APC Finally Consolidates Its Position As The Ruling Party

The wind of change blowing across the country again resonated on Saturday in many states that the ruling PDP has governed since the return of civil rule in 1999.

Results monitored by LEADERSHIP indicated that Benue, Niger, Jigawa and Katsina States have fallen to the winning streak of APC, whose presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, won the March 28 presidential election against the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP.

In the governorship and house of assembly elections, a similar pattern of the "historic change" was seen in most of the states hitherto considered PDP strongholds...

Although final figures are still being compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), our correspondents reported that the APC was "progressively leading" in most of the polling units monitored.

In Niger State, the APC candidate, Abubakar Bello, was jubilant and excited members of the party were seen celebrating across the state's 25 local government areas.

In Benue, the successes of Senators Barnabas Gemade and George Akume in the National Assembly election also rubbed off on the APC candidate for the state, Samuel Ortom.

Ortom resigned from the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the state's number one job. He was maintaining a comfortable lead in 18 of the 23 local governments at press time.

At the Government House polling unit, Ortom scored 145 votes to beat his PDP opponent, Terhemen Tarzoor, who polled 119 votes.

Also at Annunne Market Square Polling Unit in Tarka local government area, the APC polled 324 votes to PDP's 14 votes.

However, Tarzoor is said to have polled a total of 152 votes at the Ankpa Ward Polling Unit, an area where he grew up, to Ortom's 150 votes.

Contrary to expectations that PDP's Jimi Agbaje backed by the non-natives of Lagos State will replace Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, the APC candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode is conveniently coasting home to victory.

Results from the polling units indicated that Agbaje scored higher in Igbo-dominated communities like Amuwo Odofin and Oshodi/Isolo, but he lost by win margins in most polling units of Lagos East Senatorial District and Alimosho which have the largest populations in the state. Ambode was said to be in firm control of at least 15 of the 20 local government areas of the state.

Plateau also surprisingly favoured APC from the unit-by-unit analysis.

In Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha also cast off the state-sponsored rigging of the presidential election against his party, the APC, in the state to launch into an early lead, ahead of closest rivals, Emeka Ihedioha (PDP) and Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho (APGA).

Also, Kaduna State, which had been ruled by PDP for 16 years, had Malam Nasir el-Rufai of the APC ahead of the incumbent governor, Mukhtar Yero, who hinted that things might not work his way.

Shortly after accreditation in Zaria, yesterday, Yero told his supporters and the entire people of state to accept the outcome of the election, whichever way it went.

Similarly, in Katsina, former speaker, House of Representatives and candidate of the APC, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari appeared to cut short the winning streak of the PDP in the state since 1999.

President-elect Buhari was in Katsina on Thursday to attend the final rally for APC's governorship and state House of Assembly candidates in Saturday's elections, and he pleaded with the people of his home state to vote for his party's candidates.

Jigawa has also returned to the APC fold with results indicating that a majority of the House of Assembly seats as well as that of the governor went to APC. The state was governed by the All Nigeria People Party (ANPP) before the PDP took it over in 2007.

A similar situation is also playing out in Kebbi State as the APC governorship candidate, Senator Atiku Bagudu, is coasting home to victory and leading the PDP candidate Gen Sarkin Yaki Bello, in most of the local government areas of the state.

Why My Wife Didn't Accompany Me To Vote – Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan went to polling unit 039, Ward 13 in Ogbia Constituency 3 yesterday without his wife, Dame Patience.

The development was the first time the couple would be the first time the couple would not be voting together since the return of democracy in 1999.

Jonathan had arrived at 1:50pm unaccompanied by Dame Patience. Jonathan explained her absence: "We used different aircraft. She was supposed to be here. And we've been expecting her and we hope she will still come. The only problem is whether she will meet up with the accreditation period. But, she is supposed to be on her way."

But the First Lady has not visited her husband's home since he lost in the March 28 presidential election.

