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Otuoke (Bayelsa), Nov. 16, 2019 (FLOWERBUDNEWS) Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, voted at unit 39, Ward 13 at the Otazi Playground, Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jonathan voted at 11.30 a.m., while his wife voted at 11.35 a.m.

Ward 13 is made up of five communities of Otuoke, Otuaba, Ewoi, Otuabula 1 and Otuabula 2.

In his remarks after voting, Jonathan expressed dissatisfaction over the lateness of the arrival of the materials to the polling units.

He said: “We must conduct ourselves if we want to real bring people to rule us either as president or governors.

“Nigerians are always blaming people in authorities and the leaders, so here they must blame themselves.

“Look at even this voting, I was around earlier, but the materials had yet to arrive in the polling unit.

“I have led election monitoring teams to other African countries, we use to go 30 minutes before the time and in our reports, we indicate the exact time when the vote starts.

“So, for election to start after that time it is an indictment to the electoral body that manages election, there is no reason here election should not start by 8:00 a.m.

“So, even the youth should stop blaming old people, you blame yourselves and do things properly.

“I am really disappointed on what I observe today compare to other African countries I monitor elections.’’.(NAN)

(flowerbudnews) President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the Nov. 16 election in Bayelsa, David Lyon, on his victory.

Buhari’s congratulatory message was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday.

The President also commended APC supporters in particular and Nigerians in general in the State who exercised their civic rights in a peaceful manner, notwithstanding the pockets of unrest recorded in some locations.

While condemning the loss of lives in Bayelsa, particularly prior to the election, the President commiserated with the families of the victims.

‘‘Violence during elections vitiates our commitment to demonstrate to the world and upcoming generation that we are a people capable of electing leaders in a peaceful and orderly manner,’’ he added.

He noted that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies did their best within the ambit of the law to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

He, however, described as unfortunate that pockets of unrest, ”mostly sponsored by desperate politicians, were recorded during the poll.”

The President looked forward to working with the incoming government to improve the lives of the people in Bayelsa, while ensuring the security of lives and property of all citizens.

Buhari urged Governor-elect Lyon to carry other divergent interests along in the next phase of governance, imploring those not satisfied with the outcome of the poll to seek redress through the constitutionally established channels.

INEC had on Monday morning declared Mr David Lyon of the APC winner of the governorship election in Bayelsa after polling 352,552 votes.

Lyon defeated his closest rival, Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 143,172 votes.

INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Faraday Orumwense, Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, who anounced the result, said APC polled 352,552 votes to win in the election.

He said APC’s closest rival, Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), polled 143, 172 votes.

The returning officer said that the total vote cast in the election was 505,884 votes, total valid votes 499,551, while the total rejected votes stood at 6,333.

Orumwnese said APC won the election in six Local Government Areas, while PDP won in two.

He declared Lyon winner and duly elected governor having polled the highest number of votes in the contest.

From the results declared by INEC in Southern Ijaw local government area, APC polled 124,803 votes, while PDP scored 898 votes.

In Ekeremor Local Government Area, APC polled 21, 489 votes and PDP scored 18, 344 votes.

In Sagbama, PDP polled 60,339 votes and APC got 7,831 votes.

In Brass, APC scored 23, 831 votes, while PDP polled 10,410 votes.

The results showed that APC polled 83,041 votes in Nembe anf PDP polled 874 votes.

In Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area, APC got 8,934 votes, while PDP polled 15,360 votes.

According to the results declared by INEC, APC polled 24,608 votes while PDP polled 19,184 votes in Yenagoa Local Government Area,

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the total number of registered voters in the state is 922, 562 while the total number of collated voter cards is 889,308.

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) Official results from local government areas in Kogi State have started trickling in.

After the announcement of the governorship election results at polling units, collations were done in wards before those of local governments.

Kogi has 21 local government areas.

The final announcement of results of each local government will be announced at the INEC collation centre in the local government.

PREMIUM TIMES has provided live updates of the election which has witnessed late arrival of electoral materials, violence and intimidation of voters. The election was, however, also peaceful and efficient in many other areas.

A total of 24 candidates are taking part in the gubernatorial election.

However, the governorship contest is expected to be between the incumbent Yahaya Bello (APC) and Musa Wada of the PDP.

PREMIUM TIMES and the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development bring you the results as announced by the relevant INEC officials at various local governments.

Final result for Idah LG KOGI EAST Gubernatorial elections

Total number of accredited voters – 56,743
Total valid votes – 19037
Void votes – 772
Total votes cast – 13809

APC 4062

PDP 13,962

SDP 241

Omala LGA Gubernatorial Election Results

Total Number of Registered Voters= 7153.
Total Number of Accredited Voters= 3239.

APC:1264

PDP: 1765.

SDP: 94.

