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#NigeriaDecides2023: Tinubu Ahead In Southwest, Northwest, North-Central, Obi Leads In Southeast

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Confidence and excitement bubbled in the camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) last night as results of the presidential and National Assembly elections began to trickle into the public domain and the collation centres of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nationwide.

Early returns from polling units in the six South West states of Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo showed that the APC presidential candidate was ahead of the pack while Labour Party’s Peter Obi was dominant in the South East.

Obi also made some inroads in Lagos State and former strongholds of the PDP in Edo and Delta.

At press time yesterday, the Labour Party presidential candidate had also won nine of the 13 polling units at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

But his performance in the North was abysmal where the APC and the PDP were sharing the votes in the three geo-political zones in the North. The APC was doing well in Yobe and Sokoto State at press time.

Some of the results yet to be confirmed by INEC are as follows:

Lagos State

Ajeromi/Ifelodun LGA

APC – 21,102

LP – 12,417

PDP – 3,750

Amuwo-Odofin LGA

APC – 21,387

LP – 12,583

PDP – 3,836

Alimosho LGA

APC – 56,172

LP – 32,992

PDP – 10,071

Ikeja LGA

APC – 45,586

LP – 26,725

PDP – 7,847

Ikorodu LGA

APC – 64,956

LP – 38118

PDP – 11,057

Yobe State:

Potiskum LGA

APC – 25,845 PDP – 6,787 LP – 0

Yunusari LGA

APC – 15,177 PDP – 3,839 LP – 0

Nguru LGA

APC – 15,962 PDP – 4,033 LP – 0

Yusufari LGA

APC – 14,197 PDP – 3,591 LP – 0

Bade LGA

APC -7,667 PDP – 1,982 LP – 0

Bursari LGA:

APC – 3,815 PDP – 986 LP – 0

Damaturu LG

APC- 8,957 PDP – 2,316 LP – 0

Fika LGA:

APC – 9470 PDP – 2,432 LP – 0

Fune LGA:

APC – 10, 677 PDP – 2,760 LP – 0

Geidam LGA:

APC – 6,601 PDP – 1,709 LP – 0

Sokoto State:

Shagari LGA APC – 8,869

NNPP – 2,995 PDP – 7,891

LP – 0

Sokoto North LGA

APC – 21,239 NNPP – 7,167

PDP – 18,886

Sokoto South LGA

APC – 23,637 NNPP – 7,971

PDP – 21,020

Result from Sen. Kashim Shettima’s Lamisula/Jabbamari polling unit 023, Maiduguri

APC = 126 votes

PDP = 23 votes

Labour Party = 0 vote

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s Polling Unit 022 Aliyu Mustapha College Yola, Adamawa

APC: 140 PDP: 68 LP: 11

The elections were generally peaceful although INEC and the security agencies reported violence and disruptions in some states.

The commission said fresh elections would be held where necessary while the police arrested some people said to have breached the peace.

Five persons were confirmed dead before and during the exercise.

The APC flag bearer said after voting in Ikeja, Lagos that he was “too confident” of victory.

President Muhammadu Buhari, First Lady Aisha, Tinubu’s running mate Kashim Shettima, Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai were no less confident.

Buhari declared in his home town, Daura, Katsina State after casting his vote that the “APC will win from Daura to Lagos.”

Aisha said: “We are certain by God’s grace that APC will win,” while Lawan said: “Here, the President will win, the Senatorial candidate, that’s myself, will win, the member of the House of Representatives by the grace of God will also win.”

El-Rufai said his prayer was for Tinubu to emerge victorious.

Buhari said: “I am very impressed because I have seen how the people turned out. I am very impressed and very happy. Well, the candidate I voted for I have already mentioned him in many states in Nasarawa, Katsina and Sokoto.

“All over the places I mentioned my favourite candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu, and I believe my constituency will elect him 100 per cent.”

Asked how he felt that for the first time since 2003, he was not on the ballot paper, the President said: “It is very exciting. I look at those who are competing and some of them are so agitated that they didn’t know that I tried three times and ended up in the Supreme Court three times.

“The fourth time I said ‘God dey’ and God sent technology, Permanent Voters Card. So, no fraudulent person can claim anything.”

Mrs. Buhari said she voted for the candidates of the APC, expressing optimism that the party would win the presidential and legislative elections.

We’ll recalibrate economy, says Tinubu
Soon after casting his vote at Unit 085, Ward 3, Ikeja Local Government Area before a large gathering of journalists and observers, Tinubu said he would recalibrate the economy if he won the election.

His words: “Economic problem is not peculiar to Nigeria. We will recalibrate the system and set Nigeria on the path of recovery.”

He lauded Buhari for laying a foundation that could be built upon.

Tinubu described the President as a dedicated and committed leader who has tried his best for the country.

