Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq receives Commander 22 Armoured Brigade Ilorin Brigade General Adebayo Abdulrahman Babalola at Government House, Ilorin.

During the visit, the Governor explored strategies for strengthening security in the state with the Army chief.

Military personnel have made several efforts to dislodge security threats from the state.

The Army chief reiterated that the operations will be sustained to keep the state safer for peaceful and law-abiding residents.

Governorship elections were held in 28 states of the federation during the 2023 general elections held on March 18.

Following the declaration of results and winners by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), other contestants and parties aggrieved by the declared results have gone to the tribunal to seek redress.

Naija News understands the various state governorship election tribunals have given their verdicts in 20 out of the 28 states where elections were held.

Out of the 20 where verdicts have been given so far, the electoral victory of 18 governors have been affirmed, while the tribunals have sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State and Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State.

However, the fate of the other eight must be declared before the end of October as according to the 2022 electoral act, tribunals are mandated to hear and give their verdicts within 180 days.

The tribunal would either sack them from office or affirm their victories.

Below is the list of Governors and States awaiting the verdict of the tribunal on their election victories.

1. Governor Alex Otti of Abia State

The Abia State governorship election petition tribunal has fixed Friday, October 6, to deliver its verdict on the fate of the Labour Party governor based on the petition against him by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Chief Ikechi Emenike.

2. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State

Umar Alkali of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), is seeking a court order for a fresh election in the state over omitting their names on the ballot papers during the poll.

3. Governor Umar Namadi Danmodi of Jigawa State

4. Governor Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina State

5. Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State

6. Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State

7. Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State

8. Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Abbas Balarabe as a ministerial replacement for the former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

The replacement was conveyed in a letter read by the Senate President, GodsWill Akpabio, at the plenary on Tuesday.

Balarabe’s name was read alongside Dr Jamila Ibrahaim and Ayodele Olawande as Minister of Youths and Minister of State for Youths respectively, who were earlier nominated by the president.

News Direct reports in August that El-Rufai’s name was missing from the list of the ministerial nominees confirmed by the Senate.

The Senate after the screening exercise which took place for about a week approved and confirmed a total of 45 out of the 48 nominees sent by President Bola Tinubu.

A couple of petitions including those sent by Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) were presented against the former governor during the screening.

The lawmaker representing Kogi West, during the ministerial screening, moved against the former Kaduna State governor.

Karimi, after El-Rufai’s presentations, stood up and told the chamber that he had a petition written against the former governor over the issue of insecurity in Southern Kaduna.

He said, “Your performance in any office you find yourself in the country has been outstanding. In the Bureau of Public Enterprises, your record is there, in FCT as a minister, your record is there, and as two-time governor of Kaduna state, you did well.”

“And I think that the petition has to be considered in this screening exercise.”

Karimi then proceeded to lay the petition before Jibrin Barau, the deputy senate president, who was presiding over the screening exercise at the time.

Barau in response said, “I don’t know if you followed the normal process, but this is the opportunity for nominees to explain and showcase themselves, later we will come to confirmation and approval.”

Other senators commended el-Rufai, noting that the former governor is competent enough to be a minister.

Also, the lawmaker representing Kaduna North, Ibrahim Kalid, said he and his two colleagues from the state, as well as all the residents, are in support of el-Rufai’s nomination as minister.

Meanwhile, after making his presentation, the Senate President at the plenary refused to take the petition, levelled against the former governor and said a number of petitions were submitted against a number of the ministerial nominees