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APC, Uba Indicting Buhari By Rejecting Poll Results – Carl Umegboro
Anambra governorship election has come and gone. As expected, a winner and losers emerged. Prof CharlesSoludo of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) polled a total of 112,229 votes to emerge a winner.
Other frontline contestants are Valentine Ozoigbo of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 53,807 votes; Andy Uba of All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 43,285 while the fourth position went to Ifeanyi Ubah of Young Progressives Party (YPP) with 21,261 votes.
By geographical spread, APGA captured 19 out of 21 local government areas while PDP and YPP captured one LGA each. APC ended up as a floating party in Anambra with no LGA to perch or lay claim to as it didn’t win any.
Having met the requirement vis-à-vis the 1999 Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria as amended and the Electoral Act, the Returning Officer for the poll, Professor Florence Obi; Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar returned APGA’s candidate. Prof Soludo as ‘elected by Anambra people’.
However, one striking development that may not be forgotten easily that characterized the 2021 Anambra governorship poll is the massive number – 230,201 votes APC candidate, Andy Uba reportedly ‘polled’ during the party’s primary to defeat other aspirants.
At the APC primary, record showed that a total of 348,490 Anambra-APC members converged and voted for respective aspirants. But at the governorship poll, total votes cast from the 21 local government areas in the state were 249,631 while total accredited voters were 253,388.
A chieftain of the party from state, Dr. Chris Ngige (Minister of Labour & Employment) raised alarm that the primary election was a scam, but Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State who was the chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee for the state insisted it held and produced the result. By the poll results, it then implies that the number of APC members from Anambra that ‘congregated and nominated’ Andy Uba as the party’s flagbearer outnumbered the total number of all the voters dg the governorship election. Maybe, explanations on their whereabouts during the election would suffice.
So, Governor Abiodun and Andy Uba should explain.
Now, after the election, while all other contestants have described it as credible and transparent, APC rejected the results claiming the party was rigged out by APGA that has no power over the umpire.
On account of the allegations, APC didn’t show up to sign the result sheet accordingly after the supplementary poll at Ihiala LGA which was rescheduled by the Commission over alleged security threat.
The Anambra APC forgot that President Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly vowed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under his watch must give Nigerians free, fair and transparent elections, and assured that no one would interfere with the sacred mandates of the people.
During the Edo election, the Presidency’s neutrality manifested clearly and President Buhari was extolled as a statesman.
On Ihiala supplementary poll, believably, some INEC officials in connivance with some politicians attempted to play out a script by deliberately reserving Ihiala local government area for a separate election after testing other LGAs.
Possibly, the plotters had expected that the frontliners’ scores would be close so that a barbaric politics would be deployed at the reserved battle ground. Unfortunately, APGA had a very wide margin that couldn’t easily be maneuvered by any means.
With APGA’s margin and geographical spread, it became difficult to frustrate the mandate of the people through any form of electoral malpractices.
Although, whatever intrigues, conspiracy or schemes eventually didn’t succeed in Anambra, repetition in future elections is unacceptable.
Instructively, an election can only be rescheduled with a credible reason, and not rescheduling part of a poll meant to take place concurrently to a later date using veto power after announcing some results.
Had it been the machines malfunctioned, it would be a genuine reason for not conducting the election in some polling units, but not for a whole town let alone an LGA. To reserve an entire LGA, as non-violent and peaceful as Ihiala LGA suggests some attempted foul plays. In Anambra state, there are towns that could be said to have such a peculiarity like Onitsha, Aguleri, Umuleri and some part of Awka, but not Ihiala town or towns that make up the Ihiala LGA.
The danger if INEC had concluded the poll looking at the APGA’s wide margin and geographical spread without rescheduling a poll for Ihiala LGA is that a desperate candidate may tryout Hope Uzodinma’s style in Imo State and claim at the tribunal that the omitted LGA was his votes.
With the Supreme Court’s precedent set in Uzodinma’s case, who knows, through technicalities, the court may calculate the figures and add to the claimant’s votes as prayed which was witnessed in 2020. So, INEC must ensure that it doesn’t submit to biddings of desperate politicians in discharging its duties.
Recall that similar political intrigue from the center was adopted to frustrate the inauguration of a people-oriented project; Anambra International Cargo Airport constructed in less than two years by the outgoing Chief Willie Obiano-led administration.
The undue influence and blackmails by officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that acted the ugly scripts for some Anambra politicians leaves much to be desired of a federal government agency.
A government and political party that delivers dividends of democracy to the people must be applauded and cheered irrespective of party affiliations, and not to use federal might to make mockery of the great feats.
So, the NCAA still owes explanations on why it aborted the joy of Anambra people by frustrating the inauguration of the airport.
Back to the alleged irregularities as claimed by APC, though the claims can be contested at the Election Tribunal perhaps to try out technicalities, but it is absurd that APC; Buhari’s party is the only political party rejecting the result thereby, unconsciously ridiculing Mr. President’s resolve to entrench credible elections in his tenure and beyond.
Meanwhile, President Buhari has remarkably, congratulated Prof Soludo on his victory and described the election as successful and credible.Sensibly, Buhari’s party should celebrate a credible election as a credit point, and not to resort to mischiefs for selfish interests.
Of course, if there are irregularities, aggrieved parties should seek redress to set the record straight, but where none exists, it should be celebrated particularly by APC as a credit to Buhari’s administration.
Umegboro, ACIArb, is a public affairs analyst and social crusader.
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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”
He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”
Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.
He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.
“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”
The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.
He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”
“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”
Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.
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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency
The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.
In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.
Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote
Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.
The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.
‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.
President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded
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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience
Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.
The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.
In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.
He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”
The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.
Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.
“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”
Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.
“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”
The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.
By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.
The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.
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