Ahead of the 2023 elections, a Labour Party’s women leader in Kaduna State, Mrs Victoria Chintex, has been shot dead by gunmen.
According to report, the assassins invaded her house on Monday night and shot her fatally.
Her husband was, however, made a lucky escape with gunshot injuries particularly on his legs.
Until her death, Chintex was the LP women leader in Kaura area of the state.
Confirming the incident, the Publicity Secretary of Labour Party, Zone 3, of the state, Mr Edward Simon Buju, described the late Chintex as an industrious, hardworking and dedicated woman.
Grief-stricken Buju noted that she died at a time the party and the country needed her most.
He called on the people of Kaura Local Government and party members to remain calm and be law abiding, while urging the police to investigate the murder and bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said that the attacks on its offices in some parts of the country won’t deter it from holding the 2023 general elections.
Yakubu said this on Tuesday in Abeokuta during an assessment tour of its office recently attacked and set on fire by hoodlums and described the arsonists as “undemocratic and retrogressive elements.”
NAN reports that arsonists had on Nov. 10, set fire to the commission’s office at Iyana Mortuary, Abeokuta South Local Government Area, and destroyed over 65,000 uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The INEC chairman said that the commission would not be cowed by activities of the arsonists, saying five facilities have been attacked nationwide in the last four months.
He said that efforts to replace the materials lost to the inferno were already being made by the commission.
“The purpose of our visit to this office is to further assess the extent of damage and to meet our own staff, particularly in the place where they have relocated to in Oke-Ilewo, to boost their morale.
“And to assure the people of Abeokuta South that in spite of this unfortunate incident, elections will hold in the local government in 2023.
“Whatever materials we have lost, the commission is making efforts to replace the materials.
“We lost 65,699 PVCs, but we want to assure all those that have not collected their PVCs who may have been affected that we are making plans to reprint the PVCs quickly and to bring them back to Abeokuta south for people to collect and vote.
“We want to assure the people that this incident, terrible as it is, will not deter and will not discourage us; will not discourage our staff from conducting the 2023 general elections.
“We want to once again assure the people of Abeokuta South, the people of Ogun State and the people of Nigeria that the commission is determined to make the 2023 elections our best ever.
“We will not be deterred and not cowed by acts of arson by undemocratic and retrogressive elements,” he said.
The INEC chairman said that as soon the commission received the total number of Voters Identification Numbers from the state office of PVCs lost in the fire, it would reprint.
He further said that it doesn’t take longer than two days to print 65,000 PVCs.
Yakubu also assured Nigerians that INEC was determined to make the 2023 elections the best ever.
In another development, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has informed that the decision on the presidential candidate to vote in the 2023 general election in the State will soon be made known.
He said when the decision will be taken, Rivers electorate, who have enjoyed good governance under his watch and already desirous to reciprocate the gesture, will be told which presidential candidate to vote.
Governor Wike made the position known while inaugurating the Rukpokwu-Rumuapu-Izo-Ogbodo Igwuruta Link Road, which took place in Rumuapu community in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area on Tuesday.
The governor said, for what his administration has done in terms of performance and provision of critical infrastructure, Rivers people are already home with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He then charged the electorate to cast their votes only for PDP gubernatorial candidate as well National Assembly to State Assembly candidates.
“Then the other one (presidential), I will come and tell you where we will vote. These ones (governorship, Senatorial, Reps and State Assembly candidates) I mentioned now, make sure you come and vote for them. Very soon, we’ll meet in our houses and a take decision where we are going to.”
Governor Wike mocked governorship candidates of other parties in the State, who he said are not in touch with the people at the grassroot. According to him, these candidates, he stated, do not also have any follower, no traditional or political opinion leaders who can help galvanise the support of the electorate for them.
Such candidates, governor Wike noted, are only desperately going about collecting money from people in the guise of preparing for election when they know that they are not in the race to win the election.
Governor Wike said Rivers electorate will vote the party that has come to their aid, supported and made them happy while also sustaining the peace in the State.
“You will work for a party that has come to your aid, a party that has brought dividends of democracy. If the people of Rukpokwu are not happy, will they be here. Governance is all about the happiness of the people. When the people are happy, we are happy. So, if I come here to address you everybody will listen to me.”
The Rivers State governor boasted that his administration has attended to every area of development concern in Apara kingdom, particularly on the provision of roads.
He has therefore, challenged any person within the kingdom in Obio Akpor Local Government Area to dare mention any that has been left unattended.
On the issue of security, the governor said with the inauguration of the Police Intelligence and Surveillance Centre in Port Harcourt by the Inspector General of Police on Monday, criminals involved in kidnapping will be easily arrested for prosecution.
“Yesterday (Monday), the Inspector General of Police came and we commissioned the Intelligence and Surveillance Centre. I want to tell all of you who may be thinking of kidnapping. The time is over. As it is now, in that Intelligence Centre, we will be watching you on screen. Anywhere you are on the road we are seeing you. That period is over when you think you will commit a crime and runaway.”
In his address, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr George-Kelly Dakorinima Alabo stated that the Rukpokwu-Rumuapu-Izo-Ogbodo Igwuruta Link Road connects the Obio-Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas.
The road, he said, is 7.6km in length, 7.3 meters in width with 7km of drains, which has been delivered in the best quality specified. It has already enhanced the ease of doing business in the area.
The Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, George Ariolu, who commended the governor for his aggressive infrastructure development, assured him that the people of the council will be fully mobilised to vote for the State PDP candidates in the 2023 general election.
