Politics
ADSIEC Satisfied With LG Polls
The Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC) has expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of last Saturday’s local government election in the state.
The Chairman of ADSIEC, Alhaji Isa Shettima, told The Tide source in Yola that the exercise was impressive.
“The election commenced as scheduled by 8.30 am and the voter’s turn out is encouraging as well as peaceful.
“Reports reaching the commission from 29,006 polling units across the state was that the election was smooth and hitch-free,” Shettima said.
He said that four political parties participated in the council election with over 13,000 ad-hoc staff deployed to conduct the exercise.
He listed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) as the four parties that featured in the poll.
Also speaking on the election, the State Organising Secretary of PDP, Alhaji Hamza Madagali, said the the turn-out was massive and that PDP was hopeful of victory.
On his part, Mr Mustapha Salihu, the APC National Vice Chairman, North East, urged party members to document any irregularity and ensure peaceful conduct.
“I employ you to be law abiding and peaceful.
“If there is any irregularities or abnormalities document it for us,” Salihu said.
On security, the spokesman of Adamawa Police Command, DSP Sulaiman Nguroje, said that over 6,000 personnel were deployed for the election.
“So far, since the commencement of the election the Command did not receive any report of protest or breach of peace in the state,” Nguroje said.
Prof. Garba Sheka, the Chairman, Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KSIEC), who is in Adamawa as observer, commended the state electoral body for organising a transparent election.
“It is a tradition whenever there is an election been conducted by a state electoral commission, other sister agencies from some states usually come for solidarity and observation,” Sheka said.
Sheka said that from what he saw, the election was well organised and was conducted orderly as if it was organised by INEC.
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, says he would not help President Bola Tinubu’s administration to correct the administration’s policies affecting the citizens.
Emir Sanusi spoke on Wednesday in Lagos as the chairman of the 21st Anniversary of Fawehinmiism (Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture 2025).
The emir stated that while there were “a few points” he could offer to explain the trajectory the administration had taken and how such decisions were predictable, he chose not to do so because “they don’t behave like friends.”
He said explaining the government’s policies would help the government, but he did not intend to assist them due to the way they had treated him.
“I can give a few points that are contrary, that explain perhaps what we’re going through and how it was totally predictable, most of it, and maybe avoidable. But I am not going to do that.
“I have chosen not to speak about the economy or the reforms or to even explain anything because if I explain, it would help this government, but I don’t want to help this government,” the emir said while addressing some of the points made by speakers about the economy.
He added: “You know they’re my friends, but if they don’t behave like friends, I don’t behave like a friend. So I watch them being stooges. And they don’t even have people with credibility who can come and explain what they are doing. I am not going to help. I started out helping, but I am not going to help. I am not going to discuss it. Let them come and explain to Nigerians why the policies that are being pursued are being pursued.
“Meanwhile, I’m watching a very nice movie with popcorn in my hands. But I will say one thing: What we are going through today is, at least in part, not totally, but at least in part, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management.
“People were told decades ago that if you continue along this path, this is where you’re going to end up, and they refused to open their eyes. Now, is everything being done today correct? No.”
Emir Sanusi, who was deposed as the 14th Emir of Kano in 2020 by then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the current national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was reinstated as the 16th Emir of Kano in 2024 by the New Nigeria People’s Party-led Kano State Government.
His emirship has faced ongoing challenges from forces believed to be backed by the federal government, including federal officials’ continued recognition of his predecessor, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero.
Last month, the police barricaded his palace, with the state government accusing the federal government of orchestrating the action to stir unrest in the peaceful state.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Oriyomi Onanuga, is dead.
Also known as Ijaya, Rt Hon. Onanuga, who was the member representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, is said to have died following a brief illness.
This was confirmed in a tweet on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday night.
Rt Hon Onanuga, who was born in Hammersmith, London, to Nigerian parents on December 2, 1965, was a politician and entrepreneur. She held the position of Deputy Chief Whip in the Nigerian House of Representatives since 2023.
She contested and won a seat in the House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. She also served as the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.
Gov. Aiyedatiwa, however, exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution due to the critical nature of their duties.
The two commissioners exempted include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Mr Adeniyan said in the statement that “All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries.
Gov. Aiyedatiwa thanked the executive council members “for their service and contributions to the development of Ondo State under his administration and wished them well in their future endeavours”.