VALID VOTES: 3158.
REJECTED VOTES: 79.
Total Votes cast: 3239.
There was no cancellation of votes.

FINAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESULT OF YAGBA WEST LG SENATORIAL POLL

TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS : 42 784
TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS : 17 523

PARTIES AND THEIR SCORES.

APC : 7914

PDP : 8980

TOTAL VALID VOTES : 17 068
REJECTED VOTES: 397
TOTAL VOTES CAST : 17 465

FINAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESULT OF YAGBA WEST LG GUBERNATORIAL POLL

TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS : 42 063
TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCREDITED VOTERS : (was not written on the result sheet at the time of filling this report)

PARTIES AND THEIR SCORES.

APC : 7868

PDP : 8860

SDP : 211

TOTAL VALID VOTES : 17 063
REJECTED VOTES: 399
TOTAL VOTES CAST : 17 462

Final Result for Adavi local government of Kogi state live from INEC’s headquarters, Ogominana, Adavi, Kogi State.

APC:

PDP: 366

SDP: 279

Total registered voters: 105906
Total Number of Accredited voters: 66222
Total Votes cast: 65967
Total Valid votes: 65595
Rejected Votes: 372
Total PU’s that results were cancelled: 10
Total number of registered voters in cancelled PUs: 3927

APGA: 20
GDPN: 3
GPN: 3
HDP: 2
JMPP: 1
MAJA: 7
NCP: 12
PDP: 139
PPN: 14
PPP: 15
PRP: 25
SDP: 50
UDP: 4
UPC: 3
YDP: 10
YPP: 6
ZLP: 1
APM: 26
NO CANCELLATION
RETURNING OFFICER:
Prof Olarewaju Samuel Ola, UNIJOS

Final Results from Koton Karfe LGA Governorship election

Registered voters:53,590
Accredited voters:25,793
Rejected vote:323
Total valid votes:24,264

APC-14097
PDP- 9404
SDP-657

Final Results from Koton karfe LGA Senatorial election

Registered voters:53,580
Accredited voters:24,576
Rejected vote:330

Total valid votes:24,246
APC-14168
PDP- 9786
SDP-196

FINAL RESULTS FOR OKEHI LG, KOGI STATE

APC: 36954

PDP: 487

SDP: 3095

CULLED PREMIUMTIMES

A charity organisation, the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Pyrates’ Confraternity, Abuja City Centre, has appealed to politicians and other stakeholders to avoid acts that trigger violence and “play by the rules of the game”.

The call, contained in statement signed by Mr Ugochukwu Nwodo, Capoon, NAS Sahara Deck, is coming ahead of the Nov. 16 gubernatorial elections in Kogi.

Nwodo said that election was “entirely a civil affair that requires citizens to exercise their franchise as provided for in the constitution and guidelines for elections”.

“Violence and all forms of thuggery, intimidation and chaos should not have a place in 21st century electoral process.”

He also urged security agencies to ensure that the electorate in the state was freely allowed to exercise the right to vote in a violence free environment and without fear of any reprisals.

Furthermore, he called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to play the role of “a fair umpire”.

He urged INEC to ensure free, fair and credible election which should also be “generally seen to be so by all concerned”.

He assured of the group’s commitment to all efforts geared towards ensuring that “our electoral processes are strengthened and devoid of violence”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC, in May, had announced a new date for the governorship elections in Kogi and Beyelsa from Nov. 2 to Nov. 16.

The commission said the change in date followed several appeals from Bayelsa that the election date coincided with the state’s Annual Thanksgiving Day which is backed by law. (NAN)

*(FLOWERBUDNEWS) More than 200 elephants have died amid a severe drought and a mass relocation of animals is planned to ease congestion, Zimbabwe’s parks agency says.

Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesman Tinashe Farawo said at least 200 elephants have died in vast Hwange National Park alone since October and other parks are affected.

Animals including giraffe, buffalo and impala are also dying, he said, and the situation can improve only after rains return.

“Almost every animal is being affected,” he said. “Of course, elephants are easily noticed during patrols or game drives, but some bird species are seriously affected because they can only breed in certain tree heights and those trees are being knocked down by elephants.”

Many animals are straying from Zimbabwe’s parks into nearby communities in search of food and water. The parks agency has said 33 people have died from conflict with animals this year alone.

The agency said it plans to move 600 elephants, two prides of lions and other animals from the Save Valley Conservancy in the southeast to less congested parks. A pack of wild dogs, 50 buffalo, 40 giraffe and 2,000 impalas also will be relocated, Farawo said.

The animals “have exceeded their ecological carrying capacity,” he said. “If the populations go unchecked, the animals will threaten the very ecosystem they depend on for survival.”

Zimbabwe has an estimated 85,000 elephants, second only to neighboring Botswana with more than 130,000.

