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Senate President advocates civic education against vote selling, vote buying

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3 years ago

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Senate President Ahmad Lawan
Senate President Ahmad Lawan
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The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has advocated the institution of civic education in school curriculum to highlight the evils in vote selling and vote buying at elections and discourage citizens from engaging in them.

Lawan made the remarks when a group known as Polling Unit Ambassadors of Nigeria paid him a visit at the National Assembly on Wednesday.

The leader of the group, Ambassador General Dabas Suleiman told the Senate President that his members were out to sensitize and discourage vote selling and vote buying at elections in the country.

He said they would register their presence in all the polling units across the country to guard against vote selling and vote buying during the forthcoming polls.

Responding, the Senate President said: “How I wish everybody can be an ambassador against vote buying or selling. To be a polling unit ambassador is something that you have decided because you think the present situation is not good enough.

“People sell their votes and people buy votes during elections. For those that sell, I think we need to enlighten them, educate them. That your vote is your liberty. That your vote is your freedom. Your vote is your education. Your vote is your health.

“In fact, your vote is your life in a democracy. And if you sell it, it is like you are mortgaging your education, your life because of pittance. So we need to educate those who sell their votes.

“Election environment is like a market because you cannot have a vote to sell if you don’t have a buyer. And the crime is evil. The vote buyer identifies those who are willing to sell and infact, left to me, I think the vote buyer is even more criminals than the vote sellers especially in Nigerian case because most people who sell their votes are voters who hardly understand the implications of what they are doing.

“Those who are enlightened hardly sell their votes and therefore people take advantage of those who are poor, who are not sufficiently educated or not educated at all, who live in rural areas and so on and so forth.

“In the 2022 Electoral Act that the National Assembly amended and signed by Mr President, vote buying and vote selling are punishable. And we have made the sanction very stiff because we have to discourage people from selling their votes or people from buying votes.

“But I also believe that we don’t have to wait until somebody buys vote or sells vote and then you prosecute such person. We need to educate people right from, maybe primary school. Where is our Civic education. Citizens should grow up to know that vote buying or vote selling is criminal.

“We need to work on both fronts. While we arrest and prosecute those that are involved in vote buying and selling, we should also ensure education like you are doing now, going round to say this is bad, this is wrong.

“But we should institute it in our curriculum so that right from childhood, primary school, secondary school, people know that once you reach voting age, that your vote can make a difference in your life and don’t joke with it.

“So we have to do a lot more in terms of how we deal with the situation because stopping it at the polling station is like you are waiting for something to happen and therefore, at that point, you are simply reacting.

“But if we start educating our youths, our children right from basic education, it is like everybody will turn to a polling unit ambassador because everybody would have known the disadvantage of selling votes or the evil of buying votes.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Biodun Olujimi Joins Ekiti South APC Senatorial Race, Picks Nomination Form

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16 hours ago

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April 29, 2026

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A fresh political contest is brewing in Ekiti South Senatorial District as former lawmaker Biodun Olujimi has officially picked up the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination form, signaling a major shift in the district’s political landscape.

 

 

Olujimi, who represented Ekiti South in the 9th Senate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the APC in 2025.

 

Her decision to now seek the party’s senatorial ticket sets the stage for a high-stakes intra-party battle ahead of the next general election.

 

The race within the APC is shaping up to be fiercely competitive, as Olujimi will contend with incumbent senator and Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu, who is seeking to retain his seat.

 

Also in the contest is former member of the House of Representatives, Bamidele Faparusi, who has likewise obtained the party’s nomination form.

 

 

Political observers say Olujimi’s entry into the race could significantly alter the dynamics within the APC in Ekiti South, given her political experience, grassroots network, and previous electoral success in the district.

 

Her defection from the PDP to the ruling APC had earlier generated discussions across the state, and her latest move is expected to intensify permutations within the party.

 

 

The contest is likely to test the internal cohesion of the APC in Ekiti State, as party leaders weigh the strengths of the aspirants ahead of the primaries.

 

Analysts also note that the emergence of a strong candidate could play a crucial role in determining the party’s chances of retaining the senatorial seat in the next election cycle.

 

 

With three prominent political figures now in the race, the APC primary in Ekiti South is expected to be closely watched, as it may redefine alliances and influence the broader political direction of the district.

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FG Declares May 1 Public Holiday for Workers’ Day

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16 hours ago

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April 29, 2026

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The Federal Government has declared Friday, May 1, 2026, a public holiday to commemorate this year’s International Workers’ Day.

 

 

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement on behalf of the government, congratulating Nigerian workers on the occasion.

 

 

In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani, on April 29, 2026, the minister praised workers across the country for their hard work and dedication to national development.

 

 

He noted that the contributions of Nigerian workers remain vital to the nation’s growth and prosperity, urging them to continue to uphold the values of patriotism, productivity, and commitment to duty.

 

 

The statement read, “The Federal Government has declared Friday, 1st May 2026, a public holiday to celebrate this year’s International Workers Day.

 

 

“The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced this on behalf of the Federal Government. He congratulated workers across the country on this year’s celebration. The Minister commended Nigerian workers for their hard work and dedication to national development. He noted that their efforts are essential for the nation’s growth and prosperity.”

 

 

Tunji-Ojo also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and security, as well as creating a conducive environment for economic growth.

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Court Warns Defendants in Ode-Irele Chieftaincy Dispute to Obey Judgment or Face Jail

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17 hours ago

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April 29, 2026

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A High Court sitting in Okitipupa, Ondo State, has issued a stern warning to parties involved in the ongoing chieftaincy dispute in Ode-Irele, directing them to comply with its earlier judgment or risk imprisonment.

 

The court specifically ordered Adeniyi Olanrewaju Ayeromora and other defendants to adhere to its ruling delivered on August 2, 2022. The judgment had restrained them from parading themselves as regent or initiating any new selection process for the Olofun of Irele stool.

 

In a notice outlining the consequences of disobedience, the court cautioned that failure to comply could result in contempt proceedings and possible committal to prison.

 

The directive was also extended to key government officials, including the Attorney General of Ondo State and relevant local government authorities. The court warned them against recognizing or supporting any actions that contradict its ruling.

 

Meanwhile, the court has issued a separate Form 49 notice summoning several defendants to appear and show cause why they should not be jailed for allegedly continuing to violate the subsisting court order.

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