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CBN adds 7,552 BVN to watchlist as eNaira transactions reach 1.4m

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has placed 7,552 Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) on its watchlist in case they are used in fraudulent transactions. This comes at the same time as the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), also known as eNaira, has recorded 1.4 million transactions to date, which represents an increase of 100 percent compared to the 700,000 transactions that were recorded in November 2022.

In a similar vein, Nigeria is transitioning towards cashless and other contactless payment options, such as QR Codes and NFC, amongst others, for the purpose of facilitating seamless financial transactions throughout the country.

Yesterday, in Calabar, Cross River State, at the 34th Finance Correspondents and Business Editors seminar, the topic of discussion was “Implementing a Robust Payment Architecture Prospects, Opportunities, and Challenges.” The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, stated that the Nigeria payment system landscape has continued to record significant changes and development.

Emefiele, who was represented by Dr. Hassan Mahmud, the director of Monetary Policy, stated that since the launch of eNaira, the central bank has continued to modify the features of the digital currency in order to make it more accessible to a wider variety of users.

“In today’s day and age, one does not require a smartphone in order to use the eNaira because it has become compatible with all generations of mobile devices (both new and old).” Over 1.4 million transactions have been completed using the eNaira platform to this day,” he added.

He emphasised that the apex bank took advantage of the opportunity by launching the eNaira in October 2021, saying that the introduction of COVID-19 without a doubt triggered rapid advancements in financial technology, leading to speedy digitisation of money and finance. He said this was the case.
It was noted by him that the eNaira was developed to expand the payment options available to Nigerians and to foster digital financial inclusion. Additionally, it has the potential to speed up both intergovernmental and social transfers.

Read Also: NCC Awards N1.1bn Contract To LAUTECH For Virtual Examination Centre

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also disclosed that the total enrolment of BVN users as of March 31, 2023 stood at 57.43 million. He added that the BVN has also assisted the industry in investigating fraud and other crimes associated with the sector.

“The BVN is providing assistance in the creation of credit profiles for banking customers, which will assist in the improvement of access to credit for credit-worthy borrowers provided by financial institutions. The BVN has continued to play an important role in our Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements as a component of our plans to alleviate the burden associated with improper identification of banking customers. He was quick to point out that “we have continued to support the aggressive enrolment of prospective banking customers in the informal sector onto the BVN system.”

Emefiele made note of the fact that cyber threats and the fraudulent activities of fraudsters continue to threaten the resiliency of payment platforms, and that the confidence of the general public is negatively impacted as a result of these activities. He revealed that there is a concerted effort being made by the Central Bank of Nigeria and other players in the industry to put a stop to the nefarious activities that are being carried out by these fraudsters.

According to him, “in response to the challenges posed by cyber threats, the CBN is addressing these hiccups with the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF), the payment card industry data security standard, the financial industry cybersecurity fusion centre, and other initiatives against cybersecurity and fraud in Nigeria.”

He stated that in order to achieve minimal cybersecurity threats in the payments system, the bank will also continue to adopt a collaborative approach and then made the following promise: “a holistic mechanism for addressing cybersecurity threats requires policy and operational actions by all stakeholders.”

“As you are aware, the Bank will be implementing a Risk-Based Cyber-Security Framework and Guidelines for Other Financial Institutions beginning January 2023. This will ensure that these institutions are able to maintain their operational resilience in the face of cyber-security threats.

In his paper, the director of Payment Systems Management at the CBN, Musa Jimoh, who was represented by the deputy director of Payment Systems, Adefuye Adeyemi, revealed that there are 7,552 people on the BVN watchlist for fraudulently related transactions.

According to him, the CBN is now able to track fraudulent individuals and entities thanks to the centralisation of the BVN. These individuals and entities are said to have engaged in fraudulent activities such as forgery, compromise, complicity, fraudulent duplicate enrolment, and any other fraudulent infraction with or without a monetary value.

Speaking further on the cardless and other contactless payment options, he said that the banking industry is quickly evolving towards cardless and other contactless payment options, and he added that the regulator has issued robust regulations to standardise the operations of contactless payments in Nigeria. He was referring to the fact that the cardless and other contactless payment options are becoming increasingly popular.

It is an innovative payment option for the safe and efficient conduct of low-value, large-volume payments, as he pointed out, and contactless payments allow for financial transactions to be completed without the need for any physical contact between the payer and the devices that are acquiring the payments.

He emphasised that this, in addition to other payment initiatives, has helped open a vista of new opportunities in the payment ecosystem. He said that as a result of these ground-breaking technological advancements, the market has witnessed the deployment of new payment solutions.

“Artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and contactless payment systems are just a few of the areas that are creating new opportunities for operators. He emphasised that the Payments System Vision (PSV) 2025 contains several recommendations that are aimed at driving implementation of some of the most recent technologies to ensure the system’s resilience and safety. This document was just recently launched.

He emphasised that the Nigerian payments and financial services sector is ranked among the best in terms of innovation, regulation, and resilience. He also noted that in order to maintain the successes that have been achieved, it is essential to have the support of all of the financial institutions and stakeholders.

In this regard, he stated that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is prepared to continue to strengthen the institutional and regulatory frameworks that would encourage further development of the payments system and promote the usage of secure and credible electronic products in accordance with the PSV 2025 strategic plan.

May 3, 2023
Olubadan calls for interim government undemocratic

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, has taken a swipe at those who are advocating for an interim national government less than a month before the inauguration of the president-elect. Tinubu is the son of Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II.

Oba Balogun made these remarks at his home in Alarere, Ibadan, yesterday, during a visit from members of the Amalgamated APC Support Groups (AASG) in the South-West. The purpose of the visit was to bring to a close the city-round rally that had been organised by the group in response to those who advocated for an interim government.

Read Also: NCC Awards N1.1bn Contract To LAUTECH For Virtual Examination Centre

He called the calls undemocratic and irritating, and he wondered why certain individuals in the opposition camp would call for the nullification of an election that had been successfully carried out by the nation’s electoral body. He described the calls as being undemocratic and irritating.

Since the Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) announced that Tinubu had won the Presidential election that was held on February 25th of this year, there have been calls from the opposition camp for the election to be cancelled, and they have insisted on the formation of an interim National Government. The election was held on February 25th of this year.

May 3, 2023
NCC Awards N1.1bn Contract To LAUTECH For Virtual Examination Centre

The Nigerian Communications Commision (NCC) has given Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, Iseyin Campus a contract worth N1.1 billion to build a Virtual Examination Centre with 250 seats. The centre will be located on the Ogbomoso campus.

This was due to the fact that the commision is getting ready to present the N1 billion IT hub that it built at the University of Ibadan in Ibadan before the end of May, 2023.

In a letter that was sent to the Vice Chancellor of LAUTECH by the NCC to signal the beginning of the construction, the information regarding the awarding of the contract for the construction of the virtual examination centre with 250 seats was included.

Read Also: FG addresses on refusing to evacuate Igbos in Sudan

The centre that is going to be built will have the following components: a building infrastructure that can house 250 workstations (one unit), 250 computers and furniture (250 personal computers as well as 250 computer desks and chairs), and a server infrastructure (one unit).

Additional features include one each of a printer and a scanner, power peripherals, air conditioners (9 Unit ACs), a 200KVA generating set (one unit), VSAT equipment (one unit), local area networks (LAN), and a bandwidth subscription for one year for internet access.
It is anticipated that the building will be finished in six to nine months’ time.

May 3, 2023
Zenith Bank pleases shareholders by paying N100.47bn dividend

Shareholders of Zenith Bank Plc have voted unanimously in favour of the company’s proposal to pay a final dividend of NGN2.90 per share. As a result, the total dividend for the fiscal year 2022 will amount to NGN3.20 per share, with a total value of NGN100.47 billion.

At the Bank’s 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM), which took place yesterday virtually in Lagos, approval was given for the payment of dividends.

Jim Ovia, the founder and chairman of the bank, expressed his gratitude to the shareholders for their unwavering loyalty, commitment, and support, all of which have been essential in the bank’s outstanding performance ever since it was established. This expression of gratitude was made during the opening statement of the annual general meeting (AGM).

Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, group managing director and chief executive, paid tribute to the bank’s founder and chairman, praising them for laying the foundation for the institution’s legacy and laying the groundwork for its ongoing superior performance.

In addition to this, he emphasised the Board of Directors’ and Management’s determination to keep the bank on its current growth trajectory in the years to come, with a particular focus on retail and digital banking.

Also speaking was Dr. Faruk Umar, president of the Association of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), who complimented the Board of Directors and Management of Zenith Bank for consistently delivering value to shareholders despite the challenging economic environment. In addition, he lauded the employees of the bank for their steadfastness and commitment.
In a similar vein, Chief Timothy Adesiyan, president of the Shareholders Solidarity Association of Nigeria, expressed delight at the dividend payout and thanked the Board of Directors and Management for the outstanding performance that led to the approval of both an interim and final dividend during the course of the year. This is in the same vein as the previous sentence.

