The governor of Imo state and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Hope Uzodimma has swept all the 27 Local Government Areas so far announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Owerri. The LGAs announced are Oru West, Owerri North, Obowo, Nwangele, Orsu, Owerri Municipal, Okigwe, Ideato South , Onuimo, Ngor Okpala, Oru East, Isu, Nkwere, Ahiazu Mbaise, Owerri West, Isiala Mbano, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Oguta, Aboh Mbaise and Njaba, Ihiteuboma, Ohaji-Egbema, Orlu, Mbaitolu, Ikeduru, Ideato North and Ehime Mbano. 1. NJABA LGA: APC – 8, 110 LP – 995 PDP – 2, 404 2. OBOWO LGA: APC – 17,514 LP -. 3,404 PDP – 711   3. Oru West: APC: 38,726 LP- 1,867 PDP – 987 4. Owerri North APC – 8,536 LP – 4,386 PDP – 3,449   5. NWANGELE LGA: APC – 29,282 LP – 895 PDP – 2,132   6. ORSU LGA APC – 18,003 LP _. 813 PDP – 624 7. Ikeduru APC – 22,356 LP – 1,377 PDP – 7,258 8. Owerri municipal APC – 5,324 LP 2,914 PDP 2,180 9. Onuimo LGA APC – 13,434 LP – 1,753 PDP – 2,676   10.NKWERRE LGA APC – 22, 488 LP – 1,320 PDP – 2,632   11. ISU LGA APC – 11,312 LP – 1,253 PDP – 2, 508   12. IDEATO SOUTH LGA APC – 16, 891 LP – 1,649 PDP – 2,469   13. OKIGWE LGA APC – 55, 585 LP – 2,655 PDP – 1,688   14. AHIAZU MBAISE APC – 8,369 LP – 2,214 PDP – 3,507 15. Ehime Mbano APC – 6,632 LP – 4,957 PDP – 681 16. ISIALA MBANO APC – 10,860 LP – 2,419 PDP – 1,659   17. ORU EAST LGA APC – 67, 315 LP – 3,443 PDP – 2, 202   18. OWERRI WEST LGA APC. – 9, 205 LP – 2,597 PDP – 3,305 19. ABOH MBAISE LGA APC – 9,638 LP – 2,435 PDP – 1,724   20. NGOR OKPALA LGA APC – 14,143 LP – 2, 716 PDP – 3,451 21. EZINIHITTE MBAISE LGA APC – 8, 473 LP – 3, 332 PDP – 2,784 22. Orlu APC – 37, 614 LP – 2,424 PDP _. 3,690   23 IHITTE UBOMA APC. – 11, 099 LP – 2, 766 PDP – 3, 078   24. Mbaitoli APC – 12,556 LP – 4,007 PDP – 5,343   25. IDEATO NORTH APC – 5,271 LP – 1,522 PDP – 2, 062 26. OHAJI EGBEMA APC – 14,962 LP – 1,506 PDP – 3, 3694 27.Oguta APC – 57, 310 LP – 1,941 PDP – 2,653 The Retuning officer for the election, prof Abayomi Fasina, who is the Vice Chancellor of University of Oye, Ado Ekiti in Ekiti state announced a 1 hours break to declare the final results. More to follow….

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  The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress as well and their affiliates from embarking on any strike or industrial action. The unions had after an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Abuja declared a total nationwide strike from November 14, 2023. The unions took the decision following the alleged assault on the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero last week in Imo State. However, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Minister of Justice filed an ex-parte application praying to the court to stop the unions from embarking on the planned strike. In the application, the FG and AGF told the court that the strike would inflict untold hardship on law-abiding citizens and their businesses. Counsel for the Federal Government and the AGF, Tijani Gazali SAN during the proceedings on Friday argued that many Nigerians suffered when the labour unions during their demonstration on Thursday blocked the entrances to the main Airports in the country. He pleaded with the court that unless the planned strike action is stopped, there may be a likelihood of a breach of peace and tranquility in the country. In his ruling, the president of the Court, Justice Benedict Kanyip cited sections 17 and 19 of the National Industrial Court Act and ordered the unions to stop their nationwide strike. “It is within the power of the court to intervene by way of restraining order to ensure peace and tranquility,” he said. Kanyip directed that the restraining order be pasted on the wall of the Labour House which is the last known address of the two defendants to draw their attention to the court’s position. The Judge also directed that the order along with the originating and other processes be served on the defendants by publication in two major national dailies.

