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663,748 voters to participate in Bayelsa election

From Chris Eze, Yenagoa

Over 663,000 registered voters are expected to take part in the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

This was contained in the updated voters’ register of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which was presented to political parties yesterday in Yenagoa.

The figures, reeled out by the ICT and Voter Registry Departments of INEC, indicated that a total of 663,639 voters are eligible to vote in 1,939 voting points, after the continuous voter registration exercise held in the state from October 2 to 9 this year.

The figure showed an increase of over 53,000 registered voters in 1804 polling units from the register used during the 2015 general elections.

On gender distribution, the figures indicated that men constitute 54% and women 46%.

Also, 250, 000 students were registered while businessmen were 120,000; fishermen and farmers 80,000, civil servants 70,000 and housewives 10,000.

For the age brackets, those from 31-50 years are the highest with 46%; 18-30 years 41%; 51-70 years 11% and above 70 years 2%.

The INEC National Commissioner, Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku, who addressed representatives of political parties, security agencies and civil society groups at the occasion, said the publication of the voter register was in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended.

AD accuses PDP of ‘unhealthy’ opposition

By Saawua Terzungwe

The Alliance for Democracy (AD) has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has introduced an unhealthy form of opposition inimical to the survival of democracy in Nigeria.

The party also said the PDP leaders should go back to the drawing board and study the role of opposition parties, stressing that they had been in power for 16 years but still lack the basic tenets and principles of opposition politics.

Speaking with Daily Trust yesterday in Abuja, AD national chairman, Rafiu Salau, said it was wrong for the PDP senators to stage a walk-out during the screening of former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, arguing that the screening was not strictly a party affair but a national assignment which required collective assessment by senators.

The AD chairman said the PDP should introduce policies and programmes that would win the confidence of the masses and shun “negative tendencies” capable of jeopardising democracy and President Muhammadu Buhari’s transformation agenda.

The AD chieftain said the All Progressives Congress (APC) won elections because of the personality of its then presidential candidate [Buhari], sound strategies and acceptance by the people, stressing that the PDP, if it wants to bounce back in 2019 as it has consistently said, most emphasise issue-based opposition.

It’s time Buhari comes out with clear agenda – PDP

From Ahmed Mohammed, Gombe

The National Deputy Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Abdullahi Jalo, said it is time for President Muhammadu Buhari to stop lamentations and come out with clear agenda that will move the country forward.

Jalo stated this yesterday when he addressed a press conference in Gombe, where he made reference to a statement credited to Buhari saying that Nigeria is broke.

“Even though Nigerian politicians get credit in blaming their predecessors over what they have done, but since the APC has change as their mantra, Buhari should do things differently.”

Jalo said rather than castigating the previous administration, Buhari should come out with clear economic policies and vision to convince Nigerians that he actually has something to offer as president.

He advised elder statesmen such as former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) and other prominent Nigerians to advise Buhari over some of his utterances.

No more transition c’ttees under my watch – Okowa

From Victor Sorokwu, Asaba

Delta State governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has said setting up transition committees for local government councils is unconstitutional and will not be allowed under his administration.

The governor spoke yesterday when he received reports of the 2014 local government elections from the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC).

According to Governor Okowa, if it is unconstitutional and unacceptable at the state and federal levels, why should it be accepted at the third tier of government.

I would not retrench workers -Audu

From Itodo Daniel Sule, Lokoja

Prince Abubakar Audu, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 21 election in Kogi State, has assured that his administration will give priority to the well being of workers in the state.

Audu, who said this at a rally in Bassa Local Government Area of the state, debunked insinuations that he would embark on massive retrenchment of workers if reelected.

He urged the electorate to disregard such allegations, saying his opponents are using such to sway unsuspecting members of the public.

Audu expressed readiness to improve the working conditions of workers in the state, adding that the era of percentage salary payments to workers will end if he is reelected.

While lamenting the plight of the workers, Audu noted that no responsible leader would allow workers to go home empty handed at the end of the month in this era.