Also speaking was the national coordinator of the Esteemed Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Adenike David. She extended her congratulations to both the bank and the Chairman on their performance, which was demonstrated by the numerous awards they received during the 2022 fiscal year. Additionally, she lauded the financial institution for its payment of an interim dividend in the amount of 30 kobo and a final dividend in the amount of 2.90 kobo.
In spite of difficult macroeconomic conditions, Zenith Bank Group was able to increase its gross earnings by 24 percent, from NGN765.6 billion in the previous year to NGN945.5 billion in 2022. This represents an increase from the previous year’s figure of NGN765.6 billion. This was primarily due to a growth in non-interest income of 23 percent year over year and a growth in interest income of 26 percent year over year. The trust placed in the bank by its customers is reflected in the growth of the bank’s customer deposits, which increased by 39%. The elevated yield environment had a positive impact, causing the Net-Interest-Margin (NIM) to increase from 6.7 percent to 7.2 percent. Although they increased by 17% year over year, operating expenses are still lower than the rate of inflation. The growth in deposits from customers was the primary contributor to the 30% increase in total assets.

In 2023, Zenith Bank Group intends to broaden its scope of operations and reorganise into a holding company structure. Additionally, the company intends to add new verticals to its businesses and pursue growth in all selected markets, both domestically and internationally.

Read Also: Adeyeye warns that Indomie Instant Noodles ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ not approved by NAFDAC

The track record of excellent performances that Zenith Bank has maintained has continued to earn the brand numerous awards. These awards include being recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital, for the 13th consecutive year, in the 2022 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking published by The Banker Magazine; Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020 and 2022; Best Bank in Nigeria, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, in the Global Finance Awards. World’s Best Banks Awards; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria 2021 and 2022 in the World Finance Banking Awards; Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards 2022; Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, by the Ethical Boardroom; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation In Retail Banking, Nigeria in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards; and Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria in the World’s Best Banks Awards. In addition to this, the bank was awarded the title of Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria by Banker Magazine’s Top 500 Banking Brands for both 2020 and 2021. Furthermore, the bank was named Retail Bank of the Year by BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards for three years in a row, beginning in 2020 and continuing until 2022. In a similar vein, Zenith Bank was recognised as Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020, Most Innovative Bank of the Year 2019 by Tribune Newspaper, Bank of the Year 2020 by Independent Newspaper, Bank of the Year 2021 by Champion Newspaper, Bank of the Year 2022 by New Telegraph Newspaper, and Most Responsible Organisation in Africa 2021 by SERAS Awards. In addition, Zenith Bank was awarded the title of Most Responsible Organisation in Africa 2021 by SERAS Awards.

May 3, 2023
FG addresses on refusing to evacuate Igbos in Sudan

The Federal Government has refuted allegations that the Nigerian Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, refused to evacuate Igbo residents.

In a viral video, a Nigerian claimed that Igbos were asked to exit the plane so that Nigerians of other ethnicities could board and be evacuated.

However, Mrs. Francisca Omayuli, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the allegation had been investigated and that the report was false.

Omayuli urged the public to disregard the allegation, noting that Igbos were among the first 637 Nigerians evacuated to Egypt’s Aswan Border.

Read Also: ‘Okay Daddy’: I spoke with Oyedepo, but never said election is religious war — Peter Obi

She stated that they are currently awaiting their return to Nigeria.

Omayuli stated that, despite scuffles between students and other Nigerian residents due to a lack of buses, the issue had been resolved.

“More buses have been made available to accommodate every Nigerian national in Sudan who has expressed a desire to be evacuated.”

“It is, therefore, surprising that such a misleading allegation could be levelled against Embassy officials who had worked tirelessly on the evacuation exercise,” she added.

May 3, 2023
Adeyeye warns that Indomie Instant Noodles ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ not approved by NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning that the implicated Indomie Instant Noodles ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ is not registered for sale in Nigeria by NAFDAC.

Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC, made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Adeyeye recalled that the Ministries of Health in Malaysia and Taiwan had banned Indomie Instant Noodles ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ due to the alleged presence of ethylene oxide, a compound linked to an increased risk of cancer.

As a result, she warned the general public that the product had not yet been registered by NAFDAC.

“The Management of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is aware of the recalls of Indomie Instant Noodles ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ by Malaysian and Taiwanese Ministries of Health due to the alleged presence of ethylene oxide, a compound associated with an increased risk of cancer,” she said.

“NAFDAC, as a responsible and responsive regulator, is moving quickly to conduct random sampling and analysis of Indomie noodles (including seasoning) for the presence of ethylene oxide, as well as expanding the investigation to other brands of instant noodles sold in Nigeria.”

Read Also: EFCC detains 13 suspected ‘Yahoo boys’ in Enugu

“We use this medium to reassure the public that thorough investigations of the products will be conducted at both the factory and market levels, and our findings will be communicated.”