  The Independent National Electoral Commission, Bayelsa State Office, has confirmed the that “a boat carrying election personnel to Registration Area-17 (Koluama) in Southern Ijaw LGA capsized.” A statement by Wilfred O. Ifogah, HOD Voter Education & Publicity, said that though no life was lost as all the election personnel numbering 12 and the boat operator were rescued, they “lost our result sheets, power banks and luggage containing personal effects of staff. “The total number of registered voters in the affected Registration Areas is 5368 and the number of PVCs collected is 5311. INEC is making efforts to ensure the conduct of election in the affected area. Ifogah also said that “its SPO assigned to Registration Area-06 (Ossioma) in Sagbama LGA was abducted while waiting to board a boat at Amassoma Jetty. The security agencies have been notified.”

  The Center For Transparency Advocacy (CTA), has set up a situation room in Owerri, to monitor tomorrow’s governorship elections in Kogi, Balyesa and Imo State. Center For Transparency Advocacy will also deploy 212 observers across the three States. The group said the reason for setting the situation room in Owerri was as a result that Imo State has more Local Government Areas than Kogi and Balyesa States The group’s executive director, Faith Nwadishi, stated that security agencies do not need to wait for a presiding officer at a pulling unit before arresting electoral offenders. She insisted on the continued deployment of the BVAS and immediate transmission of the results on the IREV which has proven to be a game changer in the conduct of the elections. The group encouraged citizen to exercise their civic responsibilities by voting candidates of their choice. CTA reminded the electorates that the Gubernatorial candidates are the ones closer to the grassroots, hence utmost care should be taken in choosing those who occupy such positions. We still believe in the ability of INEC to deliver a free, fair, credible and conclusive election. Full statement below: Centre for Transparency Advocacy Pre-Gubernatorial Election Statement on the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States November 11, 2023 Governorship Elections at ROCKVIEW HOTELS, Owerri, Imo State Owerri: 10th November, 2023 Gentlemen of the press, It is my pleasure to welcome you to this election eve press conference on the three gubernatorial elections that will take place simultaneously tomorrow, November 11, 2023 in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States. This is an off-cycle election no doubt, but importantly, the first set of elections after the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria. Nigerians in preparations for the 2023 general elections had high hopes given the promises and the incremental improvements witnessed during the off-season elections made possible with the introduction of technological innovations into the electoral process. These technological innovations were also deployed for the presidential and national assembly elections. Energized by the prospect of having their votes count, a new layer of Nigerians, especially the youths, became politically active in a manner never witnessed in the political history of the country. It is against this background that the INEC is set to conduct the Gubernatorial Elections on Saturday, 11th November , 2023. The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), an independent civic organization that has been actively involved in the observation of the Nigerian electoral process from its inception and an accredited Domestic Observer Group will be deploying 212 observers across the three states of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi ( at least three observers per LGA) who will be sending in reports in real time; making it possible for CTA to have firsthand information as to what happens on election day. In line with our usual practice, the CTA has situated its Situation Room here in Owerri to liaise with our observers and coordinators in the other states of Bayelsa and Kogi. The CTA as earlier stated will deploy 212 trained election observers across the length and breadth of the three states of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States. These observers have been trained on Election Observation and adherence to INEC Election Guidelines. Prior to this election, we held stakeholders meetings across the three states. We held the stakeholders meeting in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa in October. At these meetings, we had robust conversations with the diverse critical stakeholders on way forward. The recommendations from these meetings will form part our final election report. In the course of the interactions during the stakeholders’ meetings, various concerns were raised by the stakeholders. They include Inability of the police to arrest election offenders even at polling units except authorized by the Presiding Officer. Both citizens and security agencies see this as a serious issue that needs urgent attention through further advocacy and reforms. lack of proper logistics associated with elections deployment of personnel and materials especially from the transport workers Lack of verified information, falsehood / Misinformation and disinformation from the social media influencers, main stream media personalities That INEC officials should not compromise at any time to safeguard the integrity of the political process Further amendment of the Electoral Act and reforms to clear grey areas and ambiguity During elections, most vehicles are seen moving around with pictures of contesting candidates placed on the plate number, and nothing is done about it. As Citizens of these three states go to the polls again tomorrow, we want to call the attention of all and sundry to the following important issues- PREPARATIONS OF INEC Logistical arrangements: The hiccups that are usually experienced during elections should not for any reason rear its ugly head during these Governorship Elections on Saturday. All arrangements to move personnel and materials must be topnotch. Therefore, all hands must be on deck to realize this very important section of the election. INEC : We commend INEC for initiating the process for sanctioning some of its errant election officials for misconduct in the last elections. This is not enough as we expect that more Electoral Officers and Adhoc staff should be sanctioned if they are involved in any form of electoral misconduct during these Saturday elections. . Integrity should be the watch word for INEC staff as citizens do not expect anything less. INEC as an institution and its staff must live above board. Finally, It is important that the Electoral Officers at the LGAs be on top of their game by promptly mobilizing members of the NURTW to move personnel and materials to polling units in good time. We observed the Mock Accreditation of electorates across some selected wards in the three states. CTA was part of the briefing of election observers both at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja and the three states of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi. According to statistics from INEC; Total registered voters for the three states, 5,409,438. For Bayelsa, 1056862, Imo 2419922, Kogi 1932654 respectively. Total number of PVCs collected 5169692- Bayelsa 1017613, Imo – 2318919, Kogi- 1833160. The total