Zimbabwe says it is struggling to cope with booming numbers of wild elephants and wants to be allowed to sell its ivory stockpile and export live elephants to raise money for conservation and ease congestion in the drought-affected parks.

The country exported 101 elephants between 2016 and this year, mainly to China and the United Arab Emirates, raising more than $3 million for conservation efforts, according to the parks agency.

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Group Managing Director of  Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Malam Mele Kyari, has tasked the board  and  management of  NNPC Retail Limited to ensure the delivery of unadulterated products to motorists nationwide.

Kyari gave the charge in a statement signed by Mr Samson Makoji, the acting spokesman for the Corporation, in Abuja.

He spoke during the inauguration of a new Board of Directors for the company.

He said that the management must strive to sustain the company’s culture of delivering unadulterated petroleum products to Nigerians in its filling stations.

He noted that the confidence of Nigerians in the company’s commitment to delivering high quality products and the right quantity at the right prices was a great asset to sustain.

He noted that the new management could leverage on the trust that the company had built to achieve the target of growing market share to 30 per cent.

“We have to maintain our viable operational strategies to advance our cause. NNPC Retail Limited’s management must focus to ensure that products are not adulterated and meters for both our own and our affiliate stations are not tampered with .

“This will make those who buy our products to derive maximum value for their money,” Kyari said.

The GMD further said that NNPC Retail Limited occupied a strategic position in the energy matrix of the country as a first line company with strong brand in petroleum products supply and distribution.

According to him, there is need to expand its scope and capture at least 30 per cent market share within the shortest time possible for the benefit of Nigerians.

He explained that automation of process, continued maintenance of customer base and expansion would assist in speedy attainment of target.

Responding, Usman Yusuf, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Gas and Power, and Chairman of the Board of Directors,  stated  his team’s readiness to deliver on the task.

Other members of the board are  the COO, Downstream, Adeyemi Adetunji, Alternate Chairman; COO, Refineries,  Mustapha Yakubu; Managing Director of NNPC Retail Ltd, Sir Billy Okoye and Company Secretary, NNPC Retail Ltd, Mrs Obioma Abangwu.

In another development, NNPC has given assurance that it will be transparent in the 2020/2021 selection of Lead Insurer for its Oil Assets.

It said that a total of 42 companies submitted bids for the lead insurer contract and promised that each of the bids would be assessed on its own merit ( NAN)

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) Bolivian opposition senator Jeanine Áñez has declared herself interim president of the South American country following Evo Morales’ resignation.

Lawmakers from Mr Morales’ party boycotted the session, meaning there was no quorum for the appointment.

But Ms Áñez said she was next in line under the constitution and vowed to hold elections soon.

Mr Morales condemned the announcement, describing Ms Áñez as “a coup-mongering right-wing senator”.

The former president has fled to Mexico, saying he asked for asylum there because his life was in danger.

He resigned on Sunday after weeks of protests over a disputed presidential election result. He has said he had been forced to stand down but had done so willingly “so there would be no more bloodshed”.

How did the senator become interim president?

Ms Áñez took temporary control of the Senate on Tuesday, putting her next in line for the presidency.

The former deputy Senate leader assumed the position following a series of resignations.

The parliamentary session to appoint her was boycotted by lawmakers from Mr Morales’ leftist Movement for Socialism party, who said it was illegitimate.

“Before the definitive absence of the president and vice president… as the president of the Chamber of Senators, I immediately assume the presidency as foreseen in the constitutional order,” Ms Áñez said to applause from opposition lawmakers.

Bolivia’s highest constitutional court backed her assumption of power.

How did we get here?

Mr Morales, a former coca farmer, was first elected in 2006, the country’s first leader from the indigenous community.

He won plaudits for fighting poverty and improving Bolivia’s economy but drew controversy by defying constitutional limits to run for a fourth term in October’s election.

Pressure had been growing on him since his narrow victory in last month’s vote.

The result was called into question by the Organization of American States, a regional body, which had found “clear manipulation” and called for the result to be annulled.

In response, Mr Morales agreed to hold fresh elections. But his main rival, Carlos Mesa – who came second in the vote – said Mr Morales should not stand in any new vote.

The chief of the armed forces, Gen Williams Kaliman, then urged Mr Morales to step down in the interests of peace and stability.

Announcing his resignation, Mr Morales said he had taken the decision in order to stop fellow socialist leaders from being “harassed, persecuted and threatened”.

He fled to Mexico as unrest erupted on the streets of the Bolivian administrative capital, La Paz, with angry supporters of the socialist leader clashing with security forces.

After arriving in Mexico City on Tuesday, he thanked Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whom he credited with saving his life.

“While I have life I’ll stay in politics, the fight continues. All the people of the world have the right to free themselves from discrimination and humiliation,” he said.