He said: “My vision; you could see Lagos, the infrastructural development, taming of the Atlantic Ocean. You bring the private sector for collaboration.

“I have articulated my agenda. I am striving to become a leader of APC through this election. I will change the APC philosophy.”

Tinubu described himself as the best candidate, adding that he has demonstrated uncanny courage and never allowed social media abuses to distract him.

He said: “I will dance again. I have visited more states and held more rallies and town hall meetings than others.

“Talking is a display of energy. I have done more talking to the people and answered more questions than any candidate.

“I disclosed that I had a knee injury. I am fitter than most of them. I trek kilometres in a day. I don’t sleep until 2.30 am, 3.00am, reading. What do you do to be well? Keeping fit; keep your brain alert; be aware of what is happening around the world.”

Tinubu added:”When they have nothing to say; they lack knowledge and exposure. I have proved them wrong. I keep dancing as a therapy.”

We’ll win, unite the nation – Shettima
His running mate, Shettima, also spoke to reporters after voting at polling unit 023, Lawan Bukar, Lamisula Ward, Maiduguri, expressing optimism about APC’s victory.

He said: “I believe by the Grace of God, the candidate that will emerge as president is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But winning is one part of the job; the longer journey is foundational unity and progress for our country.

“God will grant him the wisdom and the courage to unite this nation. This is our wish. These are our prayers.”

Speaking on the delay that preceded his voting, Shettima said: “I do not want to pass judgment because it is too early, and as a political leader, I must have the patience…

“I do not believe in such. To administer 176,000 polling units is not an easy task. We have to give INEC the benefit of the doubt. We believe it is too early to start saying things that would create panic.

“Nigerians are essentially one people with a commanding destiny. They need a leader like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed who has the generosity of spirit, maturity, exposure and experience to lead the country.

“We are democrats. We believe in democracy and we are going to win this election.”

Lawan: These elections are significant
Senator Lawan said the Ninth National Assembly contributed largely to the success of the elections with the amendment of the Electoral Law that “gives INEC sufficient latitude to introduce more technology for the election process.”

He added: “It is one of our legacies that the ninth National Assembly will really be proud of and Mr. President himself will be proud that here we are at this juncture in our democracy journey that we have an Electoral Act that has all the safeguards so far that will make the vote of every citizen who cast his vote to count.

“This election, for me, will be the fifth election consecutively into the Senate by the grace of God, and I am very confident we will win this election.

“Here, the President will win; the Senatorial candidate, that’s myself, will win; the member of the House of Representatives, by the grace of God, will also win.

“And we are going to continue to work with our President by the time Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu becomes the President. He will inherit the ninth National Assembly. He will work with us for at least two weeks because our tenure ends on the 11th of June, 2023.

“I want to say that we are going to give him full cooperation like we have given President Buhari over the last three and a half years. And when the 10th National Assembly will be in place and the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be in office.

“I want to believe that he will have a National Assembly that will be fully, totally and completely supportive to the cause of building Nigeria for Nigerians.”

My prayer is that Tinubu is declared President-elect in couple of days – El-Rufai
Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State said his prayer was for Tinubu to come out victorious despite attempts in some quarters to scuttle the elections.

He said: “So far, as at the time I came here, everything has been going on smoothly. There have only been three incidents. Last night a rice mill was attacked by people suspected to be PDP thugs. The Police is investigating.

“This morning, we got a report of one incident in Southern Kaduna where BVAS and ballot boxes were snatched, and in Soba where two ballot boxes were also snatched.

“Of course, these are no incidents at all because whether you snatch ballot boxes or BVAS or not, it doesn’t matter; the technology has gone beyond the primitive rigging system that political actors are used to.

“So, I must commend INEC for this improvement. So far, everything appears orderly across the state. All the reports we are getting are positive.

“My only concern is low voter turnout. People are not coming out to vote. And I want to appeal to everyone to please come out and vote because you have once in four years opportunity to pick your leaders and you should take it seriously.”

I’ll win, says Atiku
The PPP flag bearer Atiku Abubakar was equally optimistic about his chances.

Shortly after voting at Ajiya 02, in Gwadabawa Ward, Yola North Local Government of Adamawa State, he told reporters that the process was seamless and he was sure of succeeding Buhari on May 29.

Kwankwaso: I’ll Accept the Outcome of Election
Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP said he was willing to accept the outcome of the result.

He said: “I will win the election by the special Grace of Allah. We must demonstrate a high sense of political tolerance to ensure peaceful conduct of the future exercise.

“I’m satisfied with INEC and the voting exercise and am positive to win my unit and LG. I’ll accept the final result of the election.”

Best elections I’ve ever witnessed – IGP
Inspector General of Police Usman Baba described yesterday’s elections as the best he has ever witnessed in the country.

