Author: straightnewsng.com

It was a sad Saturday as Nsima Ekere, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, lost the election in Ikot Abasi, his own local government area. Mr Ekere, immediate past managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), scored 7,549 votes, while the incumbent governor, Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 9, 335 votes, according to the result announced on Sunday in Uyo by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC said the number of registered voters in Ikot Abasi in the governorship election was 54,752, the accredited voters were 17, 693,…

The MTN group says it will be listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) before the first half of 2019. The telecommunication giant said this in a mailed statement which shows positive trade numbers in 2018 fiscal year. The results showed a total revenue of 37,971,000,000 South African rand (N965.3bn), the cable reports. “MTN plans to list by introduction on the Nigeria Stock Exchange during the first half of 2019 and is looking to simplify the capital structure ahead of this listing,” MTN said. “The company’s listing on the Exchange will create a new telecoms asset class for investors and…

As a fall-out of the Governorship/State House of Assembly elections, a member representing Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency, Oyo State, in the House of Representatives, has been killed, TVC NEWS reported. Temitope Olatoye popularly referred to as ‘Sugar’ was shot by suspected thugs in Elesu village in Ward 13, Lalupon, Lagelu local government area of Oyo State, on Saturday evening. Frank Mba, Police spokesperson who confirmed this to TVC NEWS, said Olotoye was shot in the right eye by persons suspected to be thugs. According to Mba, he was rushed to the Accident and Emergency Centre of the University College Hospital (UCH)…

The apprehension that greeted the Governorship/state House of Assembly elections in different states has calmed down. Having cast ballot for their candidates, many voters are anxiously waiting for announcement of winners. The voting ended by 2 p.m. in some polling units and 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. in other units depending on the time materials arrived at the units and the time accreditation of voters ended. Unfortunately, there were reported cases of infractions in in Etim Ekpo, Essien Udim and parts of Ikot Ekpene local government areas. Emmanuel Enoidem, the PDP National Legal Adviser and Engr. Etido Inyang, Chairman of…

Akwa Ibom state governor, Udom Emmanuel has hailed improved conduct of elections by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the country using smart card readers. Emmanuel stated this while speaking with journalists in Awa Iman, his country home in Onna local government area of the state after voting at Town Hall, Awa Iman, unit 001. The governor who voted at 9.20 a. m on Saturday during the Governorship/House of Assembly elections lauded INEC for introducing the machines to forestall massive rigging. Emmanuel, however, commended the people for turning out in large numbers to vote for their governor and member to…

The Supreme Court, Friday, upheld the interim order that allowed the Federal Government to seize about $8.4 million traced to Patience, wife of the former President Goodluck Jonathan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. In a unanimous decision, a five-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Dattijo Muhammad, declined to set aside the order of temporary forfeiture that was issued against Mrs. Jonathan by a Federal High Court in Lagos. It held that the Court of Appeal in Lagos was right to have affirmed the forfeiture order, saying there was no reason to interfere with concurrent…

With few hours to the conduct of Governorship/National Assembly elections, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reminded erring Nigerian voters of a 24-month imprisonment penalty. The penalty enshrined in the Electoral Act 2015 (as amended) states “Snatching or destruction of any election material is an electoral offence. The penalty is “24 months imprisonment”. “Call INEC to report any misconduct during the Governorship & State House of Assembly Elections on: 0700-CALL-INEC (0700-2255-4632)” INEC tweeted in its page.

 The All Progressives Congress, APC in Ibesikpo Asutan local government chapter of Akwa Ibom State has called on all security agencies to investigate what it called fire incident which occurred at Independent National Electoral Commision, INEC’s office in the area to bring its perpetrators to book. The INEC’s office in the area was gutted by unknown fire in the Friday morning resulting in the destruction of its Card Readers and ballot boxes. A press release issued by Joe Okon, Chairman, APC, Ibesikpo Asutan Chapter also called on INEC to make full disclosure of all election materials destroyed and compromised by…

Godswill Akpabio, the former Senate minority leader, has withdrawn a suit he filed in Federal High Court, Abuja challenging his re-election loss during February 23 National Assembly election. Consequently, he is expected to head to National Assembly Petitions Tribunal to challenge the election of Obong Chris Ekpenyong as Senator-elect for Akwa Ibom North West as confirmed by Anietie Ekong, his Special Assistant on Media. The returing officer for the election, Peter Oban, professor who announced the result weeks ago said Akpabio scored 83,158 votes, while Ekpenyong polled 118,215 votes. In a dramatic manner, Akpabio’s lawyer, Sunday Ameh, who announced the…

Some card readers and ballot boxes were destroyed when fire gutted the office of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nung Udoe, Ibesikpo Asutan local government area of Akwa Ibom State, a day to the crucial Governorship/House of Assembly elections in the state. Part of the office was burnt A security guard who was on duty at the INEC office told PREMIUM TIMES the fire started around 2 a.m. on Friday. “We heard an explosion inside the building, when we rushed to check what it was, we saw flames of fire coming from one of the rooms,” the guard said.…