“The public is also hereby informed that the implicated Indomie Instant Noodles ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ is not registered for sale in Nigeria by NAFDAC,” she added. It is important to note that noodles are on the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Import Prohibition List and thus are not permitted for importation into Nigeria.

“Furthermore, the Indomie instant noodles (and other brands of noodles) registered by NAFDAC for sale in the Nigerian market are manufactured in Nigeria and are only granted NAFDAC registration status after passing a stringent regulatory regime covering all aspects of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).” The Ports Inspection Directorate (PID) is also on high alert to prevent the implicated product from being imported into Nigeria.

“NAFDAC wishes to reassure the public that the Agency is proactive and committed to its responsibilities of protecting the public’s health.”

May 2, 2023
EFCC detains 13 suspected ‘Yahoo boys’ in Enugu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is responsible for the arrest of eighteen individuals in Enugu State who are suspected of committing internet fraud.

According to a statement that was released on Tuesday by the spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, they were gathered from various locations across the state.

Chigozie Philips, the founder of Holy Family School in Abakpa, where he is said to train future cybercriminals, was one of the suspects.
During a sting operation that took place on Monday, thirteen of Phillips’s proteges were taken into custody.
Joacin Kelvin, Kelechi Ibe, Chinonso James, Udeh Isaiah, Michael Chukwuemeka, Kingsley Okorie, Henry Chidiebere, Elochukwu Chukwueka Michael, and Nelson Nnaji are their names. Other members of the group include Kelechi Ibe, Chinonso James, and Udeh Isaiah.

Read Also: Due to Tinubu’s visit, Wike declares public holiday

Desmond James, Ozoma Chinonso Anthony, Uchenna Aka, Ozor Celestine, Ifeanyi Ozor Bright, Etuma John, Okafor Chukwuemeka, and Raymond Chinaza are some of the other people who have been mentioned.

Uwujaren revealed that among the items that were recovered from the suspects were twenty mobile phones and two laptops.

“The suspects have made useful statements, and they will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded,” he added.

May 2, 2023
Due to Tinubu’s visit, Wike declares public holiday

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has announced that May 3 will be a holiday throughout the state.

The holiday is being observed so that residents of the state can give a warm welcome to President-elect Bola Tinubu, who will be spending the next two days in the state to commission various projects.

Wednesday, May 3 and Thursday, May 4 will be the days that Tinubu is present in the state.

When the President-Elect was campaigning for votes in the state prior to the most recent election, the Governor of the state made a promise to invite Tinubu to his state to commission projects. He kept his promise.

During a statewide broadcast on May 2, he stated that a formal invitation had been sent to the President-elect after the general elections, and that the President-elect had agreed to honor the invitation.

On the first day of the visit, the governor issued an order that required the closure of all stores and places of business along Rumuola to Rumuokwuta roads in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state. The order was in effect from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

He strongly encouraged all security agencies and labor unions to act in accordance with the order.

Additionally, he urged everyone in the state to congregate in large numbers in order to properly welcome the guest.

According to what has been reported, the holiday falls one day after the May 1 Workers’ Day holiday that was declared by the Federal Government.

Later on in the month, we will be celebrating two holidays that are very similar to one another: Children’s Day on May 27 and the President’s Inauguration Day on May 29.

Read Also: APC boss reveals how Amaechi, Giadom conspired against Tinubu

It has been reported that Tinubu will pay a visit to the state of Rivers for the first time in response to an invitation after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on March 1 declared him the winner of the presidential election that took place on February 25.

During his time in Port Harcourt, he will officially open both the ultra-modern Magistrates Court Complex as well as the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover.

Wike had extended invitations to political heavyweights such as President Muhammadu Buhari (who was represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami), the presidential candidate for the Labour Party in the most recent election, Peter Obi, the former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, and the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, amongst others, in order to commission various projects.

In October 2022, President Buhari presented Governor Wike with a national award for infrastructural development in Rivers State. Wike will step down from his position on May 29.

May 2, 2023
‘Okay Daddy’: I spoke with Oyedepo, but never said election is religious war — Peter Obi

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party, LP, has confirmed that he spoke on the phone with David Oyedepo, the founder of Winners Chapel; however, Obi claims that he never referred to the 2023 election as a “religious war.”

On Monday, Obi made this statement while discussing the issue on Arise Television. He said that he called the cleric in an effort to solicit votes.

You may remember that in April, there was a leak of an audio conversation that took place between Obi and Oyedepo.
After the video was made public, Obi claimed that the audio had been altered and stated that at no point in time did he “ever say, think, or even imply that the 2023 election is, or was a religious war.” Obi also stated that the clip had been doctored.