Baba who spoke while monitoring the elections in Abuja said the polls were generally peaceful and “the response of the people has been encouraging. “

He added: “The provision of security is good. This is one of the best electoral processes I have ever seen.

“We have done well so far and we are waiting for INEC officials to move to the collation centre. We are on top of the situation.

“It is not true that we have blast in Maiduguri, we have blast in Borno State. We have made adequate security arrangements over there. We have five injured and small damages.”

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Federal Government To Grant Mining Licenses To Only Companies That Process Locally

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Nigeria will only grant new mining licences to companies that present a plan on how minerals would be processed locally, under new guidelines being developed, a government spokesperson confirmed on Thursday.

This is a departure from Nigeria’s long-standing practice of exporting raw commodities, as governments around Africa work to increase the value derived from their substantial mineral reserves.

To spur investment, Nigeria will offer investors incentives including tax waivers for importing mining equipment, make it easier to secure electricity generation licences, allow full repatriation of profits and boost security, Segun Tomori, a spokesperson for Nigeria’s minister of solid minerals development said.

“In exchange, we have to review their plans for setting up a plant and how they would add value to the Nigerian economy,” Tomori said. He did not say when the guidelines would be finalised or come into effect.

However, last week the minister of solid minerals development, Dele Alake, said it was now government policy to make value addition a condition for obtaining licences so as to create jobs and help local communities.

Alake, who also chairs an African mining strategy group comprising mining ministers from Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia, is pushing for a continent-wide effort to get maximum local benefit from mineral exploration.

Nigeria, Africa’s top energy producer, has struggled to extract value from its vast mineral resources due to poor incentives and neglect. The underdeveloped mining sector contributes less than 1% of the country’s gross domestic product.

Last year Nigeria exported mostly tin ore and concentrates worth about 137.59 billion naira ($108.34 million), mainly to China and Malaysia, according to the country’s statistics bureau.

The government aims to drive more investment into the sector by issuing more licenses. It has set up a state-owned solid minerals corporation offering investors a 75% stake and established a special security unit tasked with fighting illegal miners.

The government is also trying to regulate artisanal miners, who dominate the sector, by grouping them into cooperatives.

Foreign mining companies operating in Nigeria include Canada-based Thor Explorations which is involved in gold exploration, Chinese-owned Xiang Hui International Mining which partnered with a local company to process gold, and Indian-owned African Natural Resources and Mines, which is building a $600m iron ore processing plant in northern Nigeria.

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu Felicitates President Tinubu At 72

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 72nd birthday, describing him as a brave, bold, and passionate leader who is dedicated to the advancement, growth, and development of Nigeria.

He said that President Tinubu’s contribution to the nation’s growth is cause for celebration, citing the President’s unparalleled bravery, integrity, honesty, and patriotism in his efforts to steer Nigeria’s ship in the correct path since he into office on May 29, 2023.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said President Tinubu has provided honest and transparent leadership in Nigeria by taking bold decisions to address challenges militating against the prosperity of Nigeria and Nigerians.

Sanwo-Olu further described the President as a visionary and master strategist whose democratic credentials are scholarly materials for study in political economy.

He said: “On behalf of my family, the government, the people of Lagos State,  members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), leaders, and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, I congratulate our leader, President Bola Tinubu, on the occasion of his 72nd birthday.

“President Tinubu has sacrificed the greater part of his life in the service of our dear State and Nigeria. He contributed to the enthronement of democracy and good governance, serving first as a Senator in the aborted third republic and later as a pro-democracy activist, working tirelessly as a member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) to struggle for the de-annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

“President Tinubu’s financial wizardry and economic intellect, which he put to good use as the Governor of Lagos State, have taken our dear state to a greater height. Today, Lagos is the pride of Nigeria, occupying an enviable position as the fifth largest economy in Africa.

“President Tinubu has made positive impacts in the country through the Renewed Hope agenda of his administration. His unblemished service and track record of impressive achievements in public office have made him a role model for many Nigerians.

“As President Tinubu celebrates his 72nd birthday, it is our prayer that God will grant him more prosperous years in good health and wisdom as he continues to serve our dear nation.”

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JUST IN: CBN Increases Banks Capital Base To N500bn, N200bn For National Commercial Banks

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The capital basis for commercial banks with international permission has been raised to N500 billion by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The policy change was confirmed by Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, CBN’s acting director of corporate communications. in a declaration.

She added that commercial banks with regional authorization are expected to reach a capital floor of N50 billion, while those with national authority must meet a ceiling of N200 billion.

Announced on Thursday, March 28, 2024, this comprehensive financial reform requires significant increases in banks’ minimum capital bases, which vary depending on the size of the bank.

The latest policy directive specifies that commercial banks with international authorization are now required to shore up their capital base to N500 billion.

In a bid to tighten the financial fabric, the CBN has not overlooked merchant banks, which are now subject to a N50 billion minimum capital requirement.

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