APC sweeps 16 chairmanship seats

By Mumini Abdulkareem

Candidates of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were yesterday declared winners of the 16 chairmanship seats in Saturday’s local government election held across the state.
Announcing the results, last night at the premises of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC), the commission’’s chairman, Dr Uthman Ajidagba, stated further that the ruling party won 181 councilloship seats while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged winner in eight other seats.
The PDP won two councillor seats each in Ilorin East, West (Kwara Central), three in Oke-Ero (Kwara South) and one in Edu (Kwara North).
Ajidagba said four councillorship seats were inconclusive in Ilorin West, Moro and Edu Local Government Areas.
The announcement of the council poll results was witnessed by representatives of top security operatives and political parties.
Meanwhile, diverse reactions have continued to trail the conduct of the exercise from both the ruling APC and opposition parties in the state.
He said the reading of the results by the Election Officers (EO) was a replication of what transpired at the federal level.
Ajidagba stated that despite the insinuations, name calling and blackmailing, the commission has conducted a credible exercise adding that he made personal efforts to reach the opposition parties chairmen, especially PDP’s Iyiola Oyedepo but could not get him on phone before the process started.
He thanked the people of the state for their peaceful conduct and orderliness during the election including security operatives and journalists for their cooperation which he noted contributed immensely to the success of the poll.
All the 16 presiding officers president said the results was neither written for them by Ajidagba nor being pressurised by highly placed personalities to alter what was gathered on the field.
Reacting to the results, yesterday, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki through his twitter handle congratulated the APC for a successful local government election and charged the newly elected chairmen and councillors to continue to provide ‘more opportunity for our people’.
Also the APC chairman, Hon Ishola Balogun-Fulani told National Pilot in a telephone chat last night, that the results announced testify to the transparency of KWSIEC.
He said, “This is a very beautiful result which showed the process was very transparent, fair and peaceful and point to the fact there was no imposition.
“KWSIEC has performed very well and we salute their courage for announcing results where some will say they were not expected.
“It shows our party, the APC, is very open and we believe in the rule of law. Nobody was forced or coerced to do anything and people were allowed to protest. It was a welcome development and I commend KWSIEC.
But a former party chieftain and factional chairman of the PDP, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said the development only points to the fact that local government elections should by conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, the trend in local election is almost the same across the country and until the exercise is taken away from KWSIEC, there would be no meaningful election at the grassroots.
“In some places, no ballot papers, yet there were elections but we hope with the enactment under way at the federal level in terms INEC conducting the exercise, there will be significant improvement in the process.
Also, the PDP’s former gubernatorial running mate in the 2015 election, Yinka Aluko, described the results declared by KWSIEC as the voice of the people.
“The people have spoken with their votes and KWSIEC have declared results, good luck to them”.
The declaration of the results at the commission’s headquarters, Fate road, Ilorin, was held amidst very tight security as military operatives and civil defence condoned off the area and diverted vehicles plying the route.

Kwara South

By Adebayo Olodan and Kayode Adoeti

In Kwara South Senatorial District, there was massive turn out of voters, who were sighted at their polling units as early as 6:30 to 7am.
Some of the voters who waited patiently on queues however complained about lateness of election materials in some areas.
Also, there was rowdiness in some centres, a situation which almost marred the exercise until security men were drafted by politicians and other stakeholders to calm nerves.
Oke-Ero
At Oke Ero some members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stormed the secretariat, demanding that KWSIEC should announce the names of their three councillorship candidates as winner of the election.
The immediate past chairperson of the council, Hajia Folake Yusuf however confirmed the incident adding that her house would have been razed by the angry protesters but for providence.
Also, the Oke Ero APC Chairman, Chief Joseph Adeniyi, said, “The election was tough in our area, they (PDP) wanted to cause serious crisis but the police’s intervention rescued the situation. It was the police who were shooting and throwing teargas to halt the crisis, not some individual as it was reported,” he said.

