The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has begun distribution of 23,871 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for new registrants in Gombe State.

Mohorret Bigun, Public Affairs Officer of the commission, said that 23,871 PVCs received were for those who registered newly or requested for information update, transfer or replacement for lost or damaged cards.

He said the distribution is for those who registered during the first and second quarter of the on-going Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise conducted between June 28 and Dec. 20, 2021.

“Therefore, all those who registered or requested for replacement of their PVCs during the period are encouraged to visit the INEC Offices across LGAs where their Polling Units are domiciled to collect their PVCs from Thursday April 21, 2022.”

He assured that those who registered in the first quarter of 2022 as well as those undergoing the process now that their PVCs would be ready for collection before the 2023 general elections.

Bigun appealed to eligible Nigerians who are 18 years and above but yet to register to do so.

“This include those who wish to transfer, request for information update or replacement of lost/damaged PVC to take advantage of the last quarter of the CVR which will end on June 30, 2022.”

He further warned existing voters to desist from registering afresh as such would constitute multiple registration which according to him, is a crime punishable by law.

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has revealed that preliminary investigations on the death of a gospel musician, Osinachi Nwachukwu, have linked husband of the deceased artiste to circumstances surrounding her demise.

Baba revealed that the information obtained from the sources closed to the family and independent witnesses indicated that the husband was allegedly responsible for the artiste’s death and that they claimed her death was linked to domestic violence, perpetrated by Peter.

He noted that the findings would not be taken unilaterally, considering the circumstances surrounding her death, and that outcome of an ongoing post-mortem being conducted would still be relied on before taking a stand on the case.

According to him, considering the sensitive nature of the case, and the need to get justice, and swiftly, the police has approached the National Hospital, Abuja, for post-mortem examinations on the deceased to ascertain the cause of death.

He disclosed that as soon as investigations are concluded on the case and her husband is found guilty of the offence, he will be charged to court to face the consequences of his actions.

The Police boss, who described the demise of the artiste as untimely and heart-breaking, promised that the Force would ensure justice in the case.

An aid to President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita representing the Northern senatorial district in the Senate has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement issued to newsmen in Katsina on Wednesday and signed by his Media Adviser Malam Abdulkadir Lawal said, ‘today opens a fresh page in our match to genuinely entrench democracy and significantly affirm the very eloquent voice of the people on whose mandate we have served over the last four years.

Kaita noted that as a loyal party man and responsive democrat whose expansive support base in his constituency said he has remained pivotal to his passion for the reciprocal growth and development of his people.

He also said he has followed the recent events in Katsina state with keen interest and deep concern, saying, ‘Of notable implication among many of this numerous concerns is the gradual loss of credibility in Governor Masari-led administration, particularly in the avowed refusal to conduct local government elections across the state in time.

‘ The willful refusal of the administration to uphold the basic foundation of democracy has also found expression in the marginalisation of critical stakeholders by the state government and the leadership of the party at the state level.

‘ The recent Congresses at state and ward levels, with no identified genuine pro-government delegates are clearly a rape of grassroots politicians and genuine party foot-soldiers who were rigged out of open contest.

According to the Senator, the total absence of a level playing field speaks volumes about an already orchestrated decline to antidemocratic principles and challenges every good conscience including ours, noting that, ‘all politics is local.

To this end, the statement maintained that as an advocate of transparency, accountability and continuous entrenchment of popular will, Senator Kaita cannot afford to continue sharing the tent of undemocratic merchandise clearly being executed against his people by the state government and party leadership.

‘A clear stock taking of where Katsina state stands today, is already enough burden on good conscience. Our good people, in their millions have excused deprivation, poverty and hunger for too long.

‘They have endured the risk to their lives and wellbeing imposed by the incapacity of the state government to tackle insecurity headon. They have been denied enough, already, by the state government.

We cannot deny them their right of choice. The serial denial of the people’s mandate at the recent Congresses among other related developments has finally found expression in our answer to the clarion call of our people to vacate the APC following very wide consultations.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, has said pride between past and present governors of the party is the reason behind the crisis in some of its state chapters.

Speaking at the party`s 11th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, he said lack of unity in some of the party`s state chapters could cost its electoral victory in 2023.

He recalled that in its efforts to unite the party, its former Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) constituted a national reconciliation committee to find lasting peace in the party.

“I know that President Muhammadu Buhari is not unmindful of what happened to the Peoples` Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014 and 2015 when it lost the presidential election.

Our party is not immune to similar fate should it conduct itself in such a way that continues to undermine the legacy of the founding fathers to build this party.

“I was the chairman of the national reconciliation committee and came out of the assignment fully conversant of the problems.

“The battle rarely is a battle for supremacy between serving state governors and their predecessors in office, it is a crisis fueled by ego, so ego is the enemy,’’ he said.

