Digital Leonard Blog

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has declared 30 of its staff missing after the Kogi Election. The missing INEC ad-hoc staff took part in Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi state, north-central Nigeria. According to reports from the commission, the INEC staff were posted to Olamaboro Local Government Area (LGA) by the commission and were declared missing around 1 a.m. on Sunday during the final collation of results in the local government. Information released by the commission show that the missing staff includes Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) of polling units in Imane ward 1 and 2 of Olamaboro LGA of Kogi State. Recall that many of the ad-hoc staff used by INEC are members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). While announcing the sad incident, the LGA Election Officer, in-charge of collating and announcing the local government’s results, Garba Mahmood, said the INEC ad-hoc staff were reported missing after the observ...

Its Time To Move On Every General knows when its time to move on. He knows when to call off the battle and prepare for the next war. Above all, he knows when he has given the best and it did not yield the expected results. Perhaps, God, who rules in the affairs of men decided otherwise. Ever since I decided to run for the governorship seat of Kogi State, the entire exercise has been trailed by controversies. My character has been maligned and I have been blackmailed and betrayed by many, including some people very close to me. In some other instances I was humiliated. But I did not despair or faint. I took it all in my strides, believing that it is the nature of politics in this part of the world. To prove the genuineness of my ambition I appealed to men and women of goodwill. I spoke on the need for everyone, not only members of my political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to give me a chance. And there is no doubt that we had a good team and one of the best campaigns, sprea...

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu has delivered her Yagba Polling Unit and Kakanda Ward to the All Progressive ongress (APC) in the Kogi Governorship and West Senatorial District elections in the state. Until her appointment as the FCT Minister of state, Aliyu was the National Women Leader of the party and so, still enjoyed support at the grassroots. While announcing the result, the Returning Officer, Dr Okor Henry said that the APC governorship candidate got 350 votes o=to defeat the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate that got 62 votes at Yagba polling unit. Henry also mentioned that the APC Senatorial candidate polled 480 votes to defeat PDP senatorial candidate who clinched 53 votes at the polling unit. “ Similarly, the APC governorship candidate won a total of 5,631 votes to defeat governorship flagbearer that got 1,109 votes at the Kakanda ward in Lokoja Local Government Area “ While the APC Senatorial candidate got a toyal of 4,907 votes to defeat the PDP ...

Recently sacked senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye, has stirred the anger of youths in the area, after he allegedly slapped the leader of the All Progressive Congress in a unit. According to reports, Senator Dino Melaye, who left his unit for another unit, was accosted by the the APC Unit Leader, Hon. Boye Bello who advised him to desist from vote buying. Rather than heed the advice, the senator reacted by slapping Bello, agitating the youth in the area. The leader was however, able to get the youths under control, thereby resolving the issue and making sure the election went on peacefully.

Kogi Polls: Wife of Deputy Governor Attacked Wife of the Deputy Governor of Kogi state, Ejura Onoja, has been attacked by thugs alleged  to be supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Egume, Dekina Local Goverm,ent Area of the state. Reports say that the attack on her was carried out shortly after she casted her vote in Barak 01 unit in Egume. She was able to repel the attackers and escape unharmed, but some others in the area were not so lucky, as they sustained several bodily injuries.

Senator representing Niger North senatorial district and who is responsible for the proposal of the Hate Speech and social media bills, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has said that he will not rescind on the bill. The deputy chief whip is making this statement shortly after the minister of Information and culture came out to say that the Federal Government will also not back down on the bill. Senator was quoted saying: “ I will not drop the bill. In the first instance, I sponsored this bill of my own volition. Nobody asked me to do so. I did all the research and I have my strong reasons for coming up with this. "

Governor Seriake Dickson of has expressed negativity about the ongoing Governorship election in the State, when he spoke with Reporters about the general conduct of the election. “ Gentlemen of the Press, today is a sad commentary on our nation’s democracy ”, Dickson said to Reporters, around 12:20pm, at his Polling Unit 5, Ward 2, Sagbama, as he arrived to cast his vote. He was accompanied by his wife and some Aides. “ As we are speaking, in this day and age, gun-wielding militiamen, with the aid of Security Forces, have overrun hapless Electoral Officials. “ Most of the Electoral Officials in Southern Ijaw, as we speak, are kidnapped and held hostage. ” Dickson said that election did not take place in Southern Ijaw, except Amassoma. He stated: “ Everyone knows APC has no structure in Bayelsa to win an election, but they have armed militias, surveillance contractors, who kill and maim for APC. “ They also have the Nigerian Army and rogue elements in the Police Force, working in concer...