  President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero on Friday said that he was arrested in Owerri by the Police and was handed over to waiting thugs that got him thoroughly beaten. He said that the thugs who were about seven in number dragged him on the floor like a common criminal.   Briefing journalists in Abuja, the NLC president said the NLC wrote to all the security agencies before they went to the state for the protest on November I.   According to him, workers who arrived at the venue of the protest on that day around 7 am were beaten up by thugs with their phones seized.   Ajaero said he got there around 9 am after he got the report of an assault on workers , adding that the police arrested him and handed him over to thugs. He said: “I can’t explain the beating I received. They tied my hands and dragged me on the floor like a common criminal.” The NLC President denied the allegation by the Imo State government that he is a card carrying member of the Labour Party. “I am not a card-carrying member of any political party as alleged,” he said

  Friday 10 November 2023 Off-season polls: FG tackles Labour over strike, unions disrupt Imo flights Naira falls to N1, 000/$ in official market 40 AIGs, commissioners redeployed in police shake-up Border closure: Businesses collapse in northern communities, smuggling booms Nigeria, Saudi sign MoU on energy cooperation Flight Ban: There Should Be Consequences, Say Imo Elders INEC Has No Candidate In Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Polls – Yakubu Israel To Begin Four-Hour ‘Pauses’ In Gaza, US Says Wike Remains My Principal, Says Gov Fubara Ajaero Pursuing Labour Party’s Interest In Imo – Uzodimma Gov Polls: DSS Cautions Stakeholders Against Provocative Statements Reps Committee Summons FIRS, Immigration Over Failure To Render Account FG To Obi: Tinubu Not Insensitive To Nigerians Tens Of Thousands Flee As Israel Tightens Gaza City ‘Stranglehold’ Union Suspends Activities Over Taraba Teacher’s Killing Former Students Allegedly Stab Teacher To Death In Taraba Ogun Students Condemn Hike In Tuition, Threaten Mass Protest Tinubu Appoints Aide On Disability Matters 59 Mosques Destroyed In Israeli Airstrikes On Gaza – Interior Ministry Off-Cycle Elections: Military Issues Fresh Warning To Troublemakers Canadian high commission: Visa application centres in Abuja, Lagos remain open Nigeria’s crude oil grades preferred by Europe refiners, says NNPC ‘To prevent vote buying’ — ICPC deploys operatives for Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi polls US surgeons perform first-ever whole eye transplant ‘Leave aviation alone | I’ll fight back’ — Keyamo warns NLC Presidential poll: Afenifere faction chides Adebanjo for faulting s’court verdict Importers to pay more as Customs revises rate to N783/$ amid 70% decline Akpabio asks Tinubu to sack disobeying appointees Ajaero: Airport protest didn’t go as planned – Aviation union Kalu defeats PDP’s Ohuabunwa at Appeal Court Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Toluige Olokoobi, the mother to Oreofeoluwa Lawal-Babalola, the little boy who inspired the viral “mummy be calming down” video, has committed suicide. In 2020, Oreofeoluwa became an instant sensation on social media platforms after a video went viral of him in tears from his mum’s scolding while confidently telling her to “calm down” and give him a “last chance”. The footage also inspired Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor’s Eid-el-Kabir message to Muslim faithfuls and inhabitants of the state wherein he urged them to maintain calm amid the COVID-19 crisis. The boy alongside his family thereafter met with the governor, who commended his courage and composure. Oreofeoluwa was featured in several interviews with media houses. He also said he wants to be a police officer to help fight corruption in Nigeria But on Tuesday, an X user disclosed that Toluige committed suicide in Benin due to unknown reasons. The X user, who said he was at the scene of the incident on Monday afternoon, added that Toluige had refused to share her problems with anyone before taking her own life. “The woman in the viral Mummy Calm down video has just committed suicide here in Benin,” he wrote. “She refused to speak to anyone about her problems. She left three kids for her husband including the popular Mummy Calm Down boy.” POLICE CONFIRMS TOLUIGE’S DEATH, HUSBAND DETAINED Confirming Toluige’s demise in a chat with BBC Pidgin, Chidi Nwabuzor, the spokesperson of the Edo state police command, said her husband has been arrested and detained for questioni Nwabuzor said the husband reported the matter to the police. The police spokesperson quoted the husband to have said that “he came home from the market when he saw his wife hanging with rope on her neck”. Nwabuzor said she was rushed to the hospital and then to the mortuary after she was confirmed dead. Watch the viral ‘mummy be calming down’ video below: