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Adebule, in a statement on Monday also congratulated the All Progressives Congress Party (APC), for its victory at the March 9, Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday, declared Sanwo-Olu winner of the Saturday’s Lagos State governorship election.

The State Returning Officer, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, while announcing the results, said the APC candidate polled 739,445 votes to defeat his closest opposition, Mr Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 206,141 votes.

Adebule described Sanwo-Olu’s victory as the expression of the peoples’ wish and an appreciation of good governance since 1999 till date.

‘The governance of Lagos state would require requisite experience, intelligence and technical know-how, all of which Sanwo-Olu is blessed with.

"I have no doubt that governance would be taken to the next level under the new administration,’’ she said.

Adebule commended INEC for conducting a very free, peaceful and credible elections across the country.

She urged the commission to continue to improve on their operations in future elections to earn more public confidence.

Adebule thanked residents of the state for their confidence in the ruling party – APC and all it candidates by giving them overwhelming supports during the elections.

”I appeal to residents to give maximum support to the incoming administration of Mr Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr Femi Hamzat, as they take governance to the next level in the state.

”On my part, I am assuring the governor-elect and his deputy that I will always be at the background to offer useful and professional advice that can help their administration to attain greater heights,’’ Adebule said.

The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule has congratulated Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on his victory, saying the governor-elect will take the state to the next level of governance.

Sanwo-Olu will take Lagos to the next level of `impactful governance’ – Adebule

<h1>Project-2019 (P2019), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), says Atiku Abubakar’s decision to challenge the outcome of Feb. 23 presidential election in court will improve the electoral process and deepen Nigeria’s democracy.</h1>

Mr Wale Ogunade, a constitutional lawyer and convener of the group, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Feb. 27, declared President Muhammadu Buhari winner of the election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, while announcing the results in Abuja, said Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 15, 191, 847 votes to defeat his main challenger, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 11, 225, 978 votes.

Atiku has since rejected the results, vowing to challenge it in court.

Some prominent Nigerians and groups have appealed to him to concede defeat to Buhari and congratulate him.

Ogunade, however, said Atiku’s decision to seek legal action is a necessary step.

“To me it is good that Atiku is going to court because it will enhance our judicial system, add more to our jurisprudence and deepen our democracy.

“Buhari went to court about three times after he lost to PDP in previous elections. And as lawyers, we use some of those issues raised during the trial in court.

“We cite Buhari’s case against Obasanjo, Buhari against Yar’Adua and Buhari against Jonathan. And issues on jurisdiction, compliance to electoral law or time of filing or conduct of the election itself, were raised and addressed.

“All these issues have helped to enrich our judicial system because lawyers depend on these precedents or former cases to build up their case in court,” he said.

Ogunade said going to court would bring about legal skills that would transform the legal system for good of the country.

“On jurisprudence, it shows the brain and knowledge of the various counsels that worked on the cases and most of them are Senior Advocates Nigeria (SANs), that you will not run into, ordinarily in courts.

“And these SANs are people that even the judicial system may not have the opportunity of getting their views on issues regularly.

“They too (SANs), will generate some germane issues that when thrown into jurisprudence and later brought to the fore, it will be for the betterment and knowledge of the society and it will improve the legal system,” he said.

Ogunade also said the nation’s democracy would be deepened and positive lessons would be learnt if Atiku takes the legal action.

“Such case will strengthen the nation’s democracy as it will be seen as a better option to act civil by going to court rather than take to violence or destabilise the polity.

“It will also be a training ground or reference point for other politicians or intending democrats to say let’s stick to the rule of law as obtained during Atiku versus Buhari case.

“Even INEC, government and other stakeholders will get to know other issues pertaining to the conduct of the election in some areas that were not known before.

“I still wonder why people are asking Atiku not to go to court? I think his decision will develop the legal system and the country as a whole,” Ogunade said.

Mr Wale Ogunade, a constitutional lawyer and convener of the group, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

Atiku’s decision on legal redress will improve electoral process – Group

<h1>A Non-Governmental Organisation, the Voters Awareness Initiative, on Friday urged Nigerians to continue trusting in the nation’s electoral process in spite of some reported hitches experience during the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.</h1>

Convener of the group, Mr Wale Ogunade, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He enjoined Nigerians not to give in to apathy as a result of the challenges of the Feb. 23, but to massively exercise their franchise during the rescheduled Governorship and House of Assembly Elections slated for March 9.

“We should be ready to go out to vote on March 9 to vote according to the dictates of our conscience and embrace peace ahead of the gubernatorial and state assembly elections,” he said.

Ogunade noted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s desire to contest the outcome of the presidential election in court was an indication that democracy was at work in the country.

“The presidential election has come and gone; a winner has emerged with the closest rival is saying he will be contesting the results by going to the court.

“Such move shows that he is a democrat; he has even urged his supporters to allow peace to reign. We need to commend him for that and maintain calm.

“Fortunately, the judicial process is no longer as cumbersome as it used to be as the issue in contention can be concluded within 180 days.

“To me, this is democracy at work and I urge Nigerians to support the country’s development.

“We pray that the judicial process will be followed to a logical conclusion so that Nigeria will be better for it at the end,” Ogunade said.

Results from 120,000 polling stations in 36 states where Nigerians voted for president were expected to trickle in to the capital Abuja after being collated at the state and local levels

Convener of the group, Mr Wale Ogunade, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. 

Group urges Nigerians to believe in electoral process

<h1>Dr Sina Fagbenro-Byron, the ex-presidential candidate of KOWA Party, on Wednesday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to focus more on poverty alleviation and development of critical infrastructure in his second term. </h1>

Fagbenro-Byron made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, while reacting to the outcome of the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, early on Wednesday, declared Buhari as winner of the presidential election held nationwide.

Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 15,191, 847 votes to defeat his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 11,255, 978.

Buhari won in 19 states, while Abubakar won in 17 states.

According to Fagbenro-Byron, Nigerians have spoken and whatever the validated majority decision is, it must be respected by the rest of the candidates.

“I would however caution us to quickly allow the politics to pass so that real development can commence in earnest.

“We have some serious work to do and I hope that President Buhari who has been declared winner will realise this and get to work as soon as possible,” he said.

Fagbenro-Byron commended other presidential candidates and his party supporters for their efforts and doggedness.

He said “my dear friends and compatriots, the Presidential elections have come and gone and I would like to sincerely thank all of those that supported my effort and especially those who actually voted for Kowa party and myself.

“Without prejudice to winner, I would like to congratulate all participants for our efforts, hard work and patriotism.

“Permit me however, to mention my colleagues and their parties whose performances at the very first attempt at national elections deserve commendation.

”I commend Kingsley Mohgalu of YPP, Fela Durotoye of ANN and Omoyele Sowore for the efforts and doggedness. Well done gentlemen.”

The former presidential candidate said KOWA Party tried its best to win the presidential election, noting however that “those who feel disappointed at our performance, (less than expected) of our party and my candidacy, I would say we did put in our very best.

“We made our offer to Nigerians, unfortunately too many Nigerians for various reasons felt otherwise.

“Human beings can only do their best, which may or may not be good enough or acceptable enough, it is however, God that has the final say.

“I am eternally grateful to God, my party and Nigerians for the opportunity given to me to be a participant in this presidential race.

“I promise to remain disposed to serving you all whenever the opportunity arises again as a development professional and patriot,” he said.

Fagbenro-Byron urged Nigerians to work and pray toward peaceful governorship and state house of assembly elections on March 9.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, early on Wednesday, declared Buhari as winner of the presidential election held nationwide.

Ex-KOWA presidential candidate tasks Buhari on poverty alleviation, development

<h1>The Southern and Middle Belt Youth Leaders Forum on Wednesday endorsed the presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, as its sole candidate in the Feb. 16 poll.</h1>

Moghalu is a lawyer, university professor and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Reading a communique after it rose from its second quarterly meeting, Mr Eric Oluwole, South West Youth Leader, said that Moghalu’s performance at the last presidential debate attracted the attention of the group.

”Appraising the performance of Prof. Moghalu during the debate, we are convinced that he has all it takes to give us the Nigeria of our dream.

”We, therefore, call on Nigerian youths to vote massively for Prof. Moghalu because he is the man of the youth.

”We urge Nigerians to consider the 2019 elections important as a mistake or our negligence may mar our future. A stitch in time saves nine.

”We also demand an investigation of Nigerian soldiers involved in an alleged harassment of citizens in Aba, Abia State.