“Call it whatever you want to call it,” Obi said. “I don’t care.” Whatever interpretation one may choose to put on it. I do not adhere to the bigotry of any religion. Do you think it would be possible for me to just pick up the phone and say the words “religious war”? Obi responded by saying, “No, I was even begging the bishop to help me ask his people to vote, and this is what I had been doing for the previous six months: begging.”

“When I said ‘force it,’ ‘catch him,’ and ‘kill him,’ that’s not what I meant. I was even begging. This demonstrates that I did not stop begging for votes throughout the campaign. There were a lot of things that we attempted to do, but they were all inappropriate.

“Let me tell you; those who have been attempting to manipulate Nigerians have been doing it,” the man said. “Let me tell you what happened. But everything is about to come to an end. The people that they have been manipulating are starving to death as a result of their actions.

They will soon discover who among them is a bigot because of their religious or tribal beliefs. I am not like that. You have just been provided with an illustration of how I constructed mosques. To this day, there has not been a non-Muslim governor who has sent more pilgrims to Mecca than I have.

Read Also: APC boss reveals how Amaechi, Giadom conspired against Tinubu

I will never assert that this election is a religious conflict. Because that is not the case. There was a talk that took place. But I never implied that it was a conflict based on religious beliefs. To what end? I cannot escape the crowd that is surrounding me.Me and Datti are the closest thing there is to a “brotherly” relationship between a presidential candidate and his deputy running for the same office. And yes, I am aware, and we never get tired of discussing it.

“This is a first in the annals of Nigerian politics; we have a presidential candidate, a running mate, and the party chairman who were all born after Nigeria gained its independence.

“It is imperative that we save this country, and he (Datti) is aware of my dedication to this cause. Because of the ongoing religious conflict, I am unable to complete all of these.

May 2, 2023
Police arrest of REC suspended in Adamawa

Hudu Ari, the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, was taken into custody by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) after his behavior during the governorship supplementary election in the state prompted the suspension of his position.

It was reported that Ari was suspended by INEC after he made an illegal declaration of victory in the Adamawa State governorship election on April 16 in favor of the candidate for governorship put forward by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aishatu Dahiru Binani.

The controversial REC made the announcement while the tallying of votes was still in progress, with incumbent governor and candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ahmadu Fintiri leading in the number of votes counted.

It was stated that the Electoral Act (2022) only granted authority to the Returning Officer for the election rather than the REC to declare the winner of an election.

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It was confirmed in a statement that was made public on Tuesday, May 2, and signed by the spokesperson for the Force, Muyiwa Adejobi, that Ari is currently being held in custody by the police.

According to Adejobi, the Police Election Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Team in Abuja detained Ari. This information was obtained from Adejobi.

The suspended REC is currently being questioned as part of efforts to determine the reasons behind his actions during the supplementary elections in Adamawa State. These efforts are part of a larger effort to determine the motivations behind his actions.

According to the statement, the team is currently conducting investigations into other officials and individuals who are believed to be involved in the scandal.

The commitment of the Inspector-General to investigate and prosecute every individual involved in the incident and indicted in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution was reaffirmed by a spokesperson for the Police Department.

Adejobi gave his word that everyone who was found to have been involved in the scandal would be held accountable in the end.

During this time, The ICIR reported that the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) said he conducted himself in accordance with the provisions of the law during the supplementary election that took place on April 15 in Adamawa.

In a letter that he sent to the Inspector General of Police, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Ari made this proclamation.

He explained that the purpose of his participation in the contentious declaration of the results of the governorship election was to avert the imminent threat that was posed by the delay in announcing the results of the election.

According to Ari, “The results brought by the presiding officers from the 69 polling units, which he did not sign, differed from those uploaded on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.” The IReV portal is where election results can be viewed online.

He also claimed that contesting candidates had threatened him, and that police officers from the Government House had surrounded his residential home.

Read Also: In Nasarawa, gunmen kidnap ex-NULGE chairman, two others

“It was on the basis of this that I compiled all the results from the polling units, and I announced the winner of the election based on the candidate from the APC who received the highest number of valid votes overall.

“I had the breakdown of the valid votes scored by the two leading candidates in the supplementary election,” Ari continued. “Using the results from the polling units as collated into all relevant forms EC8B, C, D, and E respectively by properly and legally appointed and recognized collation officers and my humble self as the Adamawa State Chief Collation Officer and Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC),” he explained. “I had the breakdown of the valid votes scored by the two leading candidates in the supplementary election.”

May 2, 2023