The APC governorship candidate in Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, is in the lead with only two of the state's 21 local governments left to be declared. The governor is leading his PDP opponent, Musa Wada, with over 200,000 votes after votes from 19 of the 21 local areas of the…

Armed men who aided the snatching of ballot boxes in Lokoja and its environs during Saturday's governorship election were "fake policemen," an official has said. This was the assertion of the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Busari. His view was shared by the spokesperson of the police headquarters, Frank…

An unhindered snatching of ballot boxes and disruption of the electoral process has taken place in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, with the active connivance of armed police officers. Although the action was not unexpected, residents thought the disruption started too early in the voting process. Accreditation and voting started…

Voting has ended in some polling units in Kogi State where a governorship election is holding. PREMIUM TIMES has provided live updates of the election which has witnessed a high number of the late arrival of electoral materials, violence and intimidation of voters. The election was, however, also peaceful and…

There were brazen acts of vote buying at some polling centres in Lokoja, in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, on Saturday. PREMIUM TIMES observed at PU 12, Crowrher Memorial College in Lokoja, that agents of the APC had given tags (tickets) to willing voters who return to collect…

There is a widespread delayed deployment of electoral materials from the various RACs to PU in Lokoja LGA. The issue has been blamed on the reporting of security officials to the RACs behind schedule. At the Crowther Memorial College, in Lokoja, policemen were only deployed to the centre well after…

Thousands of Kogi residents will today cast their votes for the candidates of their choice in a keenly contested governorship election. A total of 24 parties are taking part in the election. Although the registered voters in the state are 1,646,350, about 1,485,828 (90.2%) have collected their PVCs and are…

The police in Kogi State on Friday confirmed that security operatives stormed a hotel in Lokoja where the Governor of Oyo, Seyi Makinde, was lodged. The Commissioner of Police for Kogi State, Hakeem Busari, told PREMIUM TIMES on the phone that the entry by the security operatives was an error.…

The GYB phenomenon is undergoing its litmus test. It is the rave of the moment. Everywhere in Lokoja is agog for the governor. The gunshots, the rallies and the monies are attending the tremor of campaigns. They are shaking the heavens and the earth and the people are running to…

Dele Williams is the governorship candidate of the Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN) in Kogi State. In this interview, he speaks about his campaign and his expectation for Saturday's election. Excerpts PT: How are you engaging the people ahead of the election? Williams: Our predominant message for now is…

The Nigerian police have reversed the deployment of a former Aide de Camp (ADC) to the governor of Kogi State, Usman Shugaba, following an alarm raised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Shugaba, a Chief Superintendent of Police, was deployed by a Commissioner of Police at the Force Headquarters,…

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kabba, Kogi West Senatorial District, were on Wednesday attacked by armed political thugs, worsening the security situation two days to the governorship election in Kogi State. Prominent among those attacked by the hoodlums was Joseph Dada, whose house was riddled with bullets…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has included the candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Natasha Akpoti, and the Allied People's Movement(APM), Yusuf Dantalle, on the ballot for Saturday's governorship election in Kogi State. The inclusion is in compliance with court judgements overruling INEC on the disqualification of the…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has included the candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Natasha Akpoti, and the Allied People's Movement(APM), Yusuf Dantalle, on the ballot for Saturday's governorship election in Kogi State. The inclusion is in compliance with court judgements overruling INEC on the disqualification of the…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State has accused the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Natasha Akpoti, of faking the reported attack on her on Tuesday in Lokoja. The spokesperson of the APC, Jibril Abu, told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday there was no evidence that Mrs…

There is chaos at the Federal Science and Technical College, Ikare Akoko in Ondo State, as workers locked out the school’s principal, Muyibat Olodo, and barred her from resuming in her office. The workers last week began a protest over poor welfare and alleged highhandedness of the principal. The conflict…

Could this be a political retribution, miscalculation or a mere collision with fate? The dust is yet to settle over the sacking on Wednesday of the spokesman of the Senate, Dayo Adeyeye, by the Appeal Court. The court declared his opponent in the last Ekiti South Senatorial election, Biodun Olujimi,…

The Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Council for the Kogi State governorship election has raised the alarm over the influx of armed thugs into the state, alleging that they are in to thwart the November 16 election. It has also called for the removal of the Commissioner of Police in the…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti and Ondo states have applauded the decision of the Appeal Court on Wednesday, removing the spokesperson of the Senate, Dayo Adeyeye, who represents Ekiti South. The Appeal Court in Kaduna said Mr Adeyeye's opponent and PDP candidate, Biodun Olujimi, scored the highest number…

The practice of expelling students who got impregnated while in school has been abolished in Ekiti State. This was emphasised by the wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Bisi Fayemi, on Tuesday while on an advocacy and women empowerment tour in the state. She said the “Operation Keep Girls In…

Like a procession, cars and trucks of various sizes lined up in a long stretch, going up and down, left and right to ease a movement that should last about half an hour. It is nothing new when travelling through Okene-Ajaokuta-Itobe Federal Highway. As you move across the Ajaokuta flyover…

All contentions attending the 2019 presidential election was officially brought to an end on Wednesday following the dismissal by the Supreme Court of the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, further stretching the strain of losses by the opposition parties and their candidates…

Nigeria is not a socially cohesive country, as its citizens still grapples with issues of lack of trust, equity and inclusion. This is the conclusion of a Survey embarked upon by African Polling Institute (API) and which was made public on Tuesday. A statement by API’s Executive Director, Bell Ihua,…

It was a feeling of disgust among residents of Ikare Akoko in Ondo State when it was discovered that beef from cows struck dead by a thunderstorm was being sold to unsuspecting members of the public. On Tuesday night, a herd of cattle was hit by a thunderstorm, killing eight…

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and ex-Minister of Finance, Olu Falae, is in full retirement after he recently pulled out of partisan politics. Although he is 81 years old, he speaks with passion and fervour in this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, as he relieves his contributions…