal Identification Verification system, BIVAS, to capture them despite several attempts.

“It is frustrating,” laments Ann Ugwu, a voter. “I have made several attempts, but the machine has rejected me. But I keep trying. I’m not the only victim.”

Another victim is Felix Eze. He said, “I thought that INEC has corrected all these BIVAS issues, but here we are passing through the same ordeals again. They continue to complain about the network. Only God knows how the 2027 elections will be if this small one is having this challenge.”

Enugu North Bye-Election: Contestant Laments Late Arrival Of Materials, Violence is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

“I reported the matter to the policemen stationed here. They said they had no capacity to handle it. When a senior police officer arrived, he asked me where the picture was. I asked him, ‘Which picture?’…

The post #EkitiDecides2026: ADC candidate, Bejide alleges vote-buying, assault on supporters appeared first on Tribune Online.

Arch. Audu Sule Katagum, the former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, has passed away at the age of 69. He reportedly died on Saturday. Katagum served as Deputy Governor under former Governor Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, SAN, from 2018 to 2019, following the resignation of the previous Deputy Governor. The unfortunate news was announced by […]

The post Ex-Bauchi deputy gov, Sule Katagum dies at 69 appeared first on Tribune Online.

“ So far, so good. There are no incidents, no issues and no disruptions. What we are witnessing closely resembles a…

The post #EkitiDecides2026: APC’s Oyebanji has already won, says Fayose  appeared first on Tribune Online.

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the Ekiti State election, Dare Bejide, has alleged incidents of vote buying and assault of his driver at his polling unit during Saturday’s governorship poll.

Bejide, who cast his vote at Polling Unit 004, Ward 2, Oke Adura, Ilawe-Ekiti, accused members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, of openly distributing money to voters in an attempt to influence the outcome of the election.

Speaking with journalists shortly after voting, the ADC candidate alleged that several APC leaders, including local government officials, gathered at the polling unit with large sums of money for vote-buying purposes.

He further claimed that his driver sustained injuries during an altercation at the polling unit while trying to shield him from being pushed.

According to Bejide, the injured driver was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment.

The ADC flagbearer said the incident had been reported to the police, but expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as the inadequate response of security personnel at the scene.

Bejide condemned the alleged vote-buying activities, describing them as a violation of democratic values and an embarrassment to the electoral process.

In the same vein, the son of the ADC flag bearer, Mr Olumide Bejide, alleged that APC chieftains flooded all polling units in Ilawe with large sums of money, distributing to electorates, saying such acts were against the rules of INEC. He said APC leaders were fond of buying the conscience of the masses.

He said the money they were throwing about during the election was enough to fix all the bad roads in Ekiti. He condemned the act.

Responding to the allegations, APC chieftain Makinde Araoye dismissed the claims and maintained that the election was being conducted peacefully across the state.

Araoye told journalists that the electoral process had been smooth, noting that improvements in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s, INEC, technology had significantly reduced the time required for voter accreditation and balloting.

He expressed confidence that Governor Biodun Oyebanji would secure re-election, arguing that the governor’s performance in office had earned him widespread support among residents.

Addressing allegations that he was involved in a confrontation with Bejide at the polling unit, Araoye denied any wrongdoing, saying he was merely visiting polling units within his ward to monitor the electoral process when a disagreement occurred.

According to him, the dispute arose after Bejide allegedly attempted to prevent him from moving around the polling area.

Araoye insisted that he had every right to observe activities within his ward and acted only in self-defence.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the police nor the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had issued any official statement regarding the allegations raised by the ADC candidate.

Ekiti Poll: ADC candidate alleges vote buying, assault, intimidation as APC Chieftain denies claims

Veteran Nollywood actor, Francis Duru, has debunked a viral report about him battling terminal illness.

DAILY POST reports that the rumors gained traction on social media after a video showing the actor in a frail state went viral.

The development sparked concern about his health status among colleagues and fans .

Speaking amid the development in an Instagram video, the veteran actor who said he has never been that sick, also described the news as the handwork of the merchants of darkness and wickedness.

“My dear fans greetings to you all, thank you all for always being there for me with your prayers and your wishes. As you all know, I wish you all the same. I’m making this video in regards to a very wicked video circulating around about me being sick to that very level you can see in the video.

“I have never been that sick and would never be that sick. And by God’s grace I will keep being stronger and stronger.

“That video is the handwork of the merchant of darkness, wickedness, those who sit and concor negativity for people. They just don’t want to see people rise or believe in people’s success all in the course of driving traffic. This is just to let you people know that this is me talking to you. Anything beyond this is their business. Thank you so much for your concerns. I love you all,” the actor said.

However, the disclaimer video also raised concern among his fans, who took to his comment section to complain about his physical appearance and sudden weight loss.

sunperfct wrote, “U’re looking so slim and sound weak, divine healing upon you sir… We will not lose u in Jesus name. Amen.”

stellaseptemberamare said, “But you look sick or is it me? I pray God gives you healing in any area where you need it.”

Also, noni_stan1 stated; “Ahanna whatever thing you are going through I pray your God heals you, to me you don’t look strong but your God will give you strength to overcome everything. I love you so much (rattle snake).”

Watch Video

Francis Duru debunks terminal illness as his appearance raises concern online [VIDEO]

Senator Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar has denied any connection to anti-government protests, reaffirming his commitment to the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. In a statement issued on Saturday in Gusau by his chief of staff, Abdullahi Abdulkarim Tsafe, Senator Yari described the allegations as false, mischievous, and politically motivated. The statement reads in parts […]

The post I’m committed to President Tinubu’s success — Senator Yari appeared first on Tribune Online.