Omu-Aran 

At Agamo polling unit in Omu-Aran, some suspected thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were said to have stormed the centre to truncate the exercise.
In a chat with this medium, the immediate chairman of Irepodun local government, Hon Lukman Owolewa said some of the party’s loyalists were attacked while exercising their franchise at the polling unit. Owolewa who was also special assistant to the governor on Culture and Tourism however appreciated security agents for their timely intervention.
“I don’t know why the hoodlums chose to come to my ward to distort the election. There were about 10 of them on ground before six others came in a jeep to join them. They started beating up the electorate for no reason but for the immediate intervention of the police. Ever since the incidence, the security operatives have been parading the vicinity.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the suspected hoodlums have been arrested by the police for questioning.

Irepodun 

In a related development, the Irepodun PDP chairmanship candidate, Hon Azeez Aremu denied any knowledge of the attack on Owolewa even as he described the election as fraud while also calling for its cancellation.
“The exercise was fraud, our party agents at various polling units are feeding me with terrible accounts of how APC were replacing ballot papers with forged ones and the security men failed to stop them.
“This election should be cancelled totality because it is not free and fair,” he lamented in a laden voice.
Aremu’s APC compatriot, Muyiwa Oladipo, otherwise known as Kanu however described the poll as smooth adding that security operatives were alive to their duties.
“We started accreditation around 8am and it was followed by the voting proper and as you can see we have no issues in and around here,” Kanu stated.

Oke-Onigbin

Also at Oke-Onigbin, the APC councillorship candidate, Ololade Sulyman, said despite the late arrival of materials and electoral officers the situation did not affect the exercise.
Ijara- Isin
At Ijara Isin, a chieftain of the APC, Barr. Tajudeen Olatunji Bakare said the party is deeply rooted in the community being the home town of former PDP chairman in the state, Alhaji Yusuf Ayedun.
“I can emphatically tell you that the election has been peaceful and the only party in this peace loving community is APC,” Bakare divulged.

Oro

Meanwhile, the Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed shunned the election as he was not sighted at his polling unit or anywhere in his community even though some members of his extended family travelled down to Oro for the exercise.
Supporters of the minister who was expected to vote at Ile Onikoyi 003 Oro ward II waited for him until Friday evening but Lai Muhammed who supported the party last week with a donation of N5000.000 never showed up.
At the Ile Onijala polling unit, Oro ward I, a member representing Irepodun Constituency at the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Matthew Babaoye voted 2:05pm.
Speaking with our reporter after the exercise, he described the election as free and fair and also called on all candidates to accept the result of the election in good fate.
He said APC remains the party to beat in the state and in the country judging by the leadership qualities of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
In the same vein, former commissioner for Information, Oloriewe Raheem Adedoyin called on politicians to eschew violence even has he charged the people of the state to continue supporting the present administration in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy.
After casting his vote around 3:55pm at Ijomu-Oro town hall, Oro ward 1, Chief Adedoyin described the poll as hitch free even as he called on residents of the state to guide against post election violence.
Earlier, a tour by this medium to the collation centre at St Andrew School in Oro revealed that the election materials were late on arrival.
It was noticed that KWSIEC ad hoc staff and the electorate have converged at the centre waiting anxiously for the arrival of the materials.

Kwara Central

Ilorin West 

The local government election went smoothly in many parts of Ilorin West but there were few case of late arrival of chairmanship result sheets which caused disquiet. Security men, especially soldiers were seen manned at strategic spots. Voting commenced very early in some centres but some started very late in others. It however witnessed massive crowd in most of the centres visited which was held under peaceful atmosphere. There were some cases of hoodlums invasion and ballot box destruction.
Agbaji
In Ajikobi, Agbaji polling centre, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki who voted at 12:55 expressed satisfaction over the large turnout of voters for the election and was particularly impressed by the peaceful atmosphere under which the election was conducted.
Saraki thanked the people of the state for their orderliness; and for maintaining peace, before and during the poll.
He assured the people of the state that the incoming council chairmen would strive to meet their expectations.

Adewole 

In Gaa-Aremu, Adewole ward, the process was boycotted when this medium visited around past 9:00am over allegation of non availability of chairmanship result sheet.
The candidates of the PDP, Comrade Misbaudeen Esinrogunjo described the process as a fraud. He called on the Inspector General of Police, Director of State Security Service, among others to look into the matter, adding every material brought to every polling unit is either the chairman ballot paper is not there or report sheet is not there, including his polling unit. He called on the federal government to cancel the election.