This APC woman has emerged First Female governor in Nigeria

Change is the only constant thing in life, and APC was smart to adopt the word as its slogan. The wind of change blowing across the land has thrown up a huge surprise in Taraba State with the emergence of a lady as the next governor of the state. That person is Senator (Mrs.) Aisha Jummai.

Desmond Elliot Celebrates His Election into Lagos Assembly

Popular Nollywood star, Desmond Elliot has succeeded in his bid to become a legislature. The actor turned politician has secured a seat for himself in the Lagos State House of Assembly to represent the good people of Surulere constituency in Lagos State. Congrats to him and other winners!

I Will Accept My Defeat In Good Faith ─ PDP's Jimi Agbaje

The hand writing is clear on the wall and the Lagos State governorship candidate of the PDP, Jimi Agbaje, says he will accept defeat in good faith if he loses the election to the APC candidate.

Agbaje's major contender, Akinwunmi Ambode, is the governorship candidate of the ruling APC.

Reacting to the election in Lagos, Agbaje said, "There is no attitude about it when it comes to offering yourself to serve the people. If they say they prefer the other candidate, then you have to accept it in good faith. That is sportsmanship."

From results available to  hot9jagist.Com , Ambode is the next governor of Lagos.

* INEC is expected to announce the results officially on Sunday.

Obasanjo Has Delivered For APC Again

Don't dare your godfather if you are not strong enough, if you are just surrounded by weak politicians. Again, the APC won the governorship and House of Assembly elections at President Olusegun Obasanjo's polling station, Ward II Unit 22, Olusomi Compound in Totoro-Sokori area of Abeokuta.

The APC defeated the candidates of Peoples Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party and Unity Party of Nigeria, among others.

In the governorship election results, APC polled 95 votes, PDP 4, UPN 8, while SDP polled 11 votes.
In the House of Assembly race, APC polled 85 votes, PDP 8, while SDP polled 14 votes.

Obasanjo, who addressed journalists after his accreditation, lauded Nigerians for their doggedness and never-say-die attitude by making the democratic process to thrive in the country.

The former president, who was accredited in less than one minute and voted around 2.26pm, said Nigerians had done themselves proud.

He said, "I think Nigerians should be proud of their performance in this election. There were apprehensions and, understandably so, because of those who were beating the drums of war.

"But God took control and people who expected a big bang did not even get a whimper. We should all be proud of ourselves. We have done it for ourselves; we have done it for Africa. I believe we are gradually maturing in our democratic process."

Father Mbaka's Prophecy Of CHANGE Has Been Fulfilled

Popular Enugu-based Catholic priest, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka had predicted victory for the candidate of the APC in the presidential election, General Muhammadu Buhari.

In his New Year message he said Goodluck Jonathan would be defeated by Buhari.

In the words of Father Mbaka:
"President Jonathan has failed to stem the tide of insecurity and corruption in the country. In the year 2014, we had a lot of bloodshed in this country. People were dying like rats without anybody asking about them. This country suffered a lot of blood experience. Many of us witnessed that people were in tears. Just like the ancient world, the year 2014, the 4 in it had the queen in it, which had to do with death. Our leader's failed us with reckless abandon and nobody asked them question.

"We need change. Whatever it will be, let it be. This is my golden message to my beloved country.

"Ogini n'eme? (what actually is happening?). The multitude of our youths, the quality young men, quality young women, brilliants youths but nobody has plans for any of you. Our so-called leaders should come and apologize. In 2015, it shall not continue like that (everybody shouted AMEN).

"By the grace of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are announcing, spiritually, Change! 2015 should not be a year of any hooligan manoeuvring to hijack power. This is our New Year message. Listen, when you go home, tell anybody you see that from the oracle of the Holy Spirit, we are announcing change (AMEN). Can somebody help me to shout Change (shouts of Change by the congregation rented the air) in Jesus holy name... I seal this year with the blood of Jesus."

After this message, a lot of Nigerians reacted because the Priest has earlier prayed for Jonathan's wife.

At the end of it all, that Chnage has come. But will it deliver for Nigerians? Our hopes are high!