Politics

2023 Election Review: Nigerians Adjugde Polls as Swayed by Personal Bias

By Web News 645

By Olaitan Oye-Adeitan

It was just a month ago that the 2023 general election ended with the conduct of Governorship and House of Assembly elections, precisely on the 18th of March, 2023.

The election began with the Presidential and National Assembly elections with the presidential fielding major contenders including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party, NNPP.

However, the governorship election was only conducted in 28 states of the Federation.

In Oyo State, the election saw the incumbent governor, Seyi Makinde, seeking a second term under the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP while the APC presented Teslim Folari as the flagbearer and Adebayo Adelabu as the governorship candidate of the Accord Party, A.

While the presidential election produced Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu of the APC as the winner of the poll, while that of Oyo State saw the emergence of Seyi Makinde as the governor-elect having cleared 31 out of 33 local governments.

Due to electoral malpractice, The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared the governorship election in some states inconclusive.

The outcome of the election had since been attracting reactions and counter-reactions on how well the nation faired in the conduct of the election.

Expressing their views  on Mid-Week Cruise, a socio-political-economic programme, anchored by Dayo Adenuga and Belinda Quadri on Premier Fm, a cross-section of residents of Ibadan, said the outcome of the elections particularly the governorship in Oyo State, was indicative of the peoples’ choice, just as seen in one of the comments,

“The election showed that the people of the state believe in the efficacy of his campaign promises. A campaign that was issue-based and the charming heart of a leader to set the pace in Oyo and a result of governor Makinde’s hard work and commitment to the welfare of the people of Oyo State”.

 Some others however expressed reservations about the presidential election.

Voices of residents of Ibadan on the last general election.

Analysing the elections, a journalist, Mr Oluwakayode Banjo, said the election was a reflection of ethnic and religious bias.

Oluwakayode Banjo analysing the 2023 elections

Meanwhile, statistics from the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, showed that violence occurred in 10.8% of all the polling units.

Compared to the hitches experienced during the presidential and national assembly elections, the Centre for Democracy and Development, applauded INEC for improving its performance, especially in the use of the Biometric Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, during the governorship election.

In the assessment of some election monitoring observers, the election generally witnessed a low turnout compared to the 2019 general elections.

Reasons adduced include violence, intimidation of voters, online and offline threats, fake news and fear of the unknown.

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News

Adeleke to Review Oyetola’s Last Minute Appointments, Contracts

By Web News 767

The Ademola Adeleke Transition Committee has alerted the people of Osun state of intensive illegality and looting of state assets ongoing in the twilight of Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s administration.

A statement issued by the Head of the Media Sub-committee, of the Transition Committee, Mallam Olawale Rasheed stated that the plundering of state assets and multiple illegal appointments have become more widespread since the court nullified the Governor’s candidature at the last election.

The Committee declared that Senator Ademola Adeleke will upon assumption of office institute an asset recovery panel, a contract audit panel and an appointment review committee to conduct a requisite review of all last-minute employments, contract awards and asset auctions by the Oyetola administration.

They assured the people of Osun state that all illegal decisions of the outgoing administration will be reviewed with a view to protecting the integrity and collective assets of Osun state.

They warned job seekers and contractors to be wary of becoming a tool in the last-minute illegality of Oyetola’s government.

Funmi Adekoya

Foreign

US to Review Police Response to Texas School Shooting

By Web News 461

The US Justice Department will investigate the police response to the mass shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas, which killed 19 children and two teachers.

Public anger is growing after it emerged that officers waited in the hallway as children trapped with the shooter made desperate 911 calls.

US President Joe Biden is in Uvalde to meet families devastated by the attack.

He will also meet survivors and first responders.

First Lady Jill Biden, herself a teacher, accompanied the president to a memorial at Robb Elementary School. They were seen comforting the school’s principal Mandy Gutierrez, beside a carpet of floral tributes for the teachers, and children – all under 10 years old – who lost their lives.

Both were seen wiping tears from beneath their sunglasses. Mrs Biden touched each child’s photo in turn.

The couple then attended a Catholic Mass at the local Sacred Heart church. Protesters outside the church shouted, “Do something!” as the president walked out.

“We will,” he answered.

Announcing its Critical Incident Review on Sunday, the US Justice Department said the goal was to “provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses that day, and to identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events”.

The shooting has provoked new calls for gun control measures, in a country reeling from two vicious shootings in under 10 days – although leading Republicans oppose tightening rules.

The US has now surpassed 200 mass shootings since the beginning of 2022.

A mass shooting is defined as an incident in which four or more people are shot or killed, excluding the shooter.

White House officials say Mr Biden is unlikely to offer specific policy proposals or seek to issue an executive order in the coming weeks to avoid interfering with delicate negotiations between Senate Democrats and Republicans.

The president’s visit comes days after 18-year-old Salvador Ramos shot his grandmother, and then opened fire on a classroom of fourth-graders with a legally acquired AR-15 style assault rifle.

The gunman’s rampage lasted for over an hour and police found as many as 1,657 rounds of ammunition and 60 magazines in his possession after he was shot dead.

Authorities have struggled to give a clear timeline of how events unfolded in Uvalde.


BBC /Taiwo Akinola