Oko-Erin 

At Oko-Erin ward, Gaa Imam polling unit (014), the Presiding Officer, Salaudeen Asukuti, everything was going smoothly and there was no complaint of any kind.
Speaking shortly after casting her vote, Hajia Aminat Omodara said the election went on smoothly and very impressive adding that report sheet of the councilor and chairmanship were on ground
She said “I’m not going to disappoint my people and all the manifestos will be delivered. There is no any issue with me and my opponent. We don’t need to fight each other, the vote of our people will determine. To me the only party we have here is APC and if I emerged the position I will not neglect other party because we are one. I will focus more on education, security, health and all I have used to campaign”, she submitted.

Alanamu  

The APC women leader, Hajia Rahmat Oganija in polling 005 that everything was ok. She said the attributed the initial hitch to the non availability of the chairman report sheet which was later brought.

KWARA LG RESULTS
OFFA LG
APC – 29,166 (Unopposed)
APC won all 12 councillors

Asa LGA
Ogbondoroko/Reke Ward, Councillorship results
Councillorship:
APC 1, 897 – PDP. 139
Chairmanship:
APC 1, 860-PDP. 157
Awe 02
Councillorship:     APC 285     PDP 2,
Chairmanship:     APC 286     PDP 4
ALAPA/ONIRE/ODEGIWA WARD.
Chairmanship:
APC 946. –    PDP.401
Councillorship:     APC 930     PDP 421
APC 19, 454
PDP 5,627
APC cleared 17 councillors

Oyun LGA
Ilemona ward (001)
Chairmanship:     APC-343    – PDP-27,
Adinimodo(002)    APC-166    – PDP-69,
Isaoye(003)     APC-163    – PDP-0
Reke(004)    APC-24     –  PDP-6
Ajoko(005)    APC-252    – PDP-23
Court Area (006)    APC-301    – PDP-48
Total     APC    –    1249,
PDP    –    173
Ojoku Ward
Chairmanship
POLLING 001:     APC 387    – PDP 36
POLLING 002    APC 359    – PDP 40
POLLING 003:     APC 163     – PDP 37
POLLING 004:     APC 624     – PDP 62
P{OLLING 005:    APC 401. – PDP 95
POLLING 006:     APC 292    – PDP 8
POLLING 007:     APC 468    -PDP 12
APC 31,129 (Unopposed)
APC won 11 councillors seats

Ilorin South LG
Akanbi Ward 1
Chairmanship:    APC- 1310-  PDP 32
Councillorship     APC-1318 – PDP – 24
Akanbi Ward ll
Chairmanship    APC  1310 – PDP – 32
Councillorship  APC – 1318     PDP – 24
Balogun fulani (011)
COUNCILORSHIP    APC: 108    – PDP: 16
CHAIRMANSHIP:    APC:34    – PDP: 72
Ode Bilewu Badari 003
Chairmanship:     APC 137    – PDP 60.
Councillorship:    APC 142    –  PDP 63
APC 11,908
PDP 5,502
APC cleared 11 wards

Irepodun
Oro ward 1
Councillorship:     APC 1488 –  PDP 312
Chairmanship:     APC-1599 – PDP 288
Oro Ward II
POLLING 001:    APC 52    –   PDP 39,
POLLING 002:     APC 156     – PDP 53,
POLLING 003    APC 61     – PDP 52,
POLLING 004:     APC 61     – PDP 47,
Arandun Ward
Chairmanship    APC 2,070 – PDP 971
Councillorship    APC 2,080 -PDP 959
Agbamu Health Center 008
Chairmanship:     PDP 15    – APC 50
Councillorship:     PDP 14    – APC 52
APC – 23, 230
PDP – 6,497
APC won all 11 councillors

IFELODUN
Oke Ode1:    APC 877     –  PDP 255
Oke Ode2:    APC 2781- PDP 58
Oke Ode3:    APC 2307 – PDP 8
Igbaja 1        APC 2826- PDP 125
Igbaja 2        APC 2564- PDP 18
Igbaja 3        APC 2384- PDP 11
Idofian 1        APC 2842-PDP 28

Idofian 2        APC 4852-PDP 74
Omupo        APC 4101-PDP 508
Ora        APC 3222-PDP 13
Agunjin        APC 2839-PDP 21
Ile ire        APC 6357-PDP 1423

Oro Ago        APC 3814-DP 1158
Chairmanship: WARD BY WARD
Share 1     APC 3233 – PDP 279
Share 2    APC 3290 -PDP 867
Share 3    APC 3438 – PDP 12
Share 4    PC 4684     – PDP 1795
Share 5    APC1942 – PDP 641

Councillorship, WARD BY WARD
Share 1:          APC 3318 – PDP 314
Share 2:        APC 317    – PDP 957
Share 3:          APC 3526 – PDP 6
Share 4:          APC 2426 – PDP 767
Share 5          APC 1665 – PDP 963
APC – 58.369 (unopposed)
APC cleared 18 councillors

Moro LG
Maigida/Ipaye ward;
Chairmanship
Alagbo     APC 253    –   PDP 42
Oloworu     APC 651 –    PDP 01
Aberejo    APC 304    –   PDP 35
Agbaaku    APC 271    –   PDP 06
Baba Loke APC 612 –  PDP 12
Maigida     APC 665     –   PDP 12
Jehunkunu 001 Centre,
Councillorship: APC: 318    -PDP: 44
Chairmanship: APC: 332     -PDP:25
APC – 36,805
PDP – 3,744
APC won 16 councillors, Bode Sadu pending

Ilorin East
Magaji Are
Chairmanship     APC 206    –  PDP 57
Councillorship:     APC 211    –  PDP 60
Magaji Are 2
Chairmanship:     APC 206    –  PDP 57
Councillorship:     APC 211    –  PDP 60
Ode Ubandawaki, Zagon:
Chairmanship:      APC-117 –  PDP – 59
Counsellorship     APC – 114 – PDP – 59

Ekiti LG
Chairmanship
Isapa ward,     APC 2759 -PDP 105
Councilorship
Isapa Ward        APC 2752 – PDP 118
Chairmanship:APC: 20612 – PDP – 3205
Osi ward 1
Councilorship: APC 2,839    – PDP 36.
New post Office, Osi ward ll
Chairmanship     APC-365    –  PDP002
Councillorship     APC-364 – PDP-003
PU 005 Magistrate court, Osi Ward II
Chairmanship     APC 253    –  PDP 003
Councillorship     APC 253    –  PDP 003
APC 26, 410
PDP 10,513
APC won 10 ward, PDP won 2 (Ibagun and Zango)

Ilorin West
Federal Staff School:
Chairmanship:  APC 219,     PDP 53.
Councillorship: APC 218,     PDP 51
Akala Adeta PU013
Chairmanship APC 370     –  PDP 52
Councillorship     APC 240    –  PDP 30
Ojuekun Zarumi Ward, U 029
Councillorship:    APC 247    – PDP 71
Chairmanship:    APC 346    – PDP 74
Ode Elegede Eruda:
Chairmanship:     APC 290    – PDP 37
Councillorship:     APC 316    – PDP 39
Chairmanship:     APC:23230 -PDP: 6497
Ojuekun Zarumi Ward, U 029.
Councillorship:    APC 247    -PDP= 71
Chairmanship:    APC 346    -PDP = 74
APC 19,952
PDP 15,085
APC won 10 councillors, PDP won 2 (Oloje and Ogidi)

Oke-Ero
APC – 13,431
PDP – 3,865
APC won 7 councillors, PDP won 3

Kaiama
APC – 17,743
PDP – 3,686

Isin
APC – 12,552
PDP – 4,413
APC cleared all 11 councillors

Baruten
APC 26, 253
PDP 12,743
11 ward cleared by APC

Edu
APC 25,778 (unopposed)
APC won in 7 wards and PDP 1 (Lafiagi Ward 4), 2 wards pending

Patigi
APC 16,316
PDP 9,860
APC cleared all 12 wards