The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, in Enugu State has commended the peaceful and orderly conduct of Saturday’s local government elections in areas monitored by the party, describing the exercise as transparent and credible.

The state chairman of the party, Dr. Johnpaul Ani, gave the commendation after casting his ballot at Unit 002, Amaetiti Town Hall, Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state.

Ani said the voting process in his polling unit and the wider Nkanu West area was peaceful, orderly and hitch-free, while commending the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) for the conduct of the exercise.

“First, my assessment of the process is that the process was peaceful, transparent and credible, the way I voted,” Ani said.

“I want to commend the commission, ENSIEC, for conducting such a hitch-free exercise,” he addedm

The NDC chairman, however, alleged that the party received reports of access denial involving some of its officials in some local government areas.

He said the affected party officials were allegedly prevented from accessing local government council headquarters where election materials were being distributed to wards and polling units.

Ani mentioned Aninri, Nkanu East and Isi-Uzo as some of the areas from which the party received such reports.

According to him, the party had brought the allegations to the attention of the relevant authorities and urged ENSIEC to investigate them.

“We are calling on ENSIEC to do more to investigate this situation and then bring the perpetrators of this act to book,” he said.

He also alleged that reports reaching the party indicated that election materials had not reached some polling units in parts of the affected local government areas as of the time he spoke.

Ani, however, said the situation in Nkanu West was different, noting that election materials were delivered to all polling units in the local government.

“But in Nkanu West, where I am and where I voted, materials got into every polling unit in the local government,” he said.

He said the NDC had deployed agents to polling units where it fielded candidates and that its agents monitored the voting, counting and movement of results to ward collation centres.

Ani expressed confidence in the party’s performance, saying it fielded candidates it believed understood the concerns of the electorate.

“For us in NDC, we are confident that we will win this election at the end of the day because we have done a campaign. We fielded credible candidates; we fielded people that understand what the masses want,” he said.

He said the party would await the official declaration of results by ENSIEC before deciding on any further action.

“As it is right now, ENSIEC is leading in some areas. Of course, we can’t win all. But we know where we have fielded candidates that we are confident we will win at the end of the day,” Ani said.

Meanwhile, as of the time of filing this report, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Sunday Aniachi, emerged winner in Akpugo Ward 5 as tue councillor-elect, with NDC winning some polling units.

By Jumoke Olaitan

The Governing Council of the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Abuja, has appointed Prof. Benjamin Oyelami as the centre’s eighth Director/Chief Executive.

‎This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Dr Onyekachi Njoku, Controller, Information and Public Relations, NMC.

‎Njoku said the appointment followed an assessment and interview process by the council.

He added that Oyelami, a Professor of Mathematics specialising in Mathematical Modelling, had over three decades of experience in teaching, research and academic management.

‎He said Oyelami obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Jos in 1988, graduating with a Second Class Upper Division.
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According to him, Oyelami proceeded to the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a master’s degree in 1991, before earning a PhD in Mathematics from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, in 1999.

‎Njoku said Oyelami’s doctoral thesis was the first PhD work in Africa specialising in Impulsive Systems.

‎He added that the professor also co-developed the B-Transform Method.

‎“Oyelami joined the service of ATBU in 1991, where he rose through the ranks and later undertook a sabbatical at the National Mathematical Centre in 2002 before joining the centre fully in 2004,” Njoku said.

‎He said the new NMC chief executive had served in various capacities, including Coordinator of the Mathematics Programme,

Theoretical Physics Programme and Academic Planning, as well as Deputy Director/Chief Executive of the centre.

‎Njoku said Oyelami also served as Head of the Department of Mathematics and Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences at Plateau State University, Bokkos.

‎He said Oyelami had also served on various Senate committees and academic boards at ATBU, Plateau State University and NMC.

‎According to him, Oyelami was appointed Acting Director/Chief Executive of NMC in February.
‎Njoku described Oyelami as a prolific writer and author, whose works had been published in learned and peer-reviewed journals and textbooks.

‎He said the professor had also participated in several international conferences as an invited speaker and led Nigerian teams to international Mathematical Olympiad competitions.

‎“Oyelami is bringing 35 years of academic, managerial and administrative experience to the leadership of the National Mathematical Centre,” he said.

‎Njoku added that Oyelami was a member and fellow of several professional bodies, including the American Mathematical Society, Nigeria Mathematical Society and Mathematical Sciences Association of Nigeria.

He said Oyelami was also a Fellow of the African Scientific Institute, Oakland, California; a member of the Institute of Management Consultants, Nigeria; and a Certified Management Consultant. ‎(NAN) www.nannews.ng
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Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi
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