”As we approach the Election Day, we appeal to security agents to do their jobs by securing lives and property and not harass Nigerians during the election, ” he said.

Southern, Middle Belt Youth Forum endorse Moghalu

Also speaking, Mr Ikechukwu Oji, South East Youth Leader, said that Moghalu’s manifesto on restructuring was a realisable and feasible action plan that could take Nigeria out of it current challenges.

“Other parties’ manifestoes or agenda on restructuring seem vague. Most of them are just paying lip service to the issue.

”But we believe that Moghalu is somebody that can be trusted to make Nigeria better.”

Oji also urged the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) not to boycott the elections but to participate to vote candidates that would execute the restructuring agenda.

He also urged IPOB to refrain from disrupting the elections.

In his remarks, Mr Samuel Brown, South-South Youth Leader, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, to conduct free, fair and credible elections as the hope of Nigerians depended on it.

Brown also advised the youth to avoid being used as thugs by politicians to perpetrate election violence.

Moghalu is a lawyer, university professor and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

<h1>A NGO, the Voters Awareness Initiative, has urged Lagos residents and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cooperate with security agencies at the party’s campaign rally on Saturday.</h1>

Mr Wale Ogunade, the Convener of the initiative, made the appeal on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Ogunade said that cooperating with security agencies would prevent stampede and loss of lives at the rally.

NAN reports that some party supporters died and many others were injured on Thursday.

The incident was caused by a stampede at the party’s Next Level campaign rally for President Muhammadu Buhari at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo, the Taraba capital.

Ogunade said: “It is not possible to ask people not to come out to see and hear firsthand from President Buhari, and the president wants to see his people too.

“But in doing that, the security agents, the area boys, overzealous supporters, party men and women, need to be very careful.

“Do not crowd yourselves and the security agents should put on a human face while controlling the crowd. Life is sacrosanct.

“I advise our people to cooperate with security agents so that the Lagos rally will be a successful one,’’ Ogunade said.

Mr Wale Ogunade, the Convener of the initiative, made the appeal on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

APC Rally: Group urges Lagos residents to cooperate with security agencies

<h1>Former governor of Cross River, Mr Donald Duke, says he still remain the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and would present himself for the Feb. 16 poll.</h1>

Duke said this in a statement on Friday in Lagos, while reacting to the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to withdraw from the election and adopt President Muhammadu Buhari as its preferred candidate.

“Regardless and for the avoidance of doubt, I Donald Duke, remain on the ballot and the candidate of the SDP as recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“This unfortunate saga is as a result of an aspirant who lost at the party primaries on Oct. 6, 2018, fair and square, does not query the conduct of the primaries but rather resorts to bigotry, querying my suitability to contest for the presidency on grounds that I come from the wrong part of the country.

“The Federal Court of Appeal has put this matter to rest. The office of president does not belong to any party and therefore not for a party to zone,” he said.

Duke identified internal management of party affairs as the bane of the nation’s democracy.

He said his decision to run for the presidency was to afford the electorate a credible alternative.

“My decision to run on an untainted political platform rather than on one which I was a founding member is grounded on a desire to afford our electorate and indeed our nation a clean break, options and alternatives to her current gladiators.

“For the SDP NEC to thereby endorse the APC or any other party, is rather unfortunate and betrays in my opinion, the desire of the vast majority of our party members and Nigerians credible alternatives to our nation’s leadership.

“I need not say more, suffice that I remain on the ballot and thereby still present myself as a candidate for the office of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Duke said.

The SDP NEC had on Thursday announced the party’s withdrawal from the presidential race while adopting Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, for the poll.

It explained that the decision was based on the protracted legal issue facing the party.

“We cannot campaign, we cannot do anything because of the protracted legal issue and we feel that it is impeccable to technically withdraw from the presidential election.

“We want to focus on the National Assembly, Governorship and State House of Assemblies election for which we have fielded candidates across the country.

“We are therefore adopting Buhari, the APC Presidential candidate, as our preferred candidate for the Feb. 16 election,” it said.

Former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke

Duke said this in a statement on Friday in Lagos, while reacting to the decision of the NEC of the party to withdraw from the election and adopt President Muhammadu Buhari as its preferred candidate.

I still remain SDP presidential candidate – Duke

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