Adamu, who is a former governor of Nasarawa State, said pride between former and serving governors of the APC had turned them into worst enemies.

He said because of pride, groups supporting the party`s past and serving governors were putting it in jeopardy, adding that such Crises could affect the party`s electoral victory in 2023 general elections.

“The serving and past governors are powerful men, each of them are leaders in their own right in there states, but when two elephants fight, the grass suffers.

“Similarly, when two powerful politicians fight, the party suffers, because the speech and actions of these powerful men will bring a filthy and odious stench to our party,’’ he said.

Adamu said while the party`s former governors were seen as powerful in their own way, incumbent governors remained the party`s leaders in their respective states.

This, he said, was in line with the party’s Constitution, adding that APC former governors must recognise that fact and respect its state structure.

“Our party’s Constitution makes no room for two party leaders in a state, there is no reason to compete with serving governors for the leadership of the party,’’ Adamu said.

Some dignitaries at the meeting included President, Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC governors, state chairmen and other members of the National Working Committee (NEC).

APC governors were lead to the meeting by the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI deployed at Bakura Local Government Area of Zamfara State have killed 15 Armed bandits who attacked Sabon Gari Area of Bakura Town.

The bandits attacked the area on Tuesday evening and started shooting sporadically after rustling a large Number of cattle, troops deployed at Bakura town responded immediately and engaged the Bandits in a gun battle, but superior fire-power of the security forces make the Bandits to leave the rustled cattle and flee towards Kurunkudu into the forest with different degrees of injuries.

A resident of the town said: “We are happy with the quick response of the Nigerian Army Troops here at Bakura, they have assisted us in killing scores of the Bandits who invaded our community and they also helped us to recover all the cattle stolen by the bandits.”

An eyewitness also said 1 person was killed by the bandits while 5 other were injured and are receiving treatment at General Hospital Bakura.

A newly elected member of the House of Representatives representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, Musa Agah Avia, escaped an ambush by gunmen on Tuesday night.

The Lawmaker, his wife and children, as well as his personal assistant and driver, were attacked along twin hills in Miango chiefdom of Bassa local government area of Plateau State, according to a statement signed by the National Secretary of Irigwe Development Association, Danjuma Dickson Auta.

Although they all escaped unharmed, the car was covered with gunfire bullets as the driver bravely maneuvered the vehicle amidst the attackers’ sporadic shooting.

Two others on a motorcycle who were ahead of the lawmaker’s vehicle fled into the ambush and were killed by the attackers, according to the statement.

The event occurred near the site where some people were killed recently at a holiday ritual in the chiefdom, and security forces are yet to respond.

The Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong has informed his party stakeholders in Jos that he has not endorsed or any candidate for Governorship or any political office in the forthcoming general elections.

He made the declaration while addressing the All Progressives Congress (APC) Stakeholders meeting in Government House in Jos.

Lalong made this clarification over unconfirmed insinuations that he has anointed a successor and also endorsed other aspirants contesting for various offices in the state.

Reacting to the insinuation, he said, “I have not endorsed any aspirant for Governor or any other office. While very suitable members of our party have indicated interest to vie for different offices, we are carrying out consultations with all key stakeholders to ensure that at the end of the day, the best persons emerge to fly our party’s flag.

When such time comes, we will make it public and not hide it. I am praying that God will guide all of us to make a choice that is in the best interest of the people and our state and nation”.

According to him, the party will continue to encourage members to build consensus from the grassroots and build healthy competition among aspirants and their supporters before, during and after the elections.

He said although all the aspirants will be given a level playing field to test their popularity and acceptance, at the end of the day the will of the majority will prevail while only one person will emerge for any office.

Lalong cautioned against the negative campaigns and use of foul language by aspirants and their supporters, saying such could end up being counterproductive for the APC as the opposition will use it to discredit the party at the general elections.

On the deadline for public servants and appointees seeking elections to resign, he said he gave them till the end of this week for those yet to comply to do so in order not to fall foul of the new electoral law.

Lalong thanked the APC members for their support and sacrifices, particularly during the last bye-elections in which the party won one and lost one, urging that they should close ranks to ensure victory in the forthcoming bye-elections for Bassa and Jos East State Constituencies.

He assured that the ongoing projects such as the British America Flyover, Legacy Projects and the Jos main market billed to commence soon will be completed before the end of his administration.

Similarly, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Idris Wase charged members of the APC in Plateau State to come together and work in unity for the success of the party at the Local, State and national levels.

1. He admonished the party faithful to continue to support Governor Lalong who is the leader of APC in Plateau State, particularly towards ensuring that a smooth succession plan is attained where APC will retain the Governorship and win more seats at the State and Federal Levels.